Apple to Launch 'MacBook Ultra' With These Six New Features
Source: MacRumors
While the 14‑inch and 16‑inch MacBook Pro were just updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last month, bigger changes are reportedly around the corner.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the higher‑end MacBook Pro models will receive a major redesign by early 2027, and Apple might use “MacBook Ultra” branding for them. If so, the MacBook Ultra would likely sit above the MacBook Pro line as a higher‑priced, top‑of‑the‑range model.
Up to six new features have been rumored so far, including an OLED display, touch capabilities, a Dynamic Island, M6 Pro and M6 Max chips manufactured with TSMC’s advanced 2 nm process, a thinner design, and built‑in cellular connectivity.
Early 2027 now looks more likely than late 2026 due to the global memory‑chip shortage, which is constraining Apple’s RAM supply and could push back the launch.
Note: The entry‑level 14‑inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip is not expected to receive many of the changes listed below.
Apple last redesigned the MacBook Pro in 2021 (M1 Pro and M1 Max models). The MacBook Ultra would therefore represent the first major redesign in at least five years—a model many customers have been waiting for.
Below is a recap of the rumored MacBook Ultra features.
OLED Display
Regardless of whether Apple uses MacBook Pro or MacBook Ultra branding, these are expected to be the first MacBooks with OLED displays.
The current MacBook Pro models use LCD panels with mini‑LED backlighting. Switching to OLED would improve image quality with richer colors, higher contrast ratios, and true blacks.
All iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro models sold today already feature OLED displays (excluding refurbished units).
Touch Screen
In addition to OLED, the display is rumored to have touch‑screen capabilities, allowing users to interact with the device using fingers as well as a keyboard and mouse/trackpad.
Steve Jobs once warned that a touch‑screen Mac could cause arm fatigue, but Apple has reversed course on many design decisions over time.
Dynamic Island
A hole‑punch camera is expected, paving the way for a Dynamic Island instead of a notch. This would bring the MacBook Ultra closer to a truly edge‑to‑edge display with thin bezels.
Similar to the iPhone, the Dynamic Island could show low‑battery alerts, AirPods connection status, and other system information around the camera at the top‑center of the screen.
M6 Pro and M6 Max Chips
The MacBook Ultra is anticipated to be powered by Apple’s next‑generation M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, manufactured with TSMC’s advanced 2 nm process. This should deliver notable year‑over‑year performance and efficiency gains.
For comparison, the current M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are built on TSMC’s third‑generation 3 nm process.
Thinner Design
The MacBook Ultra is expected to have a slimmer profile than the current MacBook Pro. The shift from LCD with mini‑LED backlighting to OLED will contribute to reduced thickness, and other design tweaks may further slim the chassis.
As of now, there’s no indication that Apple plans to remove ports such as HDMI, MagSafe, or the SD card slot to achieve this thinner design—removing those ports was unpopular the last time it occurred.
Cellular Connectivity
Macs can already access cellular networks via Personal Hotspot on a nearby iPhone or iPad, but Apple has reportedly considered built‑in cellular connectivity for future Macs. If implemented, the MacBook Ultra would likely feature Apple’s C1X or a future C2 modem for 5G and LTE.
This article first appeared on MacRumors.com.