MacBook Pro: Major upgrade planned with OLED and touchscreen

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The MacBook Pro has been one of the most important devices in Apple's portfolio for years. Apple regularly updates its professional laptops with new processors and minor hardware improvements. Just recently, the company introduced new models equipped with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. These devices are already available for pre-order and will officially go on sale on Wednesday, March 11th.

Despite this recent update, another update is already on the horizon. Industry reports suggest that Apple is preparing a significantly larger MacBook Pro upgrade that could bring new technologies to the Mac line.

The current MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max primarily represent a classic performance upgrade. The focus is on increased speed and efficiency, while the basic design of the device remains unchanged.

In parallel, Apple is apparently already working on a major overhaul. This is said to involve not only faster chips, but also new hardware features. A touchscreen and an OLED display are particularly under discussion – two technologies not yet available on the Mac.

New MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max

Apple unveiled the new generation of MacBook Pro this week. The devices run on the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and are already available for pre-order. Sales are scheduled to begin on March 11th.

This update primarily focuses on performance improvements. The new processors provide increased computing power and efficiency for demanding applications. However, the fundamental design and features of the devices remain largely unchanged.

Major MacBook Pro update expected at the end of the year

According to a report by Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, Apple may already be planning its next major update. In his newsletter Power On, he writes that a high-end MacBook with a touchscreen and OLED display is expected to be released toward the end of the year.

Should this report prove true, the new device would bring two firsts to the Mac line. Firstly, it would be the first Mac with a touchscreen. Apple has deliberately refrained from integrating this feature into its laptops until now. Secondly, it would be the first time an OLED display has been used in a Mac.

OLED displays offer stronger contrasts, deeper blacks and an overall better image quality compared to classic LCD screens.

New chip generation for the next MacBook Pro

In addition to the new display and the possible touchscreen, the upcoming MacBook Pro is also expected to receive a new generation of processors. Reports indicate that Apple plans to use the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips.

That would be remarkable, because Apple just recently introduced the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Nevertheless, a rapid transition to the next chip generation wouldn't be unusual for Apple.

Apple has already updated the MacBook Pro twice in one year

A similar scenario occurred in 2023, when Apple updated the MacBook Pro twice within a single year.

On January 17, 2023, Apple first introduced the MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro and M2 Max processors. Just 286 days later, on October 30, 2023, the next update followed with the M3 Pro and M3 Max.

If Apple maintains the same interval again, the next MacBook Pro could be unveiled around December 14th.

In the past, Apple has also announced several Macs earlier in the year that weren't actually released until later in December. Examples include the 2019 Mac Pro, the 2017 iMac Pro, and the 2013 Mac Pro.

Possible performance in November

It's also possible that Apple will even beat its previous timeline. If the device is fully developed on time, an announcement could come as early as November.

There is always the possibility of a product being delayed. In this case, the new MacBook Pro with touchscreen and OLED display might not appear until 2027. However, this is not currently expected.

The next MacBook Pro could bring significantly more changes

The current generation of MacBook Pro, with the M5 Pro and M5 Max, primarily offers increased performance. At the same time, several reports indicate that Apple is already working on a significantly larger overhaul.

A future MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, OLED display, and a new M6 chip generation would significantly advance the laptop line technically. If Apple does indeed unveil the device towards the end of the year, it could be one of the biggest updates to the MacBook Pro series in many years. (Image: Shutterstock / Cavan-Images)