MacBook Ultra: not M6, but M5 Pro and Max Apfelpatient

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Apple's first MacBook with an OLED touchscreen apparently won't come with the next generation of chips. Instead of an M6 Pro or M6 Max, the new top-of-the-line model is expected to use the already familiar M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The reason for this lies in a last-minute change to Apple's chip roadmap.

For a long time, the high-end OLED MacBook was considered the device that would herald Apple's next generation of chips. A new report by Mark Gurman now reverses this expectation: The flagship model, rumored to be the MacBook Ultra, is said to be launching with the current M5 Pro and M5 Max chips instead of M6 versions. This is triggered by a decision affecting Apple's entire Mac roadmap – making the new model an unusual interim step.

Familiar chips instead of a new generation

The fact that the new MacBook uses the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips is directly related to Apple's recently reported chip strategy. According to this information, the company is skipping the high-performance versions of the M6 series and moving the Pro and Max models to the M7 generation. An M6 Pro or M6 Max, as previously reported for the OLED MacBook, is simply no longer part of this plan. Therefore, Apple will initially stick with its existing high-end chips for the flagship model. A new entry-level MacBook Pro with the regular M6 is still expected this year, regardless.

Apple's first touchscreen Mac

Chip issues aside, the device remains a milestone. It would be Apple's first Mac with a touchscreen – an idea the company had publicly rejected for years. The likelihood of a touchscreen MacBook actually coming had recently become increasingly clear. In addition, it will feature an OLED screen, also a first for the Mac.

Visually, there are also some changes: According to the report, the MacBook Ultra will receive an iPhone-style Dynamic Island display, replacing the previous notch design. Overall, it's described as a redesigned industrial look – the first visible change to the high-end MacBooks since 2021. Like the MacBook Pro, the model will be offered in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes; internally, the two variants are codenamed "K114" and "K116." The move to OLED displays is also considered the catalyst for a broader display revolution in the laptop industry.

Market launch and price

The report places the market launch period between late this year and early next year. The MacBook Ultra is expected to be priced higher than the M5-Pro MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,999 after the latest price increase. A specific price has not yet been announced, but a significant premium over the regular Pro model is considered likely.

The successor is already ready

It's noteworthy that Apple is already working on the successor. This successor is expected to be equipped with the upcoming M7 Pro and M7 Max chips and, according to the report, is in an advanced testing phase; a market launch is not anticipated until late 2027 at the earliest. The M7 series is reportedly specifically designed for demanding AI tasks and features improved neural accelerators, a more powerful graphics unit, and higher memory bandwidth. Beyond the MacBook, Apple also plans to refresh the Mac Studio in 2028 with M7 Max and M7 Ultra options.

A top-of-the-line model with an open question about its name

The situation remains curious: Apple is launching a completely redesigned premium MacBook that uses the same chip as the current MacBook Pro. This is precisely what makes the naming so intriguing – "MacBook Ultra" would be the obvious choice to clearly differentiate the device from the regular Pro model, but the name has not been officially confirmed. If the timeline holds, Apple will likely close the gap between the design leap and the chip stagnation with the fast M7 successor in 2027. (Image: Shutterstock / Yalcin Sonat)