• Updated • 4 min read
Apple may split MacBook Pro upgrades in two
Apple may launch an M6 MacBook Pro and redesigned MacBook Ultra this fall, splitting the lineup between new silicon and OLED touch hardware.
Image: 9to5Mac
Apple is reportedly preparing two very different MacBook Pro-class laptops for this fall: a conventional MacBook Pro with an M6 chip and a redesigned model currently known as the MacBook Ultra.
M6 MacBook Pro keeps the current design
The M6 MacBook Pro is expected to replace last fall’s M5 model without changing its external design. It reportedly will not offer higher-end chip configurations, but the M6 would be Apple’s first Mac processor built using a 2nm process.
That makes the chip the main reason to upgrade. Buyers would otherwise get the existing MacBook Pro formula: a design with multiple ports and long battery life. For users who already like the current model, retaining that hardware could be an advantage rather than a drawback.
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MacBook Ultra adds OLED and touch
The rumored MacBook Ultra targets buyers who want a more dramatic hardware change. It is expected to be thinner and lighter, with an OLED display, touchscreen, Dynamic Island, and possibly cellular connectivity.
Unlike the standard M6 MacBook Pro, the Ultra reportedly will use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. That creates a clear split: the regular Pro may offer the newer processor, while the Ultra would pair older chip technology with a more ambitious design. The touchscreen would also represent a major change from Apple’s current Mac lineup, although our previous reporting said touch support for the MacBook Air was delayed until 2028.
Apple may still market the Ultra under the MacBook Pro name, so its final branding is unresolved. The report also does not provide pricing, a firm release date, or confirmation that the cellular option will ship.
Based on Apple’s launch history, both machines are expected in the fall, potentially in late October. For anyone buying today, the practical alternatives mentioned are Apple’s refurbished models and current retail deals.
The two-model strategy looks meaningful rather than cosmetic: one machine preserves the established Pro design while the other introduces several new display and connectivity features. But until Apple confirms the products and prices, the unresolved cost will determine whether the Ultra is a compelling upgrade or simply a more expensive experiment.
Update, 4 October 2026 — Touchscreen OLED model may arrive next month
Engadget reports, citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, that the touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro is still expected to debut next month. That is a narrower timetable than the earlier report’s fall window.
Gurman also said the machine could be “significantly lighter” than current MacBook Pro models. The report attributes that reduction to miniaturized and rearranged internal components, but gives no weight figure or model-specific comparison.
Update, 16 October 2026 — Apple reportedly sets Oct. 28 product experience
TechRepublic reports that Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple invited selected journalists to a product experience in Los Angeles on Oct. 28. The reported gathering is expected to cover touchscreen MacBooks, M6-powered computers and an updated iPad mini.
The invitation does not establish when Apple will formally announce the products, nor does it provide prices or shipping dates. Apple has not confirmed the event or the reported hardware lineup.
Update, 18 October 2026 — MacBook releases reportedly set for November 6
MacRumors reports that Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman expects Apple to release new MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, 14-inch MacBook Pro models with M6 chips, and M6 iMac models on Friday, November 6. Gurman also included the possibility of an OLED iPad mini 8 in that release group, rather than identifying every product as certain.
The products are expected to be announced on October 27 or October 28, according to the report. That would put the reported release date nine or 10 days after the announcement, if the schedule holds.
Update, 25 October 2026 — OLED MacBook Pro announcement set for Oct. 28
MacRumors reports that Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman expects Apple to unveil 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED displays on Wednesday, October 28. Gurman said the laptops will be lighter than the current models and replace the display notch with a Dynamic Island, while retaining M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
The report says the OLED models could start as much as $500 above current equivalents, whose U.S. starting prices are $2,499 for the 14-inch model and $2,999 for the 16-inch version. Gurman also said macOS Golden Gate will adapt controls for touch input, including touch-optimized Dock and Menu Bar behavior, while Apple keeps keyboard and trackpad input alongside the screen.
Editor-in-Chief
Sergey Kuznetsov is Head of Product at iXBT.com, one of the largest Russian-language technology media outlets, and the founder of itzine.ru. He has spent over a decade building and running tech newsrooms. At for(geeks) he sets editorial standards and reviews what ships.
