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Apple Planning 'MacBook Ultra' With Touchscreen and Higher Price

Not sure whether it will be an additional model or whether it will be an optional add on for say $100 to $200 more. Either way pricing could increase by $400 and the 14" could end up at $2499 and then the 16" will cost $2999. Wish there is cellular connectivity option also.
 
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I mean regardless of whether this new product is the next Mac book pro or not, I think that by this time next year we’ll (also) have a m6 oled redesigned Mac book pro. I’m just starting to think the touch version is something else entirely. I mean other than photoshop type applications with the pencil, touch wouldn’t be super useful on a mbp for me. I suppose it could help with some of my light board software though.
 
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Kylo83 said:
So it will be over £5500 and what happens when the m6 max MacBook Pro comes out, the ultra will be behind a chip, this is all so confusing. I was waiting thinking it’s just the next generation m6 max will be the redesign, silly having both lines as the same time, one chip will outdate another
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They’ll probably launch the M6 in this machine first, so it’s the MBP which will first have to catch up.
 
SvenLorenz1975 said:
That would actually be a good compromise. Keep the MacBook Pros the way they are and introduce this as a MacBook Ultra. And it will make it easier to make it disappear again when Apple realizes that nobody needs OLED, a touchscreen or a thinner and lighter design.
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Speak for yourself. There's some DAWs and Video Editing software that I prefer to use on my iPad Pro based on the ability of touch. I would love an Macbook with a touch display.
 
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anthony13 said:
I mean regardless of whether this new product is the next Mac book pro or not, I think that by this time next year we’ll (also) have a m6 oled redesigned Mac book pro. I’m just starting to think the touch version is something else entirely. I mean other than photoshop type applications with the pencil, touch wouldn’t be super useful on a mbp for me. I suppose it could help with some of my light board software though.
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The idea of people using a pencil on a notebook that doesn't have a 180º hinge sounds pretty uncomfortable. I'm sure some people will appreciate the ability though.
 
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darkphoenix24 said:
I think I see where this is going.

Back in 2012, Apple had spec updates to their MacBook Pro lineup in both 13 and 15 inch models. Simultaneously, they also released a new 15” Retina MacBook Pro, at a higher price point.

Then a year later, the 13” got the Retina display. After that, the non retina models were phased out.

The 2016 and 2021 models were redesigns and not an entirely new model, which this might be with both OLED and a touch screen. So they might have this be the highest end for a year or two and then slowly phase out the 2021 design, which would still be sold refurbished.
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If this machine is a thinner and lighter design, they might never phase out the 2021 design.

One thing they can’t sacrifice for their power users is the 2021 design’s excellent airflow and cooling, which makes a huge difference in performance. It will be interesting to see how much the Ultra emphasizes that. If it’s basically a MacBook Pro with a touch screen and not insanely thin, then maybe it will eventually replace the lineup.

But knowing Apple, they’ll likely keep both and OLED and touchscreen will trickle down to the MBPs.
 
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I have an idea for Apple. Just like BMW and MB have air freshner fragrance options for their cars, Apple should have air freshner fragrance options for their macs.
 
transpo1 said:
They’ll probably launch the M6 in this machine first, so it’s the MBP which will first have to catch up.
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Since Apple Silicon, have they released a new generation ONLY in the high end products first? The answer is no. With every new generation of Apple Silicon, while MacBook Pro’s may have been introduced, it’s always been alongside an iPad Pro, an iMac or a MacBook Air. The only time a M series chip was released ONLY in a Pro product was the iPad Pro with M4.

That analysis was via an idle thought and a google search and is likely more based on reality anything out of Gurman. 😉 Mainly because I don’t get paid from you paying attention to me!

Just from that, if anything is coming and will be introduced by itself, it’s far more likely to be an iPad Ultra than anything running macOS.
 
TLDR: trim company fat and refocus Apple on what it should do best—great hardware, enjoyable reliable operating systems, fast and dependable iCloud, much better Siri, strong pro apps, and proper AAA gaming. Apple should also build a proper logo and icon design tool (and fix its own icons while it’s at it). Cut services that aren’t necessary. Streaming, fitness, and news are already crowded spaces.

- - -

Apple sells too many products. Lineup should be smaller and easier to understand.

Apple should exit movie and TV production. Many streaming apps already produce content. Apple’s role should be building great hardware that runs those services well, not competing with them.

iPad lineup should be simplified by removing iPad Air and reducing Apple Pencil to one universal model. iPad Pro should gain full-size SD card slot for better professional workflows.

iPhone lineup should drop complicated naming, sans mini, Plus, and Max along with yearly numbering. Lineup becomes iPhone and iPhone Ultra — iPhone ~1 mm thinner with next-generation battery chemistry. iPhone Ultra (Pro successor), ~1 mm thicker with new battery chemistry and improved speakers. Both in three sizes: 5.7", 6.3", and 6.9". No other iPhones.

MacBook lineup should also be streamlined. Neo, as-in. M-series MacBook Air should move to 13.0" and 14.5", bring back wedge design, and add SD card and HDMI. MacBook Pro should move to 14.5" and 16.5", stay thick and performance-focused, and add OLED, vapor chamber, Face ID, and another Thunderbolt 5 port. Ship it with M6 Pro and M6 Max and skip touchscreens.

Apple Watch lineup should streamline to Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra. Apple could launch a “Made for Apple Watch” band program where luxury or sports brands create bands with an Apple NFC chip that automatically downloads and offers branded watch faces when attached.

Living room strategy should include Apple TV ($99) and Apple TV Ultra with a powerful M-class chip, alongside Apple OLED TVs in two sizes using same chip. Apple should commit billions to AAA gaming partnerships with major studios rather than making games itself, turning Apple TV and macOS into serious gaming platforms while promoting third-party streaming apps for video content.

A new drag-and-drop pro design app for creating app icons, logos, branding, and websites, with built-in voice tools for AI magic editing of objects and elements, and web publishing through partners like SquareSpace.

Mac desktop lineup should evolve by improving Mac Studio with user expansion, renaming it Mac Pro, and discontinuing current tower Mac Pro. Apple could also introduce iMac Studio with large floating OLED display, front and rear ports, and optional add-on touchscreen Easel Mode for Apple Pencil. Justifying the "Studio" name.

In the sprit of improving things, accessories should also improve: Apple Keyboard Pro with backlighting and built-in hub, Apple Mouse Pro with ergonomic six-button design, and an improved charging plug lineup with two- and three-port GaN chargers.
 
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I don’t see the point of a touchscreen on a Mac. I used touchscreen Windows laptops for years, pretty much from the dime they were first introduced with Windows 8 up until just a couple of years ago when I got my first Mac.
Windows 8 introduced a brand new tile-based UI to make it more touch friendly, and even so I rarely found myself using the touchscreen.
 
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Putting the 14” M4 Pro at 2199 and the 16” base at 2699 would make it easy for 14” MacBook Ultra at $2499 and 16” MacBook Ultra at $2999 to start.
 
Apple today:

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Edit:
sledgehammerz.jpg
 
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