Very curious where the MacPro is going next. Feel like the M Series revamp was basically a quick retrofit. Will they keep the design or make something new?
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Apple's 2026 Mac Plans
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I'm not sure that's the plan. I've read that it'll run full-blown macOS, but it might also integrate some features of iPadOS that you can use optionally if you wish. If Apple decides on a hybrid that doesn't work exactly like either OS, here's hoping they do it right.
Why would you use a keyboard and mouse with stuff on your fingers? That's equally as gross.
Hopefully, Apple will introduce two MacBook models — a non-touch version and a touch-enabled version.
You can choose the non-touch model if that’s what you prefer.
As for me, I preferma MacBook that supports stylus input because I have to annotate directly on the screen during math lectures. This significantly improves my teaching efficiency.
I’ve tried using a Wacom tablet, and although it works to some extent, the overall experience is still not fully satisfying.
Then, why not using iPad with apple pencil? Well, I like to buy and carry one device, which may be against Apple's desire.
I was very happy that Proton and Wine are now advanced enough that all my games, including anti-cheat ones, run on Linux. So Windows/Copilot has been fully defenestrated from my life.
Liquid Glass, sadly, looks like we are stuck with for a few years. I can only pray to Jobs that Apple keep adding in more options to tone down it's visual clutter more. But I must honestly admit, my use of OS/X and iOS is dropping away right now due to it.
Interesting. I barely notice it. I think I did adjust one setting that toned it down which may be why. Compared to the iPhone the liquid glass in Tahoe is very minimal.
It happened in 2013, with the Early 2013 and Late 2013 MacBook Pro models.
The latter were drastically better machines btw, light years ahead of the previous gen on pretty much every front.
It's pretty much just for folks that need to insert some special PCI card.
Good point. I normally don't, and use a napkin first, but often there's still a slightly oily residue from a burrito, for instance, and I don't want to get up and rinse my hands right away. Occasionally touching a keyboard or trackpad/mouse with a slight bit of oily residue on my fingers creates a somewhat less gross mess than seeing that oil smeared on my Macbook's screen.
I’m curious to see the new entry level Macbook, but it should have at least 16gb largely because today 8gb is ridiculous and mainstream laptops are all going with 16gb standard. The iMac will get the M5, but after five years I’d be curious if they made any other changes. In the least all the Macbooks and Mac desktops should have at least 512gb as base storage although anything over $1000 should have 1tb.
I won’t hold my breath, but it would be nice if Apple released a more affordable display. The current Studio Display is very nice, but it’s simply overpriced for what it is. If it had been the long rumoured 27in. iMac then its price would be justified, but not just as a display.
I won’t hold my breath, but it would be nice if Apple released a more affordable display. The current Studio Display is very nice, but it’s simply overpriced for what it is. If it had been the long rumoured 27in. iMac then its price would be justified, but not just as a display.
$20k is very cost-competitive for the LLM world that such heavily loaded Studios are made for. I want to see what Apple does with M5 and the Mac Pro; it is time.
Is it just me that's patiently waiting for a 30-32 inch iMac?? C'mon Apple !
I want to see a 20-year chart showing the % of MR that actually came to fruition. I envision a downward staircase with a steep drop after the "Rotten in Cupertino" thing.
Once again, the prognosticative powers of this website astound. Only MacRumors would be bold enough to claim new Macs are coming next year.
I just got a 2024 Mac Studio but I can still use a M5 Max or Ultra if it scales well enough this time around. I think right now, for basic tasks any base M series Mac is fine for the majority of consumers, it's when you actually need a Max or Ultra where things get exciting, and Apple is hitting it out of the park with the more powerful chips. I can''t wait for the new Studios.
Apple would have to alter macOS to be more like the iPad to have a touch screen, it makes absolutely no sense on a Mac display. I don’t believe this rumor for a second. It’s plain stupid. 😱
Re entry-level models, I just hope Apple never return to 8GB for macos devices. My upgrade cycle on Apple Silicon has been 8GB -> 16GB -> 32GB, as I've been trying to stick to the minimal viable RAM size for hitting that elusive Apple price-competitive spot, and 8GB is not cutting it even for a web driver nowadays.
There is always “stuff” on your fingers, oils, dead skin cells, whatever thousands of organisms that live on your skin. It’s not gross, it’s life. It’s all messy, I myself use a transparent keyboard cover & wipe down my trackpad from time to time… 👍🏻
it’s all exciting, but it’s very disappointing that 27inch iMac doesn’t exist.
I currently have my M1 Pro MacBook Pro, and I love it.. Somehow, it still operates at the same performance as I got it back when it launched. At this point, it looks like I’ll wait for the OLED model.
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio.
MacBook Air (Early 2026)
The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook Air will get the same M5 chip that Apple introduced with the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple might also add the same SSD upgrades that it included in the M5 MacBook Pro.
Low-Cost MacBook (Early 2026)
Apple is going to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026 that's cheaper than the $999 MacBook Air. The low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 inches in size, so it could be slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air.
Apple is planning to use its A18 Pro chip in the MacBook. We first saw the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro models. The chip is built on Apple's second-generation 3-nanometer process, featuring 8GB RAM and support for Apple Intelligence.
The low-cost MacBook will have a standard LCD display with no mini-LED technology or ProMotion refresh rate. It could come in bright colors like the iMac, with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting Apple will offer it in silver, blue, pink, and yellow. The low-cost MacBook won't replace the MacBook Air, and will instead join the Mac lineup as a new affordable option.
Apple is expected to debut the low-cost MacBook in the first half of 2026.
MacBook Pro (Early 2026)
Apple already introduced the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, but higher-end models with faster M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected around the same timeframe as the MacBook Air and low-cost MacBook.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max will have more CPU cores and better GPUs for improved performance, with the chips available in both 14-inch and 16-inch machines. Apple is also expected to add faster SSDs.
Mac Displays (Early to Mid-2026)
Apple hasn't released a new display since the Studio Display launched in 2022, but there are apparently two new models that are in development and slated for release in 2026.
The next-generation version of the Studio Display could feature the same 27-inch screen size, but with mini-LED technology instead of LCD. mini-LED means better HDR, brightness, contrast, and colors. The current Studio Display has an A-series chip inside, and the next-generation version could get the A19 Pro that Apple used in the iPhone 17 Pro.
There are actually two displays in development, but it's unclear if that's the next Studio Display in two sizes, or a Studio Display and a more expensive Pro Display XDR successor. It's also possible Apple designed two Studio Displays and will only launch one model.
Mac mini (Mid-2026)
An updated version of the Mac mini could come out sometime around mid-2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The Mac mini will get M5 and M5 Pro chips, but there are no design changes rumored as of now.
Mac Studio (Mid-2026)
The Mac Studio could come out during the same timeframe as the Mac mini. Apple didn't release an M4 Ultra chip so there was never an M4 Ultra Mac Studio, but there will be an M5 Ultra model.
Sometime around the middle of 2026, the Mac Studio will get M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip technology. The M5 Max will offer much faster CPU and GPU performance than the M5, and the M5 Ultra will double the M5 Max.
We haven't heard any other rumors about the Mac Studio, so it may only get internal updates.
OLED MacBook Pro (Late 2026)
While there's an M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro refresh planned for early 2026, there's another update in the works. Apple is developing a revamped OLED MacBook Pro that uses next-generation M6 chip technology and also features a touch screen. It's not yet clear if the machine will come out in late 2026 or early 2027, but 2026 remains a possibility.
If Apple does debut the OLED MacBook Pro in 2026, it will be a year with two MacBook Pro refreshes. Apple has done that once before in 2023, but it is rare.
Rumors suggest that the OLED MacBook Pro will feature a hole-punch camera without a notch, maximizing the available display area. Touch integration will be added to the Mac's screen for the first time, and Apple plans to adopt a reinforced hinge that stays stationary when the display is touched.
The design of the MacBook will also be updated, and it will have a thinner, lighter chassis. There will be a keyboard and trackpad as usual, with the touch gestures augmenting existing functionality.
The M6 could be built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process, introducing speed and efficiency improvements for impressive gains in battery life without compromising power. The OLED MacBook Pro could also be the first MacBook to incorporate 5G connectivity, with Apple including a C2 chip in the device. The C2 chip is Apple's rumored second-generation in-house modem that will support mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G speeds.
Mac Pro (Timing Unknown)
Apple is probably going to release a new Mac Pro at some point, but it's unclear when. Bloomberg originally said a Mac Pro would come before the end of 2025 with some kind of M4 chip, but that didn't happen, so now 2026 or later is the only option.
It's possible the Mac Pro will get a refresh with the M5 Ultra chip when the Mac Studio does, but we haven't heard confirmation of that.
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I've been playing around with a 2-in-1 Lenovo laptop, and it's pretty cool to go to "tent mode" and take notes. I'm wondering if the "updated hinge" will be similar in function. Otherwise, I don't see much point in a touchscreen with a keyboard that can't get out of your way.