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Apple's OLED 'MacBook Ultra' Will Stick With M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips

Very informative posts! Agreed that Number 1 is most likely, followed by Number 3, then Number 2, in order of possibility. But there’s no way a “MacBook Executive” with OLED and touchscreen would start at $2199 with these current prices, if that’s what your post intended.
 
transpo1 said:
Very informative posts! Agreed that Number 1 is most likely, followed by Number 3, then Number 2, in order of possibility. But there’s no way a “MacBook Executive” with OLED and touchscreen would start at $2199 with these current prices, if that’s what your post intended.
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I think it’s possible. Doing a huge $300 jump in one go on the entry-level MacBook Pro now could have been strategic to bake in the extra cost of the OLED touchscreen. That way, the M6 version this fall doesn’t have to have yet another price hike only 4 months later, and it will feel like a much better deal.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it goes up another $100-$200 at that time.
 
So let me get this right, you designed a M6 chip, but decided not to install it on your new premium line up of Ultras...you do realize that the customer base wanting to buy Ultras and Max are like the ones with the cash to do so; and...and mostlikely already own a M5 Max chip?.

So Apple wants to upsell a Mac with OLED for more than the Max last year is basically apple's vision this year.

More so, I find it hard to believe the negotiations for the M6 chips weren't set like...two years ago when TSMC was just beginning to install the fabricators. It one of those thing they get paid up front for and then offer long commitment contracts generally discounted for the bulk.

Hope this just remains a rumor.
 
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We all have to remember that the Ultra branding and the idea that it represents some super-expensive new product tier ABOVE the MacBook Pros is just a rumor. What’s far more knowable from supply chain leaks is just that Apple is adding OLED touchscreens to a re-designed laptop.

Such a product being targeted for the base M6 and the (now) $1999 entry-level MacBook Pro could have been the plan all along.
 
Vincent Hanna said:
I think it’s possible. Doing a huge $300 jump in one go on the entry-level MacBook Pro now could have been strategic to bake in the extra cost of the OLED touchscreen. That way, the M6 version this fall doesn’t have to have yet another price hike only 4 months later, and it will feel like a much better deal.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it goes up another $100-$200 at that time.
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The more I think about it, it's just not very Apple to put the latest and greatest tech— OLED and touchscreen— into an entry level product like the base MacBook Pro, though. Their whole business model is intense product segmentation to send people to the highest tier price point possible (Pros, Ultras). As discussed, still likelier it's one of those other options, and not destined for the entry-level MBP.

Mr.McMac said:
So let me get this right, you designed a M6 chip, but decided not to install it on your new premium line up of Ultras...you do realize that the customer base wanting to buy Ultras and Max are like the ones with the cash to do so; and...and mostlikely already own a M5 Max chip?.
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This.

Vincent Hanna said:
We all have to remember that the Ultra branding and the idea that it represents some super-expensive new product tier ABOVE the MacBook Pros is just a rumor. What’s far more knowable from supply chain leaks is just that Apple is adding OLED touchscreens to a re-designed laptop.

Such a product being targeted for the base M6 and the (now) $1999 entry-level MacBook Pro could have been the plan all along.
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Much more likely that OLED and touchscreen are simply destined to be in the new MacBook Pro redesign and won't represent a new "Ultra" product category. That would explain why the price increases on the MacBook Pros were so massive— in order to partially incorporate the price for the new features in advance. That way they can claim "same great price" when they launch. 🥲
 
I agree with the “same great price” strategy. Go BIG one time on the price increases, then take credit for not raising them again later. The perfect sign off to the Cook era. (I actually mean that as a compliment.)
 
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I just feel it would be very uncharacteristic of Apple to introduce the new top of the line Ultra MBP with OLED and touch and whatnot ... running on last year's chip (M5). I mean, yeah, it could happen. Anything is possible. It just doesn't make a well sounding keynote, no matter how you spin your story.

We have seen short product cycles (sub 1 year for iPad or MacBook Pro), but that is usually a minor refresh before the real big thing, not the partial releasing of something new and shiny.
 
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considering the prices we just jumped to, unless the AI datacenter boom doesnt stabilize by then and prices get dropped (probably wont happen) i have no idea who this is going to be marketed to. the m5max is in the $4000s starting now. it's just absurd.
 
They will still sell to the actual professionals that need them. In fact, they will become better values at even the higher prices as they reduce the need to pay for cloud AI tokens.

Hobbyists of course will be priced out, but 90% of them don't actually buy the machines they complain about at any price.
 
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So M5 Pro and Max relaunching with the OLED redesign, around the same time as the base M6 which will still have the old design and screen, and then with M7 they all have OLED? Do i have this right for my purchasing decisions

I've been ready to spend big on the OLED redesign MBP, assuming they don't mess anything major up I think that's enough waiting for me, I'll get the minimum M5 Pro needed to get it
 
Charlie Bonesx said:
Digesting that extra cost lowers their profit margin, which is anathema to the entire point of the company existing

It’s nothing to with fanboyism. It’s just how capitalism works

The point is to consolidate more wealth, not less

Profits must go up, not down
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Thanks for the business 101. I was, however, talking from the pov of the buyer/consumer. Why are consumers defending Apple at their own expense? What would you call this kind of mindset? Stockholm Syndrome? People were really upset on that site with the Micron CFO's statement that big customers (you know who) abusing their market position to drive down memory prices to rock bottom in the past disincentivised memory makers from investing in capacity. And then the AI madness happened and memory makers did what any sane business would do - pivot to the far more profitable side and suddenly had the incentive to invest in capacity.
 
space808 said:
Thanks for the business 101. I was, however, talking from the pov of the buyer/consumer. Why are consumers defending Apple at their own expense? What would you call this kind of mindset? Stockholm Syndrome? People were really upset on that site with the Micron CFO's statement that big customers (you know who) abusing their market position to drive down memory prices to rock bottom in the past disincentivised memory makers from investing in capacity. And then the AI madness happened and memory makers did what any sane business would do - pivot to the far more profitable side and suddenly had the incentive to invest in capacity.
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I’d argue there is a difference between the industry that underpins all of modern tech screwing consumers and one consumer tech company raising their prices

If it’s just apple hiking prices at the end of the day you can just switch off Apple, but the decisions micron and co are making are making *all* tech more expensive, not just phones and computers but also everything from cars to washing machines.

Of course people are going to be more grumpy about the latter
 
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