'MacBook Ultra' Coming Soon With These 12 New Features

[deconstruct60]

In the 1990s, when Apple was months away from bankruptcy, Apple had a byzantine array of products at every level so complex that Steve Jobs nor anyone else could make heads or tails out of it.

Then Jobs whittled it down to high-end laptop, high-end desktop, average laptop, average desktop.

THis is a dubious myopic view that leaves out tons of context. In the 1990's Apple was selling 2-4 million Macs per year.

The Macintosh Clone Era - Low End Mac

There are three different business models in the PC, smartphone, and tablet industries. The most widely used model is for one company to make the operating system and license it to a host of hardware manufacturers. This has given us the Windows market where no matter how badly PC makers do...

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By the Jobs got there Apple had gone overboard with the "Field of Dreams" strategy. If just building a huge array of computers selling everything to everybody that numbers will just come rapidly and just fall out of the sky.

What Jobs did was whittle down the products to match the size the market Apple had a chance to get to in the itemediate term. That means picking the subset of demographics that Apple could handle ( only a few because they were broke) and address just those. The notion of killing off Dell or HP or Windows on unit sales was not the primary objective.

As Mac sales went from 4 to 5 to 10 to 15 million folks the notion that they were selling into the exact same demographic becomes just as extremely dubious as falling the "Field of Dreams" approach. Increasingly Apple with an overly narrow product mix would be selling to a growing set of customer very 'ill fitting' solutions to their needs.

At this point Apple is about 20-30M per year. To grow that bigger they are going to need ecosystem extending products like the Neo. For folks who have a $500-1000 budget for a new computer 3, 4, 5, or 10 Macbook Pro models that bust that budget are complete non-options. It is extremely trivial to very rapidly filter those out.

On the Apple marketing page for the Mac https://www.apple.com/mac/

There is a button that invoke filters. "All Products " "Laptops" "Desktops" "displays"

One click and most of the line up disappears. Laptops ... boom all the desktops gone. If have a budget of less than $1K then don't even have to scroll until the options run out on the screen. done.

If budge starts at $2k then scroll until cross the $2K mark. This is not a huge cognitive task in any way shape or form. The MBP 14"/16" group is you only sole option to explore at that point. Choosing between two is cognitive overload?????? Not even close.

Apple tries pretty hard to space out the products separate from one another by price range. If they want the iMac to cover more territory then the Mac Pro price would go up on next iteration. The pricing ranges help most folks self-filter out of some options. Addition build to order stuff can make two products that border each other overlap, but also only dealing with two products.


The largely fantasy problem here is someone with a $3-4K budget trying to pick between a Neo and a MBP 16" . The percentage of the 7+ Billion folks on the planet the number of people laboring that ordeal is relatively almost nobody.


The Mac Book Ultra is coming after Apple dumped the Mac Pro. Xserve got dumped around the same time as the MacBook Air come into the line up. The large screen iMac disappeared when the Mac Studio came. The other disconnect from reailty is that Apple has only added new stuff and had not cancelled anything in the last 20 years.
[ At one point Apple sold 2-3 monitors ... now effectively 1.5 and was at 1 for a very long stretch. ]


Another huge reality change is that Apple making their own SoCs means they need to sell lots of them to make that viaable. The 'Axx Pro' chip shifting to its own die can't really just rely on the iPhone Pro to cover the volume needed to make that chip lifecycle affordable. Apple's SoC placement strategy is firmly grounded on placing the chip into moultiple products; not just one. More SoCs spurs the needs for more products.

[ Note: that was a deep disconnect in the "clone" era. Having two PowerPC boundaries means needed more volume to keep both healthy. Aonther one of these "Field of Dreams" thing when if just say creating clone market users will just fall out of the sky and show up. Not. Part of what happened to Apple was that the clones were not solely market expanding and aite into Apple share. So Apple/Jobs killed them. Clones ... expansion ... worked for IBM in the 1980's. It is not about 'monkey see, monkey do' copying what other people did. It is about adapting to what the context at the moment is. The 1990's were not the 1980's in the PC market. ]

 

[m7ammed]

Nothing, because this article is based on months out of date reporting from Mark Gurman.
According to all of his latest reporting in the last three months, this is just the next generation of MacBook Pro.
It’s using the exact same chips as the current MacBook Pro, the only difference is a new design, an OLED touchscreen display, and the dynamic island. All it is, is just a MacBook Pro redesign, which is right on schedule.
If you look at how frequently the PowerBook/MacBook Pro gets redesigned, you’ll realize that this is right on schedule.
2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2021. Literally makes all the sense in the world that it’s going to get its next redesign in 2026, and that it will incorporate all of the latest technology from the newest iPhones and iPads, like the dynamic island, and OLED.

I guess the question for people like me who are looking for an upgrade, ishould we wait?

As this is the part I dont get, will the pro stay as they are today, with ultra being an addition at the top of lineup. Baswed on what you just wrote, it seems to be that the whole line is being updated.

 

[SvenLorenz1975]

This will die quicker than the iPhone Air. There probably won't even be a second version of this.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I guess the question for people like me who are looking for an upgrade, ishould we wait?

As this is the part I dont get, will the pro stay as they are today, with ultra being an addition at the top of lineup. Baswed on what you just wrote, it seems to be that the whole line is being updated.

Current reporting is that the pro and max version will be updated this fall, and then the entire MVP line will be updated next year with the new displays and design.
So it all depends on what you want.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

This will die quicker than the iPhone Air. There probably won't even be a second version of this.

This will have been the sixth redesign of the MacBook Pro in 20 years, it’s not going anywhere.

 

[reyesmac]

Just call it the Macbook Stopgap. Its existence is to justify higher prices on the top end. Starts with 32gb ram for $800 more and you can get it with 128gb ram for a few grand more. 1980's prices...today! Just in time for Apples new financing plans for their computers. Expect an overpriced Ultra for EVERY device they sell.

 

[Onimusha370]

What’s sad is that, with this feature list, it should really just be the new, slightly redesigned MacBook Pro. There’s absolutely nothing about this that warrants an extra category of branding.

A 17/18” version with an Ultra chip in for crazy money? Sure. But this ain’t “ultra”.

 

[Scoob Redux]

There has so far been no indication that Apple intends to remove ports such as HDMI, MagSafe, or the SD card slot to achieve it, which was a deeply unpopular decision the last time around.

Oh really? I seem to remember MacRumors talking incessantly about how the ports weren't needed and Apple was so forward-thinking to remove them. Anyone who lamented the lack of ports was criticized as being averse to change and told to just buy a dongle. Interesting how when proven wrong, the tune changes.

 

[luccalabs]

Yeah I think a lot of people are missing the point. It's more convenient and less fatiguing and RSI-inducing to be able to use the screen for incidental scrolling and touching. Anyone who uses an iPad Pro on a Magic Keyboard can tell you that it's still nice being able to occasionally touch the screen.

Seems like a pretty minor feature for the "ultra", though. I guess they typically release new hardware features, no matter how small, on their top-of-the-line model before trickling down.

Give me a real MacBook that can double as an iPad for handwritten notes and drawing with the Apple Pencil.

 

[73CortinaV8]

"MacBook Ultra" branding is one of the 12 features?

These "rumors" sound suspiciously like they were written by Apple marketing

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

Steve Jobs 2001 presentation: Introducing iPod. A thousand songs in your pocket.

Forum pundits: Who asked for a thousand songs in your pocket?


Not much has changed over the years.

Jobs was, whether rightly or wrongly, perceived as the ultimate enforcer of Apple’s high human interface standards, and the world-breaking iPod click wheel and multitouch iPhone were the results. No single HIG arbiter was ever reputed to have succeeded him, and Apple’s track record of late has been mixed at best: the almost yearly rearrangements of watchOS’ core gestures, the flashy but little-used Touch Bar, iPadOS multitasking, Liquid Glass. I suppose it’s possible that Jobs’ remaining interface disciples have just been busy elsewhere, but I think the forum pundits are right to be concerned.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

What’s sad is that, with this feature list, it should really just be the new, slightly redesigned MacBook Pro.

IT IS!!!
Literally the only source of the ultra name is Mark Gurman, and he has completely changed his tune on that in recent months, going back to simply calling it an upgrade to the MBP.
Mac Rumors just likes clicks.

 

[dmi]

Face ID components are twice as thick as the lid.

Could they be put in the base?

 

[diblasio]

🥱 I’ll wait for the ultra pro max! 🥱

 

[Vincent Hanna]

FaceID on a laptop is physically redundant, as you (rightly) must click a button to confirm it. So might as well just be Touch ID.

Apple will not surrender secure payments to zero-tap facial recognition.

And then you also get the huge benefit of not trying to house Face ID components in a super thin laptop lid. Laptop lids don’t have the necessary Z-axis like phones and iPads do.

 

[capamac]

FaceID on a laptop is physically redundant, as you (rightly) must click a button to confirm it. So might as well just be Touch ID.

Apple will not surrender secure payments to zero-tap facial recognition.

And then you also get the huge benefit of not trying to house Face ID components in a super thin laptop lid. Laptop lids don’t have the necessary Z-axis like phones and iPads do.

Facial recognition isn't very secure according to Blade Runner 2049 :^)

 

[deconstruct60]

IT IS!!!
Literally the only source of the ultra name is Mark Gurman, and he has completely changed his tune on that in recent months, going back to simply calling it an upgrade to the MBP.
Mac Rumors just likes clicks.

It might be useful mechanism to decouple the 'plain' MBP 14" from the MBP 14"/16" Pro models.
Let the plain one drift a while longer to hold prices steady. And let the 14"/16" drift up in costs for a couple iterations.

It might 'pull' more folks debating between MB-Pro 14" Mn and MB-Ultra 14" Mn Pro up into that higher price zone.When the 'plain' MBP 14" had two ports there was a physical distinction, but with matching ports there isn't much of an external different.

Apple thins out the lid. Adds OLED and some other 'bells and whisltes' and there is a bigger gap between plain MBP and this new 14". I also suspect that lack of a gap gets even more strained when the plain MBP 14" comes with a M6 and the other comes with a "M5". Folks just looking at the prefixes are going to be more hesitant to step up (and not paying close attention to their specific workload performance needs).

The plain MBP would pick up OLED about the same time the MBA line up does. Once MBA goes OLED then that 'middle' device will be attacked from the below as well as above. Just going to be a substantive multiple year gap.
After multiple year gap the 14"/16" Ultras go to gen 2 OLED while the others are just getting 'gen 1'.


P.S. If the "no Pro/Max/Ultra" this generation becomes more regular that mismatch between plain MBP 14" and the other 14" model will appear on a more regular basis.

P.P.S. there is also likely a fan club for a MacLaptop that doesn't have a PWM flicker to the screen. The detached plain one could fill that track also ( would decouple from MBA and MBP is all of those go PWM )

 

[Reason077]

The only feature people really care about is the 'MacBook Ultra' branding. 🤑

I care about OLED and I don’t care what brand it comes as. In fact, I’d prefer a MacBook Air with OLED as that would presumably be quite a bit cheaper!

Also I could do without the touch screen. Already spend enough time wiping fingerprints off my screens!

 

[macjaffa]

Why does this need to be a separate-but-not-really tier instead of a direct upgrade to the existing MBPs

good question, but touch, difference case size, screen tech could all make it different enough that it can be a new product range

 

[VisceralRealist]

Nothing, because this article is based on months out of date reporting from Mark Gurman.
According to all of his latest reporting in the last three months, this is just the next generation of MacBook Pro.
It’s using the exact same chips as the current MacBook Pro, the only difference is a new design, an OLED touchscreen display, and the dynamic island. All it is, is just a MacBook Pro redesign, which is right on schedule.
If you look at how frequently the PowerBook/MacBook Pro gets redesigned, you’ll realize that this is right on schedule.
2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2021. Literally makes all the sense in the world that it’s going to get its next redesign in 2026, and that it will incorporate all of the latest technology from the newest iPhones and iPads, like the dynamic island, and OLED.

That would certainly make sense, and that is the outcome I would prefer, but I also can't rule out Apple creating a new, premium tier of laptop priced above the Pro.

But frankly, the "Ultra" rumors have been fishy from the beginning, since these rumors never addressed what would happen to the Pro, if it was now to be a "mid-tier" MacBook. Even the rumored "iPhone Ultra" naming I'm skeptical of, since this model will be missing several features (FaceID, telephoto lens) found on the Pro.

 

[Reason077]

The 16" M5 Pro can already get pretty loud when gaming (by comparison the 16" M3 Pro was silent when gaming).

That’s a bit concerning. Did they change the fan/cooling design somehow? Or is the M5 GPU just generating a lot more heat?

 

[citysnaps]

Jobs was, whether rightly or wrongly, perceived as the ultimate enforcer of Apple’s high human interface standards, and the world-breaking iPod click wheel and multitouch iPhone were the results. No single HIG arbiter was ever reputed to have succeeded him, and Apple’s track record of late has been mixed at best: the almost yearly rearrangements of watchOS’ core gestures, the flashy but little-used Touch Bar, iPadOS multitasking, Liquid Glass. I suppose it’s possible that Jobs’ remaining interface disciples have just been busy elsewhere, but I think the forum pundits are right to be concerned.

The point is that most people here deemed iPod would be a flop. Why? Because apparently it feels good slagging on Apple. That's a tradition going back 20 years - almost every day of the year. Though Jobs did have many flops (somewhere around 20) over the time he was Apple's CEO, iPod was not one of them.

 

[Manatee]

I rarely use a laptop anymore, since the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard handles everything I need - now that iPadOS has real window capability. But if the MacBook Ultra is significantly thinner - and maybe lighter - than the current MacBook Pro, I’ll likely be tempted to buy it.

 

[richinaus]

I must admit to being a little puzzled about what this new Ultra brand will bring to the laptop form factor. Thinner, better screen, faster, battery life? etc. This is just an evolution or where we are today. What we need is a substantial evolution of what the current laptop form factor can provide. Interestingly the Neo seems the greatest change from the current laptop development paradigm. Small, easy to carry, adequate performance and low cost. If they can remove the obvious issues (lower battery life, slow charging, lack of back lit keyboard) then this machine could become the ideal laptop, leaving the heavy duty machines we need for other more processor intensive tasks to the machines we leave at home or the office.

Ask me where we should go from here and I cannot give you an answer since we are stuck in the old laptop paradigm. What I need is a light, portable machine that is easy to carry around and integrates with my ecosystem in a transparent and seamless way. The Neo is nearly there, a super expensive iteration of the existing MBPro is not the answer for me. I can use a Mac Studio or well equipped Mini for the office or home system. I rarely need a very powerful laptop when roaming the house or traveling.

I tend to think the Ultra, should really be the Air Pro. A super lightweight premium laptop.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

Apple's first high-end MacBook redesign in five years is expected to arrive in the near future, bringing a run of firsts to the Mac.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the laptop to arrive between late 2026 and early 2027, with the later window now looking more likely owing to the global memory chip shortage. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects mass production to begin by late 2026.

Apple last redesigned the MacBook Pro in 2021 with the M1 Pro and M1 Max models, so this would be its first new high-end laptop design in at least five years. Here is everything rumored about the device so far:

• "MacBook Ultra" branding: Apple has reportedly decided to market two new "Ultra" products over the next year, the foldable iPhone and this laptop, which would establish a tier above the MacBook Pro for the first time. The name is not confirmed and Apple theoretically could still use "MacBook Pro" branding, but for now, "MacBook Ultra" seems highly likely.
• OLED display: The MacBook Ultra is expected to be the first Mac with an OLED display, replacing the mini-LED backlighting used in current MacBook Pro models. It should deliver richer colors, a higher contrast ratio with true blacks, greater brightness, and improved power efficiency, since individual pixels switch off rather than dim. The laptop will reportedly use hybrid OLED technology combining an oxide TFT backplane with a tandem two-stack OLED structure, the same approach used in the iPad Pro, offering a longer panel lifespan.
• Touch screen: The device is expected to be the first Mac to support touch input directly on the display, ending years of Apple resistance to the idea. Kuo first claimed the panel would support touch, Gurman corroborated it, and the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital" says the feature is now confirmed. Apple is apparently not positioning the machine as a touch-first device like the iPad, instead letting customers move between touch, trackpad, and keyboard interchangeably, in what Gurman describes as "touch-friendly, not touch-first." The laptop is said to remain a conventional clamshell, with the keyboard and trackpad retained and no detachable or convertible design.
• Touch-optimized macOS: Apple is reportedly reworking macOS so that controls adapt to the input method being used. Tapping a menu bar item would apparently surface a larger set of touch-optimized controls, and the system is said to gain iPad-style gestures including pinch-to-zoom and fast scrolling. Touch-based options would be integrated throughout the operating system rather than confined to a handful of apps.
• Reinforced hinge: Apple likely plans to add a reinforced hinge so the display does not wobble when it is tapped. The current MacBook Pro hinge moves easily and does not tilt especially far back, both of which could be a problem on a machine designed to be prodded.
• Hole-punch camera: The "notch" is expected to disappear, replaced by a far smaller hole-punch camera at the top of the display. The change was first indicated by a roadmap from research firm Omdia and has since been corroborated by Bloomberg. Losing the notch would add visible screen area and free up the menu bar space it currently intrudes upon, taking the design a step closer to an uninterrupted, edge-to-edge display.
• Dynamic Island: The cutout is expected to digitally expand into an iPhone-style Dynamic Island. It would be interactive and expand contextually based on the app or Mac feature in use, surfacing items such as Siri, low battery alerts, and AirPods connection indicators in the area surrounding the camera.
• M5 Pro and M5 Max chips: The laptop is now expected to ship with the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips already found in the current MacBook Pro, rather than the "M6 Pro" and "M6 Max." Apple has apparently scrapped the M6 Pro and M6 Max altogether, accelerating instead to M7 Pro and M7 Max chips said to be optimized for intensive AI workloads with upgraded neural accelerators, graphics improvements, and increased memory bandwidth. A second-generation model with those chips is reportedly planned for late 2027.
• Thinner design: The MacBook Ultra is expected to be noticeably thinner and lighter than the current MacBook Pro. Moving away from mini-LED backlighting should itself help slim down the lid. There has so far been no indication that Apple intends to remove ports such as HDMI, MagSafe, or the SD card slot to achieve it, which was a deeply unpopular decision the last time around.
• Two display sizes: The laptop is expected to be offered in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, mirroring the current MacBook Pro lineup, with the two models reportedly code-named K114 and K116.
• Slimmer bezels: Research firm Omdia claims Samsung Display will supply 14.3-inch and 16.3-inch panels, marginally larger than the 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch screens on current models, which would suggest thinner bezels around a slightly bigger display. A February report from Bloomberg indicated that overall screen sizes are not expected to change compared to the MacBook Pro.
• Built-in cellular: Apple has reportedly at least considered built-in cellular connectivity for future Macs, which would be a first for the platform. If the plan goes ahead, the MacBook Ultra would likely use Apple's existing C1X modem or its next-generation C2 modem for 5G and LTE. This is seemingly the most uncertain feature on this list.

There are already signs of the touchscreen MacBook in Apple's software. macOS 27 Golden Gate hints at t... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: 'MacBook Ultra' Coming Soon With These 12 New Features

The only standout feature that very very attractive for me if available is cellular capability. This will make it independent on hotspots and WiFi in general.