New MacBook Pro Nears Mass Production, But Four Bigger Upgrades Expected Next Year

[MacRumors]

Apple's next MacBook Pro models will enter mass production soon, according to the latest information shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said he continues to believe the new MacBook Pro models will be released at some point between late 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, meaning they should be available to order by March at the latest.

Apple often releases new Macs in October, but both Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the next MacBook Pro models might not arrive until early 2026. Apple announced the MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023, so there is precedent for such a timeframe.

The next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro are expected to be powered by M5/M5 Pro/M5 Max chips, but no other major changes have been rumored so far.

In late 2026, the MacBook Pro is expected to receive four bigger upgrades, including an OLED display for improved contrast ratio, a touch screen, a thinner design, and M6/M6 Pro/M6 Max chips fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process.

It has also been rumored that Apple might add cellular connectivity to Macs, so perhaps the MacBook Pro models with an OLED display will be equipped with a similar custom-designed modem as the C1 chip in the iPhone 16e or C1X chip in the iPhone Air. Plus, the notch surrounding the front camera might get smaller on the OLED models.

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Article Link: New MacBook Pro Nears Mass Production, But Four Bigger Upgrades Expected Next Year

 

[jz0309]

so release this year or next? which is it? make up your mind Gurman ...

 

[Trusteft]

I don't understand why people want both a very high quality screen AND a touchscreen, which will be constantly with smudges. Why a touchscreen on a laptop to begin with?
Meh.
Whatever.

 

[Junipr]

Welcome iPadBook Pro to the Mac family

 

[p.willis]

I don't understand why people want both a very high quality screen AND a touchscreen, which will be constantly with smudges. Why a touchscreen on a laptop to begin with?
Meh.
Whatever.

I've had Windows laptops for both work and home use with touchscreens and honestly I dont see the attraction... except to finger prints

Windows is not great for touch. Unless you are using in tablet only mode without a keyboard. And then it's just a slightly clunky iPad with quirks.

Pick the tool to do the job you want not force interaction on things not primarily designed for it.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Most people only need the M4/M5 MacBook Air. All this OLED screen and thinner design and touch screen with the Pro’s just makes trillion dollar Apple 🍎 more money 💰

 

[qwertme]

If it's basically an un neutered iPad I am in!

 

[Kylo83]

after seeing the line up so far this year, ive lost hope for a great update

 

[macduke]

Yeah, doesn’t really make much sense to upgrade to the M5 unless you absolutely need it given the major updates coming with the M6 generation. And even if something happens to force an early upgrade, going for a new (while you can) or refurbed M4 makes a lot of sense that you can either use for a few years or sell for a small loss to get the M6 with all that OLED goodness.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Wherever your expectations are at…

Lower them.

 

[hedgetank]

Dear Apple: I don't want thinner MacBook Pros. I don't want a touch screen. It's a Pro machine. I want upgradable memory, storage, and lots of ports without needing to buy a damned dock. I want high durability and beefy cooling systems. I'm using it as a portable workstation, not using it as a laptop.

If you're expecting me to pay $3500+ for the high end CPU to do work with, then you better make it worth my money. I was going to buy one, but, meh, for that kinda scratch, I can buy a real workstation replacement machine and run Linux.

 

[TheGenerous]

I still feel my MBP M1 Pro is overpowered

 

[newyorksole]

loving my M4 Pro 16” and planned on having it for a while but that M6 sounds compelling… let’s see

 

[DHagan4755]

I asked mark on his discord for some clarification. Between the end of the year & first quarter is ambiguous wording. Are they expected this calendar year or Q1 2026?

More importantly, mass production began in late August last year. So we could still get them this year, maybe in November. There has been Apple laptop releases in November previously.

 

[drrich2]

Dear Apple: I don't want thinner MacBook Pros. I don't want a touch screen. It's a Pro machine. I want upgradable memory, storage, and lots of ports without needing to buy a damned dock. I want high durability and beefy cooling systems. I'm using it as a portable workstation, not using it as a laptop.

If you're expecting me to pay $3500+ for the high end CPU to do work with, then you better make it worth my money. I was going to buy one, but, meh, for that kinda scratch, I can buy a real workstation replacement machine and run Linux.

The idea appeals to me, too, as a home user, not a professional relying on it. But that raises a question; how many people would opt for what you describe?

Put it this way; let's say Apple puts out an M5 line as usual, but also a new product, what you describe. It could be called the MacStation Pro, StudioBook Pro, whatever. But it'd be what you describe, but...3 to 4 pounds heavier, and when those beefy cooling system fans kick in, they'll make some noise (only when churning away at a heavy workload).

How many people would opt for that? Compared to the other Mac systems?

I have no idea; just curious to hear what you guys think the demand would be.

 

[mozumder]

Mostly interested in M6 Pro Max for the huge memory available for LLMs. Come on Apple give us 1TB unified memory!

 

[btrach144]

Mark never knows anything. Just throwing darts.

 

[Falhófnir]

I hope they won't fall back into a similar trap that afflicted the Touch Bar generation MBPs, but slightly thinner, maybe paired with a slightly larger footprint for 14.7" and 16.7" displays could work quite nicely without reducing the machines volumetrically in a way that would mean smaller and worse batteries, speakers, chip thermals, or worse, compromises like the butterfly keyboard (🤢). Ultimately they have the Air line if they want to show off how svelte an Apple Silicon machine they can make (no butterflies here either, though, please).

With the display, touch could be a good additional input method, I don't think they necessarily need to optimise MacOS for touch, as the mouse and keyboard will still be there, but swiping to scroll, or tapping on a thumbnail could potentially be useful. If it adds significantly to the cost of the machine there will need to be a more compelling reason to include it, though. OLEDs main advantage would be fixing the poor response times on the miniLED panels.

 

[Digitalguy]

I don't understand why people want both a very high quality screen AND a touchscreen, which will be constantly with smudges. Why a touchscreen on a laptop to begin with?
Meh.
Whatever.

as long as it's an option, line nanotexture, everyone will be happy. Having said that, if not, I have a very simple solution, just use as you do now, without touching the screen.

 

[surferfb]

I’m due for a new laptop, and my M1 is finally starting to show its age, but want to hold out for the redesign. so hopefully I can hang on another year.

 

[b0fh]

Most people only need the M4/M5 MacBook Air. All this OLED screen and thinner design and touch screen with the Pro’s just makes trillion dollar Apple 🍎 more money 💰

Speak for yourself. I want the M6 15" MacBook Air. I just need it with 3 T5 ports please.

 

[Majamaki]

The pro machines are already plenty thin, nobody is asking to make them thinner. As someone else said, beef them up as PRO machines, add more ports, upgrade options, and capabilities that Pros can use. The thin MacBook is already accomplished with the Air.

 

[Moonjumper]

I'd like to see a really thin Apple laptop where a small battery brings battery life down to the old Intel levels (which was OK for many), but not on the Pro. The Pro should have good battery life even when doing beefy tasks.

 

[TarkinDale]

My unheeded request: stop making the edge of the laptop razor sharp when opened. Kills my wrists.
Yes, I shouldn’t rest my wrists on it, but it happens.

 

[pdaholic]

I love my surface pros. I would go nuts for a touchscreen Mac with a detachable keyboard. iPadOS is simply too limited for my needs.