'MacBook Ultra' Coming Soon With These 12 New Features - MacRumors

What the report says

MacRumors reports that Apple’s next major high-end laptop redesign, widely rumored as a “MacBook Ultra,” is expected sometime from late 2026 to early 2027, with early 2027 now appearing more likely because of a global memory chip shortage. The site cites Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, research firm Omdia and other leakers for details, while noting that Apple has not confirmed the name or the product.

The reported model would be Apple’s first major redesign of its premium MacBook line since the 2021 MacBook Pro. Rumored changes include an OLED display, direct touch input, a macOS interface adjusted for touch, a stronger hinge, slimmer bezels, a thinner and lighter chassis, and 14-inch and 16-inch versions. MacRumors also says the current display notch may be replaced by a smaller camera cutout that could work with an iPhone-like Dynamic Island interface.

On performance, the article says the first version is now expected to use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than newer M6 Pro or M6 Max processors. A follow-up model with more advanced chips geared toward AI workloads is reportedly planned for late 2027. Built-in cellular connectivity is also described as under consideration, but MacRumors characterizes that as the least certain of the rumored features.

The possible launch matters because it would mark a significant shift in Apple’s Mac strategy, including a potential move into touch-screen Macs after years of emphasizing the iPad for touch computing. Pricing remains unknown, but MacRumors expects the device to sit above the existing MacBook Pro lineup.