Ask any pro user and they’ll tell you: incremental updates are whisperable comforts, but real excitement comes with a remake. That’s where Apple seems to be headed this year — and in two distinct phases.
The short-term story is practical and unsurprising. Apple is poised to refresh its MacBook Pro lineup with M5 Pro and M5 Max variants very soon, likely tied to the macOS 26.3 rollout. These machines are expected to use the same chassis you already know: familiar angles, the same keyboard and trackpad layout, and the notch that’s become part of the silhouette. Performance upgrades under the hood are the headline — more cores, higher sustained throughput, and, according to early code hints, references to bigger M5-class silicon being tested in Apple’s labs.
But for creatives and power users who’ve been holding out for something visibly different, the whispers from supply-chain reports point to a much more interesting second act.
A proper redesign — later in the year
Multiple industry sources now say Apple will ship an all-new MacBook Pro in the final quarter of 2026. The big changes being talked about aren’t just iterative—they’re structural: a thinner, lighter chassis; a hole-punch camera replacing the notch; and, for the first time on a MacBook Pro, an OLED display.
Samsung Display is reportedly set to produce the panels, and early targets suggest sizable volume ambitions. An OLED switch would matter more than it sounds: better contrast, deeper blacks, and brighter colors all make a tangible difference for photo and video work. One rumor even flags a two-stack tandem OLED approach — tech Apple already uses in the iPad Pro — which would lift peak brightness and HDR fidelity.
There’s also chatter about touchscreen capability and even built-in cellular connectivity as optional extras. That would nudge the MacBook Pro into more hybrid territory: laptop-first, but with new workflows in mind.
Chips: more than M5 in the pipeline
Before this redesign lands, expect the imminent M5 Pro and M5 Max refresh to dominate headlines. But the longer-term roadmap is murkier and more intriguing. Some reports and code references suggest Apple is testing M5 Max and even M5 Ultra identifiers in its recent OS release candidates — hinting that Apple’s silicon roadmap may include more extreme performance tiers than previously assumed.
Separately, coverage of the late-2026 redesign often mentions M6-series chips powering the new form factor. Whether Apple ships both a new chip family and a new chassis at once is a classic Apple question: simultaneous transitions are ambitious, but they deliver the clearest user experience gains.
What this means for buyers
If you need a machine now and work in pro apps, the upcoming M5 Pro/Max models are likely to deliver meaningful speed gains without asking you to relearn anything. If you’re after new industrial design, OLED color depth, or a punch‑hole screen and touchscreen support, patience will probably pay off until the Q4 rollout.
Also worth watching: Apple’s rumored budget 13-inch MacBook with an A18 Pro — a lower-cost option pitched between about $699 and $899 — which could attract buyers who don’t need Pro-level GPUs. That device is a separate thread in Apple’s lineup strategy and helps explain why Apple may hold design and silicon for its premium machines. For more on the low-cost direction, see our breakdown of Apple’s rumored budget MacBook.
If you’re hunting deals because new models are on the horizon, the market already reflects that: recent promotions have pushed Air and older MacBook prices down ahead of refreshes. It’s a useful moment to compare trade‑in values if you’re planning to upgrade when the new Pro appears; current bargains on the MacBook Air have softened the sting for buyers who can’t wait. See the latest on price shifts and offers in our piece about MacBook Air deals.
A cautiously optimistic view
Apple’s cadence this year looks deliberate: an immediate performance refresh to keep professional buyers happy, and a bolder second release that addresses long-standing demands — brighter, higher-contrast displays and a cleaner front bezel. Supply-chain timing, panel readiness, and chip validation are the usual variables that can shuffle dates, but the pieces are lining up for a substantive mid-to-late-year update.
If you want the short answer: buy what you need now; if you want a visible leap in display and design, plan to wait until the final quarter.
If you’re comparing models or thinking about trade-ins, remember that price and availability swings often follow these launch waves. And if you’re curious about specific MacBook models while weighing an upgrade, the classic MacBook and MacBook Pro names remain as relevant as ever — you can check out current MacBook options and prices available on Amazon.
Apple’s 2026 MacBook roadmap looks like a two-act story: one act of pragmatic power, then a planned design pivot that could finally give the MacBook Pro the fresh face many users have been waiting for.