Lily Chemaa
Apple significantly updated its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro series in October 2024, introducing M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips. The high-end models now feature Thunderbolt 5 ports, and the display has improved. While this update is substantial, Mark Gurman predicts that the real changes will come with the 2026 MacBook Pro.
The most anticipated update is the introduction of OLED displays. Sources confirm that, in 2026, the MacBook Pro may feature an OLED screen for the first time. Research company Omdia and display analyst Ross Young have jointly verified this. OLED technology will offer higher brightness, contrast, and energy efficiency compared to the current mini-LED technology.
Additionally, Apple plans to introduce a thinner and lighter design for the MacBook Pro. The M4 iPad Pro demonstrated Apple’s commitment to extreme thinness and lightness. This design philosophy is expected to carry over to future MacBook Pro models. While the 2021 redesign made the MacBook Pro thicker and heavier to accommodate more ports, Apple aims to achieve a thinner, lighter body without compromising functionality.
Another significant change is the farewell to notch. The Omdia roadmap shows that the 2026 MacBook Pro will use a hole-punch camera design to replace the existing notch screen.
Apple is exploring the possibility of adding 5G modem technology to the Mac series. As Apple’s self-developed 5G chips mature, the 2026 MacBook Pro may support cellular network connections. The first generation of 5G chips will offer sub-6GHz speeds, while the second generation should support faster mmWave technology.
The launch of the M6 series chips will mark another milestone in MacBook Pro performance. If Apple follows the current pace of the M series chip upgrades, the M5 series will arrive in October 2025, using TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process (N3P). By 2026, the M6 chip could feature a new 2nm process and WMCM (wafer-level multi-chip module) packaging technology, enhancing performance and energy efficiency. This technology integrates multiple chips within a single package, enabling the development of more complex chipsets and offering significant performance improvements for the MacBook Pro.
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