MacBook Ultra: Everything We Know About Apple's OLED Touchscreen Mac
Apple is working on a high-end
MacBook Pro that could be called the "MacBook Ultra." The device will have several firsts in a Mac, including an OLED display and a touchscreen.
The "Ultra" name isn't a sure thing, because Apple could also continue to call the device the MacBook Pro and make it a high-end model in the Pro lineup. There are rumors of other "Ultra" devices in the works like AirPods and the foldable iPhone, which could be called the
iPhone Ultra.
Design
Apple hasn't redesigned the MacBook Pro since the launch of the
M1 Pro and
M1 Max models in 2021, so the device is due for a new look. The MacBook Ultra could feature some design changes, including a thinner chassis.
Apple could get rid of the notch on the MacBook Ultra, replacing it with an iPhone-style
Dynamic Island. A Dynamic Island could better unify the way
Siri AI behaves across the iPhone and the Mac with
iOS 27 and
macOS Golden Gate.
Size Options
The MacBook Ultra will be available in both 14-inch and 16-inch size options.
Display
Apple's upcoming MacBook will be the first with an OLED display. OLED display technology is already used for the iPhone, Apple Watch, and
iPad Pro, but it has taken time for larger-sized OLED screens to come down in price.
OLED will be an upgrade over the current mini-LED display technology in most cases, bringing deeper colors and a higher contrast ratio with true blacks. In an OLED display, individual pixels turn off instead of dimming when not activated, so there's less light leakage. OLED displays tend to have better HDR than mini-LED, but sometimes don't match the mini-LED brightness levels.
Along with OLED technology, the MacBook Ultra is expected to have the first touchscreen display on a Mac. Users will be able to use their fingers to interact with the Mac's display, similar to an
iPad.
Touchscreen capabilities will be used alongside the trackpad and keyboard, suggesting Apple sees touch as supplementary rather than a primary control method. Apple is rumored to be adapting macOS Golden Gate for touch input.
Apple plans to add a reinforced hinge to the MacBook Ultra's display so that it doesn't wobble when it's tapped.
MacBook Ultra Hints
There are features in macOS Golden Gate that
hint at a future touchscreen Mac. Apple added direct touch input to
Sidecar so users can tap and interact with macOS elements when using the iPad as a Mac display.
macOS Golden Gate supports an iPhone-style pull-to-refresh option, and it can be used across apps like Safari, Mail, News, Podcasts, and Calendar. A pull-to-refresh option makes the most sense on a touch display.
Chips
The current MacBook Pro models are equipped with
M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and Apple plans to use the same chips for the rumored MacBook Ultra.
Apple is planning to
introduce the M6 chip as soon as late 2026, but
Bloomberg says Apple isn't going to release any other chips in the M6 series. Apple's chip plans have changed in recent months, and the company is now accelerating the launch of the M7 series. The M7 chips feature major neural processing improvements that will meet increasing demand for machines better able to handle AI tasks.
With no M6 Pro or M6 Max planned, Apple will need to use the M5 Pro and M5 Max so it doesn't have to wait for the M7 series before debuting the MacBook Ultra. A second-generation MacBook Ultra will use the M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, with that machine planned for late 2027 or early 2028.
Pricing
Apple's OLED MacBook is expected to be a premium product, with a price tag higher than current MacBook Pro models. Apple raised the prices of all Macs in June 2026, and so the MacBook Ultra will likely be even more expensive than expected. MacBook Pro pricing went up $300.
The higher-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip starts at $2,499 after the price increase, while the 16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro starts at $2,999. The OLED MacBook will be priced even higher.
Launch Date
Rumors suggest the MacBook Ultra will launch in late 2026 or early 2027, with mass production to start in late 2026. If the MacBook Ultra comes in 2026, it could be released sometime between October and December, but it won't be introduced at Apple's September iPhone event. If the new MacBook launches in 2027, it could come early in the year at Apple's first 2027 event.
Timing is uncertain because of ongoing memory shortages. Apple will need to be able to secure enough memory chips, and that could affect the company's launch plans.
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