For years, rumors have pointed to Apple readying a redesigned MacBook Professional to launch between 2026 and 2027. With the most recent reviews suggesting Apple has pushed its replace to late 2026, a latest story by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman hints that Apple may delay the introduction of this redesigned MacBook Professional because of the upcoming M5 mannequin.
Whereas it was beforehand rumored to arrive round October or November of 2025, Gurman believes Apple may unveil the brand new laptop computer in early 2026. He writes: “The corporate had been planning to launch new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professionals — code-named J714 and J716 — later this 12 months with M5 chips. However Apple is now internally focusing on a launch early subsequent 12 months, which means that the present MacBook Professional launch cycle might final somewhat longer than normal.”
He doesn’t wish to say for certain that is going to occur, as “the timing stays fluid.” Nevertheless, even when Apple delays the M5 MacBook Professional announcement, this might truly point out that the corporate is about to ship a redesign in the identical 12 months.
Apple’s schedule reveals something is feasible
If we glance again on the MacBook Professional’s latest historical past, Apple has launched new Macs in the identical lineup inside just a few months of one another twice earlier than:
- 2020/2021: In November 2020, Apple launched the primary M1 MacBook Professional, adopted by the all-new M1 Professional and M1 Max MacBook Professional fashions in October of 2021.
- 2023: Apple launched the MacBook Professional with M2 Professional and M2 Max chips in January. Then, in October, it launched the M3 MacBook Professional household. No vital design modifications had been made.
Even when Apple releases the M5 MacBook Professional in early 2026, it doesn’t imply the corporate gained’t launch a redesigned mannequin later that 12 months. In any case, Apple executives have beforehand mentioned that the corporate will launch new Macs and chips as quickly as they’re prepared.
As well as, whereas the M4 fashions had been marked upgrades over the earlier fashions, the M5 choices will probably be extra just like the jumps from M1 to M2 or M2 to M3.
Lastly, it’s necessary to take note of that 2026 marks 20 years for the reason that first MacBook Professional launch. Since Apple celebrated the fifteenth anniversary in 2021, it’s solely pure to imagine it doesn’t wish to miss the celebration for the twentieth anniversary in 2026. Apple additionally celebrated the tenth birthday in 2016 with the MacBook Professional with Contact Bar.
What’s so particular concerning the redesigned MacBook Professional?
Whereas many imagine the 2021 MacBook Professional redesign was excellent, the corporate desires to enhance the expertise in just a few areas. Right here’s what the rumors have advised thus far:
- Extremely-thin laptop computer: Apple desires to make its merchandise thinner. It began that development with the M4 iPad Professional, and later this 12 months, we’ll see the primary ultra-thin iPhone. In 2026, we expect to see an ultra-thin MacBook Professional as nicely.
- OLED show: Apple desires to ditch the miniLED on the MacBook in favor of an eighth era OLED panel. This show can be much more superior than the one out there on the iPad Professional, which is taken into account among the finest available on the market.
- Mobile connectivity: Rumors recommend Apple might add its upcoming C2 mobile modem to the Mac, narrowing the variations between the laptop computer and the iPad.
- Gap-punch FaceTime digicam: A report suggests Apple desires to take away the notch from the MacBook Professional and add a hole-punch lens. This might make the brand new digicam work like a smaller Dynamic Island, making it extra cohesive with the present iPhone fashions.
- Extra highly effective chip: The M6 chip is predicted to be the primary with a 2nm manufacturing course of. Smaller processors additionally make them extra highly effective, which continues to be extra necessary as AI purposes require extra horsepower than ever.
- Have fun the top of the Intel period: macOS 27, which is the software program anticipated to be shipped with this MacBook, gained’t help Intel Macs. That mentioned, Apple may wish to mark the event as its strikes to solely utilizing its personal silicon.
BGR will let you recognize as soon as we study extra about Apple’s plans to launch this redesigned MacBook Professional, together with its potential launch date, options, and different particulars.
