Apple has yet to begin shipping the new Mac products that were announced last week. However, Mark Gurman is already looking ahead to what the company might reveal for future MacBook Pro devices as far ahead as 2026. Just to give some background, Apple updated the 24-inch iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Pro 14, and MacBook Pro 16 at the end of October, introducing the new M4 Pro and M4 Max chipsets.
Only One Redesigned Product
Out of these updates, only the Mac mini (currently $799 - 512 GB on Amazon) received a complete redesign. Historically, Apple has refreshed the design of the MacBook Pro every four years. However, the last update was delayed by an additional year, which aligned with the launch of the Apple M1 chipsets.
Future Designs and Delays
Gurman indicates that Apple is likely to take a similar amount of time again before introducing new designs for the MacBook Pro lineup. This delay appears to be linked to production issues with the expected tandem OLED panels, which Apple aimed to have ready by next year. Consequently, the MacBook Pro models expected next year will primarily feature the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chipsets.
What's Coming in 2026
In contrast, the next generation of MacBook Pros is anticipated to integrate a new design alongside tandem OLED displays for the very first time. Additionally, Gurman mentions that the Apple M6 chipsets will transition to a 2 nm manufacturing process, down from the 3 nm process used for the M4 and M5 series. Therefore, the MacBook Pros released in 2026 are expected to be much more efficient compared to the current models, while also providing a significant improvement in performance and maximum display brightness.
Mark Gurman & Bloomberg via 9to5Mac
