TL: DR
- Given that the first touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro is expected to run on Apple’s M6 chipset, it will likely be the entry-level 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro, which is expected to be released in October 2026.
- With all the changes in hardware and design, the first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen could cost a few hundred dollars more than the current generation models.
- A new MacBook Air model with the baseline M5 chip is expected to arrive in spring 2026, likely around March or April.
Most recently, the Cupertino giant Apple refreshed the baseline 14-inch MacBook Pro with its new M5 chip. While the new chipset gave the MacBook a performance boost, the company didn’t upgrade a key aspect: the display. A hot minute after the launch, reports about the first MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen (yes, a touchscreen) have started to surface online, and from what it looks like, it could arrive sometime next year.
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New MacBook Pro With Touchscreen Display To Debut Next Year
Optimistically speaking, Apple could reveal its first MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen by the end of 2026 or the start of 2027.
- This year, the company released an entry-level M5 MacBook Pro in October, while the Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max are expected to debut sometime in 2026 (probably in the first three to four months).
- Given that the first touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro is expected to run on Apple’s M6 chipset, it will likely be the entry-level 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro, which is expected to be released in October 2026.
- Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro could carry the codename “K114,” while the 16-inch MacBook Pro (expected in 2027) could carry the codename “K116.”
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Touchscreen MacBook To Get Some Design Changes As Well
Apart from the M6 chipset and the OLED touchscreen, the new MacBook Pro may also feature thinner and lighter frames, marking the first major design change in years. Besides, the laptop could do away with the gigantic notch up top, and instead, include a hole-punch cutout (similar to the Dynamic Island on the modern iPhones).
Given that using a touchscreen involves users applying some pressure to the screen (which occurs unintentionally), Apple is also working to strengthen the hinge and screen of the upcoming MacBook Pro. The design changes will prevent the screen from moving when touched, a problem that currently exists on the MacBook.
A friend of mine owns an M2 MacBook Air (15-inch), and at times, the chassis is not able to support the weight of the screen, especially while picking up the laptop from a table or carrying it around with the screen unfolded. A similar problem also exists on my M1 MacBook Air. With all the changes in hardware and design, the first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen could cost a few hundred dollars more than the current generation models.
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M6 MacBook Pro Starting Price (Speculated)
The current-generation MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 chip) costs Rs. 1,69,900 in India and $1,599 in the United States. Adding the touchscreen and the required hardware enhancements could increase the price to Rs. 1,89,900 in India and $1,999 in the United States. However, this remains speculation at the moment, and there’s no solid leak or rumor to support it.
M5 MacBook Air To Arrive Early Next Year
The same report highlights how a MacBook Air model with the baseline M5 chip could arrive in spring 2026, i.e., likely around March or April. Before that, the company could also launch new MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and the M5 Max chips, which are higher-end variants of the M5 designed for professional users. These models could arrive as soon as January or February.
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Moreover, this pattern mirrors what the company did with the M3 and M4 generations — releasing Pro models first, then the Air a few months later.
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