Apple is moving towards a long-awaited major design change in the MacBook Pro series. Bloomberg editor Mark Gurman power on According to the newsletter, this change will be reserved only for models with M6 Pro and M6 Max processors in the upper segment. Innovations such as OLED screen, touch support and thinned case may appear on the scene with these models. The entry-level MacBook Pro model is expected to continue with its current design without an OLED screen.
The last major design revision of the MacBook Pro took place in 2021. Since then, Apple has focused on updating its product line on a hardware basis, but the external appearance has remained constant. It seems that the company is now preparing to switch to OLED display technology. It is known that this change offers significant advantages compared to miniLED technology. It is emphasized that the OLED screen stands out in areas such as color accuracy, energy efficiency and thinness.
The new generation MacBook Pro with OLED screen will only be in the upper segment instead of the entry model
However, Apple may not distribute all these innovations equally to every model. According to Gurman, the company’s redesigned MacBook Pro will only be seen on devices with M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. This shows that the entry-level 14-inch model will continue with the old design. A similar situation occurred in the past with the Touch Bar feature. Although the Touch Bar was introduced in 2016, it didn’t appear on entry models until 2019.
The current MacBook Pro family consists of three different configurations. There is a 14-inch model with an M5 processor in the entry segment. At the top, there are 14-inch and 16-inch models with M4 Pro and M4 Max processors. The main difference between the entry model and the high-end models is the cooling system used. While double fans are used in the upper models, the entry-level model has a single fan.
The reason why Apple differentiates its entry model in this way is cost and suitability to the user profile. This model offers an economical option for users with lower performance requirements. For this reason, it may be a logical choice for the company not to bring a technology with high production costs such as OLED directly to the entry level. Thus, the price-performance balance is maintained. In the upper segment, the limits of innovation are kept wide.
Gurman stated that MacBook Pros with the new design will be introduced between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027. It is stated that these devices will only come with M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. Therefore, it is thought that the new case is being prepared only for these upper segment models. It seems that Apple took this distinction into consideration during the design process. This approach largely overlaps with the company’s past strategies.
On the other hand, Apple is expected to continue to maintain its current case design throughout 2025. According to Gurman, MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors will be announced in the first half of the year. In addition, the M5 MacBook Air model will also be offered to users. By the middle of the year, Mac mini with M5 and M5 Pro chips and Mac Studio models with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips will be introduced. Towards the end of the year, the entry-level MacBook Pro with the M6 processor is expected to be introduced.
All these updates show that Apple has adopted a processor-focused development process. However, on the design side, these developments are only reflected in certain models. This difference causes a clear distinction between the user base in terms of both expectations and pricing. Apple continues to offer more innovative features on devices with more powerful processors. Entry-level users, on the other hand, experience a more conservative device experience.
This product planning clarifies Apple’s strategy for different user groups. While the new design with OLED screen is offered for professional users who need high performance, daily users are content with simpler hardware. By maintaining this distinction, Apple both keeps costs under control and shapes the user experience according to segments. It appears that the company’s plans in this direction will continue in the new MacBook Pro series.