Apple Plans Massive 2026 Mac Overhaul With OLED MacBook Pro and Low-Cost Laptop [Report]

Apple is preparing a busy year for the Mac in 2026, with plans that span routine spec updates, long-awaited hardware refreshes, and at least one notable addition to the lineup. In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is lining up updates across much of its Mac lineup, with releases spread throughout the year.



The rollout is expected to begin in the first half of 2026 with a series of specification updates. Apple introduced the base M5 MacBook Pro in October 2025, but the rest of the Mac lineup has yet to make the jump. According to Gurman, updated versions of the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Studio are all planned for the first half of the year. That timing lines up with earlier reports suggesting Apple was targeting early 2026 for systems built around the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.


One long-neglected product is also expected to return. Gurman says Apple is planning to update the Apple Studio Display in the first half of 2026, marking its first refresh in several years. While no specifications were shared in the newsletter, separate reports have pointed to a next-generation model that could add ProMotion, HDR support, and a newer A-series chip for onboard processing, addressing some of the biggest complaints with the current 60Hz display.

More dramatic changes are expected later in the year. Gurman reiterates that Apple is working on a redesigned MacBook Pro slated for late 2026, featuring an OLED display and support for touch input. That would represent a shift from Apple's long-standing stance against touchscreen Macs. He has also reiterated earlier claims that the new model could adopt a thinner design, potentially replacing the notch with a hole-punch camera.

Apple is also said to be close to finalizing a new low-cost MacBook aimed at education and enterprise customers. Unlike the rest of the lineup, this model would use an iPhone-class chip instead of an M-series processor. The device is intended to compete more directly with Chromebooks, a space where Apple has so far leaned on the iPad. Earlier leaks identified the project as code-named J700, positioning it as a separate option rather than a replacement for the MacBook Air.

Finally, Gurman suggests Apple's chip roadmap may be moving more quickly than expected. The M5 debuted only months ago in the iPad Pro, yet he believes the M6 could arrive sooner than many anticipate. He points to the unusually short gap between the M3 and M4 generations as evidence that Apple is willing to tighten its release schedule as competition from Qualcomm and Intel intensifies.


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