Apple is expected to unveil MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED displays this Wednesday, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. MacRumors relayed the claim from his Power On newsletter. Apple has not confirmed any product details, and everything below is unconfirmed reporting.
What is reported
Gurman says the company plans to announce the new machines in a press release on Wednesday, October 28. Apple has already confirmed a "Pro and Tell" media event in Los Angeles that day at 10 a.m. Pacific, and invited guests are expected to get hands-on time with the new hardware after the announcement.
The reported lineup includes 14-inch and 16-inch models. Their headline change is an OLED panel that accepts touch input, along with a Dynamic Island in place of the notch at the top of the screen. Gurman describes the overall design as similar to today's MacBook Pro, though lighter.
Chips and software
Interestingly, the newsletter says the new notebooks would use the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips that Apple already ships in its current MacBook Pro line, rather than a newer generation. That detail sits alongside a separate Bloomberg report that Apple will also refresh the iMac and a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip this week, so the exact configurations of each model remain unclear until Apple speaks.
On the software side, Gurman reports that the macOS version known as Golden Gate would include a dynamic interface for touch. Controls would reportedly change depending on whether someone is using the screen or the trackpad, menus would appear near a finger, and the Dock and menu bar would be adjusted for touch. Touch would be an optional addition rather than a replacement for the keyboard and trackpad.
Pricing and lineup
No prices have been confirmed. The OLED models are expected to cost more than the current mini-LED versions, which start at $2,499 for the 14-inch model and $2,999 for the 16-inch with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. MacRumors notes the new machines could start as much as $500 higher. The mini-LED models are expected to stay on sale for now and be phased out over time.
What to watch
Apple's event is days away, so the question of how the OLED MacBook Pro fits alongside the reported M6 refresh should be answered soon. Cupertino News will report on whatever Apple announces.
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