M7 MacBook Pro with Redesign Coming Early 2027

In a move that breaks with Apple's longstanding pattern, the entry-level MacBook Pro is getting a major redesign much sooner than expected. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing a fully redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro, codenamed K104, for release in the first half of 2027 .

Normally, when Apple introduces a new MacBook Pro design, it takes a while to trickle down to the entry-level model. The 14-inch design with M1 Pro/Max debuted in 2021, but the base model didn't get the new chassis until 2023 with the M3 chip. Similarly, the 2016 redesign didn't reach the entry level until 2019 .

This time, the gap will be just six months.

What makes the news even more significant is the chip strategy behind it. Apple is skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max entirely — the base M6 chip will debut in late 2026, but the redesign and the M7 chip will arrive together in early 2027 .

What Happened: A Rushed Chip Roadmap

Apple has made a dramatic change to its Apple Silicon roadmap. According to Gurman and multiple reports, the company has canceled M6 Pro and M6 Max chips entirely .

Instead, Apple is accelerating the M7 generation, which is being designed primarily around on-device AI performance . This is the first time since the M1 launched in 2020 that Apple has released a chip generation without Pro or Max variants .

The base M6 chip is still on track for late 2026, debuting in an entry-level MacBook Pro with the current design (codename J804). But the high-end MacBook Pro models that were expected to use M6 Pro and M6 Max have been delayed — they will now launch with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips instead, in a redesigned chassis, before being refreshed with M7 Pro and M7 Max in late 2027 .

The New MacBook Pro Roadmap

Here is what the MacBook Pro lineup looks like under the new plan :

The timeline is unusual in several ways. The entry-level model will get two updates in quick succession: an M6 refresh in fall 2026, followed by the M7 redesign just months later in early 2027 . The M6 version will be a stopgap — available for only a few months before the more significant redesign arrives .

The high-end models, meanwhile, will launch with "older" M5 Pro and M5 Max chips in the new chassis — a decision that prioritizes design over silicon generation .

What the Redesign Brings

According to multiple reports, the new MacBook Pro design — coming to both high-end and entry-level models — will be Apple's most significant Mac update in years .

Apple is updating macOS to be more touch-friendly. If a user taps a menu bar item, it will display larger controls optimized for touch. Features like pinch-to-zoom and fast scrolling will work exactly as they do on iPhone and iPad . However, Apple will not position the MacBook Pro as a "touch-first" device — touch and traditional click methods will work interchangeably .

Why This Matters: Apple's AI Pivot

The accelerated M7 timeline tells a clear story: Apple is prioritizing AI over everything else.

The M7 chip is being designed from the ground up for on-device AI. It will feature a faster Neural Engine, more memory bandwidth (around 240 GB/s), and a 2nm process .

Apple appears willing to accept a messy product transition — M6 MacBook Pros with old designs, high-end MacBooks with older chips, entry-level models with M7 before the Pro lineup — in order to get its AI-focused chip into the market faster .

As one industry analyst noted: "This chip roadmap adjustment will create a clear product segmentation. Casual users can get M6 entry-level Macs in late 2026. Professional creators in video editing, 3D modeling, and local AI development will have to wait over a year for the next-generation high-end models."

And there is a price catch: Apple's recent memory-driven price hikes have pushed the entry-level MacBook Pro from $1,999 to higher levels. The redesigned M7 version will not be cheap — but for buyers who want the new design and chip without paying for the top-tier Pro/Max chips, it will be the most accessible option .

Key Takeaways