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April 26, 2026 – Apple just updated the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last month. But the real revolution, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, is still a year away. Apple is preparing a completely new high-end laptop that could be called the MacBook Ultra – and it's shaping up to be the biggest Mac redesign since 2021.

Reading time: ~8 minutes | Source: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman via MacRumors | Expected launch: Early 2027

MacBook Ultra: Apple's 2027 Super-Laptop

The MacBook Ultra would sit above the MacBook Pro, representing a new flagship tier. Gurman recently indicated that early 2027 is now more likely than late 2026 due to the global memory chip shortage affecting Apple's RAM supply. Entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro models with the standard M6 chip are not expected to receive most of these upgrades.

Here are the six major features rumored for the MacBook Ultra.

Release Timeline: When to Expect It

EventExpected TimingStatus
M5 MacBook Pro launchMarch 2026Completed
MacBook Ultra announcementEarly 2027 (likely)Rumored
MacBook Ultra availabilitySpring 2027Expected
Key Insight: The global memory chip shortage is pushing the launch from late 2026 to early 2027. Apple's RAM supply constraints are the main culprit.

Quick Comparison: MacBook Ultra vs Current MacBook Pro

FeatureMacBook Ultra (Rumored)Current MacBook Pro (M5)
DisplayOLED (true blacks, richer colors)LCD with mini-LED backlighting
Touch ScreenYes (touch-capable)No
Front Camera AreaDynamic Island (hole-punch)Notch
ProcessorM6 Pro / M6 Max (2nm)M5 Pro / M5 Max (3nm)
DesignThinner (OLED-enabled)Current thickness
Cellular ConnectivityBuilt-in 5G (C1X/C2 modem)No (iPhone hotspot only)

1. OLED Display: True Blacks at Last

The Display Upgrade Everyone Has Wanted

This is arguably the most certain rumor. The MacBook Ultra will be the first MacBook with an OLED display, moving away from LCD with mini-LED backlighting. All iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro models already use OLED – the MacBook Pro is the last holdout.

✓ Expected benefits: perfect blacks, infinite contrast ratio, richer colors, better HDR performance
✗ Potential concern: OLED burn-in on static desktop elements (taskbar, dock)

2. Touch Screen: Apple Reverses Course

Steve Jobs Said No. Apple Says Maybe.

Steve Jobs famously argued that a touch-screen Mac would cause arm fatigue – the so-called "gorilla arm" problem. But Apple reverses course from time to time, and the MacBook Ultra's OLED display is rumored to have touch-screen capabilities. This would let users interact with both fingers and traditional input methods.

✓ Intuitive for scrolling, zooming, and certain creative tasks
✗ User pushback is fierce – many MacRumors commenters say they disable touch on Windows laptops immediately

3. Dynamic Island: Goodbye Notch

A Hole-Punch Camera and Something New

The MacBook Ultra is expected to replace the notch with a hole-punch camera, paving the way for a Dynamic Island similar to the iPhone. This would display system alerts – low battery, AirPods connection status, face recognition indicators – in the area surrounding the camera, moving one step closer to a truly edge-to-edge display with minimal bezels.

✓ Adds functional UI elements to what is currently dead space
✗ Some users prefer the simplicity of the current notch

4. M6 Pro and M6 Max: The 2nm Leap

TSMC's Advanced 2nm Process

The current M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are built on TSMC's third-generation 3nm process. The MacBook Ultra's M6 Pro and M6 Max chips are expected to leap ahead to TSMC's advanced 2nm process, which should deliver above-average year-over-year gains in both performance and power efficiency.

✓ Potentially the biggest generational leap since M1
✗ Note: Entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with standard M6 chip won't get these upgrades

5. Thinner Design: Portrait of a Risk

The OLED Tax Comes with Benefits

The move from LCD with mini-LED to OLED would contribute significantly to a thinner design. What remains unclear is whether Apple plans to once again remove ports like HDMI, MagSafe, or the SD card slot to achieve this thinness – a decision that proved very unpopular when Apple last attempted it.

✓ OLED panels are inherently thinner, enabling lighter laptops
✗ User demand: "The Mac world needs a portable workstation, not lighter and thinner"

6. Cellular: Always-Connected Mac

5G Built Right In

Macs can already connect to cellular networks via Personal Hotspot on a nearby iPhone or iPad. But Apple has reportedly considered built-in cellular connectivity for future Macs. If these plans move forward, the MacBook Ultra would likely be equipped with Apple's C1X or future C2 modem for 5G LTE – eliminating the need to drain your iPhone's battery for tethering.

✓ True always-anywhere connectivity, no hotspot hunting
✗ Additional cost for the modem and potentially a cellular data plan

Final Verdict: Wait or Buy Now?

Should you wait for MacBook Ultra? If you're running demanding professional workloads – video editing at scale, software compilation, 3D rendering – and your current machine is struggling, buy the M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro today. It remains an exceptional laptop.

Who should wait? If you're on an Intel Mac or an M1/M2 machine that still works fine, waiting until early 2027 makes sense. The OLED display, 2nm performance leap, and potential cellular connectivity represent a genuine generational shift.

The risks of waiting: The global memory chip shortage could push the launch further. And some rumored features – particularly the touch screen – may face last-minute cuts or user backlash that Apple decides to address.

Final Verdict: The MacBook Ultra, expected in early 2027, promises to be the most significant Mac redesign in over five years. OLED, 2nm M6 chips, and cellular connectivity are the headline upgrades worth waiting for. Touch remains controversial, and the thinner design carries echoes of past mistakes. If you need a Mac today, buy the M5 MacBook Pro with confidence. If your current Mac can hold out another year, the Ultra is shaping up to be something special.

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Data Sources & Methodology (as of April 26, 2026):

  • Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (via MacRumors, April 24, 2026)
  • MacRumors MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide and related roundups
  • Industry analysis of TSMC 2nm process readiness and global memory chip shortage
  • Apple supply chain reports from Pacific Technology, ZOL, and Aastocks