MacBook Ultra Rumors: What to Expect, Including Touchscreen, Chips, Release Date and More

Steve Jobs said that a MacBook’s touchscreen is “terrible ergonomically” and “doesn’t work.” Apple has apparently changed its tune. A flagship model dubbed “MacBook Ultra” is rumored to be the company’s first laptop with an OLED touchscreen, promising a lighter design and high performance for creators. This device would take on Windows touchscreen laptops, giving Apple access to a key market segment it has never touched before.

Recent reports and supply chain leaks have started to paint a picture of what the MacBook Ultra could look like. Below, we’ve rounded up the most credible rumors regarding features, pricing, and launch date, and we’ll keep this guide updated as new details emerge. Of course, a lot could change before any launch, including timelines and specifications.

Rumors of a touchscreen MacBook began circulating in early 2023, following a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman. Many more leaks followed, and it now appears that the 14- and 16-inch models (codenamed K114 and K116) will arrive sometime in 2026. So why this change of heart since Jobs’ arrival? Certainly, pretty much everything has changed in the tech industry since then. Only Apple knows for sure, but it looks like the company finally wants to fill a big hole in its laptop lineup.

Many artists need a touchscreen for drawing, masking, 3D, and other work that is difficult to do with a mouse. To date, these people had to buy Windows touchscreen laptops, often detachable or 360 models that fold flat with the screen extended.

Apple’s only touchscreen option is the iPad, which is underpowered compared to high-end PCs. iPadOS is also missing key creative apps like Blender, while others, including DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop, are removed compared to macOS versions. Given that Apple devices are considered artist-friendly, it’s strange that the company has never offered anything in this segment.

Constant leaks since the initial report have added credibility to the MacBook Ultra’s arrival. But when? The company has reportedly decided on a launch in the second half of 2026, likely towards the end of the year, according to two key sources.

BloombergGurman has gone back and forth, recently saying the MacBook Ultra would arrive “late this year and early next year,” according to his Friday report. This lines up with a separate leak from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said last year that a touchscreen MacBook Pro would “enter mass production by the end of 2026.”

This means the MacBook Ultra could be “one more thing” when it launches this year. It’s unlikely to be September’s iPhone 18 event (during which the rumored iPhone Fold could also be revealed), as Apple rarely launches MacBooks and iPhones together. The MacBook Ultra probably deserves its own big launch, perhaps sometime later this year. Again, keep in mind that the situation may change and new models could be further delayed or even canceled.

The key feature of the MacBook Ultra will be an all-new OLED touchscreen offering more accurate colors and deeper blacks than the MiniLED and LCD displays on current MacBook models. It will also be thinner, lighter and more energy efficient. According to Gurman, Apple would replace the MacBook Pro’s rectangular screen notch with a “Dynamic Island” cutout similar to the pill-shaped one on an iPhone, covering a small punch-hole front camera.

The key update, however, is the “touch” part. The new model will support multi-touch just like an iPad Pro or iPhone. Touching a button or control will bring up a new type of menu surrounding your fingers with contextual options. It will also display controls based on your past interactions and enlarge them for easier selection. The touchscreen could support the Apple Pencil, according to some rumors, but nothing about that has been mentioned recently.

However, Apple has no plans to position the MacBook Ultra as an iPad replacement or even a touchscreen experience. Instead, it wants to let customers use touch as one of several input options, so the MacBook Ultra will of course still have a keyboard and touchpad.

With the new OLED display, the MacBook Ultra will likely be thinner and lighter than previous models. However, other design elements are not yet known Bloomberg said the new model is a “total overhaul” compared to previous MacBooks.

The MacBook Ultra performance picture has recently become clearer with another recent leak from BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman. Rather than the next-generation M6 Silicon, Apple will use its current M5 Pro and M5 Ultra chips in the first model. It will then skip the M6 ​​and use the upcoming AI-focused M7 chips for the second-generation model.

The reason is that Apple reportedly does not intend to build high-end M6 Pro or M6 Max chips, but only a basic M6 processor that would not be suitable for a flagship like the MacBook Ultra. This way, the company can accelerate the development of its M7 chips, which will offer more advanced graphics and AI capabilities. Once these chips are rolled out (apparently in 2027), they will appear in the next-generation MacBook Ultra.

With the same chips but a more power-efficient OLED display, the MacBook Ultra should perform as well as current MacBook Pro models, but could be even more battery efficient. That would be impressive, considering the current 16-inch MacBook Pro can run for just over 30 hours on a charge.

The MacBook Ultra could also be the first Apple laptop with native cellular support. Instead of having to use Wi-Fi or connect to a hotspot, the new model could include built-in 5G connectivity via Apple’s own modem technology.

With its flagship designation and OLED touchscreen, as well as ever-increasing memory prices, the MacBook Ultra is likely the company’s most expensive MacBook to date. The current 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros start at $1,999 and $2,999, respectively, so expect the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Ultra models to be significantly more expensive.

Despite all the leaks, we still have a lot to learn about Apple’s touchscreen laptop, including its name, as “MacBook Ultra” has never been officially confirmed. And as mentioned, changes could come before the official launch. Yet with the iPhone Fold, things are looking good for not just one but two of Apple’s most important product launches in years.