macOS 27 hints at the “MacBook Ultra” in three ways

Apple unveiled macOS 27 Golden Gate this week, and the upcoming software update hints at the rumored “MacBook Ultra” in at least three ways.

“MacBook Ultra” is the popular name for a new high-end model above the MacBook Pro. The laptop is rumored to feature an OLED display, touchscreen capabilities, Dynamic Island, a slimmer design, and M6 Pro and M6 Max chips.

macOS 27 includes a trio of touchscreen support tips and one Dynamic Island in particular.

First, the update adds direct touch input to Sidecar, the feature that lets you use an iPad as a second screen for a Mac. This improvement allows users to tap and interact with macOS elements with one finger on their iPad. This clearly suggests that Apple is preparing to bring touchscreen support to macOS after years of resistance.

Second, macOS 27 adds iPhone-style pull-to-refresh support to the Mac. This lets you swipe down on the trackpad to refresh the page or content visible in apps like Safari, Mail, News, Podcasts, and Calendar. Apple may have finally extended this feature to the Mac in preparation for a “MacBook Ultra” with a touchscreen.

Third, the new “Find or Ask” functionality powered by the revamped Siri is integrated into Spotlight on macOS 27, resulting in a dark, pill-shaped interface that would be a perfect fit for a MacBook display with a dynamic island.

macOS 27 is currently available in developer beta, with a public beta to follow in July. The update is expected to be released in September.

Apple reportedly plans to launch the “MacBook Ultra” in early 2027.