Apple's October 28 MacBook Pro brings OLED touch screens but skips M6 chips
The upcoming laptop redesign drops the notch and adds touch, but processing power remains unchanged from the M5 generation launched eight months ago.
By Christopher Richardson ·
Apple is scheduled to unveil a new MacBook Pro on October 28, a move that introduces a lighter chassis and an OLED display without increasing computational speed. The event, branded as "Pro and tell," will mark the debut of a machine that relies on silicon already on the market.
The redesign focuses on physical attributes rather than raw power. Reports indicate the new unit will be thinner and significantly lighter than its predecessors. The screen will replace the traditional notch with a Dynamic Island and support touch input, a first for the MacBook Pro line. There is also speculation about a C2 cellular modem, though that feature remains unconfirmed.
The lack of a performance boost stems from an internal shift in Apple’s hardware roadmap. The company is reportedly bypassing the M6 Pro and M6 Max processors entirely to fast-track M7 Pro and M7 Max chips for 2027. Consequently, the new laptop will ship with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips that debuted nearly eight months ago. This leaves professional users with the same processing capabilities as current models, but in a different enclosure.
Pricing remains a critical variable for buyers. Analysts suggest the redesign could carry a premium, potentially raising the starting price to approximately $2,999. This would require consumers to pay more for a machine that offers no speed advantage over existing inventory. While Apple could theoretically maintain current pricing, the ongoing memory crisis makes that scenario less likely.
Marketing the device presents a distinct challenge. Apple must convince professionals who delayed purchases earlier this year that the design improvements justify an upgrade. The company has not yet confirmed the specific configurations or final costs, leaving the market to await the official demonstration.
The October 28 event will determine the final specifications and positioning of the product. It will clarify whether the physical overhaul is sufficient to drive sales in the absence of new silicon.
Source: 9to5Mac
