A new Mac Pro rumor is back in the mix… and it’s already raising fresh questions about what Apple wants its pro desktop strategy to look like in 2026.
Bloomberg reports that Apple is lining up a packed Mac roadmap, with major “pro” hardware changes on deck, including a revamped MacBook Pro that hints at bigger shifts across the lineup.
What Apple could be lining up next
Apple’s next pro refresh is shaping up to be immediately obvious, both visually and in daily use.
- A big display jump: OLED is being floated as the next step, offering deeper blacks and higher contrast than today’s mini-LED panels. Some coverage points specifically to Tandem OLED as the next direction, similar to what the iPhone maker has already introduced on iPad Pro.
- Touch on MacBook Pro: Touch input keeps coming up as a possible addition, expanding how users interact with the screen without changing the core Mac experience.
- A redesigned camera cutout: A smaller, cleaner approach than the current notch is being discussed, potentially shifting toward a hole-punch style look. Some reports even float a Dynamic Island-like approach, depending on how Apple handles the UI around it.
- A thinner overall build: The next model may slim down, showing a shift away from the current tank-like pro chassis. One argument being made: today’s design may be more “overbuilt” than necessary for most configurations, leaving room for the company to shave things down without sacrificing performance.
- Fresh Apple silicon: A new chip generation is expected to headline the update, keeping performance gains moving forward.
- Built-in cellular connectivity: Always-on connectivity is being floated, suggesting Apple could be exploring a MacBook Pro that’s less dependent on Wi-Fi. That talk also lines up with the company’s broader efforts to develop its own modem.
That’s a big swing for a lineup that’s been steady for years.
The roadmap suggests a busy run ahead
The sequencing is what stands out here. According to Bloomberg, Apple’s next Mac wave appears to roll out in phases, starting with earlier-cycle refreshes that keep the lineup current. That earlier stretch is expected to include spec-bumped Macs in the first half of 2026, including updates like Mac Studio, plus an updated Studio Display.
It will then build toward a later stretch where the more attention-grabbing upgrades are expected to land. MacRumors says the bigger MacBook Pro redesign timing could land late this year or even in 2027.
That staggered cadence is exactly why the pro rumor mill is getting louder right now. When Apple’s higher-end releases start clustering into the same window, it tends to pull the rest of the lineup into sharper focus, especially the machines that haven’t had a clear “next step” in a while.
All of this makes the Mac Pro’s next step the story to watch.
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