Apple is planning to release new MacBook Pro models as early as early March, but it might be better to wait a bit, as something much better is in the works.
We expect 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Aside from the processor upgrade, no major changes are expected. There won't be any changes to the design or display, but later this year, a major refresh is coming.
MacBook Pro with OLED display
After releasing the MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max in the spring, Apple will make another upgrade in late 2026, introducing the first MacBook Pro models with OLED.
See also: New MacBook Pros may be released in March
The OLED MacBook Pro is expected to feature a refreshed design, faster M6 chips, new display technology and, for the first time, touch capabilities.
This will be the biggest upgrade to the Mac lineup since Apple silicon chips were released in 2020. iPhones have been using OLED displays for years, and Apple brought it to the iPad Pro in 2024. However, Macs were lagging behind.
Apple has been saying for years that the Mac would not have a touchscreen, but it seems that's changing. Many rumors suggest that touch capabilities are coming, making the Mac more like an iPad. Touch controls will be available alongside traditional mouse and keyboard input options.
See also: Budget MacBook expected this spring with a price tag of $750
The OLED MacBook Pro models will be the first to use 2-nanometer chip technology , and could even be the first Macs with cellular capabilities. With so many changes coming, it doesn't make much sense to buy a MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro or M5 Max when there are much better options coming in a few months.
OLED touch screens
OLED touchscreens will be limited to the high-end 14-inch and 16-inch models due to cost, so the warning doesn't apply to the base M5-powered MacBook Pro that was released last fall. The base MacBook Pro isn't expected to get the same upgrades, though it's likely to get an M6 chip.
It's also possible that OLED will be so expensive that it's limited to a single, extremely expensive high-end model, but we'll likely see upgrades with M6 chips and design refreshes across the range.
See also: OLED MacBook Pro: Screen production begins
Two Mac refreshes in one year are unusual, but not unprecedented. Apple refreshed the MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023, and then updated the machines again with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips in October 2023.
If the rumors about MacBook upgrades towards the end of the year are true, it's probably worth waiting a few months to make your new purchase!
