Apple May Debut MacBook Ultra in 2026 as 2021 MacBook Pro Design Stays

10 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · May 20

Apple is rumored to launch a new laptop as MacBook Ultra rather than replacing the MacBook Pro, while keeping the 2021 Pro design on sale unchanged.
That split would let Apple test a thinner, lighter, touchscreen model without forcing pro users to give up the current MacBook Pro’s performance, battery life and built-in ports.
The caution reflects backlash to the 2016 MacBook Pro redesign, which brought the butterfly keyboard, removed key ports, added the Touch Bar and prioritized thinness over pro-focused practicality.
Apple’s 2021 MacBook Pro reversed many of those choices by restoring HDMI, SDXC and MagSafe, dropping the Touch Bar and emphasizing a bulkier design tuned for sustained performance.

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