Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Jun 4

Apple Readies MacBook Ultra With M6 Chip and OLED Touch Screen, Likely Launching in 2027

Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Jun 4

Apple Readies MacBook Ultra With M6 Chip and OLED Touch Screen, Likely Launching in 2027

Q: With M6 AI chips and a steep price, can the MacBook Ultra truly create a market above the MacBook Pro?

Yes — if Apple delivers the rumored features, the MacBook Ultra could open a real tier above the MacBook Pro, but only as a narrow, premium niche rather than a mass market. The case for it is strong. Apple already segments its laptops by price and use case, and an “Ultra” model would fit that strategy at the top end. The rumored package is meaningfully different from a routine Pro refresh: OLED, touch support, a thinner redesign, possible cellular connectivity, and M6 Pro/Max chips built on a 2nm-class process. Those changes would give Apple a clearer hardware and branding gap above today’s Pro models. The M6 matters most if it brings a noticeable jump in AI and pro workloads. Reports point to tighter integration of CPU, GPU, DRAM and Neural Engine, which should improve speed and efficiency. If Apple also addresses AI-specific limits cited by some power users in current chips, the Ultra could appeal to creators, developers and machine-learning users who want more than the MacBook Pro offers. Price will be the main constraint. A roughly 20% premium over current Pro pricing can work only if buyers see clear workflow gains, not just nicer industrial design. Apple has succeeded before with ultra-premium tiers, but laptop buyers are more price-sensitive than phone buyers, and memory shortages could push costs even higher. So the likely outcome is not a broad new market, but a profitable halo segment: a laptop for users who want the best Mac portable regardless of price.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jun 4

Apple is reportedly developing a new MacBook Ultra above the MacBook Pro, with the higher-end laptop now more likely to arrive in early 2027 than later this year.
OLED panels from Samsung Display, a thinner chassis and first-ever direct touch support on a Mac are expected to define the redesign, requiring macOS changes to better handle tap input.
M6 Pro and M6 Max chips built on TSMC's 2nm process are also rumored, alongside a possible Dynamic Island-style cutout replacing the current notch.
The model would extend Apple's Ultra branding and fit a broader lineup strategy that also includes lower price points such as the recently introduced $599 MacBook Neo.
A global memory chip shortage is seen pushing the timetable out, while Apple still faces the trade-off between slimming the laptop and preserving ports restored in the 2021 redesign.

Sources

MacRumors6d ago

Apple Developing "MacBook Ultra" with OLED, Touch Screen, M6 Chip, Thinner Design

Reddit6d ago

Mini LED vs OLED : r/macbookpro

YouTube6d ago

OLED MacBook Pro M6 - New HUGE Features Leaked

6 Sources

With M6 AI chips and a steep price, can the MacBook Ultra truly create a market above the MacBook Pro?

Will the MacBook Ultra's new touchscreen and thinner design compromise the pro features Apple just brought back?

Is the touch-enabled MacBook Ultra Apple's first real step toward a unified Mac and iPad experience?

Apple’s MacBook Ultra: Launch Delayed to 2027, $2,499 Price Tag, Touchscreen Debut, and 5G Connectivity

Overview

Apple is set to launch the MacBook Ultra, a new high-end laptop positioned above the MacBook Pro line. Unlike the Pro, the Ultra will not replace existing models but will offer a more experimental and premium option. Originally planned for late 2026, its release has been delayed to early 2027 due to a global memory chip shortage. The MacBook Ultra promises major changes for Mac computers, marking a significant evolution in Apple’s laptop lineup and aiming to deliver advanced features and innovation for users seeking the very best.

...