TL;DR
Apple is reportedly planning a major MacBook Pro redesign in 2026, its first full revamp in five years. Rumors point to a thinner, lighter M6 model with an OLED screen, touch support and possible cellular capability, but thinner hardware raises questions about ports, performance and battery life.
What happened
Industry reports suggest Apple will deliver a broad redesign of the MacBook Pro in 2026, marking the first full refresh of the line since 2021. The rumored M6 MacBook Pro is expected to be slimmer and lighter, adopt an OLED display without a notch, add touch input, and potentially include a C2 cellular modem. The current MacBook Pro lineup has been well received since 2021 thanks to Apple silicon and the return of pro-oriented ports. Coverage also recalled Apple’s controversial 2016 MacBook Pro design, which prioritized thinness at the cost of reliability and I/O: the butterfly keyboard experienced sticking-key problems, and most ports were removed in favor of USB-C until a redesign in 2021. Observers and the writer express cautious enthusiasm, noting that the success of a thinner MacBook Pro will depend on whether Apple can reduce thickness without sacrificing ports, performance, or battery life.
Why it matters
- A thinner MacBook Pro could shift the balance between portability and the ports, battery life and thermal headroom pro users rely on.
- New display and input features (OLED without a notch, touch support) could change how users interact with macOS devices.
- Possible cellular connectivity would expand always-online workflows for laptop users if implemented.
- Apple’s handling of thinness will be watched closely because past decisions to prioritize slim design produced notable usability problems.
Key facts
- Reports indicate a full MacBook Pro redesign is planned for 2026, the first in five years.
- The model associated with the redesign is referred to as the M6 MacBook Pro.
- Rumored changes include a thinner, lighter chassis, an OLED display with no notch, touch support, and a potential C2 cellular modem.
- The current MacBook Pro lineup has been viewed positively since 2021, credited to Apple silicon and the return of pro-focused ports.
- The 2016 MacBook Pro design removed most ports in favor of USB-C and introduced the butterfly keyboard, which later proved unreliable.
- Those 2016 design choices remained until Apple revised the MacBook Pro in 2021.
- Wider acceptance of a thinner MacBook Pro will depend on execution details—specifically whether Apple can preserve ports, performance and battery life.
What to watch next
- Whether Apple preserves pro-oriented ports on the redesigned, thinner MacBook Pro — not confirmed in the source.
- How battery life and thermal performance compare on a thinner M6 model versus current MacBook Pros — not confirmed in the source.
- If the OLED screen, touch support, and C2 cellular modem appear in final hardware and how they’re implemented — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- OLED: A display technology that uses organic compounds to produce light, offering deeper blacks and high contrast compared with many LCD panels.
- Cellular modem (C2): A radio component that enables a device to connect to cellular networks for mobile data without relying on Wi‑Fi; model names like 'C2' refer to specific modem generations or chips.
- Ports: Physical connection points on a computer (USB‑C, HDMI, SD card slots, Ethernet, etc.) used for power, data transfer and external devices.
- Butterfly keyboard: A mechanical keyboard design used by Apple in past MacBook Pros intended to allow thinner keyboards but later criticized for reliability issues.
- Apple silicon: Apple’s family of ARM‑based processors designed in‑house for Macs, starting with the M1 series, replacing Intel CPUs in recent Mac models.
Reader FAQ
When is the redesigned MacBook Pro expected to arrive?
Reports say later in 2026, described as 'this year' in coverage published in early January 2026.
Will the M6 MacBook Pro be thinner and get an OLED screen?
Rumors point to a thinner, lighter design and an OLED display without a notch, but those details are not confirmed in the source.
Is Apple planning to reintroduce or remove ports on the new model?
The source raises concerns about potential port changes tied to thinness but does not confirm what Apple will do.
Could the new MacBook Pro include cellular connectivity?
The report says a C2 cellular modem is possible, though that capability is not confirmed in the source.
Apple Card shake-up may finally happen this year: Here’s the latest Michael Burkhardt Jan 3 2026 MAC M6 MACBOOK PRO MacBook Pro revamp this year has me excited, but one…
Sources
- MacBook Pro revamp this year has me excited, but one change won’t be for everyone
- Why You'll Regret Buying a MacBook Pro Right Now (The …
- Apple quietly made MacBook Pro changes you'll actually …
- Apple's MacBook Pro Is Getting Its Most Radical Redesign …
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