Apple may be preparing to introduce an entirely new high-end laptop later this year.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is working on a premium “MacBook Ultra” featuring an OLED display and touchscreen support. This could potentially mark one of the biggest changes to the MacBook lineup in years.
The device is expected to sit above the current MacBook Pro models, rather than replace them. Gurman suggests Apple is positioning the laptop as a new top-tier option. As a result, it is expanding its Mac lineup with a more expensive, flagship-tier machine aimed at users who want the very best hardware.
One of the headline upgrades could be the move to OLED display technology. Apple has already adopted OLED for several products, including the iPhone and the latest iPad Pro. The same shift could finally arrive on the Mac. OLED panels typically offer deeper blacks, stronger contrast and improved colour accuracy compared to traditional LCD displays.
The report also mentions touchscreen support, something Apple has long resisted on Mac laptops. If accurate, it would mark a significant shift in Apple’s design philosophy, potentially bringing the MacBook closer to the touchscreen experience offered by many Windows laptops.
With those upgrades likely comes a higher price tag. It is worth noting that when Apple introduced OLED displays on previous devices, prices typically rose by around 20%. This suggests a similar premium could apply here. The new model would therefore sit firmly at the top of Apple’s laptop lineup.
The rumoured MacBook Ultra also fits into a broader strategy at Apple. The company has been expanding its product range both at the entry level and the premium end. At the lower end, Apple recently introduced the MacBook Neo, a £599/$599 model designed to compete with cheaper Windows and Chromebook devices.
At the same time, Apple appears to be exploring more Ultra-branded products at the top of its range. Upcoming premium devices could include an “iPhone Ultra” and “AirPods Ultra”. This reflects a push toward higher-end hardware alongside more affordable options.
While the final name is not confirmed, Apple could still keep the traditional MacBook Pro branding, expecting the OLED-equipped MacBook to launch towards the end of the year if development continues on schedule.
