Apple's first touchscreen MacBook is reportedly set to use the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than the next-generation M6. According to a report attributed to Bloomberg, the lineup will come in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes and adopt the Mac's first OLED display along with Dynamic Island. The launch is expected somewhere between this winter and early 2027, but none of this has been officially announced and the final specifications could still change.

Touchscreens are fine on 2-in-1 laptops and tablet PCs, but I don't think a touch panel suits the MacBook.

I can't picture a single moment where I'd want to reach out and touch the screen…

Why the Current High-End Chips Instead of the Newest M6

The surprising part of this rumor is that Apple's first touchscreen MacBook is said to skip the newest generation of chips and instead use the current M5 Pro and M5 Max. Earlier expectations had pointed to next-generation M6 Pro and M6 Max chips for the new MacBook.

The reason appears to lie in a reshuffle of Apple's chip roadmap. According to the report, Apple plans to forgo the higher-end Pro and Max variants in the M6 generation and jump straight to the more powerful M7 Pro and M7 Max. Because no high-performance version exists in the M6 generation, the touchscreen MacBook arriving between this winter and early next year would rely on the current top-tier M5 Pro and M5 Max. Since it would share the same chips as today's MacBook Pro, the focus this time looks set to be the display and the redesigned body rather than raw performance gains.

The Mac's First OLED and Touch Support, with Dynamic Island Replacing the Notch

The biggest change is that this would be the first Mac you can operate by touching the screen directly. Apple has long been resistant to putting touch input on its laptops, but it now appears poised to reverse that stance.

The display is said to use an OLED (organic EL) panel, another first for the Mac. OLED is a system in which each pixel emits its own light, giving it an edge over LCD in deep blacks and color contrast. On top of that, the camera area at the top of the screen is reported to bring over the Dynamic Island familiar from the iPhone. It would replace the notch (the cutout at the top of the screen) on current MacBooks and marks the first time the feature appears on a Mac. Built around a small camera hole, it is said to be more compact than the wider "pill" shape used on the iPhone.

The First Redesign Since 2021 and the "MacBook Ultra" Theory

The body is also said to be redesigned, and if that pans out, it would be the first exterior overhaul for a high-end MacBook since 2021. The current MacBook Pro design has been around for a long time, so combined with touch support, OLED, and Dynamic Island, the overall impression could change significantly.

The naming is also drawing attention. Because it would carry the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips as the current MacBook Pro, how Apple distinguishes it from the existing MacBook Pro has become a talking point, and some expect it might be called the "MacBook Ultra." This remains speculation, but it could be positioned as a product with a different role from what has come before.

A Price Possibly Near 4,000 USD, with Launch Between This Winter and Early 2027

As for the price everyone is curious about, it is reportedly expected to land closer to 4,000 USD (about 650,000 yen) than to 2,500 USD (about 400,000 yen). Given the new elements such as OLED and touch support, it looks set to be positioned as a clear premium machine priced above the MacBook Pro so far. ※Converted at 1 USD = 162 JPY (as of June 30, 2026)

The launch is said to fall between this winter and early 2027. Beyond that, a successor model powered by the M7 Pro and M7 Max is reportedly already in "advanced testing," and could arrive as early as the end of 2027. The touchscreen MacBook appears to be developed not as a one-off but on the assumption that it will evolve across multiple generations.

Summary

Apple's first touchscreen MacBook is expected to use the current M5 Pro and M5 Max rather than the newest M6, and to come in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. The Mac's first OLED display, a Dynamic Island in place of the notch, and the first redesign since 2021 are all anticipated, while the price is rumored to be near 4,000 USD. The launch is said to fall between this winter and early 2027, with an M7-generation successor also in the pipeline, though all of this is pre-announcement information. It will be worth watching how Apple, long cautious about touch input, ultimately delivers this device.