Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on September 14 that the touch-enabled OLED models are already being tested inside Apple with macOS 27.1, a software update scheduled for release in late October. Gurman, who previously placed the machines in a late-2026 or early-2027 window, now lists them among products arriving “later this year.”
A first-ever touchscreen Mac
The redesign would bring several firsts to the Mac lineup. According to MacRumors' September 28 roundup of what to expect this fall, the new laptops will use the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips — the same silicon that launched in March — alongside an OLED panel from Samsung, with mass production reportedly starting in August.
The display upgrades go deep. A switch from mini-LED to OLED is expected to deliver deeper blacks, faster response times, and peak HDR brightness above 2,000 nits, according to MacRumors' earlier reporting.
The touch sensor would be built directly into the display module, keeping the full assembly under 2mm thick, while an oxide TFT backplane with a two-stack tandem structure should improve efficiency and panel longevity.
A Dynamic Island would replace the familiar notch housing the camera, and macOS 27 is expected to ship with a touch-friendly interface — a notable shift for a platform that has resisted touchscreen laptops for decades.
Some reports have suggested the new machines could carry “MacBook Ultra” branding, though that claim has been treated with skepticism since the same outlet also incorrectly predicted an iPhone Ultra name.
Falling prices signal a transition
Shoppers need not look far for hints that a change is coming. Retailers have been cutting prices on the M5 Pro and M5 Max models, which have been on sale for just over six months. Amazon recently knocked $900 off the 16-inch M5 Max configuration — now $3,499 down from $4,399 — with other discounts appearing across the lineup this week.
The discounting fits a familiar pattern: retailers clear inventory ahead of a major refresh. Apple has also moved its silicon roadmap forward, announcing the M6 chip and shipping the M5 Ultra, which some reports suggest could even become a configuration option on the redesigned machine.
Meanwhile, research firm Omdia reports that Apple has canceled plans for a foldable MacBook in the 16-to-18-inch range, sharpening the company's focus on the OLED redesign as its next big laptop move.
Should you buy now or wait?
For shoppers weighing a discounted current model against the rumored redesign, the choice comes down to priorities. The OLED models are expected to be distinct, higher-priced machines sitting above the regular MacBook Pro lineup — which is itself due to move to next-generation chips in 2027.
If you need a machine today, the current discounts are among the deepest Apple's laptops have seen in years. But if a touchscreen OLED display, a thinner chassis, and a touch-aware macOS matter to you, waiting a few more months could pay off — provided the “before year's end” timeline holds.
By Hamza Faisal
