MacBook Ultra rumors: Apple’s first touchscreen laptop may arrive in 2026
According to multiple leaks, Apple is preparing a flagship laptop with an OLED touchscreen, rumored to be called MacBook Ultra. It could launch in the second half of 2026, powered by M5 Pro or M5 Ultra chips, and feature a redesigned chassis with a Dynamic Island cutout.
Apple may finally be entering the touchscreen laptop market with a rumored high-end model, temporarily dubbed the MacBook Ultra, according to reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Display and Design The MacBook Ultra is expected to come in 14- and 16-inch sizes (codename K114 and K116) with an OLED touch display — a first for Apple laptops. The new screen should offer better color accuracy, deeper blacks, and improved energy efficiency compared to the current MiniLED and LCD panels. Apple is also reportedly replacing the rectangular notch with a Dynamic Island-style cutout for the front camera, similar to iPhones. The touch interface will support multi-touch gestures and context-sensitive menus that adapt to the user’s actions. There are also rumors of Apple Pencil support, though nothing recent confirms that. However, Apple is not positioning this as a touch-first device; the keyboard and trackpad will remain primary input methods.
Performance and Battery Rather than using the next-gen M6 silicon, the first MacBook Ultra will reportedly ship with M5 Pro and M5 Ultra chips. Apple allegedly has no plans for high-end M6 Pro or M6 Max, so it will skip to the AI-focused M7 for the second generation, expected in 2027. The more efficient OLED display could allow the MacBook Ultra to match the performance of current MacBook Pros while offering even longer battery life. The current 16-inch MacBook Pro already runs for over 30 hours on a charge.
Other Features and Price The laptop might also be the first Apple notebook with built-in 5G connectivity, using Apple’s own modem technology. Pricing will likely be significantly higher than the current MacBook Pro lineup, which starts at $1,999 for the 14-inch and $2,999 for the 16-inch model.
Launch Timeline and Name The release timeline is still fuzzy. Gurman most recently said the MacBook Ultra could arrive "late this year and early next year," while Kuo expects mass production in late 2026. The official name is unconfirmed, and plans could change before launch.
