The MacRumors Show
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PodcastThe MacRumors Show
Publisher/creatorThe MacRumors Show
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About this episode
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show , we discuss the high-end of Apple's increasingly tangled MacBook lineup, including the entry-level MacBook Pro , the redesigned high-end models, and the rumored “ MacBook Ultra ." 1:39 Why Apple Is Skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max 4:01 MacBook Ultra Timing and First-Generation Problems 6:00 How MacBook Pro and MacBook Ultra Could Coexist 9:59 Sponsor: Claude 11:20 Untangling Apple’s Upcoming MacBook Lineup 12:47 Which MacBook Models Are Worth Waiting For? 18:00 The MacBook Pro Redesign and Dynamic Island 23:10 Could MacBook Ultra Replace High-End MacBook Pros? 28:18 What Is a Touchscreen Mac Actually For? 30:08 Samsung’s New Foldable and Apple’s iPhone Ultra 33:03 MacBook Ultra Pricing, Features, and Dream Apple Devices Apple's chip roadmap for the Mac is reportedly set to take an unusual turn over the next year. The company is said to be skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max entirely, jumping from the M5 generation straight to the M7 for its high-end laptops. A standard M6 chip will still arrive this year in an entry-level MacBook Pro, but there will apparently be no Pro or Max variant in that family. As a result, Apple's first high-end OLED laptop will use the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than newer silicon. First-generation buyers would therefore be paying a premium for a redesigned machine featuring the same processors already found in the current MacBook Pro, with M7 Pro and M7 Max models expected to follow in the second half of 2027. The launch window remains fluid. The device was long expected to arrive in late 2026 , but memory chip constraints and Apple's recent price increases have pushed it toward early 2027. A second-generation model with M7 chips is already planned for late 2027, meaning the first Ultra could remain on sale for a relatively short window. The overlapping releases make for a crowded and confusing roadmap. Across roughly a year, Apple is expected to ship a base M6 MacBook Pro, a redesigned base M7 model in the first half of 2027, two M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Ultra models, their eventual M7 Pro and M7 Max successors, and perhaps new high-end MacBook Pro models with the M7 Pro and M7 Max. Notably, the entry-level M7 model is set to get the new design first , ahead of the pricier high-end MacBook Pro models. The headline changes are reserved for the top-tier "Ultra" model. It is expected to be the first Mac with an OLED display , using the same hybrid tandem OLED technology as the iPad Pro , along with the first touchscreen on a Mac , a Dynamic Island in place of the notch, and a thinner chassis. Both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes are expected. Built-in cellular connectivity for the first time on a Mac is also rumored. Apple is reportedly positioning touch as “ touch-friendly, not touch-first ," letting users move between touch, trackpad, and keyboard rather than treating the Mac like an iPad . That marks a reversal for a company that long resisted the idea. Steve Jobs argued in 2010 that vertical touchscreens cause arm fatigue, and as recently as 2021 hardware chief John Ternus said the Mac was " totally optimized for indirect input ." Signs of the shift are already visible in macOS 27 Golden Gate , which adds direct touch control to Sidecar , so users can tap and interact with macOS elements using a finger on an iPad. A reinforced hinge is also expected, so the display does not wobble when tapped. Pricing is likely to be steep. Apple raised prices across the Mac lineup in June, and the current 14-inch MacBook Pro now starts at $1,999, rising to $2,499 with the M5 Pro chip and $4,099 for an M5 Max. The 16-inch M5 Max reaches $4,399, and a fully specced configuration already exceeds $10,000. The high-end OLED model is expected to start higher still. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Get started with Claude today at — https://www.Claude.ai/mac
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Episode summary
Welcome back to The Macrom Show; yes, we heard all your weather comments, and it’s still hot enough here that my laptop feels like a space heater, so let’s jump into the MacBook Pros and the rumored MacBook Ultra.
Apple’s doing something odd: we’ll get an M6 base MacBook Pro this year, but no M6 Pro or M6 Max, with the high end skipping straight to M7 for stronger on‑device AI and a more advanced process.
MacBook Ultra timing slid toward early 2027, and the first one uses today’s M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon, maybe cooled or clocked a bit higher, which means early buyers could feel burned when M7 models arrive soon after.
So the Pro line keeps running alongside an Ultra in two sizes, but the Ultra’s appeal looks like OLED and maybe touch, not extra raw power, and I still can’t picture Apple making a Mac display something you actually poke.
An Ultra chip is physically huge and the chassis is supposed to be thinner, so the upgrades likely center on display and design rather than a bigger die.
Apple could even pause the high‑end Pro configs for a cycle, leaving a base M7 Pro plus the Ultra, which explains today’s messy overlap and short shelf lives.
Near term sounds like this: M5 Pros now, an M6 base 14‑inch later with no M6 Pro or Max, then an Ultra on M5, and after that an M7 base that starts the redesign.
Buying advice from me: if you need a high‑end Pro now, go for it, but I’d skip the M6 base and the first Ultra and wait for the M7 jump.
I’m holding my M1 Pro until late next year because I’ll keep the next machine for years and want the stronger on‑device AI.
Part of me thinks M7 Pro and Max will just land where an M6 bump would have, so does the skip even matter?
It does, because M6 likely starts the two‑nanometer era while M7 should be its second round, where efficiency and performance gains stack up.
With local AI now powering Siri and real Mac workflows, that extra headroom will age much better than an M5‑based Ultra.
What do we actually expect in the redesigns, and how do you keep Ultra special without stepping on Pro?
I expect the base M7 Pro to get the new look first, a smaller camera cutout that behaves like a dynamic island, maybe OLED and a slimmer body, while touch likely debuts on Ultra.
Over time OLED and touch will drift down the line, so Apple may lean on more ports, better speakers, and distinct materials to keep Ultra clearly premium.
A simple story makes sense to me: a redesigned base Pro for almost everyone and the Ultra for people who truly need the extras.
macOS is already inching toward touch with Sidecar finally recognizing finger input, but I doubt Apple Pencil support shows up on day one.
The hinge will need to open farther and resist wobble, and a fold‑flat or convertible feel would be great later for signing or quick sketches.
On prices, a 14‑inch M5 Pro is about two thousand five hundred dollars and a 14‑inch Max clears four thousand, so an Ultra likely starts well north of two thousand and climbs fast.
Creators, please don’t spend ten thousand unless your work truly needs it.
The Ultra will be rare in the wild, mostly bought by pros on company budgets and a few die‑hard enthusiasts.
Quick detour on foldables: Samsung’s passport‑style fold hints at where Apple may go, but back on Macs, the Ultra still sounds exciting even if touch splits the room.
Drop your thoughts in the comments or email us, and we’ll catch you next week.
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