Apple is expected to unveil its first major MacBook Pro redesign in five years on October 28, bringing substantial hardware changes to its professional laptops.
New details about the upcoming MacBook Pro models point to four upgrades, including a lighter design, OLED displays, touchscreen support, and a Dynamic Island replacing the familiar notch.
However, anyone expecting faster processors may be disappointed. The redesigned models will reportedly use the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips already available in current MacBook Pros.
1. A Significantly Lighter Design
One of the most practical improvements could be a noticeable reduction in weight.
Apple has reportedly redesigned the MacBook Pro’s internal layout, using smaller components and rearranging hardware to make the laptop significantly lighter.
For context, the current 14-inch model weighs around 3.5 pounds, while the 16-inch version weighs more than 4.7 pounds.
The new models are also expected to be slightly thinner, though the changes may not be dramatic enough to affect the existing selection of ports.
2. OLED Displays Replace Mini-LED
The upcoming MacBook Pros are expected to replace their mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR displays with OLED panels.
OLED offers deeper blacks and improved contrast because individual pixels can turn off completely, rather than relying on a separate backlight.
Apple already uses the technology in its iPhones and introduced tandem OLED displays on the iPad Pro in 2024.
Bringing OLED to the MacBook Pro would mark its biggest display technology change since the 2021 redesign.
3. Touchscreen Support Comes to MacBook Pro
For the first time, MacBook Pro users will reportedly be able to interact directly with the screen.
Touch input will complement the keyboard and trackpad rather than replace them, letting users choose whichever method works best for a given task.
Apple is also preparing touch-specific improvements in macOS Golden Gate to make the experience feel more natural.
4. Dynamic Island Replaces the Notch
The familiar display notch introduced in 2021 is reportedly disappearing.
In its place, Apple is expected to use a smaller hole-punch camera cutout paired with a Dynamic Island interface similar to the one found on iPhones.
The change would free up more screen space, although it’s unclear whether Dynamic Island functionality will eventually reach older Macs through software updates.
Despite these upgrades, the redesigned MacBook Pros aren’t expected to deliver a performance boost over existing M5 Pro and M5 Max models.
That could make the current generation worth considering for buyers who prioritize processing power over the new display and design features.
Apple is expected to reveal the redesigned laptops at its October 28 event, when pricing and availability details should become clearer.
