Apple is expected to carry out a full redesign of the MacBook Pro for the first time since 2021. The next MacBook Pro could remove the notch, feature a thinner and lighter body and come with a slightly larger display.

IT outlet 9to5Mac reported on Oct. 7 that the most noticeable change would be the removal of the notch at the top of the screen. It said the notch, one of the defining elements of the current MacBook Pro design, could be replaced by a smaller camera cutout and Dynamic Island. Mark Gurman said the replacement approach could be similar to the punch-hole camera on the external display of the iPhone Duo.

Apple first introduced the notch to the Mac lineup with the 2021 MacBook Pro. If the redesign is confirmed, the MacBook Pro would change its front layout again five years after the notch was introduced. A change in how the top of the display is handled could also bring significant changes to visibility and user experience. It remains unconfirmed how the new camera cutout and Dynamic Island would be implemented.

The thickness and weight are also expected to fall. The current MacBook Pro is relatively thick and heavy due to its performance-focused design, and the new model is expected to move toward a thinner and lighter design. It is unclear whether the slimmer design would lead to fewer ports. The current generation revived several ports that had been removed from the previous model, and bringing them back again could mean a significant change. It is not yet known whether ports will be removed, and it was also suggested that cutting ports again could be unexpected.

Display sizes could also increase slightly. An Omdia report released this summer said the new MacBook Pro could come in two sizes: 14.3 inches and 16.3 inches. That would be an increase of 0.1 inches each from the current 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch models.

Two approaches have been discussed for how the screen could become larger. The usable display area could expand by reducing bezel size further, or the overall exterior could grow slightly to secure component space inside a thinner body. There is still a lack of specific indications on this point. The report also noted that there are no specific rumours about detailed design beyond the 14.3-inch and 16.3-inch figures.

The changes are not limited to a simple exterior update and are also linked to whether MacBook Pro product strategy shifts. In recent years, Apple has strengthened the MacBook Pro's identity as a professional laptop by emphasising performance, port configuration and display quality. In that context, how much it maintains existing expandability and display layout while adopting a thinner and lighter design is expected to be a key point for the new model.

In particular, if the notch is removed and replaced with a smaller camera cutout, the MacBook Pro would face a major turning point in both its design identity and how it uses screen space. If a larger screen and lighter weight are added, Apple would recalibrate the balance between performance-focused laptops and portability. So far, confirmed information has focused on the three potential changes, while port configuration and detailed design remain variables until the product is unveiled.