Apple is preparing a major overhaul of the MacBook Pro that includes an OLED display and a touchscreen, it was reported. With sweeping changes expected from display technology to design, user interface and chipset, attention is focusing on the direction of the next-generation MacBook Pro. IT outlet 9to5Mac reported the details on May 26 (local time).

The display is cited as the biggest change. Apple is considering adopting an OLED panel for the next-generation MacBook Pro, a shift from the mini-LED display used in current MacBook Pro models to OLED. If applied, it would be the first Mac to feature OLED.

OLED can switch off the screen on a per-pixel basis, enabling deeper blacks and higher contrast than mini-LED. Color reproduction and image sharpness are also likely to improve. Apple has already used OLED in the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, but has not yet introduced it to the Mac lineup.

The possibility of adding a touchscreen was also mentioned. If realized, the MacBook Pro would become Apple's first touchscreen Mac. macOS is also expected to be partially adjusted to focus on a touch interface.

The report said Apple is considering a method in which related controls automatically enlarge or appear dynamically when users touch a button or menu. The menu bar may also change its UI to make it easier to navigate with finger input. Support for common touch gestures, such as pinch-to-zoom and fast scrolling, is also expected to be included.

External design changes were also flagged. The report raised the possibility that a hole-punch structure for the camera could replace the notch design currently used at the top of the MacBook Pro display. It also said an interface that uses the area around the camera as a space for real-time information display, like the iPhone's Dynamic Island, could be introduced to the Mac for the first time.

The chassis could also become thinner again. The 2021 MacBook Pro became thicker than the previous generation as MagSafe, HDMI and an SD card slot were restored. The next model is being discussed as possibly trying a thinner design while keeping the port configuration, based on improved power efficiency in Apple silicon.

On performance, the next-generation M6 chip is seen as likely. The industry expects the M6 processor to be made on a 2-nanometer process, improving both performance and power efficiency. Detailed specifications have not yet been disclosed.

A possible product-name change has also been raised. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple may rework its top-end MacBook lineup as "MacBook Ultra" instead of MacBook Pro. He cited the possibility that the next model could be positioned above the current M5 Pro and M5 Max-based MacBook Pro lineup.

The launch timing remains fluid. The industry initially expected the new M6 MacBook Pro to be unveiled in October or November this year, but some forecasts say supply chain factors could push the schedule to early next year. With OLED panel supply and production schedules cited as variables, attention is also focusing on whether Apple will push ahead with a launch within the year.

If this revamp is realized, some assessments say the next-generation MacBook Pro could go beyond a simple performance upgrade and become a turning point that changes how the Mac lineup is used.