Apple is said to be developing its most powerful MacBook yet, the MacBook Ultra. Rumors indicate it might feature something the Mac lineup has never seen: a touchscreen display.
Reports from Engadget suggest that this touchscreen MacBook could launch sooner than many think. Here’s what we know so far.
What Is the MacBook Ultra?
The MacBook Ultra would be at the pinnacle of Apple’s laptop offerings, sitting above the current MacBook Pro. It’s similar to how the Mac Studio relates to the Mac Mini — the same concept but with a lot more power packed inside. The “Ultra” label in Apple’s terminology indicates a chip created by merging two high-end processors, effectively doubling the available computing power.
Currently, Apple employs M-series chips (its custom processors that replaced Intel chips starting in 2020) across its Mac lineup. An Ultra-class chip in a laptop would be a first for Apple.
The Touchscreen: A First for MacBooks
The most exciting aspect here might be the rumored touchscreen. MacBooks have avoided touch input for years. Apple has long maintained that reaching up to touch a laptop screen feels awkward, coining the term “gorilla arm” syndrome.
However, this stance seems to be changing. Rumors indicate Apple is developing OLED touchscreen technology (which delivers deeper blacks and more vivid colors than traditional LCD screens) for a future MacBook. It’s still unclear whether the MacBook Ultra will debut this feature first or if a touchscreen MacBook Pro will come out ahead.
What’s evident is that Apple has been observing Microsoft’s Surface line and other Windows laptops offering touch features for years while user demand for this has only grown.
Chips: Expect M5 Ultra or Beyond
Timing is crucial. Apple will roll out its M4 chip family throughout 2024 and into 2025. A MacBook Ultra would likely need an M5 Ultra chip, which must be developed first. Producing chips of this magnitude usually takes 12 to 18 months, suggesting Apple’s timeline for the MacBook Ultra is already in motion.
An M5 Ultra chip would combine two M5 Max dies (individual chip units) using Apple’s UltraFusion interconnect technology. This setup would roughly double the CPU cores, GPU cores, and memory bandwidth compared to a standard M5 Max. For video editors, 3D artists, and software developers, this type of performance in a laptop would be a game changer.
| MacBook Ultra: What the Rumors Say | |
|---|---|
| Expected Display | OLED touchscreen, likely 14-inch or 16-inch |
| Chip | M5 Ultra (rumored) |
| Target Users | Pro users: video editors, developers, 3D artists |
| Expected Price Range | $3,000+ (estimated, unconfirmed) |
| Rumored Release Window | 2025-2026 |
What This Means for Everyday Users
If you’re looking to buy a MacBook Air or a standard MacBook Pro right now, the MacBook Ultra probably isn’t for you. This machine is aimed at professionals who need desktop-level power in a portable format. Think of film editors rendering 8K footage on a plane or engineers running complex simulations on the go.
Nonetheless, the touchscreen aspect is relevant for everyone. If Apple introduces touch on the MacBook Ultra and it’s well-received, it’s likely to extend to the broader MacBook Pro and eventually the MacBook Air lineup in a few product cycles. Apple usually doesn’t limit major new features to just one product family.
This shift would also push macOS (Apple’s operating system) to better accommodate touch input, which could change how apps are designed for the Mac platform in the future.
Community Reaction
“A touchscreen MacBook is the one thing I’ve wanted since I switched from Windows. I don’t care if it’s expensive, take my money.”
“I’ll believe the MacBook Ultra when I see it. Apple has been ‘about to do a touchscreen Mac’ for like five years according to the rumor sites.”
What To Watch
- Apple WWDC and fall events: Apple usually announces new Mac hardware during its fall iPhone event or at WWDC (its annual developer conference held every June). These are the most likely times for any MacBook Ultra announcement.
- M5 chip rollout: Keep an eye out for Apple to introduce the M5 in MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models first. An Ultra variant will follow several months after the base chip launches, signaling when we might see the MacBook Ultra.
- Supply chain reports: Analysts tracking Apple’s component orders, especially display panels from suppliers like LG and Samsung, will be the first to indicate when a touchscreen MacBook is moving from rumor to reality.
- macOS updates: Any major changes to touch or stylus support in future macOS betas would suggest that Apple is preparing the software for a touch-capable Mac.
Daniel Park
Daniel Park covers AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software for Explosion.com. A former software engineer who transitioned to technology journalism 5 years ago, Daniel brings technical depth to his reporting on artificial intelligence, startup funding rounds, and the companies building the future of computing. He breaks down complex AI developments and business strategies into clear, actionable insights for readers who want to understand how technology is reshaping industries.
