Apple plans to extend new MacBook Ultra design to lower-priced models within a year
Apple is expected to roll out the thinner, lighter chassis and OLED display first seen on the rumored MacBook Ultra to an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro as early as 2027, according to Bloomberg reporting.
Apple is preparing to broaden the design introduced with the rumored "MacBook Ultra" to other Mac models, including a lower-priced 14-inch MacBook Pro slated for 2027. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman said the upcoming entry-level model, code-named K104, will share the Ultra's chassis while using a standard M7 processor, bringing the new look to a cheaper machine within roughly a year of its debut.
The redesign marks a shift from the 2021 MacBook Pro overhaul, which added thickness and restored ports such as HDMI, SD card and MagSafe. The new chassis is expected to be noticeably thinner and lighter, aided by a hybrid OLED stack that eliminates the mini-LED backlight layer. Apple has not indicated any plan to remove ports to achieve the slimmer profile.
On the front, the traditional notch is projected to be replaced by a small pill-shaped hole-punch camera, enabling a Dynamic Island interface similar to that on the iPhone. Research firm Omdia and Bloomberg have corroborated this change. Screen size may increase slightly, with Samsung Display reportedly supplying 14.3-inch and 16.3-inch panels, though earlier reports suggested bezel reductions rather than larger panels.
Apple is also said to be adding a reinforced hinge to reduce display wobble, though visual differences are unclear. Gurman described the touch capability as "touch-friendly, not touch-first."
The future of the current high-end MacBook Pro line remains uncertain. Gurman's roadmap lists a high-end 14-inch and 16-inch "MacBook" without the Pro label, leaving open whether the new Ultra will replace existing M5 Pro and M5 Max models or sit above them as a distinct tier.