Apple is rumored to be launching a new MacBook Ultra this fall as part of its expanding ‘Ultra’ lineup. Here are six new features to expect with the MacBook Ultra. #1: New design that’s thinner and lighter than the MacBook Pro Bloomberg says Apple’s new MacBook model is a “total redesign” that’s thinner and lighter than the current MacBook Pro. The MacBook Ultra was originally expected to launch under the ‘MacBook Pro’ brand, but with a completely new design. It’s always possible that could happen, but current rumors point to the ‘Ultra’ brand. We don’t know if the ports will be reduced compared to the MacBook Pro, but it’s very possible. However, I would be surprised if Apple took the “thin and light” angle too far, as the MacBook Ultra will likely appeal to many Pro users. #2: M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips A new family of M6 chips was long expected to debut in the MacBook Ultra. But recent rumors tell a different story. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple has scrapped plans for the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips and is instead accelerating development of high-end M7 chips. As a result, while a future MacBook Ultra will have those M7 chips, this year’s model will stick with the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips from the MacBook Pro. #3: Touchscreen, a first for a Mac The Mac will have touch support. And the MacBook Ultra will be the first model with a touch screen. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is adding touch to the Mac as a secondary input method, not as a replacement for the keyboard and trackpad. macOS Golden Gate comes with several optimizations to provide more tactile controls that also work well for anyone who doesn’t have a touchscreen. #4: OLED Display Every iPhone now has an OLED display, and the iPad Pro also got a gorgeous tandem OLED in 2024. But the Mac has been an outlier… until now. The MacBook Ultra will adopt OLED, the first Mac to feature the display technology. OLED should allow for truer blacks, better contrast, and better off-angle viewing. It could also help the MacBook Ultra improve battery life. #5: Dynamic Island The 2021 MacBook Pro was the first Mac to gain a notch, but the MacBook Ultra is set to remove it. Instead of a notch, the new MacBook Ultra is expected to have a punch-hole camera cutout and get a new software feature: Dynamic Island. As on the iPhone, Dynamic Island will serve to mask the camera cutout through software and will also provide new utility in macOS, including the home of Siri AI. Wild Card #6: Cellular Option Possible with C2 Modem Apple has not yet offered a cellular-equipped Mac. But rumors indicate that could change soon. In a late 2024 report on Apple’s internal cellular modem plans, Mark Gurman wrote: Apple is investigating the idea of bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac for the first time… But cellular connections are unlikely to come to the Mac before 2026, when Apple is planning a second-generation modem that includes support for faster speeds. There’s certainly no guarantee that this will be the year the Mac goes cellular. But with Apple’s C2 modem arriving on the iPhone 18 Pro this fall, the timing could be right. What new MacBook Ultra features are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments. Best Mac Accessories FTC – We use automatic affiliate links to generate income. Further.
