Apple is reportedly preparing a MacBook Ultra. It is said to offer an OLED display and top-tier performance

Apple has clearly set a goal this year to cater to both ends of the price spectrum. While last week it introduced the historically cheapest MacBook Neo for 16,990 CZK, renowned insider Mark Gurman now reports that the company is simultaneously preparing the opposite extreme – a premium notebook that could be named MacBook Ultra.

First Mac with a Touch-Enabled OLED Display

According to Gurman, who published his information in the Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, the new MacBook should bring two premieres at once. It will be the first Mac ever equipped with both a touch-enabled display and an OLED panel. Apple currently uses both technologies only in iPad Pros, where they have proven successful thanks to perfect blacks, high contrast, and excellent color accuracy.

A touch-enabled display on Macs is something users have been requesting for years. Apple has long resisted this, arguing that macOS is not designed for touch control. However, it seems the company has re-evaluated this stance – perhaps also under pressure from competition in the form of Windows devices, where a touchscreen is a common feature even on premium notebooks.

M6 Pro/Max Chips Before the End of the Year

The timing is interesting. Apple only last week introduced MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which are now available for pre-order and will arrive in stores on March 11. Gurman, however, claims that the premium MacBook with a touch-enabled OLED display should arrive by the end of 2026 and will be powered by M6 Pro/Max chips.

It wouldn’t be the first time Apple released two generations of MacBook Pros in one year. This happened in 2023 – models with M2 Pro/Max arrived in January, and M3 Pro/Max replaced them in October. 286 days passed between the two announcements. If Apple maintained a similar interval, it could announce the new premium MacBook sometime around December.

Complement, Not Replacement

An important detail concerns the new machine’s position in the portfolio. Gurman suggests that the premium MacBook will not replace the current M5 Pro/Max models, but rather will be positioned above them. This is why it could be named MacBook Ultra – similar to the Apple Watch Ultra, which sits above the Apple Watch lineup.

Apple is reportedly preparing a MacBook Ultra. It is said to offer an OLED display and top-tier performance Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

With a higher position in the portfolio logically comes a higher price. According to estimates, the new MacBook could cost approximately 20% more than current Pro models. If we consider that the MacBook Pro 14″ with M5 Pro starts at 51,990 CZK, the premium variant could be priced around 62 thousand CZK in its basic configuration.

Apple Targets Both Ends of the Market

Apple’s strategy is now quite clear. On one hand, the company last week introduced the MacBook Neo – the historically cheapest MacBook with a price starting from 16,990 CZK (for students even from 14,290 CZK). It is a compact 13″ notebook with the A18 Pro chip from iPhone 16 Pro, targeting students and casual users.

On the other end of the spectrum is the upcoming MacBook Ultra with a touch-enabled OLED display and the latest chips. Between these extremes, the MacBook Air remains as the golden mean for most users, and the MacBook Pro for professionals who do not need a touch-enabled display.

Whether Apple will actually use the Ultra designation or stick with the traditional MacBook Pro name is not yet certain. One thing is clear, however – the company is trying to offer a Mac for every budget and every use case.

Would a MacBook with a touch-enabled OLED display interest you, or do you prefer a classic design?

Sources: Bloomberg/Mark Gurman, 9to5Mac, GSMArena, The Verge