Apple is reportedly preparing its first touchscreen MacBook, expected in October 2026 alongside a redesigned MacBook Pro that could carry the MacBook Ultra branding above the current M5 Pro/Max lineup.

The initial redesigns will rely on M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with a separate future release planned for an M7-based MacBook Pro next spring.

A new top-tier MacBook model, the MacBook Ultra, is rumored to sit above the M5 Pro/Max line rather than replace them, potentially arriving late in 2026 or into 2027 depending on supply.

To address durability, the touchscreen model is said to feature a reinforced hinge and stronger screen hardware to tackle display bounce.

The design is expected to be thinner and lighter, possibly featuring an OLED panel and a Dynamic Island-style notch replacement for a less intrusive display cutout.

Price projections put the starting point around $2,499 for the 14-inch and $2,999 for the 16-inch, though these are speculative and subject to supply conditions.

Specifically, pricing hints reflect recent memory shortages and adjustments, with higher base prices anticipated for the redesigned models.

Hardware codenames point to K114 (14-inch) and K116 (16-inch), with Samsung Display supplying OLED panels as production ramps in mid-to-late 2026.

The software approach would treat touch as an enabling, not replacing, interface — touch interactions would be contextual and work alongside keyboard and trackpad.

macOS 27 signals, including Sidecar touch support, pull-to-refresh gestures, and larger menu items, are viewed as foundational clues for touch-enabled hardware.

These macOS cues are cited to support a broader narrative of a touchscreen MacBook coming to market.

Industry insiders and analysts, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo, broadly agree on an October timeframe and the combination of hardware changes, with timelines influenced by memory chip availability.