Apple and a leaker provide further clues about the MacBook Ultra

The design of the current Apple MacBook Pro ($1,549 on Amazon) dates back to the model featuring Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max, which was unveiled in October 2021. Over the past five years, Apple’s flagship laptop has primarily received new chips and thus higher performance, but Apple has not made any changes to fundamental features such as the design or the display.

That is set to change soon, because according to rumors a MacBook Pro with a brand-new design will hit the market between fall 2026 and spring 2027, which could potentially be marketed as the MacBook Ultra. After rumors have long suggested that this notebook will not only feature an OLED panel but will also be the first Mac ever to offer a touchscreen, the usually very well-informed leaker Instant Digital now lends credibility to these rumors. According to the leaker, it is "100% confirmed" that the next-generation MacBook Pro will have a touchscreen.

Apple itself provides several clues to a Mac with a touchscreen. This is because the new operating system can be controlled via an iPad’s touchscreen for the first time when the iPad is used as an external display via Sidecar, with even simple multitouch gestures supported. MacRumors was able to uncover two additional touchscreen hints. First, web pages in Safari can be refreshed by swiping down with your finger, just like on an iPhone. And second, the position and taller format of the new Spotlight and Siri windows look suspiciously as if they were designed for use around a Dynamic Island.