Apple is internally testing 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED displays running macOS 27.1, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman — and the software timing suggests the first touchscreen Mac could arrive before the end of 2026.
What the report says
MacRumors reports, citing Gurman's September 14 newsletter, that the new laptops are being tested on macOS 27.1, the update scheduled for release in late October. Gurman now places the machines on his list of products shipping "later this year" — firmer language than his earlier reporting, which had left room for a slip into 2027.
If accurate, this would be a genuine first. Apple has never shipped a Mac with a touchscreen, resisting the idea for well over a decade even as Windows laptops made touch standard.
Tandem OLED, M5 Pro and M5 Max, and a thinner body
The reported hardware package is a substantial break from the current MacBook Pro:
- Touch-enabled tandem OLED displays, promising brighter, more vivid panels than today's mini-LED screens
- M5 Pro and M5 Max chips with an upgraded architecture
- A significantly thinner chassis
- A Dynamic Island replacing the display notch, mirroring the iPhone
- Possible built-in cellular connectivity, which would also be a first for the Mac
A new tier above the MacBook Pro
These are not expected to replace the existing lineup. The reporting describes premium models positioned above the standard MacBook Pro — earlier reports pointed to possible "MacBook Ultra" branding, though Gurman says the final name is not settled — with prices to match. Standard MacBook Pro models are expected to move to M7 Pro and M7 Max chips in 2027, skipping ahead as the OLED touch models occupy the top of the range.
What we still don't know
The report leaves several basics open, and they are worth listing plainly:
- The name. "MacBook Ultra" has appeared in earlier reporting, but Gurman says Apple has not settled it — the machines could still launch under the familiar MacBook Pro name.
- The price. Beyond "above the standard MacBook Pro," no figures have been reported.
- The exact date. "Later this year" is an inference from the macOS 27.1 testing, not an announced event.
- Whether the standard MacBook Pro gets OLED too. For now, the reporting keeps the touch OLED panels exclusive to the new premium tier, with the regular models waiting on M7 Pro and M7 Max chips in 2027.
What it means for Mac buyers in the Philippines
The honest caveat first: none of this is confirmed. Apple has not announced the product, so there is no Philippine price, no local release date, and the details could still change. Anyone planning a MacBook purchase here should treat this as a credible report, not a product page.
Still, the timing matters for local buyers. Apple's release rhythm usually brings new Macs to Philippine retail within weeks of a global launch, and macOS 27 has already rolled out alongside iOS 27, which arrived in the Philippines on September 15. If a touchscreen OLED MacBook does land in late 2026 at a premium over today's models, current MacBook Pro pricing becomes the floor, not the ceiling — worth knowing before you buy, especially with Apple steadily retiring support for older MacBook models. A late-October macOS 27.1 release will be the next signal to watch: if the hardware really is tied to that update, an announcement would not be far behind.
