People look at the signage for the new MacBook Pro inside the Apple store Saint Germain (Photo by … More
With June’s Worldwide Developer Conference set to herald a new product cycle for Apple’s key products, what should we make of 2025’s upcoming MacBook Pro? It will bump up the specs, but not much else.
Given the real change isn’t happening until 2026, should you consider skipping the weaker upgrade of 2025 in favor of the more radical MacBook Pro next year?
MacBook Pro OLED Upgrade
First up is the display. Although Apple has brought OLED displays to the iPad and Apple Watch (and reportedly will appear on this year’s iPhone Pro models), it has not yet debuted on any Mac laptop. OLED offers more vibrant colors, deeper backs and more power-efficient displays over LED technology. They are widespread on Windows-based laptops, especially on top-end gaming laptops and multimedia production laptops.
Yet the long-awaited switch to OLED for the MacBook Pro is now not expected until 2026, according to longtime supply chain consultant Ross Young. 2025’s MacBook models will be limited, once more, to mini-LED.
MacBook Pro Chassis Upgrade
Then you have the overall design. Apple is in a continuing quest to create thinner hardware, and the MacBook Pro is no exception. One of the most significant contributors to the overall dimensions is the display. Any move to OLED will naturally bring with it a thinner construction.
It’s also worth considering some of the new technology in the iPhone and iPad to help manage the intense heat produced by the Apple Silicon chipsets. Thinner materials that wick away the heat can be found in these devices and will no doubt make the jump to the Mac line-up. There are no indications that this is coming in the 2025 versions.
MacBook Pro 5G Upgrade
The other intriguing prospect—and again one that the Mac community has been lusting after for some time— is the addition of cellular connectivity to the MacBook Pro. It’s an obvious addition that works well on Windows laptops, 2-in-1 models, and tablets. It’s also a popular option on the iPad, having been present i the tablet for several years.
Why has 4G LTE or 5G connectivity ever been added to the MacBook Pro? One consideration may be cost. Another possibility may be that the design team was never happy with the options offered by Qualcomm, be it too demanding of power, component size, or financial demands. No matter what, now there is an alternative.
Sitting inside the recently released iPhone 16e is the Apple-designed modem. It has taken six years since the purchase of Intel’s modem division, but Apple’s $1 billion investment is starting to pay off. A custom modem specifically designed for a new MacBook Pro would be far easier to integrate now rather than one based on an off-the-shelf design.
Apple will have its hands full rolling the new modems out to the iPhone platform, which practically rules out a 2025 MacBook Pro appearance. However, it points again to 2026 as the moment for a significant addition to the MacOS platform.
Wait For The Next MacBook Pro
If there is one truism in tech circles, it’s that there will always be something better around the corner. It’s also true that there’s every chance that what is available right now will suit your needs.
There is a difference between point upgrades and keeping up with Moore’s Law, and offering radical steps forward and new features that are physically not available in the current portfolio. 2025’s MacBook Pro will be the former, while the 2026 edition will be the latter.
Unless there’s a pressing need, waiting for 2026 may be the best answer for those waiting for the next big moment from Apple’s MacBook Pro.
Now read the latest MacBook Pro, iPhone Pro and Apple Vision headlines in Forbes’ weekly Apple News digest…
