While Apple’s iPhone launch cadence has been as reliable as clockwork over the past decade, the company’s MacBook timeline is anyone’s guess. New models might drop at June’s WWDC, pop up at standalone events scattered throughout the year, or even debut via a low-key press release on Apple’s website with zero fanfare.
But thanks to fresh leaks and deep digging into macOS Tahoe’s development files by AppleInsider, we now have a crystal-clear picture of Apple’s Mac plans through late 2026 – and the roadmap allegedly includes no fewer than 15(!) devices. Design pros might want to go ahead and clear a spot in their lists of top graphic design laptops.
AppleInsider got its hands on a full roster of product ID codes for upcoming Macs. And because Apple uses a consistent pattern for these codes, it’s pretty easy to match them to specific future models – no guesswork required.
Most of what’s on tap is par for the course. In 2025, we’re set to see 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros running M5 chips (including M5 Pro and M5 Max variants), with the base M5 Pro model reportedly launching as soon as late 2025, per FCC filings and supply chain hints. A new Mac Studio packing the same M5 silicon is also poised to land before the year’s end.
2026 will follow the usual script, too: expect MacBook Pros to jump to M6 chips, while the MacBook Air (which typically lags a generation behind Pro models) will finally get the M5. Later that summer, an M5-powered iMac and Mac mini are also on track to launch – rounding out Apple’s mainstream Mac lineup with the latest silicon.
So far, so predictable. But two surprises stand out from the pack. First, a redesigned MacBook Pro is in the works for late 2026 – one that could swap its current display for an OLED panel (supplied exclusively by Samsung, per industry reports) and sport a thinner, lighter chassis. OLED would mean brighter visuals, deeper blacks, and better battery life – a big win for creative users.
Then there’s the wildcard: one mystery product code that hasn’t been linked to any known device. The buzz is that it belongs to a long-rumored budget MacBook – one that would ditch Apple’s M-series chips in favor of the iPhone’s A18 Pro processor. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says this 13-inch model could hit shelves in 2026 with vibrant color options and performance on par with the original M1 chip, perfect for students or casual users. Could this be the affordable, compact MacBook fans have been begging for – a spiritual successor to the old 12-inch model?
