Lighter MacBook Pro costs $2,999 but keeps old chips
Apple plans to unveil a redesigned laptop on October 28 with a new display and touch controls, yet it will run on the same M5 processors sold last year.
By Kenji Yamamoto ·
Working professionals who have held off on buying a new laptop will pay more for the same speed when Apple unveils its updated MacBook Pro on October 28. The company has scheduled an event called "Pro and tell" for that date, where it is expected to reveal a device that is physically different but computationally identical to the models already on the market.
The redesign focuses on the physical experience rather than raw power. Reports indicate the new laptop will feature a lighter and thinner industrial design. It will also include an OLED display that supports touch input, a first for the MacBook Pro line. The screen will replace the current notch with a Dynamic Island. Some reports mention a C2 cellular modem as a possible addition, though this feature is less certain.
The processing power remains the same. According to reporting cited by 9to5Mac, the new machine will use the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. These processors first appeared nearly eight months ago. Users who bought a MacBook Pro earlier this year will see no increase in speed if they upgrade to the new model.
Apple is skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max generations entirely. The company plans to fast-track the M7 Pro and M7 Max chips for release in 2027. This leaves the redesigned laptop arriving in a gap between chip generations. The hardware will rely on existing silicon rather than new technology.
Pricing reflects the added cost of the new components. The starting price is expected to rise to around $2,999. This is higher than the current entry-level cost for the MacBook Pro line. Consumers will pay a premium for a lighter body and a touch screen while using the same processing units as before. Analysts suggest Apple might try to match the old price, but they consider that unlikely given current memory costs.
Apple has not confirmed the specific details of the redesign or the pricing structure. The company must now convince professional users that the design changes justify the higher price. The October 28 event will determine how the company positions this device against the models it replaced just eight months ago.
Source: 9to5Mac
