Apple’s OLED M6 MacBook Pro Release Will Not Lead to Discontinuing M5 Pro & M5 Max Models, with Plans for a Higher Price Range Coming This Year

Upcoming M6 MacBook Pro Features and Price Expectations

Anticipated for late 2026 or early 2027, the M6 MacBook Pro is set to undergo a significant redesign, transitioning from mini-LED displays to OLED technology—marking a first for Apple’s portable Mac lineup. Typically, when Apple debuts new models, older iterations like the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max are discontinued. However, recent reports suggest that the M5 Pro and M5 Max will continue to be sold alongside the new M6 series, likely due to the M6 MacBook Pro’s positioning in a higher price segment.

Price Increase Linked to Advanced Technology

Historically, the introduction of OLED in various Apple devices has been accompanied by price hikes. For instance, when the iPad switched to OLED, it saw a starting price increase of approximately 20%.Similar patterns were observed with the iPhone, which crossed the $1, 000 mark in 2017. Based on this trend, the upcoming M6 MacBook Pro models are expected to exceed the pricing of the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max variants.

“Apple’s next high-end MacBook Pro update will feature a touch-enabled OLED display — a component that will almost certainly raise the overall price. When Apple switched the iPad to OLED, its starting price rose by roughly 20%.A similar change with the iPhone in 2017 pushed the base price to $1, 000 for the first time. Given that history, these upcoming laptops will likely sit above the current M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, rather than replace them. While Apple could keep the traditional MacBook Pro name, a “MacBook Ultra” label would more clearly signal their position at the top of the lineup. One thing is certain: Apple, yet again, is moving firmly upmarket.”

It’s important to note that the base model of the M6 MacBook Pro will not include the OLED display, touchscreen, or redesigned specifications; these enhancements will be exclusive to the M6 Pro and M6 Max models. We predict that the introductory price for the base M6 Pro will be approximately $2, 399, reflecting a $200 increase over its predecessor. Meanwhile, the M6 Max is expected to start at around $3, 999, a $400 hike. These figures are speculative, with official pricing to be announced at the upcoming launch event.

Current Options for Immediate Purchase

If you wish to upgrade without waiting for the M6 series, Amazon is currently taking pre-orders for the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models. The 14-inch M5 Pro is priced at $2, 199, featuring a 15-core CPU, 18-core GPU, 24GB of unified memory, and a 1TB SSD. Alternatively, the M5 Max can be purchased for $3, 599, offering an 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB of unified memory, and a 2TB SSD.

Source of Information: Bloomberg

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