Entry-Level MacBook Pro to Get Redesign Sooner Than Expected
▼ Summary
– Apple plans to release an M7-powered entry-level MacBook Pro with a redesign in spring 2027, about six months after the high-end redesign debuts.
– The entry-level MacBook Pro will adopt a new design similar to upcoming high-end MacBooks, featuring a thinner chassis, OLED displays, and touch support.
– In fall 2026, Apple will release an entry-level MacBook Pro with the M6 chip and current design, alongside redesigned high-end models with M5 Pro/Max chips.
– Apple abandoned plans for high-end M6 chips to accelerate the M7 chip, shifting the high-end refresh with M7 Pro/Max to fall 2027.
– The redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro with M7 offers a more affordable option compared to the expected over-$2,500 price of the high-end M5 Pro model.
According to a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to release an M7-powered entry-level MacBook Pro sooner than many anticipated, with a launch window set for spring 2027. What makes this update particularly noteworthy is that it will bring the company’s next major MacBook Pro redesign down to the base model, a shift that wasn’t originally expected to happen so quickly.
Historically, Apple has taken its time rolling out new designs across its MacBook Pro lineup. For example, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max debuted in 2021, but the base model didn’t adopt the 14-inch chassis until 2023 with the M3 chip. Similarly, the 2016 redesign introduced the Touch Bar, but it took until 2019 for the entry-level model to get it. The same pattern held with the 2012 Retina display MacBook Pro. This time, however, the gap between the high-end redesign and the entry-level version will be just six months.
M7 entry-level with redesign
According to Bloomberg, Apple will unveil the redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro in early 2027, shortly after the high-end models,reportedly called MacBook Ultra,debut. The report states: “Apple is also preparing a revamped entry-level MacBook Pro, code-named K104, for as early as the first half of next year. The 14-inch laptop will adopt a new design in line with what Apple is preparing for higher-end MacBooks with touch screens due between the end of this year and early next year.”
Interestingly, there will also be another entry-level MacBook Pro with the current design and the M6 chip, which is expected to launch this fall alongside the redesigned high-end models. To add another layer of complexity, those high-end MacBook Pros are rumored to ship with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, not M6 generation processors. Apple reportedly scrapped its plans for high-end M6 chips to accelerate the M7 timeline.
Here’s how the timeline breaks down:
- Fall 2026: Entry-level MacBook Pro with M6 and old design; high-end models with M5 Pro/Max and new designThe redesign is expected to include a slightly thinner chassis, OLED displays with touch support, and possibly a Dynamic Island feature.Wrap upGiven recent price increases, this news is a welcome development for budget-conscious buyers. The redesigned 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro will likely cost over $2,500, so if you want the new look and an M7 chip without breaking the bank, you’ll only need to wait until the following spring. It’s unfortunate that the $1,999 entry-level price point today is what Pro-chip versions cost just under a year ago, but that’s the reality of the ongoing memory shortage.Are you excited about the M7 MacBook Pro with the redesign? Share your thoughts in the comments.My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram
