While many notebook manufacturers are cutting back on production, Apple is apparently pursuing the opposite strategy: seven different Mac product categories are planned for 2026 – not including a possible touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro with a new design. From an affordable MacBook and M5 MacBook Air models to new Mac Studio and iMac variants, one of the most extensive Mac updates in recent years is on the horizon.
- New affordable MacBook with A18 Pro chip and aluminum chassis
- M5 MacBook Air (13″ and 15″) and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro (14″ and 16″)
- M5 Ultra Mac Studio, new Mac mini models with M5/M5 Pro
- M5 iMac and new Apple Studio Display in planning
Apple Mac 2026: Broad portfolio from entry-level to high-end
The planned 2026 Mac offensive begins with a new low-cost MacBook. According to reports, this model will be equipped with an A18 Pro chip – an SoC that originally comes from the iPhone segment. Technically, this step is plausible: Apple has been using the close integration between iPhone and Mac chips for years to achieve economies of scale. Such a device could be positioned below the MacBook Air in terms of price and open up new target groups. An aluminum housing and eye-catching color options should make the model stand out visually from the rest of the line-up.
In addition, updated 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the MacBook Air with an M5 chip are expected. These should primarily offer performance and efficiency improvements without fundamentally changing the established design. In the professional segment, new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max are on the horizon. They will be complemented by a Mac Studio with M5 Ultra – a logical step after Apple has so far positioned its Ultra chips exclusively in high-end desktops.
I’m expecting this low cost MacBook, new MacBook Airs, new MacBook Pros, new Mac displays over the course of the next several weeks. There’s also a new Mac Studio, iMac and Mac mini this year. Huge year for the Mac. And that doesn’t even include the touch MacBook Pro end of 2026. https://t.co/gcAKwOVHpb
– Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 15, 2026
The Mac mini is also set to receive an update with M5 and M5 Pro variants. The iMac is also expected to come with an M5 chip, although a Pro version has not yet been confirmed. The portfolio is rounded off by a new Apple Studio Display. This broad product range covers almost all performance and price segments – from entry-level mobile devices to workstations for content creation and software development.
OLED MacBook Pro with touchscreen as an additional surprise?
It is particularly exciting that a possible OLED MacBook Pro with a new housing design and touchscreen function is not yet included in this list. Should Apple take this step, it would be a significant change in strategy. Touchscreens were previously considered unlikely in the Mac portfolio, as Apple clearly separated the iPad and Mac.
An OLED panel would also enable higher contrasts, deeper blacks and potentially better energy efficiency. In combination with an M6 chip – which is also on the cards – this model could establish a new premium category in the Mac line-up. However, it remains unclear whether such a device will actually appear in 2026 or follow later.
From an economic perspective, the roadmap seems reasonable. Analysts assume that the affordable MacBook in particular could generate a significant share of computing sales. At the same time, the question arises as to whether buyers of the M5 Pro and M5 Max models might hesitate to wait for the potentially redesigned OLED model. Apple is probably consciously taking this balance into account.
Conclusion
With seven Mac product categories announced, 2026 could be one of the most extensive update years in the history of the Mac. From the affordable MacBook with A18 Pro to the M5 Ultra Mac Studio, Apple covers almost all performance levels. A possible OLED touchscreen Mac would further expand the portfolio. Official prices and specific launch dates are still pending, but the first announcements are expected later this year.
