Apple is working on the new M6 MacBook Pro, which is expected to be released later this year along with a total design overhaul. Here are six new features expected with the M6 MacBook Pro.

#1: Thinner, Lighter New Design

The MacBook Pro design was last changed in 2021, but rumors suggest that the next design refresh will come this year.

Bloomberg refers to this as a "complete redesign" that is thinner and lighter than the current model.

It is still unclear whether the ports will be affected, but I do not expect Apple to take the 'thin, light' approach too far this time. All signs indicate that they have learned from the issues of the pre-2021 design. And undoubtedly, the casing needs to be thick enough for adequate cooling under load.

#2: M6, M6 Pro, M6 Max Chips

A new M6 chip family is said to be coming later this year, but it is uncertain whether the MacBook Pro will be the first model to use these chips.

With the M6 generation, we expect above-average updates, as this is being built with a new 2nm process, and there are also other innovations coming with the iPhone’s A20 Pro chip.

It is unclear whether the release of the M6 MacBook Pro will happen all at once or spread over several months like the M5 generation, but rumors point to the first option.

#3: Touchscreen, A First for Mac

The Mac is getting touch support. The M6 MacBook Pro will be the first model with a touchscreen.

According to Mark Gurman, Apple is adding touch as a secondary input method to the Mac; it will not replace the keyboard and trackpad.

macOS 27 will be optimized to provide more touch-friendly controls that work well for non-touchscreen users. Additionally, most of the standard touch gestures found in iOS and iPadOS are expected to be supported.

#4: OLED Display

Every iPhone now comes with an OLED display, and the iPad Pro also received a stunning tandem OLED display in 2024. However, the Mac has remained outside of this trend until now.

The M6 MacBook Pro will be the first Mac to adopt this display technology.

OLED should provide more realistic blacks, better contrast, and improved viewing angles. Additionally, it could be part of why Apple can make this new MacBook Pro thinner.

#5: Dynamic Island

The 2021 MacBook Pro was the first Mac to come with a notch, and this redesigned M6 MacBook Pro is expected to eliminate the notch.

The new MacBook Pro is expected to have a hole-punch camera cutout instead of a notch and gain a new software feature called Dynamic Island.

Like on the iPhone, Dynamic Island will serve to mask the camera cutout through software and provide new functionality in macOS.

Expect Dynamic Island to be used for Live Activities, expanding on the existing menu bar feature.

Wildcard #6: Cellular Options Possible with C2 Modem

Apple has yet to offer a Mac with cellular connectivity. However, rumors suggest that this may change soon.

Mark Gurman wrote in his report on Apple’s cellular modem plans for the end of 2024:

Apple is exploring the idea of bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac for the first time… However, it is unlikely that cellular connections will come to the Mac before 2026; by that time, Apple plans to have a second-generation modem that supports faster speeds.

There is no definite guarantee that the Mac will gain cellular connectivity this year. However, since Apple’s C2 modem is expected to launch around the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro, the timing could be right.

Which new features of the M6 MacBook Pro excite you the most? Let us know in the comments.

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