A revolution is brewing in the computer industry that will change the perception of portable computers. According to data from technical analyst Mark Gurman, published in Bloomberg, Apple is preparing to release its first-ever laptop with a touchscreen. However, to accelerate the release of this device, the company has made an extraordinary decision: to skip an entire generation of its proprietary processors.

Instead of the expected M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, which were supposed to form the basis of the new lineup, the first touchscreen MacBook will be released based on the already familiar powerful M5 Pro and M5 Max platforms. This decision will allow the company not to delay the release of the innovative device, scheduled for the period between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027.

Radical update of design and technologies

The new Apple laptop will not just be an updated version of the familiar MacBook, but a fundamentally new product. The main difference will be the introduction of a touch-sensitive screen, which will combine the functionality of tablets and the power of laptops. In addition, the device will use modern OLED technology for the first time, completely replacing existing matrices and promising to significantly improve image quality.

The company's engineers will also transfer the famous interactive Dynamic Island cutout, which has become the calling card of modern iPhones, to computers. This solution, together with a complete redesign of the body, should create a unique user experience, blurring the boundaries between mobile and desktop platforms.

Strategy for AI: why a generation of chips was skipped

Apple's decision to use M5 processors instead of M6 is dictated by ambitious plans in the field of artificial intelligence. The company is simultaneously accelerating the development of the next line of microchips, which will be fully focused on processing complex AI tasks. As a result, buyers of the first generation of touchscreen laptops will face a relatively short life cycle of their devices before a serious hardware update appears.

The next version of the touchscreen MacBook will receive M7 series chips, the development of which is already at an advanced stage. According to analysts, top modifications of these processors are undergoing deep laboratory testing and may go on sale closer to the end of 2027.

M7 processor release calendar

Apple has built a clear schedule for the release of new chips, oriented towards professional tasks and neural networks:

  • Early 2027: Presentation of the base version of the M7 chip is expected.
  • Mid-2027: Official release of powerful M7 Pro and M7 Max versions for professional work.
  • End of 2027: Possible start of sales of top modifications.
  • 2028: Appearance of the most extreme M7 Ultra processor, oriented towards working with heavy neural networks and large language models.

Thus, Apple is ready to sacrifice the short-term relevance of the first touchscreen MacBook for long-term leadership in the field of artificial intelligence, offering users devices that will be quickly updated and adapted to new technological challenges.