After ‘cheap’ Neo, Apple could launch a super-premium MacBook ‘Ultra’ with touchscreen support
After introducing the MacBook Neo to bring down the entry price of its laptop lineup, Apple may now be preparing a new model at the opposite end of the spectrum. Reports suggest the company is working on a high-end Mac laptop that could introduce two firsts for the lineup: an OLED display and touchscreen support. The device, reportedly being considered under the name ‘MacBook Ultra,’ is expected to sit above the current MacBook Pro models rather than replace them.
The claim comes from reputable Apple analyst Mark Gurman, who wrote in his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg that Apple’s long-rumoured OLED MacBook may now arrive as a separate product line. Instead of being folded into the MacBook Pro refresh cycle that was earlier expected, the company could introduce a new premium category at the top of the Mac range. The report suggests it could arrive toward the end of the year if the company moves forward with the idea.
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Gurman described the device as a “touch-screen and OLED high-end MacBook.” The Ultra branding would follow Apple’s naming approach in other product lines. Devices such as the Apple Watch Ultra already use the label to signal a more premium option above the standard lineup.
Under such a structure, Apple’s notebook range would stretch across a wider set of price points. The newly announced M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models would remain the company’s primary performance laptops. More affordable machines like the MacBook Neo would cover the entry segment, while the reported Ultra model could occupy a new tier above the Pro machines.
The display would be one of the biggest upgrades. Current MacBook Pro laptops use Mini-LED panels marketed as Liquid Retina XDR displays. Moving to OLED would allow deeper blacks and stronger contrast, along with improved HDR performance. Touch input would represent an even bigger shift. Apple has repeatedly avoided adding touchscreens to Mac laptops, instead pointing users toward the iPad Pro for touch-based workflows. Meanwhile, several premium Windows laptops already combine OLED panels with touchscreen support, including models from Dell, HP and ASUS.
The move could also raise the price of Apple’s top Mac laptops. Gurman noted that when Apple shifted the iPhone X and later the iPad Pro to OLED displays, prices increased by roughly 20 percent. A similar change for the MacBook Ultra would likely push it further into the super-premium laptop segment. For context, Apple’s most expensive laptop currently is 16″ MacBook Pro with the M5 Max or M5 Pro chip, both starting at Rs 2,99,900 in India.
For users considering a Mac upgrade and with the budget for an “Ultra” premium laptop, the choice may depend on priorities. The current MacBook Pro models already offer strong performance and long battery life, while the reported device could focus more on display technology and new interaction options if it arrives. Apple has not confirmed plans for the laptop, and the final name and launch timeline remain uncertain.
