Apple’s move into touchscreen MacBooks may be only the beginning of a bigger hardware shift. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is already planning second-generation versions of its OLED MacBook Pro lineup for next year, with upgraded M7 Pro and M7 Max chips expected to bring new AI hardware capabilities.
The report suggests Apple is not looking to stop at adding touchscreens and OLED displays to its professional laptops. Instead, the next generation could put more emphasis on the silicon powering them, potentially giving the MacBook Pro a more substantial upgrade beyond its new display technology.
Apple’s next MacBook Pro could get a serious silicon upgrade
Gurman reports that Apple plans to introduce second-generation touchscreen MacBook Pro models next year, powered by the M7 Pro and M7 Max processors. These chips are expected to enable new AI hardware capabilities, although the report does not detail what those features might involve or how they will change everyday use.
That is an interesting development, particularly because Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro generation sticks with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips introduced earlier this year. The current models bring OLED displays, touch input and the Dynamic Island interface to the Mac, alongside a thinner and lighter design, improved heat management and a redesigned cooling system.
However, the touchscreen implementation has been relatively conservative. It largely supports familiar gestures such as tapping, swiping, pinching and scrolling, rather than introducing an entirely new way to use macOS. The display also does not fold back into a tablet-like position, and Apple has not added Apple Pencil support.
The M7 generation could therefore be where Apple gives the lineup a more meaningful performance and AI-focused upgrade.
Apple’s touchscreen Mac strategy is still taking shape
The timing matters because Apple is trying to make its Mac and iPad experiences feel more connected without necessarily merging the two product categories. Touch input could make everyday interactions more familiar to iPhone and iPad users, while OLED should deliver richer colours and contrast on a larger screen.
Gurman also reports that Apple is planning an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M7 chip, adopting the thinner design and slimmer bezels introduced on the higher-end models.
For buyers, that could mean a more consistent MacBook Pro lineup, with next year’s models offering both a design refresh and a new generation of Apple silicon. The bigger question is what those AI hardware capabilities will actually enable. Apple has not outlined the features yet, so claims about specific AI functions would be premature.
For now, the first OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro is the opening act. If Gurman’s reporting holds up, Apple’s next silicon leap could make the sequel considerably more interesting.
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