MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado/PCMag)
With consumer tech prices continuing to soar, how can Apple persuade customers to keep buying its expensive devices? By releasing a shiny new lineup of Macs, apparently.
Apple will soon debut new and improved Macs, and the highlight will be OLED touch screens on the MacBook, according to Bloomberg. After years of dismissing them for its laptops, Apple will reportedly deliver 14-inch and 16-inch touch-screen MacBooks at the end of 2026 or in 2027, which will run M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. Apple is currently testing it with macOS 27.1. Versions with upcoming M7 chips are expected in 2027 or 2028, writes Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
A new M6 chip will be reserved for the revamped 14-inch MacBook Pro, with an M7 model to follow next year. In terms of design, however, it'll be very similar to the existing 14-inch model, Bloomberg says.
Also on tap is a new iMac, as well as updated MacBook Airs for early next year. The company is also prepping an OLED version of the Air for 2028.
Apple is also working on a refreshed MacBook Neo, with new colors and an A19 Pro chip, up from the A18 Pro. The popular low-cost model was unfortunately hit with a price hike only months after its debut as a result of the RAM crunch. But even though it's now $100 more expensive, PCMag still recommends the Neo, in part because other MacBooks are also pricier now, too.
Even with higher price tags, demand is high for Macs, Bloomberg notes. In May, Apple dropped the $599 Mac mini and effectively raised the Mac mini's starting price to $799. The Mac Studio has also been hard to come by, and it got a huge price hike this year. The M4 Mac Studio is now $2,499, up 25% from $1,999, while the M3 Ultra Mac Studio now starts at $5,299, a whopping 32.5% increase over its previous $3,999 price tag.
The surge is mainly due to the rise of AI agents. Users are increasingly turning to the Mac mini and Mac Studio to run them locally, according to CEO Tim Cook.
About Our Expert
I’m a New York-based writer currently serving as PCMag’s Editorial Intern. I cover the impact of technology and internet culture on our daily lives, with a specialization in video games and cultural criticism.
I have written for Kotaku, The A.V. Club, Unwinnable, Aftermath, and more. In addition, I have a formal background in video game development and visual design. You can find all of my work on my website.
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