MacRumors

Apple plans to launch MacBook Air models equipped with the new M5 chip in spring 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is also working on M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models that will come early in the year.

Neither the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models nor the ‌MacBook Air‌ models are expected to get design changes, with Apple focusing on simple chip upgrades. In the case of the ‌MacBook Pro‌, a much bigger refresh is planned for either late 2026 or early 2027.

Apple is developing thinner, lighter OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with touch screen capabilities. The late 2026/early 2027 refresh will mark the first design update to the ‌MacBook Pro‌ since 2021.

As for the ‌MacBook Air‌, it received a design update in 2022, though Apple did introduce a larger-screened 15-inch model in 2023. Rumors suggest the ‌MacBook Air‌ will get an updated LCD display in 2027, so design tweaks could come at that point.

Apple is developing new versions of the Mac Studio and Mac mini, with those machines likely to get M5 Pro and/or M5 Max chips as well. There are also two external displays that are in the works, at least one of which is a second-generation version of the Studio Display. It's possible that new displays could come out alongside upgraded desktop machines, but there is no word on when Apple plans to update the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌.

Despite years of rumors suggesting Apple is working on Macs with Face ID instead of Touch ID, the technology isn't coming any time soon, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Gurman claims that Apple is aiming to shift from ‌Touch ID‌ to ‌Face ID‌ in the Mac line, but the change "remains years away."

Gurman and others have incorrectly predicted ‌Face ID‌ for Macs several times over the past five years. In 2021, Gurman said he'd bet Face ID would come to the Mac "within a couple of years." In the same year, he said Apple planned to add ‌Face ID‌ to the M1 iMac, but did not end up doing so. In 2022, he said Apple had "definitely" been working on Face ID for Macs, but "time will tell if they launch it."

Gurman did not provide any new information about ‌Face ID‌ for the Mac today than he did in 2021 when he first mentioned it, so the feature may remain "years away" for the next decade.

In 2021, Apple marketing VP Tom Boger said that there's no Face ID on the Mac because ‌Touch ID‌ is more convenient. Users' hands are already on the keyboard, so Apple feels that ‌Touch ID‌ makes more sense. It's possible Apple's thinking on the matter will shift when touch screen Macs come out in late 2026 or 2027.

While we have unsurprisingly yet to see any straight discounts on the just-announced M5 MacBook Pro, Best Buy is seeking to entice upgraders with some trade-in offers toward the new models.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Best Buy is currently offering up to $800 in trade-in value for a base M4 MacBook Pro, with higher-spec machines qualifying for even more. Base M3 MacBook Pro models qualify for up to $600 in trade-in credit, while base M2 models qualify for up to $490 and base M1 models qualify for up to $300. My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members are also eligible for an extra 10% on their trade-in value.

The new M5 MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, with higher-spec stock configurations available at $1,799 and $1,999 price points. Pre-orders are available now ahead of a launch next Wednesday, October 22.

Apple also offers its own trade-in program for Macs and other devices, so it's worth comparing trade-in values to determine what the best option is for you. Private sales can also frequently yield higher values for a given model, though that can come with more hassle and less security than a retail trade-in partner like Best Buy or Apple, so you need to weigh priorities when deciding how to upgrade.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple is working on a new version of the MacBook Pro with an OLED display, a hole punch camera, and touch screen functionality, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said today. The updated ‌MacBook Pro‌ is set to launch sometime between late 2026 and early 2027.

Apple hasn't redesigned the ‌MacBook Pro‌ since the launch of the M1 Pro and M1 Max machines in 2021, but that is set to change with the launch of the OLED models. Along with new display capabilities, there will be a hole-punch camera and no notch, plus a thinner and lighter design. Apple is also adding a reinforced hinge and an updated screen design that will ensure the display does not move when it is touched.

While Apple plans to add a touch screen, the MacBook will continue to have a trackpad and a keyboard, with touch gestures augmenting existing functionality.

With an OLED display and touch integration, the upcoming 2026/2027 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will likely be more expensive than the current higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models that are priced starting at $1,999 for the 14-inch model and $2,499 for the 16-inch model.

The touch screen ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will be equipped with Apple's next-generation M6 chips. Apple just this week debuted the M5 Apple silicon chip, so the M6 is a ways off. Apple won't have M5 Pro and M5 Max chips ready until early 2026, which means it is increasingly likely the M6 variants will come in 2027.

It is possible that Apple will introduce two ‌MacBook Pro‌ refreshes in the same year, but it would be unusual.

Apple plans to test touch screen Macs with the ‌MacBook Pro‌ line, and the technology won't come to other Macs until Apple learns how it fares with consumers. Apple's last attempt at touch-based functionality in the Mac did not go well. The Touch Bar that was added to the ‌MacBook Pro‌ in 2016 did not prove popular with customers, and Apple ended up phasing it out starting with the 2021 ‌MacBook Pro‌ refresh.

Rumors about a touch screen Mac surfaced earlier this year when Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple would incorporate on-cell touch technology in the OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌. Kuo said that Apple decided to give the Mac a touch screen after "long-term observation of iPad user behavior" that suggested touch controls can enhance productivity and user experience in certain scenarios.

Apple and NBCUniversal are teaming up for a $15/month streaming TV bundle that will include access to Apple TV and Peacock.

The streaming bundle will be available starting on October 20, and it will give customers access to both services at a 30 percent discount compared to purchasing individual subscriptions. ‌Apple TV‌ is normally $12.99 per month, while Peacock starts at $10.99 for the Premium plan that's included in the bundle.

Apple One subscribers on the Family and Premier plans can add Peacock Premium Plus and receive a 35 percent discount. Peacock Premium Plus includes the option to download content and watch it offline, while the standard Premium plan does not. It also removes most ads.

The ‌Apple TV‌ and Peacock apps will also feature an "extensive sampling" of each other's shows in app. When the bundle launches on October 20, Peacock subscribers will be able to watch the first three episodes of Stick, Slow Horses, Silo, The Buccaneers, Foundation, Palm Royale, and Prehistoric Planet from ‌Apple TV‌ for free.

‌Apple TV‌ subscribers will be able to watch up to three episodes of Law & Order, Bel-Air, Twisted Metal, Love Island Games, Happy's Place, The Hunting Party, and Real Housewives of Miami from Peacock.

Apple's new bundle comes just after Apple decided to rebrand its streaming service as ‌Apple TV‌, dropping the Plus and introducing a new logo.

Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, but previous rumors have indicated that the company still plans to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year.

The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025, although it is unclear if the timeframe for any of them has been pushed back:

• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for proximity features, and potentially new color options like Red.
• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model specifically.
• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.

The following products are rumored to launch in late 2025 or early 2026:

• MacBook with A18 Pro chip: A lower-cost MacBook model equipped with an A18 Pro chip — or perhaps an A19 Pro chip, although this might be wishful thinking — is rumored to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Studio Display: A new version of the Studio Display with an A19 Pro chip and mini-LED backlighting is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Pro Display XDR: A new version of the Pro Display XDR with a built-in Center Stage camera is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.

Apple's exact plans for the rest of the year remain to be seen, but it is not unusual for the company to announce new products in late October through November. Apple has even announced some products in December over the years, such as multiple Mac Pro models, the Pro Display XDR, and the AirPods Max.

HomePod mini and Apple TV inventory is starting to dwindle at select Apple Store locations around the world, as often happens ahead of new models.

As for other Macs, it is possible that no additional models will follow until next year. It would have made sense for the iMac and Mac mini to be updated with the M5 chip alongside the 14-inch MacBook Pro, if they were coming this year, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are rumored to launch in early 2026. The next MacBook Air and Mac Studio models are expected to launch next year, too, while the timeframe for the next Mac Pro desktop tower is up in the air.

Apple has retained its position as the world's most valuable brand for the 13th consecutive year, topping Interbrand's 2025 Best Global Brands ranking with an estimated brand value of $470.9 billion.

The annual Interbrand report evaluates the world's top 100 companies based on financial performance, brand strength in purchase decisions, and overall competitiveness. The report claims that combined brand value of all 100 entries rose 4.4% year over year to $3.6 trillion.

Apple first entered Interbrand's top 25 in 2008 and reached the number one position by 2013, maintaining its dominance through more than a decade of major shifts in consumer technology. Its valuation of $470.9 billion represents a 4% decline from last year, yet still places it comfortably ahead of second-place Microsoft, which grew 10% to $388.5 billion. Amazon, Google, and Samsung rounded out the top five with respective brand values of $319.9 billion, $317.1 billion, and $90.5 billion.

While Apple remains the world's most valuable brand, the report pointed to a dramatic surge from AI chipmaker Nvidia, which recorded a 116% increase in brand value to $43.2 billion, leaping from 36th to 15th place — the largest single-year gain in Interbrand's history. In addition, Instagram entered the top 10 for the first time, with a 27% rise in brand value, while Nike dropped from 14th to 23rd after losing 26% of its valuation. Tesla fell 13 positions to 25th place following a 35% decline.

Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with an M5 chip, and there are two key storage-related upgrades beyond that chip bump.

First, Apple says the new 14-inch MacBook Pro offers up to 2× faster SSD performance than the equivalent previous-generation model, so read and write speeds should get a significant boost. Apple says it is using "the latest storage technology," but it did not provide any further details, and there are no SSD benchmark results yet.

Second, Apple says the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model can now be configured with up to 4TB of storage, whereas the highest storage capacity offered for the equivalent previous-generation model was 2TB. However, the highest-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Max chips can be configured with up to 8TB of storage.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro can be pre-ordered now, and it launches Wednesday, October 22. In the U.S., pricing for this model continues to start at $1,599.

Apple's website does not currently list the amount of unified memory included in the Vision Pro with the M5 chip, but MacRumors has confirmed that the latest version of the headset is equipped with the same 16GB of RAM as the previous model.

The M5 chip supports up to 32GB of unified memory in the new 14-inch MacBook Pro, but Apple has opted to keep the new Vision Pro at 16GB of RAM.

We also wanted to highlight that the Vision Pro now ships with Apple's newer 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max in the U.S., Canada, and select other countries. The previous model shipped with Apple's 30W USB-C Power Adapter, which was discontinued in countries where the 40W-to-60W charger was released.

However, the new Vision Pro still ships with Apple's international 30W USB-C Power Adapter variants in some countries, such as the U.K. and Australia.

As we previously reported, other key Vision Pro changes beyond the M5 chip include a more comfortable Dual Knit Band in the box, along with 120Hz support for reduced motion blur and a smoother experience while using the Mac Virtual Display feature.

The updated Vision Pro can be pre-ordered now, and it launches on Wednesday, October 22.

Apple CEO Tim Cook pledged to expand the company's investments in China during his latest visit to the country, signaling that Apple intends to maintain a strong presence in its most important manufacturing hub even as it continues diversifying production elsewhere, Reuters reports.

During meetings with Chinese government officials this week, Cook told China's industry minister Li Lecheng that Apple will keep investing in the country, with ongoing commitment to its Chinese supply chain and operations. Lecheng told Cook that China hopes Apple will continue to expand in the country and "grow together with Chinese suppliers," adding that the government intends to foster a favorable business environment for foreign companies.

Cook's visit comes at a sensitive time in U.S.–China relations, as both countries remain locked in a prolonged trade dispute mired by tariffs, export restrictions, and increasing pressure on technology companies to localize their manufacturing. The White House has promoted domestic production under initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act, while Beijing has sought to reinforce ties with foreign investors amid slowing economic growth.

Apple's position in this environment has grown increasingly complex. The company has spent the past two years shifting parts of its manufacturing to countries such as India and Vietnam to reduce its dependency on China, yet the majority of its iPhones and other key products continue to be assembled by Chinese partners. Cook's latest assurances in China underscore that, despite diversification efforts, China remains integral to Apple's global operations.

Apple remains caught between competing political and economic pressures. U.S. regulators have intensified scrutiny of American firms operating in China, while Chinese authorities have increased oversight of foreign technology companies. Yet Apple has so far remained largely unscathed compared to other U.S. firms such as Nvidia and Qualcomm, both of which have faced regulatory investigations in China.

Apple's Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan joined Cook for the visit, meeting with Lens Technology, one of Apple's longtime Chinese suppliers responsible for producing glass covers for the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple is preparing day-one software updates for its new iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro models.

iPadOS 26.0.1 (23A8464), macOS 26.0.1 (25A8364), and visionOS 26.0.1 (23M8340) should be available upon the launch of the new ‌iPad Pro‌, ‌MacBook Pro‌, and Vision Pro, which each feature the M5 chip.

All three of the new devices likely have the current versions of their operating systems pre-installed. It is not yet clear what's in the new versions of iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, but day-one updates usually include essential bug fixes.

The updated ‌iPad Pro‌, ‌MacBook Pro‌, and Vision Pro are now available to pre-order, and will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Wednesday, October 22.

Apple will bring the Vision Pro companion app to the iPad with the release of iPadOS 26.1, marking the first time ‌iPad‌ users can manage and explore spatial content for the headset directly from their devices.

Apple mentioned the expansion in the press release for the new Vision Pro with the M5 chip. The Vision Pro app was first introduced earlier this year with iOS 18.4, giving iPhone users the ability to browse and download apps, games, and media experiences for the Vision Pro without needing to wear the headset.

The app features a Discover page that highlights curated recommendations for "new and noteworthy experiences available on Apple Vision Pro," including categories such as Immersive Video, 3D movies, and other spatial apps. The My Vision Pro page within the app provides device-specific information and tools. The app also includes guest management features.

The Vision Pro app was automatically installed for iPhone users after updating to iOS 18.4 in April, and the iPadOS 26.1 release will extend the same integration to iPads. iPadOS 26.1 is likely to be released later this month or in early November.

Apple's artificial intelligence division has lost another senior executive, with Ke Yang, who was recently appointed to lead the company's AI-driven web search effort, departing for Meta, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Yang had only recently taken over Apple's newly created Answers, Knowledge, and Information group, known internally as "AKI." The team is responsible for developing technology to make Siri more ChatGPT-like, including the ability to retrieve live information from the web. The AKI project is said to be a central component of Apple's planned ‌Siri‌ overhaul, which is currently scheduled for release in March 2026. The update is said to include features that were delayed from earlier this year, such as allowing ‌Siri‌ to access personal data and handle more complex, multi-step requests.

Yang's promotion to head of AKI came just weeks ago following the departure of Robby Walker, another longtime Apple executive who had been leading the group. Yang had previously overseen the search-focused portion of AKI before being elevated to lead the division in full, reporting directly to John Giannandrea, Apple's senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy. With Yang's exit, the AKI team will now report to Benoit Dupin, one of Giannandrea's deputies responsible for Apple's machine learning infrastructure.

The AKI project has reportedly become a major element of Apple's efforts to close the gap with rivals such as OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google Gemini, all of which have made rapid advances in AI-powered search and conversational interfaces. Gurman describes the Answers feature as a new layer of ‌Siri‌ designed to synthesize responses from live internet data, allowing it to deliver up-to-date answers and contextual information.

Yang's departure is the latest in a growing series of exits from Apple's artificial intelligence division, which has reportedly seen more than a dozen senior researchers and engineers leave this year alone. Many of those departures were from the company's Foundation Models team, which is tasked with developing Apple's core generative AI models. That unit was led by Ruoming Pang, who also left for Meta earlier this year to help establish a new research division known as Superintelligence Labs.

We didn't get a second fall event this year, but Apple did unveil updated products with a series of press releases that went out today. The M5 chip made an appearance in new MacBook Pro, Vision Pro, and iPad Pro models.

We've rounded up our coverage and highlighted the main feature changes for each device below.

MacBook Pro

• M5 chip with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
• Neural Accelerators for GPU
• 153GB/s memory bandwidth, up from 120GB/s
• 2x faster SSD
• Up to 4TB storage
• Priced starting at $1,599

Vision Pro

• M5 chip with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
• 10 percent more pixels rendered on micro-OLED displays for sharper images and crisper text
• Refresh rate up to 120Hz for reduced motion blur
• Longer 2.5 hour battery life
• More comfortable Dual Knit Band
• Priced starting at $3,499
• Dual Knit Band included with M5 model, or $99 standalone

iPad Pro

• M5 chip with up to 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
• 12GB RAM minimum
• 2x faster SSD read and write speeds
• N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6
• C1X modem with up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance
• Fast charge support with 50% charge in 35 minutes
• Priced starting at $999

Our Full Coverage

There are more tidbits on what was announced today available in our coverage of the new devices.

• Apple Unveils M5 Chip With Next-Generation GPU
• Apple Announces New 14-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip
• Apple Updates Vision Pro With M5 Chip, Dual Knit Band, and 120Hz Support
• Apple Debuts New iPad Pro With M5 Chip, Faster Charging, and More
• Apple Releases Black Version of Magic Keyboard for iPad Air
• New MacBook Pro Does Not Include a Charger in the Box in Europe
• Two New Accessories for Vision Pro Now Available, With More Coming
• Discontinued M2 Vision Pro Not Available for Trade-In

Launch Date

The new M5 devices are available for pre-order starting today, and will launch on Wednesday, October 22.

On the latest episode of The Town podcast, Apple's services chief Eddy Cue explained why the company decided to rename Apple TV+ to Apple TV.

According to Cue, many people already referred to Apple TV+ as Apple TV, so the company finally decided to embrace the simpler name.

"We just decided," he told host Matthew Belloni.

"We all called it Apple TV and we said, given where we are today, it's a great time to do it," added Cue. Launched on November 1, 2019, Apple's streaming service is now well established, and it offers a growing library of award-winning series.

Nonetheless, the new name may cause confusion, as there is now an Apple TV streaming service, an Apple TV app, and Apple TV hardware.

Cue argued that the Apple TV box is actually named the Apple TV 4K nowadays.

"Our hardware is called Apple TV 4K for your TV," he said. "I think that's fine, and the app is called Apple TV. It's been called Apple TV on our third-party products as well, so I don't think that'll be a problem at all."

The new name has yet to appear in most places, but the changeover should happen soon.

Cue's comments were first reported by 9to5Mac's Zac Hall.

Apple today updated its iMessage troubleshooting support document to add a scenario that can occur in iOS 26. If you don't activate iMessage or an eSIM when setting up a new iPhone with ‌iOS 26‌, it can prevent iMessage from working.

Apple says that iMessage does not activate automatically when setting up an eSIM in the Settings app after the initial ‌iPhone‌ setup period, so it needs to be done manually.

After activating an eSIM, users can open up the Settings app, tap on Apps, choose Messages, and then turn iMessage off and back on to get the feature to work as intended.

When iMessage is not properly activated after setting up an eSIM, users can receive a Not Delivered alert, have their messages sent as SMS/RCS messages in green bubbles, or see their iMessages delivered from an email address instead of a phone number.

The United States Mint will soon begin producing a new $1 American Innovation Coin featuring Steve Jobs, and the design for the coin was previewed today.

The $1 Steve Jobs Coin features a young Steve Jobs in a turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers. The coin is inscribed with the words "make something wonderful." A full description is available on the U.S. Mint website:

This design presents a young Steve Jobs sitting in front of a quintessentially northern California landscape of oak-covered rolling hills. His posture and expression, as he is captured in a moment of reflection, show how this environment inspired his vision to transform complex technology into something as intuitive and organic as nature itself. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "CALIFORNIA." Additional inscriptions are "STEVE JOBS" and "MAKE SOMETHING WONDERFUL."

When it launches in 2026, the Steve Jobs coin will be purchasable from the U.S. Mint website. The collectible coins will be available for $13.25, or in a set of four (including three featuring other innovators/innovations) for $27.50. Rolls of 25 coins and bags of 100 coins are also available.

The Steve Jobs coin is part of a multi-year series that started in 2018. Each state is able to nominate an American innovation or pioneering effort for memorialization in a collectible coin.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recommended Apple co-founder Steve Jobs for the coin earlier this year. Newsom said that Jobs' willingness to try new ideas and push the boundaries of what's possible embodied the California spirit.

(Thanks, Elery!)