New MacBook Pro to Cost Up to $2,999 Next Week Without Faster Chips

If you have been waiting for a speedier laptop from Apple, the next few days may disappoint. The company is set to reveal a new MacBook Pro on October 28, but reports indicate the device will not include faster hardware than the models already in stores.

The upcoming event, which Apple has titled "Pro and tell," is expected to showcase a major physical redesign. Rumors point to a thinner and lighter chassis, an OLED display, and support for touch input. This would mark the first time the MacBook Pro line has featured a touch screen. The device is also said to replace the screen notch with a Dynamic Island. Some reports suggest the laptop might include a C2 cellular modem, though this detail remains less certain.

The lack of a performance boost stems from a shift in Apple's chip roadmap. The new laptop will use the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which launched nearly eight months ago. According to reporting cited by 9to5Mac, Apple is skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max generations entirely. The company is instead fast-tracking M7 Pro and M7 Max processors for release in 2027. This leaves the new MacBook Pro in a gap between chip generations, offering the same processing power as the current lineup.

Pricing remains an open question, but analysts suggest the redesign could command a higher price tag. The starting cost might reach approximately $2,999. That figure would be higher than the current models, meaning buyers would pay a premium for design changes without a corresponding increase in speed. While Apple could replace the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max models at the same price, experts consider that unlikely given the current memory market conditions.

Apple has not yet confirmed these details. The October 28 event will reveal how accurate the reports are and how the company positions a device that offers visual and tactile upgrades while relying on existing silicon.