The MacBook Pro lineup undergoes regular hardware updates each year, with major redesigns happening roughly every half-decade. The Macbook Pro had only minor changes and updates after the 2011 redesign. Recent reports suggest that 2026 will bring a major redesign to the appearance of the MacBook series. The latest 2024 Macbook Pro models launched recently have maintained the same design as the last Macbook series and have the color option Space Black, which is from the 2023 models.
Thunderbolt 4 is still used as the port for the M4 version, but the M4 Pro and M4 Pro Max versions get the Thunderbolt 5 ports, which have two times the size of the bandwidth. The 2025 MacBook Pro is also expected to keep the same design and focus more on internal upgrades, such as a faster processor, which is expected to be an M5 chip. All the expectations for the new design are likely to happen in the 2026 version of the MacBook Pro line, as the company’s 20th anniversary is approaching then. The foreseen major redesign is the OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display, which could be a major update from the
Mini LED display, as OLED is said to be the world’s best display panel, and it offers high-quality display with high contrast, true blacks, and high viewing angles. The 2026 version of the MacBook Pro is also said to be thinner and lighter, making it easier to carry, according to various sources. The launch of Apple’s first MacBook was in 2006, the Macbook Pro. The Macbook Pro will celebrate its 20th anniversary just in two years. The first version of the Macbook was a box-shaped, heavy, and thick laptop weighing up to 5.6 pounds. The Macbook Pro stood out as it had a huge advantage back then as it introduced many new features; it was the Macbook Pro the first one to function the MagSafe power connector.
It was also the first one to have a backlit keyboard and a processor that is Intel-based. The later 2008 version of the MacBook introduced a new unibody design, consisting of a new aluminum frame that had curved edges and slanted sides. What made the design unique was its placement; while all the slots were placed on the left side, it was just the SuperDrive slot on the right side. Four years later, in 2012, Apple launched a redesign of the MacBook Pro, which was slimmer and had a display resolution that was better than the HD retina display. However, this upgrade came at the cost of the self-built optical Superdrive, which was discontinued after.
The 2012 MacBook Pro was also the first one to include the HDMI port and introduce SSD-based storage, which we use till now. It also had a new updated and thinner MagSafe 2 power connector. In 2015, the MacBook Pro got a minor upgrade in its hardware, the replacement of the traditional trackpad with the Force Touch version. This innovative feature stimulated the sensation of pressing down on the surface using haptic feedback and eliminating mechanical motion. Apple then made the MacBook Pro thinner and lighter in the year 2016 and also replaced the old row of functioning keys with a multitouch OLED touch bar.
The 2016 model was also the one to introduce the USB C ports and Thunderbolt 3 ports. The butterfly keyboard and touch identification sensor were also introduced during this time. The butterfly keyboard was updated in 2017 into a second-generation butterfly keyboard and also added the touch bar. The 2017 MacBook Pro update was all about the keyboard updates. Now we are eagerly waiting for some major updates from Apple to their MacBook Pro line, which is more likely to happen in 2026.
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