Apple shipped the M4 MacBook Pro lineup in late 2024, and the rumor mill is already grinding toward what comes next.
Industry analysts and supply chain watchers point to a significant redesign arriving with the M5 generation, and the changes could be more dramatic than the usual spec bump.
The headline leak: the notch might finally disappear.
According to supply chain reports circulating through Korean and Taiwanese display manufacturers, Apple is developing OLED panels for the MacBook Pro that would replace the current mini-LED screens.
OLED allows for thinner bezels and better contrast, but the more interesting detail is what Apple reportedly plans to do with the camera housing.
Instead of a notch cut into the top of the display, Apple could move to a hole-punch camera design — similar to what you see on modern iPhones.
That would give the MacBook Pro a cleaner, more uniform screen, something users have begged for since the notch debuted on the 2021 models.
OLED MacBook Pro models aren't expected until 2026 at the earliest.
Samsung Display and LG Display are reportedly ramping up production capacity specifically for laptop-sized OLED panels, which is the kind of behind-the-scenes maneuvering that usually precedes a major Apple product shift by 12 to 18 months.
But there's a catch that should make buyers think twice.
If you're holding out for a notch-free MacBook Pro, you're looking at a two-year wait, minimum.
And early OLED MacBook Pros will almost certainly carry a premium price.
Apple introduced OLED on the iPad Pro in 2024 with a $200 to $300 price increase over the previous generation.
A similar bump on a MacBook Pro could push the 14-inch model well past $2,000.
There's also the question of what happens to the M5 models arriving in the meantime.
Those will almost certainly keep the current chassis, the current mini-LED display, and yes, the current notch.
They'll be faster and more efficient, but visually identical to what's on shelves now.
The M4 MacBook Pro is already a monster for everyday work, video editing, and software development.
The performance gap between M4 and M5 will likely be incremental rather than revolutionary, following Apple's established pattern of alternating between chip improvements and design changes.
The smarter play for anyone who needs a laptop right now is to ignore the OLED rumors entirely and buy based on what you need today.
Apple's trade-in values stay relatively strong, and the M4 models regularly see discounts at third-party retailers that beat Apple's own pricing.
If you can genuinely wait until 2026 and you care about display quality above all else, then the OLED refresh might be worth holding out for.
But that's a long time to sit on a dying machine hoping a rumor pans out.
Our take: The notch was always a compromise, and Apple knows it.
The company has been quietly moving away from it on iPhone, and the MacBook Pro is the last major product still carrying that design scar.
If the OLED rumors hold up, this refresh won't just be another spec bump — it'll be Apple admitting the notch was a mistake it's finally ready to fix.
Final Thoughts
Just don't expect it to come cheap, and don't clear your calendar waiting.