Why Apple Is Redesigning the MacBook Pro for 2027 Launch

Some changes arrive quietly, then rewrite expectations. Walk into any creative studio and you’ll see older MacBook Pros still doing heavy lifting. Apple wants the next chapter to look different — literally.

A new look and a wider plan

According to reports from Bloomberg, engineers inside Apple are testing a redesigned base MacBook Pro under the codename K104. It keeps the familiar 14-inch footprint, but the chassis and screen are being retuned to match the aesthetic of the touch-enabled MacBook family Apple is planning. Expect a notch above the display that resembles the dynamic island found on recent iPhones, adapted for a laptop screen.

Timing is tight. The company aims to introduce touch-screen MacBooks either late this year or in early 2027, with the redesigned 14-inch Pro arriving in that window alongside a new generation of processors from the M7 family.

Apple’s tablet strategy is moving in parallel. Internal testing reportedly covers four new iPad Pro models powered by M7 chips. These will keep the 11- and 13-inch sizes their professional users have grown accustomed to, but the upgrade focus is on far stronger internals rather than a radical change in form factor. Rollout is expected in spring, with performance bumps that matter to creative and pro workflows.

None of this happens in a vacuum. Supply-chain turbulence has pinched Apple’s margins and, as CEO Tim Cook has explained, forced some price adjustments across the lineup. The price for a MacBook Pro with 1 terabyte of storage has risen recently from roughly €1,580 to about €1,859. That squeeze helps explain why Apple is experimenting with both premium and more affordable options at once.

Remember the MacBook Neo launched in March? That device was Apple’s attempt to offer a lower-cost laptop without diluting the Pro tier. The upcoming redesigned MacBook Pro, by contrast, is squarely aimed at professionals who need more horsepower and a workspace-optimized experience.

So what does this mean for buyers and creatives? If you’re patient and need the fastest silicon for video, 3D work, or heavy multitasking, the M7-equipped iPads and the K104 MacBook Pro promise meaningful upgrades. If price sensitivity is your priority, Apple’s shelving of variations and the presence of cheaper models like the Neo might be the short-term relief you want.

Apple is threading a narrow needle: pushing high-end performance while trying to keep more accessible options in the catalogue.

Will the touch MacBook change how professionals work on macOS? Maybe. Will it change who buys a Mac? That depends on how Apple balances price, performance, and design when these devices finally ship.