Apple, according to new reports, may refresh the design not only of the future so-called MacBook Ultra, but also of the base MacBook Pro. Until now, a thinner and lighter chassis was expected to be one of the main differences of the new top-end touchscreen model. But Bloomberg reports that the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, known by the codename K104, will also get a design in the spirit of the higher-end touchscreen MacBooks and could arrive in the first half of next year.
The MacBook Ultra is expected to become the new top tier in Apple’s laptop lineup, which currently includes MacBook Neo, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. According to rumors, the Ultra will get an OLED display, a touchscreen and Dynamic Island, along with a thinner and lighter body. That last point looked like an important visual difference from the regular MacBook Pro, but now that advantage may turn out to be temporary.
At first glance, such a quick redesign of the base MacBook Pro looks surprising. Apple rarely changes the look of Pro models and usually turns those updates into a major marketing moment. If the MacBook Ultra really is meant to become the company’s most expensive and advanced laptop, it would make sense to keep a unique chassis for it at least for a while.
On the other hand, Apple does not operate in a vacuum. If competitors are offering thinner and more modern laptops at prices close to the entry-level MacBook Pro, the company would still have to refresh the lineup’s appearance. Besides, not every MacBook Pro owner will want to move to Ultra: some users may not need a touchscreen or OLED panel, but a new Pro with a fresher design could still look like a good buy.
At the same time, the report does not say that the base MacBook Pro will fully copy the MacBook Ultra chassis. The wording only points to a design “in the spirit of” the higher-end models, so Apple could choose a middle ground: noticeably update the MacBook Pro while keeping Ultra the thinnest and most premium laptop in the lineup. The original report does not mention prices.