Apple Sets $2,999 Price for Lighter MacBook Pro Launching October 28

Apple is preparing to unveil a fully redesigned MacBook Pro on October 28 at an event titled "Pro and tell." The company plans to launch the new model with a starting price of approximately $2,999, according to reports from 9to5Mac. This price point is expected to replace the current lineup rather than sit alongside it, though the outlet described that pricing strategy as likely wishful thinking given the ongoing memory crisis.

The physical changes to the laptop are substantial. Rumors indicate the new device will be lighter and slightly thinner than its predecessors. It will also feature a new industrial design and an OLED display. For the first time in the MacBook Pro line, the screen is expected to support touch input. The top of the display will drop the traditional notch in favor of a Dynamic Island cutout. A less certain report suggests the inclusion of a C2 cellular modem.

Performance will remain unchanged for this generation. Mark Gurman, who provided the reporting to 9to5Mac, stated that the new laptop will use the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips that first appeared nearly eight months ago. This means the machine will offer no increase in processing power over the models currently on sale. The lack of a speed boost is attributed to a shift in Apple's internal roadmap. The company is reportedly skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max processors entirely and moving directly to M7 Pro and M7 Max chips in 2027. The October 28 launch falls in the gap between these silicon generations.

The pricing structure creates a specific challenge for consumers. Buyers who purchased an M5 Pro or M5 Max model earlier this year will not see a performance upgrade if they switch to the new design. Apple will need to convince professional users that the new industrial design, lighter weight, and touch-enabled OLED screen are worth the premium cost. The current M5 models are already expensive, and the new $2,999 starting price reflects a potential increase for the base configuration.

Apple has not yet confirmed the specific hardware details or the pricing tiers. The upcoming event will provide the first official look at the chassis and display technology. It will also clarify how the company positions a laptop that relies on existing silicon against a backdrop of expected future upgrades. The decision to delay chip advancements until 2027 leaves this year's redesign focused entirely on form factor and screen technology.

The move to touch input marks a distinct break from the MacBook Pro's recent history. The addition of a cellular modem, if confirmed, would further align the laptop with mobile connectivity standards. These changes aim to update the user interface without altering the underlying computational engine. The gap in chip generations ensures that the new model will feel familiar to users in terms of raw speed, even as the hardware shell changes significantly.