Apple to launch next-gen touch-screen MacBook Pro with M7 Pro, M7 Max chips

This year, Apple has done several things that break more than a decade of industry precedent. From introducing its first-ever touchscreen laptops with OLED displays to stepping into the foldable smartphone market and revamping Siri with AI, the company is making some major changes. Now, its new touchscreen MacBooks have barely hit physical shelves; a fresh report suggests the iPhone maker has already begun sketching out second-generation versions of touch laptops for next year.According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's touchscreen MacBook Pro is expected to get another major upgrade next year. The upcoming models are reportedly set to feature M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, which could unlock new AI hardware capabilities and make Apple's next-generation laptops even more interesting. The report also suggests that Apple is planning to bring an entry-level 14-inch M7 MacBook Pro, which will feature a “thinner, lighter design and slimmer bezels introduced on the higher-end versions this past week.”The current touchscreen MacBook Pro models, announced on October 28, come in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. They feature what Apple calls a new PROLED XDR display, which uses tandem OLED technology, and support touch gestures such as swiping, pinching to zoom and dragging content across the screen. Apple says the feature can be useful for tasks such as manipulating 3D models and playing musical instruments on screen.Apple has also added the Dynamic Island to the Mac for the first time, replacing the traditional notch. These laptops are powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and promise up to 24 hours of battery life. However, the next upgrade could be more about what's happening inside. According to Gurman's reporting, Apple is skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max generations and moving directly to M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, which are being developed with AI workloads in mind. The high-end touchscreen MacBook Pro models with these processors are reportedly planned for late 2027.Maintaining two high-end MacBook Pro lineups could create complications for Apple. As Gurman points out, the company would have to manage separate engineering, marketing and manufacturing efforts for both models. Since their prices could be relatively close, Apple might eventually bring the two lineups together, potentially simplifying its MacBook Pro portfolio.- Ends