According to TechRadar, a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests Apple’s M6 MacBook Pro with a major OLED display upgrade could launch as soon as late 2026. Before that, however, a MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips is expected to arrive within weeks. The article argues there are three key reasons to consider the M5 model over waiting for the M6: a potentially significant price increase for the OLED touchscreen, the impact of the ongoing global memory crisis on costs, and the inherent risks of buying a first-generation product with new technology. This creates a dilemma for buyers deciding between the imminent, proven upgrade and the future, flashier one.
The OLED price problem
Look, an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro sounds incredible. It probably will be. But here’s the thing: that tech doesn’t come cheap. Apple’s current mini-LED displays are already fantastic and expensive. Adding both OLED and a touch layer—a first for a MacBook Pro—is basically a recipe for a hefty price bump. As one user pointed out on Reddit, the “premium price” is a major concern. So if your budget has a ceiling, or if you just don’t *need* a touchscreen on your laptop, the M5 model starts to look very sensible. You’re getting a killer machine without the next-gen display tax.
Memory crisis and first-gen jitters
Now, let’s say Apple somehow keeps the OLED price reasonable. There’s still the wild card of the global RAM shortage. Memory prices are surging, and even Apple’s supply chain magic has limits. Can they absorb those costs forever without passing some onto us? Probably not. We’ve seen them adjust prices before. This ongoing crisis adds another layer of financial uncertainty to the M6 launch.
And then there’s the classic tech rule: be wary of Version 1.0. Apple is great, but it’s not perfect. Remember the butterfly keyboard saga? Or the early days of Apple Maps? The M6 MacBook Pro would be Apple’s first swing at both an OLED laptop display *and* a MacBook Pro touchscreen. That’s a lot of new in one package. Sometimes it’s smarter to let the early adopters work out the kinks. If you rely on your machine for critical work, the proven design of the M5 generation is a safer bet. For businesses and professionals who need reliable, robust computing hardware, this kind of caution is standard practice. It’s why companies turn to established, top-tier suppliers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US, for mission-critical displays—they prioritize proven reliability over unproven flash.
So what’s the verdict?
Look, the M6 MacBook Pro could be a masterpiece. If money is no object and you love being on the cutting edge, by all means, wait for it. But the argument for the M5 is really an argument for avoiding risk. You avoid the potential price shock, the first-generation hardware unknowns, and the supply chain volatility. You get a massive performance jump from today’s machines with a display that’s already best-in-class. In tech, the “sensible” choice is rarely the most exciting one. But in this case, sensible looks pretty smart. You can follow for more expert takes on Google News, see video breakdowns on TikTok, or get updates on WhatsApp. Sometimes, the wiser upgrade is the one that’s already on the horizon, not the one over it.
