SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 5, 2026, 02:50 PST
- Apple has issued release-candidate builds of its 26.3 operating-system updates to developers.
- Reports point to refreshed MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips landing in a February–March window.
- Supply-chain reporting also points to an OLED MacBook Pro redesign targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Apple has pushed macOS Tahoe 26.3 into release-candidate testing, a near-final stage that often precedes a public rollout — and has reignited talk of an imminent MacBook Pro refresh. (Apple Developer)
That matters now because Apple tends to time Mac hardware updates around software releases, and the company’s higher-end laptops have been due for the next step in its M5 chip cycle. Buyers watching for an update have also been tracking retailer inventories for signs of a handover.
The bigger question is what comes after the chip bump. A supply-chain report cited by Macworld said Apple is targeting a redesigned MacBook Pro with an OLED screen — OLED is a display tech that uses self-lit pixels for deeper blacks — in the fourth quarter of 2026, with Samsung Display set to begin key production steps in May. (Macworld)
PhoneArena, citing sources that spoke to MacRumors, said an Apple Premium Reseller flagged unusually low MacBook Pro stock ahead of a potential launch, while Bloomberg has linked the timing to the macOS Tahoe 26.3 release window — a February-to-March range. (PhoneArena)
Apple has not announced new MacBook Pro hardware. It did, however, put out Xcode 26.3 as a release candidate for developers, and positioned the update as a step up in automated coding tools. “Our goal is to make tools that put industry-leading technologies directly in developers’ hands,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. (Apple)
Macworld said the near-term MacBook Pro update is expected to keep the same look, with the main change being M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The OLED models, by contrast, would mark a more visible shift — and could force a tougher choice for buyers weighing whether to upgrade now or wait.
OLED screens are already common in premium Windows laptops from Dell, HP and Lenovo, which use them to push contrast and high refresh rates. Apple has leaned on mini-LED screens in recent MacBook Pros, and would need to balance power draw, panel cost and durability if it moves the line to OLED.
On Monday, BGR cited Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman as also pointing to a broader run of Mac-related launches, including an M5 MacBook Air and a second-generation Studio Display monitor, with the current display showing signs of tight supply. (BGR)
There are clear risks. Release-candidate software does not guarantee hardware will follow immediately, and low inventory can reflect demand swings or supply bottlenecks rather than a planned launch. The OLED timetable also depends on panel yields and component readiness, and Macworld noted delays could push an OLED MacBook Pro into early 2027.
For now, the short-term story is a likely MacBook Pro speed bump tied to the 26.3 software cycle, with a more meaningful redesign — if the supply chain holds — penciled in for late 2026.
