OLED MacBook Pro could be significantly lighter, but fans fear compromises

The long-rumored MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen could be unveiled as early as October. So far, the device is also expected to feature a thinner chassis and a Dynamic Island instead of the current notch. As it turns out, however, the premium laptop may have another upgrade in store.

According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman in his October 4 “Power On” newsletter (paywalled), Apple has extensively redesigned the laptop's internals, resulting in a significant reduction in weight. MacRumors has since picked up the new information as well, explaining that components inside the new Pro model have been made smaller and rearranged to make the laptop easier to carry. The 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 (currently around $3,600 on Amazon) weighs 1.55 kg, which is relatively heavy for a device in this class. A reduction in weight could therefore make the laptop more appealing for mobile use. However, Gurman doesn't reveal exactly how much lighter the new touchscreen OLED MacBook is expected to be.

Reddit community fears compromises elsewhere

As a recent Reddit thread on the topic suggests, many fans would certainly welcome a lighter MacBook Pro. However, there are concerns that Apple could make compromises elsewhere in favor of a thinner chassis and lower weight – such as battery life, cooling or connectivity. Redditors still have painful memories of the 2016 MacBook Pro generation, when Apple removed ports such as HDMI, USB-A and the SD card reader in favor of a slimmer design. If Apple were to remove the SD card slot again, it would likely face criticism – particularly from users who rely on their MacBook for photography.