MacBook Pro Turns 20 as Reports Tease Next High-End Redesign
Introduced in 2006 as the PowerBook successor, the line has spanned two chip transitions from PowerPC to Intel to Apple silicon.
Overview
- Steve Jobs unveiled the first model on January 10, 2006 at Macworld San Francisco, launching Apple’s move to Intel with a 15-inch notebook that replaced the PowerBook.
- Apple expanded the range with a 17-inch model soon after and folded the 13-inch aluminum MacBook into the Pro family in 2009.
- Defining features over the years included MagSafe charging, a built-in webcam, aluminum unibody construction, and Retina displays.
- Controversial experiments such as the Touch Bar and the butterfly keyboard prompted repairs and class-action lawsuits.
- Current reporting points to an unconfirmed redesign for higher-end models featuring OLED screens, possible touchscreen support, a Dynamic Island–style cutout, and a late-2026 to early-2027 timeframe.