The days of the notch on the MacBook Pro screen are numbered, according to Apple’s roadmap for its laptops published by Omdia (via MacRumors). According to this information, Apple will remove the “cutout” at the top edge of the panels on its professional computers when they switch to OLED panels.
Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
If this is confirmed, Apple will bid farewell to the notch on MacBook Pros starting in 2026. Instead, the company will introduce a hole for the camera, allowing for a more efficient use of the screen space.
The mention of 2026 and the introduction of OLED screens makes sense as a reason to say goodbye to the notch on MacBook Pros. After all, it is expected that in that year, with the implementation of OLED technology, Apple will also introduce a major redesign for this line of laptops.
Keep in mind that the notch first appeared on MacBook Pros in 2021 with the launch of the 14-inch and 16-inch models. Since then, the design has remained unchanged, but a recent report by Mark Gurman suggests that we will see a significant design update in the next couple of years.
What is not clear, however, is whether Apple plans to introduce any special features when it adopts OLED screens. It’s unclear whether the removal of the notch will leave a small gap for the camera near the top edge of the screen, or if Apple plans to implement a solution like Dynamic Island, which has been used in iPhones for several generations.
MacBook Pros will say goodbye to the notch starting in 2026.
The elimination of the notch will initially be exclusive to the MacBook Pro. According to the published roadmap, Apple plans to do the same with the MacBook Air, but at a later time. Specifically, by 2028, the MacBook Air models will also switch to OLED panels.
While the notch was a controversial feature when it was first introduced on the MacBook Pro and later on the MacBook Air, most regular Apple laptop users have become accustomed to it. However, the decision to leave that portion of the screen unusable continues to provoke mixed reactions.
The introduction of Dynamic Island on the iPhone was a practical way to remove the notch from the top of the screen. It will be interesting to see if a similar solution is adopted for macOS, to hide the hole that will house the camera in future MacBook Pro and Air models.
Although the debut of OLED screens on MacBook Pros is still a few years away, Apple has already started speeding up production. Recently, it was revealed that Apple is pushing its suppliers to increase the production of OLED panels in sizes suitable for laptops.
Along with the introduction of OLED screens, the removal of the notch, and a major redesign, the 2026 MacBook Pro could also be the first Apple computer to support 5G networks.
