This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: touch is finally coming to the Mac with next year’s M6 MacBook Pro, plus iPhone 18 design changes and more. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.
Touchscreen coming to M6 MacBook Pro
Ming-Chi Kuo reported this week that Apple’s M6 MacBook Pro will be the first Mac model to include touchscreen support. He writes:
The OLED MacBook Pro, expected to enter mass production by late 2026, will incorporate a touch panel using on-cell touch technology.
That OLED model is also expected to include an M6 chip, a major hardware redesign, and possibly even 5G connectivity.
My takeaways
There have been plenty of whispers about this change coming, including evidence it would happen in the M6 MacBook Pro redesign. But now with Kuo’s corroboration, it seems all but certain.
Touch coming to the Mac is long overdue, in my opinion. While I don’t think it will necessarily prove a core feature for the average Mac user, if Apple wants more iPhone owners to switch to Mac from a PC or Chromebook, touch should be available to them. Otherwise, the Mac will always seem stuck in the past when stacked against its competition.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 design changes
A pair of rumors arrived this week concerning design changes coming to the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro.
Contrary to previous reporting about some iPhone 18 models getting a hole-punch camera cutout, leaker Instant Digital says Apple is simply shrinking the Dynamic Island cutout to make it slightly more narrow.
As for the back of the device, Digital Chat Station says that Apple is currently testing iPhone 18 Pro devices that include glass cutout areas with a little more of a “transparent design.”
My takeaways
I’m still holding out hope that certain iPhone 18 models—mainly the Pro line—will include a hole-punch cutout rather than a full Dynamic Island. That said, there’s still plenty of time for Apple to change its plans and for new reporting to provide a clearer picture of what’s coming.
As for the glass cutout changing, I’m personally not a fan of the iPhone 17 Pro’s look—mainly because of that cutout. I appreciate Apple taking a risk with such a bold new design this year. But if it can find a way to make the glass blend more seamlessly and elegantly with the aluminum unibody, that would be great.
A20 chip and C2 modem next year
Taiwan’s Commercial Times outlined what to expect from the chips powering next year’s iPhone 18 lineup, including the iPhone Fold.
In line with previous reporting, Apple’s 2026 iPhones will include a new A20 chip built using “TSMC’s latest 2-nanometer process, and with WMCM advanced packaging.” The new process could lead to larger than usual gains year-over-year.
Additionally, Apple is expected to have a C2 modem ready for the flagship iPhone 18 models. This will replace Qualcomm’s 5G modem and offer improvements over this year’s C1 and C1X modems.
My takeaways
Apple’s silicon teams have been killing it for years, and it sounds like next year should be another great demonstration of that.
The A20 and C2 could offer significant benefits over the A19 chip and C1X and Qualcomm modems in this year’s flagship iPhones. And whether Apple uses those gains to improve power, efficiency, or both, it’s a win for users.
What are your takeaways from this week’s Apple rumors? Let us know in the comments.
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