GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has raised prices across its MacBook Pro lineup in 2026, affecting even the entry-level configuration compared to 2021 models. The increase follows Apple's broader price hikes announced this year across multiple product lines, departing from the company's past pattern of keeping starting prices relatively stable between generations.
Apple's support guidance explains that using a MacBook while it charges isn't inherently harmful to battery health, but heat exposure during charging can degrade capacity over time. The guide also recommends storing a device at roughly 50 percent charge rather than fully charged for long-term storage, and notes MacBook Air operating temperatures should stay between 50° and 95°F. Users can check battery status via System Settings' Battery Health indicator, which reads 'normal' until capacity falls below 80 percent.
The Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN wall charger is on sale at Amazon for $39.98, a 27% cut from its $54.99 list price. The four-port charger includes three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, with one USB-C port capable of delivering up to 100W using a compatible cable.
Retailers are running weekend discounts on Apple products including up to $150 off the new M6 Mac mini, $200 off the Mac Studio, and the best pricing in months on the M5 MacBook Air. Deals also include AirPods Max 2 at $120 off, all-time lows on Apple Watch Series 12, iPhone 18 Pro cases starting at $41, and the first discount on the new Apple Magic Keyboard.
Amazon is continuing a post-Prime Day discount on Apple's 2026 AirPods Max 2, pricing all five colorways at $429, down from the $549 list price. The deal matches fall Prime Day pricing and is only the second time the headphones have dropped this low, after a limited-time $399 offer last summer. Other lingering Apple deals include M6 Mac mini and M5 MacBook Air price cuts, though some discounts like the AirPods Pro 3 offer have already started rising.
Apple confirmed a 'Welcome home' product event for October 13 but has not listed it on its Apple Events page or scheduled a livestream on YouTube or the Apple TV app. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will instead release an online video presentation alongside an in-person press gathering in New York, a format he says will repeat for a separate October 27 launch.
Amazon is selling the 2026 MacBook Air with Apple's M5 chip at $1,099 for the 16GB/512GB model, $200 below Apple's current price. The 16GB/1TB and 24GB/1TB configurations are also discounted by $200, to $1,399 and $1,599 respectively. These prices match discounts seen during this week's Prime Day sale and remain live across all available colorways.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is planning a late-October hardware event, separate from its October 13 HomeKit launch, that could introduce its first touchscreen MacBook. The event may also bring an OLED iPad mini and M6 updates to the iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Counterpoint Research forecasts that OLED notebook display shipments will rise 50% in 2026, partly driven by Apple's expected shift to OLED in next-generation MacBook Pro models. The firm projects advanced notebook displays overall will grow 11% even as the broader notebook display market shrinks 3%, with OLED's share of the advanced segment rising from 56% to 75% as MiniLED declines.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple plans to debut its first touchscreen laptop, possibly called the MacBook Ultra, around October 27. The same announcement is expected to include a redesigned iPad Mini with an OLED screen, plus updated 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models carrying the new M6 chip.
In this week's Happy Hour episode, hosts Benjamin Mayo and Chance Miller discuss Apple's upcoming product announcements, including a reported partnership with LG on smart home accessories and upcoming changes to macOS Full Disk Access permissions. They also touch on OLED MacBook Pro details, though the episode was recorded before Apple's official 'Welcome home' event announcement.
Bloomberg reports Apple plans a second event this month, around October 27, to introduce its first touchscreen MacBook Pros in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes with OLED displays and Dynamic Island, reportedly powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The report also says Apple will debut a new OLED iPad mini with a relocated FaceTime camera and updated speakers, plus M6-powered iMac and entry-level MacBook Pro models that look similar to current versions.