Apple looks ready to kick off 2026 with its first big hardware reveal, and all signs point to updated MacBook Pro models powered by the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. While Apple hasn’t confirmed anything publicly, two developments are fueling growing expectations that a launch could be close.
One of the biggest clues comes from Apple’s software timeline. The company has now released the 26.3 release candidate (RC) build for Xcode, an update that enables developers to use OpenAI’s Codex and Anthropic’s Claude Agent directly for coding-related tasks. An RC is typically the final step before a wide public rollout, which means the broader macOS 26.3 RC could arrive soon as well.
Why does that matter for new MacBook Pro hardware? Well-known Apple watchers have suggested that the upcoming MacBook Pro refresh will introduce the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and that these machines are expected to arrive during the macOS 26.3 update cycle. Apple often aligns major Mac launches with near-final versions of macOS and related developer tools, since new hardware frequently ships with the latest software builds and updated frameworks.
There’s also a historical precedent that keeps coming up: in January 2023, Apple unveiled M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro models right around the appearance of a macOS RC build. It doesn’t guarantee the same timing now, but it’s the kind of pattern Apple has followed before, especially when a hardware release is imminent.
The second sign is happening in stores rather than software. Multiple third-party Apple retailers are reportedly seeing supplies of current-generation MacBook Pro models running unusually low, with inventory described as increasingly depleted. That’s notable because Apple typically manages channel inventory carefully ahead of major product transitions. When stock starts drying up across retail partners, it can be a strong indicator that replacements are close and resellers are being allowed—or encouraged—to sell through what’s left.
Put together, the combination of an approaching macOS 26.3 RC window and shrinking MacBook Pro inventories suggests Apple could be preparing to introduce new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models sooner rather than later. If the pattern holds, the next steps to watch for are additional macOS 26.3 release candidate builds, a shift in MacBook Pro availability across more retailers, and of course, an official Apple announcement.
