17-inch MacBook: will Apple bring it back? (2026 update)

When and why the 17-inch MacBook Pro ended

Apple quietly removed the 17-inch MacBook Pro from its store on June 11, 2012, the day it launched the first MacBook Pro with Retina display at WWDC. There was no announcement. It simply wasn’t in the new lineup, and Apple told Macworld the remaining stock would sell only while supplies lasted.

Apple’s first 17-inch laptop was the PowerBook G4 in 2003. The Intel-based 17-inch MacBook Pro followed in 2006 and usually carried the fastest chips and graphics Apple offered.

Two things ended it. Sales were small: TechCrunch reported that the 17-inch model made up just 1.7% of Apple’s notebook sales in the quarter before, a figure it attributed to Apple’s last earnings call. And the new 15-inch Retina model beat it on screen and weight. Its 2880 x 1800 display had more pixels than the 17-inch’s 1920 x 1200, and it was more than 2 pounds lighter, according to Macworld.

Today the last 17-inch model, the MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011), is on Apple’s obsolete list. Apple no longer services it, and repair shops can’t order parts from Apple.

The biggest MacBook you can buy in 2026

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the largest Mac laptop, and it has been since November 2019. That’s when Apple introduced it at $2,399, with a 16-inch, 3072 x 1920 Retina display that Apple called “the largest Retina notebook display ever.”

Here’s how Apple’s big-screen laptops compare with the old 17-inch, with prices as of October 2026.

Model	Screen (diagonal)	Resolution	Price
MacBook Pro 17-inch (2006–2012)	17 in	1920 x 1200	Discontinued; obsolete
MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)	15 in	Liquid Retina	From $1,499
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max)	16.2 in	3456 x 2234 (Liquid Retina XDR)	From $2,999

The current 16-inch model weighs 4.7 pounds, per Apple’s tech specs. Its screen measures 16.2 inches corner to corner when you count the rounded top corners as a full rectangle, per Apple. That’s less than an inch short of the old 17-inch, and even the 2019 version had far more pixels (3072 x 1920 against 1920 x 1200).

What’s rumored, and what isn’t

Nothing credible points to a new 17-inch MacBook Pro. Here’s what the rumors as of October 20, 2026 actually say.

The OLED MacBook Pro keeps the same sizes (rumor, October 2026). Apple has sent invitations for a “Pro and tell” media event in Los Angeles on October 28. MacRumors reports the new high-end MacBook Pro will add an OLED touchscreen, a Dynamic Island in place of the notch and a lighter body. It also reports that “sizes aren’t expected to change,” with OLED offered on both the 14-inch and 16-inch models. Apple hasn’t confirmed any of this. It would be the first Mac with a touchscreen, and it’s expected to cost more than today’s models.

A foldable with an 18.8-inch screen (rumor, delayed). Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in 2024 that Apple would release an 18.8-inch foldable MacBook in late 2025 or early 2026. He later pushed that to 2027, then 2028. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that the device had slipped to 2029 because of display cost and weight, according to MacRumors’ roundup. Display analyst Ross Young has also pointed to an 18.8-inch panel. Folded in half, it would work as a notebook, presumably with an on-screen keyboard. It wouldn’t be a traditional 17-inch MacBook Pro with a real keyboard, and MacRumors says it could cost up to three times as much as a 13-inch iPad Pro.

What we don’t know: whether Apple will ever bring back a large conventional laptop. Apple doesn’t comment on future products. The best way to find out is to read Apple’s press releases on October 28 and to see whether the size options on the MacBook Pro buy page change.

How to get a bigger screen today

You don’t need a 17-inch laptop to get a bigger workspace on a Mac. There are three practical routes, from cheapest to most expensive.

Add an external display. MacBooks support external monitors, but how many depends on the model and chip, so check Apple’s tech specs for yours before you buy. Apple’s own 27-inch Studio Display starts at $1,599 as of October 2026; third-party monitors are the cheaper route.

Use an iPad as a second screen. Sidecar, which Apple added in macOS Catalina in October 2019, lets an iPad work as a second display or a pen tablet for a Mac. If you already own a compatible iPad, it’s free extra screen space while you travel.

Buy the 16-inch MacBook Pro. It’s the closest thing to the old 17-inch. If the OLED models arrive on October 28 at a higher price, the current mini-LED 16-inch could become the cheaper choice. MacRumors reports Apple might keep selling it alongside the new models.

If you need a touchscreen and a big screen right now, that means Windows for the moment. Our look at whether Dell still makes tablets covers Dell’s touchscreen 2-in-1s. And if you’re wondering how the touch features will reach Macs, Apple’s yearly software schedule is in our guide to when Apple releases new iOS versions; macOS follows the same pattern.

What to do next

If you want the biggest MacBook now, buy the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but wait until after October 28, 2026 to see what Apple announces and whether prices move.
If your budget is under $2,000, pair a 15-inch MacBook Air (from $1,499) with an external monitor.
If you already own an iPad, try Sidecar before buying a monitor.
Treat any listing for a “new” 17-inch MacBook as a mistake or a scam. The last model dates from late 2011.

Will Apple make a 17-inch MacBook again?