Apple launches its first touchscreen MacBook Pro with OLED display
Developing story first seen 1 hour ago
Apple has introduced its first touchscreen MacBook Pro, reversing a long-standing decision to keep touch displays off its laptops. The move matters because Apple is adapting macOS for touch despite Steve Jobs’s earlier criticism that using a laptop touchscreen was ergonomically awkward.
The OLED model comes in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, weighing 3 and 4 pounds respectively. Those are lighter than the non-touch models cited for comparison, at 3.4 and 4.7 pounds; the new laptops are also slightly thinner and smaller in footprint, while retaining the familiar materials.
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In short
- Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro marks a major change.
- The OLED models weigh 3 pounds and 4 pounds.
- Apple has made macOS more touch-friendly.
How this story developed
- 17 minutes ago Apple priced the OLED touchscreen models from $2,899, a $400 premium over a similarly specified M5 Pro MacBook Pro, and revived the glowing Apple logo; the 14-inch model weighs 3 pounds and the 16-inch 4 pounds, lighter than their non-touch equivalents.
- 28 minutes ago Apple launched its first touchscreen MacBook Pro, a shift from its long-standing stance against touch displays on laptops, with OLED models in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes that are lighter and thinner than their non-touch counterparts.
Full account
Apple has unveiled its first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, pairing the new input method with an OLED display. The 14- and 16-inch models retain the familiar MacBook Pro design and port selection, while weighing about three and four pounds respectively. Reports describe them as thinner and lighter than their non-touch counterparts, with the keyboard and trackpad largely unchanged. Apple has also brought back an illuminated logo on the lid, whose brightness follows the screen and can be switched off.
The display is the other major change. One hands-on report praised its deep blacks and vivid demonstration images, calling it the best screen the writer had seen on an Apple device. Apple says the touch sensor is built into the display rather than added as a separate layer, which it says reduces delay and makes interaction feel more direct.
Users can tap, swipe to scroll, pinch to zoom, draw or annotate, and adjust controls in supported apps. Apple has also adapted parts of macOS for fingers: menus add space between items, some window controls enlarge when touched, and the Dock can be hidden with a gesture. Existing apps should still respond to taps as clicks, although small controls may be awkward and some developers may need to update their software. The interface otherwise appears little changed, and firm taps can make the screen wobble.
The launch marks a shift from Apple’s longstanding resistance to touchscreen laptops. The reports recall Steve Jobs’s criticism of their ergonomics and Tim Cook’s comparison of combining laptop and tablet features to putting a toaster in a fridge. Whether customers will welcome the change remains to be seen; one report puts the starting price at $2,899. The lighter design also raises questions about performance and cooling under sustained workloads, which will require fuller testing.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The reports give different points of emphasis: one focuses on the lighter feel, handling and returning illuminated logo; another explains the integrated touch sensor and touch-oriented software changes, and cites the starting price; the third foregrounds the OLED picture quality and familiar hardware design.
The first report compares the new models with newly introduced M6 non-touch models, while also referring to an M5 Pro 16-inch model. The third compares the new weight with the 2016 Touch Bar generation and flags cooling and performance as questions for later testing.
The second report describes drawing and annotation, 3D object interaction and testing iOS apps as potential uses. The hands-on reports instead describe practical interactions such as editing sliders, scrolling and zooming, and note that small controls can be fiddly.
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The case for
A touchscreen MacBook Pro could make everyday tasks more direct, especially drawing, annotating, presenting or using touch-friendly apps, while OLED may improve contrast and image quality. The lighter reported weights suggest Apple has added touch without making these models heavier, and the premium may be worthwhile for users who value those features in a professional laptop.
The case against
Touch can be less comfortable and precise on a laptop than on a tablet, since users must reach up to the display; adapting macOS may also add complexity without improving established keyboard-and-trackpad workflows. At a $400 premium, buyers may reasonably question the value, particularly if they do not need touch or OLED, and Apple’s earlier ergonomic concern remains relevant.
Explained simply
MacBook Pro is Apple’s range of higher-end laptops, while macOS is the operating system they use. Apple has traditionally relied on a keyboard and trackpad for MacBooks, unlike many laptops that also have touchscreens.
The new design marks a change from the view expressed by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who argued that reaching up to touch a laptop screen could be uncomfortable. Touchscreens are already familiar on phones and tablets, and the shift matters for how Apple’s laptop software may work across its devices.
The reported models use OLED screens, a display technology that can produce deep blacks and strong contrast. They sit at the premium end of the laptop market, with prices and weights varying by screen size and configuration.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Hands-on with Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro”.