Apple adds touch controls and an OLED display to MacBook Pro
Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro has arrived, pairing an OLED display with touch input in a familiar laptop design. The reviewer finds the screen impressive but the touch features modest, suggesting Apple has added another way to interact rather than changed how people use laptops.
The display offers deep blacks, high brightness and support for Apple CMF 2026 colour modes. In macOS 27, some controls expand when tapped, while most gestures mirror trackpad actions; professionals at Apple’s event still relied mainly on keyboards and trackpads. The article says touch could eventually reach less expensive MacBooks, but the Pro has no Apple Pencil support or 360-degree hinge.
In short
- Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro keeps a familiar design.
- Its OLED display is the standout feature.
- Touch adds an option, but does not reshape workflows.
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The case for
A touchscreen and OLED display give MacBook Pro users more choice: touch can make quick, direct interactions feel natural, while OLED offers deep blacks and high brightness. Even if most professionals continue using a keyboard and trackpad, touch may be useful in particular tasks and could become more valuable as macOS apps adapt; bringing it to the Pro could also pave the way for wider access later.
The case against
The modest touch features may add little to a laptop workflow that already works well with a keyboard and trackpad, especially if most gestures simply reproduce trackpad actions. Without Apple Pencil support or a hinge that lets the screen fold back, the MacBook Pro may not make full use of touch, while the OLED upgrade alone may not justify the added cost for people who do not need its display qualities.
Explained simply
The MacBook Pro is Apple’s higher-end laptop, aimed at people who need a larger screen and tools for demanding work. It runs macOS, Apple’s operating system for Mac computers, and is designed around a keyboard and trackpad.
OLED screens can show very dark blacks alongside bright colours, while touch input lets people tap the display directly. Apple’s approach keeps the MacBook Pro in its usual laptop shape; it does not fold into a tablet, and it does not support Apple Pencil.
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Originally published by The Verge as “The touchscreen MacBook Pro is just a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen”.