Apple has unveiled its first touchscreen MacBook Pro at its “Pro and Tell” event in Los Angeles, marking a major shift in the company’s laptop strategy. The new model combines a touch-enabled OLED display with Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, allowing users to interact with macOS through taps and gestures alongside traditional keyboard and trackpad controls.
The launch follows years of Apple's resistance to touchscreen laptops. The company is now bringing touch interaction to its professional Mac lineup as users increasingly expect more flexible ways to work with their devices.
The new MacBook Pro features Apple’s PROLED XDR display, which uses tandem OLED technology. The screen supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, peak brightness of 2,000 nits and a contrast ratio of 10,000,000:1.
Apple has integrated the touch sensor directly into the display panel to reduce response delays. Users can scroll through websites, zoom into images, and interact with compatible applications using their fingers.
The display also features Dynamic Island, which can show notifications and Live Activities. Apple has updated its developer tools to help third-party applications add touch controls.
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Unlike the M6-powered MacBook Pro announced earlier this week, the touchscreen models use Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The laptops are available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, with slimmer bezels providing larger viewing areas.
Apple claims battery life of up to 24 hours. Connectivity options include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, MagSafe 3 charging, an SD card reader and a headphone jack. The laptops support up to three external displays, or four with the M5 Max processor.
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The touchscreen MacBook Pro starts at USD 2,899 for the 14-inch model and USD 3,399 for the 16-inch version in the US. Pre-orders opened on October 28, with availability scheduled to begin on November 6.
The launch represents a notable change for Apple, whose former CEO Steve Jobs once criticised touchscreen laptops as ergonomically unsuitable. The company previously experimented with the Touch Bar but later returned to physical function keys.