Apple Introduces Touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display

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Apple launches new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring built-in touchscreen technology integrated with an OLED PROLED XDR display, marking its first macOS touch input. The laptops target creative professionals and developers, starting at $2,899.

Apple has unveiled a significant update to its MacBook Pro lineup by introducing a touchscreen option, a feature the company had long avoided. Presented on October 28, the redesigned MacBook Pro is available in 14- and 16-inch sizes and incorporates a new OLED display technology dubbed PROLED XDR. This is the first time touch input has been integrated into macOS laptops, delivered through a touch sensor built directly into the display panel to reduce latency.

Apple is positioning the touchscreen feature primarily for use by designers, musicians, and developers who test iPhone and iPad applications. Importantly, the touchscreen is designed to complement the existing keyboard and trackpad, not replace them. Johny Srouji, Apple’s hardware chief, described the touch integration as "a monumental step for the Mac."

Historically, Apple executives including Steve Jobs and Tim Cook expressed reservations about adding touchscreens to laptops. Jobs criticized them as "ergonomically terrible" in 2010, and Cook likened the concept to an unpleasant appliance hybrid in 2012. The recent move signals a notable shift in Apple's hardware strategy.

Analyst Anshel Sag from Moor Insights & Strategy welcomed the update, noting that OLED and touch functionality have been hallmarks of premium Windows laptops for some years. He sees Apple embracing these technologies as a positive advancement for its laptop range.

The new MacBook Pro models support configurations with Apple's M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, boasting battery life of up to 24 hours. Pricing starts at $2,899 for the 14-inch M5 Pro model, with the 16-inch M5 Max variant priced up to $4,799. Orders opened immediately following the announcement, with shipments scheduled from November 6.

This launch follows several hardware introductions under Apple's new CEO John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook in September. Ternus’s initial major product reveal was the nearly $2,000 foldable iPhone Duo smartphone. Earlier in October, Apple expanded its smart home product line, including the HomeView Siri display and updated Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini devices.

Under Ternus’s leadership, Apple appears to be accelerating its product development cycles, potentially moving away from its traditional launch patterns. The addition of a touchscreen MacBook Pro marks a significant evolution in Apple's laptop portfolio and aims to enhance the user experience for creative and developer audiences.