Apple has introduced its first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, a change of direction for its professional line that brings scrolling, zooming, and dragging gestures directly to the display. The device will be available in 14- and 16-inch sizes with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, and it also brings Dynamic Island to the Mac for the first time.
The announcement came on Wednesday during the “Pro and Tell” event, hosted by Apple CEO John Ternus. The new model is called the MacBook Pro with a PROLED XDR display. Its tandem OLED panel reaches a 120 Hz refresh rate and up to 2,000 nits of brightness, according to Apple. The company says the touch sensor is integrated into the panel rather than placed on top, to reduce latency.
Touch gestures alongside the keyboard and trackpad
The display lets users scroll with a gesture, pinch to enlarge an image, move items, and rearrange windows with taps. Apple presents Touch as an option that works alongside the keyboard and trackpad, not as a replacement for them. The company also redesigned the hinge to keep the display steady when touched and help stabilize the camera during a video call.
Dynamic Island replaces the camera notch and can show live activities, search for files, and use Siri AI. The device also brings back the illuminated Apple logo on the lid and features a six-speaker system, according to TechCrunch.
“You’ve gotta touch it to believe it.”
— John Ternus, Apple CEO
Apple is targeting some touch features at creative tasks. In Pixelmator Pro, users will be able to draw, paint, and select directly on the canvas; in Logic Pro, play virtual instruments and use on-screen controls; and in Final Cut Pro, mark sections, place clips, and zoom in on an edit with gestures. The company also says developers will be able to test how their iOS and iPadOS apps respond to touch on the MacBook Pro.
Prices, chips, and availability
The 14-inch model with M5 Pro starts at $2,899 in the United States; the 16-inch model starts at $3,399. Configurations with M5 Max start at $4,499 and $4,799, respectively. Apple also offers configurations with up to 128 GB of unified memory and 16 TB of storage.
Apple opened preorders on October 28 and expects deliveries and in-store availability to begin on November 6. TechCrunch, however, reports that preorders begin on October 30. Apple and The Verge place the start of preorders on the day of the announcement.
The new model weighs 3 pounds in its 14-inch configuration and 4 pounds in the 16-inch version, figures lower than those of previous models, according to TechCrunch. For connectivity, the company lists three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card reader, MagSafe, and a headphone jack. Up to three external displays can be connected with M5 Pro and four with M5 Max.
The launch follows years of rumors about a Mac with a touchscreen. Apple had previously introduced the Touch Bar on some MacBook Pro models, but later removed it; now it is bringing touch interaction to the display itself. The new device joins other announcements from the week, including a 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6, an iMac with M6, and an iPad mini with an OLED display.
The practical question for people who already work on a MacBook Pro is whether they will prefer the new touchscreen display and lighter design, or the configurations without a touchscreen OLED display that remain in the lineup. The 14-inch model with M5 Pro starts at $2,899.
Sources: The Verge, TechCrunch, The Verge, Apple Newsroom, 9to5Mac
