Business · Companies · 13 hrs ago
Apple adds a touchscreen to MacBook Pro, with prices starting at $4,599
Apple has added a touchscreen to its MacBook Pro for the first time, under new chief executive John Ternus.
The new 14- and 16-inch laptops use M5 Pro or M5 Max chips and start at $4,599, while a fully equipped version costs $22,424.
Users can tap, pinch to zoom, drag and drop, and arrange windows directly on the display.
The move reverses a position held by co-founder Steve Jobs, who said in 2010 that laptop touchscreens caused arm fatigue and were uncomfortable to use.
Apple says more interactive apps and the widespread use of touchscreens have changed what people expect, while the feature could help designers, musicians and app developers.
Apple is bringing touch controls to its high-end laptops as it seeks new ways for people to work with content on a Mac.
Apple has introduced a touchscreen on its MacBook Pro, ending years of resistance to the feature.
The new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display starts at $4,599 and comes in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes.
It uses M5 Pro or M5 Max chips and lets users interact with the screen by touch.
Apple says the touch sensor is built into the display panel to reduce latency.
The fully optioned model, with 128GB of unified memory and 16TB of storage, costs $22,424.
- Who
- Apple introduced the touchscreen MacBook Pro. Chief executive John Ternus unveiled new products.
- What
- Apple added a touchscreen to its MacBook Pro. Prices start at $4,599.
- When
- This week, according to the article published on 2026-11-09.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Apple says users can interact with content in new ways. The article says interactive apps and widespread touchscreens have helped change expectations.
Steve Jobs
Apple under John Ternus
Touchscreens on laptops
Steve Jobs
Jobs said user testing showed customers did not want touchscreens on laptops and called them ergonomically terrible.
Apple under John Ternus
Apple introduced a touchscreen MacBook Pro, describing it as a new way for professionals to interact with content.
Steve Jobs said Apple’s user testing showed customers did not want touchscreens on laptops.
Apple revealed the touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display.
- Starting price
- $4,599
- Display sizes
- 14 inches or 16 inches
- Chips
- M5 Pro or M5 Max
- Fully optioned price
- $22,424
- Maximum memory and storage
- 128GB of unified memory and 16TB of storage
What people are saying
It pairs state-of-the-art tandem OLED technology with advanced algorithms in our display engine
It’s ergonomically terrible
The touch sensor is built directly into the display panel – not layered on top of it – reducing latency so users feel like they’re touching the content itself