Apple seems to be making a significant change in its MacBook Pro series. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the company is set to launch its first MacBook Pro featuring an OLED display with an integrated touchscreen, a function long desired by users and already common in many Windows laptops. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Kuo disclosed that Apple intends to implement on-cell touch technology for the new MacBook Pro. This method differs from traditional designs that add a separate touch layer on top of the screen; instead, it incorporates touch sensors directly within the OLED panel, leading to a more streamlined design and enhanced responsiveness.
Kuo suggests that Apple’s choice stems from years of observing how iPad users interact with touch controls, noting that touch inputs often enable faster and more intuitive workflows. Historically, Apple has been hesitant about introducing touch-enabled MacBooks, maintaining that its Mac and iPad lines have distinct functions. While the iPad is designed as a touch-first device, the Mac relies on conventional keyboard and trackpad inputs. Nonetheless, there have been ongoing reports indicating that Apple has been discreetly testing touch-capable laptops. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in 2023 that Apple was contemplating the launch of a touchscreen MacBook Pro by 2025.
More recently, he has suggested that Apple aims for a more integrated approach between the iPad and Mac product lines, incorporating shared features like OLED displays, app ecosystems, and touch functionality. Supply chain indicators lend credence to these claims. Korean outlet The Elec has announced that Samsung will provide OLED panels for the forthcoming MacBook Pro, supporting the notion that the shift to OLED is well underway. However, the processor specifications for these models remain uncertain. Initially, Apple’s M5 chips were anticipated to be used in the late 2025 MacBook Pro update. Nonetheless, Gurman has indicated that the company may postpone the OLED models until early 2026, potentially introducing them with the more advanced M6 chips.
If this is the case, Apple could refresh the MacBook Pro lineup twice within a single year, a strategy they have previously executed—most notably in 2023, when the M2 Pro/Max models launched in January, followed by M3 models in October. Kuo also mentioned Apple’s rumored budget MacBook initiative. Production for the initial model is projected to start in late 2025, but this entry-level laptop reportedly will not feature a touchscreen. However, Kuo anticipates that a second-generation version, likely arriving in 2027, could incorporate the highly anticipated feature. If Kuo’s forecasts are accurate, Apple’s first touchscreen-enabled OLED MacBook Pro may debut in 2026, representing a significant advancement for the Mac lineup.
This development would align the MacBook experience more closely with the iPad while providing users with a feature that has been available in the Windows ecosystem for numerous years. For Apple enthusiasts, this could herald a new era in which MacBooks finally adopt touch technology without sacrificing their professional appeal.