Apple Unveils First Touchscreen MacBook Pro Starting at $2,899

Apple unveiled its first touchscreen laptop on Wednesday, the MacBook Pro with ProLED XDR Display. The overhaul reverses long-standing opposition to touch interfaces on Mac computers. The new machine features OLED display technology and the Dynamic Island.

After decades of resisting the feature while Windows manufacturers embraced it, Apple has altered its course with an overhauled MacBook Pro. The company announced the device on Wednesday during an event in Los Angeles, where Chief Executive Officer John Ternus addressed the media and analysts. Yes, for the very first time, we are bringing touch to the Mac, Ternus said in his live remarks.

Pricing and Configurations for the M5 Pro and M5 Max Models

The new laptops arrive with price increases across the lineup. The 14-inch version starts at $2,899, while the 16-inch model begins at $3,399. Both configurations represent notable price bumps compared with existing models. The new laptop will go on sale Nov. 6.

NEW: Apple announces the touch screen Macbook Pros going on sale Nov 6th starting at $2,899 for 14 in and $3,339 for 16 in. It has a "PROLED XDR" display with an M5 Pro/Max chip.WHO ASKED FOR THIS? WHO IS THIS FOR? JOBS IS ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE pic.twitter.com/Josg614mzi

— https://x.com/AutismCapital/status/2115499369176932694

Under the hood, the machines run on Apple’s M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. For buyers seeking maximum performance, a maxed-out version equipped with 16 terabytes of storage and 128 gigabytes of memory costs $14,549. These premium figures accompany a body that is notably thinner and lighter than previous generations. The 14-inch touchscreen model weighs 3 pounds, while the 16-inch version comes in at 4 pounds down from 4.7 pounds on the prior generation.

Reversing Long-Held Stance on Ergonomics

The transition to a touchscreen laptop marks a reversal for a company that spent nearly two decades shunning the concept. Steve Jobs famously lambasted touch-screen computers in the later stages of his career, once calling them ergonomically terrible. Subsequent leaders maintained the barrier. Software chief Craig Federighi warned in 2018 that the ergonomics would fatigue users, and Tim Cook once compared combining a laptop and a tablet to merging a refrigerator and a toaster.

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John Ternus, then Apple’s senior VP of hardware engineering, stated in 2021 that the company made the world’s best touch computer on an iPad, which was totally optimized for that, while the Mac was optimized for indirect input and there was no reason to change that.

Internal shifts cleared the way for the redesign. About four years ago, Cook and Ternus became proponents of ditching past orthodoxy to incorporate touch displays into the MacBook Pro. Johny Srouji, Apple’s chief hardware officer, called the resulting machine a monumental step forward for the Mac.

OLED Displays, Dynamic Island, and Software Adjustments

Beyond touch input, the hardware introduces several technologies previously reserved for iPhones and iPads. The ProLED XDR screen utilizes organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. For the first time on a Mac, the Dynamic Island houses media playback controls and system sliders.

Apple Unveils First Touchscreen MacBook Pro Starting at $2,899 — Photo: CNBC

Apple modified macOS to accommodate fingers by magnifying some controls, such as the red, yellow, and green window buttons, and expanding drop-down menus when tapped. Third-party applications will also support basic navigation because macOS translates finger taps into mouse clicks as a fallback. Furthermore, the glowing Apple logo returns to the lid, featuring an adjustable brightness that matches the active display.

Turbulent Market Conditions and Rising Memory Costs

The launch arrives during a contraction in the global personal computer market. Global PC shipments tumbled 20% in the third quarter according to researcher IDC, driven by an AI-driven global memory shortage that forced hardware prices higher. Apple experienced an 11% decline in shipments during the same period.

Apple’s First Touchscreen MacBook Pro Has a BIG Problem…

The financial pressure extends across Apple’s hardware ecosystem. Tim Cook warned this summer that memory pricing was unsustainable, prompting price increases on nearly all Mac models this year, including a $300 bump applied to Mac Minis introduced in August.