Here is one rumour we hope is true. Apple is set to release its first touchscreen MacBook Pro – and it could hit the market as early as the end of 2026.
Apple has stood alone in the ever evolving laptop market by NOT including a touchscreen in its excellent MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models.
The rest of the laptop market – which happens to be the entire Windows laptop category – embraced the convenience of touchscreens years ago and continue to do so.
Rumours suggest Apple is preparing thinner OLED displays for its upcoming range of MacBook Pros, like those used in the iPhone and iPad, which will utilise touchscreen capabilities.
The timing would also coincide with the latest Apple silicon release – the M6 chip.
There have been a few theories as to why Apple has resisted including touchscreen in their laptops.
One is Apple wanting to protect its massive iPad sales.
The iPad has been around for 16 years with customers able to purchase a keyboard to offer a laptop-like experience.
But even the latest and greatest iPad Pro models which are powerful than most other PC laptops offer great performance but they are not quite the same as a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro.
In our experience, there is still a huge gap between using a MacBook and using an iPad with a keyboard. They are still too many differences.
And that’s the other reason why Apple is yet to produce a touchscreen MacBook.
The macOS software is just not built for it.
Over the years we have seen the iPhone and iPad operating systems converging and inheriting features and capabilities from one another.
And that’s why an iPad with a keyboard is vastly different to using a MacBook.
macOS and iPad OS have too many differences.
So, while the rumours of getting a touchscreen MacBook and possibly even a touchscreen iMac are as reliant on the software evolving as they are on the hardware development.
The closest we got to having touchscreen capabilities was when we’ve connected a touchscreen espresso portable monitor to our MacBook Pro.
What would consolidate the rumours and give them more credence is the next macOS update which will be revealed at Apple’s 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
For years we’ve believed Apple’s multiple operating systems for Mac, iPhone and iPad should be almost the same.
While iPad and iPhone are showing more similarities it is the macOS that is virtually standing alone.
Yes, we can mirror our iPhones and use the iPad as another monitor but there still far more differences than similarities.
The rumoured touchscreen MacBook Pro could be announced before the end of 2026 or in early 2027.
