Apple's first touchscreen MacBook comes at a price

Apple has finally given the MacBook Pro something many people have wanted for years: a touchscreen. The company unveiled its first touchscreen MacBook Pro on Oct. 28, introducing a new way to interact with its laptop. It also brings a stunning OLED display, a thinner design and some serious processing power. However, there's one detail that might make you think twice before reaching for your wallet. The new touchscreen MacBook Pro starts at $2,899.

That's a lot of money for a laptop, even by Apple's standards. So, what exactly are you getting for that price? More importantly, will touching your MacBook's screen make enough of a difference to justify an upgrade? Let's look at what Apple has introduced and who might benefit most.

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Apple finally brings touch to the MacBook Pro

For years, Apple maintained that the Mac worked best with a keyboard and trackpad. Meanwhile, Windows laptop owners have enjoyed touchscreen options for a long time. Apple even experimented with touch controls through its Touch Bar, but that feature never replaced the traditional laptop experience.

Now Apple has changed course. Its new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display lets you interact directly with the screen. You can scroll through websites with your finger or pinch to zoom into photos. Apple also lets you drag content between windows and interact with supported creative apps.

Think about how often you instinctively touch your laptop screen, especially after spending years using an iPhone or iPad. Now that gesture will actually do something on the new MacBook Pro. Apple also redesigned the hinge to keep the display steadier when you touch it. That's a thoughtful addition because nobody wants a screen wobbling every time they tap a button.

However, this remains a traditional laptop. It doesn't fold into a tablet, and it doesn't support Apple Pencil. You'll still use the keyboard and trackpad for much of your work. That may disappoint anyone hoping to replace both a MacBook and an iPad with one device.

The OLED display could be the bigger story

While everyone is talking about the touchscreen, Apple's new display technology might have an even greater impact on your everyday experience. The company calls it the PROLED XDR Display, and it uses tandem OLED technology. Unlike traditional laptop screens that rely on a backlight, OLED pixels produce their own light. That allows the display to show deep blacks alongside bright highlights without the same backlight glow.

Apple says the new screen reaches up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness for both HDR and SDR content. It also delivers a claimed 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and supports refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother motion. Those numbers sound impressive, but what will you actually notice?

Photos should look more vibrant, especially when you're viewing pictures taken on your iPhone. Movies can show more detail in dark scenes. If you edit videos or work with photography, the improved color accuracy could be especially useful.

Apple has also added an antireflective coating to help reduce glare. An optional nano-texture finish provides additional reflection control for people who work in bright environments. For someone who spends hours looking at a laptop screen, these improvements could be more valuable than touch alone.

A touchscreen MacBook Pro with serious processing power

Apple isn't holding back on performance. The new touchscreen MacBook Pro comes with either an M5 Pro or M5 Max processor. Both target people who need more processing power than a basic laptop typically provides. If you're editing high-resolution video or working with large photo libraries, these chips are designed to handle that workload. Apple also offers configurations with up to 128GB of unified memory and 16TB of storage. However, those upgrades can drive the price considerably higher.

The new MacBook Pro runs macOS 27 and includes Apple Intelligence alongside Apple's upgraded Siri AI. It also brings Dynamic Island to the Mac for the first time. That familiar feature from the iPhone sits near the top of the display and gives you access to live updates and useful controls. For video calls, Apple includes a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. Meanwhile, an upgraded six-speaker system promises deeper bass. The laptop also includes Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and an HDMI port, which should appeal to people connecting external displays.

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Apple's new MacBook Pro is thinner and lighter

One concern with touchscreen laptops is whether all that additional technology makes them heavier. Apple says it has managed to move in the opposite direction. The new 14-inch touchscreen MacBook Pro weighs about three pounds, roughly half a pound less than its predecessor. The 16-inch model comes in at four pounds, approximately 0.7 pounds lighter. Both models also feature slimmer designs. That should make carrying a MacBook Pro between meetings or packing one for a trip a little easier.

Apple promises up to 24 hours of battery life, depending on the configuration and usage. That's an impressive claim for a machine with this much performance and such a bright display. However, we'll need independent testing to see how battery life holds up during real-world work.

How much does Apple's touchscreen MacBook Pro cost?

Apple has positioned its touchscreen MacBook Pro firmly in premium territory. The 14-inch model with the M5 Pro chip starts at $2,899, while the 16-inch version starts at $3,399. If you want the more powerful M5 Max processor, prices jump to $4,499 for the 14-inch model and $4,799 for the 16-inch version. And remember, those are starting prices for each configuration. Adding more memory or storage can increase the total substantially.

There is another important detail. Apple introduced a separate 14-inch MacBook Pro with its newer M6 chip on Oct. 27. That model starts at $1,999, but it uses a Liquid Retina XDR Display without touch support. That means you're looking at a $900 difference between Apple's entry-level M6 MacBook Pro and its least expensive touchscreen model. Of course, the more expensive version also includes an M5 Pro processor and the upgraded OLED display. These are different performance configurations, so the additional $900 doesn't represent the cost of touch alone.

For another perspective, the previous 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip started at $2,499. That makes the new touchscreen version $400 more expensive than its comparable predecessor. Still, this gives you a meaningful choice. You can buy a powerful new MacBook Pro for considerably less if you don't need to interact directly with the screen. We've previously reported on how rising AI chip costs have pushed Apple prices higher. This latest introduction adds another premium option to an already expensive lineup.

Will your favorite Mac apps work with touch?

Apple says many existing Mac apps will respond to touch immediately because macOS can translate finger taps into mouse clicks. That should make basic interaction straightforward, even before developers fully optimize their software. However, Apple's bigger ambition involves creative applications. The company demonstrated touch controls in Final Cut Pro that let editors manipulate clips directly on the screen. Musicians can use Logic Pro to play virtual instruments with their fingers.

Apple also expects third-party apps, including Adobe Lightroom and Microsoft Office applications, to take advantage of the new touch capabilities. That sounds promising. Still, a touchscreen doesn't automatically make every app easier to use. Tiny buttons and crowded menus can be frustrating when you're trying to select something precisely with a finger.

Early hands-on reports suggest that touch works smoothly for common gestures. However, some smaller macOS controls can still be awkward to tap. Those are preliminary impressions rather than findings from extended testing. It will be interesting to see how quickly developers adapt their interfaces and whether people continue using touch regularly after the initial excitement wears off.

Should you upgrade to Apple's touchscreen MacBook Pro?

This is the question I'd ask before spending nearly $3,000. If you already own a relatively recent MacBook Pro that handles everything you throw at it, I wouldn't rush to replace it solely for touchscreen capabilities. A mouse or trackpad still gives you excellent control, especially when you're working on detailed projects.

However, if you edit video professionally or spend your days working with photos, the OLED display could make a real difference. The improved portability also makes the new model appealing to people who regularly travel with demanding workloads. For everyday activities like email and web browsing, a less expensive MacBook Air or standard MacBook Pro will probably be more than enough.

Before making that decision, take a look at our guide explaining how to know when it's time to replace your Mac. A computer that still performs well may have several good years left. You can also explore our best laptops for 2026 at CyberGuy.com to compare other options before committing to Apple's premium model.

One more suggestion: If you're considering the touchscreen MacBook Pro, visit an Apple Store when it becomes available on Nov. 6. Spend some time using the touchscreen alongside the keyboard and trackpad. That hands-on experience could tell you more than any specification sheet.

Pro tip: Don't forget to protect your new MacBook

If you're spending nearly $3,000 on a new MacBook Pro, protecting that investment should be a priority. While macOS includes built-in security features, Macs can still face malicious downloads and online scams. I recommend keeping your software updated and using strong antivirus software for an additional layer of protection. Strong antivirus software can help detect malware and warn you about dangerous websites before they cause trouble. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

Kurt's key takeaways

I have to give Apple credit for finally bringing a touchscreen to the MacBook Pro. It feels like a feature that should have arrived years ago, especially when we're all so accustomed to touching the screens on our phones and tablets. I'm also impressed by what Apple is promising with its new OLED display. For people who work with visual content, that could be the most compelling reason to upgrade.

But here's where I hesitate. At $2,899, Apple is asking a lot for a feature that many competing laptops have offered for years. And with the standard M6 MacBook Pro starting at $1,999, there's a pretty compelling argument for saving that extra $900. I want to see how useful touch becomes in everyday work before calling this a must-have upgrade. My advice is to try it in person before spending the money. A touchscreen sounds great, but the real test is whether you still reach for it after the excitement wears off.

Would you pay nearly $3,000 for a touchscreen MacBook Pro? Let us know why or why not by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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