Apple is reportedly preparing to add touch panels to MacBook models for the first time. The OLED MacBook Pro, which should be ready for mass production by late 2026, will have an on-cell touch screen, says renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
This means the line between the MacBook and iPad will be blurred once again, with iPadOS 26 having already turned the iPhone-like tablet UI into one that feels more like the company's laptops. That said, Apple's hotly anticipated affordable MacBook model powered by an iPhone processor will not feature a touch screen, Kuo reports. And Apple isn't expected to release any new MacBook Pro models in 2025—the first year to skip a new Pro since the model was introduced.
If Kuo's sources are accurate, this touch-oriented update to the MacBook lineup demonstrates Apple's increasing willingness to give users flexibility in how they leverage their devices. Personally, however, I don't see a laptop with a touch screen having much of an advantage, unless someone wants fingerprints all over their display.
The company's stepwise approach starts with the more premium models, likely making touch a selling point for high-end MacBooks before expanding to other options.
