Apple’s next-gen OLED MacBook Pro supposedly will feature a touchscreen panel, further blurring the line between iPads and MacBooks.
TF International Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo thinks the new OLED MacBook Pro will enter mass production in late 2026.
MacBook with touchscreen might finally happen
For years, devoted Mac users have called for Apple to add a touchscreen. But the company did not budge from its stance, positioning the iPad as an alternative. But in recent years, Apple itself blurred the lines between Macs and iPads. And macOS 26 and iPadOS 26 take things a step further, with the latest iPad software making the tablet much more Mac-like. (The new Liquid Glass user interface used across Apple’s latest software platforms also makes Macs and iPads seem more similar than before.)
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple’s next big MacBook Pro refresh will add touchscreen support that brings the laptop closer to the iPad than ever before.
“This shift appears to reflect Apple’s long-term observation of iPad user behavior, indicating that in certain scenarios, touch controls can enhance both productivity and the overall user experience,” Kuo said Wednesday in a post on X.
Samsung supposedly will supply Apple with the touchscreen OLED panel for the next-gen MacBook Pros.
Reports of Apple “seriously considering” a touchscreen MacBook have floated as far back as January 2023.
But it won’t come to rumored low-cost MacBook
Rumors indicate Apple will launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone processor next year. Kuo previously predicted the machine could feature a 13-inch display and use the iPhone’s A18 Pro chip.
The analyst now says the machine will enter mass production in Q4 2025. This fits perfectly with its rumored release time frame of early 2026.
Despite sharing the iPhone’s SoC, the affordable MacBook won’t feature a touchscreen.
For the second-gen model due to launch in 2027, Apple may or may not include touch support.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
