Apple has always kept the iPad and MacBook lines separate. The iPad is all about direct finger input, the MacBook is limited to keyboards and trackpads. That’s about to change. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst, released a new report this week saying that future MacBook Pros will have touchscreens. Mass production could start as early as late 2026.
Kuo’s report was based on information from Apple’s supply chain partners. These sources monitor everything from component testing to manufacturing. He says the new models will have OLED screens, which is a step up from the current mini-LED configurations. On-cell touch technology will be used, which puts the sensors in the display layers for a thinner, more sensitive feel. Samsung will supply the panels.
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Apple has been watching how people use iPads for years. Touch controls are great for tasks like fast annotations and scrolling through dense documents. Productivity without having to reinvent macOS. The OS already supports multitouch on trackpads so adding screen taps might be a simple addition. Basic gestures will be introduced first and users will get used to them.
Steve Jobs said styluses were a step backward in 2010, but the Apple Pencil was introduced for iPad Pros in 2015. Apple resisted touch on Macs for years, even when Windows laptops started to add it after 2012. Microsoft’s Surface series proved the hybrid strategy works, combining laptop and tablet. With iPadOS 26 adopting Mac-style window management and menu bars, the platforms are merging. A touchscreen MacBook Pro would be the final piece of the puzzle.
Not every MacBook will get this update right away. According to Kuo, a low-cost version will go into production this fall, likely using an A-series chip from iPhones to keep prices down. The 13-inch model won’t have a touchscreen for now, targeting students and casual users. After Apple works out the kinks a follow-up model might be added in 2027. Meanwhile the Pro line will lead the way, possibly with M6 processors for more power.Kuo is usually right. Insiders believe him because he was correct on iPhone 17 and AirPods. If true late 2026 production means a fall 2026 or early 2027 launch which matches Apple’s annual cycle.
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