Apple Reportedly Working on Touchscreen Macs, Including MacBook Pro

[code-m]

Cost - touch layer adds to BOM
Power consumption - layer needs power
Thickness - due to layer

Stuff ain't free.

Agreed that stuff ain’t free, however some of your other concerns maybe addressed in 2024/25. Thinner OLED panels on a MacBook is claimed to reduce thickness, if a touch layer in added the thickness will remain the same plus the 1080p camera requires a minimum amount of thickness. Power consumption will be minimal and hope there is a physical switch to turn the touch screen component on/off due to accidental input. Cost increase maybe marginal at best.

Over the years macOS has been adopting iPadOS UX, it’s possible this will initially be a separate addition to the laptop line, a new product with a detachable screen or a merger of devices. Imagine a 13” iPad Pro in iPadOS mode when detached and when attached to the base/dock it turns to macOS while charging and the rest. Flip the display and it decodes a touch canvas while attached to the base or not. Using the base/dock allows desktop class apps. A base M# processor in the display and a base or pro/max chip in the base/dock that works together for a more powerful system and pro workflow.

The concept and idea that the late Steve Jobs and Apple through these years was that the display was not detachable from the base. I believe many windows and android tablet/laptop manufacturers have proven its possible though unpolished through they implementation.

 

[sdf]

If this turns out to be true, Ventura+1 is going to be interesting. The current macOS UI isn't going to work well for touch screen.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Which will end up raising the price, for a feature they themselves said made no sense.

I guess at the end of the day, customers will decide with their wallets.

 

[v0lume4]

As much crap as I give Apple, the lack of touch screens on laptops is one thing I have always agreed with them on. If this rumor is true, it is incredibly surprising.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Why is everyone complaining? It's not like they're going to take away the trackpad. Just don't use the touch screen if you don't want to.

This literally happens almost everytime Apple implements an existing technology into their products. And once it's finally release, then everyone loves it.

 

[ktcifone]

To me the direction of bringing iPad and Mac closer together was obvious for a few years now. Just see where iPad went. iPad with mouse support? Check. Magic Keyboard with trackpad? Check. Multitasking? Check. Multiple displays? Check.

And now Macs run the same processor. And MacOS has the same multitasking model added. Not to mention FANLESS laptops?

Apple usually does not rush into things and they generally implement stuff when they know how to do it - unlike competition who often does it the moment it's technically feasible.

Imagine iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard running MacOS. Stuff extra battery in the keyboard, make the screen detachable, have the whole thing dock into a display. You get tablet laptop and desktop all in one. They'd be crazy not to at least explore this, even if it's just a MacBook Air.

I have a 2018 mini I had an ipad pro 2020 12.9 when i needed portability with being lightweight-ish. currently have the m2 2022 11 ipad pro works great for what I need I would like a more OSX feel on the Pro it is the same architecture so why not. i had no issues accessing a work windows VDI in the past. with a keybord so worked better than my work laptop.

Id rather have a tablet that can be also be a laptop than a laptop with a touchscreen.

 

[TracerAnalog]

Lame. If I wanted a touch screen, I'd get an iPad.

Ah but maybe that's the trick here: they might be testing MacOS for … the iPad!

 

[Pecka]

Hopefully they make the touch screen optional.

 

[klasma]

Not happening. Touchscreens on computers make exactly zero sense.

In principle it does make sense in some limited ways, but the UI compromises you have to make are just too big, or you have to have a complex mode-switching setup to serve both modes of operation, which in practice results in the UI being lacking for one mode if not both.

 

[klasma]

Why is everyone complaining? It's not like they're going to take away the trackpad. Just don't use the touch screen if you don't want to.

You’re probably not aware of the UI mess it made on Windows.

 

[Realityck]

Despite years of resistance, Apple is now working on adding touchscreens to Macs, according to a report today from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The report claims that a new MacBook Pro with an OLED display could be the first touchscreen Mac in 2025.

Given how much iPad Pro sales mean to Apple, and how they resisted this for years, I doubt a MacBook Pro would become a touchscreen given that MacOS isn't made for that type of operation.

Yes you see some touchscreen PC's out there that are similar to this rumor, but if someone intends to draw they would likely use a 3rd party touchscreen with pencil, not make the MacBook Pro with a OLED screen become a touchscreen device?

 

[code-m]

It's about time. I love Lenovo's Yoga laptop series which has touchscreen, includes a pen, and Windows OS is seamless. I don't understand why Apple has not blended their iOS and OS X.

People forget that iPad can accept the following input methods:

1. Touch (not on macOS)
2. Pencil (not on macOS)
3. Keyboard
4. Trackpad
5. Mouse
6. External detached trackpad
7. Voice Dictation
8. Pencil hover (not on macOS)

A tablet simply has more input options compared to Mac.

 

[vinesy]

I do like the trackpad better on my wife's Air than my PC laptop though. I just have to remember to hold command to right click.

or use two fingers...

 

[NMBob]

Working on something is a LONG WAY from releasing a product

But isn't that how macOS/iPadOS/iPhoneOS/tvOS/iWatchOS/iSpeakersOS updates work now? Release 'em and then fix 'em?

Forgot: iEarBudsOS and iHeadphonesOS
AND: iMonitorOS and iPencilOS

 

[code-m]

You’re probably not aware of the mess it made on Windows.

Windows is a mess regardless of input options, remember Zune. This is Microsoft we are talking here it’s not a surprise.

 

[tomtad]

If this turns out to be true, Ventura+1 is going to be interesting. The current macOS UI isn't going to work well for touch screen.

The touchscreen will be for occasional use and the Mac will remain mouse first. I do believe there is a big shift coming with the OS which will enable this and they will converge the existing OSs into one, lets call it AppleOS, which will enable the same OS from the iPhone up to the Mac and the new VR environment. The UI will adapt to best suit what you're using but it will be the same backend.

 

[code-m]

iPad sales have been declining over the years once again. One can only do so much with physical constraints.

 

[Ethosik]

Not looking forward to this. It will be Windows 8 all over. I tried to use macOS via Remote Desktop from my iPad and some of the UI elements are just too small.

 

[koelsh]

I for one would be very glad to see a touchscreen Mac however as pundits like Rene Ritchie have pointed out Apple is working on this kind of stuff all the time. They have prototypes out the wazoo to find what works so not holding my breath that this will see the light of day.

While adding touch to the clamshells we have would be a decent first start I hope they end up with something more akin to the a beefier iPad Pro or Surface Pro 9 with the tech being in the screen and an attachable keyboard. Let it be a tablet when it needs to be a tablet and let it be a laptop when it needs to be a laptop with software allowed to accomplish both.

 

[anshuvorty]

When you don't know what to do next

You said it. Apple has lost any sense of direction, they are now just following the tech trends of the day!

• Apple Car
• Apple's VR/AR headset
• Home automation
• TV streaming

Apple isn't special anymore...sad to say it, but it's true!

 

[code-m]

I'd buy a 13" (or larger) iPad running macOS in a heartbeat. Do that instead. I'm still envious of the Surface Pro form factor.

You clearly have not held for any given period of time a 13” tablet, it’s uncomfortable and heavy.

 

[code-m]

What's with the sudden policy change? No touch screen has been the one thing Apple's been hellbent on Macbooks

Detachable laptop displays is the change.

 

[anshuvorty]

Instead of proceding with this route, they should do the opposite: bring macOS to iPadOS....makes much more sense, IMHO...

 

[HVDynamo]

I can't stand fingerprints on my laptop screen.

Exactly. I hope I would be able to just turn off the touch screen entirely. I don't want fingers on the screen.

 

[_Spinn_]

This would be a very surprising change - macOS is not optimized for touch input. Apple already has the iPad so I’m not sure why they need a touch enabled laptop.