Apple's Work on Touchscreen Macs: What We Know So Far

[MacRumors]

Some Apple fans have long wanted Apple to combine the functionality of the iPad with the Mac, and it appears that it's finally going to happen. Apple is rumored to be working on touchscreen Mac technology, and we could see the first touchscreen Mac in just a couple of years.

This guide highlights everything that we know so far about Apple's work on a touchscreen Mac.

Possible Models

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple engineers are "actively engaged" in the development of a Mac with a touchscreen, and one of the first Macs with a touchscreen could be an OLED version of the MacBook Pro.

How Touchscreen Macs Will Work

The first touchscreen Mac is expected to continue to feature a traditional laptop design, complete with a trackpad and a keyboard.

While a standard notebook design will continue to be used, the machine will feature a display that supports touch input like an iPhone or an iPad.

Operating System

Gurman says that the first touchscreen Macs are likely to use macOS, the operating system that runs on the Mac. Apple is not looking to combine iPadOS and macOS at this time, though the lines have blurred between the operating systems with the launch of Apple silicon Macs.

iPhone and iPad apps are already able to run on Macs with Apple silicon chips, unless a developer opts out of the cross platform functionality.

Touchscreen Mac History

Apple executives have said many times over the years that Apple does not have plans to release a touchscreen Mac. In 2021, for example, Apple hardware engineering chief John Ternus said that the best touch computer is an iPad, with the Mac "totally optimized for indirect input" rather than touch. "We haven't really felt a reason to change that," he said.

Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi in 2020 said that Apple believed Mac ergonomics require the hands to be rested on a surface, claiming that "lifting your arm up to poke a screen" is "fatiguing." Touchscreen laptops from other companies were also not compelling to Apple. "I don't think we've ever looked at any of the other guys to date and said, how fast can we get there?"

Later in 2020, Federighi said that a touch-based interface was not considered for the Mac and that Apple had no secret plans to change the way the Mac works. Apple has been dismissing claims of a touchscreen Mac for almost a decade at this point.

The Competition

Almost all PC manufacturers make some kind of touch-based tablet/laptop hybrid device, many of which are positioned as all-in-one or convertible machines.

HP, Lenovo, Dell, Asus, Microsoft, Google, and Samsung all have notebook options with touch displays. Major Apple competitor Samsung, for example, offers the Galaxy Book, which has a traditional keyboard and trackpad paired with a touchscreen.

Release Date

The first touchscreen Mac could come out as soon as 2025, but there is time for Apple to change its plans.

Article Link: Apple's Work on Touchscreen Macs: What We Know So Far

 

[smithrh]

Touch my screen, expect a little hand-slap.

No to greasy fingerprints on the screen.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

We know they are about ten years late

 

[JohnnyApple$eed]

I'm sure there is a need somewhere, but I have no interest in a touch screen when I'm using a keyboard and trackpad for everything already. And I hate finger prints on my screen too.

 

[theotherphil]

1) The ergonomics of a touch screen laptop suck.
2) Fingerprints are annoying.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

If the screen is detachable or can be rotated to 360° , and there is pencil support, i would definitely take it over my Mac+ipad Convo

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

It’s too gimmicky, too distracting and I don’t like it.

How about we focus on the 16” iPad Ultra? Massive Touch-screen Display!

 

[ian87w]

Steve Jobs would literally be rolling in his grave if this really happened.

Unless the touch screen part is only on the keyboard side, ie replacing the keyboard with basically an iPad.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Touch my screen, expect a little hand-slap.

No to greasy fingerprints on the screen.

You have an Apple Polishing Cloth for the greasy fingerprints on the screen.

Apple Releases Polishing Cloth for $19

Apple today released a microfiber Polishing Cloth accessory, designed for cleaning the screens of Apple devices, for $19. Although today's...

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[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Steve Jobs would literally be rolling in his grave if this really happened.

Unless the touch screen part is only on the keyboard side, ie replacing the keyboard with basically an iPad.

He's probably spinning like the large hadron collider anyway ..

 

[newton4000]

Steve Jobs would literally be rolling in his grave if this really happened.

Unless the touch screen part is only on the keyboard side, ie replacing the keyboard with basically an iPad.

What's the issue with offering it for people who want it?
I don't get it.
You don't like it, don't touch.
This is bad thinking on the part of Apple and some superfans.
Steve Jobs was incredible, but he was not a god for all times.

 

[257Loner]

I don't think it would take away from traditional input methods to add this feature. As long as it doesn't negatively impact the Macintosh experience, I wouldn't mind.

 

[StupidOpinion]

don't like it? don't use/buy it. i don't understand why some people get so upset over this. it's not like apple is forcing you to use the touchscreen

 

[BB1970]

Heres what I know so far…
It’s a bad idea

 

[JuicyGoomba]

As a general rule of thumb, if MR users say it's a bad idea, then it's probably gonna make Apple a pile of money.

 

[BB1970]

As a general rule of thumb, if MR users say it's a bad idea, then it's probably gonna make Apple a pile of money.

i hope they make a pile of money. Keeps the other products I like going with new R&D.

 

[xxray]

I don’t know that I would use it besides in a few situations. I guess it can’t hurt to have though I’m sure it would lead to higher prices. I can see it attracting more customers though. My fiancé has had a touch screen Dell XPS for years and always touches my MacBook Pro screen forgetting it’s not touch screen and then he gets irritated lol.

 

[smithrh]

What's the issue with offering it for people who want it?
I don't get it.
You don't like it, don't touch.
This is bad thinking on the part of Apple and some superfans.
Steve Jobs was incredible, but he was not a god for all times.

I don't think it would take away from traditional input methods to add this feature. As long as it doesn't negatively impact the Macintosh experience, I wouldn't mind.

don't like it? don't use/buy it. i don't understand why some people get so upset over this. it's not like apple is forcing you to use the touchscreen

Here's the problem, for those of you who apparently never dealt with research and development and the tradeoffs within.

When you add functionality like this, it both complicates the solution and adds extra testing and support burdens. It's not like Apple's hitting it out of the park on software quality right now.

In the end, items like this effectively starve work on more important items. All for a gimmick.

This isn't groundbreaking or innovative. I had a combo touchscreen on a Dell laptop in 2015. Turned it off in the BIOS and never used it.

Want an iPad? Buy an iPad. Don't mess up my Mac with this garbage.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

I don’t see this happening. I could see the iPad Pro running macOS before this would ever happen. Maybe these rumors are getting mixed up — touchscreen Mac, much more expensive iPad — same product?

 

[SDJim]

As long as it is an option (read: not mandatory) across the product line, and in no way impacts development of the non-touch screens or changes to the interface, then great! More power to the weirdos that want this.
However, it seems to have proven largely true that when development is spent on one side of the equation, it must balance with the other. Just like all movies aren't produced in 3D, I don't want all laptops to be touchscreen if it negatively impacts the company's ability to provide real value elsewhere. We learned this dichotomy with Windows 8.0, remember?

So, please, don't tell me "if you don't like it, don't buy it and shut up!" It's naive to pretend that there isn't a very real risk this does not negatively impact the rest of the product and software lines. Could it not? Sure. But the risk is there, and it is perfectly logical to not like that.

 

[gund1234]

We know they are about ten years late

Most people don't need touch screen laptops.
I have talked to all my friends who use windows laptops at work, all of them have touchscreen laptops, they never touched their screen.

 

[TrenttonY]

Yeah, it’s a iPad Pro with an M-Series chip, that runs macOS.

 

[JimmyHook]

Why would I reach over a trackpad to touch a screen when the trackpad is infinitely more precise and comfortable?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

How about we get iPad running Mac OS instead? Expand the OS continuity seamlessly! ⚠️

 

[AppleMad98004]

Is this the start of unifying MacOS and iPadOS into a single system?