CES 2026: Snap-On Accessory Adds Touch Display to Your MacBook

[MacRumors]

Apple has historically resisted the idea of touchscreen MacBooks, arguing that laptop PCs with the feature are unwieldy and far from ergonomic. But recent reports suggest Apple has changed its tune, and the company is now rumored to be developing a touchscreen MacBook Pro. In the meantime, startup Intricuit has been showcasing its own solution at CES 2026 that brings touchscreen functionality to existing MacBooks with Apple silicon.

The Magic Screen is a snap-on digitizer that aligns to your MacBook's display using the built-in magnets that let your Mac know when the lid is closed to trigger sleep mode. After connecting it via a single USB-C cable, the tempered glass layer supports the gamut of gestures we've come to associate with smartphones – tapping, swiping, and zooming with your fingers directly on the screen.

In a nod to the iPad and Apple Pencil, the Magic Screen also comes with its own stylus that supports pressure sensitivity and stylus hover for drawing, writing, manipulating objects, and navigation. The company has shown off the touchscreen in action with apps like SketchUp, Miro, and Resolume Arena. It also supports iPhone Mirroring, allowing you to interact with iOS apps on your MacBook display with your fingers.

The Magic Screen includes a built-in battery that Intricuit says works for up to 100 hours on a single charge, and it comes with a Folio Case that also folds into a stand that braces against the MacBook screen to reduce wobble. When removed from the MacBook display, the device also doubles as a standalone drawing tablet.

As for Apple's plans, a report by industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the company's first OLED MacBook Pro will feature a touchscreen display. Kuo made the remarks in September 2025, and the claim has since been corroborated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who added that the touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro will retain a full trackpad and keyboard.

According to Kuo, the OLED panel will use on-cell touch technology, which integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top layer (the "cell") rather than requiring a separate, dedicated touch layer like the Magic Screen. The analyst added that the 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."

• M6 MacBook Pro: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

The reports suggest Apple is aiming to launch its first touchscreen MacBook Pro as soon as late 2026 or early 2027. Meanwhile, Intricuit says the Magic Screen is compatible with all MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by Apple silicon, and that it will soon be available on Kickstarter, with shipping on track to begin in the first quarter of this year. Does the idea of a touchscreen display on a Mac appeal to you? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: CES 2026: Snap-On Accessory Adds Touch Display to Your MacBook

 

[Basic75]

Why doesn't Apple turn the trackpad into a touch display with pencil support?

 

[CarAnalogy]

And still shown being used by a finger with an outstretched arm. If you want your biceps and triceps to get super ripped from resistance training, this would be one way to do it.

I'm still torn on whether a touch screen Mac is a good idea or not, but if it is, it has to fold all the way back. Which is one of the things I don't like about it.

 

[Ursadorable]

If I wanted a touch screen, I'd have bought an iPad. MacOS was not designed with a touch interface in mind, like iOS was.

Also, waiting to see how many people complain about snapped screens trying to close it before removing the touch sensor.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Why doesn't Apple turn the trackpad into a touch display with pencil support?

Apple is weird about Pencil support across the board. Which is also one reason I doubt touch screen Macs. They are very protectionist about the iPad since there are in reality so very few things it is uniquely good at. So they add Pencil support as an artificial one.

 

[CarAnalogy]

If I wanted a touch screen, I'd have bought an iPad. MacOS was not designed with a touch interface in mind, like iOS was.

And the trend toward touch Macs would just continue the decline of Mac app functionality.

Too many "Mac" apps are now just lazy Catalyst ports of the iPad version, neglecting everything that the Mac does uniquely better.

Touch Macs are not going to help that trend at all.

Quick Edit: And ironically it's really only Apple that's doing that. Seems almost all third party developers immediately realized that was a bad idea and still maintain two apps properly for each platform.

 

[KurtWilde]

So is this getting Sherlocked this year?

 

[Basic75]

MacOS was not designed with a touch interface in mind, like iOS was.

I don't see that as a problem as the Mac can run iPad applications.

 

[orbital~debris]

Clever solution, but for a Mac – no, this is not it.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I don't see that as a problem as the Mac can run iPad applications.

Technically, no not a problem.

Philosophically, for me, a huge problem. They are two different platforms and should be treated differently. I'm afraid this is just going to encourage everything to be a low hanging iPad app when the Mac would allow it to be so much better than that constrained platform.

Also, iPad applications can only come from the Mac App Store...

 

[rappr]

I don't see that as a problem as the Mac can run iPad applications.

Technically yes, although many developers opt out of it

 

[Basic75]

Technically, no not a problem.

Philosophically, for me, a huge problem. They are two different platforms and should be treated differently. I'm afraid this is just going to encourage everything to be a low hanging iPad app when the Mac would allow it to be so much better than that constrained platform.

Also, iPad applications can only come from the Mac App Store...

I mostly agree with you, just saying that "macOS isn't designed for touch" is not the problem if you have a whole other app store full of touch apps that the Mac can easily run.

 

[Ursadorable]

I don't see that as a problem as the Mac can run iPad applications.

But why would you want to? A mobile iOS "app" is a mere shadow of full fledged applications on MacOS. I don't see the point myself unless it was some casual game.

 

[hajime]

I think similar product was released years ago.

 

[satchmo]

Won't ever replace an iPad for drawing unless the MacBook becomes a 2 in 1 Yoga style laptop that can fold back on itself.

 

[YankeeSR23]

I think similar product was released years ago.

There definitely was something and it was something that sat under an iMac display and supposedly enable gestures to control the display. I remember having it but it never worked like it was supposed to.

Just googled it and it was the Leap Motion Controller.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

The number of times I've wanted to touch my my MacBook Pro's screen over 10 years = 0

 

[fonzy91]

LOL reminds me of when Steve Jobs explained to everyone why it's simply not a good idea, ergonomically speaking.

 

[Will Co]

Site policy forbids me to make a single word reply. But what I wanted to say was...

Ugh.

 

[wigby]

Apple has historically resisted the idea of touchscreen MacBooks, arguing that laptop PCs with the feature are unwieldy and far from ergonomic. But recent reports suggest Apple has changed its tune, and the company is now rumored to be developing a touchscreen MacBook Pro. In the meantime, startup Intricuit has been showcasing its own solution at CES 2026 that brings touchscreen to existing MacBooks with Apple silicon.

The Magic Screen is a snap-on digitizer that aligns to your MacBook's display using the built-in magnets that let your Mac know when the lid is closed to trigger sleep mode. After connecting it via a single USB-C cable, the tempered glass layer supports the gamut of gestures we've come to associate with smartphones – tapping, swiping, and zooming with your fingers directly on the screen.

In a nod to the iPad and Apple Pencil, the Magic Screen also comes with its own stylus that supports pressure sensitivity and stylus hover for drawing, writing, manipulating objects, and navigation. The company has shown off the touchscreen in action with apps like SketchUp, Miro, and Resolume Arena. It also supports iPhone Mirroring, allowing you to interact with iOS apps on your MacBook display with your fingers.

The Magic Screen includes a built-in battery that Intricuit says works for up to 100 hours on a single charge, and it comes with a Folio Case that also folds into a stand that braces against the MacBook screen to reduce wobble. When removed from the MacBook display, the device also doubles as a standalone drawing tablet.

As for Apple's plans, a report by industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the company's first OLED MacBook Pro will feature a touchscreen display. Kuo made the remarks in September 2025, and the claim has since been corroborated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who added that the touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro will retain a full trackpad and keyboard.

According to Kuo, the OLED panel will use on-cell touch technology, which integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top layer (the "cell") rather than requiring a separate, dedicated touch layer like the Magic Screen. The analyst added that the 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."

• M6 MacBook Pro: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

The reports suggest Apple is aiming to launch its first touchscreen MacBook Pro as soon as late 2026 or early 2027. Meanwhile, Intricuit says the Magic Screen is compatible with all MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by Apple silicon, and that it will soon be available on Kickstarter, with shipping on track to begin in the first quarter of this year. Does the idea of a touchscreen display on a Mac appeal to you? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: CES 2026: Snap-On Accessory Adds Touch Display to Your MacBook

My arm is getting tired just looking at this picture

 

[cicalinarrot]

LOL reminds me of when Steve Jobs explained to everyone why it's simply not a good idea, ergonomically speaking.

He also said iPhone's display wasn't supposed to be bigger than 4" because that's about where your thumb can reach and look at phones now.

 

[TheDailyApple]

Using this would be a pretty bad idea as MacBook screen coatings aren’t engineered for touch and would wear poorly.

Edit:
I missed the glass component. It has looked to me like the sensor at the bottom was the only component.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

In principle, a touch screen on Mac just does not make sense. But if a possible touchscreen Macbook brings with it a coating that's easier to keep free of smudges than the current ones, then I'm willing to welcome it, no matter how hesitantly.

 

[Ctrlos]

He also said iPhone's display wasn't supposed to be bigger than 4" because that's about where your thumb can reach and look at phones now.

Jobs died and the populace became phone zombies after Samsung lead them there. Phones aren’t supposed to be bigger than 4” because they were never meant to be mass consumption devices. TikTok would never have taken off on the original iPhone.

 

[Arcus]

I am sure that all 5 people who will buy this will enjoy it.