A part of me does question whether this is all preparation for a touch-capable Mac, but then the product logic doesn’t really stack up.
I know a recent report suggested that a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen is on the horizon, but this seems like pure speculation to me (like most Bloomberg reports).
First, I don’t believe Apple would release only select touch-compatible Macs, rather it would be an all-or-nothing deal. Can you imagine only some iPads having a touchscreen and other dependent on the Smart Keyboard? People know what the Mac platform is.
Then from a marketing perspective, they have to redefine what a MacBook even is. They can’t just add touch functionality to current concept and expect it to work naturally or better than what currently exists (smudgy screens, laptop rocking), there has to be a narrative at play. They would have to turn the MacBook into something that it isn’t and at that point you’re losing a core audience.
At a stretch, I can imagine Apple releasing a Studio/Pro Display that can be connected to a Mac in Microsoft Studio fashion, with a screen that can pivot down into a canvas mode, but even then I’m skeptical.
I think Liquid Glass is potentially a backup in case they do develop a touch product, not that they do have plans right now.