Kuo: OLED MacBook Pro to Feature Touch Screen Display

[MacRumors]

Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro, set to enter mass production next year, will feature a touch screen display, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In his latest post on X (Twitter), Kuo writes that Apple's much-rumored OLED MacBook Pro will incorporate a touch panel using on-cell touch technology. On-cell touch technology integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top layer (the "cell") rather than requiring a separate, dedicated touch layer.

Kuo says 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."

Unsurprisingly, the analyst believes that the recently rumored low-cost MacBook, slated for mass production in the fourth quarter of this year, will not feature a touch panel, though specifications for a second-generation model could include touch support. Kuo anticipates the second-gen affordable MacBook model to arrive in 2027.

According to a recent report by Korea's The Elec, Samsung will supply the displays for Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro. What's less certain right now is the chip architecture that Apple will adopt for its OLED models.

It was previously rumored that MacBook Pro models with M5 chips would launch in late 2025. In July, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was "considering" pushing back the release of the next MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips until early 2026.

Gurman has since said he expects the MacBook Pro to gain an OLED display "between the end of 2026 and early 2027."

That would mean Apple updating the MacBook Pro line twice in the same year. However, there is precedent for such a scenario. Apple released models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023, followed by models with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips in October 2023. So we could get the M5 generation in January 2026, followed by the OLED panel-equipped M6 generation in October 2026.

Either way, the OLED MacBook Pro models are expected to feature more significant changes, including a thinner design and a smaller notch. Apparently we can now add touch screen support to that list, too.

Article Link: Kuo: OLED MacBook Pro to Feature Touch Screen Display

 

[dumastudetto]

Hopefully this is the transition to iPadOS.

 

[Risco]

Steve will be spinning in his grave….

 

[MacUserFella]

I already have to deal with fingerprints on my MacBook’s screen already, why would I make that something I want to do intentionally?

 

[ElGrandisimo]

Now THIS is a mac rumor!

 

[Madonepro]

Hopefully this is the transition to iPadOS.

This a media/industry wish, not an Apple desire. It will never happen.

 

[lanomds1]

Who asked for this?

 

[andrewxgx]

its obvious given how much macOS now resembles ipadOS

its not like it hasn't been tried before tho. you cant have touch/pointer interface that isn't a compromise in one way or another.

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

Not convinced this is a good idea, but guess I’ll withhold judgement until I can try it out. Kinda hope this rumour turns out to be false, though.

 

[freezelighter]

To touch the ugliquid uglass?

 

[gpat]

Not happening.
Probably a fake leak from Apple's side to pinpoint some leakers.

 

[mikethebigo]

I think I’m just getting old. I don’t want this and honestly wince at just the thought of fingers and nails touching my Mac’s display. But I know my daughters wouldn’t care one bit and would prefer it to be possible.

 

[Hammerd]

Steve will be spinning in his grave….

He haven’t stopped since Timmy took office

 

[Lone Deranger]

 

[Hammerd]

Not happening.
Probably a fake leak from Apple's side to pinpoint some leakers.

Yes it is happening.
Lacking innovation? Integrate an old tech you haven’t yet (but "do it better than anyone else")

 

[aries81]

Guess I won't be needing this.

 

[iBluetooth]

I just want 256 GB memory options and the 40% improved AI calculation with the changes on the GPU, as they did with the new A cpu's.

 

[sputnikBA]

I’ve never really been too into touchscreens on laptops.

If they are gonna add touch to Macs, I would rather they frame it as having Apple Pencil support. I’ve said this before but I’d love to see Apple make the iMac Pro their version of the Surface Studio.

The M-series chips would be perfect for this compared to the limits of the hardware MS used at the time. It would give a good reason to differentiate from the standard iMac and would be a fantastic devices for creatives.

 

[Lone Deranger]

Since this feature made it to Windows based laptops many years ago already, I haven't seen a single person ever use it. Ever.

But hey, gotta have a new selling point I guess.

 

[Lone Deranger]

Who asked for this?

Share holders.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Welp... That explains that then.

 

[xxray]

Right in line with Mark Gurman’s reporting from 2.5 years ago. Next-generation MacBook Pros to get OLED, touch screen, and thinner redesign.

Apple Reportedly Working on Touchscreen Macs, Including MacBook Pro

Despite years of resistance, Apple is now working on adding touchscreens to Macs, according to a report today from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The...

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[Station Grey]

Not something I'd ever use, so as long as it never requires touch for anything I don't care if it has the functionality or not. No idea if anybody actually wants this, but they're welcome to it if so.

What I do care about is finally having a MBP where the screen can be fully rotated so that it can actually be made useful as a second screen on my desk, rather than being hidden away and wasted.

 

[jchap]

It seems like rumors of touch displays for Macs have been around for a long time, and they never really come to fruition. Instead, we get a new iPadOS that features more "Mac-like" usability.

The target users and use cases for Macs and for iPads are somewhat different. Until this year, Apple has not blurred the line too much. Of course, there was the time when they advertised iPads as "computers", but they've never advertised Macs as tablets with keyboards. That's something that Microsoft would do, such as with their Surface Pro and Go lineup.

So, why would Apple want to copy that approach, after all these years of keeping their lineups relatively distinct?

I get the feeling that we're going to be hearing and debating this rumor again and again for years to come, but nothing will likely come out of it. Why would Apple make a Mac with a touch screen, unless they could somehow make it significantly different (and better) from the mass of Windows touchscreen laptops already out there?

 

[JPack]

Good to see another confirmation for the low cost MacBook.

The touch feature makes sense as iPad and iPhone apps can run on macOS. In terms of risk, there’s not much risk. Users don’t have to use touch.