Touchscreen MacBook Pro release date: When will it launch?

• Late 2026 possible
• Early 2027 now more likely

While Apple has yet to officially confirm the device, reports from respected analysts, supply-chain sources, and references discovered in Apple’s software all suggest development is well underway. The company is widely expected to launch a redesigned MacBook Pro featuring its first touchscreen OLED display in either late 2026 or early 2027.

Earlier rumours pointed firmly to a launch in the second half of 2026. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo both initially predicted a late 2026 debut, with an October announcement fitting Apple’s traditional MacBook Pro release schedule while also coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the MacBook Pro’s introduction. In January, South Korean blog Naver reported that Samsung had begun production on its new 8.6-generation OLED manufacturing line, which is expected to supply panels for the next-generation MacBook Pro, further supporting that timeframe. Gurman also reported in February that the redesigned MacBook Pro would arrive in the “back half” of 2026.

However, a launch in early 2027 now appears more likely. Global DRAM and NAND shortages – which prompted Apple to raise Mac and iPad prices in June 2026 – are expected to continue well into 2027. In April, Gurman reported that supply-chain constraints were affecting development of the redesigned MacBook Pro and could push the release into until early 2027. He subsequently reported in June that Apple had revised its chip roadmap, with the touchscreen MacBook Pro now expected to launch with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips instead of M6 Pro and M6 Max in an effort to keep the project on schedule.

Taken together, the continuing component shortages, Apple’s revised silicon plans, and the scale of the redesign make early 2027 the more likely launch window, although a late 2026 release has not yet been ruled out.

Which MacBook models will get a touchscreen?

• Current rumours suggest that Apple’s first touchscreen laptop will be a redesigned MacBook Pro with Pro and Max chips

Both Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have reported that Apple is developing MacBook Pro models with OLED touchscreen displays as part of a major redesign. The feature is expected to debut on the high-end MacBook Pro models powered by Apple’s Pro and Max chips, making them the first Macs to support direct touch input.

Apple is expected to use the touchscreen as a key differentiator for its professional laptops, further separating the MacBook Pro from the more affordable MacBook Air and MacBook Neo.

There is also speculation that Apple could rebrand the flagship model as the MacBook Ultra. According to one report from a source said to be familiar with Apple’s plans, the company intends to expand its “Ultra” branding beyond the Mac Studio and Apple silicon chips. However, this claim has not been corroborated by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman or analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, so it should be treated with caution.

For now, the technology appears set to remain exclusive to the MacBook Pro lineup. Neither the MacBook Air nor the MacBook Neo is expected to gain touchscreen support in the near term. However, Kuo believes Apple could eventually expand the technology to other MacBook models if the touchscreen MacBook Pro proves successful.

The MacBook Air may be the next candidate for a touchscreen upgrade, but current forecasts suggest this is unlikely before 2028 or 2029. Some reports also indicate that the Air could adopt OLED display technology before then, albeit without touch functionality.

Touchscreen MacBook Pro Design

• Thinner than the current MacBook Pro
• Punch hole for the FaceTime camera

The touchscreen MacBook Pro is expected to arrive as part of the biggest redesign to Apple’s professional laptop lineup in years. According to multiple reports, Apple is working on a thinner, lighter MacBook Pro made possible by more efficient Apple silicon and OLED display technology.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman first reported in 2024 that Apple was planning to slim down the MacBook Pro. The current 14-inch MacBook Pro measures 0.61 inches (1.55cm) thick when closed, and while the redesigned model is expected to be noticeably thinner, it will likely remain slightly thicker than the MacBook Air to accommodate its more powerful hardware.

One of the most significant visual changes could be the removal of the display notch. Reports from display analysts and Bloomberg suggest Apple may replace the current notch with a hole-punch camera cutout, allowing for more usable screen space around the sensor. In early 2026, Gurman went a step further, claiming the new MacBook Pro could adopt an iPhone-like Dynamic Island interface built around the camera cutout.

The touchscreen MacBook Pro is also expected to retain its traditional laptop design, complete with a full keyboard and large trackpad, rather than becoming a hybrid tablet device.

Other rumoured design changes include:

• A thinner and lighter chassis.
• OLED display technology.
• A hole-punch FaceTime camera replacing the notch.
• Possible Dynamic Island-style functionality.
• A reinforced hinge designed to minimise screen movement when the display is touched.

These changes would help distinguish the MacBook Pro from the MacBook Air and the entry-level MacBook Neo while giving Apple’s flagship laptop its most substantial design update in years.

Which chip will feature in the touchscreen MacBook?

• M5 Pro and M5 Max

Early rumours suggested the touchscreen MacBook Pro would debut with Apple’s M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. However, more recent reports indicate that Apple has revised its plans and will instead launch the first touchscreen MacBook with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors before moving directly to the M7 generation.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in June 2026, Apple now plans to pair the redesigned MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than the previously rumoured M6 Pro and M6 Max. The report claims Apple may skip the M6 Pro/Max generation entirely to accelerate development of its AI-focused M7 chips, bringing them to market around six months earlier with significantly more powerful on-device AI capabilities.

While the ongoing DRAM and NAND shortages may also have influenced the decision, they are not thought to be the primary reason for the roadmap change. Apple has already raised Mac and iPad prices in response to higher memory costs.

The latest reports supersede earlier rumours that the touchscreen MacBook would feature M6-series processors built on TSMC’s 2nm process with a redesigned chip architecture. Leaked Apple files discovered by MacRumors in late 2025 also appeared to reference M6 MacBook Pro models, suggesting Apple was developing M6-based hardware before reportedly changing direction.

Separately, there has also been speculation that Apple could introduce its in-house 5G modem to a future MacBook Pro, enabling cellular connectivity without requiring Wi-Fi or an iPhone hotspot. However, this remains one of the least substantiated rumours surrounding the redesign.

Touchscreen MacBook Display

• Tandem OLED display
• Touchscreen interface

This redesigned model is anticipated to feature a major display overhaul, transitioning to an OLED panel that will likely offer a slimmer form factor similar to the iPad Pro

The display is expected to be the headline upgrade of Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pro. Multiple reports suggest Apple will replace the current Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) panel with a touchscreen OLED display, bringing MacBook Pro technology closer to the Ultra Retina XDR display used in the latest iPad Pro.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to introduce OLED touch panels in the MacBook Pro in late 2026 or early 2027. The new display is expected to be thinner, more power-efficient, and capable of delivering deeper blacks, higher contrast, richer colours, and improved HDR performance than today’s mini-LED screens.

Reports indicate that both the 14-inch and 16-inch models will use advanced tandem OLED technology, which combines two OLED layers to achieve higher brightness levels while maintaining excellent energy efficiency. Apple first introduced this technology with the M4 iPad Pro and is expected to bring a similar implementation to the MacBook Pro.

The touchscreen functionality will reportedly rely on on-cell touch technology, which integrates touch sensors directly into the display rather than adding a separate layer. This approach helps keep the panel thin while supporting multi-touch input.

If the rumours prove accurate, the move to a tandem OLED touchscreen would represent the biggest display upgrade in the MacBook Pro’s history and one of the most significant changes to the lineup in years.

Brady Snyder / Foundry

Touchscreen MacBook Interface

Foundry

Apple is not expected to turn macOS into iPadOS, but reports suggest macOS 27 could include subtle design changes to make the Mac easier to use with touch input.

Rather than replacing the traditional desktop experience, Apple is reportedly working on a touch-tuned interface that adapts depending on how the device is being used. When touch input is detected, interface elements such as menus, buttons, and controls may automatically enlarge to make them easier to tap. When using a mouse or trackpad, macOS would revert to its familiar point-and-click layout.

The touchscreen itself is expected to support standard gestures such as tapping, scrolling, and zooming, while still allowing users to switch between touch, trackpad, and mouse input.

Apple didn’t announce touchscreen Mac support outright at WWDC, but the preview of macOS 27 and subsequent beta has offered clues about how the company plans to make macOS more touch-friendly while keeping the MacBook and iPad lines distinct.

There has also been speculation that Apple could update the trackpad with a new sensor layer to support Apple Pencil features such as hover or writing, possibly alongside a wider trackpad aimed at creative workflows.

Touchscreen MacBook Pro: Connectivity

• 5G connectivity could finally come to the Mac

Apple

Beyond the touchscreen display and redesigned chassis, one of the most intriguing rumours surrounding the next-generation MacBook Pro is built-in cellular connectivity.

Apple has spent the past several years developing its own modem technology, beginning with the C-series modem family. Reports suggest the company has explored bringing 5G connectivity to the MacBook lineup, allowing users to connect directly to mobile networks without relying on Wi-Fi or a smartphone hotspot.

Further evidence emerged in 2025 when Macworld contributor Filipe Esposito reported that Apple had tested an M5 MacBook Pro equipped with a 5G modem. While that feature did not make it into the final product, the report suggests Apple is actively evaluating cellular-enabled MacBooks.

The redesigned MacBook Pro could also benefit from Apple’s growing portfolio of wireless chips. The company’s N-series networking processors, which handle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread connectivity, may eventually replace third-party components throughout the Mac lineup. An updated version of the chip could debut alongside the touchscreen MacBook Pro, improving power efficiency and tighter integration with Apple’s ecosystem.

While neither feature has been confirmed, Apple’s ongoing investment in modem and wireless technologies makes enhanced connectivity one of the more plausible additions to the redesigned MacBook Pro.

Touchscreen MacBook Pro: Price expectations

Apple will likely offer similar configurations to the current MacBook Pro models, but it’s unclear how much of a premium a touchscreen OLED display will command. Apple upped the price of the iPad Pro by $200 when it got a tandem OLED, so it’s likely the touchscreen MacBook Pro will have a higher starting price.

Here are the prices for the current standard configurations of the M5 MacBook Pro, which saw prices increase between $300 and $500 in June 2026.

14-inch MacBook Pro

• $1,999/£1,999: M5 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 4
• $2,499/£2,499: M5 Pro with a 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5
• $4,099/£4,099: M5 Max with a 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory, 2TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5

16-inch MacBook Pro

• $2,999/£2,999: M5 Pro with a 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5
• $4,399/£4,399: M5 Max with a 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory, 2TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5