Apple’s long-rumored MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen is inching closer to reality, though buyers will need to wait. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said on X this week that the device is expected to enter mass production by late 2026. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman quickly followed up, confirming Kuo’s timeline and noting that he first reported on Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro plans back in 2023.
At that time, Apple’s internal roadmap suggested a launch as early as late 2025. However, Gurman reports[1] the schedule has slipped, with the company now targeting late 2026 or even early 2027.
MacBook models will feature a touch panel for the first time, further blurring the line with the iPad. This 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…
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) September 17, 2025[2]
For years, Apple resisted adding touchscreens to its laptops, arguing that the iPad already served that purpose. While the MacBook and iPad remain separate lines, shifting market dynamics are forcing Apple to reconsider. iPad sales have slowed, and consumer expectations have changed. Many customers now want touch support on laptops, a demand fueled in part by the rise of Windows notebooks that ship with touchscreens as a standard feature.
Adding a touchscreen to the MacBook Pro would mark a major shift in Apple’s hardware philosophy. It would also represent an effort to narrow the gap between the iPad and MacBook without fully merging the two products. Gurman suggests this strategy is Apple’s way of keeping the MacBook line relevant while addressing falling tablet demand.
References
- ^ Gurman reports (www.techjuice.pk)
- ^ September 17, 2025 (twitter.com)