Apple is changing course this week by releasing the first ever touchscreen MacBook Pro, breaking a decades-long tradition of keeping touchscreens out of its laptop lineup, according to 9to5Mac. The upcoming touchscreen MacBook Pro arrives in just a number of days and will sit at the very top of a newly restructured three-tier catalog.
Key takeaways
- Apple is launching the first ever touchscreen MacBook Pro this week.
- The revamped lineup will split into three distinct tiers based on design and performance.
- New OLED models will feature a lighter build and potential cellular support.
- Existing miniLED displays will stay in production through 2028 per Omdia data.
What to expect from the new MacBook Pro lineup?
9to5Mac reports that the updated catalog will divide into three specific categories once the launch happens. The base tier features a current design running on an M6 chip in a 14-inch frame with lesser thermals. The middle tier keeps the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max models in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes completely unchanged. At the top sit the redesigned OLED touchscreen models packed with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Pricing for the base M6 14-inch machine is expected to stay at $1,999 with 1TB of storage and 16GB of unified memory. Meanwhile, the redesigned OLED versions will carry a much higher cost. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg notes that these units will fetch a significantly higher price point, with predicted costs reaching $2,999 for the 14-inch model and $3,499 for the 16-inch version.
How will the OLED MacBook Pro change the brand?
The upcoming machines represent the first major overhaul for the laptop family since 2021. Beyond the touch capabilities and OLED panels, these units will offer a Dynamic Island and potentially support for cellular connections. They will also feature a lighter build compared to standard variants. Apple plans to keep older miniLED versions in production until 2028 according to Omdia, giving buyers a cheaper alternative while the high-end hardware establishes itself.
Why this matters
Buyers who want the latest hardware face a steep investment since the top-tier machines command a heavy premium. The presence of older models remaining side-by-side in stores highlights the steep entry barrier for the redesigned units. Anyone shopping for a portable Mac this week must weigh the cost of cutting-edge tech against proven configurations that keep their previous price points.
Frequently asked questions
The new touchscreen MacBook Pro launches this week, arriving in just a number of days according to 9to5Mac.
The MacBook Pro lineup will offer three tiers: a base model with an M6 chip, high-end unchanged M5 Pro and M5 Max models, and best-tier redesigned OLED touchscreen models.
The upcoming redesigned OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro models will use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Per Omdia, the existing miniLED displays for the MacBook Pro will remain in production through 2028.
The redesigned MacBook Pro models will feature a Dynamic Island, OLED touch displays, a significantly lighter design, and potentially support for cellular connectivity.
Based on reporting by 9to5Mac. Read the original article
