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Apple launches its new touchscreen MacBook Pro
Devices1 min read
Apple has launched a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, starting at $2,899. It is a big change, because Apple long avoided touchscreens on its Mac laptops.
What happened
Apple launched a new MacBook Pro that has a touchscreen. The 14-inch model costs $2,899 and the 16-inch model costs $3,399. People can pre-order it from October 30, and it goes on sale November 6.
Key facts
- Screen sizes: 14-inch and 16-inch
- Weight: 3.0 pounds (1.38 kg) for 14-inch; 4.0 pounds (1.82 kg) for 16-inch
- Brightness: 2,000 nits peak for HDR and SDR
- Contrast ratio: 10,000,000:1
- Up to 3 external displays on M5 Pro, and up to 4 on M5 Max
Why this is a surprise
Apple first put a touch strip, called the Touch Bar, on a MacBook Pro about 10 years ago. Later, it removed that feature. Apple leaders, including Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, had said a touchscreen Mac was a bad idea. Jobs once called it “ergonomically terrible.”
Why it matters
This shows Apple changing its mind about touch on laptops. The new hinge holds the screen steady when you touch it, which also helps keep the camera steady on video calls. The launch is also an early test for new CEO John Ternus, who also introduced Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, in September.
What to watch
- Whether buyers like touching a Mac screen
- Sales after the November 6 release date
- How the new M6 MacBook Pro, announced one day earlier at $1,999, compares
Glossary
- MacBook Pro
- A powerful laptop made by Apple for people doing heavy work like video editing and coding.
- Touch Bar
- A thin touch strip above the keyboard on some older MacBook Pro models. Apple later removed it.
- HDR
- High Dynamic Range, a display feature that shows brighter lights and deeper darks in pictures and video.