US — TechCrunch
Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro pushes laptop pricing to a new extreme
Devices1 min read
Apple has launched a touchscreen MacBook Pro that starts at $2,899. Fully upgraded models can cost more than $14,000.
Apple adds a touchscreen to the MacBook Pro
Apple has started selling a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen. The base model costs $2,899. The most expensive setup, with every upgrade, costs about $14,549. Preorders open October 30, and sales begin November 6.
Key prices and facts
- Fully loaded 14-inch model: $14,249
- Fully loaded 16-inch model: $14,549
- Both use the M5 Max chip, with an 18-core CPU and 40-core GPU
- 4TB storage upgrade: +$1,000; 8TB: +$3,000; 16TB: +$7,000
- 128GB of memory upgrade: +$2,000
Why prices are so high
Apple's price tags are rising. The article says a memory shortage and the heavy demand for computer parts used in AI are part of the reason. Apple also tried a feature called the Touch Bar almost ten years ago. It later dropped that feature, and now it is trying touchscreens again.
Why it matters
This is a big change for Apple, which has long avoided touchscreens on its Mac laptops. The very high prices may limit who can buy the top models. The launch also shows how costly computer parts have become.
What to watch
- Whether people buy the touchscreen model at launch prices
- How much the memory shortage affects future Apple prices
- Whether the touchscreen becomes a standard feature on future Macs
Glossary
- MacBook Pro
- A powerful laptop computer made by Apple.
- M5 Max chip
- The main processor inside the top MacBook Pro models. It does the main work of the computer.
- GPU
- Graphics processing unit. A chip that handles images, video, and some heavy computing tasks.
- Touch Bar
- A thin touch strip Apple once put above the keyboard on some MacBook Pro models. Apple later removed it.