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Touch me: Apple's MacBook Pro gets an OLED touchscreen for the first time

Devices2 min read

Apple has launched its first MacBooks with a touchscreen, called the MacBook Pro "PROLED XDR". It sits above the current MacBook Pro line as a new top model.

Apple adds touch to the MacBook Pro

Apple had long said no to touchscreens on its laptops. On Wednesday evening it changed its mind and showed the MacBook Pro "PROLED XDR". This model does not replace the current MacBook Pro line. It is added at the top of the range. The new laptop has a screen you can touch with your finger, a new type of display, and the "Dynamic Island" feature known from the iPhone.

Key facts and prices

  • Weight of the 14-inch model: 1.4 kg, about 200 grams lighter than the 14-inch MacBook Pro from 2021.
  • Size: 31.1 x 21.6 x 1.5 cm for the 14-inch model.
  • Chips: versions of the M5 Pro and M5 Max, which Apple launched earlier this year.
  • Screen: up to 1000 nits across the whole screen, and up to 2000 nits in small HDR areas. The refresh rate is 120 Hz.
  • Price: from about 3,300 euros for the 14-inch model. The 16-inch model starts at 3,900 euros. The M5 Max version starts at 5,600 euros.

What is OLED?

OLED is a type of screen where each tiny point makes its own light. This can give deeper black and brighter colors than many older screens. Apple calls its version "Tandem OLED" and says it is the best laptop display in the world. Apple's current laptop screens use a different technology called Mini-LED.

Why it matters

This is Apple's first move into touch screens on its Mac computers. It may change how people use a laptop, because many apps can now be controlled with a finger. But some things stay the same. The laptop still uses Touch ID (fingerprint) instead of Face ID, and it has no built-in mobile modem, which some customers had hoped for.

What to watch

  • Whether the touch feature works well with many third-party apps, not only Apple's own apps.
  • How customers respond to the high price compared with the rest of the MacBook Pro range.
  • Whether Apple adds a mobile modem or other new parts in later models.
  • The start of sales on November 6.

Glossary

OLED
A screen type where each tiny point makes its own light, giving deep blacks and bright colors.
Dynamic Island
An Apple feature that places search, status info, and live activities in a small area around the webcam. It is known from the iPhone.
Touch ID
Apple's fingerprint sensor used to log in and confirm actions.
Mini-LED
A screen type that uses many tiny LED lights behind the screen. Apple's current MacBook Pro displays use it.
nits
A unit that measures how bright a screen is. More nits means a brighter screen.

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