Summary
Apple is expected to launch its first OLED MacBook Pro with a touchscreen in late 2026, featuring on-cell touch technology for enhanced interactivity. The first-gen model will target the Pro lineup, while cheaper MacBooks won’t get touch support until later versions.
Apple might finally be ready to give users what they’ve been asking for—a touchscreen MacBook. According to a new report from trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the first touchscreen MacBook Pro could enter mass production in 2026, marking a major shift in Apple’s long-standing stance against touchscreens on laptops.
Touchscreen MacBook Pro in the Works
Kuo revealed in his latest post that the next-generation OLED MacBook Pro may feature a touch-enabled display. This would be Apple’s first move towards blurring the lines between MacBooks and iPads, two product categories the company has always kept separate. For years, Apple executives had dismissed the idea of a touchscreen Mac, arguing that users should get a Mac for productivity and an iPad for touch interaction.
But it seems Apple has been studying how people actually use their iPads over the years. According to Kuo, the company’s “long-term observation of iPad user behavior” showed that in certain scenarios, touch controls do improve productivity and overall user experience. That could explain why Apple feels the timing is right to bring touch to the MacBook Pro lineup.
Not Coming to Cheaper MacBooks Yet
While this sounds exciting for power users, those waiting for a budget-friendly MacBook with touch support will have to wait longer. The rumored cheaper MacBook, said to be running on an iPhone processor, won’t get the same feature—at least not at launch. Apple is expected to debut the technology on its high-end MacBook Pro models first and test the market before expanding it to cheaper variants later.
The Bigger Picture: iPadOS Meets macOS
Interestingly, this comes at a time when iPadOS 26 is getting upgrades that make it feel closer to macOS, especially with multitasking improvements. With a touchscreen MacBook in the pipeline, Apple could be setting the stage for a future where macOS and iPadOS overlap even more, potentially leading to a unified platform in the coming years.
Of course, nothing is official yet. Apple hasn’t confirmed any details, so we’re still at least a year away from hearing anything concrete. But if Kuo’s report holds true, the MacBook lineup could finally take a leap in design and usability that many fans have been waiting for.
Would you use a touchscreen MacBook, or do you prefer keeping touch for iPads only?