Apple unveils first touchscreen MacBook Pro

Apple has broken its long-standing refusal to build touchscreen laptops, unveiling a new MacBook Pro model that includes a touch interface. The device marks a departure from the company's previous design philosophy, where executives previously dismissed touch screens on laptops as ergonomically poor.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro features a PROLED XDR display and weighs 3 pounds. This is noticeably lighter than the current generation of non-touch MacBook Pros, which start at 3.4 pounds for the newly introduced M6 models. The 16-inch touchscreen version weighs 4 pounds, a reduction of 0.7 pounds compared to the 4.7-pound M5 Pro model without a touchscreen.

Apple has updated macOS to support standard touch gestures. Users can swipe on the screen to scroll, pinch to zoom, and double-tap to maximize windows. Third-party applications that have not yet been updated for touch will function by translating taps into clicks, a fallback method that may require more precision to hit small buttons.

The touchscreen OLED model starts at $2,899. This is $400 more than the otherwise similarly specced M5 Pro MacBook Pro. The higher price reflects the addition of the touch-enabled display technology.

The new laptops also feature a glowing Apple logo on the lid. This design element returns to the product line, adding a visual distinction to the devices which have maintained a similar material feel for several years. The 16-inch model is slightly thinner and has a smaller footprint than its non-touch counterpart.

Apple stated that the company put effort into making the operating system more touch-friendly. Despite the changes, the physical requirement of lifting an arm to touch a laptop screen remains a point of discussion regarding user comfort.