Apple has unveiled a redesigned MacBook Pro that adds a touchscreen to the Mac for the first time. The 14- and 16-inch laptops pair tandem OLED displays, branded PROLED XDR, with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors. Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries and retail availability beginning November 6.
Key takeaways
- The new MacBook Pro is Apple’s first Mac laptop with touch input.
- PROLED XDR uses tandem OLED, with up to 2,000 nits brightness, a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and refresh rates up to 120Hz.
- M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations support up to 128GB of unified memory and 16TB of storage.
- U.S. prices start at $2,899 for the 14-inch model and $3,399 for the 16-inch model.
Touchscreen MacBook Pro marks a major change
Touch joins the keyboard and trackpad as an input option, rather than replacing them. Apple says users can swipe, pinch to zoom, move items between apps and arrange windows with gestures. The touch sensor is integrated into the display panel, and a redesigned hinge is intended to keep the screen steady during taps. macOS can translate touches into clicks for many existing apps, while updated APIs let developers build touch-specific controls.
Apple’s own creative apps and a range of third-party tools—including Lightroom, DaVinci Resolve, Blender and Microsoft Office apps—are expected to support touch. For ThinkComputers readers following PC hardware trends, the shift is notable: Apple is bringing a feature long established on some Windows laptops to its flagship pro notebook, while retaining conventional Mac controls.
Tandem OLED targets creative workloads
The PROLED XDR screen offers up to 2,000 nits of peak HDR and SDR brightness, a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and adaptive refresh rates from 10Hz to 120Hz. Apple says it covers both P3 and Adobe RGB color spaces, with more than 80 percent Rec. 2020 coverage. A nano-texture glass option is available to reduce glare; Mashable reports it costs an additional $150.
The display replaces the notch with a Dynamic Island that hosts Spotlight, Live Activities and Siri AI. The 14-inch screen measures 14.2 inches, while the 16-inch model grows to 16.3 inches with slimmer bezels.
M5 configurations, ports and pricing
Apple offers the laptops with M5 Pro or M5 Max, rather than the newer M6 chip found in other recently announced Mac models. Configurations reach 128GB of unified memory and 16TB of storage. Apple says M5 Max is suited to demanding work such as local AI models, visual effects and 8K video production. Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours, though actual results vary by use and configuration.
Both models include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe and a headphone jack. They also add Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and a six-speaker system with, Apple says, 50 percent deeper bass. The 14-inch M5 Pro starts at $2,899, and the 16-inch at $3,399; M5 Max versions start at $4,499 and $4,799, respectively.
Thinner, lighter design and availability
The redesigned chassis weighs 3 pounds for the 14-inch model and 4 pounds for the 16-inch version—reductions of half a pound and 0.7 pounds, respectively, compared with the prior designs. Apple also revised the thermal architecture to sustain performance while directing warm air away from the display.
Pre-orders began October 28 in 30 countries and regions, including the U.S. The new MacBook Pro is scheduled to arrive in stores and with customers on November 6.
Via Apple