According to the latest news from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple’s planned touch-screen version of the MacBook Pro will be positioned as “a touch-friendly device rather than a touch-centric device.” Gurman said in his "Power On" column that thanks to the upcoming macOS 27 update and the foundation laid by last year's "Liquid Glass" interface revision, users can switch more smoothly between touch operations and traditional pointer clicks in the future.
However, Apple's strategy on touch input is still quite conservative, preferring to use touch as an "extra bonus" rather than changing the main axis of how Mac is used.
Gurman emphasized that the touch version of the MacBook Pro will not be built into an iPad-like device, but will continue the basic form of the MacBook Pro over the past two decades, with the addition of touch capabilities. Users can directly click on various interface elements on the screen, and the system will dynamically adjust the control performance according to different input methods. For example, when the user taps a menu bar item with a finger, the interface will pop up with larger control options that are more convenient for finger operation. In addition, the touch function will be deeply integrated into macOS, and adaptation solutions will be added to the entire system, and gestures such as pinch zoom and fast scrolling that are common on the iPad will be supported.
For users who want a deeper integration of Mac and iPad to obtain a stronger "two-in-one" experience, Gurman pointed out that such needs may not be partially satisfied until 2029. According to existing news, the foldable iPad that Apple is developing is expected to be unveiled as early as 2029, but even so, the product will still be "designed in the shape of an iPad from the inside out" rather than a true Mac–iPad hybrid device.
At the specific hardware level, this touchscreen MacBook Pro is expected to be released as soon as later this year. The new model is expected to be equipped with Apple's latest M6 chip and use an OLED display to further improve the display effect and contrast. In terms of models, Apple is said to redesign the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and introduce a "punch-hole" front camera at the top of the screen. Different from the existing "bangs" solution, the new design is closer to the "smart island" on the iPhone, and is expected to accommodate proactive and related system information and interaction through a similar interface area.