Apple is reportedly nearing the launch of its first touch-enabled MacBook Pro model, marking a significant evolution in the Mac’s design philosophy. The next laptops will include touch displays and introduce interface elements inspired by the iPhone, including a dynamic island feature at the top center of the screen, according to people familiar with the plans.
The redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are expected to use OLED display technology, the same organic light-emitting diode panels used in recent iPhone models. OLED screens are known for improved contrast, deeper blacks, and improved color accuracy compared to traditional LCD panels.
First launched on iPhone in 2022, Dynamic Island integrates the front-facing camera into a software-enabled display area that can display alerts, live updates, and media controls. On the MacBook Pro, this feature will reportedly sit within a small hole-punch-style cutout rather than a large notch. The interface is tailored to provide contextual information and controls while maintaining a familiar desktop experience for Mac users.
Touch-enabled MacBook Pro models, identified internally by the development codenames K114 and K116, are not expected to appear in Apple’s early March product announcement. Instead, they are believed to be scheduled for release towards the end of 2026. Apple has declined to publicly comment on the reported development.
Despite the addition of touch capabilities, the MacBook Pro will not be sold as an iPad replacement. This design approach prioritizes flexibility, allowing users to seamlessly switch between traditional trackpad navigation and direct touch input. The hardware continues to have a full physical keyboard and large trackpad, maintaining the established laptop format.
It is expected that software changes will be made to complement the new hardware. The macOS interface reportedly adapts depending on how the user interacts with the device. When a user taps the screen, the system expands the menus and controls around the touch point to provide more accessible options optimized for finger input. Menu bar selections expand when you tap them, and emoji pickers and other pop-up tools may adjust their spacing to facilitate touch interaction.
The display will support standard touch gestures familiar to iPhone and iPad users, including pinch to zoom, smooth scrolling, and intuitive navigation within documents and images. However, Apple isn’t said to prioritize on-screen input the same way it does with tablets.
Last year’s overhaul of macOS Tahoe’s liquid glass design is believed to have laid the foundation for this transition. The update introduced more space around icons, notifications, and sliders, and many observers saw this as a move toward improved touch compatibility.
Apple’s reported decision marks a notable departure from the company’s historical position. Company executives have expressed skepticism about touch laptops for years, with co-founder Steve Jobs once calling them difficult to use. In 2021, Apple hardware chief John Ternus suggested that the iPad already serves as the company’s best touch computer.
Since then, market conditions have evolved. Touch functionality has become commonplace on Windows-based laptops, and Apple is increasingly integrating applications between macOS and iPadOS. Introducing touch capabilities to Macs could provide customers with additional incentives to upgrade beyond the incremental performance gains from new processors.
If confirmed, the new MacBook Pro models could signal a recalibration of Apple’s long-held positions and reshape expectations for the future of the Mac platform.