Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro is finally here, and after years of debate it turns out the feature is exactly as useful — and as limited — as you’d expect on a laptop. In a hands-on with the new 14- and 16-inch models, Ars Technica’s Samuel Axon finds that the touchscreen mostly duplicates what the trackpad already does well, with no tablet mode, no Apple Pencil support, and few unique OS-level tricks. What actually steals the show is the long-awaited OLED (PROLED XDR) display: peak brightness, absolute blacks, and dynamic range that mark a genuine leap over the previous Mini-LED panel. Pair that with a noticeably lighter chassis and the familiar MacBook Pro form factor, and the real reason to upgrade is staring you in the face—literally. Just don’t buy it expecting the touchscreen to change how you work.
Samuel Axon for Ars Technica:
When the credible reports emerged that the MacBook Pro would get a touchscreen, I imagined a convertible with Apple Pencil support—something you could use as a large iPad or drawing tablet, essentially. That’s not what this is; it only takes the usual laptop shape, and I was told it does not support the Apple Pencil. It’s just a MacBook Pro, in its normal form factor, but you can use your fingers on the screen to do things like drag files around, swipe between desktop spaces, or pinch-to-zoom on maps or images.
But while it’s not about the touchscreen capability for me, I was impressed by the OLED screen itself—and I’m quite the display snob, if I’m being honest. The peak brightness, absolute blacks, well-balanced color, and dynamic range were genuinely remarkable. It’s an enormous upgrade over the MiniLED screen in the previous MacBook Pro…
Based on my time with the device and today’s announcement, the screen seems to be the main draw (though it’s nice that it noticeably weighs less, too)… I’m looking forward to spending more time with the new MacBook Pro, but for right now, it seems to follow in the lineup’s existing tradition: impressively high-end components like an outstanding OLED panel, but a very steep price to match. No surprises here!
MacDailyNews Take: It’s a MacBook Pro. You get what you pay for. This is the world’s best laptop computer. It’ll last for half a decade or longer and, as usual, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) end up being less expensive and far less frustrating than running through a parade of shitty PC laptops over that time frame.
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Every time you go to a museum, you see a small label placed next to the artworks that says “Please, don’t touch”.
As this new MacBook is a masterpiece of tech, I think the same kind of respect shall be given to its exquisite OLED screen. (Notice how I didn’t call it a touchscreen even though that is technically what it is?)
Currently Use: M1 Pro MBP, 16GB RAM, 1TB. 2001
It has been the Mac I have owned and used longer than any other. It’s been fantastic, and I was wanting to upgrade to this all-new MBP, but am waiting….
Three Misses. One that will be fixed sooner than later.
Touch. I think Apple has more than proved a traditional notebook with amazing trackpad does not need touch. It’s useless. Sips a bit of power, adds additional cost. It’s useless and I’m sure it’s useless for 90% of its MPB users also. This isn’t Apple’s typical approach. But I will end up needing to purchase this with touch – no choice w/the OLED models. Hoping this is a Touch Bar play and it’ll go away soon enough. Or at the minimum, Apple will offer the option to have touch or not. Save me $100.
No C2X modem? What? Is this a carrier thing? I don’t get it. I hotspot all the time for security and as a business necessity being on the road all the time. But to have it seamlessly built into the MBP, which has a much larger antenna array. Why not built into the Mac? I don’t get it. I’ve wanted it forever, yet Apple says that’s not a Pro feature? What?! Dumb…
No M7 Pro / Max processors. We know why no M6 Pro / Max so we wait, what, 6 months now for the M7’s at the earliest? We hope? If we don’t see a development pickup of at least 6 months, then canning the M6 Pro / Max iteration will have proven to be be a big screw up.
One of my three wants for the MBP will be addressed with the M7 Pro/ Max sooner than later. The there two? not for a while sadly….
I’m somewhat hoping the M5 Pro / Max OLED XDR MBP’s do not sell well at all. This will really force Apple’s hand in getting out the M7 Pro / Max into these boxes. AND at the same time hopefully show Apple, no one cares about touch on a MBP. Duh….