A Touchscreen MacBook Pro Just Invites More Filthy Fingerprints
Commentary: Yes, I’m judgy about how smudgy Apple’s new laptop screen is going to be.
Touchscreen MacBook Pro invites more grime with its new display. Unlike other Apple laptops, this one allows direct tapping and swiping like an iPad or iPhone. Even casual use causes skin oils to accumulate on the keyboard, which comes into contact with the glass each time the laptop is closed. This creates a ghostly smudge pattern on the screen.
To combat this, I regularly clean the display with a screen-cleaning spray, but the new MacBook Pro comes with an oleophobic coating similar to that found on iPad, iPhone and the upcoming HomePod. The question remains if this coating will hold up on the larger PROLED XDR display. A touchscreen laptop has become inevitable since the first iPad and iPhone, which conditioned users to interact with screens in this manner.
Although Apple tested a touch interface on MacBook Pros with the Touch Bar, they eventually discontinued it. Photographers like myself prize the screen for its OLED technology, which offers deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, I also worry about smudges interfering with image editing. While I could avoid touching the screen, the additional cost is a deterrent.
The touchscreen display is an integral part of the premium OLED display, making it an unavoidable trade-off. For now, a touchscreen MacBook isn't a high priority, but I'm finding myself needing to clean my display more frequently.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
