Apple just announced its first-ever MacBook with a touchscreen

Apple has announced its first ever MacBook featuring a touchscreen display. This marks a shift from the company's previous skepticism about laptops with touchscreen capabilities. The MacBook Pro will launch on November 6, and will come in 14-inch and 16-inch variants, powered by Apple's M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. The touchscreen feature is designed to enhance user experience for tasks such as dragging and dropping slides, testing app functionality directly on the computer, and drawing sketches or playing virtual instruments for graphic designers and musicians.

Despite the touchscreen's availability in laptops for over a decade, early models faced criticism for being clunky, confusing, and expensive. Apple, known for being late to technologies but ultimately making them popular, is betting on its touchscreen MacBook to appeal to creative professionals and app developers. The Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped cutout on the top of the screen, will also be integrated into the new laptop.

Apple's first touchscreen MacBook will compete with existing touchscreen laptops from companies like Dell and Lenovo, and while touchscreen devices currently represent only 16.3% of global laptop shipments, analysts believe Apple's entry may raise the bar for Windows rivals.