Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro

The Apple PROLED MacBook Pro has hit the market, and we've had a chance to test out the latest model. It's been a while since Apple updated the MacBook Pro, so this is a long-awaited refresh. The new PROLED MacBook Pro shares a similar design to the previous mini-LED model, but it's slimmer and lighter. The 14-inch version is around half a millimeter thinner and about three pounds lighter, while the 16-inch model is almost a millimeter thinner and four pounds lighter.

These weight savings may seem insignificant, but they make a noticeable difference once you hold the laptop in your hands.

One of the most prominent features of the PROLED MacBook Pro is the OLED display. At $2,899, it's a significant upgrade from the mini-LED display found in the previous models. The OLED display offers true black levels and individual pixel lighting, resulting in better contrast and deeper blacks. Bright objects on a dark background won't suffer from blooming, as they do with mini-LED displays.

The PROLED MacBook Pro can also get incredibly bright, which, combined with the deep blacks and HDR content, makes for an impressive visual experience. However, the OLED display may not perform as well outdoors as the mini-LED display.

The bezels on the PROLED MacBook Pro are thinner compared to the mini-LED model, and the 16-inch version is actually 16.3 inches in size rather than 16.2. Additionally, there's a dynamic island-like feature that replaces the notch and houses Siri AI, Live Activities, and other functionalities. The touch-sensitive display is a new addition, allowing users to interact with the MacBook Pro like they would with an iPhone or iPad.

Swiping, tapping, dragging, dropping, and pinching to zoom are all possible with touch input. While touch isn't intended to replace the traditional trackpad and keyboard, it's there if you want it.

Apple has also made some adjustments to macOS to accommodate the touch interface. Menu options expand slightly when touched, and the tiny window resizing buttons become more prominent. The sturdier hinge in the PROLED MacBook Pro helps prevent the display from moving excessively when touched, although it still exhibits some jiggle depending on the touch location.

The touch functionality is functional but doesn't feel groundbreaking. It's a nice-to-have feature that could be useful in certain situations, but it's unlikely to revolutionize the way most users utilize a laptop.

Unfortunately, the PROLED MacBook Pro still uses the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips as the mini-LED models, which is a letdown considering the premium price tag of almost $3,000. Given the higher-end display, thinner and lighter design, and touch functionality, the PROLED MacBook Pro justifies its higher cost for some users. However, for the majority of users, the additional $400 for the OLED display, lighter weight, and touch features might not be worth the investment.