I’ve reviewed dozens of touchscreen laptops, and the new OLED MacBook Pro has one of the most responsive screens out there — but is it good enough to make me use the feature regularly?
The new OLED MacBook Pro has one of the best touchscreens we've tested. How does it compare to the competition and iPads? Let's discuss all the details.
Apple has recently released a touchscreen MacBook Pro, dismissing long-standing opposition to touchscreen laptops. Steve Jobs himself previously deemed touchscreen laptops "ergonomically terrible." The new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display provides a bright OLED display, thinner design, improved speakers, and a long battery life. However, the price is steep at $2,899.
The touchscreen on this MacBook Pro is built directly into the display panel, resulting in lower latency and higher-precision touch controls. It supports common gestures such as swiping, pinch-to-zoom, drag-and-drop, and double-tapping. The touchscreen feels snappy and intuitive, closely resembling an iPad. The red, yellow, and green window dots expand when your finger hovers over them, bringing up window-tiling options. So far, there have been no issues with touch controls while using Google apps like Docs and Drive.
Touch controls on the MacBook Pro have some drawbacks. It does not support the Apple Pencil Pro, which is surprising as Apple claims you can draw on the screen. Drawing with your finger is uncomfortable and styluses offer more versatility than natural digits. Additionally, musicians might find it challenging to play virtual instruments on the touchscreen for extended periods due to comfort concerns.
Many viewers have asked whether the PROLED MacBook Pro can replace an iPad, but it cannot due to its fixed form factor and lack of Apple Pencil support.
Despite the drawbacks, Apple's decision to introduce touch functionality to MacBooks is a positive step. While the 14-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display comes with a high price tag, it provides a feature for those who can genuinely benefit from it. As touchscreen MacBooks become a reality, it remains to be seen how far Apple will push this feature.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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