{
  "id": 17222475,
  "title": "The touchscreen MacBook Pro is just a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/the-touchscreen-macbook-pro-is-just-a-macbook-pro-with-a-touchscreen",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-30T12:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Verge",
    "slug": "the-verge",
    "url": "https://www.theverge.com/tech/1022628/apple-macbook-pro-proled-xdr-touchscreen-oled-impressions-totally-normal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple has unveiled its highly anticipated touchscreen MacBook Pro, a laptop that, according to the last two Apple CEOs, should not exist. Surprisingly, the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, which boasts one of the most impressive screens ever seen on a laptop, is surprisingly ordinary. The display offers stunning blacks, bright colors, and infinite contrast, marking it as a reference-caliber display. While Apple calls it a \"reference-caliber display,\" it certainly lives up to the claim with its first laptop display supporting Apple CMF 2026 color modes.\n\nThe highlight of this MacBook Pro is undoubtedly its touchscreen, a feature that Apple never envisioned putting in a laptop until it finally did. The touchscreen showcases how Apple figured out the long-awaited input method after years of skepticism. Though the touchscreen allows users to poke and swipe at the screen, it doesn't quite reinvent how we use laptops. Apple has introduced some UI elements in macOS 27 Golden Gate and certain apps that either magnify or expand a little when tapped, but it doesn't significantly alter how we interact with laptops.\n\nTouchscreen laptops were once considered revolutionary a decade ago, with Microsoft even introducing a touch-optimized UI in Windows 8 and convertible laptops becoming a popular product segment. However, Windows 8 faltered, and convertible laptops became just another product segment. Apple waited it out, realized there was no significant demand, and added the touchscreen with minor UI improvements, declaring, \"Okay, enjoy macOS with some swiping.\"\n\nWhile the touchscreen is a welcome addition, it doesn't feel like a game-changer. Most touch gestures map to functions that can already be performed using the trackpad. During Apple's event, professionals who started using the touchscreen MacBook Pro revealed that touching the screen didn't redefine their workflows or techniques. They still relied on keyboard and trackpad functions, seeing the touchscreen merely as a bonus. When asked about Apple Pencil support, nearly everyone expressed a desire for it, highlighting the importance of offering more options.\n\nThe OLED display, lighter chassis, and Dynamic Island are as crucial as the touchscreen in making the new MacBook Pro stand out. The illuminated Apple logo is also a fun addition that garnered significant attention. Overall, the new MacBook Pro looks fantastic, but the touchscreen may not be the magic that sets it apart from other laptops. Apple's strategic move to include a touchscreen aims to introduce more laptops with touch capabilities in the future, though Apple Pencil support and a 360-degree hinge are still not in the cards.",
  "summary": "Apple's long-awaited touchscreen MacBook Pro is finally here. I got to try this MacBook that, according to the last two Apple CEOs, shouldn't exist. The most surprising thing is how normal it is. The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display (what a name) has one of the nicest screens I've seen on a laptop. The […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}