Apple is preparing one of the most significant changes to the MacBook lineup in years. Upcoming MacBook models will, for the first time, integrate a touch panel. This marks a shift in Apple’s long-standing approach, which has traditionally kept Macs and iPads distinct in their input methods.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the shift reflects Apple’s long-term observation of iPad user behavior. In certain scenarios, touch controls can enhance both productivity and the overall user experience, and Apple now appears ready to extend that benefit to MacBooks.
The introduction of touch support will begin with the OLED MacBook Pro, which is projected to enter mass production by late 2026. Apple will reportedly use on-cell touch technology, embedding touch sensitivity directly into the display without requiring an additional touch layer.
This approach helps preserve display thinness and image quality while also offering improved responsiveness compared to traditional touch implementations. It could make tasks like photo editing, drawing, and multitasking more seamless, while also appealing to users already accustomed to touchscreen devices.
Not every new MacBook will include touch functionality right away. Apple is also preparing a more affordable MacBook powered by an iPhone processor, expected to enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025. This lower-cost model will not support a touch panel in its first generation.
Specifications for the second-generation affordable MacBook, anticipated in 2027, remain under discussion. Apple could introduce touch panel support in that version, bringing the feature to a wider range of users at a lower price point.
The decision to add touch support on MacBooks is a major departure from Apple’s previous stance. For years, the company emphasized that touch belonged on iPad, while the Mac experience should be optimized around a keyboard, trackpad, and mouse.
Back in 2012, Apple CEO Tim Cook dismissed the idea of merging Mac and iPad into a single device, saying, “You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user.” Apple’s new move to bring touch to MacBook suggests a rethinking of that philosophy as workflows evolve.
With the expansion of iPadOS features like multitasking, Stage Manager and external display support, and the increasing overlap in workflows between iPads and Macs, Apple now appears to be rethinking that boundary. Touch support on macOS would be a natural extension of that shift.
If implemented as expected, the OLED MacBook Pro with a touch panel would not only set itself apart from current MacBook Pro models but could also reshape how professionals and creative users interact with macOS.
Developers may also gain new opportunities to design Mac apps optimized for touch, just as they did when iPad gained trackpad and mouse support. This evolution suggests that the Mac, like the iPad, will continue adapting to new hybrid workflows in the years ahead.
