01. Key takeaways

Apple announced on 28 October 2026 a new MacBook Pro with touch input and a tandem OLED display called PROLED XDR, the first time the Mac has supported touch. It runs on M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and starts at $2,899 in the US, with deliveries from 6 November. The launch marks a major shift in Apple’s long-standing laptop design.

Apple has introduced a new MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, the first time the company has brought touch input to the Mac. The laptop, announced on 28 October 2026, also moves to an OLED display that Apple calls PROLED XDR. Pre-orders opened the same day, and Apple said deliveries begin on Friday, 6 November in the US.

02. The display

The PROLED XDR panel uses tandem OLED technology, with two light-emitting layers. Apple claims up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness for both HDR and SDR content, a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a variable refresh rate of 10Hz to 120Hz. It covers both the P3 and Adobe RGB colour spaces, which Apple says gives more than 80% coverage of the Rec. 2020 standard. A nano-texture option to reduce glare is etched into the cover glass.

03. Touch on the Mac

Apple says the touch sensor is built into the display panel rather than layered on top, to reduce latency. Users can scroll, pinch to zoom, drag and drop, and tile windows by touch. A redesigned hinge is meant to keep the screen steady when it is touched. Existing apps work with touch because macOS translates taps into clicks, and developers can use updated gesture APIs. The Dynamic Island from the iPhone also comes to the Mac, as the home for Spotlight, Live Activities and Siri.

04. Chips, design and battery

The laptops come in 14-inch (14.2-inch screen) and 16-inch (16.3-inch screen) sizes with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, up to 128GB of unified memory and up to 16TB of storage. Apple says the 14-inch model weighs 3 pounds (about 1.36 kg) and the 16-inch 4 pounds (about 1.81 kg), both lighter than before. Apple claims up to 24 hours of battery life. Ports include three Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, an SDXC slot, MagSafe and a headphone jack.

05. Other features

Apple says the redesigned six-speaker system delivers 50% deeper bass, and the laptop has a 12MP Center Stage camera. It supports up to three external displays with M5 Pro and up to four with M5 Max, along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Apple claims fast charging can reach 50% in 30 minutes. The laptop ships with macOS 27, which Apple says includes its Siri AI assistant; Apple’s footnotes say Siri AI is in beta and available only in certain languages and regions.

On the environment, Apple says the laptop uses 55% recycled content overall, including 100% recycled aluminium in the enclosure.

06. Price

In the US, the 14-inch model with M5 Pro starts at $2,899 and the 16-inch at $3,399. M5 Max versions start at $4,499 and $4,799. Apple has listed the laptop on its India online store; buyers should check there for current Indian prices and delivery dates.

07. Early reaction

The following summarises published opinion and is not Newsy’s own assessment. A Bloomberg opinion piece published on 1 November argued that Apple “missed a chance to be revolutionary” with the touchscreen Mac, and YouTube reviewer Marques Brownlee said he did not expect to use the touchscreen regularly, according to The Mac Observer. Others have welcomed touch as overdue. How much professionals use touch on a laptop will become clearer once the machines reach buyers.

Related: more gadget and industry coverage in Technology and AI.

08. FAQ

Does the new MacBook Pro have a touchscreen?

Yes. Apple says it is the first Mac with touch, with the sensor built into the display panel.

What is PROLED XDR?

Apple’s name for the laptop’s tandem OLED display, rated at up to 2,000 nits peak brightness and a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

How much does it cost?

In the US, from $2,899 (14-inch, M5 Pro) to $4,799 (16-inch, M5 Max) starting prices. Check Apple’s India store for Indian pricing.

When is it available?

Pre-orders opened on 28 October 2026; Apple said deliveries start on 6 November.

09. Sources