Apple’s MacBook Pro lineup has remained resolutely familiar for several years now. We’ve grown accustomed to getting a new chip here, slightly more storage there, and being happy with it. Really, there hasn’t been a seismic shift since the last redesign back in 2021.
That’s all set to change in a big way later this year. That’s when Apple is anticipated to unveil a new MacBook Pro bearing an OLED display with touchscreen functionality. If it comes to pass, it could be the largest shake-up of Apple’s flagship laptop in half a decade.
Given those expectations, there’s every reason to believe that this could be the best MacBook Pro in years, and it’ll undoubtedly be an attractive option for many Apple fans. Yet, despite all that, I’ll be steering clear. I do not doubt that this MacBook Pro will be an excellent device, but whether it’s right for me–and, potentially, for you–is open to question.
The new MacBook Pro could be great
For years, Apple has employed mini-LED technology in its MacBook Pro screens, and this has served the company well. Yet over that time, it’s been hard to ignore the OLED-shaped elephant in the room.
Apple’s rivals have almost all outfitted their laptops with OLED panels, and it’s one way that Apple could noticeably improve the visual experience of its laptops. That’s set to finally become a reality with the revamped MacBook Pro.
The other change of note is the arrival of touchscreen tech, something that’s been mooted for years now. Apple has long opposed the idea of creating a touchscreen MacBook, but for one reason or another, it seems to have finally acquiesced. According to recent reports, macOS adapts to your input, whether that’s a mouse or your finger. I hope that means that the operating system will act as it always has if you don’t want to use the touch controls.
The Dynamic Island is a good iPhone feature. How can Apple make it Mac-relevant?
Foundry
A report from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg claims that Apple will add the Dynamic Island to the new MacBook Pro. I know I’ve been pretty critical of Alan Dye’s stint as Apple’s chief design guru, but the Dynamic Island is actually one feature of his that I think works really well. It takes something that is, for now, unavoidable (a visible front-facing camera and sensor array) and makes it useful. Running on the new MacBook Pro, it could certainly be much more functional than the dumb notch that Apple’s laptop roster is currently stuck with.
We shouldn’t forget the next-generation M6 chips that will be in this device. The M6 Pro and M6 Max chips will be made with a new 2nm process, which should help improve their power and efficiency, making for a more generous performance improvement than we’ve seen for some time.
Overall, then, there’s a huge amount to look forward to in the touchscreen MacBook Pro. So why don’t I want to buy one?
Why I’ll be staying away
To start, I’m concerned about the potential for higher prices. As I’ve already written about, the global RAM crisis means that component prices are currently through the roof, and even Apple has admitted that it might not be able to insulate itself against that forever.
Foundry
Couple that with the pricey new touchscreen OLED display, and rising MacBook costs feel like an inevitability. If you want to avoid that and need a MacBook as soon as possible, the current M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros should be on your list.
But it’s not all about the financial outlay. I happen to agree with Steve Jobs’ longstanding opposition to touchscreen laptops. I find them uncomfortable to use, particularly for long stretches at a time, and I also don’t think that the MacBook Pro will be especially improved by the addition of a touchscreen.
It’s heartening to hear that macOS won’t be compromised by the introduction of touchscreen functionality–you can go without it if you wish, by the sound of it–but I don’t want to pay extra for a MacBook with features I don’t need. And despite the inclusion of the Dynamic Island, Gurman’s report made no mention of Face ID, a feature that I’ve been hoping would grace the MacBook Pro for years. While the Dynamic Island could improve the experience, without Face ID, I’m less excited for it.
While I’ve no doubt that the touchscreen MacBook Pro will be a groundbreaking device, the combination of its likely price and notable holes in its feature set means it’ll be a classic early adopter device—and I won’t be one of them.
Author: Alex Blake, Contributor
Alex has been dabbling in Apple tech since he first got an iPhone 3GS and promptly jailbroke it for reasons he can't quite remember. Since then, he's interviewed Apple executives, scoured the internet for the most interesting apps and games, written countless features and how-to guides, and begrudgingly convinced himself that building a Hackintosh is probably more effort than it's worth. Based in the UK, he enjoys hiking, gaming, soccer, and the occasional spot of cidermaking.