The first MacBook with a touch screen will be next year's MacBook Pro, which will also switch from an LCD to an OLED display, according to the often reliable Ming-Chi Kuo.
So far, Apple has reserved touch screens for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, even though competitors such as Dell and Lenovo have started building them into laptops.
The American company has previously explained that it makes "the world's best touch computer on an iPad", while the Mac is "optimized for indirect input", meaning mouse and keyboard.
MacBook with touch screen in 2026?
There are signs, however, that Apple is working on implementing touch screens in its laptops.
- "MacBook models will feature a touch panel for the first time, further blurring the line with the iPad. This shift appears to reflect Apple's long-term observation of iPad user behavior, indicating that in certain scenarios, touch controls can enhance both productivity and the overall user experience," said market analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
- "The OLED MacBook Pro, expected to enter mass production by late 2026, will incorporate a touch panel using on-cell touch technology."
The rumor about OLED displays in MacBooks has been circulating for a long time, but the addition of a touch screen is surprising news. It would mean that macOS will also have to be adapted.
Apple's current MacBook Pro computers. Photo: Apple
May expand later
Ming-Chi Kuo is often accurate with his predictions, but not always. He points out that he predicted the iPhone Air 14 months ago.
According to Kuo, Apple is considering expanding touch screens to the new, more affordable MacBook, which is rumored to arrive with an A-series iPhone processor. However, only from the second generation in 2027.
- "The more affordable MacBook model powered by an iPhone processor, slated for mass production in 4Q25, will not support a touch panel. Specifications for its second-generation version, anticipated in 2027, remain under discussion and could include touch support, said Kuo.
