Apple set to unveil first touchscreen MacBook Pro with OLED display on Wednesday
The updated 14-inch and 16-inch laptops will feature a lighter chassis, Dynamic Island, and touch-optimised macOS controls.
Apple is set to introduce its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models on Wednesday, breaking with years of executive resistance to touch-screen laptops. The launch will bring touch capabilities, vibrant OLED screens and a Dynamic Island to the company's flagship notebook line.
The announcement will take place via a press release on 28 October, followed by a hands-on event titled "Pro and tell" in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
What features are coming to the new MacBook Pro
The updates apply to both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro sizes. While the overall chassis design will look similar to current models, the new laptops are expected to weigh noticeably less. The standard display notch will be replaced by the Dynamic Island cut-out, bringing interactive system alerts and background activities to the top of the Mac display for the first time.
Under the hood, the laptops will retain Apple's existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which were released in March. The primary hardware upgrade comes on the front panel, where OLED technology replaces mini-LED backlighting to deliver deeper blacks and improved contrast.
How much will the OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro cost
Because OLED panels and touch layers carry higher production costs, retail prices are set to rise. Existing mini-LED models start at $2,499 for the 14-inch model and $2,999 for the 16-inch version, but the new touchscreen variants are expected to carry a price increase of up to $500.
| Model | Current display | Current starting price | Expected starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-inch MacBook Pro | Mini-LED | $2,499 | Up to $2,999 |
| 16-inch MacBook Pro | Mini-LED | $2,999 | Up to $3,499 |
Software changes in macOS Golden Gate
To support the new hardware, Apple is introducing a touch-optimised interface in macOS Golden Gate. Rather than converting macOS into an iPad-style operating system, the interface will adapt controls dynamically based on how someone interacts with the device.
Touching an element will bring up context-aware menus around the user's finger, while the Dock and top Menu Bar have been adjusted with larger targets for direct finger input. Apple will position touch as a supplementary input method to be used alongside the traditional keyboard and trackpad.
Existing mini-LED MacBook Pro configurations will remain available initially as lower-cost options, before eventually being phased out.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Current 14-inch MacBook Pro starting price | $2,499 | Apple official pricing noted in Bloomberg report |
| Current 16-inch MacBook Pro starting price | $2,999 | Apple official pricing noted in Bloomberg report |
| Expected price increase for OLED models | Up to $500 | Bloomberg's Mark Gurman |
| Announcement date | Wednesday, 28 October 2026 | Bloomberg's Mark Gurman |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Apple | Manufacturer announcing the new MacBook Pro line. |
| MacBook Pro | Laptop line receiving OLED touchscreen and Dynamic Island upgrades. |
