- Apple is rumored to be working on a 20.3-inch MacBook-iPad hybrid, a touch-based display paired with a keyboard and a trackpad.
- One of the first Touchscreen Macs could be an OLED version of the MacBook Pro.
- The mass production of a 20.3-inch MacBook-iPad hybrid is expected to begin in late 2025.
We have seen touchscreen laptops for quite a long time now. Almost all major players like HP, Lenovo, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung have already launched some amazing touchscreen laptops, and the market is still unchallenged by Apple. For quite a time now, some Apple fans have been waiting to see a brand-new device that combines the functionality of an iPad and a Mac. Well, this seems to be finally happening. Apple is rumored to be working on a 20.3-inch MacBook-iPad hybrid, and we might see the first touchscreen MacBook in just a few years.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything we know so far about the touchscreen MacBook. Let’s move along!
Touchscreen MacBook: Expected Release Window
The first touchscreen Mac might come as soon as 2026. The Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu said that Apple is expected to begin mass production of a 20.3-inch foldable device in late 2025, followed by a foldable iPhone in 2026. This also corroborates Apple Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s reports that the foldable panel is expected to go into production in late 2025. The assembly of the touchscreen MacBook could come in the first half of 2026.
However, there’s no official timeline and you never know Apple might change its plans. Several rumors have indicated that Apple is working on the project and there are chances that we might see a Touchscreen Mac in late 2025 or 2026.
Touchscreen MacBook: Rumored Models
Talking about the Touchscreen Mac, there are rumors about two possible models: a MacBook Pro laptop and an iMac desktop. In his newsletter, Mark Gurman has stated that Apple engineers are actively involved in bringing touchscreen support to Macs. According to him, the first Touchscreen Macs could be an OLED version of the MacBook Pro, and we might witness it no earlier than 20225. The Touchscreen iMac is expected to arrive sometime later, but the exact timeline remains unclear.
Touchscreen Mac: Possible Design & Specs
Apple has always believed that touch is better on a screen like iPad’s. If the giant comes up with a touchscreen Mac, it would surely be a big move. While we may wish to see a dramatic redesign, a complete touchscreen Mac, Apple is unlikely to swiftly transition from the traditional Apple laptop design. In fact, the first touch-based Mac is expected to arrive with the existing, traditional laptop design with a physical keyboard and a trackpad. However, the machine will sport an updated display to incorporate display taps and gestures like Windows laptops and 2-in-1s.
Coming to the processing capabilities, Kuo reported that the folding touchscreen MacBook is expected to use an M5 series processor. The current MacBook Pro models are powered by M3 series processors- M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. We are likely to see M4 Macs in 2025 and it makes sense for 2026 Macs to feature an M5 series processor.
The first touch-friendly Macs will continue to use macOS, the current Mac operating system.Over time, Apple may plan to expand the touch input to include other Mac models, but currently, it doesn’t have any plans to combine iPadOS and macOS. That said, the lines have already been blurred between the two operating systems with the introduction of Apple Silicon Macs.
Apple Pencil Support on TouchScreen Macs
Some rumors also suggest the Touchscreen Mac could feature both a touchscreen interface for macOS and support for the Apple Pencil. Of course, if the Mac sports a touchscreen interface, there’s a fair chance that it would support Apple Pencil. The larger MacBook screen is suitable for writing, drawing, and sketching. However, the ergonomics may be tricky. How a user would comfortably reach the display? With the traditional design and an attached keyboard, a user would have to lean forward to use the Apple Pencil. This won’t be easy and doesn’t make much sense.
Perhaps the Touchscreen MacBook Pro may give you the option to fold the screen back to use it like an iPad. Or maybe, the folding and pivoting stand comes into play. There are a whole lot of possibilities and confusion. It would be interesting to see Apple coming up with something unique.
How Much Touchscreen MacBook Would Cost
At the moment, there’s no information about the Touchscreen MacBook price. While we don’t have numbers, a touch-based Mac will certainly come with a huge price tag. The Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu previously shared that Apple’s foldable lineup would directly target the “ultra high-end market”, where consumers are ready to pay a fortune for a cutting-edge computer. With these exciting and premium offerings, Apple may redefine the standards of luxury in the foldable tech industry. So, be ready to see a premium price for a premium Mac.
It’s also anticipated that Apple will sell more than a million units in the first year. Well, that would be a relatively small percentage of total annual MacBook sales. Of course, with a premium price tag, the machine won’t sell like hotcakes. We just hope Apple doesn’t repeat the same what it has done with the Vision Pro.
Touchscreen Mac Roadblocks
Today, all the major laptop makers offer some kind of touchscreen laptop or a touch-based tablet/laptop hybrid device. Many players also offer convertible or all-in-one machines. We have already seen big names like Dell, Asus, Samsung, HP, and Google rocking in this space. Apple’s biggest competitor Samsung offers several touch-based laptops. If Apple plans to launch a Touch-based Mac with a traditional design, it would land in direct competition with the Galaxy Book which features a touchscreen paired with a traditional keyboard and trackpad.
Not to forget, the first Touchscreen Mac is around two years away. With such a gap, the competition is only going to increase. This could make things even more challenging for Apple. We also know that Apple might be stupidly slow but it always comes up with the best implementation. Who knows Apple might blow us away with its touchscreen laptops.
Why Apple Hasn’t Released a Touchscreen Mac Yet
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple’s marketing executive, Tom Boger explained how the new OLED iPad Pro compares to the Mac. He clarified that Apple doesn’t see the two devices as competitors. Rather, the Mac and iPad are “complementary” to each other. He further explained that the iPad is a “touch-first device” while the Mac is for “indirect manipulation.” When asked if Apple will ever roll out a touch-based Mac, he said, “Oh, I can’t say we never change our mind”.
One of the most possible reasons why Apple hasn’t released a touchscreen MacBook is because it might impact the iPad sales. Over time, iPads have greatly evolved to offer a MacBook-like experience. Now with the M4 iPad Pro, the performance and experience are only going to get better. That said, a MacBook will be the first choice for professionals and power users who want a full-fledged workstation experience. When Apple introduces its touchscreen Macs, it may also have to revamp its iPad lineup so they are completely distinguished from the Macs. So, even if a user has an iPad, he would still have some reason to buy a touchscreen Mac, and vice-versa.
As a user of both Mac and iPad, I’m excited to see how is going to combine these two and create a masterpiece of its own. Making a drastic transition to a touchscreen would also require making some changes to macOS. Well, it would be interesting to see how Apple plays around everything.
