Apple introduced the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display at its "Pro and Tell" event on October 28, its first laptop with a built-in touchscreen.

The 14- and 16-inch models pair the new tandem OLED panel with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, up to 128GB of unified memory, up to 16TB of storage, Thunderbolt 5 ports and up to 24 hours of battery life, all in thinner, lighter designs. Pre-orders opened October 28, with availability beginning November 6.

Apple spent years rejecting touchscreens on laptops.

According to Reuters reporting carried by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Steve Jobs called laptop touchscreens "ergonomically terrible" in 2010, and then-CEO Tim Cook said in 2012 such devices would be as pleasing as converging a toaster and a refrigerator.

The launch also caps a whirlwind start for CEO John Ternus, who took over last month and has since introduced the foldable iPhone Duo and the HomeView home hub.

The headline feature is the PROLED XDR display, built on tandem OLED technology with two self-illuminating pixel layers.

Apple claims up to 2000 nits of peak HDR and SDR brightness, an industry-leading 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, and a wide gamut covering both P3 and Adobe RGB.

The touch sensor is embedded directly in the panel rather than layered on top, which Apple says reduces latency, and a nano-texture option is etched into the cover glass to cut glare.

Touch opens new workflows for pros: designers can draw on the full display, musicians can play software instruments onscreen, and developers can test iOS and iPadOS touch behavior directly on the Mac.

USA Today notes users can swipe, pinch to zoom, and drag and drop between presentations, no longer limited by the trackpad.

The Dynamic Island also debuts on Mac, housing Spotlight, Live Activities and Siri AI, and many third-party apps including Canva, Zoom, Word and Blender already work with Touch.

Pricing starts at $2,899 for the 14-inch M5 Pro model and $3,399 for the 16-inch M5 Pro, rising to $4,499 and $4,799 for M5 Max configurations, per USA Today.

Reuters, via the Star-Advertiser, notes touchscreen notebooks made up 16% of 2025 shipments at an average price of about $1,009 — meaning Apple's cheapest touchscreen laptop costs more than an entry-level iPhone, MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods combined.

Analysts see it appealing to creators rather than enterprise buyers.

The machines reach customers and Apple Stores on November 6, and Wall Street will watch reception on Apple's earnings call next week, where Scripps News reports investors will look for signals on how new products are landing following reports of broken iPhone Duo screens.

Hypebeast notes the return of a glowing logo on the lid. Analysts told Reuters and IDC-affiliated commentators that Apple's entry will not transform the PC market overnight, but should raise the status of touch-enabled laptops.