The MacBook Pro touchscreen is shaping up to be exactly what I wanted – 9to5Mac

Apple’s major update to the MacBook Pro is coming this year, and it’s starting to be exactly what I wanted. Here’s why I’m optimistic about the biggest changes coming later this year.

One of my favorite iPhone features is coming to the Mac

When Apple added a notch to the MacBook Pro display in 2021, it felt like a compromise design without any benefit. By comparison, when the iPhone X debuted with the notch, the trade-off was clear. There was a notch, but there was also Face ID.

While Face ID for Mac is reportedly still a few years away, this upcoming MacBook Pro will bring a big change.

I already wrote about it, but I love Dynamic Island on my iPhone. It’s a brilliant way to present information in real time.

I like the Now Playing information from Apple Music and Overcast. I love the rainfall forecasts from Carrot Weather. I love the scores from Apple Sports. I love tracking Uber arrival times. I love tracking flight information with Flighty.

According to today’s report from BloombergDynamic Island is finally coming to Mac and I couldn’t be happier.

The MacBook Pro’s dynamic island will reportedly be “built around a punch-sized cutout for the computer’s camera.” It will be smaller than the pill-shaped notch on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Interact with the MacBook Pro touchscreen

Additionally, today’s news gives me confidence that Apple isn’t just slapping a touchscreen on the MacBook Pro and calling it a day. I’m relieved to hear that Apple is making specific optimizations for macOS to not only accommodate touch input, but also improve the experience.

Here’s Mark Gurman describing some of the interactions:

“For example, if users touch a button or control, the interface will bring up a new type of menu around their finger that provides more relevant options for touch commands.

The software will also display the most appropriate set of controls based on previous user interaction. And if someone taps an item in the menu bar at the top of the screen, the set of controls expands for easier finger selection.”

I’m still concerned about the potential side effects or compromises Apple will have to make to add a touchscreen to the Mac. How will the overall design change? Will Apple have to compromise on battery life and temperature?

There are many unknowns, but I’m more optimistic now that we’ve learned more about the touchscreen software implementation.

New MacBook Pro wrap

This complete overhaul of the MacBook Pro is currently slated to launch this fall Bloomberg. Apple is still expected to release the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models next month.

In addition to the Dynamic Island and touchscreen, the new MacBook Pro models will reportedly use OLED displays. Sign. Me. Up.

What do you think about Apple releasing a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen? How often would you reach out and touch your Mac screen? Let us know down in the comments.

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