For as long as Apple has been making iPhones, people have wondered when a touchscreen is coming to the Mac. And for as long as people have been wondering, Apple has firmly denied that it will ever happen.
However, a new report by Ming-Chi Kuo raises the possibility that a touchscreen MacBook will arrive as early as next year. He reports that the long-rumored OLED MacBook Pro, which is due to arrive in 2026, will “incorporate a touch panel using on-cell touch technology.” The first touchscreen Macs will seemingly arrive with the M6 chip later next year.
Of note, Apple doesn’t use on-cell technology for the iPad or iPhone, which is slightly thicker than in-cell technology due to the use of an additional touch layer.
Kuo reports that Apple’s decision to make a touchscreen MacBook “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.” The recently released iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 updates have a similar style across both devices that suggests Apple is experimenting with a hybrid device.
Kuo also repeats his claim that Apple is working on a new “affordable MacBook model powered by an iPhone processor,” which he says is slated for mass production by the end of 2025. However, that model is not expected to have a touchscreen. More here: A18 Pro MacBook: All the rumors about Apple’s low-cost laptop.
Apple usually announces new Macs in late October, but no other leakers or analysts have confirmed Kuo’s report.
Also read: Why there isn’t a touch screen Mac, yet…
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor, Macworld
Michael Simon has been covering Apple for more than 20 years. He started covering rumors with Spymac when the iPod was the iWalk, and has owned nearly every iPhone Apple has ever made. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and far too many gadgets.