Photo: EPA
Apple has introduced a touchscreen MacBook Pro, reversing a long-standing position against touch-enabled laptop displays. The company previously experimented with the Touch Bar, a touch-sensitive strip built into its laptops nearly a decade ago, but eventually discontinued it.
The new model starts at $2,899 and comes with 14-inch and 16-inch display options, M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and up to 128GB of memory, TechCrunch reports.
Unlike the Touch Bar, the new MacBook Pro relies on direct interaction with the display. Its PROLED XDR screen offers peak brightness of 2,000 nits in HDR and SDR modes and a contrast ratio of 10,000,000:1.
The 16-inch version starts at $3,399, while storage options extend up to 16TB.
To make touchscreen use more comfortable, Apple developed a hinge designed to stabilize the display when users touch it. The mechanism also keeps the camera steady when users interact with on-screen content during video calls.
The new model replaces the notch found on most current MacBooks with a cutout resembling the Dynamic Island interface on iPhones.
Ahead of this launch, Apple also introduced a standard MacBook Pro powered by the M6 chip, starting at $1,999.
Apple unveiled its foldable iPhone Duo on Sept. 9, marking the first major product presentation under CEO John Ternus, who took over after Tim Cook stepped down on Sept. 1.
According to Bloomberg, Ternus has taken personal control of hardware and software design, although Apple has not appointed a separate head of design.
