Apple is preparing its first touch-screen MacBook Pros, introducing significant interface changes inspired by the iPhone, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. The models are expected later in 2026, following Apple’s early March product announcements.
Touch-Screen MacBook Pros with Dynamic Island
The upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros (code-named K114 and K116) will feature OLED displays and a Dynamic Island at the top-center of the screen. Unlike the pill-shaped notch on iPhones, the Mac’s Dynamic Island will use a smaller hole-punch cutout for the camera.
The Dynamic Island, first introduced on iPhone in 2022, will display alerts, media controls, sports scores, and third-party app info—such as tracking the progress of a food-delivery order. The Mac interface will adapt to touch input, showing menus around the finger for context-relevant actions while retaining traditional point-and-click controls via the trackpad.
The new MacBook Pro retains a full keyboard and large trackpad, while featuring a refreshed, dynamic user interface that can shift between touch and point-and-click modes. When users tap items in the menu bar, the associated controls enlarge for easier selection by finger.
Other Features
The touch-enabled MacBook Pros will include:
- Touch-optimized interface for menus, emoji selection, and common controls
- Standard touch gestures such as scrolling and pinch-to-zoom for images, PDFs, and other content
- Flexible touch usage, allowing users to engage touch as much or as little as they prefer
- Interface adjustments based on prior interaction and input type
- Padding and slider improvements from macOS Tahoe’s Liquid Glass redesign, preparing icons, notifications, and controls for touch
Strategic Shift
This launch marks a major shift in Apple’s approach. Steve Jobs once called touch laptops “ergonomically terrible,” and Apple had positioned the iPad as its main touch device. Apple hardware chief John Ternus noted in 2021 that the company already makes the “best touch computer” with the iPad and hadn’t felt a reason to change.
Outlook
Gurman notes that the touch-screen MacBook Pros won’t replace the iPad but will offer a hybrid interface with Dynamic Island and touch-optimized menus, providing a system that works well for both touch and point-and-click input while adding new functionality without altering the MacBook Pro’s core design. Apple is also planning a smaller Dynamic Island for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, aligning with its cross-device interface evolution.