Apple Prices New Touchscreen MacBook Pro at $2,899
The 14-inch model features an OLED display and M5 Pro chip, adding touch support for the first time on a Mac.
By Aiko Petrov ·
Apple has set the starting price for its newest MacBook Pro line at $2,899 for the 14-inch model and $3,399 for the 16-inch version. The new machines, which feature a touchscreen for the first time in Mac history, arrive with a premium of roughly $400 over standard models with similar specifications. Buyers can choose between M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, with various configurations for memory and storage available. The top-tier 16-inch configuration, equipped with the most powerful chip, nano-texture glass, 128GB of RAM, and 16TB of storage, costs $14,549.
The hardware changes extend beyond the display. The new laptops are thinner and lighter than their predecessors. The 14-inch model weighs exactly three pounds, a reduction of half a pound compared to the standard MacBook Pro. The 16-inch version loses more than two-thirds of a pound. These physical changes allow the Apple logo on the lid to glow, a feature enabled by the slimmer OLED panel. The devices also feature smaller bezels and a reduced screen cutout, which creates a larger visual field for the user.
Performance tests indicate that the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips deliver results comparable to other devices using the M5 Pro processor, such as the Mac Mini. Single-core benchmarks show the M5 Pro slightly trailing cheaper M6-based devices, but multi-core and GPU tasks reveal strong performance. Apple states it redesigned the internal thermals to protect the OLED screen from heat, which can degrade the panel. Fans in the new models activate before the device feels warm to the touch, a deliberate design choice to manage temperature.
The touchscreen functions primarily as a mouse emulator. Tapping the screen registers as a click, and swiping can dismiss notifications. However, the interface lacks an onscreen keyboard when text fields are tapped, and there is no hover functionality for icons. The reviewer noted that while touch is useful for zooming in on photos or controlling media, it does not replace the trackpad for daily navigation. The Apple Pencil does not work with the new displays.
Visual professionals will benefit from the display’s fidelity to P3 and Adobe RGB color spaces. The screen offers high contrast and deep blacks, which enhance the viewing experience for movies and games. However, the new speaker system has drawn mixed reactions. Reviewers described the sound as bass-heavy and roomy, comparing it to audio playing in a large, empty warehouse, though it remains superior to most competitor laptops.
Connectivity options remain unchanged from previous models. The laptops include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and a headphone jack. Battery life appears consistent with older models, allowing for a full workday of heavy usage with a third of the charge remaining. The keyboard and trackpad are identical to those in prior generations.
Apple’s decision to include touch support marks a shift from Steve Jobs’s historical stance against touch laptops. The company made minor adjustments to macOS, such as expanding window control buttons, to accommodate touch input. Developers can add multi-finger gestures to their apps, though few have done so yet. The reviewer expects the OLED display and thinner design to eventually spread across the entire MacBook Pro lineup within one or two years.
