Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Might Be Delayed

In recent years, Apple has taken significant steps to make the iPad more like a Mac. But while windowed multitasking and a desktop-like Files app helps bridge the gap, the gap still exists. It's still a bit too difficult to use an iPad like a touchscreen MacBook, leaving fans who want such a product wanting. Luckily, a touchscreen MacBook is in the works—it might just take a bit longer than expected to get here.

The touchscreen MacBook Pro might not get here until 2027

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shares the bad news: Apple's first MacBook with a touchscreen is more likely to arrive in 2027 than in 2026. See, Gurman previously reported that it was possible Apple would ship 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with touch-enabled displays later this year. Another Apple leaker, Ming-Chi Kuo, had a similar assessment. That said, Gurman had reserved the possibility that Apple could push into 2027, depending on how quickly it could actually get its supply out to the market.

That seems to be the case here: The global RAM shortage is hitting everyone hard. As AI companies scoop up as much memory as possible, manufacturers are having trouble producing enough RAM to meet demand. That forces prices for RAM and the devices that use it to rise, but it also puts a strain on companies that are trying to build hardware with RAM: Apple included.

The release date might not have been set in stone regardless, but were Apple more ahead of schedule, it may have announced the new product at WWDC 2026—an event usually reserved for software releases. But Apple likely won't announce a product so early in development if it isn't planning on releasing it until next year, so we'll likely need to keep waiting.

Apple's touchscreen MacBook Pro may come with other advantages

While the touchscreen is the main focus of this upcoming product, this MacBook Pro is rumored to have a number of other perks as well. In addition to being able to touch the display for the first time, this MacBook might be Apple's first to come with an OLED display, rather than the mini-LED tech the MacBook Pros currently ship with. In addition, Apple may take the opportunity to roll out the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips with this MacBook Pro, making it the most powerful MacBook yet.

If you have a newer iPhone, this MacBook may resemble it a bit, too: Apple might ditch the camera "notch" in favor of an iPhone-like Dynamic Island. Apple made that switch back with the iPhone 14 Pro, and might do the same with its first touchscreen Mac—though some developers have tried turning the current notch into a Dynamic Island. Finally, Apple might slim down the MacBook Pro line with this model, offering the first major design refresh since 2021.