Apple expected to launch first touchscreen MacBook Pro as early as October

Apple may roll out its first touchscreen MacBook Pro as early as October, coinciding with a redesign of the MacBook Pro line that some reports label the "MacBook Ultra." The updated model is expected to use a Tandem OLED panel similar to the iPad Pro, offering high contrast and brightness, and to include a smaller version of Dynamic Island, though Face ID support is not anticipated.

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman said the new hardware will be paired with software changes that adapt menus and controls for touch input, such as contextual menus that appear around a finger and enlarged controls in the menu bar for easier selection.

The device is slated to be powered by the current M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, as Apple appears to be postponing the rollout of its next-generation 2nm chips in favor of accelerating development of the M7 series for later models.

Design rumors suggest a slightly slimmer and lighter chassis compared with the previous generation, though details on thermal performance remain unclear. Pricing is projected to start around $2,499 for a 14-inch model and $2,999 for a 16-inch model, reflecting recent price adjustments across the company's product line.