Apple launches touchscreen MacBook Pro and foldable iPhone Duo with Pencil support

Apple announced a new MacBook Pro that incorporates a touchscreen, the company’s first laptop with this capability. The device retains a keyboard and trackpad while adding touch input, according to senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus, who said the design “is now polished enough that you can touch the screen too.”

At the same event, Apple introduced the iPhone Duo, a foldable smartphone with a 7.6-inch inner display and an outer screen larger than typical smartphones. The iPhone Duo also supports the Apple Pencil, extending stylus functionality to iPhone models for the first time.

"It looks great when you demo it, but after a while you start to fatigue, and after an extended period of time, your arm wants to fall off," former CEO Steve Jobs said in 2010 when discussing touchscreen laptops.

"You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user," CEO Tim Cook remarked in 2012 about combining product categories.

"Reaching up to touch a screen is quite tiring," senior vice president Craig Federighi added in 2018.

Analysts note that Apple’s entry into these segments follows broader shifts in technology and market demand, and that early sales and production yields will determine profitability. The company’s services revenue now exceeds $100 billion, reflecting a diversification strategy that includes subscription models such as Apple Music.

The launch underscores a departure from earlier statements by Apple’s founder, who had expressed skepticism toward touchscreen laptops, stylus input, and large-screen smartphones. Apple’s leadership indicates that advances in hardware and software have addressed previous concerns, enabling the new product offerings.