Initial reviews of Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro praise the tandem OLED display and slimmer frame while questioning the value of touch features and steep pricing.
Initial reviews of Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display describe the laptop’s tandem OLED panel and lighter chassis as major improvements, though reviewers found the new touchscreen capabilities limited and the pricing steep.
Apple introduced the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch laptops in late October, marking its first inclusion of touchscreens and tandem OLED panels on MacBooks. Our earlier coverage noted that Apple unveiled the touchscreen MacBook Pro starting at $2,899 with brighter displays and lighter designs.
Tandem OLED screen and lighter chassis
According to TechRadar, Apple replaced the mini-LED panels used in prior models with a tandem OLED screen that layers two organic light-emitting diode sheets. The PROLED XDR screen reaches 2,000 nits of peak brightness and has a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio, up from 1,000,000:1 on earlier Liquid Retina XDR displays. The panel supports both the P3 and Adobe RGB color gamuts, delivering deep blacks without halo bloom because each pixel turns on and off independently. Engadget reported that sustained full-screen brightness reaches 1,000 nits, and screen sizes expanded slightly to 14.2 inches and 16.3 inches with thinner bezels.
Reviewers noted a substantial drop in carrying weight. The 14-inch model dropped from 3.7 pounds to 3.0 pounds, while the 16-inch model decreased from 4.7 pounds to 4.0 pounds. Engadget explained that Apple achieved the lower weight by adopting the thinner OLED panels and reworking the internal cooling architecture. Outside, a pill-shaped Dynamic Island replaced the webcam notch at the top of the display to show Live Activities and Spotlight search, though it does not provide Face ID. On the rear cover, the laptop features a glowing Apple logo.
Touchscreen controls and software limits
Reviewers agreed that while the touchscreen operates smoothly, macOS remains designed primarily for trackpad and mouse input. Engadget noted that touch input simply registers as mouse clicks, allowing users to scroll pages, navigate documents, and manipulate 3D models. However, Apple did not include Apple Pencil support, meaning users wanting stylus drawing tools must still turn to an iPad. Stiffer display hinges were added to reduce screen wobble when touched, but the laptop does not bend into tablet positions or feature a hybrid touchscreen interface. Software makers including Adobe and BlackMagic plan to add touch support for creative workflows.
Testing by TechRadar showed that touchscreen gestures proved convenient for casual tasks like selecting capture areas for screenshots, yet clumsy for fast-paced gaming. Engadget similarly reported mixed results in games, observing that pointing with the trackpad remained far more accurate. Both outlets concluded that touch input would appeal mainly to specialized creative workflows rather than daily navigation.
Processing power and sound
Under the hood, Apple retained its existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips for the touchscreen models rather than releasing newer M6 Pro or M6 Max processors. While Apple recently launched an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the standard M6 chip starting at $1,999, tests showed the older M5 Pro and M5 Max still outperform that base processor on demanding tasks.
The laptops also received an upgraded audio system. Engadget reported that the six-speaker array delivers enhanced low-end bass without audio distortion at loud volumes. Port selections remain identical to previous professional models, offering three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI connection, an SD card slot, a headphone jack, and MagSafe charging.
Pricing and market competition
High entry costs drew widespread criticism across reviews. The 14-inch model starts at $2,899, £2,899, or AU$4,599 for an M5 Pro chip with 24GB of unified memory and 1TB of storage, which is $900 more than the base non-touch MacBook Pro. The 16-inch model begins at $3,399, £3,399, or AU$5,499. Configuring the laptop with an M5 Max chip, 128GB of memory, and 16TB of storage raises the price to $14,549, £14,549, or AU$22,424.
TechRadar noted that rival Windows laptops powered by Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip, including the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra and the Asus ProArt P16 RTX Spark, offer competing OLED touchscreens and unified memory. The Asus ProArt P16 RTX Spark starts at $4,399.99, £3,899.99, or AU$7,999, though it includes 64GB of memory in its base configuration. Reviewers concluded that while the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display delivers extraordinary screen quality and long battery life, the high purchase price makes it sensible only for creative professionals with heavy processing demands.
