February 26, 2026, 3:20 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
A major update for the MacBook Pro is slated for 2026. Not only are the upcoming high-end models expected to feature M6 chips and be the first Apple laptops with an OLED screen, but they will also include a touchscreen. New information has emerged on how this might be implemented, with a surprising detail.
Display Like in the iPhone
As Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter, the MacBooks are set to adopt the most distinctive iPhone feature: Dynamic Island. On the iPhone, this display cutout cleverly conceals the Face ID sensors and selfie camera with a software trick. Instead of rendering the area unusable for users, it displays notifications, live activities, and media controls. Dynamic Island on the MacBook Pro is likely to serve a similar purpose.
Apple is expected to use a smaller cutout than in previous iPhone models. The company plans to apply the new design with a reduced Dynamic Island, intended for the iPhone 18 Pro, to the laptop displays as well.
The new MacBook Pro is set to be the first model to support touch gestures directly on the display. Despite previous resistance to touch technology on Macs, Apple would introduce a new input method. The use of a mouse pointer and keyboard will remain—the touchscreen use is entirely optional.
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Touch-Optimized Interface
With the new hardware, macOS will also be adjusted. The interface will be designed so that elements can be operated by touch or click. Depending on the input method, the control elements will change in their appearance.
For instance, when a user taps on a menu item, larger, touch-optimized controls will appear. Functions like pinching two fingers to zoom and quick scrolling are also planned. According to the Bloomberg report, the switch to Liquid Glass was already a preparation for touch input on MacBooks. In the new design language, icons, notifications, and buttons already have wider borders that appear touch-optimized.
macOS has supported iPad apps since 2018 and iPhone apps since 2020. However, their operation is somewhat limited with a mouse and keyboard. The earlier Touch Bar, introduced in 2016 and removed in 2021, did not catch on.
New Models with OLED and M6 Chips
The new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with OLED display, touchscreen, and Dynamic Island are expected by the end of 2026. They are set to be among the first Macs equipped with the upcoming M6 series chips—M6 Pro and M6 Max.
The changes are part of a larger redesign with a new, slimmer case. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg describes the design as “revolutionary.” Before the new touchscreen MacBooks appear, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max are expected to be introduced in early 2026. However, these will use the same case as the MacBook Pro with M5, which was already released in 2025.