Breaking from Steve Jobs’ Stance, Apple Introduces Touchscreen MacBook Pro for the First Time in Its 42-Year History

 Breaking from Steve Jobs’ Stance, Apple Introduces Touchscreen MacBook Pro for the First Time in Its 42-Year History

Under the leadership of its new CEO, John Ternus, Apple has broken a decades-long stance by unveiling its first-ever ‘touchscreen’ MacBook Pro. Just about two months into his tenure as CEO, Ternus introduced the laptop—which allows users to interact with the display via touch—at an event in Los Angeles, marking a historic first in the company’s 42-year computer-making legacy.

While the global conversation currently revolves around Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents and the IPOs of loss-making companies, Apple—a highly profitable giant—appears to be focusing its efforts on hardware development.

With the arrival of Ternus, Apple has rolled out a wave of physical products, including the long-awaited foldable iPhone (dubbed ‘Duo’), a smart device for controlling home appliances, a new Mac Mini, and updated AirPods. This move sends a strong message: despite the dominance of AI, hardware remains the fundamental cornerstone of technology.

The new MacBook Pro, unveiled at the Los Angeles event, will be available in 14-inch and 16-inch models. It is powered by Apple’s latest-generation, high-performance custom silicon chips—the M5 Pro or M5 Max. The device features a ‘Pro-LED XDR’ display utilizing ‘Tandem OLED’ technology; according to the company, this delivers the deepest blacks and the best contrast ever seen on a computer screen. Since it does not require backlighting, this new MacBook Pro is thinner and lighter than previous models.

Apple has specifically redesigned the hinge to address a common issue seen in competing Windows laptops, where the screen wobbles when touched. According to the company, this ensures the screen remains stable even when touched by a finger. A new thermal system has been implemented to prevent the display from heating up due to repeated touch interaction, and the exterior features a special anti-reflective coating to resist fingerprints and smudges.

Apple appears to have invested significant engineering effort into making the Mac software interface touch-friendly. As a finger approaches the screen, menu bar options—as well as the small buttons used to close or hide windows—automatically enlarge, allowing for more precise touch interaction. The "Dynamic Island," which gained popularity with the iPhone 14 Pro series, has now been brought to the Mac; it can be dragged across the screen to easily access Siri and Spotlight Search. *Wired* magazine notes that this touch technology will streamline workflows for professional users—for instance, when performing color grading in the video editing software "DaVinci Resolve" or editing music in "Logic Pro."

Apple has a long history of initially rejecting certain features, only to implement them itself later on. Previously, Steve Jobs had stated that the iPod would never support video, that no one would buy a phone with a large screen, and that a stylus (pencil) was unnecessary for a tablet. Yet, Apple later brought all these products to market.

The touchscreen MacBook Pro, expected in 2026, serves as the latest example of such a policy shift at Apple. While Windows manufacturers—including Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and HP—have been selling touchscreen laptops for years, Apple had consistently avoided them.

In 2015, Phil Schiller, then head of marketing, argued that reaching from a computer’s stationary keyboard to the screen would be physically uncomfortable, and that macOS could not be adapted for touch input. He reiterated this stance against touchscreen displays even during the introduction of the ill-fated "Touch Bar" in 2016. In 2021, John Ternus himself remarked that the Mac was fundamentally designed for use with a keyboard and trackpad.

Apple co-founder, the late Steve Jobs, was also firmly opposed to including a touchscreen on the MacBook. At a special Apple event in 2010, Jobs even claimed that touchscreens simply "don't work." He had stated, “We conducted extensive testing with users regarding this matter (incorporating a touchscreen display into the MacBook). Ultimately, we discovered that it simply doesn’t work. A vertical touchscreen is not practical.

It might look impressive in a demo, but after using it for even a short while, you begin to feel fatigued. If you keep your arm raised to interact with the screen for any extended period, your arm starts to ache—to the point where it feels like it might just fall off. Therefore, it is not practical; in terms of physical comfort, it is completely unsuitable.

A touch surface should always be horizontal—that is precisely why ‘pads’ were created.

This is also the reason why, for years, we have focused on refining our ‘multi-touch trackpad’ for laptops. We found that this is the best way to implement touch technology on a laptop.

We even integrated that same multi-touch trackpad technology into our Magic Mouse, and more recently, we introduced a standalone trackpad for desktop computer users.

So, this is how we will continue to implement touch technology in our Mac products—because this (gesturing toward a vertical laptop screen) just doesn’t work.” Now, 16 years later, Apple has moved away from the stance held by its own co-founder, Steve Jobs, by announcing a MacBook equipped with a touchscreen. Addressing this stance, Apple’s hardware chief Johny Srouji explained that it took 10 years—a long duration—to introduce touch technology, as it was only implemented once display technology and custom silicon met Apple’s high standards. Speaking to *Wired*, he remarked, "While competitors may have rushed to introduce inferior touch technology, Apple only brought it to market once the engineering had fully matured." Marketing Chief Greg Joswiak explained that this move was made because professional users—such as engineers, scientists, and content creators—have been strongly demanding a touchscreen.

Targeted at high-end professional users, the new MacBook Pro comes with a very high price tag. The 14-inch model starts at $2,899, while the 16-inch model is priced at $3,399. According to financial analyst Neil Cybart, professional users who wish to leverage advanced technology for their work will not hesitate to pay this premium price.

Meanwhile, the recently launched "Foldable Duo" has drawn long queues at Apple stores, with delivery dates already pushed back to January. However, the product has faced significant criticism. Users have reported issues such as the display cracking, lines appearing, or the screen malfunctioning after only a few folding and unfolding cycles. In response, the company has stated that it will replace any "iPhone Duo" units affected by these problems free of charge.

When asked by a journalist about when a touchscreen might arrive on more affordable devices like the MacBook Air or iMac—which are intended for general consumers—CEO Ternus declined to share any details regarding future plans, leaving the matter a mystery.