Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) Touch MacBook Pro may be unveiled next year, OLED screen + no notch design attracts attention.

Media reports that Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) is planning to launch its first touch screen Mac computer - a redesigned MacBook Pro, expected to be released by the end of 2026 or early 2027. According to media reports citing informed sources, these new models are codenamed K114 and K116. They will not only be thinner and lighter, but will also be equipped with M6 series chips. Analysts believe that this move signifies Apple Inc. starting to catch up with the trend of the entire computer industry. Over a decade ago, many manufacturers had already launched touch pen laptops, while Apple Inc. has been researching better solutions for years, attempting to improve on existing designs. As early as January 2023, media reports had revealed that Apple Inc. is developing a touch screen version of the MacBook Pro. Sources familiar with the matter told the media that this new MacBook Pro will feature an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display screen, the same standard used in iPhones and iPad Pros, marking the first time Apple Inc. will use this more high-end, thinner screen in a Mac product. Apple Inc. shares fell during midday trading on Thursday, but the decline narrowed after the news emerged. Price may be higher According to reports, the new MacBook Pro will continue to feature a full touchpad and physical keyboard, similar to the practices of manufacturers such as Dell Technologies, Inc. Class C, Acer, Lenovo, and Microsoft Corporation. This means that even users who are not accustomed to touch operations can continue to use traditional methods. Additionally, the new MacBook Pro will eliminate the existing "notch" design (camera notch at the top of the screen), opting for a punch-hole design similar to the iPhone's "floating island", with the camera surrounded by the screen. Apple Inc. has also developed reinforced hinges and screen components to address the issue of screen shaking during touch operation on traditional touch laptops. Media reports suggest that due to the use of more expensive components, the prices of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models may be several hundred dollars higher than the current versions. Currently, the high-end MacBook Pro without touch functionality starts at $1999 for the 14-inch model and $2499 for the 16-inch model. The current design of the MacBook Pro began in 2021, but Apple Inc. just released the base 14-inch version equipped with the M5 chip this Wednesday. Media reports have previously indicated that Apple Inc. also plans to release unchanged appearances of the M5 Pro and M5 Max versions at the beginning of 2026. Change in anti-touch screen sentiment Sources familiar with the matter indicated to the media that Apple Inc. is currently not actively advancing the development of more touch Mac models, but intends to observe the market reaction to this touch MacBook Pro first. This is Apple Inc.'s consistent strategy - testing new features on high-end models first, and then expanding to more product lines. For years, Apple Inc. has been opposed to equipping Mac computers with touch functionality, believing that this design is both difficult to use and does not align with ergonomics. Apple Inc. prefers to encourage users who want to use a touch interface to purchase an iPad. The late Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs had already stated in 2010 that "touch interfaces are not suitable for vertical operations", implying that this interaction is not suitable for computer screens. Current CEO Tim Cook has also sarcastically remarked that combining tablets and laptops is like "placing a toaster and a refrigerator together." Apple Inc. attempted a compromise solution in 2016 by introducing the Touch Bar - a touch bar located above the keyboard that replaced the traditional function keys and provided task-related control options. However, this feature was ultimately not widely accepted and has been removed from products in recent years. Apple Inc. had internal concerns that touch Macs would cannibalize iPad sales. However, in recent years, iPad sales growth has slowed, while touch screens have gradually become a standard feature for PCs. In fact, Apple Inc. has been gradually closing the gap between iPads and Macs through unified operating interfaces, processors, and app ecosystems. The iPad Magic Keyboard released in 2020 is proof that users welcome a mixed operation of touch and keyboard/trackpad, and it has become a key selling point for the iPad Pro. Equipping the MacBook Pro with touch functionality is expected to drive users to upgrade to higher-end products, bringing new revenue opportunities. Although the $999 MacBook Air remains Apple Inc.'s best-selling laptop, the addition of touch functionality to the high-end MacBook Pro may attract users to upgrade or switch from Windows PCs to the Apple Inc. ecosystem. Additionally, Apple Inc. is also developing a new MacBook Air with the M5 chip, codenamed J813 and J815, scheduled to be released next spring. The company is also advancing new versions of the Mac Studio, Mac mini, and two external monitors codenamed J427 and J527. Apple Inc. is also exploring a major change in another Mac product line: transitioning from Touch ID (fingerprint recognition) to Face ID (facial recognition). However, this change is expected to take several years to realize. This article was reposted from "Wall Street View", authored by Zhao Yuhe; GMTEight edited by Liu Jiayin.