Apple Unveils $14,549 Touchscreen MacBook Pro, Drawing Fan Outcry
The tech giant's new high-end laptop features an OLED display and touch controls, but a fully loaded configuration pushes the price to nearly $15,000, sparking debate among consumers.
Apple has introduced its first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, with the top-tier 16-inch model priced at $14,549. The redesigned laptop, announced Wednesday, boasts a new OLED display, touch controls, and a lighter design. However, equipping the widest model with all available features increases its cost by more than four times the starting price of $3,399.
The highest-end configuration includes Apple's M5 Max chip with an 18-core CPU and 40-core GPU, 128GB of unified memory, a 16TB solid-state drive, and optional nano-texture glass. The storage upgrade to 16TB alone adds $7,000 to the price, while increasing the memory to 128GB costs an additional $2,000. The nano-texture glass is an extra $150.
The 14-inch version of the touchscreen MacBook Pro can also reach a high price, with the most upgraded configuration costing $14,249. The base model 14-inch touchscreen MacBook Pro starts at $2,899, and the 16-inch model begins at $3,399. These prices are $400 higher than comparable non-touchscreen models equipped with M5 Pro chips.
The steep pricing has ignited criticism from some Apple users. On the Reddit forum r/apple, one user described the $3,399 starting price for the 16-inch model as "crazy." Another user, identifying as a professional in 3D rendering, stated that the machine is "overpriced" even for those who require high-end equipment, noting that professional devices can still be too expensive for professionals.
However, not all reactions were negative. Some Reddit users highlighted that the touchscreen models are only $400 more expensive than their non-touchscreen counterparts, and that the $14,549 price point applies only to the most extensively configured version.
The introduction of a touchscreen marks a significant departure for Apple, a company that has historically eschewed touchscreens on its Mac computers, favoring keyboards and trackpads while integrating touch functionality into its iPhones and iPads.
The new MacBook Pro models feature interactive controls, allowing users to manipulate windows, drag files between applications, scroll through web pages, and zoom into photos with touch gestures. The PROLED XDR screen utilizes tandem OLED technology, which Apple claims offers enhanced brightness, contrast, and color accuracy, particularly beneficial for professionals in photography, video editing, and design.
These laptops are powered by Apple's M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Apple estimates that the redesigned machines can provide up to 24 hours of battery life, depending on the specific configuration.
This launch follows closely behind Apple's release of its foldable iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999. That device also faced initial issues, with some customers reporting cracked inner screens and lines appearing near the hinge. Apple has stated that a "small number" of these devices were affected and offered replacements through AppleCare.
The new touchscreen MacBook Pros are currently available for preorder, with deliveries and in-store availability set to begin on November 6. Apple has been contacted for comment.