Macbook PROLED XDR Impressions: They Said They Wouldn't! | Marques Brownlee

The Gist

Apple finally added a touchscreen and an OLED display to the MacBook Pro lineup, starting at $2,900. While the hardware feels remarkably thin and features a glowing Apple logo on the back, the macOS software remains entirely designed around keyboard and trackpad input.

Quick Overview

Apple released a new MacBook Pro featuring a tandem OLED XDR display and full touchscreens, priced starting at $2,900. Marques Brownlee evaluates the hardware changes, noting the return of the glowing Apple logo and significant weight reductions, alongside the practical limitations of adding touch input to a desktop operating system.

Key Points: Apple introduced a MacBook Pro featuring a touchscreen and a tandem OLED display with a contrast ratio of 10 million to one. The 14-inch model weighs three pounds, and the 16-inch model is nearly a full pound lighter than previous generations. The iconic glowing Apple logo returns to the back of the laptop, matching its brightness to the ambient output of the display. The laptop starts at $2,900 and retains the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, Touch ID in the corner, and the same port layout as previous models. MacBook Pro touch support works reliably across apps like Photoshop and Xcode, but macOS lacks native design for fingers. The Dynamic Island replaces the previous notch at the top of the screen to house the webcam and ambient light sensor. Apple implemented a stiffer hinge to handle physical touch input, though the screen still exhibits minor wobbling during use.

Context: Apple historically resisted adding touchscreens to laptops, famously arguing that vertical touch surfaces cause arm fatigue. This new release represents a major reversal in product strategy for the MacBook Pro lineup.

Detailed Analysis

Marques Brownlee breaks down Apple's unexpected release of the new MacBook Pro featuring a tandem OLED XDR display and full touchscreen capabilities starting at $2,900. He analyzes the physical redesign, highlighting that the 14-inch model now weighs three pounds and the 16-inch model is nearly a pound lighter, alongside the return of the glowing Apple logo on the lid. The video tests touch functionality across desktop applications, revealing that while the touch response is fast and fluid, macOS applications and window controls are inherently built for mouse and keyboard interactions rather than fingers. Ultimately, Marques concludes that while the OLED display and weight savings are massive quality-of-life upgrades, the touchscreen implementation is largely a luxury feature rather than a necessary workflow transformation.