Apple has become more experimental with its products in recent years, launching the iPhone Air in September 2025, which the company promoted as its thinnest phone ever, and, in March this year, its first-ever budget-friendly laptop, the MacBook Neo. Most recently, the iPhone Duo, the first foldable iPhone, was announced for release on October 23, 2026. Apple is not stopping there; a new MacBook product is on the way that will differ from all previous models.
What was once a rumor is now picking up steam as a likely new product expected later this year or early 2027: a touchscreen MacBook. While some Apple users may have waited years for this to finally happen, a MacBook of this magnitude will not come cheap, and with the iPad Pro already offering strong specs, it raises whether paying extra for a touchscreen MacBook is worth it.
Apple’s first-ever touchscreen MacBook is ‘100% confirmed’
The MacBook Ultra is expected to be released in late 2026 or early 2027
Rumored to be named the “MacBook Ultra,” the new laptop was “100% confirmed” by a report from trusted industry leaker Instant Digital in June 2026. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was known for not being a fan of touchscreen laptops because of ergonomic concerns, which largely explains why we’ve never had a touchscreen MacBook. However, Apple has been stepping outside the box under former CEO Tim Cook, who recently stepped down, with John Ternus promoted to the role on September 6.
If the new MacBook Pro does indeed feature a touchscreen, it will come at a cost. The 14-inch model is expected to have a starting price around $2,499, according to Tom’s Guide, which is $500 more than Apple’s latest available MacBook Pro. This isn’t a surprise, as the iPhone Duo’s starting price will be $1,999, $800 higher than the expected iPhone 18 Pro. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking if the MacBook Ultra started at around $2,799-$2,999. And a potential $3,000 touchscreen laptop is a bit steep.
What would the MacBook Ultra offer that the iPad Pro doesn’t?
The specs for each device are highly similar
The latest available iPad Pro starts at $1,199 for the 11-inch model and $1,499 for the 13-inch model. This would be at least $1,000 cheaper than the MacBook Ultra. The iPad Pro is lighter and features an M5 chip and an OLED display, similar to what Ultra’s expected to have, according to a Bloomberg report. While the final specs of the Ultra are still unknown, it’s unlikely the laptop will be foldable and tablet-capable, unlike some Lenovo IdeaPad models, which have previously offered 360-degree hinges that let the screen rotate or flip into tablet or tent mode.
It also remains to be seen whether the MacBook Ultra will be compatible with the Apple Pencil, as the iPhone Duo is currently only available with the third-generation Apple Pencil (USB-C), not the latest Apple Pencil Pro. You could even purchase an iPad Pro and a MacBook Neo together and still pay less than the expected price tag of the Ultra.
After comparing the two, the few current advantages the Ultra seems to have over the iPad Pro are likely larger RAM and storage, as well as a standard MacBook keyboard that some may prefer over the Apple Magic keyboard. But with a potential $2,500-$3,000 price tag, that may not be enough to sell to consumers.
Is this just a one-and-done?
Apple has done this plenty of times
There’s a legitimate question about whether Apple will continue to offer touchscreen MacBook models and specific software support after this one. Apple has been known to release alternative products and then abruptly cease production of them for future generations. This includes the iPhone Mini, the Touch Bar MacBook, and the 256 GB Mac Mini.
There’s also been no confirmation from Apple of a future iPhone Air model after its debut last year. This could just be an experiment by Apple to gauge consumer interest in a touchscreen MacBook. But is an Apple lab experiment worth throwing nearly $3,000 down the drain?
This may just be an ultra-niche laptop
It doesn’t make sense fiscally for general consumers
Given that the iPad Pro has specs very similar to the MacBook Ultra, it makes more sense to save money and go with the iPad Pro instead of the Ultra. You can use a variety of Apple Pencil models, be more creative with the different positions that the tablet can be placed in, and have optional 5G connectivity.
The iPad Pro models have become increasingly capable of handling large 4K video projects, so you can already do serious design work on them and purchase an external hard drive for extra storage. The MacBook Ultra could provide some value if you only do heavy video editing, gaming, and streaming, and want a touchscreen. But that’s a very niche audience.
So, for most people, I wouldn’t recommend spending so much money on the MacBook Ultra. But it’ll sure be cool to see what it will look like once it actually comes out.
