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A Touchscreen MacBook Is '100% Confirmed,' Says Leaker

You could be tapping, pinching and swiping on a MacBook's display by the end of the year.

CNET 2 min read 6/10
A Touchscreen MacBook Is '100% Confirmed,' Says Leaker
Key Takeaways
  • A leaker on Chinese platform Weibo claims with '100% certainty' that Apple will release a touchscreen MacBook by the end of 2025, citing supply chain sources.
  • Apple has historically resisted touchscreen laptops, with Steve Jobs famously calling them 'ergonomically terrible' in 2010 and Tim Cook later questioning their utility.
  • macOS has progressively integrated touch-friendly features, such as Control Center, widget panels, and iPad app compatibility via Catalyst, hinting at a touch-optimized future.
  • The touchscreen MacBook would compete directly with Microsoft Surface Laptops, HP Spectre, and Dell XPS 2-in-1s, which have dominated the hybrid market for years.
  • An internal Apple push to unify Mac and iPad app development (via SwiftUI and Mac Catalyst) makes a touchscreen Mac a logical next step, though it risks cannibalizing iPad Pro sales.
Apple may finally bring touch to the MacBook by the end of 2025. A leaker on Chinese social media claims a touchscreen MacBook is '100% confirmed,' signaling a seismic shift in Apple's laptop strategy. For years, Apple executives—including the late Steve Jobs—dismissed touchscreen laptops as 'ergonomically terrible,' arguing that a vertical screen is tiring to touch. Yet mounting pressure from Windows convertible laptops, declining iPad sales, and macOS updates that already borrow iPad-like gestures have pushed Cupertino to reconsider. The alleged device would likely support tap, pinch, and swipe gestures natively, with macOS adapting its interface for touch input without cannibalizing the iPad Pro. Apple's M-series chips already power touch-optimized iPadOS, making the technical leap minimal. The leaker, who has a mixed track record, offers no hardware specifics—no display size, chip, or price—but claims mass production could begin by late 2025. If true, this would mark Apple's first official touchscreen laptop, reversing a decade-long position and potentially reshaping the premium laptop market. Analysts note that Microsoft's Surface line has long blended touch and keyboard, and Google's ChromeOS thrives on touch-centric Chromebooks. Apple's entry could force a macOS redesign and blur the line between Mac and iPad. Meanwhile, iPad sales have slowed, and a touchscreen Mac could further fragment the tablet's role. Consumers may face a choice: a touch-enabled MacBook Air or a iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard. Apple is expected to unveil the device alongside a major macOS update at WWDC 2025 or a fall event. Until then, the rumor remains tantalizing—but the '100% confirmed' claim demands a healthy dose of skepticism.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to a leaker on Chinese social media, a touchscreen MacBook is '100% confirmed' and expected to launch by the end of 2025. However, Apple has not officially commented, and the company has historically resisted touchscreen laptops, so the rumor should be treated with caution.

The leaker claims the device will be available by the end of 2025. Historically, Apple has announced MacBooks at WWDC in June or at a fall event in September/October, so a reveal could come at one of those events if the rumor is accurate.

The leak originated from an anonymous user on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The leaker has a mixed track record—some previous claims have proven accurate, while others have not. Their identity is unknown.

Apple executives, including Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, have long argued that touchscreens on laptops are ergonomically poor because users must lift their arms to tap the screen, causing fatigue. Instead, Apple pushed the iPad as its touch-first device. However, market trends and macOS changes suggest Apple may be reconsidering.

A touchscreen MacBook could blur the line between Mac and iPad, potentially cannibalizing iPad Pro sales if users opt for a touch-enabled laptop instead of an iPad with a keyboard. Apple may differentiate them through operating system features, such as macOS being more desktop-oriented while iPadOS remains mobile-first.

The device will likely support standard touch gestures like tap, pinch, and swipe, along with macOS-specific gestures for navigation and multitasking. It may also include improved palm rejection and a redesigned cursor behavior for touch input. More details are expected if Apple confirms the product.

Original source

www.cnet.com

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