OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Start at $2,899 [Report]

Apple has discussed charging $2,899 for its upcoming 14-inch OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip, according to Bloomberg. That would be $400 more than the current 14-inch M5 Pro model.

The 16-inch version could cost at least $3,399 if it carries the same premium over today's $2,999 starting price. That figure is an estimate rather than a separately sourced price, and the report suggests the larger model could command an even bigger increase. Apple declined to comment.

The figures put a number on an earlier report that the touchscreen models would be significantly more expensive. Existing non-touch high-end MacBook Pros are expected to remain on sale alongside them, rather than being replaced by the pricier machines.

Beyond the OLED XDR touchscreens and a Dynamic Island, the redesign reportedly brings thinner bezels, a slightly slimmer enclosure, and noticeably less weight. A reworked hinge is intended to keep the display steady when tapped. The cooling system has also been redesigned to reduce weight and improve airflow through the hinge.

The software will accommodate touch with dial-like menus that appear around a finger, while keeping the keyboard and trackpad as the main controls. The notebooks are expected to retain this year's M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, unlike the separate 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 announced today, which starts at $1,999 and keeps the existing design.

Bloomberg also offers more detail on how the project began. Tim Cook approved it roughly four years ago, partly because touch had become one of customers' most-requested features. John Ternus oversaw development as hardware chief and believed Apple had fallen behind other laptop makers in this area.

The new models are expected at Apple's 'Pro and Tell' event in Los Angeles tomorrow, October 28, beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Preorders are reportedly planned for the same day, with availability possible as early as November 6.