The arrival of a touchscreen MacBook is certain, according to anonymous leaker Instant Digital. Posting on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, the leaker says a touchscreen MacBook is “100% confirmed.”
This is far from the first rumor of a touchscreen MacBook, and it doesn’t give us any better idea of Apple’s timing for releasing it, but it is a declarative statement that this is happening. Given the certainty of Instant Digital’s post, it could mean that the design has been finalized, suppliers have been sourced and production is nearing.
Instant Digital is the name used by a China-based insider with apparent sources inside the supply chain and a strong track record of accuracy, according to MacRumors.
Touchscreen MacBook timing
Earlier reports from Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with TF International Securities, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have pointed to late 2026 for the launch of a MacBook Pro or perhaps a MacBook Ultra with a touchscreen OLED display. It would be the first OLED and the first touchscreen for a Mac. A fall launch would likely coincide with Apple’s next-gen M6 processors.
The touchscreen could also spell the end of the notch, which houses the MacBook’s webcam and interrupts the menu bar at the top of its display. In its place, MacBooks could get the Dynamic Island that I’ve come to rely on with my iPhone for its system alerts, live tracking of activities and more.
Touch elements in MacOS Golden Gate
If Apple releases a touchscreen MacBook at the end of this year or even early next, it will arrive with MacOS 27 Golden Gate. Apple just previewed the new operating system at WWDC and will release it in September. MacOS Golden Gate will introduce a feature called “Swipe down to refresh,” which will provide a very iPhone- or iPad-like ability to swipe down in Safari, Mail, News and other apps to refresh. Swiping down on a screen will feel more natural, and certainly more familiar, to iPhone users than it will on a MacBook’s touchpad.
In addition, Sidecar gets expanded touch support with Golden Gate and will allow you to control MacOS elements with your fingertip. Previously, when using an iPad as a second display next to your MacBook with Sidecard, touch controls were limited to two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom gestures. With Golden Gate, you’ll be able to interact directly with MacOS menus, windows and other elements with touch.
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