This 12 months’s WWDC goes to be an enormous one for software program modifications, with iOS 19, macOS 16, and extra anticipated to get main design overhauls. Whereas a whole lot of focus is on the iPhone’s modifications, there’s an important purpose why macOS 16 might show simply as vital: it might be one of the best proof but that touchscreen Macs are lastly coming.
The primary touchscreen Mac may arrive subsequent 12 months, and WWDC might be telling
Apple shipped the iPhone with multitouch in 2007. It adopted up with the iPad in 2010. And all all through the numerous years since then, bringing contact to the Mac has been a continuing query.
Executives at Apple have commonly shot down the thought. However as historical past has confirmed, Apple can deny one thing vehemently solely to be secretly engaged on it behind the scenes.
But a lot time has handed. Contact has lengthy develop into the norm on PCs, however there are nonetheless no touchscreen Macs.
Leaving apart macOS 16 for a second although, the 2026 MacBook Professional appears like one of the best likelihood but for that to alter.
That’s as a result of it’s anticipated to boast a significant {hardware} redesign that’s thinner, lighter, makes use of OLED, the M6 chip line, and presumably even a C1 or C2 modem.
The historical past of rumors round this mannequin point out that contact assist might be a key function too.
We’re 18+ months away from that new MacBook Professional’s launch although. However because of Apple’s upcoming software program revamps, we shouldn’t have to attend practically that lengthy to find whether or not the touchscreen Mac smoke really means fireplace.
macOS 16 will both strongly trace at touchscreen Macs, or put an finish to our hope
I keep in mind when macOS Massive Sur’s redesign stirred up a wave of pleasure that Macs with contact might be coming.
On the time, executives like Craig Federighi steered customers have been studying an excessive amount of into some small design tweaks.
However when macOS 16 is launched this June—in simply three months—I count on a unique situation.
Massive Sur made macOS barely extra touch-friendly, but when Apple is really planning to launch its first touchscreen Macs quickly, macOS 16 will nearly definitely make that clear.
Considered one of two issues will occur. Both:
- macOS 16 can have large modifications that make touchscreen Macs appear apparent
- or it gained’t, and we can provide up hope of a touchscreen MacBook Professional subsequent 12 months or any time quickly
Within the second situation, usually I would say that there’s all the time macOS 17.
But when macOS 16 is getting an enormous redesign, is it actually believable that Apple will make main modifications once more with macOS 17?
If touchscreen Macs are really coming, the clues needs to be evident in June. And in the event that they’re not, we must always know that after WWDC too.
Both approach, I count on macOS 16 to offer a lot wanted readability on Apple’s present plans for touchscreen Macs.
Do you assume macOS 16 will reveal optimizations for touchscreen Macs? Why or why not? Tell us within the feedback.
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