It seems like only yesterday we were in awe over the last generation of MacBooks, which were the very first to debut an aluminum unibody design that made them feel more solid than any other notebooks to date. Apple hasn’t rested on its laurels, though, and less than a year later, the Cupertino outfit has outed yet another batch of even better 13.3-inch and 15-inch MacBooks.
This time around, the big news is in the batteries. Rather than using standard lithium-ion batteries, Apple has switched to lithium-polymer batteries – the same type used in the MacBook Air and even in radio-controlled helicopters, where weight is critical. The change will ratchet battery life up to seven hours from five, and should offer a full 1,000 recharge cycles. But unlike past generations of lithium-ion batteries, they won’t be removable, so travelling battery swappers will have to find a way to deal.
The screens on the new MacBooks, which already stood out for their super LED backlighting in previous models, have also been updated. Now, instead of boasting better brightness, Apple’s claiming they offer 60 percent better color gamut – an important feature for artists, designers and other graphic artists who rely on a notebook screen for color accuracy.
Apple has also responded to the widespread complaints about the lack of FireWire in its last-gen 13.3-inch MacBook by adding a FireWire 800 port to the machine, and for the first time in Apple history, an SD slot in all three sizes (but the 13.3-inch and 15-inch models will lose their ExpressCard slots to make room for it).
Perhaps more exciting than any of these features, in a down economy, Apple has also slashed prices across its entire line. The 13.3-inch MacBook has shed $100 to sell for $1,200, the 15-inch model loses $300 to sell for $1,700, and the 17-incher does the same to sell for $2,500. All three models are available immediately from Apple.
Apple has just introduced a redesigned MacBook Pro with a few bells and whistles. The focus this time around is on a thinner and lighter build, and an upgrade to a touch-sensitive OLED screen without any ugly notch. And, in case you were wondering, there is definitely a price premium to pay for these niceties, which also include a glowing Apple logo at the back. What if you wanted to get the best that Apple has to offer? Well, the numbers are finally here.
For a mere $14,549, you can get yourself the fully kitted 16-inch MacBook Pro PROLED XDR with the beefiest laptop chip that Apple has to offer, and the best memory configuration in tow. For nearly $15,000, you treat yourself to the 16-inch version of the laptop with a nano-texture glass layer on the screen to reduce reflections and glare.
Apple has unveiled its first-ever touchscreen MacBook Pro. The company seems a bit confused about the naming, calling it the "MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display," which is tough to remember. If you look past that and review the full spec sheets, you might ask a genuine question: what are the differences between the touchscreen and non-touchscreen versions?
Given that Apple continues to sell both variants together, that's a genuine question. Luckily, you don't have to spend more time lining up the spec sheets side by side and hunting for differences hidden in the fine print. I took that bullet for you. Here's everything that's different between the PROLED XDR Display and the regular MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro you can touch is genuinely exciting. We've been talking about it for more than a year. All the pent-up anticipation has finally ended. But now there's a new headache: pricing.
The new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is available in two screen sizes: 14-inch and 16-inch. Pre-orders open today, October 28, 2026, and deliveries and store stock follow on Friday, November 6, 2026.