Apple’s new MacBook Pro introduces several notable changes, including an OLED display, a touchscreen, a Dynamic Island and a lighter design. However, despite these upgrades, the laptop retains much of the familiar appearance of its predecessor.
The new MacBook Pro feels noticeably lighter than the previous 14-inch M1 Max model, although the difference is not significant enough to put it in an entirely different weight category.
Another notable change is the return of the glowing Apple logo on the laptop’s lid. While opinions on the feature may differ, its return brings a nostalgic touch to Apple’s latest professional laptop.
Dynamic Island Replaces the Traditional Notch
Apple has replaced the familiar MacBook Pro camera notch with a Dynamic Island that can expand to display live activities and other information.
The feature is less intrusive on a laptop’s larger screen than it is on an iPhone. However, its impact on full-screen gaming remains worth examining, particularly whether games can display without content being obscured by the cutout.
MacBook Pro Touchscreen: What Can You Do?
The new MacBook Pro touchscreen works much like a conventional laptop touchscreen, allowing users to interact directly with content on the display.
Users can swipe between desktop spaces, pinch to zoom, scroll through images and maps, move and resize windows, drag files between applications, launch apps and scrub through videos. Creative users can also draw in illustration applications and sketch on 3D models.
Although these features offer additional convenience, many of the gestures are already available through the trackpad. The touchscreen may provide greater value for certain creative tasks, especially drawing directly on the display.
However, the MacBook Pro does not transform into a convertible tablet, and it does not support the Apple Pencil. Instead, it retains its traditional laptop design while adding finger-based touchscreen controls.
OLED Display Is the Biggest Upgrade
The OLED display stands out as the most impressive feature of the new MacBook Pro. Its deep blacks, high peak brightness, balanced colours and impressive dynamic range represent a substantial improvement over the previous model’s Mini-LED display.
For users who prioritise display quality for creative work, video editing and everyday viewing, the OLED panel could be the biggest reason to consider upgrading.
Although the touchscreen adds functionality, the display itself appears to deliver the most significant improvement to the overall experience.
MacBook Pro Price: Is It Worth the Cost?
Despite its display improvements and other refinements, the new MacBook Pro comes with a substantial price tag.
A 16-inch model with an M5 Max chip, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage costs $5,799. Memory upgrades can increase the cost considerably, with the jump from 64GB to 128GB adding another $1,600.
Most users are unlikely to need 128GB of RAM, but professionals working with demanding applications or local artificial intelligence (AI) workflows may find the extra memory useful.
Ultimately, the new MacBook Pro’s OLED display is its biggest attraction, supported by a lighter design, Dynamic Island and touchscreen functionality. However, its high price may make it difficult to justify for users whose current MacBook Pro already meets their needs.