On 28 October Apple unveiled a new MacBook Pro with a PROLED XDR display, in 14-inch and 16-inch versions. It is the first Mac with a touchscreen: the sensor is built into the panel and the notch gives way to the Dynamic Island, already familiar from the iPhone. Orders are open and the first deliveries start on Friday 6 November.
What changes in practice
The panel is a dual-layer OLED (tandem OLED) with peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, in both HDR and SDR. The stated contrast ratio is 10,000,000:1 and the refresh rate is variable up to 120 Hz, dropping to 10 Hz when it isn’t needed. It supports the P3 and Adobe RGB colour spaces and is also available with nano-texture glass. On the previous model, peak HDR brightness stopped at 1,600 nits.
Touch is the news that grabs the headlines. To withstand pressure from fingers, Apple has redesigned the hinge, built to keep the screen steady while you touch it. On the Mac, the Dynamic Island hosts Spotlight, Live Activities and Siri AI. The software is macOS 27, and Apple has already published videos for developers who need to adapt their apps to touch, with live sessions announced for November.
The weight changes too. The 14-inch drops to about 1.4 kg (3 lb, against 3.5 for the previous generation); the 16-inch comes in at about 1.8 kg (4 lb, against 4.7).
Chip, memory and ports
Here Apple doesn’t change course: inside there is an M5 Pro or M5 Max, up to 128 GB of unified memory and up to 16 TB of storage. Stated battery life reaches 24 hours and fast charging takes it to 50% in about 30 minutes.
There are still three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card reader, MagSafe and a headphone jack. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 round out the spec. Supported external displays are three with the M5 Pro and four with the M5 Max. Biometric recognition is Touch ID only, with no Face ID, and there is no option with a cellular modem. The colours are silver and space black.
Prices and availability
US prices start at $2,899 for the 14-inch with M5 Pro and from $3,399 for the 16-inch. With the M5 Max, prices rise to $4,499 (14”) and $4,799 (16”). Apple sells the new model in 30 countries and regions.
Apple’s Italian site already shows the pre-order button for the PROLED XDR model in 14.2 and 16.3 inches, but at the moment it gives neither euro prices nor an Italian delivery date. It is therefore best to wait for the official price list before doing any sums. The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros presented in March, with the non-touch Liquid Retina XDR display, remain on sale at the same prices as before.
Who it’s for
Touch makes the most sense for people who work with photos, video and drawing: direct retouching, timelines and tools used with a pen or a finger. For those who mostly use the Mac with a keyboard and trackpad, the real advantage is the screen: brighter, with deep blacks and lower weight. If all you want is more power, take a look at the MacBook Pro 14 with M6, which keeps the traditional display.
What we think
For years the Mac was the only Apple computer without touch. Introducing it with an OLED, a new hinge and the Dynamic Island suggests a well-planned project, not an experiment. The weak point is the amount of software: if everyday apps aren’t updated quickly, touch risks staying a showroom extra.
The price weighs on it too. With the M5 Pro you start at almost $2,900, and the European list price including VAT will probably be higher. For many, the non-touch MacBook Pro, already on sale, remains the more rational choice. For those who work with colour, the combination of 2,000 nits, nano-texture and reduced weight is instead a concrete argument.
Written by the SpazioiTech newsroom with the help of AI tools, from facts verified across at least two independent outlets, and checked before publication. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian
