Apple rarely arrives first to market with a new technology, but the company typically delivers an innovative twist when it eventually catches up to its rivals. Products like AirPods, Face ID, the Apple Watch, and the iPhone Duo stood out for major leaps in design and functionality rather than pure punctuality. However, the launch of Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro demonstrates that this rule does not always hold true.
Commercial touchscreen laptops have existed for nearly two decades, yet standard clamshell models remain the default choice for valid reasons, most notably ergonomics. Instead of refining the formula through thoughtful design, Apple reintroduced a recycled favorite by adding a glowing logo retired a decade ago. The arrival of a touchscreen MacBook is especially baffling because an effective touchscreen macOS setup has existed in plain sight since 2019.
Sidecar attachment
Apple introduced Sidecar as part of macOS Catalina in 2019 to expand workspace capabilities by using an iPad as an external wireless display for a Mac. Connected via AirPlay, users can drag macOS windows onto the iPad screen and interact with them directly. While controls were initially limited to the Apple Pencil, mouse, or keyboard, macOS updates allow direct finger touch input. The iPad interface also features a convenient sidebar for common controls, such as bringing up the on-screen keyboard, returning to the Home screen, and the virtual Touch Bar previously included on select MacBook models.
Unhinged design
Steve Jobs famously opposed touchscreen laptops because extended arm elevation causes physical fatigue. When initial rumors of a touchscreen MacBook circulated, consumers and analysts hoped Apple would introduce an innovative hinge mechanism or a convertible form factor. Such a design would have permitted horizontal touch interaction while allowing users to switch back to traditional laptop mode easily, but that hardware evolution did not materialize. Tech executives recently suggested that weight and thickness were the primary obstacles, but physical fatigue remains an issue when reaching across a vertical laptop display.
Sidecar bypasses this ergonomic flaw because an untethered iPad can rest flat on a desk or be positioned flexibly. This arrangement enables touch input on macOS without arm strain whenever the need arises. By utilizing an existing tool, users gain the precise functional benefits typically associated with Apple’s hardware design philosophy.
Out of touch
The new MacBook Pro with a PROLED XDR Display targets professional creatives by allowing direct finger interaction with desktop applications. Surprisingly, this machine lacks compatibility with the Apple Pencil, barring power users from utilizing pressure sensitivity, tilt detection, and precise creative input. By contrast, Sidecar fully supports the Apple Pencil, and iPadOS natively runs many professional desktop-class creative suites.
Furthermore, relying exclusively on finger touch introduces severe smudge and fingerprint issues on high-end displays. Professionals who perform pixel-level color correction and photo retouching must maintain pristine screen clarity. Operating a touchscreen MacBook Pro without stylus support guarantees constant cleaning to combat smudges.
Mac Duo
Using Sidecar as a separate wireless monitor provides two distinct sets of active app windows across dual screens for complex multitasking workflows. Non-MacBook Pro users operating a Mac mini, Mac Studio, MacBook Air, or iMac can leverage touchscreen capabilities without purchasing an expensive laptop. Pairing a Mac mini with an iPad Pro often presents a more versatile, high-performance alternative to a standalone touchscreen MacBook Pro.
For example, pairing an M5 Pro Mac mini priced at $1,699 with an M5 iPad Pro priced at $1,199 totals $2,898, undercutting the starting price of the touchscreen MacBook Pro. This hardware combination delivers advanced tandem OLED panels, dual desktop-grade processors, Apple Pencil support, and superior overall versatility.
Pick a side
Sidecar exemplifies Apple’s classic philosophy of seamless integration without requiring complex setup, physical cables, or advanced technical literacy. A nearby Mac pairs instantly with an iPad to mirror or extend displays wirelessly, outperforming complex convertible laptops in everyday practicality. If touchscreen laptops were truly essential for productivity, the category would have evolved significantly over the past two decades without requiring market pressure to force a suboptimal hardware design.
