Apple’s Touchscreen MacBook Pro Hits $14,549 When Fully Loaded
Apple's new touchscreen MacBook Pro starts at $2,899, but maxing out the 16-inch model costs $14,549. Here is what drives the price and who it is for.
Apple has announced a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, and the price range is wide. The 14-inch model starts at $2,899 and the 16-inch version at $3,399, but a fully upgraded 16-inch configuration reaches $14,549. The laptop goes on sale November 6, with preorders opening October 30 according to TechCrunch.
What is new
The machine uses what Apple calls a PROLED XDR display, an OLED panel that now responds to touch. It is the first time a MacBook Pro has had a touchscreen, nearly a decade after Apple’s short-lived Touch Bar, a strip of touch controls that the company later dropped. Entry-level models use the M5 Pro chip, while the top option is the M5 Max, with an 18-core CPU and a 40-core GPU.
Several details were never rumored beforehand, according to MacRumors: an illuminated Apple logo, revamped speakers, the PROLED XDR name and storage options of up to 16TB. Rumors had, however, correctly pointed to OLED panels, touch sensing built into the display and the starting prices.
How the price climbs to $14,549
Apple’s configurator is where the bill grows. CNET walked through the 16-inch model, and TechCrunch, citing MacRumors, reported that the fully loaded 14-inch version comes to $14,249.
- Nano-texture glass: an anti-glare finish that adds $150.
- Memory: moving to 128GB adds $2,000.
- Storage: 4TB adds $1,000 and 8TB adds $3,000. The new 16TB option adds $7,000, the most expensive single upgrade and enough to roughly double the cost of the machine, CNET said.
- Graphics: stepping up to the 40-core GPU in the M5 Max adds $300 over the lower M5 Max option.
For comparison, the previous 16-inch MacBook Pro topped out at $10,149, so the ceiling has risen by $4,400. Memory and storage cannot be upgraded after purchase, so buyers must choose at checkout.
Why it costs so much
Both outlets point to the memory shortage and the demand for hardware driven by AI. CNET senior editor Lori Grunin said the cost reflects expensive 16TB drives and 128GB of memory, and that professionals have long paid workstation prices for them. She also said she would expect an M5 Ultra chip at this price, though she does not think Apple can fit one in a laptop yet. MacRumors noted that one analyst’s claim of an M5 Ultra option turned out to be wrong.
What it means for buyers
Most people will not come near the top figure. CNET’s Joshua Goldman said the top configurations are for people who do not have to pay for them. Such machines are usually bought by companies and institutions, such as engineering and architecture firms, visual effects studios and data science teams. CNET also noted that a Dell workstation can be configured past $18,000, so five-figure laptops are not unique to Apple.
For everyday shoppers, the more relevant numbers are the starting prices. If you do not edit 8K or raw video, work with large datasets or run heavy AI tasks, the extra memory and storage are unlikely to pay off. Since neither can be changed later, think about how much you will need over the life of the laptop before ordering.
What happens next
Preorders open October 30 and the laptops arrive November 6. Independent reviews will show how well the touchscreen works in everyday use and whether the higher prices are justified. Until then, the pricing is clear, but the real-world experience is not.
Sources: CNET, TechCrunch, MacRumors