If you’re shopping for a new laptop, you’ve probably noticed that touch screens are everywhere in the Windows world. It’s a natural way to interact with your device, so it’s only logical to wonder if Apple, known for its innovative iPhones and iPads, includes this feature on its laptops. The answer is a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
Apple has taken a different path with its MacBook line. While you can tap and swipe to your heart’s content on an iPad, a standard MacBook does not have a touch screen. Apple has consistently stated that they believe the best experience for a laptop comes from the precision of a trackpad and keyboard. However, they have integrated a form of touch interaction in a unique way that sets their laptops apart.
The Magic of the Touch Bar
For several years, Apple offered a distinctive feature on some MacBook Pro models called the Touch Bar. This was a narrow, touch-sensitive strip that replaced the traditional function keys at the top of the keyboard. Instead of static keys, the Touch Bar displayed context-sensitive controls that changed depending on the app you were using. You could adjust volume, scrub through a timeline in a video editor, or select emojis with a simple tap.
While it was an innovative idea, the Touch Bar was discontinued on newer MacBook Pro models, with Apple returning to physical function keys. This means that as of now, no current MacBook model features any form of touch input on the screen itself or on the keyboard deck.
Why Apple Prefers This Approach
You might be asking why Apple has avoided adding a touch screen. The company’s philosophy centers on the idea that each type of device has an optimal interface. They see the iPad, with its touch-first operating system, as the ideal device for direct screen interaction. The Mac, on the other hand, is designed for a different kind of work that benefits from the precision and efficiency of a trackpad and keyboard shortcuts.
They argue that lifting your arm to poke at a vertical screen for long periods can be uncomfortable and less efficient than using the trackpad, which is ergonomically positioned right below the keyboard. This separation allows both the iPad and the Mac to excel at what they were built to do.
Blending the Two Worlds with Sidecar
If you really want a touch-screen experience from Apple for creative or productivity tasks, there is a brilliant solution. If you own both a Mac and an iPad, you can use a feature called Sidecar. This allows you to use your iPad as a secondary, wireless display for your Mac. The magic happens because you can then use the Apple Pencil to draw directly on the iPad’s screen, effectively giving you a touch and pen-input device for your Mac applications like Photoshop or Final Cut Pro.
So, while you can’t reach out and touch your MacBook’s display, Apple provides a powerful alternative for those who need that kind of interaction, seamlessly blending the strengths of their two product lines.
In the end, Apple does not make traditional touch-screen laptops. They have a distinct vision for the Mac experience that relies on its legendary trackpad and keyboard. For users who desire touch input, the path leads to the iPad, either as a standalone device or as a companion to the Mac through features like Sidecar.
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