[Diary Point = Reporter Eom Ju-yong] Apple has introduced its first MacBook Pro models that let users operate the screen directly via touch. The new 14-inch and 16-inch laptops feature a tandem OLED-based "PROLED XDR" display, with Korean preorders opening at 10 a.m. on October 30 and sales starting November 6.
In South Korea, pricing starts at 4.79 million won for the 14-inch M5 Pro model and 5.59 million won for the 16-inch M5 Pro model. Both sizes can be configured with either the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, up to 128GB of memory, and up to 16TB of storage.
The OLED screen makes the biggest difference for color work and bright environments
The PROLED XDR display uses tandem OLED technology to deliver up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It supports both the P3 and Adobe RGB color gamuts along with a 10-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which matters for tasks that require precise color and contrast, such as photo and video editing, design work, and checking images embedded in documents.
For users who mainly do everyday writing, email, and web browsing, however, the benefits of OLED and a wider color gamut may not feel worth the price gap. For those who don't need touch, Apple continues to sell MacBook Pro models with the existing mini-LED display.
Touch is an added input method, not a replacement for the keyboard and trackpad
Touch isn't meant to replace the keyboard and trackpad but to work alongside them. Users can scroll web pages, zoom in and out on photos, draw directly on screen, and drag windows into place with their fingers. Graphic artists can touch the canvas directly, while musicians can play on-screen instruments.
For anyone juggling work and parenting, practical uses might include quickly zooming into a video call screen or photo, or swiping through material to show a child. That said, this isn't a convertible device that folds flat into a tablet, and long-form typing or precise editing still works better with the traditional keyboard and trackpad.
Since the screen will be touched frequently, fingerprints and smudges are something users will have to live with. In households where children can easily reach the laptop, such as on a living room table or dining table, there's also a risk of accidental touch input or damage to the pricey display.
The new models weigh 1.38kg (14-inch) and 1.82kg (16-inch) and offer up to 24 hours of battery life. The 14-inch is better suited to portability and remote work, while the 16-inch is a stronger fit for multitasking with several windows open on a larger screen.
Apple will take preorders through its Korean online store and the Apple Store app starting at 10 a.m. on October 30, with customer deliveries and in-store sales beginning November 6. While the touch OLED models expand options for professionals and users who prioritize display quality, the price gap with the standard MacBook Pro is likely to be the deciding factor for everyday users.