- A new report says the touchscreen MacBook Pro will get the Dynamic Island
- This feature comes from the iPhone and will be found in the OLED display
- Don’t expect Face ID, as the report makes no mention of this feature
We’ve been hearing for some time now that Apple is planning to release a touchscreen MacBook Pro later this year. Now, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has boosted that idea by revealing fresh details about Apple’s plans — but there’s one key thing missing.
Gurman outlined what we can expect in a new report, wherein he explained that the forthcoming MacBook Pro will likely use the Dynamic Island currently found in all the best iPhones, as well as a new touch-oriented interface that adapts to your actions.
Starting with the Dynamic Island, Gurman says the implementation of this feature in the MacBook Pro will differ from the version found in the iPhone 17 series. That’s because the MacBook Pro version will be “built around a hole-punch-sized cutout for the computer’s camera,” Gurman contends, making it “smaller than the pill-shaped notch in current iPhones.” That should complement the redesigned Dynamic Island that is set to launch with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro that are due to arrive later this year.
As for the new interface, this will apparently be integrated into an OLED display with touchscreen capabilities. Gurman believes that Apple has created a system that adapts to your input, whether that’s the traditional mouse and keyboard or a finger. If you use the latter, macOS will enlarge the on-screen controls to make them easier to tap, for example.
This interface also involves the addition of a new type of menu that surrounds the user’s finger, putting controls close at hand. Certain menus, such as the emoji selector, will have touch-optimized interfaces if you’re using touch controls. And you’ll be able to use common gestures found in iOS, such as fast scrolling and pinching to zoom in on photos.
Where’s Face ID?
The influence of iOS on both the rumored Dynamic Island and the touch interface is clear to see. It would reflect a growing crossover between iOS and macOS, which has seen Apple introduce universal apps and tools like iPhone Mirroring and Universal Control in recent years.
However, one key feature that apparently won’t make the leap to the Mac is Face ID, despite it being a vital part of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. Gurman’s report makes no mention of Face ID, and it looks like Mac users will have to stick to Touch ID for the time being – especially considering Gurman previously claimed that Face ID on the Mac is “years away” from being realized.
That said, Apple has published numerous patents over the years concerning the process of incorporating facial recognition into a Mac, so it appears that the company is at least considering adding it to its laptops. But for now, it appears that Face ID is one feature that will remain absent from the MacBook Pro.
Apple is expected to release the touchscreen MacBook Pro near the end of 2026. Before that happens, a new version of the laptop – with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips but lacking the Dynamic Island and touchscreen display – is slated for this spring, or sometime between March and May.
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