After many rumors over the years, Apple has finally launched its OLED MacBook Pro, switching the display technology for a more vibrant and brighter picture, and with touch support too.
Over the years, Apple has been rumored to be working on a major update to the MacBook Pro, adding OLED. That speculation has finally become a reality with Apple's latest launch of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Officially called the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, it basically, your standard MacBook Pro but with a better screen. It comes with either the M5 Pro or M5 Max processor, with the former starting at 24GB RAM and the latter 36GB RAM.
"The new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is a monumental step forward for the Mac," said Johny Srouji, Apple's chief hardware officer in a statement. "PROLED XDR is the world's best laptop display. It pairs state-of-the-art tandem OLED technology with advanced algorithms in our display engine to deliver the kind of visual fidelity pros have been dreaming of."
"And with the magic of Touch coming to MacBook Pro, combined with the game-changing performance of M5 Pro and M5 Max, we've created a whole new way for pros to interact with their content, taking their workflows to a completely new level," he continued. "The new MacBook Pro is the result of the deep integration between Apple silicon, hardware, and software, and there's simply nothing else like it."
It's all about the screen
The new MacBook Pro introduces a PROLED XDR display. It's a tandem OLED screen, and that brings multiple benefits beyond being touch-sensitive.That starts with how this OLED panel is thinner than the typical backlighting-based versions. OLED does not need a backlighting layer due to having self-illuminating pixels.
The new MacBook Pro features a tandem OLED screen, meaning it's brighter, clearer, and also thinner - image credit: Apple.
That typically results in thinner displays that are also a bit lighter than the conventional version. The 16-inch model's screen is reportedly almost a millimeter thinner than before, while the 14-inch screen is half a millimeter thinner.
Those self-illuminating pixels also means there's much higher contrast than a backlit screen, since LCD panels masking light always allows some light to bleed through. OLED doesn't have that problem, enabling the darker shades to be as dark as possible.
The screen is still almost the same size and resolution as the non-OLED versions. With thinner bezels, the 16-inch model goes to an actual 16.3 inches, while the 14-inch is in fact 14.2 inches. The fractionally increased sizes means that the resolution is similar to the non-OLED models, but slightly greater at 3,024 by 1,986 or 3,472 by 2,266 pixels, depending on the size.
The two new models are both significantly lighter than their predecessors - image credit: Apple.
When it comes to brightness, there's a considerable improvement at 1,200 nits for full-screen content, 2,000 nits at a peak for HDR content. The screen has a 120Hz variable refresh rate, and 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
The now familiar notch has gone, replaced by a much smaller Dynamic Island.
The 14-inch model weighs just 3lbs, which is half a pound lighter than its predecessor. The 16-inch model is 4lbs, and that's 0.7lbs lighter than the previous model.
A touching change
The really big change to the MacBook Pro screen is the new touch support. After years of insistence that touch belongs on iPad, it's now on Mac.
Users can now just touch their screen to interact with macOS and software, instead of reaching for the trackpad or a connected mouse.
The new touch-screen MacBook Pro comes in two sizes - image credit: Appke.
As usual for Apple, it's a multitouch-enabled screen, which means it can work with gestures. There's also changes to macOS, with the interface tweaked to work better with touch inputs, when you touch the screen.
Sounds great
The new MacBook Pro features six speakers with what Apple describes as an all-new woofer design. It's claimed to have remarkable clarity thanks to updated tweeters, and to provide bass that is 50% deeper than before.
Apple claims to have greatly improved the audio in the new MacBook Pro - image credit: Apple.
It also features Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. And most noticeably, the new MacBook Pro has been designed to included dedicated audio tuning for when the lid is closed.
If the MacBook Pro lid is shut and the device is powering an external display, Apple says that it users "can enjoy a premium audio experience however they work."
Connectivity, storage and battery life
The new MacBook Pro features:
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
- HDMI
- An SDXC card slot
- MagSafe
- Headphone jack
The M5 Pro models can support up to three external displays, while the M5 Max can run four. The new models also have Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Apple claims that the MacBook Pro can be charged up to 50% in around 30 minutes.
Internal storage capacity is now increased up to a maximum of 16TB.
An unusual spec-bump update
This is technically a spec-bump update for Apple, in that the overall design of the device remains the same, bar some specific components. Usually, that means the processing performance gets a boost, but this time it's the display.
This is the first-ever touch-screen Mac - image credit: Apple.
The MacBook Pro's design is the same as the non-OLED version, down to the physical dimensions. Internally, you're getting the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chops as the existing version, complete with memory options and storage upgrades.
Indeed, Apple is still selling the non-OLED models alongside the new OLED variants. It does mean you'll be paying a premium for that display tech change, though.
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,899 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro is from $3,399. Apple is taking pre-orders from today, and shipping will be on November 6.
