

Whenever there's talk of a touchscreen Mac, Steve Jobs is invoked. That's because he famously said that touchscreens on computers were rubbish because they would give you sore arms – although the context, that he said it when he was telling people to buy the original iPad rather than touchscreen Windows PCs, tends to be forgotten. I think Steve Jobs was right, but only if you think of Macs in their current shape.
Jobs' words are back in the spotlight because Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says Apple is finally considering making touchscreen Macs. The project is in its very early stages and may not result in a shipping product, but I hope it does – and I hope it's more ambitious than the touchscreen MacBook Gurman says Apple's engineers are working on.
At the moment, Apple has been concentrating on making its bigger iPads more Mac-like. But I'm not sure that works. I'd much rather have a MacBook that turns into something akin to an iPad than an iPad Pro that's almost like, but not as good as, a MacBook, and that only becomes one via expensive accessories.
Reach out and touch faith
I agree with Jobs that vertical touchscreens are horrible for long periods. But as a long-term Mac and iPad user, the latter since the very first generation, I can think of countless ways in which a touchscreen 2-in-1 Mac would be brilliant.
I've been covering Mac rumours for a terrifyingly long time, and Apple keeps teasing us with patents for transforming laptops. Sadly none of them have made it into production, but I'd really like one anyway. It'd be the perfect laptop for me.
There's portability – using a Mac in iPad mode would be much easier on a bus, train or plane, or on the sofa. And there's flexibility. For example, My MacBook Pro sits at the side when I use Logic Pro on my large widescreen monitor. Wouldn't it be great if I could fold it over and use its touchscreen to control the mixer for my tracks, or to use it to scrub through video in Final Cut, or to do any of the other things in creative apps that are more fun and intuitive when they're tactile?
Maybe I'm in a minority here, because I'm one of the few people who really likes the Touch Bar. But whenever I see a genuinely innovative device such as Asus's Zenbook Pro 14 Duo, or just a really well thought out one such as any of the best 2-in-1 laptops, I can't help thinking: I wish my Mac did that.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
Amazfit's Bip 6 smartwatch is a fraction of the price of a Garmin or Apple
The Bip 6 is a feature-rich fitness watch with an affordable price tag
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold renders show an early contender for foldable of the year
Even though it might not be the slimmest, it could be the sexiest
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Your iPhone gets some new tricks - here’s what it can do now
The new emojis and priority notifications are probably our favourite
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Older iPhones at risk of being left behind when iOS 19 arrives – is your device one of them?
Apple will reportedly drop three iPhone models when it comes to the iOS 19 update
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
Your next MacBook Pro could be a game-changer for three good reasons
Apple will reportedly upgrade next year's MacBook Pro in three major ways
By Rik Henderson Published
-
M5 iPad Pro on schedule for release this year, claims expert
Apple's best tablet is reportedly getting even more power in late 2025
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
I tested the new iPad Air, and it's like a tablet and MacBook rolled into one
Now with an M3 chip and a new Magic Keyboard option, the iPad Air M3 promises to not only be the best portable tablet but a real mini laptop replacement, too
By Mat Gallagher Published
-
New evidence suggests Apple's taking its foldable iPhone seriously
And it might bring something different to the party too
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
EU paves the way for iPhones and Android devices to ditch USB-C entirely
Clarification enables Apple, Samsung and others to switch to wireless charging only
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Apple's first foldable could come with an unexpected feature, claims expert
If it ends up being true, we'd be absolutely fine with it.
By Britta O'Boyle Published