The first reviews of Apple’s MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display appeared on November 5, ahead of the November 6 launch. Their main takeaway: the OLED screen and slimmer, lighter design matter more than the new touch controls. Touch works, but several reviewers described it as a secondary feature rather than a transformation of how the MacBook is used.
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Reviewers saw the screen as the main upgrade
PCMag said the tandem OLED display was even more impressive than the touchscreen, while Tom’s Hardware praised the screen and called out the laptop’s reduced weight.
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18 TechRadar likewise wrote that touch was arguably not the most interesting feature, even though it worked as expected.
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The Verge’s review described the laptop as thinner, lighter and better overall, while noting that the reviewer kept forgetting it had a touchscreen.
7 Engadget’s review also emphasized the lighter, brighter design and argued that touch did not add much.
33 Taken together, the reviews point to a clear distinction: the display and portability are the core appeal; touch is an optional way to interact with the machine.
What touch adds—and what the reviews don’t establish
TechRadar’s assessment suggests the limits of the feature: touch works, but macOS remains designed around traditional laptop inputs.
2 That makes the touchscreen easier to understand as an added option than as a new touch-first way to use a Mac.
The supplied review excerpts do not substantiate some more specific claims, including how often reviewers used touch, detailed touch-related software changes, or particular benchmark comparisons. Those details should not be treated as confirmed based on this evidence.
Prices, chips and launch timing
Apple’s touchscreen models come in 14- and 16-inch sizes, with US starting prices of $2,899 and $3,399, respectively.
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24 Both sizes are offered with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips.
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34 Apple said preorders opened October 28 and availability would begin Friday, November 6.
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For buyers weighing the touchscreen against the rest of the package, the early verdict is straightforward: consider the OLED screen and lighter design first, and treat touch as a bonus. The reviews support that overall conclusion, but the available excerpts do not confirm every rating, usage statistic or performance claim.