Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro pushes laptop pricing to a new extreme
Prepare to cough up around $14,549 if you want the new touchscreen MacBook Pro to have every upgrade.
Key points
- Apple's new touchscreen MacBook Pro starts at $2,899 and can reach about $14,549 when fully upgraded.
- The fully loaded 14-inch model is priced at $14,249 and the 16-inch version at $14,549, according to MacRumors.
- Preorders open October 30, with availability beginning November 6.
Apple has launched a touchscreen MacBook Pro, with a starting price of $2,899. A fully upgraded model costs around $14,549, according to MacRumors.
The configurator lists the fully loaded 14-inch model at $14,249 and the 16-inch version at $14,549. Both include Apple's top-tier M5 Max chip, with an 18-core CPU and 40-core GPU.
Where the price comes from
The article attributes some of the pricing pressure to an ongoing memory shortage and AI's demand for hardware. Upgrading to a 4TB SSD adds $1,000, while 8TB adds $3,000 and the new 16TB option adds $7,000.
Adding 128GB of memory costs another $2,000, and nano-texture glass adds $150. The previous 16-inch MacBook Pro topped out at $10,149, meaning the new model raises that ceiling by $4,400.
Apple has officially entered the touchscreen MacBook Pro era
— TechCrunch
A shift for Apple
The launch marks a significant change for Apple, nearly a decade after it first experimented with the Touch Bar. Apple eventually abandoned that feature, but it is now embracing a touchscreen MacBook Pro.
