Apple just unveiled the new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR, its first MacBook with a touch display. While Apple already added a handful of touch optimizations to macOS 27 Golden Gate earlier this year, there’s also a number of new optimizations that were unveiled alongside the new MacBook Pro. Here’s what Apple worked on.
Enlarged traffic light icons
With the new touchscreen MacBook Pro, the traffic light icons in the top left of an app window will get bigger when you’re tapping them, making the touch targets a little bit larger.
Image Credit: Max Weinbach
On screen gestures
Gestures that you can normally perform on the trackpad can also be performed on the screen. Whether that be a three-finger swipe up for mission control, three-finger swipes to switch spaces, pinching to zoom, or scrolling on a web page. You can also access Spotlight from the Dynamic Island, similar to how iPhones handle it on iOS 27.
iOS simulator
If you’re an app developer, you’ll really appreciate this change: with the new MacBook Pro, you can fully navigate the iOS simulator with touch. No need to try to replicate touch gestures on a trackpad.
When you interact with a context menu in the menu bar, each of the items within a menu will get a little bit larger for touch. Additionally, most optimized apps will have larger touch targets, even if the buttons don’t necessarily appear bigger.
Wrap up
All in all, there’s a handful of optimizations already in macOS 27 Golden Gate for the touchscreen MacBook Pro. On top of what was named here, Apple also added pull to refresh in Safari and slightly larger spacing between menu bar items to all Macs with macOS 27.
Apple also says there’s more to come on the Mac when it comes to touch optimizations, so we’ll likely see much more in store at the next WWDC.
What do you think about touch support on the new MacBook Pro? Are you looking forward to it eventually trickling down to every Mac? Let us know in the comments.
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