The prospect of a touchscreen Mac could spell the end of the iPad’s dominance of the market. With Apple set to roll out the much-anticipated new M1 MacBooks and a possible touchscreen Mac, the software giant has the potential to usurp the iPad Pro, which has long been the go-to choice for many creative professionals.
So what could the touchscreen Macs offer that the iPad can’t? Firstly, the possibility of more in-depth use cases, such as graphics design tools and other software features outside of the realm of mobile computing. Larger storage, more powerful processors and better graphics capabilities may mean users are able to do more with their machines, provided of course that their hardware is powerful enough.
Furthermore, a touchscreen Mac would also bridge the gap between desktop and laptop use, giving users the option to use their Mac as a laptop or tablet, whatever works best depending on the task. This could be appealing to creative professionals and business users alike, who may want the flexibility of switching between a laptop and tablet form-factor.
It’s also likely that any new touchscreen Macs would be accompanied by significant improvements in software. macOS would likely be redesigned specifically for a touchscreen experience, rather than forcing users to rely on mouse and trackpad to navigate the operating system. Perhaps Apple will introduce a new laptop-style of the operating system, which will make it easier for users to interact with their machine in both laptop and tablet modes.
Finally, a touchscreen Mac could also herald the end of the traditional physical keyboard, with Apple possibly opting for a more touch-friendly design. For many, the comfort of a physical keyboard when typing for long periods is addictive, so Apple will have to seriously consider its design if it does take the touchscreen Mac route.
It’s too early to tell how well received any new touchscreen Macs will be, but one thing’s for sure: the iPad Pro might just have met its match. The potential of a powerful touchscreen device that can do all the creative tasks previously limited to desktops and laptops, coupled with the potential of improved software, make this form factor a particularly enticing proposition. We’ll just have to wait and see.
