Reputable Apple leaker known as Instant Digital has claimed on Weibo that Apple is finally developing its first touchscreen laptop, a premium “MacBook Ultra” that could launch by late 2026, MacRumors is reporting.
The leaker stated that the upcoming device is “100% confirmed.” Because Instant Digital has a strong track record of predicting hardware shifts through supply chain sources, industry experts are taking the claim seriously.
The news aligns with separate predictions from industry analysts. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman and supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have both reported that Apple is aggressively developing touch-screen laptops. This new hardware is expected to target the absolute highest end of Apple’s laptop lineup, potentially debuting under a brand-new MacBook Ultra name.
The device will represent a massive departure from Apple’s historical philosophy. Back in 2010, former CEO Steve Jobs famously dismissed the concept of a touchscreen computer. He argued that vertical touch surfaces do not work because users experience severe arm fatigue from reaching out to tap a display.
As recently as 2021, John Ternus, who is Apple’s hardware engineering chief and slated to become the next CEO, reiterated that the Mac was entirely optimized for indirect input like trackpads and mice.
According to internal sources, Apple does not plan to market the MacBook Ultra as a touch-first tablet replacement. Instead, the software will treat touch and mouse input interchangeably, letting users navigate casually with their fingers when it feels convenient.
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