macOS 16: Could Apple's Major Redesign Spark Touchscreen Mac Speculation Once Again?

macOS 16: Another Big Sur Moment?

Apple is expected to unveil new designs for iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 next month, with a primary goal of achieving more consistency across the platforms. The redesign of macOS 16 may echo the changes introduced in macOS Big Sur, which was released in 2020.

Big Sur: Touchscreen Speculation

macOS Big Sur introduced notable design changes, such as larger buttons and increased spacing between UI elements. This led to speculation that Apple might be preparing for touchscreen Macs. However, Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, clarified that the design was not intended for touch input but rather for a more comfortable and natural user experience on large Retina displays.

macOS 16: Back to Touch Speculation?

The new design of macOS 16 is expected to continue the trend of making Mac software more similar to iOS and iPadOS. This could reignite speculation about touchscreen Macs, especially given signs that next year’s MacBook Pro might be the first to feature a touch display.

Hardware and Software Indications

While it's possible that macOS 16 will take design cues from iOS without preparing for touch input, there are already hardware indications suggesting otherwise. The combination of software changes and potential touchscreen features in future Macs could make this speculation more plausible than before.

What do you think about the possibility of a touchscreen Mac? Share your thoughts in the comments.