Oct 31, 2026 · 46 min
Listen from 33:09
Listen at 33:09
Apple bets touch can redefine the MacBook Pro
Weekend Listen: Power On Talks Touchscreen MacBook + iPhone Duo “Crackgate”
Apple’s first touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro tests whether touch can add value to the Mac without eroding its laptop strengths.
- 1The touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro adds touch while preserving the trackpad, mouse workflow, and familiar macOS structure.
- 2The iPhone Duo feels technologically significant, but cracked screens and difficult replacements expose the risks of a first-generation design.
- 3Apple’s upcoming hardware push spans the iPad mini, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and smart-home products.
Don't miss
The hosts explain why Apple finally reversed its opposition to touchscreen Macs and how touch could work alongside the traditional Mac interface.
The brief
Mark Gurman and Chris Welch assess the iPhone Duo after a week, finding a compelling foldable experience constrained by limited availability, outer-screen compromises, and scarce replacements.
Reports of cracked screens and camera failures turn the iPhone Duo into a test of Apple’s first-generation support obligations, even if the defect affects only a limited batch.
The touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro is the episode’s central shift: Apple adds touch without abandoning the trackpad, mouse, or familiar macOS workflow.
The hosts argue that customer demand, competitive pressure, and iPhone mirroring helped force Apple to reconsider its long-standing opposition to touch on the Mac.
The broader product preview points to a busy Apple cycle, with the iPad mini, iPad Pro, iMac, MacBook Pro, Apple TV, and HomeView all in view.
What was said on this episode
37 statements · 23 positive · 6 negative · 2 mixed · 6 neutral
Chris Welch uses the iPhone Duo open 60% to 70% of the time.
“I do use it open probably 60% to 70% of the time.”
Listen at 3:14
Chris Welch has experienced no hardware problems with his iPhone Duo.
“the phone itself, the hardware, I haven't had any problems.”
Listen at 3:33
The iPhone Duo is in extremely short supply.
“This thing is in extremely short supply.”
Listen at 5:27
A hinge defect can puncture the iPhone Duo display during unfolding.
“a piece of the hinge doesn't maneuver correctly and then punctures the display and the screen is broken.”
Listen at 6:37
The iPhone Duo failure rate appears small.
“it does seem small.”
Listen at 8:11
The iPhone Duo cracking issue is real and likely stems from a bad batch.
“it's a bad batch. It is real.”
Listen at 8:39
The iPhone Duo cracking issue will be largely forgotten within six months.
“I think this will be long forgotten in six months.”
Listen at 10:06
Reports of new iPhone Duo cracking cases will likely decline sharply.
“I'd be very surprised if we continue to see people having them.”
Listen at 10:19
The first-generation iPhone Duo will experience some problems.
“This is a V1 product. So there are going to be some stumbles.”
Listen at 10:42
The iPhone Duo is currently difficult to purchase.
“this phone is hard to find right now.”
Listen at 10:49
The iPhone Duo form factor will become standard in roughly five years.
“this is going to become the new normal in half a decade or so”
Listen at 11:28
Concerns about iPhone Duo app optimization are exaggerated.
“the app thing has been completely overblown.”
Listen at 13:31
The iPhone Duo software needs substantial improvement.
“The software needs some shaking up.”
Listen at 15:38
Apple should accelerate iPhone Duo software updates and bug fixes.
“They need to move more quickly and iterate faster to bring more features and more bug fixes to this device.”
Listen at 15:55
Apple should offer immediate in-store replacements for defective iPhone Duos.
“Apple should be able to just go to the store, swap it out.”
Listen at 17:21
The new iPad mini uses a 60Hz OLED display.
“It's a 60 hertz OLED”
Listen at 21:52
Apple will refresh the base iPad in the first half of next year.
“in the first half of next year, you'll see a refresh to the base iPad”
Listen at 22:59
Apple will bring OLED displays to the iPad Air.
“iPad Air is going OLED as well”
Listen at 23:08
A vapor chamber is expected for a future iPad Pro.
“what is coming or should be coming is a vapor chamber”
Listen at 23:43
The iMac design remains attractive but is becoming dated.
“I think the iMac design is really nice. It's getting a little dated.”
Listen at 26:19
A larger iMac with more powerful chips would be desirable.
“I would really like to see a larger iMac with more powerful chips.”
Listen at 27:38
The touchscreen MacBook Pro has an exceptionally impressive OLED display.
“That OLED screen is just so stunning to look at.”
Listen at 28:52
The touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro introduces no meaningful compromises.
“There are no downgrades or compromises, honestly.”
Listen at 29:47
Touchscreens have become a standard specification across the PC laptop industry.
“it is a table stakes spec sheet item across the PC lab top industry at this point”
Listen at 31:16
Touchscreen support will be popular on Mac laptops.
“i think it'll be a popular feature i really do”
Listen at 31:31
The touchscreen MacBook Pro will not cannibalize iPad sales.
“this is not going to compromise iPad sales at all.”
Listen at 32:32
The touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro will be an outstanding product.
“i think this is going to be a phenomenal product”
Listen at 33:09
Apple will likely converge touchscreen and non-touch MacBook Pro designs by late next year.
“you got to bet they're going to converge on these things probably as early as the end of next year.”
Listen at 34:15
iOS and macOS 28 will bring major interface changes for touch Macs and iPhone Duo.
“you can bet or imagine that iOS and macOS 28, you'll see big interface changes for the Touch Mac and the iPhone Duo”
Listen at 35:28
Apple will refresh the MacBook Pro with M7 Pro and M7 Max chips in late 2027.
“you're going to see a refresh to this MacBook Pro with M7 Pro and M7 Max chips at the end of 2027.”
Listen at 36:05
“Significant leaps with a lot of new AI stuff and graphic stuff in there, media engine stuff.”
Listen at 36:12
Chris Welch recommends the silver MacBook Pro with a nanotexture display.
“That's my recommendation.”
Listen at 37:45
Touch support will become a fundamental part of macOS.
“I feel like this is going to be a pretty fundamental part of the system.”
Listen at 40:56
All premium Apple Mac models will support touch within five years.
“you'll see premium versions of all the Apple Macs at some point within five years, all will be touch.”
Listen at 41:21
Apple will expand touch-oriented macOS improvements over time.
“I think they will over time.”
Listen at 41:45
Apple will release an M7 Ultra Mac Studio in 2028.
“you'll see an M7 Ultra Mac Studio come out in 2028”
Listen at 42:20
Chris Welch considers HomeView worth trying at its price.
“It's worth a shot.”
Listen at 43:19
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
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