Reaching towards a laptop screen can do more than point at something. On the new MacBook Pro touch display, Apple describes gestures for moving through content and arranging windows. Each gesture is an extra input option alongside the keyboard and trackpad.

Quick Answer

Apple says the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display supports touch actions including swiping, pinching, dragging and window gestures. As at 29 October 2026, the South African Evetech catalogue listed a 1TB 14-inch M5 Pro for R50,999. It is the earlier model, not the new touch design.

👆 Swipe and pinch

Apple describes swiping through a webpage and pinching to zoom into a photo. These are two different actions: a swipe moves through content, while a pinch changes the view of an item. They can be useful when you want to interact with what is directly under your finger.

Apple gives these as system examples. A pinch changes the visible scale of a photo; it does not change the number of pixels in the original file. Individual applications may present their own controls differently.

🗂️ Move content between places

Apple gives dragging and dropping slides between presentations as an example. The gesture moves a visible slide from one place to another. It is a different action from pinching a photo: dragging changes an item's position, while pinch-to-zoom changes the view.

Some existing apps can receive a translated click from a touch, according to Apple. A translated click is not the same as an app developer creating a specialised touch control. The distinction is useful when you assess a tool that has not yet documented its own gesture features.

🪟 Arrange your workspace

Apple also describes double-tapping a window to fill the screen and flicking a window to tile it into place. These examples concern window arrangement rather than editing the contents of a document. A full-screen view can focus attention on one task; a tiled layout lets you see more than one window.

The new screen does not remove the familiar input devices. Apple lists a trackpad and keyboard on the PROLED models, so you can continue to use them for typing and pointer work. Pick the control that fits the task instead of assuming a finger is always the best choice.

🇿🇦 Put the gesture choice in a Rand budget

The locally listed R50,999 M5 Pro model is an existing configuration with a Liquid Retina XDR display, not the announced PROLED touch version. The MacBook range contains multiple configurations, so the display name matters alongside the chip.

If your main need is a laptop for an existing application, compare the laptop best sellers against the software you actually use. A current price is useful for budgeting but cannot confirm an application's touch behaviour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a swipe scroll a webpage?

Apple describes swiping to scroll a webpage on the PROLED MacBook Pro.

Can a pinch change a photo's size on screen?

Yes. Pinching enlarges the view of a photo without itself changing the original image's pixels.

Does the touch model still have a keyboard?

Yes. Apple lists both a keyboard and a Force Touch trackpad on the PROLED model.

Is the R50,999 listing the new touchscreen model?

No. The 29 October 2026 catalogue snapshot identifies an existing M5 Pro laptop with 1TB storage.

Ready to choose your next laptop? Compare the MacBook range at Evetech and check the screen and configuration for your work.