macOS 27.2 beta hints at touchscreen MacBook Pro gestures

Apple's latest macOS 27.2 beta 3 includes new code that points to upcoming touchscreen support for the MacBook Pro. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris found references to gesture recognition tools for several built-in Apple apps, as reported by 9to5Mac.

The beta also adds a long-press animation for Dock icons, another hint that the company is preparing for touch interaction. Apple has been steadily adding touch-friendly features throughout macOS 27, including pull-to-refresh and touch input support for Sidecar, which lets an iPad serve as a secondary display.

Bloomberg has reported additional details on Apple's touchscreen optimizations. Tapping a button or control will prompt macOS to dynamically show relevant touch options, and tapping the menu bar will automatically enlarge controls for easier navigation.

Beyond the touchscreen, the new MacBook Pro is said to feature an OLED display and be significantly lighter than current models. Apple is expected to announce the laptop as soon as this month, though Bloomberg has cautioned the timeline could slip to November.

• Apple
• Bloomberg
• MacBook Pro
• macOS 27.2
• MacRumors
• touchscreen