A $2,500 MacBook needs this $139 accessory to support touch — catching up with Windows 8 in 2013

Windows 11 is a bit of a mess right now. The operating system is full of half-baked AI features, gets new bugs and issues each month, and still lacks basic UI polish that is, quite frankly, embarrassing. But at least Windows 11 supports touch, and that's more than macOS can say.

At CES 2026, Intricuit unveiled an attachable display that adds touch support to MacBooks. Dubbed the "Intricuit Magic Screen," the accessory snaps onto a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro and connects through USB-C. Once connected, it allows you to interact with the device through touch. You can even use a stylus with the accessory.

The Intricuit Magic Screen works with almost all M-series MacBooks (the M1 MacBook Air has been left out). Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are supported in multiple sizes, meaning you could pay extra for the privilege of adding touch to a $2,500 device.

Attaching a digitizer to a laptop is far from an elegant solution and could potentially result in damage if someone tries to shut their computer with the Intricuit Magic Screen still attached. There's a small stopper at the bottom to prevent just that.

Intricuit Magic Screen: The World's First Snap-on Touchscreen for Your MacBook - YouTube

Watch On

The Intricuit Magic Screen costs $139, or at least it will once its Kickstarter launches. You can sign up through the Intricuit website to be notified about availability.

While I joke about Apple trailing Microsoft when it comes to touchscreen computing, I do not mock Intricuit for attempting to fill a gap. Third-party devices like the Magic Screen can appeal to niche users while also pushing the market.

People have asked for touchscreen support on macOS for years, but those pleas have gone unanswered. Some argue that touch should be reserved for devices like the iPad. Others highlight the monumental task of optimizing an entire operating system for touch.

While there are some merits to those arguments, I think touch has been a popular method of interacting with devices long enough to warrant the effort. People shouldn't have to resort to snap-on digitizers to zoom in on a webpage the same way they can interact with a tablet or phone.

Rumors of a touchscreen MacBook have swirled for years, including a recent report last October.

Apple has a tendency to do things "right" rather than doing things first. But Microsoft added touch support to Windows PCs over 12 years ago. Apple has had long enough to reshape the concept and "invent" touchscreen computing.

In the meantime, Intricuit is here to give MacBook users an input method that's been around since Windows 8.

Do you think Apple should add touch support to Macs? Let me know in the comments.

Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!