Gurman's October 8 Bloomberg report says Apple plans to unveil touchscreen MacBooks on or around October 27, separately from the ordinary M6 MacBook Pro/iMac refresh. Original reporting in syndication: https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/apple-set-to-launch-touch-screen-macbook-new-ipad-mini-in-late-october-126100900143_1.html

Apple has not confirmed the product or an order date. An unveiling alone would not meet this market's purchase criterion, and orders could still slip into 2027. I bought M50 YES near 49–50%; my current estimate for purchase availability by December 31 is 80%, with substantial timing uncertainty.

Apple set to launch touch-screen MacBook, new iPad mini in late October

The end-of-month announcements will also include versions of the 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac with M6 chips

https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/17/kuo-touch-screen-macs-oled-macbook-pro/

What counts as a MacBook? Does it have to have the name MacBook or does it need to be a mobile computer (meaning it has a battery inside) that runs macOS?

In case of option 2 and it runs macOS, does it have to have an included hardware keyboard?

@JonathanMannhart Option 2, and yes. It needs to be clearly a laptop, not an iPad.

I suppose the touchbar does not count? because technically that is a touchscreen.

@LudwigBald Nope, has to be the main screen. I can use my finger to click on websites normally.

🤮

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-11/apple-working-on-adding-touch-screens-to-macs-in-major-turnabout

Based on current internal deliberations, the company could launch its first touch-screen Mac in 2025 as part of a larger update to the MacBook Pro, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private.

...

The current work calls for Apple’s first touch-screen MacBook Pro to retain a traditional laptop design, including a standard trackpad and keyboard. But the laptop’s screen would support touch input and gestures —  just like an iPhone or iPad. Over time, Apple could expand touch support to more of its Mac models. 

What if it's macOS on an iPad?

@BTE I think it's a Macbook with a touchscreen, not a touchscreen version of macOS.

@BTE Must be something that clearly resembles a laptop. A rigid keyboard attached to a rigid screen with a hinge.