The MacBook Pro’s Annoying Notch Is Finally Gone, but Its Dynamic Island Replacement Comes Only on Models Starting at $2,899

Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pro ditches the familiar notch for the Dynamic Island, an interactive display area that brings notifications, media controls, and Siri within easy reach.

Introduced with the new 14-inch and 16-inch OLED MacBook Pro models on October 28, the feature debuts on Mac four years after it first appeared on the iPhone 14 Pro.

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What Dynamic Island does on Mac

Like its iPhone counterpart, the Mac’s Dynamic Island expands and changes shape to display information without requiring users to switch apps.

It supports several everyday interactions, including:

• Answering incoming calls.
• Controlling music playback.
• Accepting AirDrop transfers.
• Viewing ongoing Live Activities.
• Accessing Spotlight and Siri.

Spotlight and Siri are integrated into the Dynamic Island, giving the feature a more prominent role in macOS than the traditional camera notch it replaces.

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Touchscreen support makes it interactive

The new MacBook Pro is also Apple’s first Mac with a touchscreen, allowing users to interact with Dynamic Island directly.

You can tap the display to pause music, respond to notifications, or manage an ongoing activity without reaching for the trackpad.

However, Dynamic Island doesn’t mean Face ID has arrived on Mac.

Unlike the iPhone’s implementation, which surrounds the TrueDepth camera system, the MacBook Pro uses a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera and retains Touch ID for authentication.

The change is focused on the interface rather than introducing facial recognition.

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Available on both OLED MacBook Pro models

Dynamic Island comes standard on Apple’s redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, both featuring the new touchscreen PROLED XDR display.

The 14-inch model starts at $2,899, while the 16-inch version starts at $3,399. Pre-orders opened October 28, with availability beginning November 6.

Apple hasn’t detailed whether third-party Mac apps will eventually receive the same extensive Live Activities integration available on iPhone.