Tap, press and hold, drag: The third beta of macOS 27.2 brings new touch gesture recognition to several Apple apps. This aligns with the first Mac with a touchscreen, expected in the coming weeks – but there's also a second possible explanation.
The new entries were discovered by Aaron Perris, who describes them on X from today's released beta. Apple distributed the third test version of macOS 27.2 to developers along with the third beta of iOS 27.2.
For months, there have been strong indications of a MacBook Pro with an OLED display and touchscreen, expected to be released as the MacBook Ultra. The latest information on the display, chips, and release date is summarized in MacBook Ultra: All the Rumors.
Key Facts at a Glance
- macOS 27.2 Beta 3 includes new recognition for touch gestures in Photos, Notes, Safari and Summary.
- Additionally, the Dock displays a new animation when an icon is pressed and held.
- The findings are consistent with a Mac with a touchscreen, but could also be used for touch operation via Sidecar.
- The MacBook Ultra is reportedly expected in October or November.
These gestures are embedded in the code
According to the findings, several pre-installed apps have their own tools for touch recognition. The labels in the code suggest the following gestures:
| App | New detection in the code |
|---|---|
| Photos | prolonged dwelling of the finger on an element |
| Notes | Touch-activated press |
| Safari | Monitoring of touch inputs |
| Overview | Pull by touch |
Recognition that is specifically designed for touch requires a screen that can be directly tapped – either on the Mac itself or on a connected iPad.
A new dock animation
A second discovery comes from a user who noticed a new animation in the beta version when long-pressing dock icons. Long-pressing is the typical gesture on iPhones and iPads for opening additional options.
These findings are part of a series of adjustments that began with macOS 27. The very first version introduced the pull-down to refresh feature in Safari, Mail, and Calendar, and back in June, the first beta provided three hints about the MacBook Ultra.
Touchscreen or Sidecar
I consider these findings a strong, but not conclusive, indication. macOS 27 introduced full touch input for Sidecar, the use of an iPad as a second screen for the Mac. The new gestures could therefore also serve to expand this functionality on the iPad.
Despite the reports about the launch date, I still expect the new device to be the main reason. The MacBook Ultra is supposed to be released in October or November, and the fact that four apps and the Dock are being updated simultaneously suggests to me that it's more likely a Mac with its own touchscreen than an expansion of Sidecar. Further news about Mac software can be found on the macOS 27 page.
Would you tap the screen on your MacBook – or is the trackpad still the better choice for you? Let us know in the comments if a touchscreen would be a deciding factor for you.
