Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jun 9
Apple Adds Finger Touch to Sidecar in macOS 27, Requiring Apple Silicon Macs
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jun 9

Apple Adds Finger Touch to Sidecar in macOS 27, Requiring Apple Silicon Macs

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jun 9

Summary

  • macOS 27 Golden Gate and iPadOS 27 now let Sidecar users tap, swipe and interact with macOS interface elements on an iPad using a finger for the first time.
  • Sidecar had long supported gestures such as two-finger scrolling, pinch-to-zoom and three-finger editing, but direct taps on links, apps and other UI elements previously required an Apple Pencil, mouse or trackpad.
  • The new Direct Touch feature works only with an Apple Silicon Mac and a compatible iPad, with both devices on the same Apple ID, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and within 10 meters.
  • Apple Pencil support remains in place, and the change brings Sidecar closer to third-party tools like Luna Display while adding to signs Apple is moving toward broader touch support on Macs.
  • That speculation has been reinforced by reports of a touchscreen OLED "MacBook Ultra" with an M6-series chip targeted for an early 2027 launch.

Insights

Is Apple's long-awaited touchscreen Mac the final step in merging the iPad and MacBook experiences?
Amid a global memory crisis, can Apple's touchscreen MacBook launch without a crippling price tag?