The magnets that tell a MacBook its lid is closed could also hold a macbook touchscreen accessory in place. Intricuit, a small hardware startup, noticed that. Its Magic Screen snaps a touch-sensitive glass panel over the display of a MacBook you already own. It costs $179 on Kickstarter.
Apple has taken a different route. Its new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display starts at $2,899, which is roughly 16 Magic Screens. You get a complete laptop for that money, not an accessory. For someone who only wants touch, though, the price is hard to justify.
Intricuit lists compatibility with M1 and newer MacBook Pros and M2 and newer MacBook Airs. The company also supports the $599 MacBook Neo, which brings a Neo setup to $778 with the panel included.
If you want a sense of how a MacBook accessory fits into Apple’s lineup, the Ninja Labs MagSafe pouch with an expandable silicone design shows how magnetic attachments are being used on phones too.
How this macbook touchscreen accessory reads fingers without a battery
The panel is tempered glass with a capacitive digitizer, a layer that detects changes in an electrical field when skin touches it. Phones use the same method. The digitizer tracks up to ten fingers at once.
Intricuit rates the glass at 99 percent transparency or better, with an 8-millisecond response time. One USB-C cable carries both power and touch data. The company claims the panel draws 0.6 watts from the MacBook, so it needs no battery of its own.
Weight depends on the model. The 14-inch version weighs 4.3 ounces (122.8 grams), and the 16-inch version weighs 6.1 ounces (172.6 grams). Basic touch works with no software installed. Intricuit’s companion app, which requires macOS Sonoma or later, adds more controls.
Touch on a laptop that was never built for it
Tom’s Guide tested this macbook touchscreen accessory for three weeks. Its reviewer concluded that macOS handles touch better than Apple has suggested. Tapping opens an app. Pressing and holding brings up the right-click menu. Trackpad gestures work on the glass as well.
Intricuit’s demos focus on creative and productivity software. They show clips launching in Resolume Arena, models rotating in SketchUp, and sticky notes moving across Miro boards. Each task is easier when you can point at the thing you want. The panel also works with iPhone Mirroring, so you can tap through iPhone apps on the larger screen.
Fingerprints collect on the overlay, not on the MacBook’s own display.
A stylus that Apple’s laptop does not offer
The pen uses USI 2.0, the Universal Stylus Initiative standard that some Chromebooks also support. It senses 4,096 pressure levels, so line thickness shifts with hand pressure, from a fine hairline to a thick stroke.
The pen detects its tip about 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) above the glass and shows where it will land before contact. Palm rejection lets you rest your hand on the surface while you work. Intricuit rates the battery at 100 hours and says a 40-minute USB-C charge refills it. The pen connects without Bluetooth.
Remove the Magic Screen and the setup becomes a flat pen tablet, similar to the Wacom tablets many illustrators already use. Drawing on a screen that stands upright means fighting gravity and the hinge. Flat on a desk, the panel lets your forearm rest. The folio case folds into a stand for this mode. When the panel goes back on the lid, the case presses against the lid to reduce wobble.
Apple’s Sidecar offers another way to draw on a Mac, but it requires an iPad and an Apple Pencil. The Magic Screen needs only the MacBook and the $179 box.
What $2,899 buys, and what it doesn’t
Apple’s price covers a complete laptop. Its tandem OLED panel peaks at 2,000 nits and has a touch sensor built in. The hinge is stiffer, which limits screen bounce when you tap. The 14-inch model weighs 3 pounds. The glowing Apple logo returns to the lid. Apple charges $400 more than the standard MacBook Pro with the same screen size.
This macbook touchscreen accessory has trade-offs. A cable occupies one of your ports. You must remove the panel before closing the lid. To prevent a crushed screen, Intricuit built a stopper into the bottom edge that keeps the lid from closing onto the glass.
The macbook touchscreen accessory sells for $179 after its Kickstarter campaign. The planned retail price is $239, so backers save $60. Five versions exist, each fitted to a specific MacBook display, and the M1 MacBook Air is not among them. Check your model before ordering. Each box holds the glass panel, the pen, a folio case, a USB-C cable, and a cloth for wiping fingerprints.
Apple’s own hardware plans could change that math, and a puzzling teaser video from Apple’s CEO about the iPhone 18 Pro is worth a look for hints about what the company is preparing.
For a MacBook owner who wants touch and drawing without buying a new machine, the Magic Screen, a macbook accessory, covers a lot of ground for the money. The decision comes down to whether you need a built-in touchscreen or simply want to reach the display with your fingers.
H/T yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Intricuit Magic Screen touchscreen cost?
The Magic Screen costs $179 on Kickstarter. Its planned retail price is $239, so backers save $60.
Which MacBook models are compatible with the Intricuit Magic Screen?
Intricuit lists compatibility with M1 and newer MacBook Pros and M2 and newer MacBook Airs. The M1 MacBook Air is not among the five versions, so buyers should check their model before ordering.
Does the Magic Screen need its own battery to work?
No, the Magic Screen needs no battery of its own. The company claims the panel draws 0.6 watts from the MacBook through a single USB-C cable that carries both power and touch data.
How long does the Magic Screen pen battery last?
Intricuit rates the pen battery at 100 hours. A 40-minute USB-C charge refills it.
More in
Tech Accessories
All Tech Accessories
More like this
Apple’s New MacBook Pro Maintains Remarkable Battery Life with OLED Touchscreen
Maxon Lets Artists Sculpt and Model by Touch on the PROLED XDR MacBook Pro
Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro Revives Iconic Glowing Logo, Elevating It to Luxury Status
WOLOLOW's 10-Inch Saucer Lamp Keeps Its Shell When the Bulb Dies
Apple Unveils 14-Inch MacBook Pro with M6 Chip Delivering Unmatched Speed and Battery Life
