Apple Reportedly Set to Launch Touchscreen MacBook Pro and iPad Mini On or Around Oct. 27
Bloomberg reports Apple will unveil its first touchscreen MacBook Pro, an OLED iPad Mini and M6 Mac updates on or around October 27, two weeks after a smart home event.
Apple is reportedly preparing to launch a MacBook with a touchscreen. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company will introduce it, along with a new iPad Mini, on or around Tuesday, October 27. It is the most concrete timeframe yet for a product people have speculated about since 2023.
The date is not fully locked in. Bloomberg's wording is "on or around," and Apple has not confirmed the event.
What Apple is said to be launching
Bloomberg's report, as relayed by 9to5Mac and The Verge, lists several products:
- Touchscreen MacBook Pro: 14-inch and 16-inch models with OLED displays and an iPhone-style Dynamic Island. They are said to be "significantly lighter" than current models and to run on M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
- iPad Mini: an OLED display, a front camera moved to the landscape side, and a "revamped speaker system." The current model was last refreshed in 2024.
- iMac and entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro: new versions with the M6 chip, which debuted in the new Mac mini. They are expected to look like the current versions.
Engadget notes that the entry-level MacBook Pro currently uses an M5 chip and the iMac an M4. It adds that the touchscreen laptop could be called "MacBook Ultra," though that name is speculation. The Verge and 9to5Mac both describe it as a MacBook Pro.
A touchscreen Mac, and what the sources say about it
Engadget describes the rumored interface as dynamic, adapting to different ways of using the laptop. The sources do not say how Apple's past stance on touchscreen Macs factored into this decision, and none cites Apple explaining the change. What they do establish is that it would be Apple's first touchscreen laptop, and that reports of one go back to 2023.
Bloomberg says the launch is aimed at creative professionals in video production, photo editing and music production. It compares the event to Apple's October 2024 Mac launch, which gave some press hands-on time in Los Angeles. This one would again pair an online video presentation with an in-person press component.
A busy October
The Mac and iPad event would come two weeks after Apple's "Welcome home" event on October 13, rumored to focus on smart home products. Engadget says this follows the summer debut of Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo.
What it means for you
If you are waiting for a Mac or iPad Mini, the reported timing suggests a decision window in late October. The sources give no prices or release dates for shipping. Those details would probably come at the event itself, if it goes ahead as reported. Anyone eyeing an iMac or entry-level MacBook Pro should note that the M6 updates reportedly keep the current designs.
Also read Microsoft Opens Preorders for $2,599 Surface Laptop Ultra With Nvidia RTX Spark Chip
Quick answers
When is Apple's touchscreen MacBook launch?
Bloomberg says "on or around" October 27. Apple has not confirmed the date.
Will the touchscreen MacBook use the new M6 chip?
Not according to the reports. The touchscreen MacBook Pros are expected to use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The M6 is expected in the iMac and the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Is a new iPad Mini coming too?
Yes, per Bloomberg. It is expected to have an OLED screen, a relocated front camera and better speakers.
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