Apple's October is getting busier.
On October 8, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans a second launch on or around Tuesday, October 27. The headline product is Apple's first touchscreen MacBook Pro, with an OLED display and an iPhone-style Dynamic Island in place of the notch.
The same report says Apple will also launch a new iPad mini with an OLED screen, and give the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iMac a new M6 chip.
Apple has not confirmed any of this. Everything below comes from the Bloomberg report and the outlets that followed it up, plus Apple's own prices for the models on sale today.
This is a separate event from Apple's October 13 "Welcome home" event, which is expected to focus on the smart home. We covered that one in our October 13 preview.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 8 | Bloomberg reports the late-October launch |
| October 13 | Apple "Welcome home" event (smart home products expected) |
| On or around October 27 | Reported launch: touchscreen MacBook Pro, OLED iPad mini, M6 MacBook Pro and iMac |
| Not known | Prices, pre-order dates and ship dates |
Bloomberg says the launch will be an online video presentation, with an in-person part for the press. That matches how Apple handled its October 2024 Mac launch, as 9to5Mac points out.
What is reported for each product
| Product | What changes (reported) | Chip (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 14 and 16 (touch) | OLED touchscreen, Dynamic Island instead of a notch, "significantly" lighter | M5 Pro and M5 Max |
| MacBook Pro 14 (entry) | Same design as today, new chip only | M6 |
| iMac | Same design as today, new chip; Cult of Mac says new colors are possible | M6 |
| iPad mini | First OLED screen, new landscape front camera, revamped speakers | Not reported |
One detail surprised a lot of readers. The touchscreen MacBook Pro is reported to use the M5 Pro and M5 Max, the same chips in today's high-end MacBook Pro. The new M6 chip, which Engadget notes already appeared in a recent Mac mini update, is reported only for the cheaper models.
Engadget also says the touchscreen model may be called "MacBook Ultra". Treat that name as unconfirmed.
Today's models vs. what is coming
Here is how the models you can buy today line up against the reports. Today's prices are from Apple's U.S. online store on October 9.
| MacBook Pro today | Touchscreen MacBook Pro (reported) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 14.2" and 16.2" | 14" and 16" |
| Screen | Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED), no touch | OLED, touchscreen |
| Top of screen | Notch | Dynamic Island |
| Chips | M5, M5 Pro, M5 Max | M5 Pro, M5 Max |
| Weight | Current design | "Significantly" lighter |
| Starting price | $1,999 (14" M5), $2,499 (14" M5 Pro), $2,999 (16" M5 Pro) | Not known |
| iPad mini today (A17 Pro) | OLED iPad mini (reported) | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 8.3" Liquid Retina (LCD) | OLED |
| Front camera | 12MP | Moved to the landscape edge |
| Speakers | Current design | Revamped |
| Starting price | $599 (Wi-Fi, 128GB) | Not known |
No outlet we checked has a reliable price for the new models. OLED screens usually cost more to make, so a higher price for the touchscreen MacBook Pro would not be a shock. But that is a guess, not a report, so do not plan around it.
What is new, and why it matters
Touch on a Mac. Apple has resisted a touchscreen Mac for years, and the rumor goes back to at least 2023. Engadget says the new model has a "dynamic interface" that adapts to how you use it. Stuff also notes that a macOS 27.2 beta showed a press-and-hold animation that hints at touch support. If you draw, edit photos, or use an iPad a lot, touch on a Mac may feel natural. If you mostly type, it may not change much.
OLED on the MacBook Pro. Today's MacBook Pro already has a very good mini-LED screen. OLED usually means deeper blacks and no blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
A lighter Pro. Bloomberg says the new model may be "significantly" lighter. If true, that matters most for the 16-inch, which is heavy today.
OLED iPad mini. The iPad mini has never had OLED. The move of the front camera to the long edge also fixes an old complaint: on today's mini, you look off to the side on video calls when the tablet is held sideways.
M6 for the cheaper Macs. These are simple chip updates. Cult of Mac describes the M6 as faster, more efficient and better at on-device AI. If you want the base MacBook Pro or an iMac, the design will not change, so the only question is whether you want the newer chip.
Which should you buy?
- You want the best MacBook Pro and can wait three weeks: wait. Even if you do not care about touch, a new design can push down prices on today's models at other stores.
- You need a pro laptop right now: today's 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro is still a great machine. The reported touch model keeps the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, so you are not missing a faster processor.
- You want the cheapest MacBook Pro or an iMac: wait. The M6 versions are reported for this same launch, and the design stays the same.
- You want an iPad mini: wait if you can. OLED, better speakers and a better camera spot are real upgrades for a small tablet that people use for reading and video.
- You need a small tablet today: the iPad mini (A17 Pro) still works well, and it supports Apple Intelligence.
- Wait for reviews: a first-generation touch Mac is a new kind of product. Battery life, weight and how well macOS works with touch are all unknown until people test it.
Check MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Pro) price on Amazon
Want to compare laptops side by side before deciding? Use our comparison tool. If you are weighing a Windows option, our Surface Laptop Ultra vs MacBook Pro 16 breakdown covers Microsoft's new $2,599 laptop.
Other tech news this week
- Google has limited free Gemini app users to the Flash-Lite model starting October 9. Flash now needs the $4.99/month AI Plus plan, and the AI Pro plan at $19.99/month gains Deep Think.
- Microsoft opened pre-orders for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box at $5,999, with shipping in November, according to AI Weekly.
- Apple has cut component orders for the iPhone 18 Pro by 15 to 20 percent because of high memory chip costs, AI Weekly reports.
Sources
- 9to5Mac: Apple to launch touchscreen MacBook Pro and more on October 27
- Bloomberg: Apple to launch touch-screen MacBook, new iPad mini at October event
- Engadget: Apple reportedly plans touchscreen MacBook and iPad mini launch for this month
- Cult of Mac: Apple October 27 event rumors
- Stuff: MacBook Pro OLED touch launch event October 27
- Apple: Buy MacBook Pro
- Apple: Buy iPad mini
- AI Weekly: Google caps free Gemini at Flash-Lite starting October 9
- AI Weekly: AI news today
Image: Apple press materials (current MacBook Pro). The touchscreen model has not been shown by Apple.
