Apple is planning a Mac and iPad launch on or around Tuesday, October 27, and the lineup includes its first touchscreen MacBook Pro. A new iPad mini and M6 versions of the 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac are expected to arrive alongside it.
The date comes from Bloomberg’s report, which cites people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because the plans are not public. Apple declined to comment and has not announced an event for these products.
The Touchscreen MacBook Pro Is the Headline Product for October 27
The report lists three launches for the event:
- Touchscreen MacBook Pro: OLED display and Dynamic Island, code-named K114 and K116
- 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac with M6 chips: code-named J804 and J833
- iPad mini: OLED display, code-named J510
The new MacBook Pro models are expected to be lighter than current models, which matches earlier reports that the laptop is much lighter than today’s models. They are also expected to bring the Dynamic Island, the on-screen interface iPhone users already know. Another report said the redesign is not getting much thinner.
Touch is the bigger change, since it would be Apple’s first touch-based Mac. Bloomberg first reported that Apple was working on the idea in 2023, and macOS Golden Gate 27.2 already includes touch gestures. The laptop is often called the MacBook Ultra, a name Apple has not confirmed, and our MacBook Ultra guide collects the rumored chips, display details and price.
The M6 Macs are expected to look like the current versions. For the iMac, that fits earlier reports of an M6 iMac with new colors and no design overhaul.
The New iPad Mini Reportedly Gets OLED, a Landscape Camera and New Speakers
The new iPad mini is expected to include an OLED screen, a videoconferencing camera on the landscape side and a revamped speaker system. The camera move matches an earlier iPad mini 8 leak that also listed the A20 Pro chip.
Earlier reports said the OLED display stays at 60Hz without ProMotion and that the tablet would be the first iPad with water resistance. Those details are not part of the latest report. Our iPad mini 8 OLED guide lists everything reported so far.
Apple Is Reportedly Splitting October Into a Home Event and a Mac and iPad Event
Apple has already announced a smart home event for October 13. The company is expected to introduce its first smart home hub with a display, a new HomePod mini and an updated Apple TV, all built around the Siri AI assistant. Accessories from LG Electronics and Schneider Electric are also expected. Reports had already pointed to two rounds of product launches this month.
The October 27 launch is expected to follow the same format as the home event, with an online video presentation and an in-person component for the press. Apple is aiming the Mac and iPad lineup at creative professionals who work in video production, photo editing and music production. Apple last held a showcase like this for new products in Los Angeles in 2024.
The launch is part of a record-setting slate of new products under Apple CEO John Ternus, who took over last month. The report adds that Apple is planning several other new Macs and iPads for the first half of next year.
Our Take
A touchscreen Mac and a new iPad mini in the same event makes sense, since both are built around OLED and creative work. I would treat October 27 as tentative until Apple sends invites, given how much this launch has moved around over the past year. I am most curious to see how Apple handles touch in macOS, because that part has to feel right from day one.
