Apple plans touchscreen MacBook and OLED iPad mini launch around October 27, reports say
In short
Apple plans to launch its first touchscreen MacBook and a new iPad mini around October 27, Chinese outlets reported on October 9, citing a Bloomberg report. The late-October lineup is also expected to include a 14-inch MacBook Pro and an iMac with M6 chips, aimed at creative professionals in video, photo editing and music production. Apple has not officially confirmed the plans.
Read the full story 2 min read
Apple plans to hold a product launch around October 27 to introduce its first touchscreen MacBook and a new generation of the iPad mini, Chinese business and tech outlets reported on October 9. IT Home and cnBeta attributed the information to a Bloomberg report, which IT Home said was published on October 8 and attributed to Gurman. 36Kr, citing Sina Finance, said the date came from people familiar with the matter. CLS described October 27 as a Tuesday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The late-October lineup is also expected to include a 14-inch MacBook Pro and an iMac with M6 chips. The Mac and iPad launches are aimed at creative professionals working in video production, photo editing and music production, according to CLS, IT Home and 36Kr. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
According to IT Home and cnBeta, the touchscreen devices will be thinner and lighter than current MacBook Pro models and will have OLED displays, touch input and a Dynamic Island. Earlier reports said the product might be called MacBook Ultra, but Gurman indicated it will be part of the MacBook Pro line. cnBeta reported it will come in 14-inch and 16-inch versions. cnBeta said the report gave no confirmed screen resolution, brightness, chip, memory, battery life or price, and did not make clear how the touchscreen model relates to the M6 14-inch MacBook Pro. [ 2 , 3 ]
The new iPad mini is reported to have an OLED display, a camera placed for landscape video calls and a redesigned speaker system. cnBeta noted that earlier reports of an A20 Pro chip came from code clues and media reports rather than Apple, and that Bloomberg gave no screen size, refresh rate, storage or price. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The launches are expected to follow a smart home event around October 13, at which cnBeta said Apple would present a new smart home hub, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini. IT Home said both would include online video presentations and in-person sessions for media, while cnBeta said Apple has not confirmed a traditional in-person event. cnBeta also said Apple had stated that a high-end Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra chip and 512GB of memory is planned for late October. 36Kr said Apple last held a similar product showcase in Los Angeles in 2024. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Why it matters
Business and tech outlets report this as Apple's first touchscreen MacBook. The reports point to two rounds of Apple product announcements in October, with a smart home event expected around October 13 before the Mac and iPad launches at the end of the month.
Key facts
- Apple plans to launch its first touchscreen MacBook and a new iPad mini around October 27, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The end-of-October launches are also expected to include a 14-inch MacBook Pro and an iMac with M6 chips. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The Mac and iPad launches are aimed at creative professionals in video production, photo editing and music production. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The touchscreen model is reported to have an OLED display and a Dynamic Island and to be thinner and lighter than current MacBook Pro models. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The touchscreen model is to be part of the MacBook Pro line, rather than carrying the previously rumoured name MacBook Ultra, according to Bloomberg. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The new iPad mini is reported to have an OLED display, a camera repositioned for landscape video calls and a redesigned speaker system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Apple is expected to present smart home products around October 13. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Outlets reported that Apple plans to launch its first touchscreen MacBook and a new iPad mini around October 27. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Outlets reported that a 14-inch MacBook Pro and an iMac with M6 chips are also planned for the late-October launches. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The new iPad mini is reported to have an OLED display and a redesigned speaker system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The touchscreen model is reported to be part of the MacBook Pro line, not named MacBook Ultra. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The launches are reported to include online video presentations and in-person sessions for media. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Screen resolution, brightness, chip, memory, battery life and price of the touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro. cnBeta said the Bloomberg report gave no confirmed specifications for these.
- How the touchscreen OLED model relates to the M6 14-inch MacBook Pro. cnBeta said the report did not make the product configuration clear; CLS described the new MacBook Pro as thinner with an OLED screen without separating the two.
- Whether the touchscreen model comes in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. Only cnBeta reported the two sizes.
- Whether the new iPad mini uses an A20 Pro chip, and its screen size, refresh rate, storage and price. cnBeta said the A20 Pro reports came from code clues and media reports, not Apple, and that Bloomberg did not give these details.
- Whether Apple will hold a traditional in-person launch event. cnBeta said Apple has not officially confirmed the event format.
- A high-end Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra chip and 512GB of memory going on sale in late October. Reported only by cnBeta, which said Apple had previously stated the plan.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports Apple plans to launch its first touchscreen MacBook and a new iPad mini around October 27. [ 1 ]
- cnBeta reports on the touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro, citing Bloomberg and listing unconfirmed details. [ 2 ]
- IT Home reports the plans, citing an October 8 Bloomberg report by Gurman. [ 3 ]
- Yicai reports the planned end-of-October launch. [ 4 ]
- 36Kr, citing Sina Finance, reports the launch is set for on or around October 27. [ 5 ]