Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro could arrive on or around Tuesday, October 27, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Apple hasn’t confirmed it. The only event the company has officially announced is a separate one on October 13.
What Bloomberg says is coming
Per the report, as relayed by MacRumors and 9to5Mac, the October 27 launch covers four products:
- 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen: the first MacBook Pros you can touch. They’d also get a Dynamic Island, the cutout area that shows alerts and live activities on the iPhone, and would be thinner and lighter than today’s models. 9to5Mac says to expect M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, though MacRumors notes the report doesn’t name the chips.
- OLED iPad mini: with a relocated camera for landscape video calls and a redesigned speaker system.
- Entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac: both with the M6 chip and, per 9to5Mac, looking much like the current versions.
Gurman says the OLED models won’t carry the “MacBook Ultra” name that earlier rumors floated. They stay in the MacBook Pro family.
Two October events
Apple has confirmed a “Welcome home” event for Tuesday, October 13, at 9 a.m. ET, expected to focus on the smart home. Rumors point to a home hub, a new Apple TV 4K and a refreshed HomePod mini. The October 27 launch, per Bloomberg, would pair an online video presentation with an in-person session for the press, similar to October 2024, when Apple launched Macs and gave select journalists hands-on time.
Apple’s smart home plans are also in play, as we covered in Apple and LG smart home gear: what we know. The date adds to what we covered earlier on the weight of the device in our look at the lighter OLED MacBook Pro.
Who it’s for
Bloomberg frames the launch around creative professionals, such as people who edit video and photos or produce music. They’re the main buyers of the Pro and Max chips. A touchscreen on a MacBook Pro would be a first for the line, so it’s worth watching how Apple presents it.
For everyone else, the practical question is timing. If you were planning to buy a MacBook Pro this month, the reported date is about two and a half weeks away, which makes waiting a realistic option for many buyers.
Price and availability
None of the sources gives pricing for the OLED models or an on-sale date. For now this is a report built on unnamed sources, so treat the date and specs as provisional until Apple makes it official.
