Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro could arrive later this month, potentially ending years of resistance to bringing touch controls to the Mac.
Journalists have reportedly been invited to a hands-on event in Los Angeles on October 28, where they’re expected to get their first look at redesigned MacBook Pro models, an OLED iPad mini, and new M6-powered Macs.
The announcements could arrive a day earlier, on October 27, through an online presentation. Apple hasn’t confirmed a public livestream or officially announced the event.
Touchscreen MacBook Pro could be Apple’s biggest laptop redesign in years
The redesigned MacBook Pro is expected to arrive in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, with several major changes:
- Touchscreen OLED displays: A first for the MacBook lineup, bringing direct touch input to macOS alongside traditional keyboard and trackpad controls.
- Dynamic Island: The iPhone-style display cutout could replace the current notch and provide space for notifications and other information.
- Thinner, lighter design: Both models are expected to feature slimmer chassis than their predecessors.
- M5 Pro and M5 Max chips: Despite the arrival of M6 processors elsewhere in the Mac lineup, the redesigned touchscreen models are expected to use Apple’s higher-end M5 chips.
The addition of touch support would be a particularly significant shift for Apple. The company has spent years positioning the iPad as its touchscreen computing device while keeping the Mac focused on keyboard and trackpad input.
How macOS handles touch gestures without compromising its existing desktop interface will be one of the biggest questions surrounding the redesign.
New M6 Macs and an OLED iPad mini are also expected
Apple is reportedly preparing a separate 14-inch MacBook Pro with the next-generation M6 chip, alongside an updated iMac powered by the same processor.
The iPad mini could receive an equally notable upgrade. Apple is expected to replace its LCD screen with an OLED panel, bringing richer contrast and deeper blacks to its smallest tablet.
Other expected improvements include:
- Landscape front camera: A repositioned camera better suited to video calls when the iPad is held horizontally.
- Faster processor: An upgraded chip to improve performance over the current model.
The OLED iPad mini has previously been rumored to arrive by November, making a late October announcement plausible.
Apple has not disclosed pricing, preorder dates, or shipping schedules for any of these products.
The company recently used a similar announcement strategy for its October 13 smart home launches, pairing product announcements with an invitation-only press event rather than a traditional livestream.
For now, October 27 and 28 remain the dates to watch, with the touchscreen MacBook Pro likely to attract the most attention.
