TL; DR
- Apple is hosting an invite-only, all-day hands-on event in Los Angeles on October 28, with announcements expected through press releases instead of a public livestream.
- The expected lineup includes redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with OLED touchscreens, M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and a new OLED iPad mini.
- Apple is also expected to refresh the entry-level MacBook Pro and 24-inch iMac with the base M6 chip.
Apple’s October 28 ‘Pro and Tell’ gathering in Los Angeles will be different from its usual product launches. Selected members of the press have been invited to an all-day hands-on experience starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with product announcements expected to arrive through press releases (and perhaps short videos) rather than a public livestream.
This is Apple’s second event of the month, following the October 13 ‘Welcome Home’ showcase in New York, where the company introduced the HomeView smart display, a refreshed HomePod mini and a new Apple TV 4K.
The latest gathering also comes early in the tenure of CEO John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook in September and has already overseen the launches of the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Duo.
Redesigned MacBook Pro Models Expected
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has outlined the expected product lineup over several weeks, and the ‘Pro and Tell’ branding aligns with his reporting. The biggest announcement is expected to be a redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, featuring OLED displays and touchscreen support. These would be the first Macs to offer either feature.
According to Gurman, the new models will replace the existing notch with a Dynamic Island, bringing the feature to the Mac for the first time. Apple has also reportedly reworked the internal layout and miniaturised components, making the laptops significantly lighter than current MacBook Pro models, although they may not be much thinner.
The laptops are expected to use the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips instead of the M6 Pro and M6 Max. Gurman has reported that Apple is skipping those higher-end M6 variants and moving towards M7 Pro and M7 Max chips later. The new MacBook Pros have reportedly been tested with macOS 27.2, which includes support for touch input.
MacBook Pro and iMac Could Get M6 Upgrades
Apple is also expected to refresh the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and the 24-inch iMac with its base M6 chip. Both products are said to retain their current designs, making the processor upgrade the main change.
OLED iPad Mini Could Cost More
The other major announcement is expected to be a new iPad mini with an OLED display. According to Gurman, it will use the A20 Pro chip from the iPhone 18 Pro, move the FaceTime camera to the landscape edge for video calls and adopt a redesigned speaker system.
The price could also increase considerably. Gurman expects the new model to cost closer to $799, compared with the current starting price of $599. In India, we can expect the iPad Mini to easily cost over ₹89,900, given the current generation already costs ₹69,900.
Apple reportedly tested both 60Hz and 120Hz versions of the OLED panel during development. It remains unclear which refresh rate will make it into the final product. But given the company’s cost-cutting measures, it is likely to be the former.
When Could the New Products Go on Sale?
If Apple follows the pattern of its earlier October launch, pre-orders could open on October 28 itself. Gurman has pointed to November 6 as a likely in-store availability date, with Apple retail locations reportedly preparing for a floor reset the night before.
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