Gurman pins Apple's second October launch to on or around October 27, with an online presentation and press hands-on aimed at creative pros.
Apple's busy October now has a second date. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will launch its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models, an OLED iPad mini, and M6 versions of the 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac "on or around" Tuesday, October 27. That lands two weeks after the October 13 "Welcome home" launch for the home hub, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K.
Earlier this month, MacRumors sources pointed to a second launch in the final week of October without a firm date or full lineup. Bloomberg's report fills in both. According to 9to5Mac and MacRumors, the launch will include "an online video presentation and in-person component for the press," and it is aimed at creative professionals in video, photo, and music work. Bloomberg compares it to Apple's October 2024 Mac week, which paired online announcements with hands-on sessions for select media. Apple declined to comment.
Weight is the clearest physical change for the OLED MacBook Pro. Gurman said in his October 4 Power On newsletter that the machine will be significantly lighter thanks to reworked internals. In a reply on X late on October 7 PT, he added, "I don't think it'll be significantly thinner in the end," pulling back from earlier reports of a much thinner chassis (MacRumors). For pro users, that could mean Apple keeps room for cooling, battery, and ports.
The software groundwork is already visible. macOS 27.2 beta 3 added touch gesture code to Safari, Photos, and Notes, which fits a release of macOS 27.2 around the same time as the hardware. Gurman has said Apple is testing the laptops on that version.
The iPad mini's refresh rate is still disputed. The Korean blogger yeux1122, who has a mixed track record, claims the panel is a 60Hz LTPS OLED without ProMotion. 9to5Mac called that claim sketchy, and Bloomberg's report did not address it. Pricing is also unknown. The OLED MacBook Pro is expected to sit above the current models, so it will likely cost more than today's high-end 14-inch and 16-inch configurations.
Counterpoint Research expects the new MacBook Pro to help drive a 50% jump in OLED notebook panel shipments this year, 9to5Mac reports. That would make it one of the more important laptop launches for the display supply chain, not just for Apple.
Nothing about October 27 is official yet. Apple confirmed the October 13 date through Greg Joswiak's teaser, but it has not announced anything for later in the month.