Apple Set to Launch Its First Touchscreen MacBook Pro and Redesigned iPad Mini Later This Month: Report
Apple is preparing to introduce its first touchscreen MacBook Pro alongside a redesigned iPad mini later this month, marking one of the company’s most significant hardware overhauls in years and reversing its longstanding resistance to touch-enabled laptops, according to a new report.
The new devices are expected to debut on or around October 27, Bloomberg detailed, as the technology giant prepares a second wave of product announcements following a separate smart-home launch scheduled for October 13.
The upcoming MacBook Pro models will feature OLED displays, touchscreen functionality and thinner, lighter designs, while the iPad mini will receive its first OLED screen, according to MacRumors.
The touchscreen MacBook represents a major departure from Apple’s traditional approach to personal computers. For years, the company maintained that touchscreens were better suited to tablets, leaving Mac users dependent on keyboards, trackpads and mice even as competitors embraced touch-enabled laptops.
Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs famously opposed touchscreen laptops, arguing that reaching toward a vertical display was uncomfortable during prolonged use. The new MacBook Pro models, expected in 14-inch and 16-inch configurations, would effectively end that philosophy.
The laptops would retain conventional keyboards and trackpads, allowing users to alternate between traditional controls and touchscreen gestures. Apple has also reportedly developed reinforced hinges to prevent the screen from moving excessively when touched, addressing a common complaint about touchscreen laptops.
Beyond touchscreen capabilities, the MacBook Pro redesign will introduce OLED technology, which offers deeper blacks, improved contrast and more vibrant colors than the mini-LED displays currently used in Apple’s premium laptops.
The devices are also expected to replace the familiar camera notch with a smaller cutout resembling the Dynamic Island found on recent iPhones. Bloomberg reported that Apple has redesigned the laptops’ internal components to substantially reduce their weight, potentially making the larger MacBook Pro significantly more portable.
The company is also preparing software changes in macOS to accommodate touchscreen interactions. The redesigned machines are expected to feature Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, while a separate entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will reportedly receive the newer M6 chip. An updated iMac powered by the M6 is also expected during the October announcements.
Meanwhile, the next-generation iPad mini could receive its biggest display upgrade since the compact tablet was introduced. The new model is expected to replace its existing LCD panel with an OLED screen, bringing display technology already available in Apple’s premium iPad Pro lineup to its smallest tablet.
The device will reportedly feature a faster processor, a redesigned speaker system and a front-facing camera repositioned for landscape video calls. Earlier reports have also suggested improvements to water resistance and wireless connectivity, although Apple has not confirmed those features.
The current iPad mini, introduced in October 2024, features an 8.3-inch LCD and Apple’s A17 Pro chip. The upcoming version could use an A20 Pro processor. The anticipated launches form part of a broader October hardware push.
Apple is also expected to introduce a smart-home hub, an updated Apple TV 4K and a refreshed HomePod mini on October 13, with new Siri artificial intelligence capabilities playing a central role.
Bloomberg reports that both October launch rounds will feature online presentations and opportunities for journalists to try the devices. Apple has not officially confirmed the October 27 announcements, final specifications or pricing.
