Apple sent invitations to a special event to be held on October 28, making official a product showcase that has been rumored for weeks.
While the company’s invitation didn’t reveal what’s on the agenda, it’s not difficult to guess. We can look forward to a redesigned MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, new Macs powered by the latest Apple M6 processor and an upgraded iPad mini.
Invites go out for Apple ‘Pro and Tell’ event on Oct. 28
Details of three unreleased Macs plus an iPad started leaking out months ago, and these pointed to a launch before the end of the year. More recently, an Apple event for October 28 was rumored. Now, the time for leaks and rumors is over.
“Can’t wait to pro and tell next week,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, wrote on X on Monday.
Can’t wait to pro and tell next week. pic.twitter.com/3wUkxwq35i
— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) October 19, 2026
At the same time, emails went out to the media to “Please join us in person for a special Apple Experience in Los Angeles.”
The event is scheduled for October 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT.
Touchscreen MacBook Pro could steal the show
Image: Cult of Mac/Apple/ChatGPT
The biggest attraction at the October 28 Pro and Tell event could be Apple’s first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen. This will mark a major change — Apple resisted adding touch input to the Mac despite making it central to the iPhone and iPad. Code changes in macOS 27 show Apple is preparing to update the operating system to accommodate finger input without compromising its traditional desktop interface.
Rumors also point to redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch models with OLED displays, replacing the mini-LED technology used in current versions. OLED screens can deliver deeper blacks, stronger contrast and more vivid images. And a Dynamic Island-style cutout will apparently replace the familiar display notch.
Beyond the screen, the upcoming touchscreen MacBook Pro supposedly got a redesign that will make it lighter.
Expect pre-orders to begin during Apple’s October 28 event, with an actual launch likely a week or so later. And predictions put the price above current MacBook Pro models, as the OLED touchscreen adds to Apple’s own costs.
M6 chip coming to more entry-level Macs
Image: Apple/TSMC/Cult of Mac
A revamped Mac mini already launched this fall with Apple’s new M6 processor the highlight.The chip brings improved CPU performance, enhanced energy efficiency and more powerful on-device AI capabilities. The October 28 Pro and Tell event is rumored to include two additional computers with its M6 processor: an entry-level, 14-inch MacBook Pro and an updated iMac.
While the more powerful versions of the MacBook Pro typically hog the headlines, Apple also makes a version that runs the basic M5. Moving to the basic M6 gives buyers a newer chip without requiring them to pay for the more expensive Pro or Max versions.
The colorful 24-inch iMac is also supposedly due for an M6 upgrade. But, like the budget MacBook Pro, none of the leaks point to a major redesign of Apple’s all-in-one. Still, Apple could introduce new casing colors alongside the faster chip.
- See also: 2026 iMac rumors: What to expect from Apple’s next all-in-one
- See also: M6 MacBook Pro rumor roundup: Faster chip, familiar design
Those eager to get these entry-level models can likely put in a pre-order on October 28, and receive the device a week later.
OLED iPad mini also expected
Concept: Cult of Mac
The Mac announcements might not be the only hardware news at the October 28 Pro and Tell event. Apple is also rumored to be preparing an iPad mini with an OLED display, bringing the gorgeous screen technology to its smallest tablet for the first time. The upgrade should deliver better contrast and richer colors than the LCD screen in the current model.
Other rumored changes include moving the front-facing camera to the landscape edge for more natural video calls, making the device more water-resistant, plus redesigning the speaker system.
A faster processor is also expected, potentially improving the compact tablet’s ability to handle demanding apps and Apple Intelligence features.
The feature upgrades are likely to push up the cost of the tablet for those who put in an order when it launches next week.
Don’t expect traditional keynote at Apple ‘Pro and Tell’ event on Oct. 28
Although Apple has now confirmed the October 28 event, the invitation doesn’t promise a conventional keynote or a live-streamed presentation.
Instead, the company may announce the new products through online videos and press releases, with journalists invited to Los Angeles to try the devices in person. Apple used a similar approach for its recent smart-home product announcements, including HomeView.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
