Apple plans to launch its first touch-screen MacBook and a new iPad mini on or around Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on Thursday, October 8, citing people with knowledge of the matter, in a move that would end years of Apple resisting touch input on its laptops and refresh two of its product lines. Apple has not confirmed the plans.
The launch is expected to include an online video presentation and an in-person component for the press, and to be geared towards creative professionals who work in video production, photo editing and music production. It would be Apple's second product event of the month, after a smart home showcase on October 13.
The touch-screen laptops are expected in 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with OLED displays. They are reported to replace the notch with a Dynamic Island for the first time, to be significantly lighter than current models and to run on M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than the newer M6. Gurman has described an interface that adapts to the type of input, with some reports saying the machines will be touch-friendly rather than touch-first, so the keyboard and trackpad stay the main controls. Apple could brand the top model "MacBook Ultra", though that name is not settled.
The iPad mini, code-named J510, is expected to get an OLED screen, a front camera moved to the landscape edge and a revamped speaker system. Earlier, Gurman had said it was due between late October and November, so the exact date could still slip.
Apple is also expected to update the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iMac with the M6 chip, with designs that look much like the current versions. Gurman says several more Macs and iPads are planned for the first half of 2027, so this launch will not finish the refresh.
For Apple, the stakes are high. Rivals have offered touch screen laptops for years and Apple's executives long publicly resisted the idea of a touch Mac. Bringing touch to the MacBook Pro also pushes the Mac and iPad closer together.
Prices have not been reported and Kenyan buyers should wait for official local pricing and availability from Apple and its resellers before deciding whether to hold off on a purchase.
