Apple Plans Two-Day Los Angeles Showcase for Touchscreen MacBook and OLED iPad mini

Apple Plans a Two-Day Los Angeles Showcase for Its First Touchscreen Macs

Apple Sets a Second October Date

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is planning a second launch "on or around Tuesday, October 27," exactly two weeks after the "Welcome home" smart-home event on October 13. On X, Gurman wrote that "Apple's big October will continue on the 27th with a second event to launch the first touch-screen MacBooks, OLED iPad mini, M6 14-inch MacBook Pro & iMac." Across both dates, Apple is expected to unveil seven new products.

Two Days in Los Angeles, No Traditional Keynote

According to coverage of Gurman's reporting, Apple will invite content creators to a two-day product showcase in Los Angeles on October 27 and 28. The format is an online video presentation paired with an in-person component for the press rather than a livestreamed keynote, and it is geared toward "creative professionals who work in video production, photo editing and music production." The playbook echoes Apple's October 2024 Mac launch in Los Angeles, which gave selected journalists hands-on time.

The First Touchscreen MacBook Pro

The centerpiece is a redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, internally codenamed K114 and K116. Reported changes include OLED panels replacing mini-LED, touch support, a Dynamic Island in place of the notch, M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and a chassis that is "significantly lighter." Gurman walked back earlier claims on X, saying he does not think the machine will be "significantly thinner." The laptops are being tested with macOS 27.1, which ships in late October.

The Name May Be MacBook Ultra

The touchscreen Mac may or may not be called "MacBook Ultra," press coverage notes. Some reports also float Apple's own C1X or C2 modem for built-in cellular connectivity, though outlets stress that remains speculation rather than a firm claim. One report suggested the touch models could carry a price premium of up to 20 percent over current MacBook Pro pricing.

M6 Models Are Modest Refreshes

Alongside the redesign, Apple is expected to update the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and the 24-inch iMac with M6 chips — codenamed J804 and J833. Both are said to resemble today's designs, with new iMac colors the main visual change, and the M6 debuted in the Mac mini about a month earlier. Do not expect a 27-inch iMac or an OLED iMac; Gurman says that is still years away.

iPad mini Goes OLED, Costs More

The eighth-generation iPad mini is expected to be the first in its line with an OLED display, paired with the A20 Pro chip used in the high-end iPhone 18 Pro, a front camera moved to the landscape edge, an upgraded speaker system, thinner bezels and a redesigned, water-resistant chassis. Gurman's Power On newsletter puts the starting price near $799, roughly $200 above the current $599 and above the $749 11-inch iPad Air.

Apple Has Not Confirmed the Date

Apple has made no official statement about an October 27 event. Its public position covers only October 13, when marketing chief Greg Joswiak confirmed a "Welcome home" launch at 9 a.m. ET focused on the smart home. Everything about the late-October show traces back to Bloomberg reporting.

Why Apple Split October in Two

Running two full launches in one month, each with its own invitation and venue, is not how Apple has operated for most of the past decade — normally September brings the iPhones and a single October event covers Macs and iPads. The split suggests the product backlog outgrew one calendar date, and that Apple is experimenting with smaller, staggered formats instead of one big broadcast.

Who Feels It First

Creative professionals are the stated target: if the touchscreen OLED models really carry a premium of up to 20 percent, upgrade budgets change. Buyers of small tablets face a $799 entry point, while the M6 machines suit mainstream users who simply want a routine chip refresh.

What to Watch Next

Three things matter now: whether Apple issues an October 27 invitation, how the video presentation and the in-person hands-on are divided, and whether "MacBook Ultra" becomes the real product name.