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The unveiling date has been rumored for days, and now there's also a possible sales launch date: The MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen could hit stores on Friday, November 6th. This clue comes from a planned renovation of Apple Stores. Meanwhile, the display for the iPad mini, which is expected around the same time, has suddenly become unclear again.
In the latest episode of his podcast Power On from October 15, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman names November 6 as a possible launch date for the new MacBook Pro. The devices are set to be unveiled at the end of October: Bloomberg had initially cited October 27 as the date for the MacBook Pro with touchscreen, and Apple has since been inviting media to an all-day event on October 28 in Los Angeles. That would leave nine days between the stage and the store shelf.
Key Facts at a Glance
- According to Gurman, the MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen is scheduled to go on sale on Friday, November 6th.
- The basis is a major renovation of the sales areas in the Apple Stores from the evening of November 5th into November 6th.
- The nine-day gap between the announcement and the start of sales corresponds exactly to the Mac cycle of 2024.
- According to Gurman, Apple tested both 60 and 120 Hz displays on the iPad mini with OLED – he doesn't know which version will be released.
A renovation in the stores as an indication
Gurman bases the date on a so-called floor reset: A major remodeling of the sales floors in Apple Stores is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, November 5th, and into Friday, November 6th. Gurman sees this as a possible preparation for the new Macs.
Gurman remains vague about whether Apple will unveil the devices with a traditional event. However, he assumes that Apple will at least release videos about the new products. Events for content creators and media are scheduled for October 27th and 28th in Los Angeles.
Nine days, just like with the M4 Macs
The potential sequence of events is similar to the Mac launch two years ago, except for the day of the week. According to the Newsroom archive, Apple unveiled the iMac, the Mac mini, and finally the MacBook Pro on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, over three consecutive days. All three devices went on sale on Friday, November 8, 2024.
| Round | Final performance | Sales launch | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4 Macs 2024 | Wed, October 30 (MacBook Pro) | Fri, November 8 | 9 days |
| 2026 (according to Gurman) | Wed, October 28 (Media event) | Fri, November 6 | 9 days |
The coincidence is not proof of the date, but it makes it plausible. The current iPad mini also followed this pattern in 2024: unveiled on Tuesday, October 15th, and available in stores from Wednesday, October 23rd – eight days later.
What to expect on October 28th
The focus is on the MacBook Pro with an OLED display, touchscreen, and Dynamic Island architecture, available in 14-inch and 16-inch models. According to Gurman, there will be no new chips: the devices will run on the M5 Pro and M5 Max, the same chips used in the MacBook Pro Apple introduced in March. The OLED models will be offered as a higher-priced option alongside the existing Mini-LED models, rather than replacing them.
| Device | Expected equipment |
|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 14 and 16 inch | OLED, touchscreen, Dynamic Island, M5 Pro and M5 Max |
| MacBook Pro 14-inch (Entry-level) | M6, design unchanged |
| iMac | M6, new colors |
| iPad mini | OLED, A20 Pro |
Gurman has since withdrawn the name MacBook Ultra, which had been rumored for months. The touchscreen models will remain part of the MacBook Pro line. The name change does not alter the overall concept of the first MacBook with an OLED display and touchscreen.
iPad mini: 60 or 120 Hz
According to Gurman, Apple tested both a 60Hz and a 120Hz display with ProMotion for the iPad mini with OLED. Gurman says he doesn't yet know which version Apple chose.
Until now, almost everything pointed to 60 Hz. An Omdia roadmap from 2024 already listed a 60 Hz panel for the OLED iPad mini. A Korean blogger reported in July a hybrid LTPS-based OLED panel with a fixed refresh rate of 60 Hz and confirmed this in early October: The panels in production were operating at 60 Hz. This is consistent with the same source, not independent confirmation.
The iPad Pro uses ProMotion with LTPO-based OLED panels that can regulate between 10 and 120 Hz. Therefore, the iPad mini 8, with its 120 Hz refresh rate, would not only have a higher refresh rate but also a different panel generation than previously reported.
A firm deadline, a display question without a change of course
Gurman is one of the most reliable sources for Apple's scheduling. However, he himself only presents November 6th as a possibility, and he derives it from a store renovation, not from an internal launch date. Nevertheless, I consider the date plausible because it aligns with the timeline for 2024 and fits with the media event on October 28th.
The situation is different with the iPad mini's refresh rate. According to Korean reports, mass production of the OLED panels has been underway since June. For me, the decision regarding the panel has therefore already been made; the only remaining question is what Gurman knows about it. His statement confirms the tests, not a change of course.
If you're looking to buy a MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max, the choice is simpler than you might think: According to Gurman, the existing model will remain in the lineup. If you're not interested in a touchscreen or OLED display, you won't miss out on anything by buying before October 28th.
Nine days between presentation and shop counter
At the end of October, Apple will reveal the cost and weight of the devices, and whether the iPad mini will feature the smoother display. The first MacBook with a touchscreen could then be available in stores on November 6th.
Would you pay the extra for OLED and touchscreen compared to the current MacBook Pro with the same chip – or is the refresh rate of the iPad mini the more interesting question for you this round? Let us know in the comments where your money goes this time.
