Apple has another release event, and this one is called "Pro and Tell." This is what will make an appearance on the day, including one very long-awaited MacBook Pro upgrade.
Fall has been unusually busy for Apple in 2026. After surprise Mac launches in late August and the usual September iPhone event, it's also launched smart home products in October.
But it's far from done. There's still more for it to launch.
Apple will hold the event on October 28. This would be the second event in the same month, making it one of the most intensive product-launch periods on record.
The event was confirmed by messages to invitees to an event called "Pro and tell." The name all but confirms changes to the MacBook Pro are on the way.
The invitation also includes an Apple logo, in what could be best described as an outline of a radar sweep. The colors used by the lines on the dark background are reminiscent of the MacBook Pro's usual colorways.
Can't wait to pro and tell next week. https://t.co/3wUkxwq35i
— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) October 19, 2026
Greg Joswiak, aka "Joz," the SVP of Worldwide Marketing, also posted the logo to X, saying "Can't wait to pro and tell next week."
On when to expect to be able to get your hands on whatever Apple launches, a store refresh planned for November 6 may indicate when sales commence.
What to expect from the second October event
Entering the fall, Apple had a massive catalog of potential launches on its hands. A multi-launch slate of products was anticipated.
That has so far included the Mac mini and Mac Studio updates in August as an early surprise launch.
Apple launched a lot during its September 9 "Surprise and Shine" event, including the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and the fifth-generation AirPods.
The first October event was all about the smart home, with updates made to the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini 2. There was also the introduction of the HomeView and a bunch of related smart home device launches to match.
That sheer quantity of product launches is enough for any normal year, but there are still some candidates for launch. That launched items list doesn't have any iPad products, nor does it include any portable Mac models, which are now expected for this new event.
iPad mini
Back in September, it had a good chance of launching alongside the iPhones, but the iPad mini update is still expected to arrive. Based on the current state of rumors that would be the late October event.
One way of knowing it's on the way is from a French regulatory website. An identifier was found that related to the iPad mini, practically confirming the model's imminent arrival.
The eighth-generation device's main change is anticipated to be the display. An 8.4-inch LTPS panel with hybrid OLED should bring it in line with the iPad Pro range, if not to the same standard of specifications.
While brighter and more vibrant, the display won't necessarily have ProMotion, typically a Pro model feature. However, as usual for the rumor mill, that is still up for debate.
iPad mini on an arm
Beyond the display, you can also count on a chip upgrade. The current favorite is the A20, along with the possible inclusion of Apple's networking and modem chips.
Smaller changes that have been rumored include a repositioning of the FaceTime camera, as well as a new vibration-based speaker to help improve water resistance.
OLED MacBook Pro
One of the big-hitter rumors for the MacBook Pro line has been the display. An OLED-equipped model has been rumored a long time, and it seems like it'll finally arrive.
Forecasts previously put a launch at early 2027, but it's now thought to take place in October. Or at least to be announced in October with a release in November.
That seems to match the late event rumors quite well.
An OLED display produces a more vibrant image with high levels of contrast, while also saving power. As a touchscreen, it will also be the first MacBook to be touch-enabled, and join a notebook market that already has many touch-enabled displays.
On October 5, references were found in the macOS 27.2 developer beta, indicating multiple applications were set up to receive additional touch recognition capabilities. This is probably an inadvertent confirmation from Apple that it's on the way.
You can probably expect it to be a spec-bump update beyond the display, including using Apple's newer chips.
There may be a change in construction that helps it lose weight. On October 4, a report claimed there will be a significant weight reduction, thanks to Apple redesigning components to be smaller and lighter.
However, an October 8 report walked back earlier claims that there would be a chassis upgrade that made it thinner.
M6 MacBook Pro and iMac
Following the surprise launches of the M6 Mac mini and updated Mac Studio in late August, the prospect of spec-bump updates to other Mac models was good. While everyone will be looking at the new OLED model, other entry-level models are still a possibility.
The most obvious ones that have been rumored about are the M6 models. There are M6 models of MacBook Pro and iMac allegedly on the horizon, catching up to the M6 Mac mini.
The current 24-inch iMac.
The entry-level M6 MacBook Pro rumors say that it will still use a mini LED screen with ProMotion. It'll also use an identical six-speaker sound system, the same ports, and the same chassis as the current generation.
However, it will instead get an upgrade to the M6 chip, making it a typical Apple spec-bump upgrade.
It's a similar story for the M6 24-inch iMac, with it also thought to be given a speed boost, but retain the current design. An overhaul with OLED is expected for the iMac at some point, but that will be far into the future.
For now, any iMac upgrade will keep the display as-is.
Expected in 2027
What appears above is what we expect Apple to show during the late October event. There's even more waiting in the wings, but they're rumored to be arriving at a later time, in early 2027.
That list includes updates to:
- MacBook Air
- MacBook Neo
- iPhone Air 2
- iPhone 18
- iPhone 18e
- iPad Air
- iPad Pro
- Entry-level iPad.
As always, AppleInsider will keep tabs on the rumor mill and potential launches in the future.