OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro Announced: iPad mini OLED and More at Apple Event

2026-10-28T22:14:37.525Z

Devices are being sent to our test lab

We were able to get our hands on several of the new Apple products announced this week and have shipped them off to our lab for formal testing. For reviews, we run laptops, tablets and phones through a battery of benchmarks and real-world use scenarios to measure speed, battery life, thermals and other important factors. Expect detailed results once the lab team finishes their cycles.

2026-10-28T21:29:09.076Z

iPhone Duo versus iPad mini 8: a side-by-side look

While handling the new MacBook, we also had time to place the iPad mini 8 next to the iPhone Duo to compare size, feel and capabilities. The two devices cater to different needs — the iPhone Duo is a foldable phone experience, while the iPad mini 8 is a compact tablet with OLED. Which would you choose: a small tablet or a foldable phone?

2026-10-28T20:43:05.090Z

macOS gets touch-friendly tweaks

Apple has made several adjustments to macOS to better support direct-touch interactions on the new touchscreen models. For instance, the window controls — the green, yellow and red buttons — now expand when you touch them, making selection easier with a finger. There are also touch gestures like swipe-to-scroll, pinch-to-zoom and drag, which will feel familiar to anyone coming from an iPhone or iPad. Apps such as Finder and Calendar are receiving interface tweaks like larger menu icons and increased tappable targets. Apple says developers will be able to adopt touch APIs, so expect third-party apps to be updated over the coming weeks and months.

2026-10-28T20:00:36.714Z

Hands-on impressions of the OLED MacBook Pro

Mark Spoonauer, Editor in Chief, spent time in Los Angeles with the new MacBook Pro that sports an OLED touchscreen. He’s published his first impressions after getting hands-on time with the device, covering build quality, display feel and how macOS responds to touch input. If you’re curious about the initial impressions of the PROLED experience, his write-up is a good place to start.

2026-10-28T19:31:26.507Z

What are your thoughts on PROLED?

We put a poll up to ask readers how they feel about Apple’s new PROLED screen and touchscreen MacBook. If you’ve had a chance to see it or are weighing whether to buy, tell us — excited, skeptical, or somewhere in between?

2026-10-28T19:01:10.203Z

Another peek at Apple’s new laptop

We’ve shared more photos and social posts showing the new MacBook Pro form factor and design details. There are several images floating around that give different angles on the device, so take another look if you want to study the profile and finish.

2026-10-28T18:31:19.540Z

What’s under the hood of the display?

The PROLED XDR panel is available in both 14- and 16-inch sizes. It offers up to 2,000 nits peak brightness, an ultra-high 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and supports a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. Color gamut options include P3 and Adobe RGB. The screen also supports touch and includes a Dynamic Island area for things like Spotlight, Live Activities and Siri AI. You can choose the standard glass or opt for nano-texture glass for an additional cost.

2026-10-28T18:00:05.043Z

Looking to cut costs?

If you don’t need the OLED touchscreen, Apple will continue offering MacBook Pro configurations with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips paired to a miniLED display. These non-OLED models are cheaper — the base 16-inch miniLED M5 configuration still starts around $3,000, whereas the comparable OLED touchscreen model adds roughly $400 to the price.

2026-10-28T17:50:07.226Z

More hands-on time with the PROLED XDR MacBook

We’re continuing to gather more impressions and short clips from the floor showing the device in use. These give a better sense of how the touchscreen responds during everyday tasks and creative workflows.

2026-10-28T17:40:18.300Z

Analysts weigh in on Apple’s move to touch

We reached out to Francisco Jeronimo from IDC for his take on Apple’s adoption of touch on a Mac. He suggested the move won’t upend the PC market overnight, but it changes the narrative around notebook touchscreens: when Apple — a company that resisted touch on laptops for years — embraces it, the debate about touch being a gimmick ends. Instead, the focus shifts to who implements it best. For manufacturers, this acceptance lets them position touch as a premium feature, and for users it could lead to genuinely useful workflow improvements if implemented well.

2026-10-28T17:30:39.006Z

How expensive is a fully loaded PROLED MacBook?

Out of curiosity, we configured a fully maxed-out PROLED MacBook Pro. Here’s what that spec sheet looks like:
– 128GB RAM
– 16TB SSD storage
– M5 Max chip
– 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU
– 140W power adapter
– 16-inch PROLED display
– Nano-texture glass

The total for that configuration comes to $14,549. If outright purchase isn’t your thing, Apple also lists lease-style financing options — for example, an estimated $332/month over 36 months.

2026-10-28T17:22:36.472Z

Our first hands-on glimpse

The keynote wrapped and we finally had hands-on access. The first impressions are rolling in: the chassis is thinner, the screen is noticeably vivid, and touch interactions are noticeably responsive where they’re implemented.

2026-10-28T17:17:47.236Z

All the confirmed details on the MacBook Pro OLED

This new MacBook Pro is more than an OLED upgrade: it’s slimmer, ships with M5-class Pro and Max options (not the M6), introduces touch, and brings some macOS UI changes to accommodate those touch inputs. We’re digging into Apple’s announcement post for the full technical breakdown.

2026-10-28T17:15:46.358Z

Apple’s first PROLED promo video

Apple released the initial marketing clip for the PROLED MacBook Pro, showcasing the combination of touch, the new display and the machine’s pro-level capabilities. The trailer gives a good sense of how Apple wants people to perceive the interaction model and design.

2026-10-28T17:14:44.483Z

Apple unveils the PROLED MacBook Pro

Apple officially announced a new MacBook Pro featuring what it calls a “PROLED XDR Display” with built-in touch capabilities. The lineup is offered with M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon rather than the newer-generation M6 for the OLED models. We’re parsing the details and will publish deeper analysis shortly.

2026-10-28T17:10:33.880Z

John Ternus teases the new display on X

Apple executive John Ternus posted a short clip on X showing the new MacBook’s display in action ahead of the full reveal. The short video provided an early glimpse at the lighting and texture of the screen.

2026-10-28T17:05:51.041Z

Quick recap of the event so far

John Ternus opened the presentation flanked by imagery of the iPad mini 8, setting the stage before moving into the MacBook reveal. That gave us a little build-up before Apple introduced the PROLED notebook.

2026-10-28T17:03:20.715Z

Ternus takes the stage in Los Angeles

Although there wasn’t a public livestream for this part of the event, John Ternus led the presentation on site in Los Angeles. The crowd and media in attendance got to see the devices in person.

2026-10-28T17:02:23.048Z

Apple’s online store goes quiet ahead of the reveal

The Apple Store went down briefly prior to the announcement — a classic sign that new products are about to be published. With the store refreshed, we knew the reveal was imminent.

2026-10-28T16:54:38.057Z

Five minutes until showtime

We were about five minutes from the scheduled start, and the team reminded readers to stay tuned. We planned to share hands-on impressions and analysis as they became available.

2026-10-28T16:47:07.153Z

Apple-ception: photographing the logo with an Apple device

A quick moment of tech humor: someone snapped the Apple logo using the new iPhone Duo — a little meta, but a nice snapshot of the product ecosystem in action.

2026-10-28T16:41:47.415Z

We are pros — and we’ll tell you what we think

Short note: the editorial team — pros in hardware testing and reviews — were on site to bring real-world impressions and expert opinion throughout the event.

2026-10-28T16:34:12.574Z

Finding our seats inside the venue

The crew made their way into the space and took seats, preparing for the presentation and the hands-on demos afterward.

2026-10-28T16:30:16.937Z

Meanwhile: other tech news of the week

While waiting for Apple’s announcement, we noted other headlines from the week — including Amazon’s new Echo Show 16 that positions itself against Apple’s HomeView. If you’re comparing smart displays as part of your home setup, it’s worth watching how these products stack up.

2026-10-28T16:21:50.497Z

Event preview

We shared short previews and clips highlighting what to expect from today’s presentation: hardware reveals, possible pre-order timing and key features to watch for such as touch and Dynamic Island integration.

2026-10-28T16:16:44.450Z

We’re inside the building!

Doors opened and attendees streamed in. The event was still about 40 minutes away, but the venue atmosphere made it clear the reveal was close.

2026-10-28T15:55:10.937Z

While we wait: what Apple announced earlier this week

Pro and Tell has been covering a busy week of Apple news. If you missed earlier releases:
– Monday: Apple introduced the iPad mini 8 with an OLED screen, an A20 Pro chip (similar to the latest iPhones) and an under-display speaker that removes the grille, making the device IP67 rated. Pricing starts at $699.
– Tuesday: Apple launched the iMac M6 and a base MacBook Pro with M6 and a miniLED display — incremental upgrades focused on improved efficiency and performance, priced from $1,499 for the iMac and $1,999 for the MacBook Pro.

2026-10-28T15:30:27.118Z

We’re on site

Quick check-in from inside the event — the team reported live and prepared to bring updates as Apple revealed details.

2026-10-28T15:29:13.693Z

How to pre-order the M6 MacBook Pro

Apple announced an M6-equipped MacBook Pro, with pre-orders scheduled to begin at 10:10 a.m. PT on October 28 and shipping to start on November 6. If you’re planning to buy the M6 base model, that’s your window for pre-order.

2026-10-28T15:09:27.984Z

Could Apple call it the MacBook Studio?

There was some playful speculation that Apple might brand the device “MacBook Studio” after a promotional video showed the Apple logo projected on a wall near what looked like a studio set. Most signs still point toward MacBook Pro as the continued branding, but rumors and imaginative names like MacBook Ultra have been tossed around.

2026-10-28T15:00:30.817Z

Creator Studio receives new tools

In quieter news that might matter to creators, Apple expanded Creator Studio functionality: MotionVFX content is coming to Final Cut Pro, new video assets are being added to the Content Hub, Logic Pro sees enhanced music tools and AI-driven features are being integrated across Logic Pro, Keynote, Pages and Numbers. If you work with Apple’s pro software, these updates are worth a closer look.

2026-10-28T14:37:47.917Z

Want to test the M6 performance now?

If you’re eager to see what the M6 silicon can do today, it’s available in the new Mac mini released earlier. Visit an Apple Store to try an M6 Mac mini demo unit and get a feel for single-core speeds and AI-related tasks compared to previous chips. Our lab has already tested the M6 Mac mini and found a notable uplift over M5.

2026-10-28T14:08:32.348Z

Will you buy one?

With an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro expected, we asked readers whether they plan to buy one. If you’re on the fence, weigh the added touch features and OLED advantages against the price increases.

2026-10-28T13:39:24.430Z

What are your plans today?

Since the announcement might happen a few hours later than initially rumored, we asked readers what they planned to do while waiting. The editorial team stayed glued to Apple’s newsroom, watching for any unexpected product drops.

2026-10-28T13:25:33.724Z

Just a small tease from Apple

Apple shared a brief clip on X that hinted at a glowing Apple logo on the laptop’s lid — a nostalgic nod to earlier MacBook designs. It stoked curiosity and a little hype among those watching.

2026-10-28T13:04:37.163Z

Looks like we’ll be waiting a bit

One of the rumored announcement times passed without a release, so we adjusted expectations and prepared for the next potential reveal time. We kept refreshing Apple’s newsroom in case the company published details unexpectedly.

2026-10-28T12:53:47.212Z

Maybe it’s almost time

We indicated another possible announcement window was approaching. Rumors suggested Apple might shift the reveal to 1 p.m. ET, but our team stood ready in case the 9 a.m. slot turned out to be the real one.

2026-10-28T12:50:48.711Z

No 16-inch M6 MacBook Pro — at least not yet

Apple’s site listed M5 Pro and M5 Max models but no 16-inch M6 MacBook Pro at the time of check. Historically, Apple has offered both 14- and 16-inch options; one theory is that the 16-inch M6 variant might be reserved for the OLED touchscreen model, which could help explain the higher price.

2026-10-28T12:07:27.028Z

I wish Apple made a convertible

While a touchscreen on a MacBook is intriguing, not having a convertible hinge that turns the laptop into a tablet limits how useful touch may be for some users. Historically, touch on clamshell laptops hasn’t been a huge productivity win unless the device can fold or convert, so we’re curious whether Apple’s hinge design will support frequent tapping without wobble.

2026-10-28T11:28:06.247Z

Three things we’ll be watching at the OLED announcement

Here are three finer points we wanted to observe beyond just “touch” or “M5 Pro/Max”:
– Is the hinge reinforced? Tap-induced wobble has been a problem with some laptop touch-conversion kits; we want to see if Apple addressed that.
– How is weight distributed in the thinner chassis? A lighter laptop needs balanced weight so it doesn’t tip when you tap the screen.
– How will the Dynamic Island function on macOS? On iPhone it shows real-time app status; on a pro laptop there are interesting possibilities, potentially even new integrations with Siri AI.

2026-10-28T11:12:21.600Z

I’m impressed with how thin the iPad mini 8 is

One standout from Apple’s earlier announcements is how slim the iPad mini 8 has become — reduced to 5.4mm from 6.3mm. That reduction in thickness, along with lighter weight, makes the mini an even more portable, pocketable tablet while keeping a larger usable screen.

2026-10-28T11:02:01.777Z

Should M5 MacBook Pro owners upgrade to M6?

For those already using an M5-based MacBook Pro, the improvements in M6 are incremental in many pro workflows. While the M6 brings faster single-core performance and additional AI enhancements, the M5 Pro/Max machines remain very capable for demanding tasks. If you depend on multi-core throughput or GPU-heavy workflows, compare benchmarks before deciding whether to upgrade right away.

2026-10-28T10:54:48.088Z

Geeking out over Creator Studio updates

For creators, the quieter Creator Studio announcements could be game-changers: MotionVFX assets arriving in Final Cut Pro, improved stem-splitting tools in Logic Pro, and AI-assisted workflows that make setup and mixing faster. If you’re a content creator, these changes merit a closer look.

2026-10-28T10:46:35.574Z

How does the M6 iMac compare to the M4 model?

Externally the new iMac might look similar, but the M6 brings internal improvements that matter: better CPU performance, a reworked core layout, and enhanced Neural Engine capabilities. If you’re weighing an iMac upgrade, our benchmarks comparing M6 to M4 will help determine whether the jump is worth it.

2026-10-28T10:38:57.783Z

When might Apple announce the OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro?

Apple has been sticking to a pattern for releases recently, but this event’s timing is a bit peculiar: the “Pro and Tell” presentation starts at 10 a.m. PT and pre-orders are scheduled for 10:10 a.m. PT — an oddly precise time that suggests a video or timed reveal. Our best guess was a 10 a.m. PT announcement, but schedules can shift; either way, we were standing by to update readers as soon as Apple published the details.

2026-10-28T10:26:14.268Z

Why the iPhone 18 Pro + iPad mini 8 could be the smarter combo

With the iPad mini 8 priced at $699 and the iPhone 18 Pro at roughly $1,199, the combined cost of those two devices comes in around $1,898 — cheaper than some of the newer single-device options and offering complementary screen sizes and capabilities. For people who want both a powerful phone and a compact tablet, the math and functionality might make more sense than buying a dual-screen phone like the iPhone Duo.

2026-10-28T10:20:11.172Z

Don’t expect an OLED MacBook Air soon

Despite testing and prototypes, an OLED MacBook Air is reportedly still a ways off. Apple continues to prioritize OLED and touch for its pro lineup, while the Air is likely to stick with a standard LCD in the near-term refresh cycle.

2026-10-28T10:13:30.095Z

What about Jon Prosser’s Apple-style keynote?

Jon Prosser, who has had legal entanglements with Apple in the past, posted his own video announcing Apple products. While his activities and legal situation are separate from Apple’s official channels, his content sometimes mirrors what the company reveals. We’ll see how his take compares to Apple’s official messaging.

2026-10-28T10:09:12.515Z

How might a Dynamic Island work on a MacBook Pro?

One intriguing rumor is the inclusion of a Dynamic Island-like area on the MacBook Pro screen. On iPhone it surfaces ongoing background activity; on a laptop it could expand into new uses — a quick dock for files, a place for Siri AI interactions, or persistent app status indicators. Translating that concept to a pro notebook opens up many possibilities.

2026-10-28T10:02:08.998Z

Are you excited for an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro?

We asked readers if they were hyped for an OLED touchscreen MacBook. The idea generates enthusiasm, but many are reserving judgment until they see whether the hardware and software integrations genuinely enhance productivity.

2026-10-28T09:55:25.652Z

M5’s raw power versus M6’s efficiency

The product lineup is interesting on paper: the base MacBook Pro with the M6 and the higher-tier OLED notebook using M5 Pro/Max. M6 appears to push single-core speeds and efficiency, while the M5 Pro and M5 Max remain dominant in heavy multi-threaded workloads and high-bandwidth tasks. Which chip is right depends on your workflows.

(Selected comparative results from testing — representative rather than exhaustive)
– M6 (Mac mini): Geekbench single/multi ~ 4708 / 21405
– M5 Pro (MacBook Pro): Geekbench single/multi ~ 4306 / 28586
– M5 Max (MacBook Pro): Geekbench single/multi ~ 4338 / 29430
Disk and transcode figures also favor the M5 Pro/Max in sustained throughput and heavy media tasks.

2026-10-28T09:50:04.068Z

Expect a price increase for the OLED MacBook Pro

We spoke to David Naranjo at Counterpoint Research about the bill of materials for an OLED MacBook Pro, and the conclusion was that an OLED panel will raise manufacturing costs. His estimated retail price range for the OLED Pro is roughly $2,799 to $2,999 — in line with other reporting that suggests OLED adds a notable premium over the current miniLED models.

2026-10-28T09:46:02.787Z

Previously on ‘Pro and Tell’ this week

Quick recap of the week’s earlier Apple announcements:
– Monday: iPad mini 8 with OLED, A20 Pro chip and under-screen speaker; starts at $699.
– Tuesday: iMac M6 and M6 base MacBook Pro with miniLED; prices beginning at $1,499 and $1,999.

Pre-orders for these devices opened on the day of the event at 10:10 a.m. PT.

2026-10-28T09:40:19.136Z

Is macOS ready for touch? What I’d change

We experimented with a third-party touch overlay to see what a touchscreen Mac feels like. Apple is likely to make targeted UI adjustments, but we’d like to see aggressive icon scaling to enlarge touch targets, system-level multi-touch gestures similar to the trackpad, and better window snapping and split-screen handling inspired by modern foldable phone UIs.

2026-10-28T09:36:42.006Z

Good morning!

We kicked off the live coverage early, noting that this could be one of the biggest days in MacBook Pro history if Apple truly integrates a high-end OLED touchscreen. The change would represent a significant shift in Apple’s long-held stance on touch in notebook form factors, and we were eager to see how the company reconciles macOS with direct-touch interactions.

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