Apple reportedly plans touchscreen MacBook Pro for October

Apple is planning to introduce its first touchscreen MacBook Pro and an OLED iPad mini around October 27, according to reporting based on people familiar with the company’s plans. Apple has not confirmed the event or the products, so the date and details remain reported plans rather than official announcements. The reported presentation would be a second October product launch, following a smart-home event Apple has announced for October 13. The late-month event is expected to include an online presentation and an in-person press component, according to the reports. The MacBook Pro redesign is expected to include OLED touchscreens and thinner, lighter designs in 14-inch and 16-inch models. The laptops are also reported to have a Dynamic Island-style cutout around the front camera, similar to the feature on recent iPhones. Bloomberg’s reporting describes the touchscreen models as retaining conventional keyboards and trackpads, allowing users to switch between those controls and touch gestures. The shift would mark a change in Apple’s longstanding approach to its laptop line, which has relied on keyboards and trackpads rather than touch-enabled displays.