Touchscreen interest?
We polled users on X to gauge the level of interest in a touchscreen MacBook Pro, and the results are somewhat surprising. More than half of the people who cared enough to respond are at least somewhat interested in what Apple brings to the tablet tomorrow. Check out the results below:
Foundry
Wallpaper shmallpaper
Ever since Apple has been releasing devices with screens, each generation has received new wallpaper to help distinguish between the old and new models. Except new Macs haven’t gotten new wallpaper for a while. Today’s MacBook Pro has the same wallpaper introduced with the M3 model back in 2023, while the iMac’s wallpaper is indistinguishable from the M4 model it replaces. Does that matter? Not really, but it also shows how little Apple thinks about these upgrades. A new MacBook Pro is supposed to launch tomorrow. I’ll be looking at the wallpaper.
Apple
Later launch on Wednesday
If you look at the pre-order times for the new iPad mini, iMac and MacBook Pro, you’ll see that they start at 10:10 am PT tomorrow. That also lines up with Apple’s hands-on event happening in LA at 10 am PT. So you probably don’t need to wake up early tomorrow to get a look at the touchscreen MacBook Pro. I’m pretty sure it won’t pop up on Apple’s website until 10 am PT/1 pm PT.
Apple’s ‘exciting’ week isn’t very exciting (yet)
After the iPhone Duo and Homeview, this final product launch of 2026 isn’t all that exciting, despite Greg Joswiak’s promise. At least not yet. Now that Apple has gotten the iPad mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro out of the way, the stage is set for the first-ever touchscreen MacBook Pro, which should bring a slew of exciting changes to Apple’s high-end laptop. Along with the touchscreen, there is expected to be a new design that’s much lighter, an upgraded hinge that doesn’t wobble when touched, and an OLED display. Now that’s exciting.
Upgrade for Final Cut Pro users
In addition to the new iMac and MacBook Pro, Apple updated Creator Studio today with several new features, most notably building MotionVFX into Final Cut Pro. Apple purchased MotionVFX earlier this year, but the plugin remained a $29/month plugin. Now that’s free, “giving editors access to thousands of elements, including templates with unique themes, stylish graphics, titles, and transitions, as well as tools for rotoscoping, tracking, and color grading,” for the same price as before.
Where are the new colors?
We’ve been reading reports about new iMac colors for years now, but they have yet to arrive. The new M6 models have the same seven “vibrant” colors: blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, and silver. There’s nothing wrong with those options, but why would Apple test new colors but not release them? Anyway, here are your iMac options probably for the next 2-3 years:
Apple
Faster Ethernet in the iMac
One small change in the iMac: The base model is now configurable up to 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet rather than 1 Gigabit Ethernet in the previous models. The four-port model comes with 2.5 Gigabit standard.
Same MacBook Pro, new chip
Like the iMacs, the M6 MacBook Pro is identical to the M5 model, with a new chip and Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Otherwise you’re getting the exact same machine. But in these times, I’m thankful the price hasn’t increased.
Just a new chip
The new iMac is very much the old iMac with a new chip. The colors, storage capacity, memory, display, and features are all the same. The only thing that’s improved is the wireless connectivity due to the N1 chip. Now you’ll get Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Apple launches new M6 iMac and MacBook Pro
As expected, Apple has announced M6 upgrades to the MacBook Pro and iMac, with the same starting prices ($1,499 for the iMac and $1,999 for the MacBook Pro). I’m off to dive into the specs, but at first glance it seems to be a very minor update.
How much will the new Macs cost?
Apple is expected to announce updates to the iMac and MacBook Pro this morning with new chips, possibly new colors, and probably a few other new features. But the question I have is, how much will they cost? Apple’s entry-level MacBook Pro already got a $300 bump in June, but Apple raised the price of the Mac mini, Apple TV 4K, and HomePod after their own bumps, so it’s possible the new M6 MacBook Pro crosses the $2,000.
The iMac currently starts at $1,499 with two Thunderbolt ports and a downgraded M4 with 8 cores, while the higher-end 10-core model with 4 Thunderbolt ports starts at $1,699. Both have 256GB hard drives. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the entry-level model axes and the storage increased to 1TB for a new starting price of $1,999.
The drawback of thinness
One of the many significant upgrades to the iPad mini announced yesterday was a redesign that sees the device drop from 6.3mm to 5.4mm thick. (It’s also shed 13 percent of its weight.) As my colleague Michael Simon pointed out yesterday, that puts the mini in the same ultra-slim company as the iPhone Air, unfolded iPhone Duo, and iPad Pro.
But of course there are drawbacks to this slimming down–and I’m not talking about lower battery life (which we’ll certainly test) or a tendency to bend (which other people who don’t mind damaging their loan units will certainly test). I’m talking about case compatibility.
Apple has added a new product to its online store called Smart Folio for iPad mini (A20 Pro). This accessory is certified as compatible with that model and no other. Will your existing cases work on the new iPad mini? Maybe (considering that the length and width are almost identical, and that many iPad cases attach on the back rather than completely enclosing the device), and maybe not. Best to give Apple $79 just to be on the safe side. Don’t complain. It’s thinner.
M6: What’s the big deal?
Assuming today goes the way we expect, the next set of announcements will focus heavily on the upgrades delivered by the M6 processor. This is part of Apple’s latest chip generation, and made its first appearance, to critical acclaim, in the Mac mini in August. So what’s the big deal?
The key factor here is that the M6 is the first of Apple’s chips to use the new 2nm manufacturing process from TSMC, which allows the company to increase core counts and add features while making the chip smaller than the M5. It also lets the chip run at lower power and higher clock speeds. Today’s new iMac and MacBook Pro could be looking at both greater processing muscle and improved power efficiency, and that’s a killer combination by anyone’s standards.
If you want all the details about this exciting new chip and the benefits it brings, Macworld’s Jason Cross spent some time doing a thorough M6 deep dive.
Screenshot
Apple
Welcome to day two!
Good morning to European readers, and U.S. readers who’ve got out of bed commendably early. It’s day two of Apple’s Pro and Tell week of announcements.
Yesterday was all about the iPad. Today we’re expecting some Mac news: new M6 versions of the iMac and MacBook Pro. Based on yesterday the announcement is likely to happen at 9 am ET, 1 pm ET. Stay tuned!
Take our poll!
With two more days of announcements coming this week, we want to know what you’re planning to buy: an iPad mini, M6 iMac, M6 MacBook Pro, or touchscreen MacBook Pro. Readers are weighing in and there’s no surprise here, with 41 percent of the vote, the touchscreen MacBook Pro leads the pack. Join the conversation and take our poll online.
Spotlight on hinges
Following this weekend’s iPhone Duo hinge issues, which have led to numerous cracked and damaged screens, Mark Gurman reports that Apple will be putting emphasis on the MacBook Pro’s new hinge when the touchscreen model arrives this week. He says Apple has made it “more stable so touching the screen doesn’t make it rock during usage.” It’s just a good thing that the new laptop won’t involve folding glass.
OS 27.2 updates are out
Ahead of a round of new product releases this week, as well as the HomePod mini coming Friday and the 4th-gen Apple TV 4K coming next month, Apple has released its first major update to OS 27 for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and everything else. So even if you’re not planning on buying something new this week, you devices can get some new features at least.
Next up: Macs and more Macs!
We’re still expecting three more announcements this week: the M6 iMac, the M6 entry-level MacBook Pro, and the touchscreen MacBook Pro. We assume tomorrow will bring the updates to the iMac and MacBook Pro and Wednesday will cap the announcements with the touchscreen model. It’s going to be a fun week!
Thin but not the thinnest
Over the past several years, Apple has put renewed emphasis on device thinness, with the M4 iPad Pro, iPhone Air, and iPhone Duo all competing for the crown of thinnest device. The iPad mini shaved off a considerable amount of thickness, going from 6.3mm to 5.4mm, but it’s still not quite as thin as other devices in Apple’s lineup:
- 13-inch iPad Pro: 5.1mm
- iPhone Duo (open): 5.2mm
- 11-inch iPad Pro: 5.3mm
- A20 Pro iPad mini: 5.4mm
- iPhone Air: 5.6 mm
Apple
Polishing Cloth included*
Apple is including a $9 Polishing Cloth with the iPad mini, but only if you spring for the nano display option, which costs $100 and is only available on the 256GB and 512GB models. Still, that’s a nice perk that iPhone Duo buyers sadly don’t get.
‘An exciting week’ ahead
Following the launch of the iPad mini this morning, Apple exec Greg Joswiak has teased a week of “exciting” announcements. That probably means we’re getting the M6 iMac and M6 MacBook Pro tomorrow and the touchscreen MacBook Pro on Wednesday. So stay tuned all week!
Still no ProMotion
While the iPad mini has all the makings of a pro device, with an OLED display, A20 Pro processor, and refined color palette, but it’s still missing one major feature of Apple’s other Pro devices: 120Hz ProMotion. There were scattered reports that Apple would be bringing the high-end screen tech to the mini along with its OLED upgrade, but alas, it didn’t make the cut. Looks like we’ll have to wait another 2-3 years.
A future-proofed device
iPad owners (with the exception of iPad Pro owners, who are a whole different breed) tend not to worry too much about tech specs. For the majority of Apple’s customers the iPad is a convenient way to read their emails and browse the internet on the couch, and you don’t need the very latest chip to accomplish that. So it might seem odd, even gratuitous, that the new iPad mini has a processor (the A20 Pro) that’s three generations newer than the A17 Pro in the last model.
But the key concept here is future-proofing. Because iPad owners have relatively low hardware requirements, they tend not to upgrade their devices very often. The iPad mini absolutely does not need to be this fast right now. But it will in five years, when the people who buy it this month will very likely still be using it.
I mean, there’s also AI. That’s how Apple is officially marketing the A20 Pro. But I would argue that cutting-edge AI performance is a pretty low priority for most of the mini’s prospective customers.
The mini’s colors are fading
Since its 2021 redesign, the iPad mini has been available in multiple colors, including blue, purple, and pink. With the launch of the 8th-gen model, there are now just two: Midnight (black) and Starlight (gold). For a device that usually goes caseless, those are disapppointing options. And from what we see on the website, Midnight looks a lot closer to space gray than dark blue, but we’ll need to see it in person.
Apple
A reason to get more storage
Apple has hidden a pretty nice upgrade in the tech specs. The 128GB and 256GB version of the iPad mini have a cut-down A20 Pro processor with a 5-core CPU and a single 16-core Neural Engine. But if you opt for the 512GB model you get the full version of the chip, with a 6-core CPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. I don’t know if you need that much power in an iPad mini or want to spend $999 on a 8.5-inch tablet, but at least you’re getting a little more for your money.
Comparing the old and new iPad mini
| iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad mini (A18 Pro) | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display | 8.5-inch Super Retina display |
| Processor | A17 Pro (8GB RAM) | A20 Pro (12GB RAM) |
| Storage | 128/256/512GB | 128/256/512GB |
| Front camera | 12MP Center Stage camera | 12MP Landscape Center Stage camera |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide camera | 12MP Wide camera |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in top button | Touch ID in top button |
| Audio | Landscape stereo speakers | Acoustic Display |
| Colors | Space Gray, Blue, Purple, Starlight | Midnight, Starlight |
| Dimensions | H: 7.69 inches (195.4 mm) W: 5.3 inches (134.8 mm) D: 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) |
H: 7.69 inches (195.3 mm) W: 5.22 inches (132.6 mm) D: 0.21 inch (5.4 mm) |
| Weight | 0.65 pound (293 grams) | 0.56 pound (255 grams) |
| Price | $599 | $699 |
AAAAAnd there it is!
Apple has announced the new iPad mini with a slew of upgrades: An OLED display, thinner and lighter design, A20 Pro processor, and water and dust resistance. That’s a bunch of firsts for a non-Pro iPad and a massive upgrade. The screen is now 8.5 inches (up from 8.3 inches) and the camera is now on the landscape edge. It also got a price hike, but not as bad as feared: $699.
What is Apple doing today?
Since Apple has only announced one day of announcements, one of three things could happen today: An iPad mini announcement at 9 am ET, 1 pm ET, or nothing at all. Mark Gurman thinks the mini could arrive today, though he frames it as a guess rather than his usual information from sources. So stick around, because something might be coming soon.
Who cares about the iPad mini?
All signs point to a new iPad mini arriving today. (Bear in mind, of course, that signs can be wrong.) Which raises an important question: Who cares?
When it was first unveiled in 2012 the mini seemed like the tablet of the future. Attractive, portable, and capable, it had all the ingredients for success. But since then it’s been squeezed by developments at either end of the range.
iPads have gained bigger screens and more powerful specs at the upper end, and are now suitable for work and entertainment in a way that the diminutive mini can’t match. On the other hand, why buy an iPad mini as well as a phone when you can get a big-screen iPhone such as the 18 Pro Max or Duo and have a capable device that can fulfil both functions? The Duo’s inner screen is 7.6 inches, very nearly as big as that of the original mini and not far behind its current 8.3 inches. And the Duo fits that screen into a far more pocketable chassis.
The iPad mini doesn’t even have affordability to recommend it these days, starting at a scarcely budget-friendly $599. The cheap option is the standard iPad at $449, and that comes with a bigger display.
Today’s challenge will be to make the iPad mini relevant again. An OLED screen is a nice idea, but is it enough to shift perceptions of a product that faces superior alternatives in every direction? What about an IP rating and a 2nm processor? My colleague Mahmoud Itani thinks the iPad mini is ready to become the best tablet for everyone, but it won’t be easy.
Foundry
Very cool, completely illogical
The iPhone Duo and the HomeView home hub are both very cool and desirable products, but neither of them make a whole lot of sense. At least in the cold, logical, ‘essential tool for everyday life’ type of way. They’re products that everyone wants and nobody needs.
This week could see Apple add a third entry to that list. Does a touchscreen MacBook make sense? Not really, as we discuss in this week’s Apple Breakfast column, but that doesn’t mean it will fail.
Steve Jobs on touchscreens
When Apple released the iPad in 2010, Steve Jobs described why adding a touchscreen to one of Apple’s existing laptops wasn’t the right move:
“We’ve done tons of user testing on this, and it turns out it doesn’t work. Touch surfaces don’t want to be vertical. It gives a great demo, but after a short period of time you start to fatigue, and after an extended period of time your arm wants to fall off; it doesn’t work. It’s ergonomically terrible. Touch surfaces want to be horizontal, hence touchpads for a notebook. That’s why we’ve perfected our multi-touch trackpads over the years.”
How will Apple sell its new touchscreen Mac to the public? According to Mark Gurman, it will be billed as an “optional” feature rather than a primary one, not unlike the Touch Bar. And, well, we all know how that went.
Three days of announcements?
With several new Macs and one new iPad reportedly on the way, we could be in store for several days of announcements. Maybe the iPad mini on Monday, the M6 iMac and MacBook Pro on Tuesday, and the touchscreen MacBook on Wednesday? We’ll find out soon.
Don’t expect a keynote
While Apple has sent out invitations gathering influencers and members of the media to an “experience” in LA Wednesday at 1pm ET, there once again won’t be a keynote to announce the new products. So get ready for press releases and website updates.
Welcome to the Pro and Tell live blog!
Hi everyone, we’re starting this on Sunday because we don’t know what to expect this week. We know there won’t be a keynote, but we don’t know if Apple will spread out its launches throughout the week as it has done in the past. So come back each day to check out what you missed!