Apple’s long-rumoured touchscreen MacBook may finally be weeks away. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple plans to introduce its first touch-screen MacBook and a new iPad mini on or around Tuesday, October 27. In the same week of news, Amazon said its Leo satellite internet service is just weeks from launching commercially.
Apple hasn’t confirmed the October 27 date, so treat the Mac and iPad details as reports, not announcements.
Touchscreen MacBook Pro: what Bloomberg reports
Bloomberg says the new MacBook Pros, code-named K114 and K116, will be lighter than current models and use OLED screens with touch support. They’ll also get the Dynamic Island, the on-screen interface iPhone users know well. MacRumors, citing Bloomberg, says they’ll come in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes within the MacBook Pro family, despite earlier rumours of a “MacBook Ultra” name.
Bloomberg first reported on this project in 2023, so the wait has been a long one. Apple has historically kept touch off the Mac, which makes this a notable change in direction if it happens.
A new iPad mini and M6 Macs
The iPad mini, code-named J510, is expected to get an OLED screen, a video-call camera moved to the landscape side, and a revamped speaker system. Bloomberg also reports updated 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models with M6 chips, which will look much like the current versions.
The launch will include an online video presentation and an in-person part for the press, and it’s said to be aimed at creative professionals in video, photo editing and music production.
That’s on top of a separate Apple event on October 13 for its smart home push, which Bloomberg says includes its first smart home hub with a display, a new HomePod mini and an updated Apple TV, with accessories from LG and Schneider Electric.
Amazon Leo satellite internet is weeks away
Over in space, Amazon’s Leo project, its rival to SpaceX’s Starlink, has hit a big production milestone. Amazon told Ars Technica it recently built its 1,000th satellite at its factory in Kirkland, Washington, and can now build a handful every day.
The bottleneck is rockets. Amazon has 396 satellites in orbit, which it says is enough for initial service, and it plans to start commercial service in 2026. Its next satellites are already stacked for a United Launch Alliance Vulcan launch and an Ariane 6 launch, “both expected in the coming weeks,” according to Via Satellite. Program head Rajeev Badyal told Ars: “I can say we’re weeks away from launching on Vulcan.”
The full first-generation network needs 3,232 satellites, so there’s a long way to go. The Next Web notes that launch delays already cost Amazon some spectrum priority with the US regulator earlier this year.
Two sides to consider
For buyers, a touch-screen MacBook could make Macs feel closer to the iPad and iPhone. Some longtime Mac users, though, may question whether touch belongs on a laptop at all, and pricing hasn’t been reported. For Amazon Leo, more competition in satellite internet could mean more choice for people in remote areas. At the same time, Amazon’s timeline still depends on rockets: Ars reports Vulcan was held up by a nozzle issue, which Amazon says has been fixed.
What this could mean for buyers in India
As a writer, I feel the touchscreen MacBook is the one Apple fans here will be watching closely, but I’d wait for the official launch, prices and real reviews before planning an upgrade. On Leo, I think any extra satellite internet option is good news in principle for places where fibre doesn’t reach, though there’s nothing yet to say when or whether it will be available here.
Related reading: SpaceX’s spectrum deal and Starlink’s mobile carrier plans, space tech’s 12.1x investment multiple in 2026, and Apple’s iPhone leasing via Klarna.