Apple unveils upgraded iPad Mini and hints at OLED touchscreen MacBook

Apple said on Monday that the latest iPad Mini receives its biggest upgrade to date, featuring an 8.5-inch OLED display with a nano-texture option that offers higher contrast and more than double the peak brightness of the prior model. The device will start at $699, with pre-orders opening on October 28 and shipments beginning on November 6. It also adds a 12-megapixel front camera and an "acoustic display" for enhanced audio.

"With a remarkably thinner and lighter design, a stunning new OLED display, the incredibly powerful A20 Pro and water and dust resistance, the new iPad mini is a huge leap forward for users who love having the full iPad experience in the palm of their hand," said Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of hardware engineering.

Apple’s event in Los Angeles on Wednesday is expected to focus on the MacBook line, with reports that the company may introduce a MacBook featuring an OLED screen and a touchscreen option – a first for the product line. Analysts note that such a move would contrast with statements made by the late Steve Jobs in 2010, when he argued that touchscreens on laptops were ergonomically problematic.

Technology market analyst David Naranjo of Counterpoint Research said that competitors such as Asus, Lenovo, HP and Dell have already brought OLED screens to premium notebooks, and Apple’s entry could influence the market. He added that Apple’s scale in supply-chain management could lower OLED panel costs and expand availability across product categories.

Naranjo estimated that a 14-inch OLED MacBook with touchscreen capability could be priced between $2,799 and $2,999, reflecting the cost of advanced OLED technology, potential touch features and memory requirements. He cautioned that the launch comes as overall PC sales are slowing, presenting an additional challenge for the company.

Bloomberg reports that Apple may rename the MacBook Pro as the MacBook Ultra. The event is also expected to showcase incremental updates to other product lines, including iMacs, iPads, the recently announced foldable iPhone Duo, the HomeView AI hub, and the Apple TV 4K.