Apple’s October 28 event, called “Pro and Tell,” takes place in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and the press invitations list a 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) start. If you were about to buy a MacBook, iMac or iPad mini, you do not have to gamble: Apple’s own 14-day return window means a purchase from Apple this week can still go back after the event.
The short version
Apple has an event on Oct. 28, and the reports point to new Macs, so anyone shopping for a MacBook Pro, iMac or iPad mini should either wait a week or buy from Apple and keep the return window open.
- The event is on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and the invitations Apple sent to the press list a 10 a.m. PT start, which is 1 p.m. ET.
- Apple gives you 14 calendar days from the day you receive an item to return it, so an order that arrives on Oct. 23 can go back until Nov. 6.
- Reports say Apple will show a touchscreen MacBook Pro, new M6 MacBook Pro and iMac models, and possibly a new iPad mini, but Apple has not confirmed any product.
- On Oct. 21, Apple’s store listed the 14-inch MacBook Pro from $1,999, the 16-inch from $2,999 and the iPad mini from $599.
- The downside of waiting: new models may cost more, and other stores have their own return rules.
The upshot: a new Mac bought this week can feel a lot older on Oct. 29. The cheapest mistake is the one you can still return.
What Apple has confirmed about the Apple October 28 event
Not much, on purpose. Apple marketing executive Greg Joswiak posted on X on Oct. 19: “Can’t wait to pro and tell next week.” The invitation gives a date, a time and a city. It does not name a single product.
The word “Pro” is the only clue Apple gave. Apple sells Pro versions of the MacBook, iPad and iPhone, and the iPhone 18 Pro already came out in September.
What reports say Apple will show (not confirmed)
These come from reports, not from Apple. Macworld and other Apple watchers expect:
- A MacBook Pro with a touchscreen and an OLED display, which would be Apple’s first Mac you can touch. Reports say it could cost more than today’s models.
- A refreshed MacBook Pro with an M6 chip and the current design.
- An iMac with an M6 chip, replacing the M4 iMac Apple sells now.
- Possibly a new iPad mini.
Nothing in these reports mentions the MacBook Air or the iPhone. Treat every item on this list as a maybe until Apple posts it.
The return window math
Apple’s return policy says you have 14 calendar days to return an item from the date you received it. That is the whole trick. Here is how it lines up with the event if you buy from Apple:
- Order arrives Oct. 21: you can return it until Nov. 4, a week after the event.
- Order arrives Oct. 23: you can return it until Nov. 6.
- Order arrived Oct. 14 or earlier: your window closes on or before the event, so decide now.
Check the details on Apple’s returns page before you order. Other stores set their own rules, and some charge a restocking fee or give fewer days, so read the receipt terms wherever you buy.
Who should wait, and who can buy now
Wait a week if you want a MacBook Pro, an iMac or an iPad mini. Those are the products the reports keep naming. The iPad mini you can buy today runs the A17 Pro chip and starts at $599.
Buy now if you need the computer for work or school this week, or you want a MacBook Air. Just buy it from a store with a return window that runs past Oct. 28.
Skip if a brand new design is the only reason you are tempted. First versions of new hardware sometimes come with first version problems, and memory chip shortages are already pushing laptop and PC prices up.
On Oct. 21, Apple’s store listed the 14-inch MacBook Pro from $1,999 and the 16-inch from $2,999. If those prices already stretch your budget, a touchscreen model is unlikely to help. Our best laptops for students guide and our best tablets of 2026 list cover cheaper options.
What to watch: If a new Mac shows up on apple.com before Oct. 28, the wait just got shorter.
