Apple is expected to refresh the iMac and the 14-inch MacBook Pro on Wednesday, October 28, and the update is shaping up as a straightforward chip upgrade rather than a redesign, according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that MacRumors relayed on Sunday.
What is expected
Both machines are said to move to the M6 chip, the same generation that first appeared in the Mac mini in August. Gurman has reportedly reiterated that no design changes are planned for either product. That makes it what the industry often calls a "chip-and-ship" update: the same enclosures and general feature sets, with a faster processor inside.
The reporting does not include pricing, configuration details beyond the M6 chip, or on-sale dates, so those remain unknown. Apple has not announced either product.
The event
Apple has confirmed a "Pro and Tell" media experience in Los Angeles on October 28, as we reported earlier this week. The invitation did not name specific products, so the Mac lineup described here comes entirely from reporters and not from Apple.
MacRumors also points to separate reports that Apple could pair these models with a touchscreen MacBook Pro using an OLED display. Those reports describe a more significant change, and they are covered separately on our rumors page.
Where this leaves the Mac lineup
If the reports prove accurate, the 24-inch iMac would get its first chip update in a while, and the 14-inch MacBook Pro would move to the same silicon generation already used by the newest Mac mini. For buyers, the practical question will be whether Apple keeps pricing steady for the base configurations, something none of the current reports address.
Treat all of the above as unconfirmed until Apple speaks on Wednesday. We will update our coverage once the company makes its announcements.
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