Apple to Launch new MacBooks Next Week

Apple will use next week's media event to release a new 13-inch MacBook, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 15-inch MacBook Pro, according to Ming-Chi Kuo at KGI Securities. Likely the headliner of the event, the 15-inch MacBook Pro will feature a Retina display, Touch ID, an OLED function row above the keyboard, and upgraded internals, according to rumors. It's not clear what upgrades the 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro will see.

The often-reliable Apple analyst said the 13-inch MacBook will be a successor to the 12-inch Retina MacBook released in 2015 and upgraded in April 2016.

Interestingly, Kuo said Apple won't ship its rumored iMac upgrade or external 5k display until the first half of 2017.

The 5k display, a follow-up to the Thunderbolt Display, is rumored to have an integrated GPU.

Apple's "Hello Again" event is scheduled to start at 10 am PT/1 pm ET on Oct. 27 and will be live-streamed by Apple. It's not clear if Apple will announce the iMac and external display at the event or keep it MacBook only.