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9to5Mac's daily podcast episode for November 6 covers recent App Store policy changes and the launch of a new MacBook Pro, summarizing the day's top Apple-related stories. The episode is distributed via standard podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Apple has released a new MacBook Pro that reviewers describe as high-quality but expensive, with fully configured models reaching prices mostly affordable to well-funded businesses. The laptop notably includes a touchscreen, a first for Apple's lineup, while remaining largely built around established computing design rather than new AI-driven paradigms.
Apple has released a support document detailing how the newly reintroduced illuminated Apple logo on the MacBook Pro's lid works, including a terminal command for users who want to switch it off entirely. The logo, powered by software with per-device calibration, automatically adjusts brightness based on screen settings and ambient light detected by the laptop's sensor.
Apple has seeded the first developer beta of macOS 27.3 Golden Gate, build 26C5035r, just a week after macOS 27.2 shipped. The update is expected to add Siri AI support for Traditional Chinese, Norwegian, Turkish and Vietnamese, continuing a language rollout Apple has promised to complete by year's end.
Namespace Labs posted a viral video showing hundreds of unboxed MacBook Pros being installed directly into datacenter server racks, rather than using Mac Minis or Mac Pros. The company says it built custom hardware and software to let these MacBook-based racks spin up fresh macOS instances within seconds and deploy new Xcode versions hours after Apple releases them. Namespace says the approach was driven by long delivery delays on bulk Mac Mini orders and inconsistent chip rollout timing across Apple's device lineup.
Apple published a white paper defending the $400 price increase for the MacBook Pro's new PROLED XDR Display, framing the touchscreen as a secondary feature rather than the main upgrade. The company says the display uses tandem OLED technology similar to its $2,899-$3,599 Studio Display XDR monitor, offering 1000 nits sustained brightness, 2000 nits peak HDR, and a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio, along with support for its new Apple CMF 2026 color standard.
Apple's redesigned iPad Mini now features an 8.5-inch Tandem OLED Super Retina XDR display, up slightly from the prior model but in similar overall dimensions. It reaches 600 nits SDR and 1,200 nits HDR brightness, lacks the 120Hz refresh rate found on the iPad Pro, and offers an optional $100 nano-texture glass finish. Apple also trimmed the color lineup to two options, Starlight and a new navy-blue Midnight.
Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display goes on sale Friday, and reviewers are recommending compatible accessories including faster power adapters, Logitech's MX Master 4 mouse, Apple's Magic Trackpad, and a Twelve South laptop stand. The new model supports fast charging to 50 percent in 30 minutes but requires a higher-wattage charger than the one included in the box—Apple suggests a 96W adapter for the 14-inch model and 140W for the 16-inch version.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to phase out non-touchscreen versions of its higher-end MacBook Pro models equipped with Pro and Max chips, starting in 2027. The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will keep its current non-touch design and is expected to get an M7 chip and a thinner chassis instead.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple plans to update the base MacBook Pro next year with an M7 chip and the new thinner, lighter design with slimmer bezels introduced in the recent high-end refresh. Gurman also says a second-generation touchscreen MacBook Pro, powered by M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, is expected, with Apple reportedly skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max entirely.
Apple introduced touch support alongside new 'PROLED XDR' OLED displays on redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops. The new models are lighter than previous versions, include updated speakers, and carry higher prices than their predecessors.
Comparing Apple's own battery specs for the 2011 and 2026 16-inch MacBook Pro models shows the newer M5 Max machine packs a larger 99.6 watt-hour battery into a chassis about 16% lighter and 31% thinner than its 2011 counterpart. Using Apple's stated web-browsing battery life, average power draw falls from about 11W in 2011 to about 6.2W now, while independent rundown testing shows an even steeper drop from roughly 10.4W to about 3.2W.