Apple has an event on Oct. 28. Here is what to do if you planned to buy a Mac or iPad

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.

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 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.

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.

These come from reports, not from Apple. Macworld and other Apple watchers expect:

Nothing in these reports mentions the MacBook Air or the iPhone. Treat every item on this list as a maybe until Apple posts it.

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:

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.

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.

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