Apple could hold an October event to launch new MacBook Pros, iMacs and iPad minis, marking the fourth time in the past five years.
According to MacRumors, Apple is expected to hold another event in October this year to announce new Mac and iPad models, following the iPhone launch event on September 10.
If this happens, this will be the fourth time in the past five years that Apple has held an event in October. Last year, the company held an online event on October 30, to announce new MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M3 chip line.
In a Power On report earlier this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple will hold an event in October to unveil new iPad models, including an upgraded iPad mini, along with the first Mac models to use the M4 chip line.
Currently, Apple has not officially announced any event in October, so this information is still just a rumor.
New products expected to be announced:
MacBook Pro
According to Gurman, Apple is expected to announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips in the coming weeks. There are no rumors of design changes to this year's MacBook models. Expected improvements like OLED displays and thinner designs may not arrive until 2026.
Apple redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros in 2021, with the latest models featuring the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips released last October.
iMac
Apple also plans to update the iMac with the M4 chip in the near future, according to Gurman. No design changes have been announced for this desktop model.
One unanswered question is whether iMac accessories like the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad will switch from Lightning to USB-C this year.
Mac mini
Gurman predicts the Mac mini will be upgraded with M4 and M4 Pro chips, and the desktop mini will be redesigned to be nearly as compact as the Apple TV. The new Mac mini will likely lose its USB-A ports and instead feature five USB-C ports, including two on the front of the device.
This will be the first significant upgrade to the Mac mini since 2010.
iPad mini
As mentioned, Gurman expects the seventh-generation iPad mini to be announced at Apple's October event.
Rumored features for the new iPad mini include a faster chip, upgraded front and rear cameras, a fix for "jelly scrolling" — a tearing of the screen when used in portrait mode — support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and new color options.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the new iPad mini would enter mass production in the second half of 2024, so there's a similarity from multiple reputable sources that the device will be updated later this year.
Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with innovative features at the time such as a large 8.3-inch display, USB-C port, Touch ID power button, A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with second-generation Apple Pencil, and more.
Gurman also mentioned that “mid-range iPad models” will also be announced in the coming weeks, so it’s possible that the iPad 11 will be announced at Apple’s event. However, the iPad 11’s display isn’t expected to start shipping until October, so that device could be announced later.