It’s getting colder in parts of the US, which means pumpkin spice coffee, football on Saturdays and Sundays, and… more new Apple stuff is on the way. Since 2010, Apple has held a “special event” in October eight times, and we expect it to do the same this year.
Cupertino must organize an event next month; otherwise, it couldn’t officially accommodate two of the most important new products announced in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), iPadOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura.
Along with new software, new hardware might be coming. At last year’s “Unleashed” event on October 18, for example, the company showed off new color options for the HomePod mini, AirPods (3rd gen), and 14-inch MacBook Pro and (next-gen). ).
Here’s what Apple should announce in a few weeks.
Apple October Event: iPadOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura
iPadOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura: These software updates are guaranteed to appear next month after nearly five months of intensive beta testing. Both have Stage Manage and other new and improved features.
We’ve written extensively about both software updates over the past few weeks. The biggest unknown is whether Additional features will be announced that work exclusively on new iPads and Macs, respectively (see below).
– Probability of being announced: Zero doubt.
Apple October Event: iPad
iPad Pro: There will likely be a new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro announced next month. Both will feature the M2 chip that first arrived in this year’s MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Additionally, it will be interesting to see if these tablets feature Dynamic Island, which has just arrived on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
– Probability: Almost certain. However, the long-talked-about 14-inch iPad Pro is less likely to make an appearance. Instead, this product could be one of the first announced in 2023.
iPad (2022): The flagship iPad always tends to get an update in the fall, which should be the case again. Rumors suggest this entry-level iPad will feature a new design and maybe even Face ID.
– Probability: close to 100%.
iPad mini (2022): Like the Apple TV, Apple rarely shows love for the iPad mini. Last year’s update was the first in two years, and the company could follow a similar pattern by releasing a next-gen model, which means you might have to wait until 2023. Still, with the iPad Air updated earlier this year, the time could be good this year for an update here too.
– Probability: 50/50.
Apple October Event: Mac
Macbook Pro: Current 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros feature an M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, new designs with advanced displays, and more. The new laptops will likely be identical to last year’s models but will include M2 Pro or M2 Max chips inside.
– Probability: Easy money.
Mac mini M2: Here’s another Mac that might get a modest upgrade from an M1-series chip to an M2. This will almost certainly mean the end of the Intel-based model.
– Probability: 80%.
Mac Pro: Along with the Mac mini, it’s the only remaining Mac with Intel inside. This should end very soon as Apple announces a next-gen model. Having to offer such powerful versions of the M2, the Mac Pro should push computing to the extreme and have a price corresponding to its power.
– Probability: An announcement is very likely for the next month. It remains to be seen whether the new machine will be released before the end of the year.
iMac: Things are a little strange on the front of the iMac. First of all, it makes sense that Apple would announce a next-generation 24-inch iMac. Like the MacBook Air before, this Mac needs a chip update (to the M2), although there is no need for a design change as the current version has only arrived. in April 2021. And yet, we’ve heard very little of an update as a scheduled October event draws closer.
Second, there’s the possibility of an all-new iMac Pro, a product that Apple discontinued in 2021 after failing to update it for five years. Rumors abound suggesting a new iMac Pro will be announced this year. However, the arrival this year of the Mac Studio has largely crushed these rumors, but not entirely.
– Probability: new 24-inch iMac, 75%; new iMac Pro, 10%.
Apple October Event: AR/IR Headset
AR/IR Headset: Apple’s rumor mill has often suggested that 2022 is the year the company’s long-awaited AR/IR headset will launch. In recent months, however, things have calmed down on that front.
Like the original Apple Watch in 2015, Apple could choose to announce its new headset this fall but not release it until spring. In between, iMore and other sites would provide anticipation stories in preparation for launch day.
– Probability: 60% announced, 10% that it will be published in 2022.
Apple October Event: Other Products
New Apple TV: You never know what Cupertino has planned for its entertainment box – if any. Apple TV HD has been around for what feels like forever, while the 4K model, now in its 2nd generation, has seen little attention in terms of progress since its launch in 2017. So now is the time for Apple to introduce a new Apple TV model (new chip and features) and remove the HD model.
– Probability: only 50/50, sorry.
Second generation HomePod: Leave it to Apple to introduce a smart speaker to kill it after three years on the market. That first HomePod (2018-21) was a nice looking device, maybe a little too bulky for most people. So that’s one of the reasons why Apple launched the smaller and sleeker HomePod mini in 2020.
Rumors suggest that Apple is planning to release another premium HomePod. However, like the 14-inch iPad Pro, this product might as well not launch until next year.
– Probability: It’s higher than a new Apple TV, but that doesn’t mean much. If pushed, I’d say we won’t see one in October.
AirPods 4: The second-generation AirPods Pro are only now hitting stores, suggesting this isn’t the time when Apple plans to release a pair of next-gen AirPods.
– Probability: Slim.
AirPods Max: The calendar suggests that these premium headphones should see an update before the end of the year. After all, the current pair is approaching the two-year mark. And yet, there has been no chatter about a new model coming this year. So again, it’s probably best to think of 2023 as the year when something new is announced.
– Likelihood: Not this year. What we could see announced in October were new AirPod Max colors.
When is Apple’s October event?
The October 2021 event took place on October 18. However, since this event was taped and no members of the press were invited to attend any sort of hands-on session due to COVID, Apple didn’t even announce this event until six days before. .
For WWDC and last month’s iPhone 14 event, Apple invited special guests to its Cupertino campus. Assuming the same happens in October, look for Apple to make an event announcement in early October, with the actual event occurring between October 10 and October 20. Until then, stay tuned.
