Mac and iPad users have a lot to look forward to in October: rumors say an Apple event should bring new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with the M4 chip, with a new iPad mini and budget iPad also on the agenda.
Here’s what to look forward to at an October Apple event, plus the products that’ll likely come even later.
An Apple October event is a real possibility
By tradition, Apple unveils the new flagship iPhone models each September, and that happened as expected during the “It’s Glowtime” event. But Tim Cook and Co. don’t believe in packing too much into this one launch event. Overcrowding the agenda with unrelated products raises the possibility that some would get overlooked by the press and consumers.
So Apple typically holds new and upgraded Macs and iPads until the following month. On October 30, 2023, 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models updated with M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max processors launched at the “Scary Fast” event, for example.
Expect history to repeat itself this month, though there’s no word yet on an exact date. Rumors point to multiple macOS models and iPadOS tablets on the Apple October event agenda.
M4 MacBook Pro … finally!
Image: Apple
Apple’s schedule for upgrading its Mac processor has been odd, to say the least. iPhone chips get annual updates, but Apple’s M3 series debuted last autumn (as noted) than the the M4 launched in the spring, going first into the latest iPad Pro. Still, that means it’s high time for MacBook Pro models with the M4. That has yet to be confirmed by Apple, of course, but there’s little room for doubt.
The M4 includes two more efficiency cores than its predecessor, and is made with a second-generation three-nanometer technology that’s even more power efficient.
The improved processor will be the only major change in the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models coming ant the October event, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. So don’t look forward to redesigned versions of the 2023 models, just a specification increase. Gurman proved in the past to have generally reliable sources inside Apple.
M4 Mac mini, too
An M4 Mac mini is also reportedly coming at an Apple October event. This would be the first significant revamp of the macOS desktop since 2010. It’ll get much smaller, according to information leaked to Bloomberg.
Expect two versions: one with the basic M4 and another with a more-powerful M4 Pro. Which version consumers choose will supposedly determine how many ports they get, though USB-A is reportedly out.
Pricing for the M4 Mac mini remains a mystery, but it’s likely to remain in the neighborhood of $599.
iPad mini 7, at last!
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s October 2024 event won’t be solely about Mac. The last new iPad mini arrived three long years ago, so there’s plenty of excitement about a possible new model. That said, the new version is expected to be primarily a processor upgrade, as the one introduced in 2021 included a significant redesign, dumping the Home button to make room for an 8.3-inch screen, up from the old 7.8-inch one.
Read the Cult of Mac rumor roundup on the late-2024 iPad models for more details.
iPad 11 also coming at an Apple October event
The iPad 10 launched in 2022 — the last update to Apple’s budget tablet line. After two years, iPad 11 is supposedly on the way. According to rumors, its only new feature will be a faster processor, as the 10th-gen model received a redesign.
The iPad 10 price dropped $100 in the spring. The 2024 model supposedly will debut at that new price: $349.
For more iPad 11 details, check our rumor roundup on the late-2024 iPad models.
iPhone SE 4: Not until 2025
While iPhone SE 4 appeared in multiple leaks recently, that doesn’t mean a launch is imminent. Quite the opposite. Rumors agree that Apple October event won’t include the next lower-cost iOS handset — the wait will stretch into 2025.
A serious revamp is anticipated, however. This fourth-generation model reportedly will be the first with an OLED screen. The redesign could eject the Home button, too.
Spring is the typical season for new SE models. That’s why experts expect iPhone SE 4 to launch in about six months. Perhaps at the same time as Apple Watch SE 3.
Apple TV? Someday.
With the last Apple TV update in 2022, it’s not unreasonable to look for a new model in October. However, an informed source says it won’t happen.
“While the company has been working on an update to the Apple TV set-top box for as early as this year, no new model has come to fruition,” said Bloomberg‘s Gurman on Friday.
Stay tuned…
Whenever the Apple October 2024 event ends up taking place, Cult of Mac will cover everything revealed.
That said, Apple might not stage an October event for these Macs and iPads. Apple could introduce them with low-key press releases instead. That’s what happened with the M3 MacBook Air, for example. Still, we’ll be ready.
