Apple’s October event for Mac: everything we expect

Apple’s September iPhone 16 launch was packed with new devices, but Apple still has more in store. Many rumors point to a second exhibition in October, where the company is expected to announce several new and updated products.

What could we see at the October event? And when exactly will this happen? Is there anything that we NO Are you expecting an appearance? We’ve put together this guide to give you some basic information about the program, so you’re informed and ready to take action. Read on to see what’s coming.

When will the event take place?

In recent years, Apple has had a habit of holding events in October. It usually hosts performances on Monday or Tuesday, but this was a little inconsistent with the week the event falls. Here are the dates for Apple’s October events from previous years:

• 2023: Monday, October 30
• 2021: Monday, October 18
• 2020: Tuesday, October 13
• 2018: Tuesday, October 30

In 2019 and 2022, there were no performances in October. Based on previous schedules, we’d say the most likely dates for this year’s event are October 14 or 15 or October 28 or 29. There is also a chance that it could take place on October 21 or 22. That’s quite a wide range of dates, but that’s all for now.

MacBook Pro M4

The MacBook Pro was last updated in October 2023 and added M3 series chips. There is speculation that Apple wants to move to an annual refresh cycle for its devices, which suggests that the MacBook Pro launch could come in October. Moreover, Apple has already introduced the M4 chip in the iPad Pro, so it makes sense that the MacBook Pro will soon follow suit.

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman thinks the MacBook Pro is the hit of October. Gurman says the updates will come across the entire line: the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will get an M4 chip, while the remaining 14-inch models and the 16-inch MacBook Pro will get M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

Don’t expect any design changes, though – the MacBook Pro case was revamped in 2021, so it’s a bit early for a new design. While a MacBook Pro with an OLED display is believed to be in the works, it’s not expected to happen until 2026 at the earliest.

Redesigned M4 Mac mini

The Mac mini’s design has remained largely the same for years – the last major design change was in June 2010, more than 14 years ago. Fortunately, we shouldn’t have to wait too long for the next redesign, as Mark Gurman reported that it will be getting a new look at Apple’s October event.

This should make the Mac mini about the size of an Apple TV box, which is noticeably smaller than the dimensions of the current Mac mini. In return, the Mac mini is expected to be slightly taller.

This isn’t the only change coming to Apple’s smallest desktop Mac. Leaked macOS code suggests it could get five USB ports (compared to the maximum of four on the current Mac mini), and Gurman says all of those ports will be USB-C ports, replacing existing USB-A ports. Two of them will be at the front of the device, making access to them much easier, while three will be at the back. Inside we can also expect M4 and M4 Pro chips.

iMac M4

The new iMac is a strong pick for October, but like the M3 iMac update in 2023, only minor tweaks are expected this time around. The main change will be the introduction of the M4 chip, but we should not expect anything more powerful (e.g. M4 Pro).

There’s also a pretty good chance that Apple’s iMac accessories — like the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad — could be equipped with USB-C charging ports to replace the existing Lightning connectors. Apple is replacing Lightning ports on its devices to comply with European Union regulations, so it seems inevitable that iMac peripherals will follow suit.

iPad and iPad mini

A previous report by Mark Gurman stated that “new iPads are in the works, including an improved mini version” and that they will be unveiled at an October event. The use of the plural when referring to the word “iPad” suggests that we can expect more than just the iPad mini, and perhaps the fundamental missing piece of the puzzle is the iPad.

This is because the iPad Air and iPad Pro were updated in May 2024, which raises doubts about the October refresh. Meanwhile, the iPad mini and entry-level iPad were last redesigned in 2021 and 2022, respectively, making them much more likely candidates for the October event.

The iPad mini is expected to get a faster chip, better cameras (both front and back), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, new colors, as well as a fix for the “jelly scrolling” issue that has plagued the iPad mini in the past.

As for the entry-level iPad, rumors are rather sparse, but a new chip seems to be a certainty. Other than that, we’ll just have to wait and see what comes out in October.

Everything we don’t expect to see

There are many rumors about the products that will appear at Apple’s October event, but there are also a few others that are unlikely to be unveiled on stage. For example, while the show will focus on Mac computers, some Apple computers will almost certainly not appear.

This includes Mac Studio and Mac Pro computers – although both were last updated in 2023, they are not expected to join Apple’s annual update cycle (perhaps due to the longer development time for their high-end chips). Instead, the new Mac Studio will likely debut around mid-2025, and the Mac Pro should be updated before the end of the year.

Similarly, rumors suggest that the MacBook Air will be updated in spring 2025, rather than during the October show. The MacBook Air M3 was launched in March 2024, so a second update is likely not expected in the same calendar year.

Finally, there are a few other products that most likely won’t be ready in October, even though they’re clearly in the works. This includes the new iPhone SE, updates to the AirTags tracker, and the new Apple TV. Chances are that they will all appear in 2025.