Apple October Event: rumors and expectations

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Apple’s event in September marked the introduction of the iPhone 13, a new entry-level iPad and an all-new iPad mini. Apple still has a little more in store for the rest of 2021, and rumors suggest it could host another event in October. Check out our full rundown below of what Apple may be announcing at an event in October, including new Mac updates, AirPods 3, and more.

Apple Event History for October

Apple has run October events at an irregular pace over the years, with October events not showing up as consistent as September events. Here are the details of the events of October over the past few years:

October 2020: “Hi, Speed” event for iPhone 12 and HomePod mini
October 2018: “There is more in preparation” event to announce the new iPad Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini
October 2016: “Hello again” event for the MacBook Pro and the new TV application
October 2014: “It’s been far too long” event for the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and iMac 5K

Whether or not Apple is hosting an October event in 2021 remains to be seen, but Bloomberg Mark Gurman suggested that Apple is planning such an event with a focus on the new Macs. We’ll be sure to update this article whenever an October event is officially announced with full details.

MacBook Pro M1X

At the Apple event in October, the headlining announcement we’ve been waiting for is the long-talked about MacBook Pro redesign. Apple is rumored to be working on new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by a so-called “M1X” processor.

Bloomberg reported that the new M1X chip, or whatever it is called, will feature eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency cores, available in 16 or 32 graphics core variants. The machine is also expected to support up to 64GB of RAM, compared to the current M1 chip limited to 16GB of RAM.

Rumors have it that the new MacBook Pros will also mark the return of several connectivity options: MagSafe for charging, HDMI and SD card. Apple is also expected to ditch the controversial Touch Bar in favor of a traditional row of function keys.

The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are also expected to use the new mini-LED display technology. Apple first used mini-LED technology in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro announced earlier this year. For those unfamiliar with it, the mini-LED relies on thousands of very small LEDs in the backlight, resulting in higher contrast ratios and deeper blacks, similar to OLED but without the risk of scorching.

Finally, rumors say that the new MacBook Pros feature an all-new design with flat edges similar to the iPad Pro and iPhone 13.

The new MacBook Pros are long-awaited upgrades and will fix a lot of things that people don’t like about the current generation of MacBook Pros. This includes removing the touch bar, adding additional ports alongside Thunderbolt and USB-C, and improved display quality.

“Mac mini Pro”

The new MacBook Pros aren’t the only Mac updates Apple has in the works, according to reports and rumors. Bloomberg reported that the new Mac mini will have identical specs to the MacBook Pro M1X with up to 64GB of RAM, a 10-core processor, and 16 or 32 graphics cores.

Roundup: Here’s what could be announced at a potential Apple Event in October

Meanwhile, leaker Jon Prosser announced that Apple’s M1X-powered Mac mini will also introduce a new generation of industrial design. The new Mac mini would feature a redesigned outer chassis with reflective “plexiglass-like” material paired with an aluminum casing.

Prosser also claimed that the new Mac mini will feature additional ports over the current M1 powered Mac mini, including four Thunderbolt 3s, two USB-A, Ethernet and HDMI ports. The Mac mini could also use the magnetic power connector that Apple first introduced with the 24-inch iMac earlier this year.

So where would this new Mac mini fit into the Apple lineup? Currently, Apple is selling an M1-powered Mac mini as an entry-level option alongside a high-end model that is still powered by Intel. This M1X powered Mac mini is expected to replace the Intel model and be sold with the M1X configuration.

MacOS Monterey release date

While Apple released iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and watchOS 8 to the public last month, we’re still waiting for the release of macOS Monterey. It’s likely that Apple will officially announce the macOS Monterey release date alongside its new Macs this fall.

macOS Monterey includes a variety of new features such as an all-new Safari, AirPlay to Mac, SharePlay and FaceTime enhancements, and more. Find out more in our full guide here.

AirPod 3

The AirPod 3 rumors have been rumored for over a year and we finally expect them to be announced this fall. The AirPods 3 are expected to feature a similar design to the AirPods Pro, with shorter stems and a more rounded ear design, but without replaceable tips.

Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will continue to sell AirPods 2 alongside AirPods 3, giving you two different options at the lower end of the AirPods range. This makes them a pretty versatile line of AirPods in terms of features, form factors, and price.

For more details on what to expect from the AirPods 3 this year, check out our in-depth guide here.

What not to expect

The Apple Silicon transition is in full swing, but there are some products Apple is working on that we don’t plan to announce this year. Namely, this includes a new version of the Mac Pro powered by Apple Silicon as well as a larger screen iMac with Apple Silicon. We also shouldn’t expect any new AirPods Pro, although those could arrive sometime in 2022.

What are you most excited to see from Apple in October? Let us know in the comments!

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