What to expect from Apple’s next Mac and iPad announcements

The next round of Apple devices is coming soon. After launching the iPhone 16 lineup, new Apple Watch, and AirPods 4 in September, Apple appears to be gearing up to launch updated Macs and iPads this month.

We’re hoping for new chip upgrades, at least one redesign, and maybe an October surprise or two (the good kind). An official announcement could be made through a traditional event or a series of early morning press releases. Apple has taken both approaches in the past, but no one is sure at this point. Regardless of how it happens, here’s what we think will be updated and what may not be reflected.

Apple Intelligence will be released on compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs “this fall,” with the first features available in October. That means there should be an announcement soon.

First, Apple’s writing tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing, plus new Photos app features like a newly designed Siri, Cleanup (similar to Google’s Magic Eraser), and live translation for calls and voice memos. Cryptocurrency is expected. Other features, including ChatGPT search integration, Genmoji custom emojis, Image Playground generative art, and Visual Intelligence image search, will be “rolling out later this year and in the coming months,” according to Apple.

These features were first seen demoed at WWDC 2024, but so far you’ll need to install either Apple’s developer beta or public beta to experience them. there was. For iPhone, this feature will be available on the 15 Pro / Pro Max and the entire iPhone 16 series. iPad and Mac launch Apple Intelligence on models with M1 generation processors or newer.

Last October’s event focused heavily on the MacBook Pro series. Both the 14-inch and 16-inch models saw chip bumps, and Apple announced a new streamlined 14-inch model, but ultimately ditched the Touch Bar. Perhaps updates to all three will come with the transition to the M4 generation, but so far there aren’t many rumors about any major changes in terms of design. But chip upgrades are always welcome. Especially if you’re a bargain hunter looking to jump on a closeout sale on soon-to-be last-generation hardware.

We’re expecting a major redesign of Apple’s smallest desktop computer, and it could get even smaller. In addition to featuring the new M4 and M4 Pro chips, the new Mac Mini is rumored to ditch the USB-A port and be as small as an Apple TV streaming box. This is Mini’s first major redesign in about 14 years. The Verge (sometimes it even existed).

The current Mac Mini with the M2 and M2 Pro chips has been around since early 2023, so the new model feels timely. Some of us here love the Mac Mini, and one of the reasons for that is that the Mac Mini is great for its performance, at least if you already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Because they offer a great value proposition.

I’m excited to see what the refreshed Mini will look like and how much the M4 Pro model will leapfrog the current M2 Pro, but the possibility of fewer ports gives me pause. It also seems unlikely that the smaller Mini would have what I really wanted: a fast internal SD card slot like the Mac Studio.

The iMac has been on autopilot ever since it burst into colorful brilliance in 2021. If October’s event brings any changes to Apple’s all-in-one computer, it will likely be an evolution over last year’s M3 model. Fresh M4 version.

The real highlight might be updated versions of Apple’s Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard that use USB-C instead of Lightning. These are one of the last Apple devices still using a Lightning port, and now that we’ve switched to iPhone (and the EU’s USB-C transition deadline is fast approaching), it feels very out of place. You can

I hope to see an even bigger iMac refresh someday. Someone please wake me up when the long-rumored return of the 32-inch iMac or iMac Pro finally arrives.

When Apple has its latest tablet in stores, the model that needs the most changes is the iPad Mini. The current 8.3-inch iPad Mini was released in 2021 and is equipped with the A15 Bionic processor, which was first installed in the iPhone 13 generation. Perhaps it’s time for pilots around the world to rejoice that the smallest iPad has evolved to an M-series chip, and rumors suggest a refresh is on the way. The question is: Will Mini step up to the big leagues with the M4, or will it be relegated to the still-powerful M2, like the latest iPad Air? Either way, nothing could be better than what happened to the mini iPhone.

There are also rumors that Apple may update the entry-level 10.9-inch iPad to a new 11th generation model, but it’s unclear whether this update is scheduled for this month or early next year. . The current 10th generation model launched at a hefty price of $449, but Apple changed course earlier this year by lowering the starting price to $349. The 11th generation model will likely look very similar, but it could be an opportunity for Apple to clean up and update its messy accessory landscape.

The M4 processor debuted in the latest iPad Pro five months ago, and as mentioned above, Apple is expected to announce in the coming weeks that its latest chip will finally be in most Macs.

But will we see the M4 Max or M4 Ultra chips in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro refreshes? These pro-oriented machines are still in the M2 Max and M2 Ultra, and will be upgraded. However, there are few rumors about the new model so far. Plus, get new chips around the world whole Having the entire Mac lineup all at once may be a step too far. Apple has a track record of spacing things out.