After its September event focused on new iPhone and Apple Watch models, Apple often holds another event in October focused on new iPad and Mac models, and this year will likely be no exception. October is still three weeks away, but we already have a good idea of what products will likely be announced at an event next month.
For the October event, rumors suggest that Apple plans to announce new iPad Pro models with the M2 chip, a redesigned entry-level 10th-gen iPad, and at least a few other iPad-powered Macs. M2 series of chips, with potential candidates including the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and/or Mac Pro.
iPad Pro with M2 chip
Apple plans to launch new iPad Pro models with the M2 chip and MagSafe wireless charging support in October, according to Bloombergis Mark Gurman. The 11-inch and 12.9-inch models of the iPad Pro are expected to get updated, but the 11-inch model still isn’t expected to feature a mini-LED display.
Upcoming iPad Pro models will feature a similar chassis design to current models, but with “four-pin connectors” on the top and bottom edges, according to the Japanese blog Mac Otakara. The purpose of these connectors and whether they would replace the existing three-pin Smart Connector on the iPad Pro are unclear.
Apple last updated the iPad Pro in April 2021, with new features including the M1 chip, a Thunderbolt port, 5G support for cellular models, a mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model and an upgraded 12-megapixel front-facing camera with support for Apple’s Center Stage feature, which helps you stay within video apps like FaceTime.
10th generation iPad
Apple is expected to unveil a redesigned entry-level iPad in October with a larger 10.5-inch screen, a USB-C port, and a flat-edged chassis with a rear camera bump. Other rumored features include an A14 Bionic chip and 5G support for cellular models.
While the 10th generation iPad is expected to retain a Touch ID home button, rumors suggest the device will no longer have a headphone jack.
A dubious report of Mac Otakara claimed that the 10th generation iPad will actually feature a Touch ID power button on the top edge of the chassis, like the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models. The report also claimed that the FaceTime camera could be positioned in the right frame of the device for landscape use.
Apple launched the 9th generation iPad in September 2021, with key features such as a 10.2-inch display, A13 Bionic chip, improved 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support, True Tone and double the basic storage. In the US, the 10.2-inch iPad starts at $329 with 64GB of storage.
More Macs with M2 chips
In late August, Gurman said Apple was working on M2-based Mac mini, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro models, adding that we were “likely to see at least a pair of these machines in about two months,” which aligns with October. However, it is possible that some of these Macs will be announced later in the year or next year.
Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro chips
Apple launched the Mac mini with an M1 chip as one of its first three silicon Apple Macs in November 2020. Nearly two years later, a new version of the Mac mini with an M2 chip is on the horizon, according to Gurman.
Apple still sells a more expensive Mac mini configuration with Intel processors, but Gurman said it will be replaced by a model with an M2 Pro chip.
MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips
Apple’s next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are “well under way in development and testing” and slated for release “as early as this fall,” according to Gurman. As usual in recent years, Gurman said the deadline could be pushed back due to supply chain disruptions or other factors.
While some reports suggest that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips could be Apple’s first 3nm chips, it seems increasingly likely that the chips will remain 5nm. The chips would still have modest performance improvements over the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and increases in GPU core count and unified memory (RAM) are also likely.
Mac Pro with M2 Ultra and “M2 Extreme” chips
After announcing the Mac Studio at its March 2022 event, Apple announced that an Apple silicon version of the Mac Pro tower would be coming later.
In 2020, Apple said its transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon chips in the Mac line would take about two years to complete, so the new Mac Pro should be announced by the end of 2022.
The new Mac Pro will feature the “M2 Ultra” and “M2 Extreme” chips, according to Gurman. It’s possible the new Mac Pro will be smaller due to Apple’s move to silicon, but it’s unclear if the desktop computer will see any major design changes from the current Intel model released in December 2019.
The new Mac Pro would be the fastest Mac ever, surpassing the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra chip.
Apple TV with A14 chip?
Apple plans to launch a new Apple TV with an “improved cost structure” in the second half of 2022, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, but it’s unclear whether the device would be announced at the Apple event. October or some other time.
A new Apple TV is in development with an A14 chip and 4GB of RAM, according to Gurman, but it’s unclear if that model is the same one Kuo referred to. Either way, the internal upgrades would result in faster performance over the current Apple TV 4K, which comes with an A12 chip and 3GB of RAM.
Released in April 2021, the current Apple TV 4K starts at $179 with 32GB of storage, while the Apple TV HD remains available for $149. In comparison, there are plenty of streaming sticks from brands like Chromecast and Roku available for between $25 and $100.
iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura release dates
Apple says iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura will be released in October, and exact release dates will likely be announced at the event.
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