After its September event focused on new iPhone and Apple Watch models, Apple usually 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 the products that are likely to 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 10th-generation entry-level iPad, and at least a few more Macs with the M2 series of chips, with potential candidates they include 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 BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman. The 11-inch and 12.9-inch models of the iPad Pro are expected to get an update, but the 11-inch model is not yet expected to have 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 a Japanese blog. Mac Otakara. The purpose of these connectors and whether they would replace the existing three-pin Smart Connector on the iPad Pro is 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 improved 12-inch front camera. megapixels with support for Apple’s Center Stage feature, which helps you stay in frame in video apps like FaceTime.
10th generation iPad
Apple is expected to introduce 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-gen iPad is expected to retain a Touch ID home button, rumors suggest the device will no longer have a headphone jack.
A questionable report Mac Otakara claimed that the 10th-gen 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 placed on the right bezel of the device for landscape use.
Apple launched the 9th generation iPad in September 2021, with key features including a 10.2-inch display, A13 Bionic chip, an improved 12-megapixel front-facing camera with support for Center Stage, True Tone, and twice the base 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 that Apple had been working on M2-based Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and Mac Pro models, adding that it was “likely to see at least a couple of those machines in about two months,” which aligns with October. However, some of these Macs may be announced later in the year or next.
Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro chips
Apple released the Mac mini with an M1 chip as one of its first three Apple Silicone 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 higher-priced 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 development and testing,” and are scheduled to launch “this fall,” according to Gurman. As is customary in recent years, Gurman said the deadline could be pushed back due to supply chain disruptions or other factors.
While some reports have suggested that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips may be Apple’s first 3nm chips, it seems increasingly likely that the chips will still be 5nm. The chips would still have modest performance gains compared to the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and GPU core counts and unified memory (RAM) are also likely to increase.
Mac Pro with M2 Ultra and “M2 Extreme” chips
After announcing the Mac Studio at its March 2022 event, Apple teased 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 across the entire Mac lineup would take about two years to complete, with the new Mac Pro expected to be announced in late 2022.
The new Mac Pro will be equipped with “M2 Ultra” and “M2 Extreme” chips, according to Gurman. The new Mac Pro may be smaller due to Apple’s move to silicon, but it’s unclear if the desktop will have major design changes compared to the current Intel-based model released in December 2019.
The new Mac Pro would be the fastest Mac ever, beating 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 if the device will be announced during the October event or at another time.
A new Apple TV with an A14 chip and 4GB of RAM is in development, according to Gurman, but it’s unclear if this model is the same one Kuo is referring to. Either way, the internal upgrades would result in faster performance compared to the current Apple TV 4K, which is equipped 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. By comparison, there are plenty of streaming devices 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 launch in October, and the exact release dates will likely be announced at the event.