What to Expect From Apple's Rumored October Mac and iPad Event

Apple tends to have two big product drops every fall: the iPhone and Apple Watch event in September, and something Mac/iPad-related in October. Last year, Apple had an unusual Halloween-themed night reveal of its M3 chips. This year, a similar event might be in store with an M4 spin, and perhaps some Apple Intelligence.

Multiple reports have already strongly suggested that new products will be revealed soon, and it's also pretty clear what they might be (we think). According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, you can expect new MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini models, along with an updated iPad Mini and entry-level iPad. We may not get all of these things, but we'd be surprised if we didn't. 

If you're shopping right now for any of the aforementioned Apple products, wait. If you want a MacBook Air, iPad Air or iPad Pro, you're fine buying something now without regrets since updates aren't imminent for those lines. As for the Mac and iPad refreshes we expect to see soon, keep reading.

M4 coming to MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini

We've been in a strange spot for the past few months where you can get Apple's latest M4 processor in an iPad but not in a MacBook. That's about to change because Apple is expected to roll out M4 chips to MacBook Pro models. You can expect the 14-inch MacBook Pro to get the same M4 processor found in the iPad Pro, with the 16-inch MacBook Pro getting M4 Pro and M4 Max versions of the chip. Reports also point to the iMac getting an M4 update.

If you are looking for thinner or sleeker designs, you will likely be out of luck because it appears Apple is refreshing only the internals for its MacBook Pro and iMac lines. Meanwhile, the MacBook Air is not expected to get an M4 update until the early part of next year, with Mac Studio and Mac Pro updates to follow later in 2025.

There is one Mac that could get a new look in this cycle. The Mac Mini is rumored to be a part of the M4 update, which would be a big leap from the current model's M2 processor. In addition to its new internals, the Mac Mini is expected to debut a new, more compact design. 

One item I'd like to see is a minimum 16GB of RAM for the new M4 MacBook Pros. We are well past the point where 8GB of memory is acceptable in a Pro-level laptop -- especially when Apple turns around and charges a hefty $200 to double the 8GB of RAM on the $1,599 and $1,799 baseline models of the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

iPads: Time for the little guys this time

Apple had a big splash reveal of its bleeding-edge iPad Pro, along with a new M4 chip, this past May. Apple also introduced new iPad Air models, a new Pencil Pro stylus, and dropped the price of its entry-level iPad (10th generation) then too.

We still haven't seen any updates to its lower-end models -- the iPad Mini and entry iPad -- this year. Reports point strongly to a new iPad Mini, which should have (as expected) a chip upgrade, possibly a better display, and maybe Pencil Pro compatibility. 

The most interesting upgrade could be Apple Intelligence. Apple's still-unreleased generative AI additions to its iPhone, iPad and Mac products require certain processors, and on the iPad it's M1 or higher. Could the Mini get an M-series chip as well?

The same question applies to the entry-level iPad. The 10th-gen iPad introduced a helpful landscape-oriented front camera that's now standard across the new iPad line and had its own new Smart Keyboard Folio case, plus a more modern bezel-reduced larger display with Touch ID button off to the side.

The only thing I'd want from a new entry iPad is Apple Intelligence compatibility. It's unclear whether Apple would put that into a low-cost iPad, but the entire iPhone lineup is now AI-ready… so why not? Well, I also want a better Apple Pencil solution than the weird USB-C option. Maybe Apple enables Pencil 2 support this time too.

Watch this: iPad Pro and iPad Air (2024) - Review

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Will this coincide with Apple Intelligence's arrival?

Apple hasn't formally launched its most-heralded iOS 18 software feature yet, but iOS 18.1 with a few Apple Intelligence features is already in public beta. Apple Intelligence's first features are expected to arrive in October. 

If Apple is debuting new Macs and iPads, it would make a ton of sense to time that news close to Apple Intelligence's debut, and make these new Macs and iPads feel like another piece in Apple's new AI pitch.

It may also lend that "something new" feel to a lineup of upgraded Macs and iPads that, otherwise, may not amount to much more than chip upgrades.