Apple isn’t ready to relax just because the September iPhone event is done. An Apple October event is almost certainly planned with new MacBooks and iPads. And maybe more.
Here’s everything we’re expecting to be on the agenda.
September and October Apple events are traditional
An October event has been expected since before the September one. In the past, Apple refrained from making major announcements immediately after the iPhone and Apple Watch presentations. The company announced eight products on September 7, and it’s likely at least four notebooks and tablets are on the way – that’s too much for a single day.
The traditional solution is a second fall product-launch event. The redesigned MacBook Pro models M1 Pro and M1 Max were announced during an October 2021 event. And a redesigned iPad Pro debuted at an October 2018 event. These are just a couple of many examples.
With details about new 2022 MacBooks and iPads leaking out for many months, it’s time to look ahead to Apple’s next product presentation.
MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max
Photo: Apple
There’s good news and bad about the 2022 MacBook Pro models. Tipsters say they’ll include M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, which should bring a nice speed increase over their predecessors.
But the 2022 versions are expected to use the same designs as the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros introduced in 2021. These received plenty of praise, but don’t expect further improvements. That means the Apple October event is likely to kick off with notebooks with slim casings and mini-LED screens plus MagSafe and HDMI ports.
Just as Apple used the iPhone launch event to give the released date for iOS 16, expect the premier date for macOS Ventura to be revealed right after the 2022 MacBook Pro models.
2022 iPad Pro
Although Apple has steadily improved the iPad Pro in the last few years, it’s been a while since it shook up the design. Tipsters say that’s about to happen – probably at the October event.
The change everyone is expecting is a move to the Apple M2 processor, the same as in the 2022 MacBook Air. This will make the tablet better running upcoming iPadOS 16 features that are only for M-series iPads, including Stage Manager and greater support for external displays.
Information supposedly leaking out of Apple indicates the 2022 iPad Pro will include MagSafe so it won’t depend on its single USB-C port for charging. A more recent report alleged the tablet is getting a couple of mystery ports.
Right after this announcement, Apple is likely to reveal the release date for iPadOS 16. It’s been delayed to October to give more time complete Stage Manager.
iPad 10
As long as Apple is already talking about tablets at the October 2022 event, it will surely take the wraps off the entry-level iPad 10. Leaks indicate this is in for a redesign to include a larger screen. But it’ll supposedly hold onto its Home button.
The iPad 10 will also be the end of the Lightning port in tablets. It’s supposedly making the switch to USB-C, as every other iPadOS model already has.
Apple AR headset and HomePod 2: Long shots
A couple of other products might possibly be announced at the Apple early fall event, but these are certainly not definite.
Leaks and rumors about an Apple AR/VR headset have circulated for years. It will supposedly offer both virtual reality and augmented reality capabilities. The latest info says the first model will be called Reality Pro and will be out in the first half of 2023, but Apple might pre-announce it at the October event. That’s not considered likely by any but the very, very optimistic, though.
Apple is also allegedly developing a new, large version of its smart speaker. The HomePod 2 is expected to offer better audio than the HomePod mini. Tipsters say it’ll launch in the last quarter of 2022 or early 2023, so it might be announced soon.
If all of these are on the event agenda, it’ll be a very busy day for Apple. Just two new processors, notebooks and tablets will keep the October event hopping.
