Apple isn’t done lunching new products this year, even though the iPhone 17 family and Apple Watch Series 11 reached customers in September. There are so many new products coming out of Cupertino this fall that rumors point to an Apple October event.
For some Apple fans, the best is yet to come: the Apple M5 processor, a new iPad Pro and (hopefully) the next MacBook Pro. And there could be more.
Apple October event rumors: M5 iPad Pro, maybe M5 MacBook Pro
Apple always makes a splash with a September product launch showcasing the latest iPhone models. This year, that was the Awe Dropping event on September 9, where the iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max were the stars, along with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11.
But that’s not Apple’s only fall tradition. Another company habit is that MacBooks don’t launch at the same time as iPhones. New Apple laptops typically arrive in October (and sometimes later). The company unveiled the M4 MacBook Pro on October 30, 2024, for example. The M3 version came to light exactly a year earlier.
Apple also never launches its iPad Pro models at the same events as iPhones. These premium tablets don’t always come in the autumn — sometimes they arrive in the spring — but fall iPad launches never come in September. Apple announced the sixth-generation iPad Pro on October 18, 2022, while the third-generation model came on October 30, 2018.
So … what’s on tap for mid-fall 2025? Here’s what the rumors say.
Here comes that M5 iPad Pro that we already saw
Sources consistently point to a next-generation iPad Pro this autumn. There’s not much room for doubt, as the tablet already got an unboxing video. This is apparently a “chip and ship” upgrade, so the highlight will be the new Apple M5 processor, but expect more RAM. The new model will undoubtedly carry forward the super-slim, lightweight design and the Tandem OLED display from its predecessor.
Even Mac users not interested in an iPad can get excited about the Apple M5 processor. We already know from the iPad Pro unboxing video (courtesy of a Russian YouTuber with some crazy connections) that the CPU will be 16% faster. We also can look forward to a whopping 34% increase in graphics performance.
In addition to these gains, the M5 chip is expected to feature enhanced AI performance when compared to its predecessors. That’s critical at a time when artificial intelligence is hot, hot, hot. Apple emphasizes its computers’ ability to run AI models locally, and therefore more securely.
What’s less clear-cut is whether we’ll see the M5 running in a MacBook Pro this year. A reliable source says the new notebook won’t launch until early 2026. On the other hand, an Apple MacBook Pro scored Federal Communications Commission approval last week at the same time as the iPad Pro, suggesting October will bring an M5 MacBook Pro after all. Whenever it comes, this will reportedly be a chip-and-ship update as well, without a redesign.
Just so there’s no confusion, no one should expect an M5 MacBook Air until 2026. This consumer-focused laptop won’t debut until about a year after the March 2024 launch of the M4 version.
Other possible new Apple products in October
Rumors point to several other new products coming soon from Cupertino. These didn’t take the stage during last month’s event, so now they’re expected in October.
High on the list are an updated Apple TV 4K and AirTag 2. A speed-boosted Vision Pro headset should launch soon, too.
Literal Apple October event? Maybe.
Although we see an Apple September event every year, the same doesn’t hold true for product launches that come in October. Apple took the wraps off the M4 MacBook Pro and M4 Mac mini with press releases and YouTube videos — there was no big event.
Which means there might be an Apple October 2025 event for the new products, but it’s certainly not definite. We could be in for another round of press releases and YouTube videos instead.
