After the iPad mini presentation: Will there be another Apple fall event?
The rapid release of the iPad mini 7 without an Apple keynote surprised observers. Is this also how Apple is introducing the new M4 Macs?
Tim Cook at a keynote: Will there be another one in the fall? And if so, with what?
(Image: Apple)
When Apple wants to introduce new products without much ado, the company – prefers to publish a press release at around 2:30 p.m. Central European Time – and then post the devices on its website. This is what happened with the new iPad mini 7 this week. Among other things, this is done when there is no suitable Apple event coming up soon – or it already seems "too full" for another product. However, this is not actually the case for the company's fall keynote expected at the end of October (or beginning of November), as there would certainly have been room for a new iPad. Accordingly, the scene is now wondering whether this will still take place – or whether new Macs will appear "just like that", i.e. also via press release.
A Mac-only event in the fall?
There are actually too many products that could be coming. In addition to the MacBook Pro M4 in 14 and 16-inch versions –, which has apparently already been leaked –, Apple is also planning an iMac M4 and a visually redesigned Mac mini M4. At such Mac events, there is often time for new iPads, but nothing is likely to happen this year. A new standard iPad (then generation 11) is unlikely to be released in 2024; instead, the iPad 10 was reduced in price to 399 euros this week.
This would make Apple's fall keynote a pure Mac event in terms of new hardware, at which the company could also focus on Apple Intelligence. This in turn fits quite well, as the first features of the AI system are to be introduced at the end of October with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1. It is not yet clear what Apple will actually decide to do here. The rapid release of the new iPad mini 7 via press release had already surprised many observers.
M4 generation: everything is new, at least on the Mac mini
The new M4 SoCs offer a number of advantages for the Mac. Speed increases of around 25 percent can be expected, and the battery could last (slightly) longer. Graphics and the Neural Engine should also be faster. Ultimately, however, this is just a specification update. The look of the MacBook Pro and iMac is unlikely to change much, although new colors (or more colors for the entry-level MacBook Pro) may be introduced. The Mac mini will be really exciting.
Apple is said to have significantly reduced the form factor here – in the direction of the Apple TV multimedia box. There will also be five USB-C ports. Once again, two variants are expected, a Mac mini M4 and a Mac mini M4 Pro for higher demands. The MacBook Pro is expected to come in M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. The Pro and Max SoCs have not yet been available. The M4 was first introduced in May with the iPad Pro M4, which is also rather unusual for Apple. Whether Apple is planning a fall event should become clear in the coming weeks. An invitation can be expected from next Monday.
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