There is reportedly no Apple October event, but that doesn’t mean October isn’t a big month for new Apple products.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that it’s “unlikely” we’ll see an event (opens in a new tab), with Apple instead turning to press releases to announce new arrivals in October.
And if we’re to believe the rumors about Apple’s product pipeline, there certainly must be a lot to announce. Even after a September of new iPhone 14 models, the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra and the AirPods Pro 2, we think there are plenty of Macs, iPads, and software updates that need to see the light of day before holiday shopping. starts too much steam.
Here’s a quick look at what’s in store for Apple in October, which has been a very busy month for Apple, even without a standalone product event.
Apple October Products Latest Rumors (October 6 Updated) Prime Day October 2022 deals start early with $400 savings on MacBook Pro 14-inch laptops (opens in new tab), a price drop that’s suspiciously close to an expected release in October for new models of both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that there will be no Apple October event, even if Apple continues to launch new iPads and Macs this month. The news may come via a press release. iPhone 14 Plus
We already know what one of the first products Apple will release this month will be, and we won’t have long to wait to see it. The iPhone 14 Plus, announced alongside the rest of the iPhone 14 models, will hit stores on Friday (October 7). You can pre-order the phone now and take advantage of some of the iPhone 14 deals to lower the cost of the $899 plus-sized handset. At the time of writing, Apple is estimating an iPhone delivery date between October 11 and 13 if you pre-order an iPhone 14 Plus.
(Image credit: Future)
The iPhone 14 Plus shares the 6.7-inch screen size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but otherwise offers the same feature set as the standard iPhone 14 model. That includes an A15 Bionic chipset, a main camera with a larger sensor to let in more light than the iPhone 13 did, and an improved front camera with autofocus and a wider aperture. Since the iPhone 14 Plus is larger than the standard iPhone, we can imagine that the battery is also larger. Hopefully that helps this latest iPhone 14 model join the iPhone 14 Pro Max on the best battery life list.
MacBook Pro 14- and 16-inch with M2
The Apple M2 chipset, the next-generation version of Apple’s proprietary silicon, appeared earlier this year when it debuted in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. More M2-powered hardware is almost certainly on the way, and we expect Apple to introduce additional MacBook Pro options with this chipset.
(Image credit: Apple)
More specifically, we can see Pro and Max variants of the M2 chip in new MacBook Pro models. The M2 chip itself is a 5 nanometer chip with an improved neural motor. The Max and Pro versions would contain more transistors while increasing the number of CPU and GPU cores.
Don’t expect any major hardware changes, at least not based on the rumors we’ve heard. But it’s possible that software enhancements like Center Stage will be available on Apple’s latest MacBook Pros.
M2 Mac mini
It’s been two years since the Mac Mini became one of the first Macs to run on Apple’s M1 chip. Now that the M2 is out, this monitorless desktop Mac may be in line for a much-anticipated upgrade.
Credit: Jon Prosser & Ian Zelbo
The most likely scenario is that the Mac Mini 2022 will get the new M2 chip and that is the extent of the upgrades. That said, earlier in the year a somewhat whimsical rumor spoke of the possibility of a more compact design with more ports than before. We’re not sure how much faith to put in that prediction, but we won’t mind if that’s what Apple is doing.
iPad Pro 2022 and iPad 2022
The iPad Pro 2022 tablet, which was last updated in Spring 2021, will round out the potential Apple hardware releases in October 2022 that can run on updated Apple silicon. This time around, Apple will likely turn to the M2 chip for both the 11- and 12.9-inch tablets.
(Image credit: MyDrivers)
Other possible additions to the iPad Pro include wireless charging and a new Smart Connector on the side of the tablet. Early rumors had talked about the possible addition of a notch to the iPad Pro’s screen to shrink the bezels, but at a time when the iPhone 14 Pro models have ditched their notch for a cool and useful Dynamic Island feature, it seems this is a step back.
Also keep an eye out for Apple’s standard iPad. The 10.2-inch iPad still has an older chipset, so it could see some upgraded internals. That doesn’t mean that this iPad has an M2 chip bound as it is on the Pro models. Instead, we could see a more modest jump to the A14 Bionic. (The current model uses an A13.)
iPad OS 16
Here’s another October release that Apple has already confirmed — right after it said the iPadOS 16 software update wouldn’t come at the same time as the iOS 16 release in mid-September. Instead, Apple is targeting October for the next major update to the iPad’s operating system, giving it more time to tinker with new features.
(Image credit: Apple via YouTube)
In addition to the iOS 16 features that have been available to iPhone users since September, iPadOS 16 brings Stage Manager, a new multitasking tool, to select tablets. With Stage Manager, you get a visible dock for easy access to apps and you can resize app windows like you could on a Mac. Originally intended for only M1-powered iPads (and presumably M2 models when they arrive), Apple has expanded support for Stage Manager to four older iPads.
iOS 16.1
As mentioned, iOS 16 has already shipped, but as is tradition at Apple, not every feature went live at launch. Live Activities — widgets on the lock screen that relay current information as it changes — didn’t appear in iOS 16, but they’re part of the iOS 16.1 beta. Once that update ships — most likely this month — Live Activities will be ready as well. Hopefully, iOS 16.1 will also introduce a fix for the battery issues that some upgrades have mentioned.
macOS Ventura
There’s one last piece of software due out this fall, and that’s macOS Ventura. The latest version of Apple’s Mac software is also targeting an October release, Apple has said.
(Image credit: Apple)
With macOS Ventura, Macs get some of the updates found in the equivalent iOS apps. You can share Tap Groups in Safari like you can in iOS 16, and you can also edit text messages after you send them. Mail gets an improved search function, and Apple’s effort to replace passwords with Passkeys includes the Mac as well as the iPhone and iPad.
Stage Manager is part of the macOS update, and a Continuity Camera feature turns your iPhone into a webcam for an extra take on video calls.
Apple’s Outlook for October
We’re not saying all of these launches will happen, although many – the software releases plus the iPhone 14 Plus – have already been confirmed. It just goes to show that Apple doesn’t need a special event to still experience a lot.
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