Apple is preparing to unveil new Mac and iPad devices
Apple is planning to unveil the first Mac computers with M4 processors and new low-cost iPads at an event in the next few weeks, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports in his Power On newsletter.
The announcement is in line with the company's usual fall release schedule, with three events in the past five years held during October.
Last year, Apple held a virtual event on October 30 to announce new MacBook Pro and iMac models with M3 processors.
Gurman expects the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini to be powered by M4 processors this year, followed by the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro throughout 2025.
Apple is likely to introduce updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max processors.
According to Gurman, no major design changes are expected this year. Important updates, such as an OLED display and a slim design, may not come until 2026.
The new MacBook Pro lineup includes a 14-inch model with an M4 chip codenamed J604, a 14-inch model with an M4 Pro chip codenamed J614, and a 16-inch model with an M4 Pro chip codenamed J616.
The new iMac, codenamed J623, is set to receive an update that brings the M4 chip along with an update to the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad from Lightning to USB-C.
The Mac mini is expected to be updated with M4 and M4 Pro chips, and the new Mac mini, codenamed J773, is about the size of an Apple TV, but lacks USB-A ports.
Apple is also expected to unveil the new generation of iPad mini, which features improvements such as a faster chip, improved front and rear cameras, a fix for the Jelly scrolling screen issue, and support for the Wi-Fi 6E wireless network standard and Bluetooth 5.3. The new iPad mini is expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2024.
New lower-end iPads are also expected to make an appearance, including the iPad 11. Details about these models remain scarce, although they are expected to be part of the event's announcements.
Gurman noted that MacBook Airs with the M4 chip are expected in the first quarter of 2025, the new Mac Studio in mid-2025, and the Mac Pro by the end of 2025.