Apple's big iPhone 15 event is long in the rearview. And, for the most part, it was pretty tame. Apple focused on two product categories, iPhones and Apple Watches, while also sneakily updating AirPods Pro with USB-C charging. Basically, there were a lot of product categories that Apple didn't talk about.
As of this week, Apple has officially announced that it's having a "Scary Fast" event on October 30th. It's heavily rumored that Apple is going to introduce new Macs, specifically a new 24-inch iMac and new MacBook Pros, that will house the company's new M3 chip.
Below, we've rounded up what to expect from next week's event as well as rounded up rumors surrounding other Apple devices that could get released before the end of the year.
M3 iMac
It's been nearly two years since Apple announced its colorful 24-inch iMac, which was completely redesigned around the M1 chip, and it's rumored that Apple is working a new and improved version of its all-in-one desktop. The new iMac will likely look very similar to the 2021-released iMac (Apple rarely gives two big design overhauls in a row), but with an updated chipset. The latest rumblings are that Apple will skip the M2 chip entirely and give the new iMac its upcoming M3 chip.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is unveil a new 24-inch iMac at the Scary Fast event on October 30th.
M3 MacBook Pro and M3 Mac Mini
According to Mark Gurman's "Power On" newsletter, Apple is working on M3 versions of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro. They are expected to look identical to the current Pros, but just pack the new chipset. Apple also introduce an updated Mac Mini. These devices are expected to be announced at Apple's Scary Fast event on October 30th.
iPad mini (2023)
Apple hasn't released a new iPad Mini in nearly two years so the tiny tablet is overdue for an update. If it does release a new iPad mini, don't expect a drastic redesign as most of the upgrades will be internal. It's expected that this 7th-generation iPad mini will get a new A16 processor (same as the iPhone 15 line) and thinner bezels.
It's not looking likely, but the iPad Mini (7th generation) could be announced as early as Apple's Scary Fast event.
iPad (11th-generation)
Apple has released a new entry-level iPad every year since 2017 so it's a good bet that it will release the 11th-generation model before the end of the year. There haven't been many rumors to back this up, however, so we'll have to wait and see. If Apple does release a new 10.9-inch iPad, it'll probably be at its October/November event.
M3 iPad Pro
Apple is rumored to be working on new iPad Pros that will be powered by its upcoming M3 processor and boast OLED displays — they'll be the first iPads tablets to have an OLED display. However, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, these new iPad Pros aren't likely to get announced until next year.
AirPods Max 2
It's been a few years since Apple released its first over-over headphones, the AirPods Max, and naturally, there's been quite a bit of speculation regarding when new models could be announced and what upgrades they could have. Unfortunately, the rumor isn't exactly turning quickly for second-generation AirPods Max. The one bit of information we do have is that, as first spotted by Patently Apple, Apple filed a patent that could bring haptic controls to the next AirPods Max; this means you'd be able to tap or swipe the earpads for playback control, which may mean that Apple could remove the digital crown that's on the current AirPods Max.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is working on next-generation AirPods Max but they aren't expected to be announced until late 2024 or even early 2025.
HomePod mini 2
Just like the second-generation AirPods Max, don't expect an imminent release of a second-generation HomePod mini. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, you can expect the next iteration of the HomePod mini to get announced in 2024. It's likely that the new smart speaker will keep its $99 price point, but gain a few of the latest full-sized HomePod's features, including its ability to spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.
