If Apple wants to introduce new products without any fuss, the company publishes a press release – preferably around 2:30 pm Central European Time – and then puts the devices up on its website. That’s what happened with the new iPad mini 7 this week. This is done, among other things, if there is no suitable Apple event coming up at the time – or if it already seems “too packed” for another product. But that’s not really the case; at the company’s fall keynote speech, which is expected to take place in late October (or early November), there will definitely be room for a new iPad. Accordingly, the scene is now wondering whether this is still happening – or whether the new Macs will appear “just like that”, that too via a press release.
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MAC-only event in the fall?
Actually there are a lot of products that can come. 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. There’s often time for a new iPad at such Mac events, but there probably won’t be anything this year. A new standard iPad (then generation 11) will probably no longer be released in 2024; Instead the iPad 10 was reduced to 399 euros this week.
This would make Apple’s fall keynote on new hardware a purely Mac event where the company could also take care of Apple Intelligence. This in turn fits quite well as the first features of the AI system will be introduced with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 at the end of October. It’s not yet clear what specifically Apple will decide to do here. The quick release of the new iPad mini 7 via press release took many observers by surprise.
Generation M4: At least everything is new on the Mac mini
The new M4 SoCs offer many benefits for the Mac. Speeds can be expected to increase by about 25 percent, and the battery may last (slightly) longer. The graphics and neural engine should also be fast. But ultimately it’s just a niche update. The looks of the MacBook Pro and iMac aren’t likely to change much; New colors (or even more colors for the entry-level MacBook Pro) may be introduced. The Mac Mini will be really exciting.
It is said that Apple has significantly reduced the form factor here – in the direction of the Apple TV multimedia box. There should also be five USB-C ports. Two variants are again expected to cater to higher demands, a Mac mini M4 and a Mac mini M4 Pro. As for the MacBook Pro, you can expect the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. Pro and Max SoCs did not exist yet. The M4 was first introduced in May alongside the iPad Pro M4, which was unusual even for Apple. Whether Apple is planning a fall event will become clear in the coming weeks. Invitations can probably be expected from next Monday.
(B.Sc.)
