Apple on Tuesday launched its upgraded iPad mini, which is powered by the Apple Intelligence-capable A17 Pro chip. IN addition to Apple Intelligence capabilities, the new table also offers Apple Pencil Pro compatibility. With that announcement, has Apple indicated that it won’t be bothering to hold a media event this month as many had expected?
In the past, we’ve seen an iPhone/Apple Watch event held in September, many times followed by an October event, where new Macs and iPads are unveiled.
We had expected to see an October media event where new M4-powered MacBook Pro models, M4 Mac mini models, an M4 iMac, and the The iPad mini and possibly a new base model iPad were expected to debut. (Although the new iPad is now expected to be unveiled early in 2025.)
However, the possibility of such an event looks to be less than a sure thing.
While we’ve seen plenty of reports about a refreshed MacBook Pro lineup, the M4 chip to be used in the new Macs is the big feature. No new display panels are expected to be unveiled, and outside of the M4, only minor upgrades are expected. Nothing that would really warrant a fancy media event.
As for the M4 iMac upgrade, other than the M4s, the biggest upgrade on the new iMacs could be new USB-C accessories, like a USB-C Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad (hopefully with a charging connector located somewhere else than its undercarriage). Apple may also offer new colors, as they often like to do.
The M4 Mac mini will likely be where the biggest changes will be.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman earlier this year said we can expect a smaller Mac mini, closer to the size of an Apple TV. The current mini measures in at 1.4 inches high. The mini will continue to use an aluminum shell.
According to Gurman, Apple has tested Mac mini models with three or more USB-C ports on the back. He expects to see two versions of the new Mac mini, powered by an M4 chip, as well as a model with an M4 Pro chip.
While these are welcome improvements to the Mac mini, do they really justify an event? Wouldn’t a press release do basically the same thing?
While the M4 chip is cool and all, Apple has already made a big deal about the new chip when it unveiled the new iPad Pro.
While it certainly looks like an October event is no longer a sure thing, Apple could still hold one. What do you think?