Apple has a lot of new products coming up for the rest of 2021 and has officially scheduled them for Oct. 18. Here's a full rundown of what Apple could unveil at its October event, including the M1X MacBook Pro, AirPods 3 and more.
Apple officially announced that this year's October event will take place on October 18 at 10 am / 1 PM ET. As with all apple's recent events, the event will be entirely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple teased the event with the slogan "Unleashed". The Oct. 18 event will be streamed live on Apple's website, the company's YouTube channel and the Apple TV app for iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TV.
M1X MacBook pro
At Apple's October event, we expect the biggest announcement to be the long-rumored MacBook Pro overhaul. Apple is rumored to be working on new 14 – and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with so-called "M1X" processors.
14-inch MacBook Pro CPU
According to Bloomberg, the new M1X chip, or whatever it ends up being called, will have eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency cores, with either 16 or 32 graphics core variants. The machine is expected to support up to 64GB of RAM, compared to 16GB for the current M1 chip. The new MacBook Pro is also rumored to return to multiple connectivity options: MagSafe for charging, HDMI and SD cards. Apple is also expected to ditch the controversial touch bar in favor of a traditional row of function keys. The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are also expected to use the new mini LED display technology. Apple used mini LEDs for the first time in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro released earlier this year. For those unfamiliar, mini LEDs rely on thousands of very small LEDs in the backlight, which results in higher contrast and deeper blacks, similar to OLEDs, but without the risk of aging.
A recent report by Ross Young, an analyst at Display Supply Chain Consultants, also noted that the new MacBook Pro will support a 120Hz refresh rate for the first time.
Previously, Yang reported some details about display technology for upcoming Apple products, including the exact screen size of the new iPad Mini 6. Finally, the new MacBook Pro is rumored to have a new design similar to the iPad Pro and iPhone 13, with flat edges. The new MacBook Pro is a highly anticipated upgrade that will correct many of the things people have been unhappy with the current MacBook Pro generation.
This includes removing the touch bar, adding more Thunderbolt and USB-C ports, and improving display quality.
"The Mac mini Pro"
The new MacBook Pro isn't the only Mac upgrade Apple is working on, according to reports and rumors. Bloomberg reports that the new Mac Mini will have the same specs as the M1X MacBook Pro, with up to 64GB of memory, a 10-core CPU, and either 16 or 32-core graphics. Meanwhile, whistleblower Jon Prosser reports that apple's M1x powered Mac Mini is also coming with a new industrial design. The new Mac Mini is said to feature a redesigned exterior chassis with a reverse top.
macOS Monterrey release date
While Apple released iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 last month, we're still waiting for macOS Monterey. Apple is likely to officially announce a release date for macOS Monterey this fall, along with new Macs. MacOS Monterey includes new features such as a new Safari browser, AirPlay to Mac, SharePlay and FaceTime improvements, among others.
AirPods 3
AirPods 3 has been rumored for over a year now, and we're finally hoping they'll be announced this fall. The AirPods 3 is expected to have a similar design to the AirPods Pro, with a shorter stem and rounder ear design, but without replaceable tips. Ming-chi Kuo thinks Apple will continue to sell AirPods 2 and 3 at the same time, giving you two different options for lower-end AirPods. This gives AirPods a very versatile lineup in terms of functionality, shape, and price.
