Apple's Back to School Promotion Might Hint at Date of October Apple Event

[MacRumors]

Apple will be hosting a virtual event tomorrow that is expected to revolve around the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, and third-generation AirPods. With new Mac and iPad models also rumored to be on the horizon, Apple reportedly plans to hold at least one additional event before the end of the year, and the company's annual Back to School promotion could provide a clue as to when the next event might take place.

Specifically, on September 15 of last year, Apple extended its Back to School promotion to run through Monday, October 12 in the U.S. At the time, the extension seemed insignificant, but Apple later announced that it would be holding an event on Tuesday, October 13, which happened to be just one day after the promotion ended.

This year, the Back to School promotion is set to end on Monday, September 27 in the U.S., but it's unlikely that Apple will hold two events in September. However, in Europe, the promotion ends Monday, October 11, which is perhaps more telling. This could point towards Apple's next event being on Tuesday, October 12, assuming that the event ends up being one day after the Back to School promotion ends for a second year in a row.

Of course, it's possible that the end of the Back to School promotion and Apple's October event falling on back-to-back days last year was merely a coincidence, so we'll have to wait for an official announcement from Apple.

It's also not entirely clear if Apple will be hosting two or three events this fall, which could affect the timing of an October event. Last year, Apple held its first-ever November event to introduce the first M1 Macs, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that Apple will hold two events this fall, with the latter focused on the Mac and iPad.

As a refresher, Apple has held an October event in three out of the last five years:

• Thursday, October 27, 2016
• Tuesday, October 30, 2018
• Tuesday, October 13, 2020

In the meantime, all eyes are on the iPhone event tomorrow. MacRumors will have full coverage of Apple's announcements on our website and across our social platforms, including @MacRumorsLive on Twitter, so be sure to follow along.

Article Link: Apple's Back to School Promotion Might Hint at Date of October Apple Event

 

[Think|Different]

Let's go! Need that M1X/M2/Whatever MacBook Pro!

 

[sunny5]

They really need to announce a high end iMac asap with better specs than M1X.

 

[4jasontv]

Come on iPad Mac OS hybrid!

 

[jz0309]

They really need to announce a high end iMac asap with better specs than M1X.

since there is no M1X - anything will be better

 

[jonnysods]

Now this is a Mac Rumour!!

 

[8CoreWhore]

I'd be surprised if Apple wasn't shooting both "events" at the same time. They make movies like that now. It's so efficient. Then they can edit in last minute things like prices and dates.

 

[newyorksole]

I love how the same things happen every year and people are surprised lol.

 

[performa_6400]

Come on iPad Mac OS hybrid!

Not happening.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Let it be early in the October, Please.

Arriving in several weeks! Yippie!

'M1X' MacBook Pro set to arrive in 'several weeks' | AppleInsider

Apple's "California Streaming" event has a chance of showing off new MacBook Pro models sporting the M1X chip, with a report claiming orders could open up within "several weeks" of the event.

appleinsider.com

 

[groove-agent]

Back to school event in October? How does that make sense. They should at least disclose the new products in September even if they’re not ready to ship.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I went to the Apple store last week with a friend who was ready to pull a trigger on a M1 purchase. I told him to wait it out until November. My brother will be visiting next summer, so I might treat him to one although he is more than happy with his 2017.

 

[Orange Bat]

I’m curious what a beefier chip will really do. I make iOS and Android apps and my M1 Mac Mini is perfect for XCode and does Android pretty well, also. Logic Pro and PixelMator also run pretty darn nicely. I used to make video graphics but haven’t done that in years and I imagine there’s a nice bump there as well. I am actually quite happy with my M1 purchase at this point and won’t regret it anytime soon.

 

[reallynotnick]

I went to the Apple store last week with a friend who was ready to pull a trigger on a M1 purchase. I told him to wait it out until November. My brother will be visiting next summer, so I might treat him to one although he is more than happy with his 2017.

As long as they are comfortable paying a much higher price, otherwise they will be waiting until next year for an M2 at similar prices to the M1

 

[smoking monkey]

Interesting...
So in the USA Sep 27th is exactly 15 days prior to Tuesday the 12 of October which is one day after Euro Student campaign ends. Doesn't the USA have a 14 day return window???
I'd put my money on Oct 12 or at the very worst the 19th.

 

[smoking monkey]

Back to school event in October? How does that make sense. They should at least disclose the new products in September even if they’re not ready to ship.

It's a back to school campaign that has been ongoing and ends in late Sep in the USA and earlyish Oct in Europe. It's normal for BTSCs to end after the start of the school year.

 

[garylapointe]

They really need to announce a high end iMac asap with better specs than M1X.

Better specs than never announced chip? With unpublished specs?

 

[garylapointe]

It's a back to school campaign that has been ongoing and ends in late Sep in the USA and earlyish Oct in Europe. It's normal for BTSCs to end after the start of the school year.

Now that most everyone is back to school in the US (especially by 9/27), ending the US promotion doesn't seem like it's indicating anything...

 

[garylapointe]

As a refresher, Apple has held an October event in three out of the last five years:

• Thursday, October 27, 2016
• Tuesday, October 30, 2018
• Tuesday, October 13, 2020

So they could only establish a pattern out of 5 years, nothing longer?

But the pattern seems to be even years. So having an event would break the current pattern.

But more importantly, the Oct. 2020 event didn't have computers, so I'm not sure why it's even factored in there.
If they wanted to count non-MacBook events, they could have said 7 out of 10 Octobers. But then they might have to point out the only non-event years were the past 3 odd-numbered years.

List of Apple Inc. media events - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[sunny5]

I think the October event will be on October 12th.

Last year, they exactly had 2nd and 3rd events one and 2 months later.

 

[4jasontv]

Not happening.

Not happening tomorrow. But it will someday.

 

[tigerstyle0]

Quite the hint… them doing the same loop of events that they do every years… almost down to the exact day.

 

[drumcat]

I'm looking forward to it because second-rev chips tend to be much better. I see a MBAir in my future.

Silence. Fanless. Beautiful.

 

[xxray]

Would be funny to see people freaking out here if there was no October event and Apple just presented it all tomorrow.

Doubt it, but would be entertaining.

 

[Lioness~]

I think the October event will be on October 12th.

Last year, they exactly had 2nd and 3rd events one and 2 months later.

Hope so.

If they can deliver my new iMac 27'-31'-end oct - mid nov, it'll be great 😁