Top Stories: New iPad Mini, Upcoming Mac Updates, and More

[MacRumors]

The first of a number of imminent Apple product updates arrived this week with the seventh-generation iPad mini, but what else is still in store and when can we expect to see them?

On the software side, the public release of iOS 18.1 and related updates with the first Apple Intelligence features is drawing ever closer, and we can expect more of those features to arrive with iOS 18.2 before the end of the year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence

Surprise! While we were expecting an update for the iPad mini at some sort of Apple event toward the end of the month, Apple dropped the announcement via press release this week sooner than expected.

With the iPad mini having received a design overhaul in the last generation released in 2021, this year's design remains the same, but there are number of internal upgrades led by an A17 Pro chip to add support for upcoming Apple Intelligence features.

The update also includes a number of smaller changes such as faster USB-C data speeds, so be sure to check out our full buyer's guide comparison to see what's changed between the sixth- and seventh-generation iPad mini models.

Is an Apple Event Still Likely This October Following This Week's Surprise iPad Mini 7 Announcement?

The new iPad mini launching via press release this week is just one sign calling into question whether Apple is going to hold its rumored October product event at all.

While we hadn't heard many specific rumors, another product on the potential event docket had been an 11th-generation iPad, but with Apple cutting the price of the 10th-generation model in Europe and removing the power adapter from the box there this week, a near-term update for that product now appears unlikely.

Yet, we are expecting a host of M4-based Mac updates to arrive very shortly, including a major redesign for the Mac mini, so there still seems to be enough for Apple to show off in a short virtual event if it chooses to do so.

iOS 18.1 Includes Option to Set 'Primary' Email Address and Change iCloud Email

As we continue to inch toward a public release for iOS 18.1 and related updates, we're still discovering new features and tweaks in the update. One of the latest is a new option to change the main email address associated with your Apple Account, which is particularly handy for those who do a lot of document collaboration and other tasks that make your Apple Account address visible to other people.

Apple seeded the seventh iOS 18.1 beta this week as it reportedly aims for a public release on Monday, October 28.

iOS 18.2 Expected to Add These Additional Apple Intelligence Features

With the first round of Apple Intelligence features coming later this month in iOS 18.1, there's plenty more yet to come in future updates.

iOS 18.2 is up next, with a release expected sometime in December, and it should bring a number of new Apple Intelligence features including support for localized English in a several countries beyond the United States, image generation capabilities with Image Playground and Genmoji, Visual Intelligence for pulling up information on the world around you via the iPhone 16's camera, and integration with ChatGPT.

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Introduce These 5 New Features

Yes, the iPhone 16 lineup has only been out for a month, but some users are wanting to hold off for another year and are looking ahead at what they might be able to expect with next year's iPhone 17 lineup.

So far there are at least five key changes rumored to be coming to the iPhone 17 and/or iPhone 17 Pro models, including upgraded front cameras, an improved Telephoto rear camera and increased RAM on one or both Pro models, and more.

We're also expecting a slimmed-down "iPhone 17 Air" to replace the current Plus model in the lineup, and we're continuing to hear rumors about what features that new model may include.

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Article Link: Top Stories: New iPad Mini, Upcoming Mac Updates, and More

 

[TechnoMonk]

How is October event cancelled when it was never announced, probably Apple never planned it. It would be hilarious if Apple does a November event to show how clueless all these rumors are.

 

[Macalway]

Nov 1st isn't it?

 

[EasternCanucker]

I don't need anything new but I always enjoy seeing what is coming up. The new iPad Mini looks great. Interested to see what the new Mac mini looks like, though my M2 is working just fine.

 

[terpsbball2002]

And the media will still go back to Gurman

 

[AAPLGeek]

MBP and Mini are backordered so event or no event we're getting M4 Macs within the next two weeks.

 

[Realityck]

The new iPad mini launching via press release this week is just one sign calling into question whether Apple is going to hold its rumored October product event at all.

IMHO events are getting to be way too much sales pitch. It's better just to announce updated products and make them available rather than try to overly spin everything is great.

 

[Kottu]

IPad mini costs 665$ in Sweden and it is almost 200$ expensive than normal iPad.
Seems like Apple’s strategy is to get most out of products in a short period and later kill it. In a year or two they will stop producing Mini and give a reason that sales are low.

 

[Realityck]

IPad mini costs 665$ in Sweden and it is almost 200$ expensive than normal iPad.
Seems like Apple’s strategy is to get most out of products in a short period and later kill it. In a year or two they will stop producing Mini and give a reason that sales are low.

Mini buyers prefer using a iPad thats smaller and can be held in one hand. Then if you want to upgrade the iPad 10th generation storage from the meager 64 GB it's the same price as the iPad mini 7. All depends on what you value. Only the iPad Pro gives you everything you want at twice the Mini 7's price.

 

[opeter]

It would be interesting, if Apple would not update Macs this year. At all.

And then, next year (February, March 2025), the Macbooks (Pro) would be updated with the M4, just like the Russians showed. Without any event, conference etc.

 

[Realityck]

It would be interesting, if Apple would not update Macs this year. At all.

And then, next year (February, March 2025), the Macbooks (Pro) would be updated with the M4, just like the Russians showed. Without any event, conference etc.

Thats not interesting, thats considered stalling. Feb March is bowing to Mac Studios, instead of the more lucrative macBook Pros.
October 18, 2021 M1 Pro/Max MBPs
January 17, 2023 M2 Pro/Max MBPs
October 30, 2023 M3 Pro/Max MBPs

Currently M4 MBPs are expected to show end of October to coincide with MacOS 15.1 released October 28th. Then would be available in stores early November.

 

[Macaholic868]

I’m excited for the ChatGPT integration coming in 18.2. I can’t wait to install that first beta. Finally Siri can gain some much needed intelligence!!!!

 

[Admiral Fart]

Why would anyone think that the October event is cancelled because of the stealth launch of a minor spec bump of the most ignored iPad model? They probably just wanted to get this out of the way and devote the entire event to Macs. If anything, I think this bit of housekeeping shows the event is imminent and we'll probably get an announcement next week, if not the actual event itself.

 

[Realityck]

Why would anyone think that the October event is cancelled because of the stealth launch of a minor spec bump of the most ignored iPad model? They probably just wanted to get this out of the way and devote the entire event to Macs. If anything, I think this bit of housekeeping shows the event is imminent and we'll probably get an announcement next week, if not the actual event itself.

Don't be shocked if there isn't an event. It's not like you need these well rehearsed taped events to showoff more M4 devices, wouldn't a press release and a well design web site suffice? If Apple needs to they could just have an online show you can watch where a few apple types discuss what they like about the new products.

 

[xbjllb]

Apple won't miss a holiday season. There will be an event with new m4 Macs for Holiday gift-giving.

 

[Earendil]

I see you posted previously on a different rumors article, and you’re here three days later ******** on Apple for not releasing something in the last three days. Do you not understand “rumors” and “news?”

 

[Kay_Ess]

All very interesting and all, but we’ve had some rumors about MacOS and maybe even AppleTV supporting bitstreaming audio soon. Any news on that front? 😊

 

[Johnnyponken]

what if they wait till April or may, then update both the Macs and the iPad to M5?

Let’s say they update the Macs soon to M4. Will the iPad Pro be updated to M5 in spring?

 

[Juraj22]

Event name: Scary faster, 22. Oct, maybe?

 

[lkrupp]

How is October event cancelled when it was never announced, probably Apple never planned it. It would be hilarious if Apple does a November event to show how clueless all these rumors are.

That’s why this place is called MacRumors. Rumors about products are often pulled out of someone’s rear end. The peanut gallery immediately inflates the rumor to confirmed fact. Then when the rumor doesn’t pan out the recriminations begin as to how Apple screwed things up royally. Add a dash of “overpriced garbage” and a pinch of “Android has had that for years” and you’ve got a ton of clicks and comments. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary.

 

[theluggage]

Why would anyone think that the October event is cancelled because of the stealth launch of a minor spec bump of the most ignored iPad model? They probably just wanted to get this out of the way and devote the entire event to Macs.

Yup. And if they are launching the new MBP, that also means announcing the M4 Pro and Max chips (or whatever replaces them gets called) so having non-M4 products in a launch would be a distraction.

Ultimately, who knows? …but the idea that Apple might have a MacBook Pro launch sometime in Q4 is hardly an extraordinary claim that demands skepticism - it’s frequently happened in the past, and the clock has been ticking ever since they announced the M4.

That said, there is a certain US …event in early November which I will not discuss in this thread save to say that it might distract people from a product launch held around the same time.

 

[anthogag]

Too many "events" become boring. New Macs could get a video press release, maybe this week 🤪

Release the mini hounds.

 

[iCyprus]

Cmon Apple gimme da M4 maaaan

 

[turbineseaplane]

The M4 update looks very modest and expected given what was shown in the Russian leaks

Re: the Mac Mini

The Mac Mini is such a low profile, low volume and low importance model that they could/should just press release that new model also.

We don't need the usual Apple virtue signaling over produced infomercial

 

[Chungry]

The M4 update looks very modest and expected given what was shown in the Russian leaks

Re: the Mac Mini

The Mac Mini is such a low profile, low volume and low importance model that they could/should just press release that new model also.

We don't need the usual Apple virtue signaling over produced infomercial

Can Apple resist an opportunity to talk up Apple Intelligence despite a small subset of users even having access to it? I thought the carrier and Apple-based ads around an unreleased feature to be bad form. They shouldn’t be able to advertise for features someone can’t experience by walking into a store.