Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What to Expect From Apple's 'Exciting Week of Announcements'
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Just give me a keyboard that can connect to more than 1 device
What do I care what they sell as long as they sell the one I want?
This Mac mini thing sounds exactly like the sort of corporate jewellery I'd buy just because. I don't really need it but I know I'll find a reason to NEED IT NOW.
Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today teased that the company has an "exciting week of announcements" planned next week. Joswiak said to "Mac" your calendars, and the post includes an animated icon for the Finder app on the Mac, so it is clear that at least some of next week's announcements will be related to the Mac.
Below, we have recapped what to expect from Apple's announcements next week.
Hardware
MacBook Pro
Apple is expected to announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, including an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
No major external design changes have been rumored for the laptops this year, with improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest. However, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to gain an additional Thunderbolt port compared to the current model, based on alleged leaks earlier this month. Those same leaks revealed that the MacBook Pro lineup might finally start with 16GB of RAM, instead of 8GB, which was rumored even before the leaks happened.
Apple last redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021, and the latest models with the M3 family of chips were released last October.
iMac
The next iMac is expected to be equipped with the standard M4 chip, up from the M3 chip in the current model released a year ago. No major design changes have been rumored for Apple's all-in-one desktop computer this year.
It is likely that the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad accessories that are included in the box with the iMac will finally feature USB-C ports, as part of Apple's transition away from Lightning. More on that below.
Mac mini
A concept of a smaller Mac mini
The next Mac mini is expected to be available with M4 and M4 Pro chip options. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the next Mac mini to be smaller, making it closer in size to an Apple TV, and he said that the computer will gain two front-facing USB-C ports. All in all, the Mac mini is expected to receive its biggest redesign since 2010.
It is unclear if the next Mac mini will also start with 16GB of RAM, instead of the current 8GB.
USB-C Magic Accessories
MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris recently discovered code references to new versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard, and these accessories will likely switch from Lightning to USB-C for charging alongside the new iMac. In the EU, a regulation requiring USB-C as a common charging port goes into effect later this year.
It is unclear if the accessories will have any other changes.
Software
iOS 18.1 With First Apple Intelligence Features and More
Apple recently confirmed that new AirPods Pro 2 hearing health features will be available as part of iOS 18.1 next week, so there could be an announcement when the software update is released, especially since it also includes the first set of Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.
Gurman said Apple has planned to release the update on Monday, October 28.
The following other updates are expected to be widely released next week as well:
- iPadOS 18.1
- macOS Sequoia 15.1
- watchOS 11.1
- tvOS 18.1
- HomePod Software 18.1
- visionOS 2.1
Earnings
Apple will be discussing its earnings results for the fourth quarter of its 2024 fiscal year on Thursday, October 31 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. That call will provide early insight into iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 sales, and Apple will likely touch on some of its Mac-related announcements on the call too.
Article Link: What to Expect From Apple's 'Exciting Week of Announcements'
Last edited:
Good thinking…
Remember how those 400K disquettes were forcing developers to design streamline software? And what about those 14400 baud modems that would load well designed web sites in an instant?
To impress friends when multitasking appeared, I used to select 7 or 8 files from different apps and open them all at once to impress friends. It took about 30 seconds for all of these to be loaded and ready to work on, and all of them to be impressed and ready to buy a Mac!
't's good to be old!
💾
Two things I'm excited to see next week.
1. A redesigned Mac mini (though wouldn't shock me in the slightest if it's just a spec bump)
2. The inevitable meltdown when Apple announces the updated Magic Mouse with USB-C but with the port still on the bottom. (Still don't understand why people have such a hangup about charging it when not in use. How do y'all get around in your cars?)
1. A redesigned Mac mini (though wouldn't shock me in the slightest if it's just a spec bump)
2. The inevitable meltdown when Apple announces the updated Magic Mouse with USB-C but with the port still on the bottom. (Still don't understand why people have such a hangup about charging it when not in use. How do y'all get around in your cars?)
I'm really hoping the MacBook Pro gets a max version. I could really benefit from more than 128gb ram and 8tb ssd
That the M Pro and Max chips should come with 24/32 as standard no doubt. It'll be interesting to see what they do, as without the ram difference, the price difference currently between m3 base and m3 pro doesn't look like a good value proposition.
The main complaint will remain that the upgrade costs for more ram (and SSD) regardless of basis level is too high.
It’s not going to look anything like that mini
Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today teased that the company has an "exciting week of announcements" planned next week. Joswiak said to "Mac" your calendars, and the post includes an animated icon for the Finder app on the Mac, so it is clear that at least some of next week's announcements will be related to the Mac.
Below, we have recapped what to expect from Apple's announcements next week.
Hardware
MacBook Pro
Apple is expected to announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, including an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
No major external design changes have been rumored for the laptops this year, with improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest. However, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to gain an additional Thunderbolt port compared to the current model, based on alleged leaks earlier this month. Those same leaks revealed that the MacBook Pro lineup might finally start with 16GB of RAM, instead of 8GB, which was rumored even before the leaks happened.
Apple last redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021, and the latest models with the M3 family of chips were released last October.
iMac
The next iMac is expected to be equipped with the standard M4 chip, up from the M3 chip in the current model released a year ago. No major design changes have been rumored for Apple's all-in-one desktop computer this year.
It is likely that the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad accessories that are included in the box with the iMac will finally feature USB-C ports, as part of Apple's transition away from Lightning. More on that below.
Mac mini
A concept of a smaller Mac mini
The next Mac mini is expected to be available with M4 and M4 Pro chip options. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the next Mac mini to be smaller, making it closer in size to an Apple TV, and he said that the computer will gain two front-facing USB-C ports. All in all, the Mac mini is expected to receive its biggest redesign since 2010.
It is unclear if the next Mac mini will also start with 16GB of RAM, instead of the current 8GB.
USB-C Magic Accessories
MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris recently discovered code references to new versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard, and these accessories will likely switch from Lightning to USB-C for charging alongside the new iMac. In the EU, a regulation requiring USB-C as a common charging port goes into effect later this year.
It is unclear if the accessories will have any other changes.
Software
iOS 18.1 With First Apple Intelligence Features and More
Apple recently confirmed that new AirPods Pro 2 hearing health features will be available as part of iOS 18.1 next week, so there could be an announcement when the software update is released, especially since it also includes the first set of Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.
Gurman said Apple has planned to release the update on Monday, October 28.
The following other updates are expected to be widely released next week as well:
- iPadOS 18.1
- macOS Sequoia 15.1
- watchOS 11.1
- tvOS 18.1
- HomePod Software 18.1
- visionOS 2.1
Earnings
Apple will be discussing its earnings results for the fourth quarter of its 2024 fiscal year on Thursday, October 31 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. That call will provide early insight into iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 sales, and Apple will likely touch on some of its Mac-related announcements on the call too.
Article Link: What to Expect From Apple's 'Exciting Week of Announcements'
Problem is, despite what Apple says, no current Mac has the same GPU power as dedicated GPU’s.
They would really kick Windows while it’s down if they supported eGPU’s (or just dGPU’s in the Mac Pro) on Apple Silicon.
i mean they aren't comparable to stuff like the 4090 but they do reach performance (atleast in metal) to a 70-tier card
don't you have to make new drivers for macos for dgpus?
[sarcasm]
I really love notches, so I'm really hoping the new MacBook Pros still have a notch. Tim Cook has excellent logic skills, and that really shows in how every computer in the MacBook line a notch, even though there is no Face ID. Notches look wonderful, as does the asymmetry of the screens with the top having rounded corners while the bottom has 90-degree corners.
[/sarcasm]
I really love notches, so I'm really hoping the new MacBook Pros still have a notch. Tim Cook has excellent logic skills, and that really shows in how every computer in the MacBook line a notch, even though there is no Face ID. Notches look wonderful, as does the asymmetry of the screens with the top having rounded corners while the bottom has 90-degree corners.
[/sarcasm]
Last edited:
That's with the current form factor. The question is, what will happen with the Studio? I think that we will see either a price increase (with the assumption that the M4 Max will start at 10 cores just like the M3 Max, while the M2 Max had 8), or a less capable base model, ie starting with M4 Pro. In that case, probably no Mac Mini with a pro CPU.
So Mini with only one chip option (base M), and Studio with three chip options (Pro, Max, and Ultra)? That would be an odd situation, but who knows.
I think that depends on what Apple does with the M4 Pro. If it is like the M2 Pro (Max with half the GPU) then the current Studio chassis makes sense. From that point of view, the decision not to put M3 and M3 Pro in the current (soon to be old) Mini chassis can be understood as follows: the M2 Pro Mini was a sort of placeholder for the M2 Pro Studio, so if the Studio didn’t get M3, neither did the Mini.
But if M4 Pro is like the M3 Pro (not directly related to Max), then it’s not hard to imagine a new Mini chassis designed to handle both M4 and M4 Pro.
I've been waiting for six months for the new Mac mini. I donated my 2013 Trash Can Mac Pro when I moved earlier this year. I need a new desktop Mac. I'd probably splurge on a Mac Studio, but don't want one without the M4 and also don't want to wait until next summer. I want an M4 because I believe Apple Intelligence and the OS and apps in general are going to rely on hardware additions and changes that begin with the M4 (e.g. neural engine enhancements).
I am generally not a first adopter (one exception, bout the first original iPod and iPhone the day after they were released), but if the M4 Pro version of the Mac mini is released next week, I will plan to pick one up before the end of the year.
My desired spec minimums for a Mac mini: M4 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 16 GB RAM.
I am generally not a first adopter (one exception, bout the first original iPod and iPhone the day after they were released), but if the M4 Pro version of the Mac mini is released next week, I will plan to pick one up before the end of the year.
My desired spec minimums for a Mac mini: M4 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 16 GB RAM.