Apple Event on October 30th: New iPad Pro, MacBook Air and Mac Mini Could Be Announced

[dmartin]

We've been seeing rumors for months about the new iPad Pro and especially the successors to the MacBook Air, and we'll soon be able to confirm whether those rumors were true. Apple has issued media invites for an October 30 event in New York with the tagline "There's more in the making". The company is expected to announce the new iPad Pro, which could be based on a processor more powerful than the Apple A12 Bionic used on the new iPhone XR, XS and XS Max. This new tablet would have both 10.5 and a 12.9 inches models with slim bezels and Face ID. The rumors suggest the new iPad Pro will ditch the Lighting connector and replace it with a USB-C port.

Even more promising is that theoretical successor to MacBook Air (not necessarily called this way) that has been talked about for months. In August Bloomberg pointed out that this machine would have a Retina display whose size is not entirely clear: while DigiTimes talked about a 13-inch screen, Ming-Chi Kuo, analyst at TF International Securities, spoke of a replacement for the current MacBook that would therefore have a 12-inch screen. There is no info around its CPU/GPU, but the recent launch of 8th Gen U-Series and Y-Series processors makes guessing a fun exercise.



The other important announcement of the event could be the Mac mini, which has not been updated since 2014. Rumor has it that this model might see a new version based on Intel Core U-Series processors, something that could impact the final size of the device. There could be surprises on other models, and in fact in his research note for investors Kuo included details for several Mac updates. These included chip upgrades for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and an iMac with "significant display-performance updates".

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[StrayKAT]

I was almost tempted to get a Mac again (and was waiting for this announcement), but they are really overpriced. This will be no different. It needs to be said.. for the umpteenth time.

 

[neatfeatguy]

I was almost tempted to get a Mac again (and was waiting for this announcement), but they are really overpriced. This will be no different. It needs to be said.. for the umpteenth time.

It killed me that the wife needed a new Mac laptop two years ago now....? I think it was two years ago.....anyway, the hardware in that machine could be purchased in a Windows laptop for around $700-800. The damn Mac cost twice that.

Overpriced is a nice way to say they price gouge the shit out of people. At least for the wife, her work provided her with a few thousand dollars worth of software she uses, for free. So she can do freelance graphic design stuff when she wants, plus she can now work from home when the weather is bad. If she wasn't getting all the software she uses at work for free, no way in hell I would have spent around $1400 on her laptop.

I don't understand people's fascination with Apple and their overpriced hardware.

 

[alexander brett]

I don't understand people's fascination with Apple and their overpriced hardware.

And us Mac users don't understand why you Windows-only users feel the need to comment about our decision to use OS X / *NIX. Nor do we come to TPU to diss your decision. Fact is, some of us don't believe in the culture of Microsoft and other corporations that use spyware (Windows 10) to sell our data to other corporations and our governments. This seems to be changing, hence my preference for *NIX. But in 2018 do we really need to hear you whining Windows lovers bitching about Apple's prices?

 

[StrayKAT]

I
I don't understand people's fascination with Apple and their overpriced hardware.

I just think the OS is better. The hardware price is a sick joke.

I used to use PowerPCs in the 90s and they could get away with the excuse somewhat then. But not when you're selling the exact same hardware PCs have now.

 

[Vya Domus]

don't believe in the culture of Microsoft and other corporations that use spyware

Sure buddy, live in your bubble believing that Apple never spies on you.

 

[Thorsthimble]

Fact is, some of us don't believe in the culture of Microsoft and other corporations that use spyware (Windows 10) to sell our data to other corporations and our governments.

Good luck with that.

 

[alexander brett]

Sure buddy, live in your bubble believing that Apple never spies on you.

Did I say never? You must have a reading comprehension issue. My "bubble" seems to include using Windows most of the day, most days of the week for work and for gaming. I've been building PCs since 1993. I've been using computers since the Atari 800. How about you mister hot shot "Graphics Cards | Master"?

Good luck with that.

Thanks for your constructive contribution. Good luck with what exactly? Do you want to have a debate about the security of BSD UNIX or Linux vs Windows or whether Microsoft or Apple collects more data on you and sells it? Or are you 13 years old and just want to post a snarky Windows Fanboi comment?

 

[jallenlabs]

I used Macs for many years from the old beige boxes to ibooks, eMacs, iMacs, powerbooks, powermacs, etc. I even had an Apple Laserwriter. Loved most of those machines. Eventually I just couldn't afford to keep up anymore, Mac Pro starting at $3k, no thanks. I have built dozens of PCs since and will never go back to Mac OS unless they release it so that I can put it on any hardware I want, like on a PC I built to my own specs...

 

[Flanker]

About time someone slims down tablet bezels. Android tablet manufactures can start too.

 

[Vya Domus]

I've been building PCs since 1993.

You did ? That's crazy, didn't thought such thing was possible.

Did you seriously tried to use that as an argument? Are you for real mate ?

 

[Durvelle27]

About time someone slims down tablet bezels. Android tablet manufactures can start too.

iPads always had pretty slim bezels for as long as I can remember

 

[timta2]

You did ? That's crazy, didn't thought such thing was possible.

Did you seriously tried to use that as an argument? Are you for real mate ?

There must be a language barrier or comprehension issue here. You could even build Macs back in 1993. There were companies that specialized in Mac component sales (motherboards, cpus, power supplies, cases, etc). Some Apple dealers were also willing to sell parts, often at inflated prices.

 

[AsRock]

Meh Mac's, hardly what they used to be way back.

And us Mac users don't understand why you Windows-only users feel the need to comment about our decision to use OS X / *NIX. Nor do we come to TPU to diss your decision. Fact is, some of us don't believe in the culture of Microsoft and other corporations that use spyware (Windows 10) to sell our data to other corporations and our governments. This seems to be changing, hence my preference for *NIX. But in 2018 do we really need to hear you whining Windows lovers bitching about Apple's prices?

Maybe some of those people you cannot understand used to or have had a Mac of one kind or another and had enough of Apple's BS repair service closed garden or the crazy price tags and again their crappy repair policy's.

Who knows hey, maybe were not happy with MS either but were paying a hell lot less for our hardware and for some part jump to Linux if need be.

Ooh spare me the crap about spyware, Apple has it's own.

 

[Flanker]

iPads always had pretty slim bezels for as long as I can remember

this looks a bit chunky to me, comparing to the one in the news article

 

[Upgrayedd]

Little Mac

 

[neatfeatguy]

And us Mac users don't understand why you Windows-only users feel the need to comment about our decision to use OS X / *NIX. Nor do we come to TPU to diss your decision. Fact is, some of us don't believe in the culture of Microsoft and other corporations that use spyware (Windows 10) to sell our data to other corporations and our governments. This seems to be changing, hence my preference for *NIX. But in 2018 do we really need to hear you whining Windows lovers bitching about Apple's prices?

I didn't rag on the OS, just the horribly priced hardware. I've seen some of the slick programs that come with the OS on Apple devices. I just don't like Apple for my own reasons that I wish not to type out here.

 

[95Viper]

Stop the personal insults, trolling, and retaliatory comments.
Keep on topic, please.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Apple is becoming so boring....

 

[Frick]

For a second I read it ad iPad Bro and was like "That's a niche market ain't it?" but then I realized.

Up to a few years ago the prices were largely fine (when looking at the total package and not just pure performance), there was a bit of a premium but not too much. Nowdays they are lacking though, and the hardware updates comes too slow. 16GB was maxing out the Macbook Pro until like the current model, which is bonkers for something aimed at professionals. They still make good hardware but they need to step up their game ... somehow.

 

[Vya Domus]

You could even build Macs back in 1993. There were companies that specialized in Mac component sales

Sarcasm sure doesn't work well over the internet. However, I'll never give up trying.

 

[Easy Rhino]

Once again people seem to forget the cost of apple products is from the incredibly high build quality and the ecosystem. Anyway, interesting time to release some sales news. I assume for the holidays... I would love a new macbook 13... maybe @W1zzard could get them for the mods this year?

 

[alexander brett]

Sarcasm sure doesn't work well over the internet. However, I'll never give up trying.

Sarcasm is really just hostility disguised as humor. Try being sincere. You might have better personal relationships and internet conversations.

 

[Vya Domus]

hostility disguised as humor.

Hurt feelings and all that. Yeah, I know the drill.

 

[alexander brett]

Once again people seem to forget the cost of apple products is from the incredibly high build quality and the ecosystem.

Exactly. And try finding a decently priced Windows laptop with a Retina quality screen. So by then you can buy a MacBookPro and run OS X, Windows, Linux at the same time. All these cheap Windows laptops have pathetic 1080p screens. I'm still using my 2013 MBP 16GB/512SSD and when you factor in the overhead of Windows 10 spy/crapware it's a wash.

Apple is becoming so boring....

Agreed. Since Jobs died I don't think there's any vision. Silicon Valley has no soul now. Say what you will about Steve Jobs but at least he had some kind of vision. Tim Cook is a bean counter.