6+ New Products to Expect at Apple’s Next Big Event
Credit: ConceptsiPhone / ADR Design
The Apple product pipeline seems primed for an October keynote. And if Apple does hold a special event later this month, there are a handful of products that you can expect. We’ll cover whether or not Apple is likely to hold another keynote this year later on in this piece, but in the meantime, continue reading to learn about 6+ new devices Apple is likely to debut this fall.
Apple’s New Bluetooth Trackers
Many Apple watchers were expecting the company to debut, or at least tease, new Bluetooth locating devices similar to Tile trackers at its September iPhone keynote. The trackers would integrate with Apple’s new Find My app and could leverage both augmented reality and the Ultra Wideband technology present in the 2019 iPhone lineup.
Those trackers failed to appear, of course. But there’s a lot of evidence in Apple’s software that the company is developing this technology. It’s nearly a certainty at this point that the company will debut the Bluetooth trackers eventually. The big question is when. An October release or tease seems likely.
16-inch MacBook Pro
One of the most highly anticipated products in Apple’s upcoming pipeline is a refreshed and redesigned MacBook Pro model. While reports differ, there are plenty of rumors suggesting that the device will be released in the fourth quarter of this year (presumably after an October announcement).
The new device is expected to adopt a new scissor-style keyboard switch instead of the current butterfly switch. Well-connected analysts have also predicted that it could sport an “all-new” design. According to other rumors, that may mean a bump in display size thanks to ultra-slim bezels. The footprint will likely remain the same, however.
iPad Pro Refresh
If Apple holds an October event, there’s a good chance that it’ll debut new iPad Pro models at the keynote. But since last year’s iPad Pro was a major overhaul of the professional tablet lineup, you should probably only expect incremental changes to this year’s devices.
As far as what that could look like, it’ll probably include an A13X processor, better cameras and perhaps an upgraded TrueDepth sensor suite. It’s worth pointing out that there’s some uncertainty here. There have been very few rumors about a 2019 iPad Pro refresh, and other outlets have suggested that Apple is planning a new iPad Pro generation for spring 2020.
Other Mac-Related Updates
Looking at the current Mac lineup, there aren’t many devices in need of a refresh that Apple is likely to debut. Apple’s new Mac mini is still fairly fresh, the Mac Pro isn’t even out yet, and the company has released minor updates to the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac this year.
On the other hand, there are still some possibilities here. The iMac, for example, hasn’t seen an actual redesign in quite some time. The 12-inch MacBook is dead at this point, but Apple could always revive it at a different price point. Similarly, unless Apple debuts macOS Catalina via press release, it’s likely that the company will announce its official release date at a Mac and iPad-focused event.
New Apple TV Hardware and Software
When it comes to other hardware that the rumor mill has been fairly quiet about, just consider the Apple TV line. The Apple TV 4K, for example, was debuted two years ago. Some refresh, possibly just in the internals department, seems fairly likely.
That’s especially true when you consider Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. The latter service, as a gaming subscription, would likely benefit from a new Apple TV model with better performance. An October event later this month could also help drum up anticipation for Apple TV+, which launches on Nov. 1.
Other Possibilities
The aforementioned devices pretty much covers what we’re expecting. But, as always, there are plenty of other products that Apple could surprise us with. For one, there’s a lot of code and software evidence suggesting a soon-to-come announcement of some type of head-mounted augmented or virtual reality system. In other words, Apple AR Glasses.
Other devices have been in the rumor mill for a while, but we haven’t heard much about them in recent months. Some notable examples include a new, lower-cost HomePod and a pair of premium, over-ear “StudioPods” headphones. Either of those devices could fit in nicely at a tablet- and Mac-focused event.
But Will Apple Hold an October Event?
Those are the products that Apple could release at an October event later this month. But will it? That’s much harder to answer.
Some astute Apple watchers have noted that the company has recently taken to holding October events every other year. With an October event last year, that means there might not be one this year.
But, based on the current product pipeline, a 2019 October keynote still seems likely.
It is also worth noting that Apple has held an October keynote technically every year beginning in 2011 — with the exception of 2015 and 2017. Apple could very well ditch its recent “every other year” precedent and hold one this year.
There’s at least one more piece of evidence hinting at an October keynote. Apple analyst Neil Cybart notes that Apple will hold its Q4 2019 earnings call on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The only other time that an earnings call didn’t fall on a Tuesday, Apple held a keynote earlier that week.