These October announcements are coming soon from Apple

We’re over halfway through October, and the new iPad mini has launched. But there’s a lot more still to come—maybe as part of a special event, maybe not. Here are the Apple announcements we’re still expecting throughout the rest of October.

iOS 18.1 release date

Signs point to an October 28 release date for iOS 18.1 and Apple Intelligence. But Apple hasn’t announced a firm date, only “October.”

When iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 do arrive, they’ll bring the first wave of AI features. Included among them:

• an upgraded Siri with more glow (and smarts)
• more useful notifications with AI summaries
• unwanted object removal in Photos
• priority messages and summaries in Mail
• tools to improve your writing
• a special Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions
• on-demand Memory movie generation
• Safari webpage summaries
• and more

These features will be just the start of an AI-heavy year ahead, as Apple seeks to infuse its products with powerful new capabilities.

M4 MacBook Pros

One of Apple’s most popular Macs, the MacBook Pro, is getting updated with the M4 chip this month. And not just the base M4, but three different variations in total. Depending on your MacBook Pro configuration you’ll be able to get the:

• M4
• M4 Pro
• or M4 Max

Apple is expected to rev all three of its current MacBook Pro models. The lower-end 14-inch, plus the more premium 14- and 16-inch versions.

Details have been sparse on these updates overall. Don’t expect any major changes to the MacBook Pro’s industrial design, but hopefully Apple has some other surprises in store beyond the new chips.

M4 Mac mini

The Mac mini is getting even more mini. Apple is prepping an M4 Mac mini with a brand new, more compact design. It won’t get quite as small as the Apple TV 4K, but expect a significantly smaller footprint from Apple’s most versatile Mac.

Beyond the major hardware redesign, the Mac mini will once again come with a couple different chip options: the M4 and M4 Pro. Though indications are that the Pro variant might have a later shipping date than the standard M4.

M4 iMac, hopefully with USB-C accessories

There’s one last Mac Apple is expected to debut soon: an M4 iMac. It hasn’t been long since the M3 iMac launched, so it will be interesting to see if this is just a spec bump. All we know so far is that the M4 will be included, but USB-C accessories are at the top of my wish list. It would be great to see new color options too, as the current iMac colors are unchanged since the M1 model.

The first iOS 18.2 beta release

Shortly after iOS 18.1 launches, Apple will ship the first beta of iOS 18.2 to developers. This should prove an especially exciting release, because it’s expected to bring some of the most highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features.

Here’s what we’re expecting from iOS 18.2:

• Genmoji for creating your own emoji
• the Image Playground app and feature
• ChatGPT integration with Siri and writing tools
• Personal context awareness for Siri
• Visual intelligence with the iPhone 16’s Camera Control
• plus the non-AI inbox categorization in Apple Mail

If all of this ends up making its way into iOS 18.2, it will prove a huge update for users.

Apple’s October announcements: wrap-up

Apple’s fall is always a fun time for new products. Between all of the new hardware and software that launched in September, plus the new iPad mini, and everything still to come in October, Apple will have a strong lineup of offerings ready for the holiday season and beyond.

Which October announcements are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.