Apple is all set to introduce its much-anticipated Apple Intelligence with the release of iOS 18.1 on October 28, as per reports from insider Mark Gurman. However, the excitement doesn’t end there. Just a few days later, on November 1, Apple is expected to unveil its new MacBook Pro models powered by the M4 processor, along with an updated iPad Mini. If these dates are accurate, it would mark yet another strategic move from Apple, mirroring their “Scary Fast” event last year on Halloween and the special October 30th event in 2018, where the company launched the revamped MacBook Air and iPad Pro.
The upcoming MacBook Pro lineup will likely include a new low-end 14-inch model featuring the M4 chip, in addition to higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch versions powered by the M4 Pro and M4 Max chipsets. Additionally, Apple is expected to launch a redesigned Mac Mini, possibly adopting a form factor similar to the Apple TV, equipped with the M4 and M4 Pro processors. Also in the pipeline is an M4-based iMac. Meanwhile, the new iPad Mini is expected to come with the A18 chipset.
Looking ahead to next year, Apple is planning to release M4-powered MacBook Air models in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes during the first half of 2025. This is also when we are likely to see the next-generation iPhone SE, which is expected to feature a design similar to the iPhone 15 models but with newer silicon and Apple Intelligence compatibility. Alongside these, new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with the M3 processor, and a new Magic Keyboard accessory are expected. There are also rumours of new AirTag trackers, which could launch sometime next year. Mid-2025 is expected to bring M4 Max and M4 Ultra-powered Mac Studio and Mac Pro models, potentially around the time of the WWDC event.
As for iOS 18.1, some key features include enhanced writing tools, a new Siri interface (though the fully revamped Siri experience is set for a 2025 launch), improved notification summaries, memory creation in the Photos app, and intelligent notification management. This is just the first phase of Apple Intelligence’s rollout. In iOS 18.2, Apple plans to add features such as ChatGPT integration, Genmoji, and an Image Playground. By early 2025, iOS 18.3 is expected to bring the new Siri capabilities into play.
In an interesting development, a Russian YouTuber has already leaked the base 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro in a video. The unboxing revealed that the M4 chip’s 10-core CPU offers a performance boost of up to 25 percent compared to the 8-core M3 chip, as confirmed by Geekbench 6 benchmarks. Notably, the leaked model comes with 16GB of RAM as standard, indicating that Apple might be moving away from the 8GB RAM base configuration. Additionally, this version of the MacBook Pro features three Thunderbolt 4 ports (up from two on the current model) and is available in Space Black, a colour previously reserved for the higher-end M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro models.
