Apple to announce M4 Macs and iPad Mini 7: Launch timeline, sale date leaked

Apple is gearing up for a major hardware announcement, with new M4 Mac models and the iPad Mini 7 expected to debut soon. As per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to reveal these devices by the end of October, with sales potentially starting as early as November 1.

In Short

• Apple is gearing up for a major hardware announcement
• New M4 Mac models and the iPad Mini 7 are expected to debut soon
• Apple reportedly plans to reveal these devices by the end of October

Apple is gearing up for a major hardware announcement, with new M4 Mac models and the iPad Mini 7 expected to debut soon. As per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to reveal these devices by the end of October, with sales potentially starting as early as November 1. The updates include refreshed MacBooks, desktops, and the latest iPad Mini. Here are the details.

The M4 MacBook series is expected to feature Apple's in-house M4 chip, which Gurman says will offer up to 1.5 times faster CPU performance compared to its predecessor, the M2. The lineup will reportedly include a new low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. These devices are said to be designed for professional users, offering up to 4 times the rendering power for tasks like video editing and 3D design. Moreover, Apple is reportedly incorporating its Intelligence AI into the M4 chip, which could improve the user experience, though specifics on these AI features remain under wraps.

Desktop users aren't being left out either. Apple is tipped to refresh the Mac mini, introducing models with both M4 and M4 Pro chip options. Additionally, the iconic iMac will transition to the M4 chip, offering a boost in performance for those who prefer Apple's all-in-one desktop solution.

On the tablet front, the iPad Mini 7 is also expected to launch soon. It will likely feature Apple's A18 chipset, bringing improved performance and new AI-driven capabilities like improved Siri, Genmoji, and Image Playground features. However, not all of these features may be available at launch. Importantly, Apple might also address the "jelly scrolling" issue that affected some users of the iPad Mini 6, offering better display technology in the upcoming model.

Looking further into 2025, Apple reportedly has more hardware updates in the pipeline. These include M4-powered 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, a new iPhone SE, refreshed iPad Air models, and even a new version of the AirTag. High-end desktop updates like the Mac Studio and Mac Pro with M4 chips are expected to arrive later, around mid to late 2025.