Apple has just announced a special event. But it’s a lot different from other events in the last few months. Here’s why, and what we’re expecting to see.
It’s A Virtual Event
The invites for Apple’s event have just been sent out and, unlike press invites for WWDC or the September iPhone event, this one’s an invite to “watch a special Apple Event online. Tune in at apple.com.”
So, it’s open to everyone, not just press. Sometimes, pre-recorded keynotes have followed press releases, so there hasn’t been a time attached. But this is different.
And It Starts At An Unprecedented Time
The thing about Apple events is they all happen at a specific time: 10 a.m. local. But not this one. Apple has chosen an evening timing, 5 p.m. Pacific, which is 8 p.m. Eastern. In the U.K., by the way, this means midnight, as British Summer Time will have ended, and Greenwich Mean Time is back in force, but daylight saving time kicks in on November 5 in the U.S. Does this mean there’s something significant about an evening? We’ll have to see.
What Are We Expecting?
In another rarity, Apple has already revealed the topic of the keynote, or the main part of it at least: Apple Mac. On the Apple events page, the Apple logo confirming the event shows the Apple logo that animates into a cute version of the Apple Mac Finder window. Take a look, it’s cool.
So, we know that Mac is the headline act. This event has been a surprise to many observers who said that no further devices would be announced this year, or at most, nothing ground-breaking.
You can also read more about what’s expected from Apple in terms of Mac, both next week and next year, from Forbes writer, Ewan Spence, here.
Scary Fast
It’s not just because the event is happening just before Halloween (in fact, in the U.K. it’s actually on Halloween, thanks to that time difference). No, the tagline obviously teases that the speed of the new devices.
Is It M3?
I mean, it should be, shouldn’t it? Several analysts have insisted that M3 won’t come until next year. Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously said there would not be more Apple stuff in 2023, but has now done a u-turn. In a new post on X, Kuo says, “I believe M3 series MacBook Pro will be Oct 30th media event’s focus. I previously predicted a launch this year is unlikely due to limited 4Q23 shipments (less than 400-500k units in total).”
Okay, so it’s not the processors weren’t ready, only that they weren’t plentiful. Kuo goes on: “If new MBPs launch in Nov-Dec, tight supply will last into 1Q24 unless demand weakens.”
If Kuo is right, this is big news, and for sure, Apple will say that M3 will indeed be scary fast.
MacBook Pro Release Date
If Kuo is right, I’d anticipate the new MacBook Pro to be in the shops around Friday, November 10.
What Else?
The iMac has been waiting for an update for well over two years, so I think it’s entirely possible that a new 24-inch desktop Mac will be unveiled. I think it will look like the current models though perhaps with some different colors and will come with the M2 processor, perhaps with the option for an M2 Pro chip instead.
Could there be an iPad? I think that’s also possible, but Apple will want the focus to be on Mac for this special event.
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