Apple October 30 event in New York: New iPad Pros with Face ID, MacBook Air 2, new Mac Pro and other devices to expect.

Apple October Event 2018: On October 30, Apple will refresh its hardware range, including Macs, possibly a new MacBook Air and revamped iPads, which did not find any mention at the iPhone XS keynote last month. The Apple event will take place in New York, and is already getting its fair share of leaks and rumours. Here’s a roundup of what we expect.

Apple 2018 October event: When and where?

Apple is holding an event on October 30 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House in New York. Apple’s big event on October 30 kicks off at 10 am ET in New York City, which is 7.30 pm IST, and will be livestreamed on the Apple website. Users will be able to view it on their iPhones, iPads, Macs, as well as Edge explorer on Windows 10 devices.

Apple 2018 October event: All-new iPad Pro

The iPad Pro is perhaps the best pro-level tablet to buy in the market. But the new iPad Pros – one with a 11-inch size and the other with a 12.9-inch size – will be even better. Expect the two iPad Pros to have thinner, minimal bezels and a TrueDepth camera similar to the one found on the iPhone XS now. And that would mean Apple is doing away with a home button which translates to higher screen-to-body ratio without sacrificing the screen size.

The two new iPad Pros will also offer faster charging. Don’t be surprised if Apple retires its legendary lightning port in favour of USB Type-C. The lightning port has been on the iPhone since 2012, but the newer USB Type-C is currently limited to the MacBook Pro. One can also expect better internals. A new iPad Mini’s seem unlikely this year.

Apple 2018 October event: New Macs

It is hard for Apple to distance itself from the Mac, a product that eventually gave the company a new lease of life in 1998 with the return of Steve Jobs to the Cupertino company. At Apple’s October 30 event, the company could refresh its Mac lineup. There’s a strong chance we could see new iMacs and a “pro” version of Mac Mini, which hasn’t been updated in years.

Apple is expected to showcase a new MacBook at the event as well. (Image of 2016 MacBook Pro launch, via Bloomberg)

One of the big highlights of the event could be the launch of the all-new MacBook Air, one of the best selling notebooks in the market. Speculation is that Apple is preparing a sub-$1000 notebook, featuring 8th gen Intel Core processors. A Bloomberg report suggests the notebook would have thin bezels around its 13-inch Retina display.

Though it remains to be seen whether it will be a revamped version of MacBook Air or a completely new notebook. Another theory suggests that Apple could discontinue its 12-inch MacBook to make room for the new MacBook Air to streamline the Mac lineup.

Apple is also expected to showcase two new iPads with Face ID and no Touch ID or home button on the front.

Apple is also expected to offer a sneak peek at the Mac Pro, a desktop computer targeted at pro consumers and creative professionals. The company had previously acknowledged that they have a new Mac Pro in the works that will be modular in nature. The current Mac Pro has been the most neglected product in Apple’s lineup. It was released in 2013 and hasn’t got a single update since then.

Apple 2018 October event: Apple Pencil 2

Apple Pencil could also be getting an update at the company’s October 30 event. The Pencil hasn’t been updated since its launch, and Apple is likely to launch a new version. After what Samsung has done with the S-Pen, we need to see what new features the stylus might get.

Apple 2018 October event: Apple AirPower

Will it finally become available? That’s the question consumers have been asking for long. We seriously do not have an answer and honestly, we haven’t heard back from Apple ever since it announced the AirPower almost a year ago. Multiple reports suggest that Apple may have scrapped the AirPower, the wireless charging mat that simultaneously charges the iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch due to technical challenges. Hopefully, we might get an update on the AirPower on October 30.