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The last big event was Apple's WWDC Keynote on 7 June at which the company revealed its plans for the operating system updates to the Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch. For more information read about the WWDC event announcements. Prior to that event Apple held its 'Spring Loaded' event on 20 April at which it announced the new 24in iMac, M1-powered iPad Pro and new Apple TV 4K.
The next Apple Event will likely be the launch of the new iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods in September 2021. Then we may see an October 2021 event, at which Apple may launch a new MacBook Pro and iPad mini.
When is Apple's next event?
- Tuesday 14 September 2021 (predicted)
The next Apple event probably be the September iPhone launch. Dan Ives, managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, has predicted that this will take place on 14 September. More here: iPhone 13 event on 14 September, analyst claims.
We think that date is accurate. We had already predicted the 14 or 15 September 2021 as the most likely date (more on that below).
What time will the next Apple event start?
We don't know the date for the next Apple event yet, but we can, based on previous events predict that the Apple Event UK start time will be 6pm UK time, this is 10am in California where Apple is based.
Here's what that translates to in the countries where most of our readers live:
- UK: 20 April at 6pm (BST)
- Europe: 20 April at 7pm (CEST)
- US: 20 April at 10am (PDT), 11am (MDT), noon (CDT), 1pm (EDT)
- Canada: 20 April at 10am (PDT), 11am (MDT), noon (CDT), 1pm (EDT), 2pm (ADT)
- India: 20 April at 10.30pm (IST)
- Australia: 21 April at 1am (AWST), 2.30am (ACST), 3am (AEST)
Apple events usually last between one and two hours.
Who knows what autumn 2021 could bring, but Apple has launched a new iPhone in the September of practically every year in the past decade, so a new iPhone seems almost certain for September.
2020 was an exception to that rule - with the iPhone launch in October, but the company still held a September event. Apple clearly likes to hold September events.
On that basis, if you want to pencil in a potential date for an iPhone launch - or at least a September event - based on the dates Apple has held previous September events took place on we predict Tuesday 14 or Wednesday 15 September 2021.
- 2020: Tuesday 15 September (Not an iPhone event)
- 2019: Tuesday 10 September
- 2018: Wednesday 12 September
- 2017: Tuesday 12 September
- 2016: Wednesday 7 September
- 2015: Wednesday 9 September
- 2014: Tuesday 9 September
- 2013: Tuesday 10 September
- 2012: Wednesday 12 September
In terms of what Apple will launch the following seem likely:
iPhone 13
We don't actually know if it will be called the iPhone 13 or iPhone 12s, but we hope that Apple skips the S this time round as we feel that the S devalues the new handset.
So far the rumours are suggesting a 120Hz refresh rate (up from 60Hz), a reduced notch, and various camera improvements. Read iPhone 13 camera features coming in 2021.
Read more in our iPhone 13 rumour round up.
We hope to see see Apple launch new AirPods, or even the long rumoured AirPods Pro Lite - said to sit between the wireless charging standard AirPods and the AirPods Pro. The iPhone event looks like a likely venue for a successor to the standard AirPods.
Apple Watch Series 7
Apple's also likely to launch a new series of Apple Watch. In fact Apple has registered a new set of Watches with the EEC, so its likely new models are coming. The rumours indicate that a redesign and a brand new green colour are coming. Read more about the new Apple Watch Series 7.
Even with all these potential launches Apple won't be done for the year. Here's what to expect at Apple's autumn events and beyond.
Will there be a Mac event?
We were hoping that there might be an event at some point this summer at which Apple would reveal updates to the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini. However, it looks more likely that these launches will happen in October.
October 2021 event
- Tuesday 12 October predicted.
In 2020 October saw Apple unveil the iPhone 12. It was an unusual year though and normally the iPhone would have made its premiere in September. October is usually the month when Apple announces new Macs and new iPads and it may well do so in 2021.
Wondering what date to pencil in? The October events of the past have (or haven't) taken place on the following dates, so we anticipate an event on Tuesday 12 or Wednesday 13 October.
- 2020: Tuesday 13 October
- 2019: no October event
- 2018: Tuesday 30 October
- 2017: no October event
- 2016: Thursday 27 October
- 2015: no October event
- 2014: Thursday 16 October
- 2013: Tuesday 22 October
- 2012: Tuesday 23 October
- 2011: Tuesday 4 October
We may well see the following launch at the October event:
14in MacBook Pro
Apple updated two of the 13in MacBook Pro models in November 2020, but it left two alone. Apparently Apple has plans for the 2.0GHz 13in MacBook Pro that could involve a redesign and a bigger, 14in screen.
This new MacBook Pro will also be getting a new Apple-made processor, likely to be the M1X. For more information about the M1X, M2 and beyond read: Should I wait for the M1X or M2 Mac?
Read more in our 14in MacBook Pro roundup.
16in MacBook Pro
The 14in MacBook Pro may be joined by a new version of the 16in MacBook Pro. The 16in MacBook Pro is long overdue an update - the current model arrived in December 2019 and uses an Intel processor from the year before.
There is more information about the 16in MacBook Pro in our news round up.
Mac mini
There are also rumours that there may be an update to the Intel model of the Mac mini that Apple is still selling. Read more about the M1X Mac mini.
Bigger iPad mini
Apple updated nearly all its iPads in 2020, except for the iPad mini. Perhaps it should be no surprise that Apple hasn't updated it yet - after all prior to its update in March 2019 it had been ignored by the company for three and a half years.
When the iPad mini gets updated we may see an increase in screen size and the removal of the Home Button, just as was the case with the iPad Air in 2020.
Read about the iPad mini 2021.
Thinner/lighter iPad
There is also a rumour that a new iPad could also launch with a new design that is more like how the iPad Air looked before that was updated in 2020.
Read about the new iPad 2021.
Apple's event schedule for 2022
In a typical year there are normally up to four Apple events at which the company unveils its latest products in front of a large crowd.
In a less typical year, like 2020 and 2021, Apple doesn't invite people to events, but it makes no less of an impact by inviting everyone to join it in an online broadcast. We actually preferred Apple's video presentations in 2020 to the usual events in front of an audience.
Whether these events are physical or virtual Apple tends to hold three or four in a year:
- March/April (education and creativity themes, often includes iPads)
- June (WWDC - mostly software, sometimes high-end/pro hardware)
- September (iPhones and Apple Watches)
- October (iPads and sometimes consumer-focused Macs)
Some years there will be no spring event and other years Apple will skip the October event, like it did in 2019. Obviously 2020 was a little different to usual with events held a little later than usual due to COVID-related delays in production.
Spring 2022 event
It might seem a long way in the future, but we are already hearing about products that could launch in the spring of 2022, including a new larger iMac.
32in iMac
Apple's only just updated the smaller iMac, but the larger model could soon see an update. It seems likely that the larger iMac will get a bigger screen and a redesign in line with the 24in model.
