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Apple has closed the doors on its 14 September California Streaming keynote event where we saw the company launch the new iPhone 13, two new iPads, and the Apple Watch 7. Now attention turns to the next Apple Event.
It is widely anticipated that Apple will hold another keynote this autumn at which it will launch new MacBook Pro models (14in and 16in) alongside a new Mac mini.
And with AirPods surprisingly absent from the 14 September Apple event there is an expectation that there will be new AirPods launching before the end of 2021.
Indeed, the absence of the AirPods could hint at the date for the next Apple Event.
When is Apple's next event?
- Tuesday 12 October - predicted
We don't know for sure when the next Apple Event will take place because Apple hasn't yet announced the date. But we are able to make an educated guess based on what was missing from the 14 September event.
Apple didn't announce the AirPods at the 14 September event, which was a big surprise, but should it have been? Apple is currently running a Back to School/Back to University campaign through which it is enticing new students to buy Apple products by offering free AirPods. That campaign ends on 27 September in the US and 11 October in the UK.
Could Apple's Back To School campaign be the reason why Apple didn't announced the AirPods at the 14 September event? We think so. If Apple had announced new AirPods at the September event it would have made the Back To School deal look really bad.
On that basis, Tuesday 12 October 2021 seems like a good date for the launch of new AirPods, and alongside them, new Macs.
A quick look at the pattern of recent years suggests that an October keynote on Tuesday 12 October would fit:
In previous years Apple has held two keynotes, one in September and a late autumn keynote on the following dates at which the following products were announced:
23 October 2012 - New iPad Mini, iPad 4 with Retina, iMac, 13in MacBook Pro with Retina
22 October 2013 - New iPad Air, iPad mini 2, new MacBooks
16 October 2014 - iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iMac 5K
27 October 2016 - MacBook Pro with TouchBar and butterfly keyboard, new TV app
30 October 2018 - MacBook Air, Mac mini, iPad Pro 3
10 November 2020 - M1 Macs (since iPhone keynote took place in October).
When is Apple's next event?
- Tuesday 12 October 2021 - possible
We don't know this for sure but it sure does look likely.
We were surprised when Apple didn't announce the AirPods at the 14 September event, but should we have been? Apple is running a Back to School/Back to University campaign whereby it is enticing students to buy Apple products by offering free AirPods. The Higher Education campaign ends on 27 September in the US and 11 October in the UK.
The 11 October closing date for that campaign is exactly why we think that the 12 October 2021 would be a great day for Apple to launch new AirPods - although students who just got the old models may be a bit miffed... Read Absence of AirPods hints at date for October Apple Event.
What time will the next Apple event start?
Although we don't know the date for the next Apple event yet we can, based on previous events, predict that the Apple Event UK start time will be 6pm UK time, which is 10am in California where Apple is based. The only possible issue with our predicted timing is that the clocks go back in the UK and Europe in October and in the US in November. So there's the possibility of that adjustment to consider.
Assuming that it happens before the clocks change, here's what that translates to in the countries where most of our readers live.
- UK: at 6pm (BST)
- Europe: at 7pm (CEST)
- US: 10am (PDT), 11am (MDT), noon (CDT), 1pm (EDT)
- Canada: 10am (PDT), 11am (MDT), noon (CDT), 1pm (EDT), 2pm (ADT)
- India: 10.30pm (IST)
- Australia: at 1am (AWST), 2.30am (ACST), 3am (AEST)
Apple events usually last between one and two hours.
Will this be a Mac launch event?
It looks like the Macs will be the stars of the show, although the new AirPods are also likely to make some noise. We are expecting Apple to launch new MacBook Pro models, including the long-rumoured 14in MacBook Pro.Read on to find out what Macs we expect to see 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.
Will the AirPods launch in October?
We are pretty certain that the new AirPods will arrive in October because Apple will almost certainly want to get them on the market in time for Christmas and the usual winter shopping season. What we aren't likely to see is new AirPods Pro as we don't think these will arrive until 2022, but if you are interested in them read our rumour round up about the AirPods Pro.
New AirPods
We hope to see see Apple launch new AirPods in October. The new AirPods are said to be adopting some of the features of the AirPods Pro, hopefully meaning they are more comfortable to wear.
