Apple significantly increased the price of existing iPad mini models in non-US markets after updating its online store with new entry-level iPad and iPad Pro models on Tuesday.
In the UK for example, the 64GB iPad mini now costs £569, up from £479 earlier in the day, while the 256GB model costs £749, up fro £619. That's a 19% and 21% price increase, respectively, making the iPad mini more expensive than the new 10.9-inch iPad, which starts from £499 and £649 at the same capacities.
Similar hikes can be found in countries across the EU. In Italy, for instance, the 64GB and 256GB iPad mini models are now 659 euros and 859 euros respectively, whereas previously they cost 559 euros and 729 euros, representing an 18% price increase.
India and markets across the Asia Pacific region have also seen hikes, although the increases in these areas are more modest. In Australia, for example, iPad mini prices have risen by around 11%.
Apple gave no reason for the price hikes outside the US, but they could be linked to the strong dollar combined with rising inflation and increased costs, although the price of most other latest-gen devices in Apple's hardware product lineup have remained constant.
The new entry-level iPad display lacks the anti-reflective coating that helps minimize glare in light, and it only supports sRGB colors, not the industry-wide standard P3 wide color.
On its website, Apple lists the new entry-level iPad with the same Liquid Retina display as the fifth-generation iPad Air with 2360 x 1640 resolution at 264ppi (pixels-per-inch). Unlike the iPad Air, however, the new entry-level iPad does not support P3 wide color, does not have an anti-reflective coating, and is not a fully laminated display, according to Apple's website.
The new entry-level iPad also lacks support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, still only supporting the first-generation Apple Pencil. Since the new iPad has a USB-C port, customers will have to use an adapter to charge their Apple Pencil with their iPad. Apple is selling an adapter for $9, but one is also now included in the box with the first-generation Apple Pencil.
Apple can be expected to announce 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with OLED displays in 2024, according to display analyst Ross Young.
In a tweet, Young said both models of the iPad Pro will come with OLED displays in the early half of 2024. The new M2 iPad Pro models announced yesterday include no display changes, including the lack of a mini-LED display on the smaller 11-inch model. Apple introduced a mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in April 2021, and despite rumors it would also come to the 11-inch size, that did not happen.
Compared to mini-LED technology, the OLED displays Apple is reportedly planning to use will include a two-stack tandem structure, in which there are two red, green, and blue emission layers, allowing for increased brightness. OLED displays are also more power efficient, which could help extend battery life.
The new Apple TV 4K announced today already has a lower starting price of $129, compared to $179 for the previous model, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the next-generation Apple TV could be sold at an even lower price point.
In a tweet today, Kuo said a sub-$100 price would be the "sweet spot" for the Apple TV and added that he expects the next-generation model to be "more affordable."
Both the second-generation (2010) and third-generation (2012) models of the Apple TV were priced at $99 at launch, and Apple eventually lowered the price of the third-generation model to $69, so there is precedent for a sub-$100 Apple TV, which would better compete with low-priced streaming devices sold by Google, Amazon, and Roku.
Another possibility is that when the next Apple TV launches, the model announced today remains in the lineup for around $99.
In the meantime, the latest Apple TV 4K is certainly a better value than its predecessor. Even if Apple is attempting to upsell customers to the $149 model with 128GB of storage, Ethernet, and Thread support, that device is still a better value than the previous model with 32GB of storage for $179 or 64GB storage for $199.
In addition to unveiling a new Apple TV 4K with an A15 Bionic chip and more, Apple today previewed several new Siri-related features coming to the Apple TV in a tvOS 16 update later this year. It appears that at least a few of the features are enabled in the tvOS 16.1 Release Candidate made available earlier today, while some might arrive with tvOS 16.2.
The new features announced:
Siri has been redesigned with a more compact interface that allows users to quickly view results at a glance in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Siri voice recognition for up to six family members will allow the Apple TV 4K to understand who is talking and reply with custom recommendations tailored just for them based on their user profile.
Users wearing AirPods will be able to say "Hey Siri" instead of using the Siri Remote.
Siri on tvOS will be supported in Denmark, Luxembourg, and Singapore later this year. Support was recently added for Chile, Finland, and South Africa.
The new compact Siri interface and "Hey Siri" support for AirPods have already been implemented in the tvOS 16.1 Release Candidate, and the features should be available to all users when tvOS 16.1 is released next week.
While we saw the introduction of several new iPad and Apple TV models today, we've yet to get any of the Mac announcements we're expecting to see before the end of the year. Coincidentally, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were announced exactly one year ago today, featuring an entirely new design, the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, brand new displays, MagSafe 3, and more.
The redesigned MacBook Pro models represented the first major redesign of the high-end Mac laptop in years and a major step forward in Apple's ongoing transition to its own silicon for the Mac lineup. One year since its introduction, some customers might be wondering what's next for the MacBook Pro, so keep reading to learn more.
What to Expect
The MacBook Pro received a major redesign last year, in addition to a new 14-inch size that supplements the lower-end 13-inch model which remained in the lineup without a redesign. Given the new design for the larger models, Apple is likely to stick with the current form factor for several years, so any updates until then will generally be minor spec bumps with performance improvements.
The upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are expected to be powered by the as-yet-announced M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, which build on the M2 chip announced in June. The M2 Max chip is expected to feature a 12-core CPU and a 38-core GPU, along with up to 64GB memory, while the M2 Pro will be slightly less powerful. The design, display, and other features are expected to be essentially identical to the current models, meaning the only major change is expected to be the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.
The M2 chip, which is soon to become a family of M2 chips, is the second-generation Apple silicon that furthers performance and power efficiency. So far on the Mac side, the M2 chip powers only the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the redesigned 13-inch MacBook Air. In addition to the M2 Pro and M2 Max we're expecting to see in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple is also reportedly working on an "M2 Extreme" chip for its upcoming Apple silicon Mac Pro.
When to Expect New Models
If you're on the lookout for a new 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro, you might want to wait a few more weeks. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is expected to announce the new MacBook Pros, possibly alongside a new M2 Mac mini, as soon as November. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman noted that Apple frequently schedules its new Mac releases for November to space out its launches, and that new Macs were not expected alongside today's iPad and Apple TV announcements.
While the new MacBook Pros are on track to launch in the near future, I wouldn't expect them to be released alongside the iPad Pro. The company has historically launched new Macs in November, as was the case in 2019 with the initial 16-inch MacBook Pro and in 2020 with the first Apple Silicon-based MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini.
Speaking of new products, Apple is working on an M2 version of the Mac mini, which will be the first update to the company's smallest Mac in two years.
While it was initially expected Apple might hold a media event in October to show off the new iPad and Mac hardware, it's now clear that there will be no such event given that many of the introductions have already been made via press release.
Ahead of iOS 16.1 launching, Apple today announced that developers can now submit apps with support for the Live Activities feature to the App Store. Developers can build their app using the Xcode 14.1 Release Candidate, test, and submit it for review.
iOS 16.1 introduces support for Live Activities in third-party apps. The feature allows iPhone users to stay on top of real-time events, such as a sports game or a food delivery order, right on the Lock Screen or in the Dynamic Island.
Live Activities appear at the bottom of the Lock Screen on iPhone 13 models and earlier, as well as on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. On the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Live Activities appear in the Dynamic Island when the device is unlocked, or on the Lock Screen when the device is locked or in always-on display mode.
Live Activities will also support sports scores via Apple's TV app for select leagues, including the MLB for users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, U.K., Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea, along with the NBA and Premier League for users in the U.S. and Canada only. This feature was working in earlier iOS 16.1 betas, but reader Alec Cohen informed us that it is disabled in the iOS 16.1 Release Candidate, so this might not launch until later.
Premier League match in Dynamic Island via Paul Bradford
While we didn't have a full-blown Apple event today, it has felt almost as busy as one with Apple announcing updates for three significant product lines: the iPad, iPad Pro, and Apple TV. All of the coverage from today can be tough to keep up with, so check out our video recap of the announcements and a list of our news article below.
In addition to the hardware announcements today, we also learned about release dates for iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura, and Apple also seeded to developers the final versions of iOS 16.1, watchOS 9.1, and tvOS 16.1 that will be released to the public next week.
The new iPad, iPad Pro, and Apple TV models are all available to order now with the iPad and iPad Pro launching next week on Wednesday, October 26, and the Apple TV launching on Friday, November 4.
The new Apple TV 4K introduced today ships without a charging cable for the Siri Remote, forcing customers who need one to purchase one separately. Previous models of the Apple TV included a Lightning cable in the box for charging the remote.
The new version of the Siri Remote announced today is equipped with a USB-C port for charging instead of Lightning, but there is no USB-C cable included in the box with the new Apple TV 4K. Apple also no longer includes a charging cable with the Siri Remote when purchased separately for $59 through its online store.
Apple stopped including a charger with the iPhone 12 and newer and touted the environmental benefits of the decision. However, iPhones still ship with a Lightning to USB-C cable so that the device can at least be charged with a Mac or other device, whereas the Siri Remote now ships without any included charging accessory.
The new Apple TV 4K is available to order beginning today and launches Friday, November 4 in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries. Key new features include the A15 Bionic chip, HDR10+ support, a lower $129 starting price, up to 128GB of storage, a thinner and lighter design without a fan, and the updated Siri Remote.
Priced at $69.95 in the U.S., the Logitech Crayon is a lower-cost alternative to the Apple Pencil. The drawing tool features a slim aluminum body and an Apple Pencil-like tip, with the same latency, tilt, and palm rejection that you get with the Apple Pencil. Unlike the Apple Pencil, however, the Crayon lacks pressure sensitivity.
The new Logitech Crayon is compatible with all iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad models with a USB-C port, including the new 10th-generation iPad.
The new M2iPad Pro is finally here, with the same design, display, and cameras as last year's iPad Pro, but with the added benefit of performance improvements offered by the M2 Apple silicon chip.
Despite being a fairly minor upgrade, there are some noteworthy changes, new features, and things you should know about with the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. We've rounded up four tidbits below:
"iPad Pro" is now printed on the back of the iPad Pro, unlike before.
Despite the iPhone 14 removing the SIM card tray in the US, cellular models of the new iPad Pro still feature a SIM card tray. The iPad Pro also still supports eSIM.
The iPad Pro now supports ProRes video recording in 4K at up to 60 FPS using the 12MP Wide camera.
The 16GB memory confirmation of the iPad Pro is still only offered with 1TB and 2TB storage configuration models. Other configurations have 8GB of memory.
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro are available to order starting today and will begin shipping to customers on Wednesday, October 26.
The new Apple TV 4K with the A15 Bionic chip introduced today features a fanless design, resulting in the device being over 10% thinner and weighing around 50% less than the previous-generation Apple TV 4K.
Apple's tech specs indicate the new Apple TV 4K is 1.2 inches tall, compared to 1.4 inches for the previous model. The new Apple TV weighs between 208 and 214 grams depending on whether you purchase the Wi-Fi-only model or the Ethernet model, whereas the previous model is significantly heavier at 425 grams.
"The efficiency gains of A15 Bionic eliminate the need for an internal fan, resulting in a more compact design and contributing to a 25 percent reduction in carbon footprint over the previous generation," said Apple, in a press release announcing the device. The previous Apple TV 4K is equipped with a metal fan for active cooling purposes.
The new Apple TV 4K is available to order beginning today and launches Friday, November 4 in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries, with starting pricing lowered to $129. Key new features include the A15 Bionic chip, HDR10+ support, up to 128GB of storage, and an updated Siri Remote with a USB-C port for charging.
iCloud Shared Photo Library will make it easier for you to share photos with your family members or friends in the Photos app. The feature will let you and up to five other people add, edit, or remove photos in a shared library accessible via iCloud.
Last week, Apple announced that Apple Card users will be able to open a new "high-yield" savings account from Goldman Sachs and have their Daily Cash cashback rewards automatically deposited into it, with no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements. Users will be able to manage the savings account in the Wallet app.
iOS 16.1 also features Live Activities support in third-party apps, a Clean Energy Charging option in the United States, support for Matter accessories in the Home app, Apple Fitness+ workouts without an Apple Watch, Reachability support for the Dynamic Island, bug fixes for the Messages app and using a VPN with CarPlay, and more.
Apple's full release notes for iOS 16.1:
This update introduces iCloud Shared Photo Library making it easy to keep your family photos up to date. This release also adds support for third party apps in Live Activities, support for Apple Fitness+ on iPhone even if you don’t have an Apple Watch, and includes other features and bug fixes for your iPhone.
iCloud Shared Photo Library - Separate library for seamlessly sharing photos and videos with up to five other people - Setup rules allow you to easily contribute past photos based on start date or people in the photos when you set up or join a library - Library filters for quickly switching between viewing the Shared Library, your Personal Library, or both libraries together - Shared edits and permissions let everyone add, edit, favorite, caption, and delete photos - Sharing toggle in Camera lets you choose to send photos you take straight to the Shared Library, or enable a setting to share automatically when other participants are detected nearby using Bluetooth
Live Activities - Live Activities from third party apps are available in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen for iPhone 14 Pro models
Fitness+ - Apple Fitness+ is supported on iPhone even if you don’t have an Apple Watch
Wallet - Key sharing enables you to securely share car, hotel room, and other keys in Wallet using messaging apps such as Messages and WhatsApp - Savings account enables Apple Card customers to grow their Daily Cash by depositing it in a high yield savings account
Home - Matter, the new smart home connectivity standard, is supported enabling a wide variety of smart home accessories to work together across ecosystems
Clean Energy Charging - New setting that can try to reduce your carbon footprint by selectively charging when lower carbon emission electricity is available
Books - Reader controls are automatically hidden as you start reading
This update also includes bug fixes for your iPhone: - Deleted conversations may appear in the conversations list in Messages - Dynamic Island content is not available when using Reachability - CarPlay may fail to connect when using a VPN app
iOS 16.1 is expected to be released on Monday, October 24 alongside iPadOS 16.1 and macOS Ventura.
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of watchOS 9.1 update to developers ahead of an expected public release on Monday, October 24 alongside iOS 16.1. The new beta comes one week after Apple released the fifth watchOS 9.1 beta.
To install watchOS 9.1, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, watchOS 9.1 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
Apple's release notes for the update are as follows:
This update includes improvements for your Apple Watch.
- Battery life extended during Outdoor Walking, Running, and Hiking Workouts with the ability to reduce the frequency of heart rate and GPS readings on Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and Apple Watch Ultra - Music can download while Apple Watch is off charger using Wi-Fi or cellular - Matter, the new smart home connectivity standard, is supported enabling a wide variety of smart home accessories to work together across ecosystems
This update also includes bug fixes for your Apple Watch.
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of tvOS 16.1 update to developers ahead of an expected public release on Monday, October 24 alongside iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1, and macOS Ventura. The release candidate version comes one week after the launch of the fourth beta.
tvOS updates are typically minor, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than outward-facing changes. No new features were found in the tvOS 16.1 betas.
Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch. tvOS 16 brought enhanced multiuser support, Personalized Spatial Audio when using AirPods, and Accessibility improvements.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of macOS 13 Ventura, the next-generation version of the Mac operating system, to developers ahead of the public release scheduled for Monday, October 24. The release candidate version comes one week after Apple provided the eleventh beta to developers.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new feature that lets Mac users focus on a task while keeping other apps at the ready for easy swapping between tasks. The update adds Continuity Camera, which is designed to let you use the iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. It supports Center Stage, Desk View (for showing off your desk), and Studio Light.
Handoff is now available for FaceTime so you can transfer calls between iPhone, iPad, and Mac at will, and Messages supports features for marking an iMessage as unread, unsending an iMessage, and marking as unread. SharePlay also now works in the Messages app.
The Mail app supports scheduling and undoing emails for up to 10 seconds after they're sent, and there are now Weather and Clock apps that are available on the Mac. System Preferences has been renamed System Settings, and it features an iOS-like design.
Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working on Passkeys, a next-generation credential that replaces the password. There are updates to Spotlight, Photo Library has new features, and Metal 3 is included in macOS Ventura for better graphics in games.
For everything new in macOS Ventura, we have a dedicated roundup that goes through all of the features. macOS Ventura is set to see a public release later in October.
Apple today seeded release candidate versions of iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1 to developers ahead of their public release planned for Monday, October 24. The RC versions come one week after the release of the previous beta versions.
Registered developers can download the iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the betas will be available over the air.
Live Activities cannot be used at the current time as developers still need to update their apps to add support, but it will be available when iOS 16.1 launches. Developers have access to an ActivityKit API to begin getting their apps ready.
The update also introduces a new Clean Energy Charging feature in the United States that is designed to selectively charge when lower carbon emission electricity is available, plus it lays the groundwork for Matter, a new smart home standard that Apple plans to begin supporting this fall.
Matter will allow for interoperability between smart devices from different companies, and Apple, Google, Samsung, Amazon, and others are working on support.
Apple's official release notes are as follow:
This update introduces iCloud Shared Photo Library making it easy to keep your family photos up to date. This release also adds support for third party apps in Live Activities, support for Apple Fitness+ on iPhone even if you don't have an Apple Watch, and includes other features and bug fixes for your iPhone.
iCloud Shared Photo Library - Separate library for seamlessly sharing photos and videos with up to five other people - Setup rules allow you to easily contribute past photos based on start date or people in the photos when you set up or join a library - Library filters for quickly switching between viewing the Shared Library, your Personal Library, or both libraries together - Shared edits and permissions let everyone add, edit, favorite, caption, and delete photos - Sharing toggle in Camera lets you choose to send photos you take straight to the Shared Library, or enable a setting to share automatically when other participants are detected nearby using Bluetooth
Live Activities - Live Activities from third party apps are available in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen for iPhone 14 Pro models
Fitness+ - Apple Fitness+ is supported on iPhone even if you don't have an Apple Watch
Wallet - Key sharing enables you to securely share car, hotel room, and other keys in Wallet using messaging apps such as Messages and WhatsApp - Savings account enables Apple Card customers to grow their Daily Cash by depositing it in a high yield savings account
Home - Matter, the new smart home connectivity standard, is supported enabling a wide variety of smart home accessories to work together across ecosystems
Clean Energy Charging - New setting that can try to reduce your carbon footprint by selectively charging when lower carbon emission electricity is available
Books - Reader controls are automatically hidden as you start reading
This update also includes bug fixes for your iPhone: - Deleted conversations may appear in the conversations list in Messages - Dynamic Island content is not available when using Reachability - CarPlay may fail to connect when using a VPN app
On the iPad, iPadOS 16 will expand the Stage Manager feature to the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models, and it is no longer limited to the M1 iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air. The beta removes the external display function of Stage Manager, and this feature will return in a later beta. External display support will remain limited to the M1 iPad models even though older iPad Pro models are now able to use Stage Manager.
During the beta, Apple tweaked the design of the battery status bar icon, adding a visual indication of charge level. It also changed the battery font, updated the Lock Screen charging indicator, and fixed a copy and paste bug.
Other new features in the update include a deletable Wallet app, changes to the Lock Screen customizing interface, and more, with details available in our iOS 16.1 feature guide.
Priced at $29.95 on Apple's online store, the mount attaches to the iPhone with MagSafe and can then be affixed to the top lid of a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for use with Continuity Camera. When not connected to a Mac, the mount doubles as a kickstand for the iPhone with a built-in ring for easy gripping, similar to PopSockets.
Available in black or white, the mount attaches to a Mac with no special tools required and allows the iPhone to be used in portrait or landscape orientations. The mount can be purchased from Apple's online store and at select Apple retail stores worldwide.
Belkin says a version of the mount for Mac desktops and Apple displays will be coming soon.
