Apple reportedly faces inventory shortages for several of its products, fueling speculation about the launch of new models. On Monday, Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg columnist, reported that retail inventory for MacBook Pros, iMacs, Mac minis, iPad minis, and iPad mini accessories is running low. Such shortages often indicate that a company is preparing to introduce updated versions of its products.
Gurman noted that the entry-level iPad is not experiencing the same inventory issues. The news comes after a Russian YouTuber leaked information about the upcoming MacBook Pro earlier this month. The video suggested that the M4 MacBook Pro would feature 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM.
Gurman reported that Apple will likely unveil its first M4-powered Macs on November 1. The expected lineup includes a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, along with higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros featuring the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. Apple could also introduce a refreshed iMac with the M4 chip and a revamped Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro options.
In early 2025, Apple may release 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs with M4, a new iPhone SE, 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Airs, and updated Magic Keyboards for the iPad Air. Mac Studio and Mac Pro models equipped with M4 chips are also in development, with Mac Studio anticipated in mid-2025 and Mac Pro arriving later in the year. The official announcements might come via a traditional event or a series of press releases.
Last year’s October event focused on the MacBook Pro line, with chip upgrades and new processors introduced. The Mac Mini is expected to receive an update, likely making it even smaller. In addition to including new M4 and M4 Pro chips, the new Mac Mini is rumored to be about as tiny as a streaming box.
This would be the first major redesign of the Mini in about 14 years. If the October event changes the iMac, it will likely be a bump from last year’s M3 to a fresh M4 version.
Apple preps for new product releases
The real highlight may be refreshed versions of Apple’s Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard that use USB-C instead of Lightning. The iPad Mini is also due for an update. The current 8.3-inch iPad Mini came out in 2021, running the A15 Bionic processor.
Rumors suggest a refresh is coming, with the question being whether the Mini steps up to the M4 or gets the still-kicking M2. Rumors strongly suggest Apple will release the seventh-generation iPad mini in November, nearly three years after the last refresh. The new iPad mini is likely to retain its compact 8.3-inch display and overall design introduced with the sixth generation.
However, one rumor suggests Apple may address the “jelly scrolling” issue. The iPad mini 7 is expected to feature either the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro or the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16. This upgrade should provide a significant performance boost over the A15 Bionic in the current model, as well as support for Apple Intelligence features.
The new iPad mini is almost certain to include Wi-Fi 6E support and Bluetooth 5.3. Cellular models may transition entirely to eSIM, potentially eliminating the physical nano-SIM slot. Apple might relocate the front-facing camera to the landscape edge, as seen in the latest iPad Air. The camera may also receive upgrades like HDR 4 support and a wider aperture.
The iPad mini 7 will likely support the Apple Pencil Pro, which introduced features like squeeze gestures, haptic feedback, and Find My integration. Apple Pencil Pro hover functionality may also be included. While the current iPad mini is available in space gray, starlight, pink, and purple, the new model may adopt a color palette similar to the iPad Air.
This could mean the introduction of blue and the removal of pink from the lineup. With supplies of the current iPad mini dwindling in stores, a November release seems increasingly likely. The new model is likely to maintain similar pricing to its predecessor, starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi model.
