While Apple’s iPhone is expected to be updated annuallyand for the update to occur on the second Tuesday in September, there is less certainty around updates to Apple’s MacBook Pro laptops. It is generally accepted that mid to late October is the traditional launch window for new MacBooks. Still, Apple has happily launched macOS hardware throughout the year — May’s Worldwide Developers Conference and the mid-March iPhone refresh are other hot spots on the calendar.

Still, The Apple community has penciled in October 2024 as the moment to launch the next generation of MacBook laptops. Apple’s Apple SVP Geg Joswiak teased the week starting October 28 for a range of new productsincluding both the macOS hardware and an update to macOS itself.

This is consistent with industry reporting that the new MacBook Pro laptops will be announced on Monday, along with an update to macOS for both the new and existing Mac hardware.

MacBook Pro

Presumably, Apple will offer at least five different MacBook options. Aside from the different levels of memory and storage that could be offered, there should be 14-inch and 16-inch models running both the M4 Pro and M4 Max chipsets. These should be considered the professional MacBook Pro laptops that will be sold.

The fifth model is the consumer-focused version. This should also ship with the 14-inch design but comes with the vanilla M4 chipset. Although it will be the entry-level MacBook Pro, many consider this a false economy. In previous years, the vanilla MacBook Pro has been an upgraded MacBook Air with active cooling to lower the operating temperature of the M4 chipset so it can run faster.

Honestly, if you need the extra power, go for the full (and more expensive) M4 Pro and M4 Max models. And if you need value for money, either wait for the M4 MacBook Air (likely to arrive in March 2025) or consider the current M3 MacBook Air.

macOS Sequoia 15.1

Apple released macOS 15 to the public in September and offers the suffix Sequoia for the public to use instead of the version number. Still, the upcoming point update brings it to macOS 15.1, not macOS Sequoia.One. I leave that choice to the trademark department.

Two important quality of life features will be added to macOS. Drag and drop support is added to the iPhone Mirroring app, making it easy to transfer files between a Mac and an iPhone (provided both are running the latest version of their respective operating systems),

The second is the ability to quickly activate low power mode. Although the option has been around for years, it’s not easy to access or buried as it is in System Preferences. It will change and put it just two clicks away.

It’s also worth noting that with macOS Sequoia, Apple backports it to run on Intel-based Macsbut the number of features available only to those running Macs with Apple Silicon is increasing. Considering that many of these machines are starting to approach five years, it is reasonable to move from active function support to maintenance support.

Apple is also expected to update iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, HomePod Software and visionOS.

Apple Intelligence

The most important addition to macOS Sequoia is Apple Intelligence. The use of generative artificial intelligence in consumer hardware has exploded over the past eighteen months, with smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops all picking up software to help compose, edit and enhance many areas of the creative life. IIt’s an area where Apple has yet to make a public offering.

The iPhone 16 family’s launch leaned heavily on the awkward Apple Intelligence moniker, even though the iOS software wasn’t yet ready for the public. The same is true with macOS, although the gap will be much less pronounced – with macOS Sequoia15.1 available to the public sometime next week for existing hardware and no doubt shipping in the new MacBook Pro laptops for those who pick up some of the first units sold.

As with Apple Intelligence on iOS, this week’s release is a subset of the software suite. ChatGPT integration is expected to be released in macOS Sequoia (probably in December), while the first-generation suite will be complete in March 2025.

Beyond the MacBook Pro

Apple launches additional Mac hardware at event; The iMac and Mac Mini are expected to pick up M4-powered updates. The relevant desktop accessories also pick up design changes, with the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard set to switch to USB-C.

A renewed MacBook Pro Focus

After the launch of Apple Silicon and the subsequent transition from x86 to ARM, the Mac platform has been given a lot of attention by Apple’s PR team, resulting in big moments over the past four years. With the launch of the 15-inch MacBook Air in June 2023, the portfolio had been completely updated and attention could be turned elsewhere.

Still, this round of MacBook updates will garner more attention as Apple looks to establish itself as a player in the generative AI space. I expect the presentation to lean heavily into the AI ​​capabilities, even though the full power of Apple Intelligence won’t be available to the public for another six months.

Now read the latest Macbook Pro, iPhone and iPad headlines in Forbes’ weekly Apple Loop news digest…