Apple October Event has reportedly been scrapped, and this time, it’s not just speculation. According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple has chosen to skip its traditional fall keynote, opting instead to unveil new products through press releases. While the company has done this before for smaller releases, this year’s decision feels different. This information is also featured on 9to9trends’ YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out.
Gurman suggests the announcements are expected to roll out quietly in the week of October 13, marking what could be the final wave of Apple hardware for 2025. But as we dig deeper into what’s coming, it’s hard not to feel that Apple’s once groundbreaking product strategy has become a slow, predictable rhythm of incremental updates and safe decisions.
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A Silent Apple October Event: Apple’s Uncharacteristic Move
Canceling an Apple October Event isn’t unprecedented, but it’s certainly unusual for a company like Apple—especially in a year where expectations were high for major updates across multiple product lines. Apple has historically used October to refresh its Macs and iPads, showcasing its latest chip technology. However, Gurman claims the company has decided against hosting an Apple October Event because the updates this time “aren’t significant enough” to warrant one. That’s a telling statement. When even Apple’s trusted sources describe the upgrades as minor, it reflects a broader concern about the company’s innovation trajectory.
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Instead, Apple plans to release its new products through a series of press drops, similar to how it handled minor launches in the past. The likely stars of this quiet rollout are the iPad Pro with the new M5 chip, a 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, and an upgraded Apple TV. While these devices are important from a product lineup perspective, the updates themselves appear to be more evolutionary than revolutionary.
The M5 iPad Pro: Power Without Progress
The most visible upcoming release is the iPad Pro M5 at Apple October Event, which has already leaked in a now-viral unboxing video by a Russian YouTuber. The footage showed a 13-inch model running the M5 chip, confirming that Apple’s new iPad Pros are ready for shipment. This aligns with online Apple Store data, where stock for current models has been quietly dwindling in several regions—an early sign of new inventory on the horizon.
However, when it comes to design, Apple doesn’t seem to be moving the needle. The iPad Pro is expected to retain the same chassis and display dimensions as its predecessor, with the only visual tweak possibly being a portrait-oriented front camera for more natural video calls. While this sounds convenient, it’s hardly a major upgrade. The most notable change remains internal — the M5 chip, which promises better efficiency and faster rendering for professional workloads. Yet, the excitement feels muted. The M4 iPad Pro was already an incredibly capable device, and unless Apple introduces major software features that truly leverage M5’s power, this update risks being labeled as another mild refresh in disguise.
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M5 MacBook Pro: Familiar Design, Familiar Story
The Apple October Event next in line is the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M5 chip — not the Pro or Max variant. Apple’s plan here seems to be filling the entry-level professional tier with the new generation of silicon, while keeping the premium variants for 2026. Gurman’s report suggests that design changes will be virtually nonexistent. The chassis, display, and even port configuration will remain identical to the M4 version.
The only real addition expected is Thunderbolt 5 support, which would replace Thunderbolt 4 and offer slightly faster data transfer speeds and higher external display bandwidth. While technically an improvement, it’s unlikely to make a visible difference for most users. This leaves the M5 MacBook Pro looking like another internal upgrade wrapped in the same shell.
For professional users, that’s frustrating. Apple has built its identity around cutting-edge MacBook designs, and the lack of visible innovation makes this update feel like a placeholder rather than a flagship refresh. The move from M4 to M5 will no doubt bring better efficiency and sustained performance, but when hardware design and functionality stay static, the upgrade starts to lose its appeal.
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Vision Pro M5: The Costly Experiment Continues
The Vision Pro—Apple’s bold leap into spatial computing—is also reportedly getting an internal update. Instead of a redesign or a price adjustment, Apple seems content with simply swapping the M2 chip for the M5, according to Gurman. The price will remain at $3,500, keeping it firmly in the luxury category.
While the new chip will likely offer performance and battery efficiency gains, this feels like another incremental step in a product line that still hasn’t proven its purpose to mainstream users. Apple’s failure to evolve the Vision Pro beyond a tech demo for enthusiasts shows how uncertain the company still is about the future of mixed reality. A simple chip refresh won’t solve that.
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Apple TV Finally Gets a Real Upgrade
Among all the Apple October Event updates, the Apple TV might be the most justified refresh. The current model still runs on the A15 chip, which dates back to the iPhone 13 era. The upgrade to the A17 Pro chip—used in the iPhone 15 Pro—would finally bring modern processing power to the streaming box. This could improve gaming performance, enhance streaming efficiency, and potentially enable Apple Intelligence features for smart home integration.
Gurman also suggests that the Apple TV may shift from its traditional plastic casing to a metal body, aligning it with Apple’s design philosophy across its product range. However, even this long-overdue update can’t hide how little attention Apple has given to its home entertainment lineup over the years. For a company that prides itself on ecosystem harmony, the Apple TV still feels like a secondary product rather than a centerpiece.
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Minor Products and Lingering Delays
Apple is also reportedly working on updates for the HomePod and AirTag, though neither seems guaranteed for 2025. The HomePod could move to an S9 or S10 chip, the same found in recent Apple Watches, improving smart home responsiveness and sound optimization. However, the update may be delayed until 2026, possibly to coincide with the full rollout of Apple’s new AI-powered Siri.
As for the AirTag, it’s long overdue for a refresh since its debut in 2021. The new version is expected to upgrade from the U1 chip to a U2 or even U3 chip, offering improved ultra-wideband accuracy and better privacy protection through a redesigned internal speaker. While necessary, it’s hardly headline-worthy.
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Pricing, Release Timeline, and the Bigger Picture
Based on Gurman’s insights, Apple’s upcoming lineup will likely include the iPad Pro M5 starting at $1,099, the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 starting around $1,999, and the Apple TV A17 Pro priced near $179. These products are expected to be available for preorder shortly after announcement, with shipments beginning in late October or early November 2025.
Yet, despite the new chips and minor refinements, there’s an undeniable sense that Apple is coasting. Gone are the days when an Apple October Event announcement would redefine categories or introduce groundbreaking features. Today, it’s all about silicon updates, marginal efficiency gains, and recycled designs.
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Decision to forgo a public Apple October Event isn’t just a scheduling choice — it’s a silent acknowledgment that there’s nothing truly exciting to show off this time. The company seems more focused on maintaining its product cycle than inspiring its audience. While these Apple October Event releases will no doubt sell, they also highlight a growing issue: Apple’s innovation engine, once the envy of the tech world, seems to be idling. And unless 2026 brings a genuine shift — in design, AI integration, or user experience — Apple risks turning its hardware updates into routine maintenance rather than milestones.
Last update on 2025-10-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
