Apple holds events at certain intervals in the year at which it announces new products. The company tends to hold a March or April spring event, the WWDC keynote in June, an event to celebrate the new iPhone launch in September, and a late fall event in October at which it has been known to release new iPads and Macs. The company has even held an event as late as November 10 (in 2020 when it unveiled the first batch of M1 Macs).
Apple introduced the new iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 at an event on September 12. Has the company finished releasing new products for 2023? No! There is going to be another Apple event in 2023 at which it will introduce more new products – we expect to see new Macs and iPads.
The event will start at 5 p.m. P.T. and you’ll be able to watch it right here:
When is Apple’s October event 2023?
- Monday 30 October at 5 p.m. P.T. (31 October for most of the world, see all the start times in various time zones below)
Apple is set to hold an event on 30 October. Dubbed Scary Fast, probably due to its proximity to Halloween (in fact if you aren’t in North or South America this event will start after midnight on 31 October.)
We’d all but given up hope for a second fall event, but in his October 22, 2023 weekend newsletter Bloomberg’s Michael Gurman indicated that Apple could hold an event on 30 or 31 October. And then on October 24 the company issued invites to the press.
The event is being held just a few days before the company announces its quarter four financial results on November 2.
Over the years Apple has held a second fall event in October or November, where it has launched new Macs, iPads, and AirPods. For example, at the 2021 Unleashed event we got the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and the third-gen AirPods, while the previous year brought the M1 versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini on Tuesday, November 10.
However, as you can see from the list of October event dates below, Apple does not always hold an October event. Over the past 12 years, Apple has held eight October events, so it’s not unprecedented to skip it.
- 2023: Monday, October 30
- 2022: No event
- 2021: Monday, October 18
- 2020: Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, November 10
- 2019: No event
- 2018: Tuesday, October 30
- 2017: No event
- 2016: Thursday, October 27
- 2015: No event
- 2014: Thursday, October 16
- 2013: Tuesday, October 22
- 2012: Tuesday, October 23
- 2011: Tuesday, October 4
What time will Apple’s event start?
Apple’s Scary Fast October event, will start at a different time to the usual 10 a.m. PT. Instead, Apple will kick off the event at 5 p.m. PT.
Here’s what that translates to around the world.
- U.S.: 5 p.m. (PDT), 6 p.m. (MDT), 7 p.m. (CDT), 8 p.m. (EDT)
- U.K.: Next day at 12 a.m. (GMT)
- Europe: Next day at 1 a.m. (CET)
- Canada: 5 p.m. (PDT), 6 p.m. (MDT), 7 p.m. (CDT), 8 p.m. (EDT), 9 p.m. (ADT)
- India: Next day at 5.30 a.m.
- Singapore and China: Next day at 8 a.m.
- Australia: Next day at 8 a.m. (AWST), 10.30 a.m. (ACDT), 11 a.m. (AEDT), 10 a.m (AEST)
- New Zealand: Next day at 1 p.m. (NZDT)
Apple’s special events usually last between one and two hours.
How to watch the Apple event
If you want to watch the October event live, Apple will stream the keynote on its website and YouTube channel. We have embedded the video above so you can also watch it here.
What will Apple launch at the October event?
Whether there’s an event or not, it is possible that Apple could unveil new Macs and iPads. In fact, there are a number of reports predicting that it will do so before the end of the year.
M3 iMac
The iMac is still running an M1 chip while the rest of the lineup is now on the second generation of Apple’s Mac chips, so it’s well overdue an update. The rumors suggest that the iMac will move straight to the M3 chip, we could even see an iMac Pro with M3 Pro chip.
More here: M3 iMac rumors
MacBook Pro
Apple may also be set to update the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M3 at the same time as the iMac. There are also rumors suggesting we could see the M3 Pro and M3 Max versions of the MacBook Pro launch.
More here: New MacBook Pro rumors
Mac mini with M3
The Mac mini may also get an update to M3 and M3 Pro. Or this may wait until 2024.
More here: M3 Mac mini rumors
MacBook Air with M3
In the summer Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested that the MacBook Air could get an M3 update this year. This seemed unlikely given the fact that the 15-inch model was only introduced in June. It now looks like Apple may update both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air in the spring of 2024, but it is possible we will see something at the October 30 event.
Read: M3 MacBook Air rumors.
iPad mini
The iPad mini was last updated in 2021. A seventh-generation model is said to be coming in 2023 with a better chip and screen improvements.
More here: iPad mini 7 rumors
That’s not the only new iPad coming though. Read: Apple has ‘multiple new iPads’ in the works.
iPad Air
A new iPad Air could also be coming before the end of the year, with an update to the M2 from the M1.
More here: iPad Air, M2 rumors
iPad 11th gen
The standard iPad may also get a chip upgrade.
Bigger iPad Pro
There could also be a new iPad Pro, with a 14-inch iPad Pro rumored, however, this isn’t expected until 2024.
AirPods Lite
AirPods Lite have been rumored for some time. Said to cost $99 they could be huge this Christmas, if they ever emerge. The AirPods Max also need an update.
Read: New AirPods rumors.
What did Apple launch at its last October event?
Apple didn’t hold an October event in 2022. On October 18, 2021, Apple launched redesigned models of the high-end MacBook Pro, with a 14-inch and 16-inch models making their debut. Powering the new MacBooks were the high-end M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that built on the already impressive M1 chips that arrived in November 2020. The laptops received new designs with slim bezels and extra ports, including MagSafe, HDMI, and an SD card slot.
That event also saw Apple unveil the third-generation AirPods, new HomePod mini colors, and a cheaper, Siri-powered Apple Music subscription, Apple Music Voice.
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.