Apple’s mega launch event for 2024 took place in September to reveal the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4. The Cupertino-based tech giant is now expected to hold a second Fall launch event for M4-chip models of its MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac later this month. While recent rumours suggest the event could occur by the end of October, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has given us a more specific launch timeline. Apple will reportedly unveil M4 MacBook Pro models, a Mac Mini, an iMac, and a new iPad Mini in October. The M4 MacBook Air laptops, new iPad Air tablets, and upgraded AirTags are said to go official in the first half of 2025.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman claimed that Apple will hold a launch event around the end of October for a few products, with some launching as early as November 1. Apple is reportedly aiming to launch a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip (code-named J604), and high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 chips (J614 and J616).

Gurman said Apple will launch a revamped Mac mini with M4 or M4 Pro chips (J773), a refreshed iMac with an M4 chip (J623) and an upgraded iPad mini (J410) in October.

Here’s What Apple Will Launch Early in 2025

Further, Gurman states that Apple will unveil 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M4 (J613 and J615) chips, updated 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models (J607 and J637), new Magic Keyboards for the updated iPad Air line (R307 and R308) and an upgraded AirTag item finder accessory (B589) in the first half of the year. The long-awaited iPhone SE with codename V59 is also said to go official in the first half of 2025.

Apple is also working on M4-powered Mac Studio and Mac Pro models, but “may take longer to arrive”, says Gurman. The launch of Mac Studio is said to take place closer to the middle of the year, with the Mac Pro expected to go on sale sometime in the second half of 2025. He states that the iPhone 17 family and new Apple Watches will be introduced in late 2025, along with M5 Macs.

Apple is reportedly working on the next generation of AirTag which may arrive in the middle of 2025. As per the report, the Cupertino-based tech giant has begun conducting test runs of the new device. The second-generation AirTag could feature a new chipset with better location tracking as well as some other quality-of-life features. Notably, this will be the first upgrade to AirTag, which was launched in April 2021. Apart from this, Apple is also rumoured to make several AI-focused announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 scheduled for June 10.

The information comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman who claimed in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter that Apple is currently running tests on the next iteration of AirTag. These tests are being run with its offshore manufacturers in Asia, with planned production expected for later this year. This also corroborates with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s report in October 2023 who reported in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that “The mass production schedule for AirTag 2 has been postponed to 2025”.

Gurman claims that the second-generation AirTag is internally known by the codename B589. Reportedly, the tracking device could get a new chipset that offers better location tracking. The report further highlights improved battery life, louder speaker, and a more portable design for wallets. It would also be interesting to see if Apple implements any anti-stalking measures at the hardware level, given the controversies the first-generation device caused, and the multiple lawsuits Apple faced as a result of it.

In the original leak, Kuo claimed that the AirTag 2 was scheduled to enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2024, which would have seen it be launched during the company’s March event. However, with the new timeline, it could arrive during WWDC 2025 or even later.

Separately, Apple is also expected to make several AI-focused announcements at WWDC 2024. With less than a month to go, reports have claimed that the iPhone maker is facing pressure from rivals unveiling multiple new AI advancements, and wants to close the gap. Siri could get a major overhaul and get AI integration. The Safari browser is also expected to get new AI features.

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Apple has shown a significant improvement in its AirTag shipments, which is estimated to have reached about 20 million units in 2021, followed by 35 million units 2022, as revealed by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst has also predicted that the recent trend may push Apple to launch a second generation AirTag soon.

Apple had introduced AirTags as a way to keep track of items, but latest reports have suggested that the company has progressively expanded shipments of the AirTag since its debut, according to a tweet by the TFI International Securities analyst.

Gadgets like AirTags use a wireless connection to notify users when they leave their current location. The devices can be put wherever because of the size of a huge coin. In April 2021, Apple launched AirTag, a gadget that allows users to track lost personal items using their iPhone.

According to Kuo, Apple AirTag has now received significant attention in the past. However, the new growth can possibly encourage the tech giant to launch another generation of the device.

While it’s difficult to see how the original AirTag might be improved upon, Apple releases updates to all of its other hardware products regularly, so it’d be unusual if the AirTag were to be left out. Apple wasn’t the first business to release a small monitoring device, but, as with other hardware categories, it improved on what was already available.

The AirTag is appealing in terms of both aesthetics and ease of use. Apple’s gear is designed to operate together flawlessly, and the AirTag is no exception. It’s all really easy and clear, from connecting it to one’s phone in the first place to locating it, if it goes misplaced.

But Apple might not be happy to hear that AirTags are being used to spy against the people’s will. The company quickly developed anti-stalking features to make this type of abuse more difficult.

Kuo said that AirTag sales haven’t surged yet, but they’re starting to gain momentum as iPhone buyers find AirTags useful and easy to set up and use.

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Apple on Thursday announced updates to AirTag coin-sized tracking devices to prevent them from being used to secretly track people instead of just finding lost keys, wallets or other items.

Launched early last year, AirTag devices are designed to be affixed to things people tend to lose, synching wirelessly to iPhone models, iPad devices, or iPod Touch devices to signal where they can be found.

Reports quickly surfaced of AirTags being used for more unscrupulous ends, such as being secretly stuck on a car to later steal it or find out where the owner goes.

“We’ve become aware that individuals can receive unwanted tracking alerts for benign reasons, such as when borrowing someone’s keys with an AirTag attached,” Apple said in a post.

“We also have seen reports of bad actors attempting to misuse AirTag for malicious or criminal purposes.”

Apple said that it has been working with police and safety groups to stop misuse, which it maintained is rare.

Newer iPhone models will alert owners of an “unknown accessory detected” when they sense an unidentified AirTag in range.

AirTag software is being updated to display a warning the first time it is used, advising that tracking people without their consent is a crime in many locales and Apple will share the identities of owners with police when warranted.

Apple said it is working on enabling iPhone handsets to more precisely locate AirTag gadgets to help people find any planted without their consent.

“AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another person’s property,” Apple said in the post.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products.”

Apple late last year released software so people with Android-powered smartphones can detect if an AirTag is nearby.

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