What to Expect From the 'Scary Fast' October 30 Apple Event

Apple earlier this week surprised us with an unexpected October event, and curiously, it is set to take place on Monday, October 30 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Apple has never hosted a nighttime event before, so Monday should be quite interesting.


The "Scary Fast" event will be focused on the Mac, which has been confirmed by Apple's artwork for the event. On Apple's website, there is an Apple logo that morphs into the Mac Finder icon, so it's Macs that we're going to see.

Rumors have been mixed about what we can expect at the event, but it's sounding like we'll get the entire M3 chip lineup. We've outlined what we've heard is coming, but we might also get some unexpected announcements.

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were updated with M2 Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips in January 2023, so it is early for an update, but it is not unheard of for Apple to refresh a Mac twice in a single year.

macbook pro orange
Apple is expected to update the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with its next-generation M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, which will come less than a year after Apple debuted the ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips.

The base M3 Pro chip will have a 12-core CPU and 18-core GPU, with upgrades available for a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU. The base M3 Max chip will have a 16-core GPU and a 32-core GPU, with an option to upgrade to a 40-core GPU.

Upgrading from ‌M2‌ Pro/‌M2‌ Max to M3 Pro and M3 Max should bring notable performance improvements, especially when it comes to the GPU and the ability for the MacBook Pro to run high-end games.

There was a recent rumor from DigiTimes suggesting that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will get more power-efficient miniLED displays, so there is a chance that we'll also see tweaks to display performance.

If we get the M3 upgrade and a new miniLED display, the MacBook Pro models could have significant improvements to their battery life. Aside from the new chips and the possible new display, we are not expecting any other design changes for the MacBook Pro models.

iMac

Apple hasn't refreshed the 24-inch iMac since 2021, and it's still using the M1 chip. The ‌iMac‌ is expected to get an update at Apple's event, and the new version will use the M3 chip, the same chip that will be in the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

iMac M3 Blue Feature
Jumping from ‌M1‌ to M3 will improve both CPU and GPU performance, but most notably the GPU performance. The M3 chip supports more RAM, so we could see more maximum memory available with an update, as well as a higher-capacity SSD.

There won't be notable design changes to the display of the ‌iMac‌, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple will tweak the stand. Some of the internal components in the ‌iMac‌ will be relocated and redesigned, with a new manufacturing process used to attach the stand.

An upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E is likely, as is Bluetooth 5.3. These are technologies that have been introduced in other Macs over the last year. The M3 ‌iMac‌ is reportedly being tested in orange, blue, pink, and silver finishes, so we should see some of the same color options that were available with the ‌M1‌ ‌iMac‌.

USB-C Accessories

Apple is expected to eliminate the Lightning port in several of its Mac accessories, including the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard. Instead of Lightning, these devices will adopt a USB-C port as part of Apple's transition to USB-C across its entire product lineup.

magic mouse 2 lightning

Other Possibilities

Aside from the ‌iMac‌ and refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, there are no other rumors that suggest other devices are getting updated.

Initial information indicated that the 13-inch MacBook Pro could see a refresh with an M3 chip, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has since confirmed the 13-inch MacBook Pro will be refreshed at a later date.

Other Macs, including the MacBook Air, Mac mini, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio won't be updated until 2024, and the same goes for the iPads and AirPods. We are not expecting new iPads or new versions of the AirPods until next year.

How to Watch

Apple's "Scary Fast" event begins at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, October 30. Apple is streaming the event on its Events website that can be viewed on any web browser, plus there will be a livestream on YouTube.

For those with access to the Apple TV app on the ‌Apple TV‌ set-top box or a smart TV, Apple will also offer an event livestream option for your TV.

For those unable to watch, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Top Rated Comments

Eagle_Eye Avatar
6 weeks ago

What to expect? People who spent a ton on a MBP in January to be disappointed? I would be no matter the explanation. I’ll still watch even though I’m not in the market for any more Macs this year.
Why the disappointment? Those people will still have a great computer. Most people don’t upgrade at every cpu iteration.
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neonart Avatar
6 weeks ago
Can't wait for the Magic Mouse to get that port underneath upgraded to USB-C! :rolleyes:
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GMShadow Avatar
6 weeks ago

The disappointment is the lack of innovation at Apple.
Look at all the other laptop manufacturers. They are releasing new form factors, new features, new visual looks & honestly have started to close the gap on quality/luxury that Apple offered.
This made me laugh.

I just ordered an off-cycle Dell at work a few weeks ago.

It looks essentially identical to the on-cycle ones I ordered in early 2021, which were 2020 models.

Laptops are laptops. Gimmicks aren't really welcome at this point. As for 'new form factors', it hardly went un-noticed that Microsoft had an event recently and refreshed...the laptops, and the low-end tablet got a refresh for enterprise. No Surface Pro refresh, no new Duo.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Celtic Warrior Avatar
6 weeks ago
Hopefully they'll redesign Magic Mouse. It's a bummer not being able to use it while it is charging
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
6 weeks ago
All those people so sure about release schedules based upon only the timing of 2 iterations would have their logic spoiled if PRO & MAX arrive at the same time as M3. Will they then deduce that there will be long-wait (18-month): short wait (12-month) tick tock releases... or conclude that with M3 speeding up the time-based pace, M4 will not be no more than 8-9 months out, M5 no more than 5-6 months after that, M-6 no more than 3 after that and approx. M10 will launch BEFORE M9? ;)

Moral of this joke: there is no pattern in 2 (or 3) iterations of anything. Coin flips: heads, then heads, then heads. Obviously flipping this coin always yields heads. Place a big, certain bet on the next flip? When we get to about M5 or M6, some repetitive history may project something. Until then, anything can happen at any time.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
no-reply Avatar
6 weeks ago
My nearly 3 year old M1 Touch Bar MacBook Pro is holding up well. I want to get to 5 years old before contemplating a replacement.

Amazing. 3 years in. Battery still lasts me from 8.50 to 6pm at college. Everybody else plugs in their PC laptops before lunch hour and I walk past.

Can’t wait for what’s released next week. As those innovations will be in whichever Mac I eventually replace mine with ⭐️
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 16 4 Web Push

Apple Confirms Governments Using Push Notifications to Surveil Users

Wednesday December 6, 2023 5:06 am PST by
Unidentified governments are surveilling smartphone users by tracking push notifications that move through Google's and Apple's servers, a US senator warned on Wednesday (via Reuters). In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from the tech giants to track smartphones. The traffic flowing from apps that send push notifications...
airpods pro 2 pink

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware update for both the Lightning and USB-C versions of the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware is version 6B34, up from the 6B32 firmware introduced in November. Apple does not provide details on what features might be included in the refreshed firmware beyond "bug fixes and other improvements," so it is unclear what's new in the update, but prior software releases ...
magsafe blue 2

iOS 17.2 Brings Qi2 Support to iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 Models

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:04 am PST by
The iOS 17.2 update that Apple is set to release to the public in the near future will bring support for the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. Qi2 was mentioned in the release notes for the RC version of the update that came out today. With the addition of support for the new standard, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models will work with Qi2...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue

'All-Screen' iPhone Under-Display Camera Enters Development

Wednesday December 6, 2023 2:03 am PST by
Apple's Korean suppliers have begun developing smartphone under-display cameras (UDC), paving the way for the first iPhone with a true "all-screen" appearance. According to The Elec, LG Innotek has entered the preliminary development of the UDC, which sits under the display and does not result in a visible hole in the panel when the camera is not in use. A UDC differs from a typical front ...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 May Reuse Existing iPhone 14 Battery

Wednesday December 6, 2023 1:17 pm PST by
Recently, MacRumors has received details on the battery currently being tested on the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, and the information corroborates previous findings in relation to the device. The iPhone SE 4, known by its device identifier D59, is expected to use the exact same battery found in the base model iPhone 14. Partially assembled prototypes of the next iPhone SE have been ...
airpods pro bulbs

Black Friday Prices Return for AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C, iPad, and More

Tuesday December 5, 2023 7:30 am PST by
Today we're tracking a collection of deals that are matching - or nearly matching - the same all-time low discounts we saw during Black Friday. This includes the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, 9th generation iPad, and M1 MacBook Air. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the ...
instagram messenger

Instagram and Facebook Messenger Chats to Disconnect This Month

Tuesday December 5, 2023 1:57 am PST by
Meta has revealed plans to end Instagram users' ability to chat with Facebook accounts later this month, rolling back a feature that it introduced over three years ago. In September 2020, Meta (then Facebook) announced it was merging its Facebook Messenger service with Instagram direct messaging, allowing Instagram users to chat with Facebook users and vice versa using the same platform....