Scenes from Apple's iPad Pro and Mac event
There's more in the making
Apple's October 2018 event was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House on Oct. 30. It kicked off at 10am ET (7am PT) and lasted about 90 minutes. Although Apple live-streamed it (go here to find out how to access it), we rounded up the highlights here.
Intro: 100 million users!
Apple CEO Tim Cook started things by announcing that the Mac's active installed base has reached 100 million users: "What's most important to us is in survey after survey, the Mac continues to be rated No. 1 in customer satisfaction by far," he said.
Macs: New MacBook Air!
From there, Cook jumped right into new Mac hardware, starting with a refreshed MacBook Air. It has a 13.3-inch Retina display -- providing four times the resolution with over four million pixels -- with no aluminum bezel. "The No. 1 feature customers have wanted in a MacBook Air is a Retina Display," Cook explained, "but we've made the display better in every possible way."
Macs: MacBook Air specs and features
The MacBook Air has another new feature customers have been asking for: Touch ID.
Other new features include: a T2 security chip; an always-on processor that enables "Hey Siri"; a backlit keyboard with individual LEDs and Butterfly keys; a Force Touch Trackpad with 20 percent more surface area; audio stereo speakers that are 25 percent louder; two Thunderbolt 3 ports; an eighth-generation dual-core Intel CPU with integrated graphics; up to 16GB memory; up to 1.5TB in SSD capacity; support for Apple's eGPUs; and a 12-hour battery.
There's no Touch Bar.
Macs: MacBook Air pricing and availability
The new MacBook Air is made from 100-percent recycled aluminum, weighs 2.75 pounds, and starts at $1,199 for 8GB memory and a 1.6GHz processor. It will be available from Nov. 7.
Macs: Finally! A new Mac mini
After years of no updates, Apple has refreshed the Mac mini.
Macs: Mac mini specs and features
First of all, the new Mac mini comes in space gray.
It also features 4-core and 6-core eighth generation Intel processors (making it five-times faster than the previous generation) and up to 64GB of RAM. You can get it with all-flash storage up to 2TB, Apple's new T2 chip, a Gigabit Ethernet (or 10Gb Ethernet), 4x Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, and two USB-A ports. There's also a new thermal system included.
Macs: Mac mini pricing and availability
The new Mac mini starts at $799, with the entry-level model offering 8GB, 3.6GHz quad-core processor, and 128GB of RAM. It will be available from Nov. 7.
iPads: 400 million sold
CEO Tim Cook revealed that Apple has sold 400 million iPads since 2010 -- which he said is more than the entire notebook lineup of the biggest notebook manufacturers combined.
iPads: All-new iPad Pros
Apple also revealed an all-new iPad Pro with an edge-to-edge LCD "Liquid Retina" display, slimmer bezels, and Face ID (no Home Button). It has the same footprint as the previous 10.5-inch iPad Pro, but it now comes with an 11-inch display. There's also a new 12.9-inch version.
Also: Apple's new iPad Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini: Can features, specs retain business momentum?
iPads: New iPad Pro specs and features
Apple said the new iPad Pro tablets support all the same gestures as the iPhone X line, and they are powered by the new A12X Bionic chip, including an 8-core CPU and a 35-percent faster CPU. The iPad Pros are designed to be faster than 92 percent of the portable PCs sold in the last year.
Also: Apple's new iPad Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini: Can features, specs retain business momentum?
Accessories: Apple Pencil 2 is here!
Apple unveiled a redesigned Apple Pencil alongside its latest iPads.
Accessories: New Smart Keyboard
Apple is also updating its old Smart Keyboard, which is now called the Smart Keyboard Folio, to allow the iPad to sit at two different typing angles.
Accessories: Apple Pencil 2 specs and features
As for the new Apple Pencil, called Apple Pencil 2, it attaches to the tablet magnetically and charges wirelessly. No longer do you have to plug the Pencil directly into the iPad. Plus, tapping the new Pencil to the iPad Pro will instantly wake the device and launch the Notes app.
iPads: New iPad Pro pricing and availability
Going back to the new iPad Pro tablets for a moment, Apple said the 11-inch model starts at $799. For that price, you get 4GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 12.9-inch model starts at $999. They will be available from Nov. 7. The old 10.5-inch iPad Pro will now cost $649.
None of the tablets come with the new Apple Pencil 2 or Smart Keyboard Folio, as those must be purchased separately. Apple did not reveal pricing or availability for those during its show.
Also: Apple's new iPad Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini: Can features, specs retain business momentum?
Last but not least: iOS 12.1 release date
Finally, Apple will release iOS 12.1 on Oct. 30, bringing Group FaceTime, new emoji, live Depth Control in camera previews, and Dual SIM support to Apple's latest iPhones.