12 New Things to Expect From Apple This October 2026

Apple has already had a busy September, but the company appears to have plenty more planned for October. The biggest confirmed arrival is iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, which goes on sale October 23. Apple has also confirmed that the device will ship with iOS 27.1, while iOS 27.2 is already in beta and is expected to arrive during October.

Beyond those releases, Apple is rumored to be preparing several new Macs, an updated iPad mini, a new Apple TV, a second-generation HomePod mini and a new smart-home hub.

Here's everything currently expected.

1. iPhone Duo

The iPhone Duo will be Apple's biggest October launch. Apple says pre-orders begin October 16, with the first units becoming available October 23. The foldable iPhone features a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display, along with Apple's A20 Pro chip and a redesigned iOS experience.

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the U.S. with 256GB of storage and will also be offered with 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities.

2. iOS 27.1

Apple is expected to release iOS 27.1 before the iPhone Duo launches. Apple has confirmed that iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1, suggesting that the update will be released sometime before October 23. Reports indicate that iOS 27.1 could focus heavily on features and optimizations designed for Apple's foldable iPhone.

3. iOS 27.2

Apple has already moved into iOS 27.2 beta testing, even though iOS 27.1 has not yet been released. The update is expected to bring several changes, including expanded Siri AI language support. Apple previously said Siri AI would expand to French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish in October.

The beta also includes features such as Apple TV app profiles and Dual Capture for Group FaceTime, although Apple's final feature list could change before release.

4. Mac Studio With 512GB of RAM

Apple recently launched the new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, but one high-end configuration is still coming. Apple has said that a version featuring the M5 Ultra and 512GB of unified memory will become available in late October.

That configuration will be aimed at users working with extremely demanding professional workloads, particularly large AI models and other memory-intensive applications.

5. iPad mini 8

A new iPad mini is one of the major products rumored for October. Reports point to an OLED display, a faster A20 Pro chip, a redesigned front-facing camera position and an updated speaker system. A water-resistant design has also been rumored. If these reports are accurate, the next iPad mini could receive one of its biggest hardware updates in years.

6. 24-inch iMac With M6

Apple could also refresh the 24-inch iMac with an M6 chip. The rumored update would reportedly retain the current all-in-one form factor while adding Apple's next-generation silicon and potentially introducing new color options. Apple has not confirmed this model, so its timing remains uncertain.

7. 14-inch MacBook Pro With M6

Another rumored October product is a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro featuring Apple's M6 chip. This would apparently be an update to the existing entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro rather than the larger redesign expected for Apple's higher-end models.

8. Redesigned OLED MacBook Pro

Apple could also unveil a much more significant MacBook Pro redesign. Reports point to OLED displays, touchscreen support, a Dynamic Island and a thinner chassis for future 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. The redesigned machines are reportedly expected later in 2026 and could use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

Unlike the iPhone Duo and iOS releases, however, this remains a rumor rather than a confirmed October launch.

9. New Apple TV 4K

A new Apple TV 4K could finally arrive this fall. Rumored upgrades include an A19 or A19 Pro chip, more RAM for Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, Apple's N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7 support and an updated Siri Remote. Reports suggest the external design may remain largely unchanged.

The biggest change could therefore be inside the box rather than on the outside.

10. HomePod mini 2

Apple could also introduce a second-generation HomePod mini. The rumored model could feature a newer chip, improved audio, Wi-Fi 7 through Apple's N1 chip, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip and new colors. Siri AI support is also reportedly being prepared for Apple's smart-home products. The overall design is expected to remain similar to the current HomePod mini.

11. Apple's New Smart-Home Hub

One of the more interesting rumors is Apple's long-awaited smart-home hub. The device is reportedly being designed around a roughly 6- to 7-inch square display and could control smart-home accessories, display widgets and clock faces, support FaceTime and use Apple Intelligence. Reports suggest Apple could offer both a tabletop version with a speaker base and a wall-mounted model.

12. Apple's New homeOS Platform

Alongside the smart-home hardware, Apple could introduce a new operating system reportedly called homeOS. The platform is expected to provide the software foundation for Apple's future smart-home products, potentially combining widgets, clock faces, Siri AI and smart-home controls into a dedicated experience.

The name "homeOS" has not been officially announced by Apple, so it should be treated as a reported possibility rather than a confirmed product name.

What Is Confirmed and What Is Rumored?

Apple has officially confirmed four major October developments:

• iPhone Duo — October 23

• iOS 27.1 — coming before the iPhone Duo launch

• iOS 27.2 — expected in October

• Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM — coming in late October

The other eight items remain based on reports, leaks and Apple's product-development patterns. Their release timing could change, and Apple could ultimately delay or cancel some of them.

October Could Be Another Big Month for Apple

September delivered Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup, iPhone Duo, AirPods 5 and new Apple Watch models. October could extend that momentum with another wave of hardware and software updates.

For Apple fans, the iPhone Duo launch and iOS 27.1 are the clearest events to watch because Apple has already confirmed them. The rumored iPad mini, Mac updates, Apple TV and smart-home products would make the month even busier if they materialize. With October approaching, Apple is expected to reveal more details as launch dates get closer.