Tech / Technology

What to expect from the Apple October event 2023

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Apple announced that it is hosting a ‘Scary Fast’ event on Oct. 30. Here’s everything we’re expecting to see.
MacBook models

What are we expecting to see at the Apple October event? Billed “Scary Fast”, new iDevices are reportedly on the way. What throws us off, however, is that the Cupertino-based tech giant will be holding the pre-recorded livestream at 5 p.m. PDT.

This means that I, on the East Coast, will have to tune in at 8 p.m. for an Apple event. During my tenure as a tech journalist, I’ve never attended a nighttime Apple event. This is a first!

Adding to the spooky vibes of this Halloween-themed event is the mysteriousness shrouding the iDevices Apple will drop on Monday. With the Finder icon being on Apple’s official invite, there’s a hint that new Macs will be in our future, but the question is, which ones?

The 4 Macs rumored to be revealed at the ‘Scary Fast’ event

According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo, two reliable Apple leakers, here are the iDevices we may see on Monday:

  • iMac with M3 chip

  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with new M3 Pro and M3 Max chips

  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with new M3 Pro and M3 Pro chips

  • 13-inch MacBook Pro with new M3 chip

We haven’t seen an update of the iMac since 2021 when Apple revealed colorful 24-inch variants packed with the M1 chip. The 13-inch MacBook Pro, released in June 2022 with the M2 chip, is also due for an upgrade.

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A brief history of the iPhone

However, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros just got upgraded in January of this year, which is why many – including myself – are skeptical of Gurman and Kuo’s claims. However, Gurman is refusing to back down.

“While rare, Apple has refreshed a Mac twice in one year. I’ll never forget Apple announced the iMac G5 with a built-in iSight camera in Oct. ’05 and then hilariously updated it to Intel in Jan. ’06 – only 3 months later,” Gurman said in a tweet.

If you’ve been crossing your fingers for some new iPads, don’t hold your breath. Gurman says new iPads are coming in March. Kuo also mentioned that he doesn’t expect to see iPads this year whatsoever.


12.9-inch iPad Pro M2

Credit: Amazon


12.9-inch iPad Pro M2

$1,049

Tech / Technology

How to watch the October Apple event — expect new MacBooks

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Wondering how to watch the October Apple event? We’ve got the scoop on when and where you can watch the “Scary Fast” live stream.
Apple October event 2023 invite with Finder icon

Wondering how to watch the October 2023 Apple event? Rumor has it that the Cupertino-based tech giant has plans to release new MacBook Pro models as well as the next-generation iMac.

Apple is hosting a livestream billed “Scary Fast,” but what’s interesting is that it’s during a non-traditional hour. However, if you’re a tech enthusiast like myself, or you simply want to watch the livestream everyone’s been gushing about on social media, check out the information below to find out how to watch it.

How to watch the October Apple event

You can watch Apple’s “Scary Fast” livestream three ways:

In my experience, Apple’s official website is typically a second or two ahead of the YouTube livestream.

What time is the October Apple event?

Apple’s “Scary Fast” livestream is on Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. PDT. And no, that is not a typo. For the first time ever, Apple is hosting a nighttime event, feeding into the Halloween vibes.

For your convenience, here are the start times for the Apple October 2023 event for other parts of the world:

  • Mountain Time: 6 p.m.

  • Central Time: 7 p.m.

  • Eastern Time: 8 p.m.

  • Rio de Janeiro: 9 p.m.

  • London: 1 a.m.

  • Berlin: 2 a.m.

  • UTC: 12 a.m.

As you can see, this is a late start for almost everyone. Some will be getting ready for bed – and others will already be in bed.

What to expect from the October Apple event

According to Bloomberg’s Gurman, the Apple October 2023 event is expected to reveal three MacBook Pro models: the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro. We also may see a new iMac.

colorful iMacs with M1 chip

iMac
Credit: Apple

For more in-depth details about what to expect, click here.

Tech / Technology

Best laptop deals ahead of Black Friday: MacBooks, Dell Inspiron, Alienware, and more

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Here’s a running list of the best laptop deals from top brands like Apple, Alienware, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Razer, and more as of Oct. 28.
a close-up of a woman in striped shirt typing on a 15-inch apple macbook air at a wooden counter

UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2023, 5:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest laptop deals, pricing, and availability.

A quick look at this week’s best laptop deals:
Best laptop deal under $300

Dell Inspiron 15 3520 (Intel Core i3-1215U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$299.99 at Dell.com
(save $80)

the Dell Inspiron 15

Best laptop deal under $600

Dell Inspiron 16 5635 (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$599.99 at Dell.com
(save $400)

the Dell Inspiron 16 5635

Best laptop deal under $900

Apple MacBook Air, 13.3-inch (Apple M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$749.99 at Amazon and Best Buy
(save $249.01)

the 13-inch m1 apple macbook air

Best laptop deal under $1,200

Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (Apple M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$1,049 at Amazon and Best Buy; extra $50 off for paid My Best Buy members
(save $250)

the 15-inch apple macbook air

Best laptop deal over $1,200

Alienware x14 R2 (Intel Core i7-13620H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$1,699.99 at Dell.com
(save $300)

the Alienware x14 R2

The only thing better than a great laptop is a great laptop that’s on sale. To help Mashable readers find their next computer, we’re compiling a running list of the best laptop deals across major retailers right here every week. From the latest Apple MacBooks to cheap Chromebooks for homework, versatile 2-in-1s for streaming and drawing, and premium gaming machines with a ton of horsepower, read on for our top picks as of Oct. 28 (categorized by price) — including a handful of early Black Friday laptop deals at Best Buy and Dell.

Best laptop deals under $300


the Dell Inspiron 15

Credit: Dell


Our pick: Dell Inspiron 15 3520

$299.99 at Dell.com (save $30)

Why we like it

This Dell Inspiron 15 features a 12th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a spec sheet we rarely see at this price point: Most cheap, entry-level PCs under $300 have dinky Intel Celeron N Series CPUs, 4GB of RAM, pokier eMMC flash storage, and 60Hz refresh rates. It’s down to $299.99 on Dell’s website (normally $379.99) during its Black Friday Sneak Peek sale — that’s a fantastic price for these specs.

More laptop deals under $300

Best laptop deals under $600


the Dell Inspiron 16 5635

Credit: Dell


Our pick: Dell Inspiron 16 5635

$599.99 at Dell.com (save $400)

Why we like it

Dell’s 16-inch Inspiron laptop also punches above its current price point with 16GB of RAM (up from the 8GB we typically encounter in models under $600), a whole terabyte of storage, and a peppy AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor — it’s stellar for multitasking. We spotted it on sale for just $599.99 on Dell.com, which is 40% off its suggested retail price of $999.99.

More laptop deals under $600

Best laptop deals under $900


the 13-inch m1 apple macbook air

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple MacBook Air, 13.-inch (Apple M1)

$749.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (save $249.01)

Why we like it

The 13-inch MacBook Air from late 2020 nabbed a Mashable Choice Award upon release for its zippy M1 chip, quiet fanless design, and 18-hour battery life. We’re still recommending it three years later as the best budget MacBook, and right now you can buy its 256GB base model for $749.99 (normally $999) via Amazon and Best Buy. That matches its record-low Prime Day price from July, which has been holding relatively steady ever since.

Read Mashable’s review of the Apple MacBook Air (2020).

More laptop deals under $900

Laptop deals under $1,200


the 15-inch apple macbook air

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch

$1,049 at Best Buy (save $250); extra $50 off for paid My Best Buy members

Why we like it

This year’s 15-inch version of the M2 MacBook Air upgrades it with a slightly larger (but just as pretty) Liquid Retina display and two extra speakers (six instead of four). Best of all, it still only weighs about three pounds. Best Buy and Amazon both have the 256GB model marked down to its all-time low of $1,049 (normally $1,299), though the former shaves an additional $50 off for paid My Best Buy members as part of its Black Friday Early Access sale.

Read Mashable’s review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air.

More laptop deals under $1,200

Laptop deals over $1,200


the Alienware x14 R2

Credit: Alienware


Our pick: Alienware x14 R2

$1,699.99 at Dell.com (save $300)

Why we like it

The Alienware x14 R2 earned an Editor’s Choice Award from the experts at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable’s publisher, ZiffDavis), who deemed it “a near-flawless compact gaming laptop.” This especially beefy configuration comes equipped with a 14-inch QHD+ 165Hz display, a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 H-Series processor, 32GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics; it should be able to plow through demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield. You can snag it for $1,699.99 (down 15% from its $1,999.99 MSRP) when you order it directly through Dell’s website.

More laptop deals over $1,200

Tech / Technology

Best iPad Pro deal: Get the 6th gen iPad Pro for $109 off

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Get a 2021 iPad Pro (128 GB) for $989.99, which is $109 less than its usual price of $1,099, as of Oct. 27. That’s this iPad Pro’s lowest price ever.
iPad Pro on light blue background with action lines

SAVE $109.01: As of Oct. 27 get the 2022 Apple iPad Pro (128GB) at its lowest price yet at Amazon for $989.99. That’s a discount of 10%.


Apple iPad Pro (128 GB) on white background

Credit: Apple


2022 iPad Pro (128GB)

$989.99 at Amazon (save $100)

Black Friday may not be until mid-November, but we’re already seeing a slew of deals roll in ahead of time. You can save big right now on goodies like smartwatches and tablets, including the iPad Pro. If you’re an avid iOS user, especially if you picked up a new iPhone 15 or Apple Watch Series 9, there’s a lot to love about the iPad, and out of all of the current models, the 2022 iPad Pro is the newest one you can get right now, at least until Apple announces a whole new slate. It’s one of the most premium iPad experiences, so when it’s discounted, you should sit up and pay attention.

As of Oct. 27, the 2022 iPad Pro (128GB, 12.9-inch) is on sale at Amazon for $989.99. That’s $109.01 off its usual price of $1,199 and a savings of 10%. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen yet. Currently, this price only applies to the 128 GB silver model. However, the 256GB configuration is also on sale (in only silver as well) for $1,049.99, which is a discount of $149.01 and a savings of 12%.

SEE ALSO:

Power up your productivity with a 2021 Apple iPad at an all-time low price

This is the best iPad you can get right now, from its powerful M2 processor to its large 12.9-inch display. It’s the perfect companion for a lengthy commute and the best device for helping you wind down in bed at the end of a long day. Thanks to its support for the Apple Pencil, you can also use it to sketch, take notes, or mess about with your favorite apps with a stylus. Pair the iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and it suddenly becomes a great alternative to a MacBook Pro. There’s a long list of uses for this tablet, and it’s a great option for just about any user.

So whether you’ve had your eye on an iPad Pro for a while or just needed an excuse to get one, now’s your chance. Lock one in before the holidays are finally here.

Tech / Technology

Best Apple deal: MacBook Pro refurb for just $400

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This refurbished 13.3″ Apple MacBook Pro with SSD has some light signs of wear, making it only $400 instead of $550.
MacBook Pro

TL;DR: As of October 27, get this refurbished MacBook Pro 13.3″ for only $399.99 — that’s 27% off.

Even if you have a smartphone or tablet, a laptop is a different type of convenience. While it may be a little bigger than a tablet, you get much more power to get work done or watch videos. This 13.3″ MacBook Pro weighs less than two pounds, so taking it on the go is pretty convenient. And Apple is one of those brands that is just known for its quality products. 

This MacBook Pro combines a sleek design with powerful performance and versatility to create a perfect device for work, play, home, and travel. And for a limited time, you can get a storage-rich refurbished model for just $399.99.

This MacBook Pro comes from the model year 2016, which isn’t very far behind the tech times. So even though it’s refurbished, it comes with some great features and specs. It has a grade “B” refurbished rating, meaning it’s in great working condition but might have some cosmetic blemishes.

With its 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 Dual-Core processor, you can multitask with ease and even add some extra juice when you need it via the Turbo Boost (up to 2.7GHz). It features 8GB RAM and a generous 256GB SSD to store videos, documents, apps, and files locally for easy retrieval.

The battery gives you up to 10 hours of life to help you get through a busy workday or travel day without needing to charge it constantly. This laptop has WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, and an HD FaceTime camera, so you can take video calls clearly and professionally.

Grab a refurbished MacBook for a fraction of the cost of a new one to surprise your favorite student, professional, or busy parent for the holidays.

Pick up this refurbished Apple MacBook Pro for just $399.99 (reg. $550) while it’s still on sale.

Prices subject to change.


A gray MacBook Pro

Credit: Apple


Apple Macbook Pro 13.3″ Core i5, 2.0GHz 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Refurbished)

$399.99 at the Mashable Shop