Apple has announced a product launch scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, that is expected to focus on smart home products and will include press releases alongside an “Apple Experience” in New York City where select members of the media will get hands-on time at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Apple ‘Welcome Home’ launch and smart home lineup
The October 13 announcement is widely expected to center on new smart home hardware, with reports pointing to a long‑rumored smart home hub, an updated Apple TV 4K and a refreshed HomePod mini. The event will be delivered as a batch of press materials, while the in-person Apple Experience in New York will allow limited hands-on access for select media.
Timing and additional October releases
Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo begin next week. There may also be a second wave of launches late in October, possibly around October 27, that would focus on Mac updates and potentially a new iPad mini. Reporting on that later wave has been corroborated by multiple sources.
LG partnership for home accessories
Apple will partner with LG to produce accessories for its smart home push—products such as doorbells, smart locks and cameras will be released under the LG brand rather than as Apple‑branded devices. Regulatory filings and leaked code have already revealed glimpses of some of these accessories, which are expected to offer tighter integration and simpler setup within the Apple ecosystem.
MacBook Pro OLED and touch features
A high‑end MacBook with a touchscreen OLED display is rumored for the later October wave, with at least one report saying these machines will be “significantly lighter” than current MacBook Pro models, though not much thinner. Evidence of forthcoming touch capabilities has appeared in the macOS 27.2 beta, which adds a new animation when long‑pressing Dock icons and code for new touch‑specific gestures.
Three years of 80% charge limits: one user’s results
Since 2023 Apple has offered an optional 80 percent charge limit to help extend battery lifespan. Managing editor Juli Clover has used the setting across successive devices—from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and most recently the iPhone 17 Pro Max. After 12 months with the 80 percent maximum charge on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the device reports 97 percent maximum battery capacity with a cycle count of 277.
iPhone 18 Pro Max cellular issue for AT&T users
Since the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro family last month, a number of U.S. customers using the iPhone 18 Pro Max on AT&T have experienced loss of cellular service with no available fix. AT&T sent texts to affected users urging an “immediate” update to iOS 27.0.1, released by Apple on September 28; that update does not restore service for already affected devices but may help prevent the issue on devices that have not yet been impacted. Apple and AT&T have not disclosed what caused the problem, but affected devices reportedly must be replaced. Notably, iPhone 18 Pro Max models sold in the United States remain the only models in the iPhone 18 Pro family to use a Qualcomm cellular modem rather than Apple’s C2 modem, though it is unclear whether that is related.
Full Disk Access changes prompted by AI agents
Apple said it will add “additional controls” to the Full Disk Access setting on macOS in response to new risks posed by always‑on AI agents. Apple explained that “Some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could put users at risk, exposing everything on their systems—including files, mail, messages, and even browsing history—without users’ full knowledge and understanding.” The company added: “As AI agents become increasingly capable and autonomous, the risks associated with this level of access will grow substantially.”
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