Apple has sent out press invites for its next major event, teased on the visually moody invite graphic with the words “hello again” – which hints that we can expect a strong focus on new Macs.
Apple Mac invites are out! Next Thursday will be my MacBook Air’s last day trip to Cupertino FOREVER! pic.twitter.com/w0T5YxswMC
— Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) October 19, 2016
The word “hello” was, as dramatized in last year’s movie Steve Jobs, used to introduce the first Macintosh computer in 1984. Indeed, rumor strongly suggests that this new event will be headlined by a significantly revamped and redesigned MacBook Pro in 13- and 15-inch varieties.
Features predicted for the new MacBook Pro include a thinner enclosure, physical keys utilizing the same butterfly mechanism as the 12-inch MacBook, a Touch ID sensor possibly for unlocking the machine and paying with Apple Pay, and a dynamic touchscreen bar above the main keyboard.
We can also expect a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Air, with Apple possibly completely dropping the 11-inch Air from its Mac lineup. In August, Bloomberg reported that Apple was also working on new iMacs and a 5K standalone Mac monitor, but it is less clear whether they will be announced this month.
Apple’s “hello again” event will be held at the company’s Cupertino campus from 10am Pacific Time. The event will also be live streamed on Apple’s website.