What to Expect at Apple's October 22 iPad Event

New iPads, more Mavericks info, new Mac Pro prices, and more.

Just a little more than a month after announcing the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, Apple is set to make even more formal announcements on October 22. And this go around, rumor has it Apple may focus on new additions to its iPad lineup, the Mac Pro, and OS X Mavericks. But like any big press conference, there's always the chance of a few surprises. Here's some things to expect--or not expect--when Apple takes the stage.

The Next Big iPad

While there's no official word on what Apple plans to show off on Tuesday, the big money is on new iPads. Historically, Cupertino has used its late fall press conference to expand its tablet offerings, much like the October 2012 announcement of the iPad mini. The 9.7-inch iPad should get an update tomorrow, including a thinner bezel, a potential camera upgrade, and maybe a faster processor in the form of a 64-bit A7X chip. There's also a small chance the new iPad could sport a fingerprint sensor, like the iPhone 5S.

A Crisper iPad Mini

But the real star of the iPad show could be the long-rumored iPad mini 2. While the smaller tablet may not receive all the bells and whistles of the larger iPad--including a current-gen A6 processor--the real focus is on finally upping the device's resolution to Retina Display status. Competitors like the Kindle Fire HDX and Nexus 7 are currently beating Apple in the small tablet display department, so it seems like a logical step. But keep in mind there's still lingering doubts in regards to production supply.

Mac Pro Pricing and Release Date

Apple revealed--finally!--a complete redesign of its workhorse desktops back in June. And while we know the new Mac Pro is an incredibly powerful machine sort of resembling an Ikea trash can, Apple has yet to set a release date or talk pricing. We're not exactly sure when the Mac Pro might be available (Apple said this year, and it's already October), but given the $2,500 starting price tag of current models, it's not going to be cheap.

Mac OS X Mavericks Details

Tuesday's event will most likely solidify Apple's plans for the latest update to its Mac operating system. While early reports claimed Mavericks could find its way to Macs alongside iOS 7--that never happened--there's mounting evidence OS X 10.9 could launch within the next week. Historically, prices on OS X updates have remained relatively affordable, and there's a good chance Mavericks will come in at around 20 to 30 bucks. The update includes new features like enhanced Notifications, Finder tabs, and document tagging.

More (and Less) MacBook Pro

Apple updated the MacBook Air line in June, adding impressive battery life and Haswell processors. On Tuesday, the MacBook Pro could receive the same treatment, with similar improvements to internal components. But a bigger lingering question surrounds the status of the non-Retina Display MacBook Pro--will Apple slim the line down to one model? While offering two versions of the MacBook Pro gives consumers more flexibility, only selling a Retina version would take some production load off Apple suppliers.

Something About Covers...and Colors

The event invites for Apple's October 22 event feature the tagline, "We still have a lot to cover." While it's entirely possible Apple is literally expressing a willingness to show us more stuff, the invitations may also be a clue to something surprising. Cupertino made a huge emphasis on color during the announcement of the iPhone 5C, and so it stands to reason the design switch could extend to other Apple products. An iPad mini with a colorful, plastic case? Or maybe just a slew of bright hues for iPad Smart Covers? Or, you know, it's just an invite and we're reading way too much into this.

What Not to Expect

Image Source: Adweek

Tuesday may hold a surprise or two, but don't expect things to get too crazy. Yes, we all want Apple to announce a Galaxy Gear competitor in the form of an iWatch, but it's pretty unlikely. And even though it hardly requires the effort to state it once more: Apple is probably not releasing its very own HDTV. If it makes you feel any better, maybe Tim Cook will have an awesome musical guest. Maybe.
Ready to see how things pan out on October 22? Of course you are. And the best way to get all the latest up-to-the-minute Apple news is right here at IGN, thanks to our handy live blog of the event. Be sure to tune it at 10am PT / 1pm ET to get all the announcements as they happen.