Unlike the professional Apple pundits, like the team at Connected — (who are in the midst of their annual fundraiser for Saint Jude's /), there is no cost or benefit associated with any predictions I make about Apple products. And, as I've admitted in the past, there's as much wishing things into existence when I do this as there is true analysis.

That said, I have some thoughts about October.

I've written before about my belief about what I think (read: want) from, the next iPad Mini. I think the recent iPhone announcement has hinted that what I want is about to arrive.

I think the A18 and A18 Pro chips that went into the latest iteration of the iPhones will make their way into the base iPad and iPad Mini so that the entire iPad line will be able to use Apple Intelligence. I am also willing to bet that the "mighty" iPad Mini will get the Pro version of the chip.

That doesn't guarantee that the Mini will get external monitor support but I suspect that is coming, too.

The move to the Apple Pencil Pro (with the required shift in camera placement) also makes sense if Apple wants to fully shift to a two Pencil future ( Pencil — currently called USB-C — and Pro).

I wouldn't be surprised if the event's name is “Mighty”, given the rumors of a redesigned Mac Mini. If the HomePod Mini is given some stage time with an Apple Intelligence upgrade to highlight how Siri and Home are moving into the future, it would produce a neat narrative while showing off the prowess of Apple's engineers and what kind of technology they can fit into a small space.

And it I'm wrong? Odds are you'll have forgotten I wrote this by then.