Apple has a busy October ahead, with six dates tied to iPhone Duo availability, a new smart home product event and additional hardware announcements. The company will begin taking pre-orders later this month, launch the iPhone Duo in stages and reportedly introduce more products before October ends.

Apple's October 2026 calendar

  • October 12: Customers can prepare for iPhone Duo pre-orders.
  • October 13: Apple will hold a “Welcome home” experience focused on an all-new smart home hub, a new HomePod mini and a new Apple TV 4K.
  • October 16: iPhone Duo pre-orders will open at 5 a.m. Pacific Time.
  • October 23: The iPhone Duo will launch.
  • October 27: Apple is reportedly planning another product announcement, although the date has not been officially confirmed.
  • October 30: The iPhone Duo will launch in 28 additional countries and regions.

What Apple may announce on October 27

The reported October 27 event could bring several new devices. The products expected to appear include redesigned MacBook Pro models with OLED touchscreens, an iPad mini with an OLED display, a 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by an M6 chip and an iMac with an M6 chip.

Apple has not officially announced this additional product debut, so the timing and product lineup remain unconfirmed. Readers considering a Mac or iPad purchase may want to wait for more information before making a decision.

iPhone Duo software and availability

Apple said the iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1. The company is also expected to release iOS 27.2 to the public at some point in October, although a specific release date was not provided.

The October 23 launch will cover the initial release, while the October 30 date expands availability to 28 more countries and regions. The staggered rollout gives buyers in those additional markets a later release date to track.

Mac Studio upgrade still lacks a date

Apple also plans to release a Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM in “late October.” Unlike the other dates on the calendar, Apple has not provided a specific day for that release.

That means October could bring several separate hardware announcements and launches, but not every planned product has a confirmed schedule. Apple’s October 13 event and the iPhone Duo launch dates are the clearest milestones, while the October 27 announcements and Mac Studio release remain subject to confirmation.