Apple iPad Air 2 Unveiling Event Set For Oct. 16, Next iPad Mini Too

Apple is set to announce a release date for its latest tablets, including an expected iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. Re/code reported Friday that Apple’s next event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 16, four days before its fourth-quarter and annual earnings report.

“Given the breadth and spectacle of Apple’s September event, this one will be a more laid-back affair,” Re/code's John Paczkowski said in his report, “without any mysterious white structures and awkward one-song concerts. Apple declined comment.”

The iPad Air 2 is expected alongside a smaller iPad Mini 3, as well as a new iMac. Reports say that Apple will unveil a 27-inch iMac with better-than-4K resolution Retina display. Apple is also expected to bring its Touch ID fingerprint technology to the iPads. The latest iPads are also rumored to be coming in gold, much like the last two iPhones.

Apple is also expected to release the latest version of its desktop operating system, OS X Yosemite, at the October event. Apple first offered a look at Yosemite at its June developers conference, making a beta, or early test version, of the software available to Mac users then. If Yosemite is anything like Apple’s last OS X update, Mavericks, it will be offered for free to owners of compatible Macs.