Apple’s upcoming “Welcome home” event on October 13 is already shaping up to be different from the company’s usual product launches, and there is one detail in the invitation that viewers should not overlook.
Rather than the familiar 10 a.m. Pacific Time start associated with most major Apple keynotes, the company has invited journalists and creators to a special experience in New York beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. That works out to 6 a.m. Pacific Time and 2 p.m. in the UK, four hours earlier than the usual 10 a.m. Pacific Time keynote.
Apple’s invitation describes an in-person experience in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. The company has not confirmed that the gathering will include a traditional keynote or that a public livestream will begin at the same time.
That distinction matters. Apple typically starts its major streamed product events at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, equivalent to 1 p.m. Eastern Time and 6 p.m. in the UK at this time of year. The earlier New York invitation therefore marks a departure from the usual schedule, but it should not yet be treated as a confirmed global broadcast time.
Apple has occasionally broken its own event traditions. Its October 2023 “Scary Fast” presentation, for example, took place in the evening in the United States rather than during the usual morning slot.
This year’s invitation is also notable for its wording. Apple is calling the gathering an “experience,” which leaves open the possibility of hands-on product demonstrations, a prerecorded presentation or announcements made through the company’s website. Apple has not specified the format.
The “Welcome home” theme points toward a new generation of smart home products. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple plans to introduce a display-equipped home hub, an updated HomePod mini and a refreshed Apple TV 4K, although Apple has not confirmed the lineup.
The Apple Post has rounded up what to expect from the October 13 announcements, including the rumored HomePad and updates to Apple’s existing home devices.
The Apple Post app will also be one of the best ways to follow the event, with breaking news, product announcements and all of the biggest developments covered throughout the day as Apple unveils its latest products.
For now, the confirmed time applies to Apple’s New York press experience only. Anyone planning to watch from home should wait for official livestream details before assuming the announcements will begin at 6 a.m. Pacific Time or 2 p.m. in the UK.