Launch Radar: 22 October – 4 November 2026
Launch Radar is our weekly scan of new Australia product launches with confirmed local dates over the next fortnight. Every date and price below comes from the brand’s Australian store, an Australian retailer, or the brand’s own Australian announcement — if a product only has a rumour or an overseas date, it doesn’t make the cut. This edition covers Thursday 22 October to Wednesday 4 November 2026. One honest note up front: it’s a tech, gaming and smart-home fortnight — no major appliance launches with confirmed Australian dates landed in this window.
Week 1: Thursday 22 – Wednesday 28 October
Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+
Launches Thursday 22 October. Samsung Australia lists the Tab S12+ from $1,999 and the Tab S12 Ultra from $2,299.
Samsung’s new flagship tablets pair 12.6-inch and 14.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED screens with an S Pen in the box and Adobe Photoshop preloaded — a first for an Android tablet. The Ultra is Samsung’s thinnest tablet yet at 5.1mm, and both models promise seven years of OS and security updates. The catch: both start $200 higher than the models they replace, so the value question is real. Our full launch profile and verdict will follow once we’ve checked street prices against the RRP.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
Launches Thursday 22 October. RRP $99.95 at the My Nintendo Store — but already listed from $79 at Target and Big W, and $84 at JB Hi-Fi.
Nintendo’s party-sports series returns to Wuhu Island with 12 motion-controlled sports, built exclusively for Switch 2 and using the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls in several events. There’s also a Switch 2 console bundle with the game included, listed at $814 at JB Hi-Fi. Why it matters: this is Nintendo’s big family title for the holiday season, and the day-one street discounting — $20 under RRP before launch day — shows exactly why we check prices instead of quoting RRP.
Apple iPhone Duo
Launches Friday 23 October. From $3,499 at Apple Australia.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone pairs a 5.4-inch cover screen with a 7.6-inch display when opened, and it’s the biggest Australian phone launch of the season. Go in with eyes open on supply: Apple’s own delivery estimates have already slipped to January 2027 for some configurations, and JB Hi-Fi is advertising availability from 6 November — so 23 October stock will be thin. We’ve already published our full assessment: iPhone Duo Australia: Is Apple’s Foldable Worth It?
Week 2: Thursday 29 October – Wednesday 4 November
Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Mega Dimension bundle
Launches Thursday 29 October. Australian price TBA — Nintendo has only published a US$99.99 price so far, and we don’t convert currencies and call it a price.
This physical bundle puts the base game and its Mega Dimension expansion on a single cartridge — a real game card, not a game-key card — with a code for 100 Ultra Balls in the box. It’s the complete edition for anyone who skipped last year’s launch. We’ll update this entry the moment Nintendo Australia or a local retailer publishes the local price.
Apple HomePod mini 2
Launches Friday 30 October. $229 to pre-order now at Apple Australia.
The first update to Apple’s small speaker since 2020 adds the S10 chip, five colours (pink, green, blue, white and midnight), new Sound Glow lighting that reacts to music, and full home-hub duties. One caveat worth knowing before you order: the headline Siri AI features are not in the box on day one — Apple says they arrive later as a free software update. The hardware is what you’re buying on 30 October.
LEGO Architecture Sagrada Família (21065)
Launches Sunday 1 November. $1,299.99 at LEGO.com Australia, with pre-orders open now.
At 12,060 pieces, this is the largest LEGO set ever released by piece count — a model of Gaudí’s Barcelona basilica whose build follows the real building’s construction sequence. Also landing on 1 November: the LEGO Icons Venetian Neighbourhood (11388) at $799.99 with Insiders early access (general sale follows on 4 November), and the much smaller Botanicals Cozy Plants (10371) at $29.99. Collectors should note the Sagrada Família is a LEGO.com and LEGO Store exclusive at launch.
How we verify — and what didn’t make the cut
Several rumoured products were left out of this edition on purpose: unannounced camera and drone gear from DJI and Insta360, Samsung’s Galaxy Glasses, and Apple’s reported late-October Mac announcements all lack a confirmed Australian launch date from the brand or a local retailer. When they get one, they’ll be in the Radar. Launch dates can and do move — we re-check every entry before each weekly edition, and if a date here turns out wrong, we’ll correct it and say so. Spotted a confirmed Australian launch we’ve missed? Community members can suggest it through our launch submission page, and every suggestion is checked by a human before it appears.