Updated 03/30/21: Apple has introduced that WWDC will be held from June 7-11 this 12 months.
Apple doesn’t usually take part in large industry-wide occasions like CES or E3. The most respected firm on this planet holds its personal occasions, thanks very a lot. Several occasions a 12 months, Apple invitations the press and {industry} professionals out to a theater to hear all about its newest services and products. Apple calls these “Special Events,” and streams them online to its thousands and thousands of followers.
There’s additionally WWDC, Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, a multi-day event in the midst of the 12 months centered on classes for builders, serving to them take advantage of out of the most recent Apple instruments and merchandise. It kicks off with a giant keynote that serves to announce new merchandise (sometimes the most recent variations of iOS and macOS, in addition to a number of {hardware} merchandise).
Here’s a listing of the occasions we count on Apple to maintain within the the rest of 2021, and what we count on the corporate to announce at each. We’ll replace this record all year long as we get a clearer image of when Apple will take the stage and what it’ll announce.
April or bust?
March is a little bit of a wild card. Apple doesn’t maintain an event in that month yearly, however as its portfolio of services and products expands, it’s more and more possible. Well-known Chinese leaker @DuanRui on Twitter says he’s been listening to about an event on March 23, and fellow leaker Jon Prosser concurred (although he now says it’ll be in April).
In 2019, the corporate centered on its new services: Apple TV+, Apple News+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Card. In 2020, Apple didn’t maintain an event as COVID-19 surged, however as an alternative did a direct-to-web launch of the refreshed MacBook Air and iPad Pro.
If Apple holds an event this April, it may deal with any variety of merchandise. There are rumors of a brand new design for the usual low-cost iPad, which actually wants one. The iPad Pro wants a refresh with one thing akin to an A14X processor. There are rumors of an iPad mini replace. We’re nonetheless ready on AirTags, and the iOS 14.5 beta’s new “Items” tab in Find My is a robust indicator that we’ll see their launch. We’ve heard rumors of recent model of the MacEbook Pro and that iMac, each sporting new designs and Apple silicon. And lastly, Apple seems to be perpetually engaged on a brand new replace of each the usual AirPods and the AirPods Pro, although multiple sources now claim that the subsequent AirPods gained’t seem till later within the 12 months.
Any of those may come throughout an April event, however actually not all of them. An event in March is probably going to be digital like lots of the 2020 occasions, thanks to the frequently surging coronavirus pandemic.
Noted leaker Jon Prosser now claims that the event will be in April. Note that he was beforehand so certain a few March event that he agreed to shave his eyebrows if it’s not.
WWDC 2021
Apple has introduced that WWDC 21 will be held from June 7-11. It will as soon as once more be held in an “all-digital” format and can be free to all builders. The keynote will possible be held at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 7.
WWDC all the time focuses totally on the brand new model of Apple’s working methods: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. As a developer-focused event, detailing the upcoming modifications and new options for these is essential to permitting builders time to get their software program prepared for a fall launch.
Apple usually showcases new {hardware} as nicely, particularly new Macs (which builders are all the time eager on). In 2019, WWDC launched the brand new Mac Pro and ProDisplay XDR. In 2020 there have been no new particular merchandise introduced, however Apple did detail its Apple silicon transition.
It appears possible that we’ll hear about new Mac merchandise utilizing Apple silicon at this event, moderately than at a spring unveiling. That may embrace a redesigned MacBook Pro with thinner bezels and flat edges, and an entire new design for the iMac that takes design cues from the ProShow XDR.
iPhones and Apple Watch (September)
Apple nearly all the time unveils the brand new iPhones and Apple Watch (or Watches—Apple released two in 2020) throughout an event across the second week of September. These are large merchandise, and the event hardly ever leaves room for anything.
In 2020, thanks to the pandemic, this event was digital and a few month later than ordinary. It’s unclear but whether or not this 12 months will be related.
We have a summary of the latest iPhone 13 rumors, which you need to all the time take with a grain of salt.
October shock
Apple generally hosts an event in October to spherical out the 12 months with a number of last-minute product releases. These are sometimes new iPads or Macs, however there’s no purpose Apple couldn’t announce one thing like AR glasses at its personal event later within the 12 months.
In 2020, the “October” event was digital and delayed a month, simply because the “September” event was. It launched the great M1-based Macs. It’s too early to know whether or not Apple could have an event in October this 12 months, and if that’s the case, whether or not it’ll be dwell or digital.
Developer-only occasions
Throughout the 12 months, Apple holds on-line digital developer occasions meant to assist builders make one of the best use of Apple’s merchandise, software program, and ecosystem. Examples from early within the 12 months embrace “Building Great Widget Experiences,” “Bring Your iPad App to Mac,” and “Building Great App Clip Experiences.”
Apple doesn’t announce merchandise ({hardware} nor software program) at these occasions, and there’s no want to deal with them for those who’re not a registered Apple developer producing software program for Apple merchandise. It’s all the time fascinating to see what areas Apple feels it wants to bolster, nevertheless. In this case, it appears the corporate doesn’t see as a lot use of Widgets, App Clips, and Catalyst as it will like.
Awards and honors
Apple has given out app awards for years, however 2019 was the primary time there was an precise ceremony for such. The Best of 2019 app awards had been held at small event in New York, with principally the nominated builders and a few press in attendance. It was not streamed on-line.
Also for the primary time in 2019, Apple held an awards ceremony for Apple Music. There was a live-streamed efficiency by Artist of the Year Billie Elish as a part of it, the event as an entire was stored principally to the music {industry}.
In 2020, these occasions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Awards had been nonetheless given, however there was no event. This 12 months, Apple will definitely honor app builders and musicians with awards, nevertheless it’s too early to know if there’ll be an event round it or not.
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