If you don’t observe Apple rumors as meticulously as we do right here at Macworld, you may be slightly confused this week. While we have been all planning to observe an Apple occasion subsequent week, that each one got here crashing down when a flurry of new rumors (that contradicted the outdated rumors) left us all scratching our heads. If you’re confused, allow us to break all of it down for you.
Will there be a spring occasion?
It was beforehand rumored that Apple can be holding an occasion in late March, with March 23 pinpointed by individuals who have been supposedly in the know. That no longer seems to be the case. For one, Apple hasn’t despatched out invites for a March occasion but, which it almost definitely would have carried out by now, even for a digital occasion. Plus, Jon Prosser, who had beforehand sworn by the March 23 date, backtracked yesterday and stated the occasion will truly be held in April.
We don’t even have any indication that Apple will likely be holding a spring occasion in any respect, so we wouldn’t essentially guess on an April occasion both. Prosser is the solely leaker thus far to vow an April occasion, so till we get some affirmation from Mark Gurman or another dependable supply of rumors, we’re going to stay skeptical.
What is releasing this spring?
Originally, we thought Apple’s spring occasion would carry three new merchandise: the fifth-gen iPad Pro, third-gen AirPods, and the launch of Apple’s long-rumored AirTags. But now we’re not so positive. Here’s what’s we count on from a spring occasion or product launch.
Fifth-gen iPad Pro
Apple/IDG
The iPad Pro is seemingly nonetheless on observe for a spring launch. Apple’s flagship pill is all however sure to achieve 5G networking and an A14 chip like the iPhone 13, which might place it firmly at the prime of the pill meals chain. A report in Bloomberg additionally claims the iPad Pro may be getting a Thunderbolt connector, an improve over the present USB-C port. While the connector is the identical, the new port would carry sooner knowledge transfers and higher-resolution show help.
Bloomberg additionally says the bigger 12.9-inch mannequin may additionally be getting a mini LED show “which would be brighter and have improved contrast ratios.” We’ve heard rumors of a mini-LED iPad for some time, with Ming-Chi Kuo beforehand reporting that manufacturing would start in April.
AirTags
IDG
AirTags have been rumored for years, and there hasn’t been a latest Apple occasion that didn’t embody a rumor about its launch. Speculation is that they’d be round Bluetooth trackers that may connect to non-Apple units like backpacks and keys. Similar to Tile trackers, AirTags will presumably have a leg up on its opponents by tapping into the U1 extremely wideband chip in the iPhone 11 and 12, Apple Watch Series 6 to allow exact location monitoring. AirTags may even reportedly faucet into the bigger iPhone community to assist discover misplaced objects which are out of Bluetooth vary. When somebody utilizing an iPhone passes by your misplaced keys, for instance, it could ship nameless location knowledge to your telephone so you’ll be able to observe them down in the Find My app.
What about AirPods?
Roman Loyola/IDG
Despite a torrent of leaks together with purported product pictures, a rumor earlier this week by oft-accurate Ming-Chi Kuo stated AirPods production had been pushed back to the third quarter of 2021, seemingly signifying a fall launch alongside the iPhone 13. When they do launch, the new AirPods are anticipated to have shorter stems like the AirPods Pro, however reportedly gained’t carry high-end options like noise-cancelation.
The rumor mill calls these “AirPods 3,” however there was by no means truly an “AirPods 2.” There was a modest replace to the authentic AirPods, which have been nonetheless simply known as AirPods. It’s unclear whether or not these new fashions will get an up to date title or not.
What’s coming later in the yr?
Beyond April, rumors are very sketchy, however right here’s what we count on in 2021:
iPhone 13 or 12s: We don’t know what will probably be known as, however you’ll be able to guess any quantity of cash on a new iPhone lunching in the fall. They’re prone to preserve the identical design however might have a smaller notch and in-display Touch ID.
Apple Watch Series 7: Like the iPhone, Apple launches a brand new watch every year like clockwork. We haven’t heard any particulars a couple of doable new mannequin, nevertheless.
iPad and iPad mini: Bloomberg reports that Apple is engaged on a Ninth-gen iPad with a thinner and lighter design, in addition to a brand new iPad mini with a bigger display. Apple hasn’t modified the mini’s 7.9-inch display because it launched in 2012.
MacBook Pro: The Apple silicon transition is anticipated to ramp up this yr, with rumored 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models on the manner. They might carry some large adjustments to the line, together with an HDMI port, SD card reader, and MagSafe charging, in addition to the doable removing of the TouchBar. Additionally, they could get mini-LED shows which are brighter and thinner. New fashions are prone to arrive in the second half of the yr.
iMac: The iMac is additionally rumored to get a major Apple silicon-based redesign that trims the bezels, removes the chin, and provides extra ports. They might arrive as early as WWDC in June or July.
Michael Simon has been masking Apple since the iPod was the iWalk. His obsession with know-how goes again to his first PC—the IBM Thinkpad with the lift-up keyboard for swapping out the drive. He’s nonetheless ready for that to come back again in type tbh.