After weeks of speculation, we know that Apple’s first major product event of 2021 will take place on Tuesday, April 20. (thanks, Siri!) What Apple might have to launch after hosting not one, not two, but three events last fall? Well, a lot actually – but save your iBong jokes, it’s absolutely nothing related to the date itself. Here’s what to expect next week.
iPad Pros – now with mini LEDs
Apple’s rumor mill has been buzzing about new iPads for weeks, and it almost goes without saying that we’ll see a new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad ProApple is also never too shy with event names. The “Spring Loaded ”in the event name could very well be a reference to the Apple Pencil.
Bloomberg last month reported that the new iPads would likely have improved cameras and a new processor similar to the M1 chip that Apple introduced last fall with its latest MacBooksThe 12.9-inch Pro iIt’s expected to feature a miniLED screen, which could improve brightness and contrast at a lower cost. Both Pro models are also expected to have one Thunderbolt port.
Don’t expect anything too radical, well. Bloomberg’s resident Apple forecast indicator Mark Gurman said in one recent interview that these updates would be ‘iterative’ and nothing badblowing would be on deck. Even if Apple launches these iPad Pros on Tuesday, that may not mean they will be available immediately. There are reports of that miniLED supply chain problems could mean a delayed launch, just as the iPhone 12 lineup came out a little later than usual last year.
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Release the AirTags !!!
AirTags, Apple’s answer to Bluetooth trackers such as Tile and Chipolo, arguably one of the worst kept “secrets” ever. We’ve been hearing about these gadgets since 2019, but there’s good reason to believe it’s finally here.
For starters, Apple has put its U1 ultra-wideband chip into its latest devices, including the iPhones 11 and 12, the HomePod Mini, and the Apple Watch Series 6. The U1 chip is thought to be intended to bolster the Find My platform, so this is yet another proof that Apple has been laying the groundwork for AirTags for some time now. The other half of the equation is that Apple has given a boost in the past two weeks third party support for his Find My network. This is huge because it’s the equivalent of Apple waving a big flag and saying: “Hey Partners! We’ve got big stuff coming soon, So get ready! “If AirTags is a no-show, that roar you hear in the distance is probably the haunted scream of tech journalists around the world.
A long overdue redesign for the iMac
Since Apple last revamped the iMac design in 2012, now is the perfect time to visually differentiate the Apple Silicon iMacs from their Intel predecessors. Another telltale sign is that Apple has also recently shut down multiple iMac configurationsHistorically, Apple’s clearing of inventory means that a new version of the product is imminent.
The word is that the new iMacs will be big, making the display size larger than the 21.5– and 27-inch models we are all used to. It is likely that the redesign shall resemble Apple’s Pro Display XDR monitor, meaning it may have a 32-inch screen, a flat back, thinner bezels, and no more metal chin. Hit-or-miss Apple leaker Jon Prosser has also claimed the new iMacs are coming in a range of colors, just like the iPhone 12 seriesIn any case, even if iMacs don’t show up on Tuesday, you can probably expect them this year.
A slightly new look for AirPods 3
We are ready for some new AirPods – after allhe AirPods 2 came out more than two years ago. Leaked renderings suggest the next generation of AirPods will awaken the AirPods Pro design, with a shorter stem and smaller case that supports wireless charging. They are also thought to support touch control. However, don’t count on active noise cancellation or adaptive EQ. They take inspiration from the AirPods Pro and do not completely replace them.
While the AirPods 3 are expected this year, there’s also a chance we won’t be seeing them on Tuesday. We are in the midst of a global chip shortage that is wreaking havoc on consumer electronics, so this is a launch that could very well be delayed.
Apple knows you hate the Apple TV Remote
The Apple TV is another gadget that needs to be refreshed in the future because It’s been nearly four years since the fifth-generation Apple TV launched in 2017. Apple is too go fast on his original TV + programming line-up, so it makes sense for people to want to watch it on an upgraded streaming box that better supports newer TVs and upcoming sizes. (Cough, 8K, cough cough). Since 2017, Apple also introduced Apple Arcade and Fitness +, two services that may benefit from hardware upgrades for users who want to game or exercise on the largest screen possible. Another sign that a new Apple TV is imminent is the fact that the beta version of tvOS 14.5 contains a referenced code an updated Apple TV remoteWhy release a new remote … without a new Apple TV?
These are compelling reasons why an Apple TV could will appear next week, but you may be dampening your hopes. There is less concrete evidence for that launch than the other products we have listed here. That said, if the Apple TV is a no-go for spring, there’s always WWDC 2021.
We don’t have to wait long to find out what Apple has in store. As always the Gizmodo crew will be live-blogging about the event, so make sure to tune in next time Tuesday at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT.