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Upcoming Apple Products Guide: Everything We Expect to See in 2021 and Beyond

The MacRumors guide to upcoming products is designed to provide an overview of everything that we’re expecting to see from Apple, both in the near and more distant future. Dates listed are not always concrete, but are based on the most recent rumors and information that we have.

We’re updating the guide on a regular basis, so it will be the go-to place to see every Apple product that’s on the horizon at a glance. For more detail on the rumors we’ve heard about each upcoming item, make sure to click on the links to visit our roundups.

First Half of 2021

Apple held an event in April 2021 and introduced AirTags, new iMac models, an updated Apple TV 4K, and refreshed versions of the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Apple held the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, debuting iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, tvOS 15, and macOS 12 Monterey. Details on everything new in these software updates can be found in our dedicated roundups.

No new hardware was introduced at WWDC, with Apple instead focusing on the new software updates that were released in the fall.

September 14 «California Streaming» Event

Apple held its annual iPhone-centric event on Tuesday, September 14. At the «California Streaming» event, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max, all of which launched on September 24.

Apple also introduced the iPad mini 6 and the ninth-generation iPad, also with a September 24 release date.

The Apple Watch Series 7 was introduced at the September event, but due to supply constraints caused by manufacturing issues, it didn’t launch until mid-October.

October 18 «Unleashed» Event

Apple held a second fall event with the tagline «Unleashed» on Monday, October 18, which focused on new high-end MacBook Pro models and third-generation AirPods, as well as some new colors for the HomePod mini. Apple also introduced a lower-cost «Voice Plan» for Apple Music.

Products Coming in 2022

• Mac mini — Apple is developing a high-end version of the Mac mini, which will feature additional ports and a more powerful Apple silicon chip. It will include an improved version of the M1 chip with a 10-core CPU that has eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, plus 16-core or 32-core GPU options. The Apple silicon chip will support up to 64GB RAM and four Thunderbolt ports. It’s supposed to use the same chip that the MacBook Pro will use, but it was not announced at Apple’s October event and so a 2022 debut appears likely.
• MacBook Air — Apple is developing a thinner and lighter version of the MacBook Air that will have thinner bezels than the current model. The bezels and the keyboard will be an off-white color, and the chassis will not have a wedge shape. The machine will feature a mini-LED display, MagSafe charging technology and USB-C ports for connecting external devices, but it won’t have an HDMI port or an SD card slot. It will include an faster version of the M1 chip with the same number of computing cores as the M1 (eight). The new Apple silicon chip will support better graphics with nine or 10 GPU cores instead of the seven or eight in the current M1 MacBook Air. The MacBook Air could see a launch in mid-2022.
• AirPods Pro — Apple is working on a new version of the AirPods Pro with a more compact design and a new wireless chip. The design is said to eliminate the short stem that sticks out from the bottom, resulting in a more rounded shape closer in design to competing wire-free earbuds from Google and Samsung.
• iPhone SE — Apple is rumored to be developing a new version of the iPhone SE with 5G and an upgraded processor, with a release expected in the first half of 2022.

Products With Unknown Release Dates

• Mac Pro — Apple is working on two versions of the Mac Pro, both of which feature a redesigned chassis that’s smaller in size. The new Mac Pro models will feature high-end Apple silicon chip options with 20 or 40 computing cores, made up of 6 high-performance or 32 high-performance cores and four or eight high-efficiency cores. These upgraded chips are also expected to include 64 or 128 core GPUs.
• Larger iMac — Apple is still developing a larger version of the iMac with more powerful Apple silicon chips, but paused work on the larger version to launch the 24-inch iMac model. There is no word on when the larger variant of the iMac might launch, but it is expected to include much more powerful Apple silicon chips.

Further in the Future

• AR/VR Headset — Apple is working on augmented/virtual reality headset that could come at some in 2022 or 2023. The headset is said to feature a dedicated display, built-in processor, and an «rOS» or reality operating system. Input will be via touch panels, voice activation, and head gestures, and it’s said to have a high price point at around $2,000. Current rumors suggest a launch at the end of 2022.
• Foldable iPhone — Apple is allegedly working on a foldable iPhone that might be between 7.5 and 8 inches, with a launch date slated for 2023 at the earliest.
• Apple Car — There have been a lot of twists and turns in the saga of Apple’s electric car development, but reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple is still planning on a full autonomous vehicle rather than just an autonomous car software offering, with a launch to happen between 2023 and 2025.

2021 Product Refreshes and Announcements

We have a list of all the products that Apple has released so far in 2021.

2020 Product Refreshes and Announcements

This list of all of the products that Apple introduced in 2020 is useful for predicting some of the dates when we might see 2021 devices.

Guide Feedback

Know of an upcoming product that we’ve missed on this list or see an error that needs to be fixed? Send us an email here.

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Tim Cook Reveals Apple’s 10-Year Plan For Future Tech

The company’s vision for the future is already being etched into its products. Just look closely; it’s right in front of you.

Vision of the Future

Apple revealed its 10-year plan for the future this week.

If you don’t remember that slide from the hours of presentations Apple executives made onstage during the company’s developer conference on Monday, you’re not alone.

Apple didn’t explicitly call it a 10-year plan. And the company was very subtle about how it showed this road map.

But look closely, and it’s easy to see.

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Instead of introducing flashy new products that will change your life today, this year’s WWDC conference was all about putting the pieces in place for what comes next.

It’s a Trojan-horse strategy — sneak the seeds for the next breed of technology products into the stuff that we’re already using.

A new augmented reality platform, virtual reality development tools, the HomePod speaker, and improvements to iOS 11 on the iPad may not feel revolutionary or even particularly useful right now, but they are the building blocks for the technologies Apple is betting will power our future.

Let’s break it down:

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Augmented Reality

Ask most tech companies which product will replace the smartphone and the answer will probably revolve around a wearable device for “augmented reality,” the tech that overlays digital images on the real world.

Microsoft has the HoloLens headset. Google has Project Tango for Android devices and, one day, headgear like Google Glass. Facebook announced its AR ambitions a few months ago, and Mark Zuckerberg even said AR glasses would replace the need for most screens in your life one day.

Apple’s approach is different.

There weren’t any AR goggle demos or TED-talk-esque prophecies about how a pair of glasses will soon be the only computer you need. Instead, Apple is starting with something already very familiar: the iPhone and a new way for developers to build AR apps for the phone. When iOS 11 becomes available on tens of millions of Apple devices this fall, Apple will immediately have the largest AR platform. Even better, it’ll be on the devices that people already use — not futuristic glasses or headsets. Apple will get a major advantage over its AR competitors with one simple software update.

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That won’t be a game changer right away of course, and it certainly won’t deliver the kind of jaw-dropping experience being developed by companies like Magic Leap. AR-enabled iPhones will mostly mean some cool games and entertainment apps at first. Pikachu will look more realistic in “Pokémon Go.” You’ll be able to build virtual Lego models on your coffee table. The rainbow puke in your Snapchat selfies will look even better.

But AR on the iPhone sets Apple up for the long run by building a base of developers already dedicated to the platform who want to make stuff for the largest number of users they can. If and when Apple decides to take AR to the next level with a pair of smart glasses or something else, it’ll be in a better position than companies trying to win over developers.

Virtual Reality

Apple has been hesitant to get involved with virtual reality, even as the rest of the tech industry seemed to be hyperventilating over its prospects. But now the time feels right for Apple, and it’s offering a new set of tools in the coming macOS Sierra software that it says will let developers connect VR headsets and create 3D and VR content.

This isn’t about attracting gamers and VR enthusiasts to the Mac. This is about making sure Apple’s most dedicated class of users has the tools it needs to create the content of the future. Apple has historically been the platform of choice for digital artists, filmmakers, and other professionals, and adding VR development tools will make sure those users have what they need and don’t abandon Apple.

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HomePod and Ambient Computing

HomePod, the new Amazon Echo competitor, is Apple’s biggest new Trojan horse of all.

Even though Apple focused on HomePod’s music capabilities and pitched it as a new kind of home stereo, it undersold the rest of the real potential. HomePod is also Apple putting Siri in your home in a new way and making a long-term play for the concept of ambient computing, in which everything you own is connected and powered by an underlying artificial intelligence.

HomePod is a way to put Siri everywhere else when you’re not looking at your iPhone, typing on your Mac, listening to your AirPods, or tracking your workout on your Apple Watch. HomePod is Apple creeping into the rest of your life under the guise of a really nice Wi-Fi stereo. Apple may be focusing on music now with HomePod, but it’s also sneaking in a lot of Amazon Echo-like features like controlling your connected appliances and getting updates from Siri.

That said, it’s pretty clear why Apple would want to bury the AI features of HomePod. Pitching it as a digital assistant instead of a music player will only open up Apple to more criticism about how it is falling behind in AI compared with Google and Amazon. Apple’s Siri is still much less capable as a virtual assistant than the offerings from Amazon and Google, and Apple has a lot more work to do to catch up. But there’s no question that AI is a big area of investment for Apple, and HomePod will play an important role in this strategy as Apple makes progress.

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iOS 11 on iPad

The biggest news with iOS 11 wasn’t on the iPhone. It was on the iPad.

Apple has finally started making improvements to the software that help turn the iPad into the laptop replacement the company has been promising for years. There’s a new file-storage system, an app dock similar to the one on Mac, the ability to drag and drop content in between apps, and apps that float in separate windows. The iPad is starting to feel less like a giant iPhone and more like a touch-screen Mac.

There’s still a lot of work to do. The iPad Pro’s keyboard isn’t as good as the one on a normal laptop, and it’s now up to developers to build compelling apps that take advantage of all the new iOS 11 features and give people a better reason to ditch their laptop for an iPad. The new 10.5-inch iPad is a small move in the right direction because its larger size allows for a full-size keyboard, but it’s still not enough.

But Apple is inching closer toward its ultimate goal of creating a super thin and portable laptop replacement, and iOS 11 feels like a huge milestone.

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What’s Next

A lot of this stuff may not work out. We’re in a period of relatively flat innovation across most of the tech industry, where new gizmos improve only incrementally each year. It’s impossible to tell which wild idea will actually end up taking off and which will fizzle. (Two years ago everyone thought smartwatches were going to revolutionize the tech industry, after all. Now that’s barely part of the conversation.)

In some sense, Apple’s latest batch of WWDC announcements feels underwhelming, as if Apple is dabbling in various areas rather than making a bold move in any one direction. But the company’s vision for the future is already being etched into its products. Just look closely; it’s right in front of you.

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A podcast from Microsoft and Gimlet Creative about making the future happen.

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Episodes

Episode 6: Work in the Future

In the final episode of this season of .future, we explore how our jobs continue to evolve in the modern workplace. Many of us still spend 40 plus hours in a physical office, but the internet and new digital communication tools are changing how we collaborate and communicate.

This story brings you voices that explore work philosophies of the past, job practices of the present, and the digital office spaces of the future.

Episode 5: Design for All

Inclusive design is a widely-used concept in the design world. The idea is that when you create products, you actively choose to design that product for everyone.

This is particularly important for technology companies like Microsoft. As more and more of our lives become digital, we rely on tech for our livelihoods, our social lives, keeping in touch with our families… everything.

But unlike in the physical world, where buildings with stairs instead of elevators might pre-date our current understanding of inclusivity, new technology has no excuse. And that’s the choice we’re talking about today. The choice to widen your world, and design from a perspective that allows everyone to participate.

Episode 4: Minecraft: Beyond Just Building

With over 122 million copies sold, Minecraft is one of the most popular computer games of all time. Minecraft’s game play is designed to be completely open-ended. Now, people are using the game itself as a tool to change the world around them.

This episode brings you stories of how people around the world have used Minecraft to reinvent themselves, help others heal, say goodbye to a loved one, and empower their communities.

Episode 3: Gaming the System

Last year, the gaming industry made roughly $90 billion in sales worldwide. That’s more than double what movies made at the box office last year.

And here’s why that comparison to Hollywood is relevant. Because, like with films, the most popular video games are HUGE. They have great graphics, popular characters and the franchises keep getting repeated over and over again. Unfortunately, blockbuster games and movies can be as thin on diversity as they are on plot.

In this episode, we’re talking about the ‘Moonlights’ and ‘Napoleon Dynamites’ – the indie games that are breaking out, changing paradigms and making a case for independence in gaming.

Episode 2: My Data, My Health, My Self

We’re constantly collecting data about our health with brand new tools and methods. But how does this new data affect us individually and globally?

From a mindful cyborg to the creator of a smart tampon, we meet those who are collecting and analyzing health data with brand new technology. This episode explores how data may be the key in solving health problems all around the world.

Episode 1: Securing a Digital Battlefield

In this episode, we examine a new battlefield: The cloud. The information we store in the cloud makes it especially vulnerable to attack. So, what it takes to create a safeguard against bad actors? We explore how a digital Geneva Convention could be the solution.

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About .future

The future isn’t random. It’s the result of the choices that we make now. We’ll be talking about technologies and industries that will define the next decade and beyond.

Join our host Cristina Quinn, a science and technology reporter, as she dives into everything from Minecraft to cyber warfare.

You can wait for the future to happen to you or engage with it right now and ahead of the curve on .future– a podcast from Microsoft Story Labs, produced in partnership with Gimlet Creative.

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