What to expect from apple

What to expect from Apple in 2021

The last 12 months haven’t been the year anybody expected, but as we forge ahead into 2021, we’ve all got our collective fingers crossed for a brighter future. This was a year of major moves for the company, some of which set the stage for more big announcements in the year ahead.

Let’s set aside the past for a moment and project ourselves forward. While 2021 still isn’t going to be “normal”—whatever that means now—Apple has proven that it can continue to put out the high-quality, innovative products that we’ve come to expect from it, even amid a global pandemic. What might be coming down the company’s pipeline?

As usual, there’s little more than speculation at this point, but that’s not going to stop me from peering deep into the leaves of my third cup of tea to see what might be in store.

To M2 and beyond!

The move to Apple’s custom silicon started with a bang in 2020, but a significant part of the company’s customers have found themselves waiting for the other shoe to drop. Those first three M1 Macs are impressive, no doubt, but they also represent the lower end of Apple’s lineup.

Rumors of the upcoming Apple silicon Macs have already started to appear, but it seems most likely that we’ll see transitions of the higher end 13-inch MacBook Pro (perhaps bumped up to a 14-inch display?), 16-inch MacBook Pro, and perhaps a low-end iMac sooner rather than later, as they’re the next rungs on the ladder. The last to come will surely be the Mac Pro, which reports have already suggested won’t appear until earlier in 2022, though it’s said to have some truly astounding specs, including up to 32 high-performance cores—four times more than the M1 Macs, not to mention that the each core itself will likely be speedier than what we’ve seen already.

These chips are likely to compensate for the M1’s limitations on the number of ports and amounts of RAM. But between the improvements in the processors and the high-end graphics performance that we’ve also heard may be in the pipeline, they promise to be some impressive machines, that ought to put to bed any suggestion that Apple can’t match Intel toe-to-toe.

At a cellular level

As long as we’re on the topic of Apple-made chips, processors aren’t the only things that the company is looking to bring in house. In 2019, Apple purchased Intel’s

Qualcomm

We could hear more about the end of Qualcomm as Apple’s cellular modem chip provider in 2021

business and the company has reportedly started spooling up its process to design its own custom cellular chips for use in its mobile devices.

While this might not provide quite the same bang-for-the-buck that Apple gets out of designing its own CPUs, graphics chips, and neural engines, it does continue the trend of Apple identifying the key parts of its infrastructure and bringing them under its own control. In recent years, Apple has been reliant on Qualcomm to provide modems for its iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches; a six-year-deal struck between the two companies, also in 2019, covers Apple’s use of Qualcomm’s intellectual property—presumably until such a time as it will be able to supplant all of those chips with its own modems.

That doesn’t mean those chips will necessarily appear in 2021: ramp up on next year’s iPads and iPhones have probably already started, and it will certainly take a while for the company to build, test, and scale production of its own modem hardware. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility that more details might appear in the year ahead.

Computing in the age of COVID

A bit of a wildcard, but I’m curious to see if Apple’s 2021 plans extend to continuing to adapt to the situation the world has found itself in. The company’s executives have lauded its personnel for being able to continue to do great work during the pandemic, but there are plenty of places where the company could continue to make meaningful improvements to people’s lives while we ride out the next six to twelve months.

Just off the top of the head: all Apple users would likely benefit from continued improvements to FaceTime that bring more features in line with competitors like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. (And especially given the former’s spate of problems with privacy and encryption, which would seem to make it ripe for Apple to swoop in.) Not to mention, finally beefing up the front-facing cameras on some of its Macs. And though Fitness+ has just launched, it would be interesting to see if Apple might enhance the service beyond physical wellness to include mental wellness too.

A lot more

There’s a lot more in the cards for next year: The Apple TV seems in need of a refresh, and persistent rumors suggest the company might take another crack at gaming, and perhaps even redesign the remote. The iPad Pro is currently being outclassed by last fall’s iPad Air, and that state of affairs can’t last for long: a new model, possibly with microLED technology and and improved processor, could appear as early as spring. What of the mysterious tracking tags that have never materialized? And, of course, the big question: will Apple roll out an iPhone 13 line? Or will superstition demand it be called something else? (Hey, there was never an iPhone 9.)

One thing is for certain: next year is going to be anything but boring in the world of Apple. We’re looking forward to keeping close tabs on it, and hope you’ll stick around for the ride. Here’s to 2021.

Источник

What to expect from Apple’s online-only WWDC 2021

Sponsored Links

Google I/O is done, and so is Microsoft Build — that means Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is the last high-profile software showcase for at least a month. If you’re one to take Apple at its word, this year’s WWDC is shaping up to be the “biggest and best yet,” which leads us to the obvious question: what does the company plan to show off this year?

Short answer: a lot. We totally get it if you’d rather be surprised, but if you don’t mind spoilers about what we’re expecting to see once WWDC kicks off, we’ve got you covered.

The details

WWDC will begin on June 7th with a keynote at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern, where Tim Cook and the rest of Apple’s execs will walk us through some of the biggest changes going into iOS, iPadOS, macOS and more. These addresses typically last a shade over two hours, so be sure to block out plenty of time. (Oh, and don’t forget to carve out time to watch our reviews editor Cherlynn Low and UK bureau chief Mat Smith dissect the day’s news after the keynote over on our YouTube channel.)

Of course, there’s much more to WWDC — after all, the show runs through June 11th. There’s just one catch: while WWDC is technically free to attend, it’s only open to registered developers who have shelled out the $100/year fee. That means the event’s many sessions, deep dives, and one-on-one developer labs are off-limits to the public. At the time of publication, Apple is still keeping its full list of sessions under wraps, but don’t worry — we’ll keep you abreast of any big developments that turn up after the keynote.

iOS 15

iOS got a pretty substantial revamp at last year’s WWDC — expanded widget support, a new App Library, App Clips and limited support for changing default apps were just a few of the changes found in iOS 14. Reports suggest we might be looking at a quieter year for the iPhone, but we’d still expect it to get the lion’s share of attention.

The juiciest details we’ve seen so far come from Bloomberg, which claims that — among other things — Apple has revamped the way notifications work in iOS 15. You’ll apparently be able to set an iPhone to deal with incoming notifications differently depending on what you’re doing — say, when you’re driving or sleeping. Bloomberg also suggests that iOS 15 can be set to automatically respond to messages depending on which of those statuses you’ve set. It sounds almost like a spiritual successor to away messages from the AOL Instant Messenger days. As a nerd who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, that’s very exciting.

We’ve also heard that Apple might be gearing up to show off a new look for the iPhone Lock Screen, which would make sense if they’re planning to push the concept of “statuses” or “availability”. That also dovetails with rumors that the iPhone 13 could embrace an Android-style always-on display, a feature that’s only possible because Apple started using OLED screens in iPhones last year.

Now, considering how vocal Apple is about its focus on privacy, I can’t say I’m surprised that the company seems to be building on the App Tracking Transparency work that debuted in the recent iOS 14.5 release. For iOS 15, Apple has reportedly built a feature that shows users which apps are subtly collecting information about them. We’ve also heard that Apple is planning to flesh out iMessage with more social features to help it compete with platforms like WhatsApp, but who knows if that’s going to be ready in time for the update’s fall launch.

Apple has already highlighted a handful of interesting accessibility features coming to iOS 15, including a feature that plays soothing background sounds like rain, crashing waves, babbling brooks, and what Apple calls “bright” and “dark” noise. That might not sound like a big deal, but for people who get distracted very easily — like many of us around here — this might be the iOS 15 feature that gets the most use.

Источник

What to Expect From Apple in 2021: New Apple Silicon Macs, iPhone 13, AirTags and More

We’re expecting 2021 to be an exciting year for Apple thanks to a renewed focus on the Mac. Apple debuted the first Macs with Apple silicon chip in late 2020, and Apple’s M1 chips turned out to be unexpectedly powerful, leaving us looking forward to what’s next.

First Half of 2021

Apple Silicon iMac

Apple is working on multiple new iMac models that have Apple silicon chips, including both high-end and entry-level models. There have been rumors of a redesigned ‌iMac‌ that features an «iPad Pro design language» with thinner bezels and a 23 to 24 inch screen size.

This Mac could perhaps be a larger replacement for the current 21.5-inch model, which would likely be around the same physical size as the existing version if Apple greatly cut down on bezel size.

Apple is working on Apple silicon chip designs with as many as 16 high-power cores and four high-efficiency cores, but high-end desktop models could have as many as 32 high-performance cores, perhaps replacing the ‌iMac‌ Pro. Apple is also working on some significant GPU performance improvements.

The new iMacs are expected to be released in spring to fall 2021, so it’s possible we’re going to see the long-rumored 23 to 24-inch model early in the year, followed by a higher-end model later in the year.

Additional information about the upcoming ‌iMac‌ refresh can be found in our iMac roundup.

AirPods

Apple is working on third-generation AirPods that have a form factor similar to the AirPods Pro, featuring a shorter stem and replaceable silicone ear tips.

While the new AirPods are expected to look like the ‌AirPods Pro‌, the third-generation earbuds will be more affordable and will lack higher-end features such as Active Noise Cancellation. Apple is said to be developing a new wireless chip that could be included in the AirPods 3, and battery life could see improvement.

We don’t know much else about the AirPods at this time, but we’re expecting them to launch in the first half of 2021, likely in the first quarter.

Our AirPods roundup has more on what we could see from the AirPods in the future.

iPad Pro

There have been persistent rumors suggesting Apple is working on a new version of the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌, with the tablet expected to gain a mini-LED display. Most of the rumors have focused on the 12.9-inch iPad, but it’s possible there’s also a refreshed 11-inch model in the works too.

Apple’s mini-LED displays are expected to use approximately 10,000 LEDs, with each one below 200 microns in size. Mini-LED technology will allow for thinner and lighter product designs that also offer impressive wide color gamut performance, high contrast and HDR, and local dimming, which dims the backlight behind black areas of the screen while keeping bright parts lit for blacker blacks and improved contrast.

There have also been rumors about an OLED ‌iPad Pro‌ in 2021, but it seems unlikely that Apple is going to introduce two new display technologies in the same year, and analysts have suggested an OLED ‌iPad‌ won’t be coming until 2022 at the earliest.

Along with a mini-LED display, the updated ‌iPad Pro‌ could include 5G connectivity now that the iPhones have 5G chips, and it is expected to have a more powerful A14X chip that’s similar to the chip used in the ‌M1‌ Macs. We’ve also heard some rumors of a new Apple Pencil in black, but that information has yet to be confirmed.

Production on the mini-LED ‌iPad Pro‌ supposedly began in the fourth quarter of 2020, so this is a product that’s likely going to be ready to go early on in the year.

We have more information on the ‌iPad Pro‌ in our dedicated iPad Pro roundup.

June Software Updates

Apple holds the Worldwide Developers Conference every year, and in 2021, we’re expecting to see iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, tvOS 8, and macOS 12.

Apple previously used incremental numbers for macOS updates, but given that we’ve already had software updates numbered macOS 11.1, we can assume that macOS updates will now go up an entire number similar to iOS updates.

We don’t know anything about any of these software updates as of yet, but we should start hearing details in early 2021.

Second Half of 2021

14.1 and 16.1-inch MacBook Pro

Apple is developing redesigned MacBook Pro models that could come in 14.1 and 16.1-inch screen sizes, replacing the existing 13.1 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Now that the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro has an Apple silicon chip, Apple is expected to expand Apple silicon chips to the rest of the MacBook Pro lineup.

Both models could have slimmer bezels for more screen real estate. There have been rumors that the new MacBook Pros will have mini-LED displays, which could bring some major improvements in display quality.

‌Mini-LED‌ displays will use approximately 10,000 LEDs, with each one below 200 microns in size. ‌Mini-LED‌ will ultimately allow for thinner and lighter product designs, offering many of the same benefits as OLED like better wide color gamut, high contrast and dynamic range, and local dimming for truer blacks and superior contrast. ‌Mini-LED‌ displays are expensive, so it’s possible that the technology will be limited to higher-end models.

Apple is working on new Apple silicon chips to be used in the next-generation notebooks. Some of the chips in development have as many as 16 power cores and four efficiency cores, with Apple also developing 16 and 32-core GPU options.

These new MacBook Pro models are coming in 2021, but we don’t know exactly when. We have more information on both the rumored 14-inch MacBook Pro and the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro in our respective roundups.

iPhone 13

In 2021, we’re expecting four ‌iPhone 13‌ models in the same sizes the iPhone 12 models are available in with two 6.1-inch models, a 6.7-inch model, and a 5.4-inch model. Two of those iPhones will be higher-end «Pro» models and two will be more affordable models.

Apple is expected to use the same general design, but at least one of the iPhones that’s coming could potentially have a portless design with no Lightning port included. Apple has been working toward a portless iPhone and such a device would be limited to charging with Qi-based chargers or a MagSafe charger.

The new iPhones could have 120Hz «ProMotion» displays for smoother performance, along with new camera technology, a faster A15 chip, and an upgraded 5G modem chip from Qualcomm.

There have been a couple rumors indicating Apple is working on iPhones with both Face ID and under-display Touch ID and it’s possible 2021 is the year we’ll see that dual-biometric technology, but it is early in the rumor cycle so plans could change.

Our iPhone 13 roundup has more detail on what to expect from the new ‌iPhone‌ models coming in 2021.

iPhone SE ‘Plus’

Apple introduced a new version of the iPhone SE with an ‌iPhone‌ 8-style design in 2020, and in 2021, we might get a redesigned «Plus» version of the device. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is working on an «‌iPhone SE‌ Plus» that features a full-screen design, no Face ID, and a ‌Touch ID‌ fingerprint sensor built into the power button on the side of the device.

This design would be similar to the iPad Air design which has an all-display build but without Face ID. The ‌iPad Air‌ instead uses a ‌Touch ID‌ power button. The new device is expected to a 6.1-inch display, dual cameras, and perhaps 5G support, which would also make it similar to the ‌iPhone 12‌. It was initially rumored to be coming in early 2021, but now Kuo believes it will see a launch in the second half of 2021.

Barclays analysts, however, do not believe that Apple has plans to refresh the ‌iPhone SE‌ in the foreseeable future, and display analyst Ross Young has said there won’t be an updated version of the ‌iPhone SE‌ until 2022, so it’s not guaranteed that we’re going to see an ‌iPhone SE‌ this year.

For more on what to expect from the ‌iPhone SE‌ in 2021, we have an iPhone SE roundup with everything we know.

Apple Watch Series 7 and SE 2

Apple introduces new Apple Watch models on a yearly basis, and in 2021, we’re expecting the ‌Apple Watch Series 7‌. We don’t know a lot about the Series 7 at this time, but new health functionality is a possibility, as is an Apple Watch design that adopts solid state buttons that don’t physically click.

Apple has been researching a method for non-invasively measuring blood glucose levels, but it’s not yet known if this kind of sensor will be included in the 2021 Apple Watch.

Along with the Series 7, there’s a chance we could also get a new version of the Apple Watch SE. Apple introduced the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ in 2020 as a lower-cost alternative to the Series 7 that still has mostly modern technology inside.

Higher-End Apple Silicon iMac (Pro?)

As mentioned up above, Apple is working on multiple versions of the ‌iMac‌, including a higher-end model with a more powerful Apple silicon chip. Bloomberg has suggested that Apple will launch new ‌iMac‌ models at different times, so we could see this higher-end model later in the year.

Products With Unknown Release Dates

AirPods Pro

Apple is developing a new version of the ‌AirPods Pro‌ that could feature a more compact design and a new wireless chip. The next-generation version could eliminate the short stem that sticks out from the bottom, resulting in a more rounded shape that’s closer in design to competing wire-free earbuds from companies like Google and Samsung.

Based on hardware leaks, there is a possibility that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 could perhaps come in two sizes, but that has yet to be confirmed.

We have more about the next-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ in our AirPods Pro roundup.

iPad Mini 6

According to Apple analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌, Apple is working on a new version of the iPad mini that could measure in at 8.5 to 9 inches, perhaps through a reduction in the bezel size of the current 7.9-inch model.

This model could perhaps include a mini-LED display, as Apple is rumored to be bringing mini-LED technology to several iPads in the ‌iPad‌ lineup. A mini-LED display would allow for a thinner, lighter design without compromising on display quality.

Kuo and other sources have said the ‌iPad mini‌ will come in the first half of 2021, with more details available in our iPad mini roundup.

New Apple TV

The last ‌Apple TV‌ update came in 2017, so it’s starting to feel like we’re overdue for an update. Luckily, multiple sources have suggested we can expect to see a new model launch in 2021.

Rumors suggest the next-generation ‌Apple TV‌ could be equipped with either an A12X Bionic chip or the same A14 chip used in the 2020 iPhones. A higher-powered chip would allow the ‌Apple TV‌ to offer better performance for iOS games.

Next-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models could also have more storage, coming in 64 and 128GB storage options, and there’s said to be a new remote control that will be offered alongside it. It could have a Find My feature for locating the remote when it’s lost inside the house, and there are also rumors of a U1 chip, something also added to the HomePod mini. Like the ‌HomePod mini‌, the ‌Apple TV‌ serves as a Home Hub, which might be why Apple plans to include a U1 chip.

The U1 chip enables Ultra Wideband support for improved spatial awareness between devices, with the feature allowing the distance between two devices to be calculated through the time it takes for a radio wave to pass between them. It’s more accurate than tracking via Bluetooth LE and WiFi and could be used for precise indoor positioning for controlling smarthome devices.

While unconfirmed, there are also some rumors that have suggested Apple could also unveil a higher-end version of the ‌Apple TV‌ that offers console-like performance, with Apple working with developers to bring console-level games to the Apple Arcade service in the future.

Additional details on what to expect from an ‌Apple TV‌ update can be found in our Apple TV roundup.

AirTags

Apple’s long-rumored Tile competitor AirTags have been in the works for quite some time, and we don’t know when we might be seeing them. ‌AirTags‌ were originally expected in 2020, and there are no rumors on a specific launch timeline.

‌AirTags‌ are small trackers that are equipped with Bluetooth and are designed to attach to important but easily lost items like wallets, cameras, and keys. ‌AirTags‌ (and the items they’re attached to) can be tracked right inside the ‌Find My‌ app alongside iPhones, iPads, and Macs, so you can keep an eye on all of your important belongings in one place.

Info about ‌AirTags‌ has been leaking since the release of iOS 13, but we’re still not sure what the ‌AirTags‌ will look like. Based on some simple images found in iOS, they could be small, circular tags with built-in Bluetooth and ultra-wideband support. Ultra-wideband, a feature first introduced in the iPhone 11 lineup, is key because iPhones that have a U1 chip will be able to track ‌AirTags‌ with much more accuracy than Bluetooth alone.

If your keys fall down the couch cushion or your wallet gets kicked under the bed, for example, the ‌iPhone‌ will be able to locate the exact part of the room where they’re located. This kind of functionality will make ‌AirTags‌ more accurate and more useful than other Bluetooth trackers on the market.

‌AirTags‌ might attach to items with rings or adhesive, and the bottle cap-sized trackers are rumored to come with a keychain that has a leather pouch on it, which may be one of the attachment methods.

There have been mixed rumors on charging methods. One rumor has pointed towards a built-in rechargeable battery that works with an Apple Watch-style charging puck, while another suggests the ‌AirTags‌ will run on a replaceable CR2032 battery. Either way, it sounds like they’ll last for a good amount of time rather than featuring a non-replaceable battery.

Anything that you lose will show up on the ‌Find My‌ map with an associated address, and when the ‌iPhone‌ is close to a lost item, you might see an augmented reality map with specific positioning that makes it easier to find the missing item. ‌AirTags‌ will also be able to play a sound when triggered in the ‌Find My‌ app.

With iOS 13, Apple introduced a feature that’s designed to let Apple products communicate with one another when offline, letting a lost ‌iPhone‌ ping off of someone else’s ‌iPhone‌ it comes into contact with even without a cellular or WiFi connection. This function will likely come to ‌AirTags‌ as well, letting millions of iPhones and Apple devices all around the world track lost items.

We have additional details on ‌AirTags‌ in our full AirTags guide.

Smart Glasses

We know Apple is working on some kind of augmented reality headset or smart glasses, but when this head worn AR product will launch continues to be a mystery.

There haven’t been many augmented reality headset rumors as of late, but there have been rumors targeting launch dates ranging from late 2021 to 2023, so there’s a chance we’ll see some kind of augmented reality device this year.

Rumors indicate there are two projects in the works that include a set of smart glasses and a separate headset, with the latter device supposedly launching first. The headset is rumored to be similar to Facebook’s Oculus Quest, but with a sleeker, lighter weight design.

It’s said to include a high-resolution display with built-in cameras, along with technologies like 3D environmental scanning and advanced human detection. Apple is aiming to create an App Store for the headset with a focus on gaming, streaming video content, and video conferencing.

There are a lot of mixed rumors about Apple’s AR and VR work given that the company has worked on several different prototypes, and our AR roundup has a great overview of everything we know.

Источник