5 Devices Apple Desperately Needs to Refresh in 2020
Credit: Joyce Kang
This year, we’re expecting a lot from Apple. From a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Magic Keyboard to highly anticipated Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband tracking tags, there are plenty of reasons to be excited as an Apple fan.
But between those flashy updates, there are certainly a handful of products that Apple hasn’t given much attention to, despite their popularity or their possibility for success. Continue reading to browse 5 products (or product categories) that Apple desperately needs to refresh in 2020.
4-inch iPhone
If you’ve read some of our past iPhone coverage, you probably know that we’re likely going to see an “iPhone SE 2” release pretty soon. But despite that popular nickname, the upcoming low-cost iPhone isn’t going to be an iPhone SE at all. It’ll basically be an iPhone 8 with updated internals (which is why we like the iPhone 9 moniker better).
That’s a shame because nobody has been calling for the iPhone 8 to be refreshed. Apple’s 4-inch handsets may feel a bit antiquated in today’s age, but there’s no doubt that the size is still incredibly popular. Smartphones these days are too big for some users, and many others just prefer smaller and more portable devices.
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of this year’s rumored 5.4-inch handset. But fans of smaller iPhones have been clamoring for a device in the same footprint as an iPhone SE with a modern overhaul. Given the right price, that device may just end up giving the entire iPhone lineup a significant boost.
Mac
Look back at Apple’s last earnings call and you’ll see that Mac was one of the two product segments that lagged behind. There’s a good reason for that. Beyond the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the prohibitively expensive Mac Pro, Apple didn’t release anything else in its Mac lineup.
There are some long-overdue refreshes, too. The iMac desperately needs a revamp — it’s been nearly a decade since the computer has seen an overhaul in design. It’s almost a bit weird that the iMac hasn’t received more attention, seeing as it’s probably Apple’s best-selling desktop solution.
On a similar note, the standard iMac is arguably a consumer product. And 2019 was undoubtedly the year of the “Pro” Mac. Alongside an iMac revamp, Apple could win over more consumers by releasing some type of low-cost MacBook with a sub-$999 price point. Just think about a 12-inch MacBook with a Magic Keyboard.
HomePod
Apple’s HomePod was the company’s first foray into the smart speaker market. But you’ve probably noticed that, as of the writing of this article, it’s also Apple’s last foray. Nearly two and a half years after the HomePod’s announcement, it’s high time that Apple releases a predecessor — or at least something similar to the HomePod.
That’s especially true in the wake of rivals like the Amazon Echo Plus and Google Home Max. The things that made HomePod special when it first debuted are no longer unique. Apple needs to innovate in this space to stay relevant. And with a move toward services, other HomePod devices would line up with the company’s larger plans.
As far as what Apple could debut, something like a “HomePod mini” with a lower price tag but more robust smart home features could boost both Apple Music, as well as Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem. Aiming solely at the premium tier is no longer going to work in the smart speaker market.
Apple TV
It seems like every company has its own streaming service this day, and Apple is no outlier. With the mostly successful launch of Apple TV+, the Cupertino tech giant has a vested interest in getting more people to watch its shows. And while the walls around the garden may be crumbling slightly in this space, there’s more Apple could do.
Current Apple TV devices are great. And the fact that Apple TV+ is available on the rest of the company’s lineup helps to fill in the gaps a bit. An ever-increasing number of supported third-party platforms bodes well both for Apple and its Apple TV+ viewers.
But it just doesn’t make sense for Apple not to focus on lower-cost, first-party devices that could allow users to stream Apple TV+. In addition to an updated set-top box, Apple should release an entry-level streaming stick. With Apple’s design chops, that kind of device could seriously be slick and powerful.
iPad
Speaking of devices that didn’t go quite as well as Apple would have hoped last quarter, enter the iPad. Despite a flashy new dedicated operating system and a stable of popular refreshed models (iPad Air and iPad mini), Apple’s tablet lineup is still lagging behind in some areas.
And that’s likely because Apple just can’t seem to decide what the iPad really is. The 2018 iPad Pro models were a clear indication that Apple was moving toward the “iPad is a computer” ethos. But beyond a few nifty features in iPadOS, Apple’s tablet is still not capable enough to be a full-fledged computer replacement.
We’re not expecting Apple to add a couple more USB-C ports to its iPad Pro (although that’d be great), but the company needs to pick a lane for its tablets and stick to it. We’re hoping that this year’s iPad Pro models have a much more focused direction — either an excellent computer replacement or the best tablet on the market. Staying somewhere in the middle is hurting the product.