6 New Products Apple Might Release Later This Month
Credit: Phone Industry
Apple typically uses the spring and fall seasons to refresh its hardware lineup, and this year is no exception. Even though the coronavirus outbreak is still a significant concern in China and beyond, the rumor mill is picking up steam as we charge into March and the upcoming product update cycle. Continue reading to browse some of the exciting products Apple could launch as early as this month.
New iPhone 9 (or SE)
Almost every spring, Apple releases a new and improved entry-level iPhone. This year, rumors suggest Apple will phase out the iPhone 8 and replace it with a refreshed version of the budget iPhone SE. The name of this new phone is not known for sure, but it could launch as either the iPhone 9 or with the SE branding.
The successor to the SE will borrow heavily from the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 featuring a glass body and rounded design. It likely will be equipped with Apple's latest A13 processor and other internal improvements that'll bring it in line with Apple's latest technologies. Though most consumers look forward to a bigger and better camera on their phone, it is not clear Apple will upgrade the rear camera to include Night mode, which is a staple of the iPhone 11.
Rumors suggest the iPhone SE 2 will debut for $399 with 64GB of onboard storage and color choices that include space gray, silver, and red.
New 13-inch MacBook Pro
Late last year, Apple ditched the problematic butterfly keyboard and replaced it with the new Magic keyboard in its 16-inch MacBook Pro. Apple is expected to roll out this new and improved keyboard to all its notebook models, starting with the 13-inch MacBook Pro this spring. In addition to the Magic keyboard, the next-generation MacBook Pro also may ship with an updated processor, improved GPU, and new storage options.
New iPad Pro
Apple last year updated both the iPad mini and iPad Air in the spring while releasing a new 7th generation iPad in the fall. This spring, all eyes are on the iPad Pro, which was last updated in 2018.
Rumors suggest Apple will unveil a new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro as early as March. The most significant improvement will be a new triple-module camera system featuring Apple's rumored time-of-flight camera sensor. This camera lens enables long-range depth sensing and could be used for mind-blowing augmented reality or iPad portrait mode photography. This lens may debut first on the iPad Pro this spring and then roll out in the iPhone 12 this fall.
Though most analysts expect a spring refresh of the iPad, some are predicting an upgrade this spring and another one later this fall. This possible second update could bring 5G cellular connectivity and support for a new Smart keyboard with a trackpad.
New Apple TV
The Apple TV is a leading TV set-top streaming device, but the lineup is aging and in dire need of a refresh. The flagship Apple TV 4K was released in 2017, while the fourth-generation Apple TV HD debuted in 2015. Though hardware rumors are sparse, a snippet of code in tvOS 13.4 beta suggests Apple may be working a new set-top box equipped with an A12 or A13 processor. Fingers-crossed.
PRODUCT(RED) Apple Watch
Apple has been a big supporter of (RED) producing iPhones, cases, watch bands and more with the PRODUCT(RED) branding. Soon, this lineup may include an Apple Watch. Spotted late last year, Apple's internal product database briefly contained details for a PRODUCT(RED) version of the Apple Watch. While there are no leaked product shots, this model presumably will be decked out in full red with a red aluminum casing and a matching red band.
Apple Powerbeats 4
A recent FCC regulatory filing suggests a new version of Apple's Powerbeats headphones may be landing sooner rather than later. Apple's Powerbeats 4 headphones are expected to ship with the company's latest H1 processor which improves performance across the board. Found in the AirPods Pro, the H1 offers enhanced call quality, better battery life, onboard support for "Hey Siri," and decreased latency.