7 New Products and Platforms Apple Is Working on for 2018

This year was a big one for Apple: from the HomePod to the iPhone X, the company released a plethora of new products, features and software. But 2017 is almost over, and Apple is likely looking to next year.

Apple will no doubt be busy: the company is rumored to be developing more advanced technology, like AR glasses and self-driving car tech, for 2019 and 2020 releases — and it'll likely be working on that tech throughout next year. But, as far as what devices will or could debut in 2018, there’s still quite a few products on the table. Press the Right Arrow to Learn About 7 New Products and Platforms Apple Is Working on for 2018.

7 HomePod

Originally slated for a December 2017 launch, Apple unexpectedly pushed back the HomePod’s drop date to “early 2018.” That means the company’s first smart speaker will launch relatively soon — and is basically a sure bet for 2018’s lineup.

But, on that note, the HomePod’s delay brings the HomePod 2 into question. With the first HomePod being an unexpected 2018 device, Apple could be pushing back any substantial upgrades to the smart speaker system to early 2019. Then again, if Apple announces a refresh in June, then a late 2018 release date is certainly still possible — even with the slightly staggered release this year.

6 Upgraded AirPods

Apple will release an upgraded version of its AirPods wireless earbuds in the second half of next year, according to one well-connected analyst. In addition, the analyst predicts that Apple will just ship a lot more AirPods units next year in total.

But, at this point, we’re not sure how second-generation AirPods will differ. We know that it’ll like feature a “smaller quartz component,” and could sport some upgraded internals. One thing we do know is that the next-generation AirPods charging case will support Qi standard wireless charging, which brings us to AirPower in the next slide.

5 AirPower

Apple surprised the tech community with the unveiling of its new AirPower wireless charging mat. The Qi-powered mat allows users to simultaneously charge an iPhone, an Apple Watch and the aforementioned AirPods case. Apple is planning on releasing the mat sometime next year.

That one announcement confirmed that Apple has embraced the Qi standard, which is used in most smartphones with wireless charging. But it also suggests that Apple will delve into wireless charging technology for its other products. Cable-free charging for iPads and Macs are probably not on the docket for 2018, but they also might be on the horizon in later years.

4 New Macs

This year, Apple released its most powerful computer ever: the iMac Pro. But in true Apple fashion, the company is likely already looking to outdo that device next year with a modular Mac Pro that’s rumored to be even more powerful. And, importantly, upgradeable.

Indeed, Apple has recently broken its silence and hinted that a new Mac Pro refresh — which is long overdue — is still in the works. A late 2018 release date is possible. Along with the modular and powerful Mac, there are some rumors pointing toward a potential Mac mini refresh being released next year, too. Though that’s a less sure bet at this point, fans of the smaller Mac might be in luck.

3 iPhone SE 2

Saying that Apple will release new iPhones next year is not exactly news. But in 2018, the Cupertino company could surprise us with a fairly unprecedented device: an iPhone SE refresh initially exclusive to the Indian market.

Reports pointing toward such a device first surfaced in Indian media outlets this month, and they suggest that Apple will launch the locally produced iPhone SE 2 in the country in early 2018. It’s expected to sport upgraded internals, retain a Home button and Touch ID, and implement slightly slimmer side bezels (though it’ll likely still have top and bottom bezels.

2 The Usual Upgrades

It’s not far-fetched to say that Apple will release updates to its Apple TV, Apple Watch and MacBook Pro lineup next year. But, unfortunately, we don’t have that much hard evidence as to what those upgrades could entail.

On a similar note, Apple will release iOS 12 next year, along with new versions of its other operating systems. Details are also sparse at this point, but we can expect the next-gen iPhone OS to feature smarter and more advanced Siri capabilities, new emoji and other updates. We have a wish list for iOS 12, but none of those features are confirmed.

1 New iPhones & iPads

Of course, Apple is expected to release three new iPhones and several new iPad models next year. That’s no surprise. The iPad Pro lineup will probably have more powerful internals, and some rumors point toward the tablets adopting Apple’s TrueDepth camera and Face ID platform.

We’re also already hearing details about what the 2018 iPhone lineup could entail: an iPhone X successor, an iPhone X Plus, and a mid-range LCD iPhone. All three are rumored to sport bezel-free designs, upgraded batteries and Face ID. And they could also adopt a new naming system akin to its other products: with the mid-range device simply called the “iPhone.”

BONUS: Some Possible Surprises

Granted, the aforementioned devices and platforms are fairly likely or outright sure bets for Apple’s 2018 lineup of products. But the company could also surprise us with some of the other technology it’s been working on lately — and it is hard at work on a slew of other tech.

There’s a range of evidence that points toward Apple developing a pair of augmented reality glasses and a corresponding operating system called "rOS." While most reports indicate a 2019 release at the earliest, Apple could certainly pull a “one more thing” next year with its first wearable AR device. Ditto that for possible news about carOS and upgraded, first-party health wearables — a field that Apple is increasingly trying to corner with its Apple Watch.