Apple today
officially confirmed its long-anticipated
spring 2021 event. This year, Apple is holding a virtual event on April 20,
and it's teasing it with the tagline "Spring Loaded." The event could
include
a new iPad Pro, AirTags, and more.
Read on as we round up everything that Apple could announce during its April
20 special event.
Last-minute rumors
Update: April 19, 2021
We're officially less than 24 hours away from Apple's "Spring Loaded"
special event, and a few last-minute rumors have emerged about what could be
announced.
Over the weekend, the
reliable Twitter source L0vetodream cryptically
hinted that Apple could unveil its long-awaited redesigned iMac during
Tuesday's event. In addition to an all-new design and Apple Silicon inside,
the
new iMac are also rumored to come in a new array of colors similar to the
iPad Air.
Another
last-minute report from Vox Media
indicated that Apple could unveil a new Podcasts+ subscription service on
Tuesday. This has been rumored for a while now, but Apple has only dabbled
with
a small collection of original podcasts so far. It now looks like Tuesday
could be when it takes things to the next level.
Finally, analysts at Wedbush also now
expect Apple to introduce
new versions of the entry-level iPad as well as the iPad mini alongside the
iPad Pro. The analysts also predicted that the new iPad Pro models will see
a
"modest" price increase
compared to their predecessors.
Apple spring event history
Some Apple events are almost guaranteed to take place every year, including
WWDC in June and the annual iPhone event in the fall. Most years, it's also
reasonable to expect a second fall event focused on the Mac. Last year, for
example, we had three Apple events in three months: iPad and Apple Watch in
September, iPhone 12 in October, and Apple Silicon Mac in November.
Spring events are harder to predict. Apple did not hold a spring event in
2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it did
announce
a new iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard, and
MacBook Air
via press releases in March, followed by the second-generation
iPhone SE via a press release
in April.
In 2019, Apple held a Spring Event purely
dedicated to its Services segment,
with details on Apple News+, Apple Card, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade. In
March 2018, Apple invited everyone to Chicago,
where it announced
a new education-focused iPad.
Apple 2021 April Event details
How to watch Apple's April event
This year, Apple's spring event will take place on April 20 at 10 a.m. PT/1
p.m. ET. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this event will be completely
virtual and streamed directly from Apple Park.
Apple is teasing the April event with the tagline "Spring Loaded." The
invite is colorful but doesn't provide many hints at what Apple could
announce during
the event.
We expect the event to be a beautifully filmed, pre-recorded video featuring
Apple CEO Tim Cook and other Apple executives. You'll be able to stream the
event through Apple's website, on YouTube, and through the Apple TV
application on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
iPad Pro
One of the leading rumors is that Apple will release a new iPad Pro with
mini-LED display technology during the first half of 2021. The expectation
is that the mini-LED backlighting will
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/28/2021-ipad-pro-mini-led/> come to the
12.9-inch iPad Pro first, followed eventually by the 11-inch iPad Pro
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/02/what-is-mini-led-tech-ipad-macbook/>
mini-LED is a new form of backlighting that is used for LCD screens. It
includes many of the same benefits as OLED but oftentimes can offer
increased brightness, improved power efficiency, and a lower risk of
burn-in. This is why Apple plans to use it in its larger-screened devices,
rather than OLED. Mini-LED is also expected to come to the MacBook Pro
lineup later this year.
The iPad Pro (2021) lineup is expected to be virtually identical to the 2020
model in <https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/12/2021-11-inch-ipad-pro-cad/> terms
of design. So the biggest change will likely be the display technology
shift, plus a new chip likely based on the A14 inside for even better
performance.
9to5Mac recently
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/23/ios-code-reveals-a14x-processor-ahead-of-rum
ored-ipad-pro-upgrades/> found evidence in iOS and iPadOS code of the new
A14X processor that is likely to be used in the iPad Pro. This chip appears
to be based on the M1 processor that Apple is using in its first Apple
Silicon Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air.
Most recently,
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/17/ipad-pro-thunderbolt-mini-led-more/>
Bloomberg reported that the new iPad Pros will feature Thunderbolt
connectivity for the first time. This would open the door to additional
accessories, such as external displays, storage, and more. The current iPad
Pro models are limited to USB-C accessories only, so opening the door to the
Thunderbolt ecosystem would be a major change.
But while the new iPad Pros are expected to be announced at the April event,
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/11/bloomberg-new-ipad-pro-coming-later-this-mon
th-despite-mini-led-supply-constraints/> Apple is rumored to have faced
production issues, particularly with the new 12.9-inch model. This means
availability could be constrained at first, so the new iPad Pros might be
hard to come by for a while. The report even mentioned that the 12.9-inch
iPad Pro could "ship later and be available in constrained quantities to
begin with."
Read more about the <https://9to5mac.com/guides/ipad-pro-2021/> iPad Pro
(2021) in our full guide right here.
iPad mini
Apple is also
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/08/ipad-mini-update-display-design/> reportedly
working on a new iPad mini that could be released this year. The new iPad
mini is said to feature an 8.4-inch display with smaller bezels. It,
unfortunately, will not feature a design overhaul similar to the iPad Air 4
and iPad Pro, with Apple instead retaining the top and bottom bezels, home
button, and Touch ID.
Apple last updated the iPad mini in 2019, bringing a faster A12 Bionic
processor as well as other improvements. The 2021 update to the iPad mini is
likewise expected to bring a performance increase, perhaps with Apple's A13
or even A14 processor inside.
Finally, Apple is also rumored to be developing a new low-cost iPad, but we
don't expect it to be released until
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/06/ipad-9th-generation-ipad-pro-2021/> sometime
later this year.
AirTags
AirTags have been rumored for almost exactly two years, and we could finally
be nearing a launch for the item tracker accessories. AirTags are expected
to be Apple's competitor to the incredibly popular
<https://amzn.to/2JRcJTr> Tile item trackers that are currently available on
the market.
In June 2019, <https://9to5mac.com/2019/06/04/ios-13-tag-device/> 9to5Mac
reported on assets within iOS 13 that referenced a product type "Tag1,1."
Since then,
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/10/28/exclusive-apple-planning-airtag-name-for-til
e-like-tracker-accessory/> 9to5Mac discovered evidence of the "AirTags" name
and references even
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/04/02/apple-airtag-reference/> appeared in a video
published by Apple itself.
Apple also
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/07/apple-officially-opens-find-my-network-to-th
ird-party-products-as-airtags-launch-looms/> recently announced that its
Find My network now supports third-party accessories, including a Chipolo
item tracker, VanMoof e-bikes, and a pair of earbuds from Belkin. It could
be that Apple wanted to make this announcement prior to revealing its own
long-awaited AirTags.
AirTags will be small physical tags that you can attach to any product like
backpacks, keys, and wallets. Then, you'll be able to locate those items via
the Find My app on your Apple devices. AirTags will be able to leverage the
hundreds of millions of iPhones in the wild to help stay connected and tap
into the U1 chip for precise location details.
While it seems almost certain that the new iPad Pro models will be announced
during Apple's April event, we're less sure about AirTags for now.
Read more about <https://9to5mac.com/guides/airtag/> AirTags in our full
guide right here.
Apple TV
Similar to AirTags, an update to the Apple TV has also been rumored for
several years at this point. Recent reports have
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/22/new-apple-in-2021-report/> suggested that a
new Apple TV is still on track for sometime in 2021, but details are
unclear.
9to5Mac recently
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/05/tvos-14-5-beta-code-suggests-120hz-support-c
oming-to-a-new-apple-tv-model/> found evidence that the new Apple TV could
add support for 120Hz display technology.
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/08/31/bloomberg-apple-tv-new-remote/> Bloomberg
has also reported that the updated Apple TV will include a new remote that
supports the Find My app.
Read more about the <https://9to5mac.com/guides/apple-tv/> Apple TV in our
full guide right here.
New Macs?
Apple has acknowledged that it will take approximately two years to
transition the entire Mac lineup to Apple Silicon chips. As such, we expect
new Apple Silicon Macs to be announced throughout 2021.
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/18/apple-silicon-imac-macbook-pro/> Rumors
currently indicate that we can expect a new iMac lineup, as well as new
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros this year.
While the new MacBook Pro models are not expected to be released until the
second half of 2021, the <https://9to5mac.com/guides/imac-2021/> redesigned
iMacs could be coming sooner than that. Apple has stopped selling a handful
of 21.5-inch iMac models, and it also recently
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/06/apple-discontinues-imac-pro-apple-store-says
-buy-while-supplies-last/> discontinued the iMac Pro without a clear
replacement.
So the new iMacs could certainly be announced during Apple's April event,
but Apple could also save them for WWDC in June. We'll have to wait and find
out for sure.
Apple April Event wrap up
The most sure-fire announcement slated for Apple's April 20 event is the new
iPad Pro lineup. Again, the new iPad Pro models will feature an A14X
processor inside, Thunderbolt connectivity, and mini-LED on the 12.9-inch
variant.
Other potential announcements at the April event include AirTags, new iMacs,
and an updated Apple TV, but the jury is still out on which products will
actually materialize during the event, versus which will be saved for later.
But Apple has shown that it doesn't need to pack its virtual events full.
Last September, for instance, Apple held a virtual event focused on the
Apple Watch and updates to the iPad Air and entry-level iPad. It could be
that Apple feels a new iPad Pro and one other product is enough for the
April 20 event.
Apple is also likely to announce the iOS 14.5 release date during the event,
and it could spend stage time focused on highlighting the new features -
particularly in regards to privacy and App Tracking Transparency.
By <https://9to5mac.com/author/chmiller44/> Chance Miller at:
https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/19/apple-april-event-roundup/
===========================================================
The fb-exchange mailing list
Manage account,
List Page: https://www.freelists.org/list/fb-exchange
Subscribe: mailto:fb-exchange-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=subscribe
Unsubscribe: mailto:fb-exchange-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=unsubscribe
Archive: https://www.freelists.org/archive/fb-exchange
Administrative contact: insight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
===========================================================
