Lily Chemaa
[Gearbest Technology]Recently, Apple Spring products released the first batch of Mac products equipped with M4 series chips, including iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro. Although this heralds the end of Apple’s new product releases this year, looking forward to next spring, Apple’s product line is still full of highlights worth looking forward to.
iPhone SE 4
The most anticipated new product next spring may be Apple’s most cost-effective iPhone – iPhone SE 4. This will be the biggest upgrade to the iPhone SE since its debut in 2016, bringing it in line with the modern iPhone lineup. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to finally ditch the home button and adopt a new shape similar to the iPhone 14. In addition, it will also become Apple’s first iPhone equipped with a self-developed baseband chip, thus getting rid of its dependence on Qualcomm. At the same time, it will also use a USB-C interface.
In terms of performance, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to be equipped with the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16. The A18 chip of the iPhone 16 is built using TSMC’s N3E process. The CPU is a six-core design, with two P-cores at 4.05GHz and four E-cores at 2.42GHz. The GPU is a five-core design and is equipped with a hardware ray tracing unit. In terms of AI, It is equipped with a 16-core neural engine.
Of course, considering that the body design of the iPhone SE 4 may not be as good as the iPhone 16, this chip may not be able to perform completely equivalent to the iPhone 16, but with iOS, there is no need to worry about the smoothness of daily use.
As for the screen that has attracted much attention, don’t expect too much. The iPhone SE 4 will most likely still support a 60Hz refresh rate. After all, the iPhone 16 does not support 120Hz. All I can say is that you are worthy of being Apple.
iPad 11
Apple spring products has not updated its entry-level iPad for two years, and the device still uses the four-year-old A14 chip. Sources say the iPad will receive a major upgrade next spring. The upgraded iPad will support the Apple Intelligence function. While it is unclear which chip Apple will use, the A18 chip seems like a more likely choice due to the cost of the 3nm process. By then, users will be able to experience a series of intelligent functions including notification summaries, Image Playground, Genmoji, new Siri, and ChatGPT.
In addition to software upgrades, the new iPad will feature hardware improvements. The iPad 11 is expected to support newer connectivity standards, including Wi-Fi 6E (or Wi-Fi 7) and Bluetooth 5.3. These will offer lower latency and better performance compared to the current entry-level iPad’s Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
Apple spring products is also developing a new low-end iPad Magic Keyboard. The iPad 11 is expected to support this keyboard with a more traditional design.
There are rumors that the new iPad may support Apple Pencil Pro. However, there is no conclusive evidence yet. If true, Apple may need to adjust the magnet position to accommodate the Pencil Pro.
These upgrades may ultimately be influenced by cost issues, especially with the addition of wireless charging coils. If all goes according to plan, Apple’s entry-level iPad will finally receive a significant upgrade after two years.
M4 MacBook Air
Apple is expected to release the M4 MacBook Air in March next year. This speculation comes from last year’s M3 Air, which Apple also released in March. Additionally, Apple tends to release more products in March, following its historical pattern.
The new MacBook Air is expected to feature the M4 chip, offering faster performance. The base memory will be upgraded to 16GB. It will also include a neural engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second. Additionally, the MacBook Air will have a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera and improved battery life. A nano-texture display option may also be available. These upgrades will enhance Apple Intelligence functions and meet Air users’ expectations for more features.
Although Apple redesigned the MacBook Air with the M2 model in 2022, the M4 version is expected to retain the same core design. It will continue to offer 13-inch and 15-inch sizes from the M2 and M3 models. The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, although recently released, are not likely to appear in the MacBook Air configurations.
M3 iPad Air
According to reports, Apple is designing a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air. Currently, the iPad Air uses the original Magic Keyboard design launched with the iPad Pro in 2020. The new Magic Keyboard is expected to include a row of function keys, but it won’t have an aluminum top like the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard.
Reports suggest that Apple is developing 90Hz display technology for the iPad Air, but reliable sources have not confirmed this.
On the chip front, Apple is unlikely to use the same chipset in the new iPad Air. No specifics were mentioned, but we may see an upgrade to the M3 or M4 chips. The iPad Air is typically a year behind on chip updates, so the M3 chip seems more likely. However, a lower-end M4 chip could also be an option.
Apple may exclude Face ID from the new iPad Air to avoid making it too similar to the iPad Pro. Speculation surrounds the feature, but Apple may choose not to include it.
Other potential upgrades for the iPad Air include increased brightness to 600 nits (currently only the 13-inch M2 iPad Air offers this), support for Wi-Fi 7, a rear LED flash, a Thunderbolt interface, and improved microphone arrays.
New smart home products
According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to launch its first smart home device in March next year. It will be a “wall-mounted display,” resembling a traditional home security panel. The screen will be around 6 inches, with thick bezels. Available in silver or black, the device will serve as the “command center” of the home. It will combine Apple apps, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit integration.
The device includes a camera, a built-in rechargeable battery, and speakers. Users can mount it on the wall and interact with it using Siri and Apple Intelligence functions. The user interface combines elements of the iPhone’s standby mode and watchOS. It can automatically adjust functions based on the user’s distance, such as displaying the temperature or adjusting the home thermostat.
Although Apple considered launching an app store for the device, it ultimately decided to only run its own apps. These include Safari, FaceTime, Apple Music, and Apple News, along with smart home controls through HomeKit.
Additionally, Bloomberg confirmed that Apple is exploring the development of its own line of smart home accessories, including an indoor security camera that can serve as a baby monitor. Apple launched Apple Intelligence at WWDC and has released its first batch of features for iPhone and Mac users, but has yet to reveal its Apple Intelligence plans for its HomePod smart speaker.
write at the end
Apple Spring Products plans to release an upgraded version of the AirTag Bluetooth tracking device next year. This version is expected to feature the latest ultra-wideband chipset technology. However, details on other improvements are still unclear.
As for Mac Studio and Mac Pro upgrades, these are not expected to launch until mid-2025.
Additionally, iOS 18.4 is set for release in the spring. This update will introduce the full suite of Apple Intelligence features, including a refreshed Siri, as announced at the WWDC 24 Developer Conference.
Login with Google