Apple usually has at least one event in the beginning of each year, typically in early spring. This year will be no different. According to Bloomberg, Apple’s spring event will be on March 8th. Bloomberg’s a reliable source for leaks, so it’s highly probable. Still, nothing is set in stone until the invites go out.
What’s there to expect? Possibly, a new iPhone, new iPad, and at least one new Mac. If you’ve been thinking about getting anything new from Apple, you may want to wait a few weeks, it’s going to be a big one.
In This Article:
iPhone SE 5G
There have been a few rumors about the next iPhone SE. This would be the third iteration of the device, and would come two years after the release of the second generation iPhone SE. The body design is said to continue the tradition of using the iPhone 8 body. That means large bezels on the top and bottom and a smaller 4.7-inch screen. It’ll be larger than the iPhone 13 mini, but with a smaller screen. However, that’s a fair trade-off if you prefer Touch ID. In fact, for users who are blind or have other serious vision impairments, Face ID isn’t secure. Touch ID provides a tactile and secure way to lock your phone. Besides, a small screen doesn’t matter much to someone who’s not looking at it much.
However, another rumor states that the next generation of the iPhone SE will use the body of the iPhone 11. This is a larger phone, a 6.1-inch screen, and features Face ID. Most people who like the iPhone SE for its smaller size and Touch ID won’t like this. The only people this will appeal to will be users who want the cheapest iPhone and don’t care about things like the camera or form factor, and just want the latest processor in an older phone.
The new phone will apparently introduce 5G support. This, along with the A15 from the iPhone 13 series will make it an incredibly fast iPhone. Considering it’ll likely be priced around the same as the current iPhone SE, starting at $399, that’s an incredible deal. However, Apple and other companies have charged a premium for 5G phones before, so they could also increase the price.
iPad Air 5
The iPad Air got a makeover in September of 2020. This made it more like the iPad Pro, with squared-off edges, slimmer bezels, a slimmer design, and Apple Pencil 2 support. I personally picked the iPad Air 4 over the iPad Pro for its Touch ID support. Since I often use my iPad as, well, a tablet. It’s often laying flat on my desk. Face ID wouldn’t work for that. The iPad Pro, which serves as more of a laptop replacement, doesn’t have that problem as much, as users are more likely to be looking directly at the device.
The iPad Air 5 should get Apple’s A15 or A16 processor, Apple’s upcoming iPhone and iPad processor. There’s a chance Apple could put an M1 processor in it, however, it’s unlikely and probably overkill for the more consumer-friendly tablet. Apple will also add 5G to the cellular model.
The front-facing camera on the iPad Air 5 will catch up to those on Apple’s iMacs and the iPad Pro with Center Stage support. This uses an ultra-wide camera lens and image processing, along with face tracking, to allow you to move around in your video chats.
Apple introduced the current model a year and a half ago. The iPad Air is certainly due for an update, and this might be the event Apple does it at.
New Macs?
Bloomberg has reported that at least one new Mac is coming during Apple’s upcoming spring event. But what kind? There have been two rumors swirling. The first is a low-end MacBook Pro, made to replace the 13-inch model with the 14-inch model design. The other option is a new pro-level Mac Mini. This would feature a new design for Apple Silicon, making it thinner than the outgoing Mac Mini, but with the power coming from Apple’s MacBook Pro processors.
We’re not certain if either of these will be the new Macs released in spring.
iOS 15.4… with Mask-Safe Face ID!
iOS 15.4 is currently in beta testing now. Users confirm that the update adds Face ID for users wearing masks. The technology doesn’t always require users to set up Face ID with a mask on, instead uses the existing face scans for recognition of the upper half of your face. While it may be less secure, it’ll certainly be a useful feature for when you’re going out and want to be able to unlock your iPhone without putting in your long passcode. It will also require attention, you’ll have to look at your iPhone, so users with visual impairments are, once again, left out.
This would have been far more helpful two years ago, along with Touch ID on all iPhones. However, the pandemic is still going on. People are still dying. Masks, along with vaccines are still the best defenses we have. Our newfound culture of masking may even carry its way into flu season or when people have colds. It’s likely this pandemic made people think about those around them more, and may continue to wear masks when they’re sick or suspect they may be getting sick. Masks aren’t going away, so this feature will be helpful in the United States, as well as elsewhere in the world where masking while sick to protect others was already a normal behavior.
We’re Not Seeing…
We’re likely not seeing a few products that have been in the rumor pipeline for years. That includes Apple’s augmented reality (AR) glasses, as well as their AirPods Pro 2 headphones. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, usually accurate with leaks, points to the fall for the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds. Meanwhile, current rumors point to a 2023 launch for Apple’s AR headset, which would likely be more of a companion accessory than a standalone device. It’s more like an Apple Watch than an iPhone or iPad. Google, Microsoft, and Magic Leap have worked on AR glasses for some time. However, no accessory has come close to mainstream. Apple’s design and popularity could change that for the industry. We’re likely a year away from that though.
Apple hasn’t sent out official invites for the event. We’d likely see them either the last week of February or the first few days of March, if these rumors are true. If so, Apple’s event will likely be at 1PM eastern time, on March 8th, a Tuesday.