6 New Apple Products Coming Later This Year (That AREN’T the iPhone 12)
Credit: Svetapple.sk
2020 has been a year full of refreshes, from the iPad Pro to new Macs, and even the iPhone SE. You'd think there aren't many more things that Apple is planning to release this year. Except, of course, for the latest iPhone 12 lineup. The iPhone 12 is basically a given at this point.
However, Apple's still planning to announce a bunch of other new devices before the year ends. Apple has a lot to show, too: From new Apple Watches to the first Apple Silicon Mac computers. Continue reading to browse everything that Apple is still planning to release this year.
New iPad Air
In the last few days, we've heard a bunch of new information about the upcoming iPad Air, which is rumored to be released this fall.
Because of its great performance and cheaper price, the iPad Air gives the best of both worlds between the high-end iPad Pro, and the more affordable iPad and iPad mini.
Apple knows this and it's planning on giving the next-generation iPad Air a new look. Some rumors suggest the new iPad Air will be more like an iPad Pro Lite.
The new iPad Air will have a similar design as the iPad Pro, with smaller bezels in the front and no Home button. The good news is, we'll still have Touch ID available.
According to some manuals that were leaked a while back, the iPad Air's Touch ID will be located on the power button on the side. If this is true, we might see more iPad and other devices with Touch ID on the power button, which could be a great solution for people who don't like using Face ID.
More great news is that the new iPad Air will switch from using a Lightning port to USB-C, like the current iPad Pro sports.
New Apple Watches
Yes, you read that right, Apple Watches. Some rumors are saying that Apple is planning to release two different Apple Watches this year.
The first model is the Apple Watch Series 6. We don't have much information about this one, but we're expecting the same design as the Series 5, with a few improvements and new features, such as a blood oxygen monitor.
We should also expect better battery life on the Apple Watch Series 6 since Apple finally released its sleep tracker that uses the Apple Watch to measure how well you sleep all night long.
The other Apple Watch is supposed to be a cheaper model. This Apple Watch would come to replace the Apple Watch Series 3 as the more affordable option. Think of it as an Apple Watch SE.
We don't know much about the cheaper Apple Watch either, other than it's supposed to be announced September 15th.
New HomePod mini
Another device that should come before this year ends is the so-called HomePod mini.
The current HomePod hasn't been well-received by Apple users. Its high price and limited Siri functionality weren't exactly a must-have, especially when compared to Google Home or Amazon Echo.
Apple's thinking about launching a new, smaller HomePod, with a cheaper price tag and fewer speakers than the original.
Although it's not likely that we'll see the new HomePod mini during the iPhone event in October, there's still speculation that we'll see the new home assistant sometime this fall.
New AirPods Studio
The infamous Apple over-ear headphones have been rumored for years now. But it wasn't until this year when we started hearing strong rumors and leaks about them.
We already have a pretty good idea of everything the AirPods Studio will bring, including a better noise-cancelling feature and an ear sensor that'll let you use the headphones backward.
There's been a lot of speculation regarding the AirPods Studio's release date. First, there were rumors that Apple would announce the headphones during WWDC '20, which, of course, didn't happen. Now, we're expecting Apple to announce the AirPods Studio in the fall.
The First Apple Silicon Mac
One of the biggest news during this year's WWDC was that Apple would stop using Intel's processors on future Mac computers. Instead, the company would start creating their own custom Apple Silicon.
This means that future Mac computers would be powered by a chip similar to what we see on the iPhone and iPad.
According to Apple, this change could take up to two years. But that doesn't mean we'll have to wait that long try these new computers.
Apple also confirmed that we'll see the first Apple Silicon computer by the end of this year. Some rumors are saying that the first computer with Apple Silicon will be a new 12" MacBook.
It's still too early to know exactly what this MacBook will feature, or how good it'll be. Fortunately, we only have to wait a few more months until we find out.
New Apple AirTags
Apple AirTags have been Apple's worst kept secret this year. Why, do you ask? Well, it was Apple itself the one that leaked the name of this new product in a video a few months back.
The AirTags are Apple's first tracking devices. These are meant to be small tiles that you attach to other devices to never lose sight of where they are.
You'll be able to see where your devices are or where they've been by using Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband technology.
If you lose any device, you can turn on Lost Mode, which will let you know where you AirTags are and you can also see directions to get there. But, before any of this happens, you'll get a notification on your iPhone letting you know you might be forgetting your device before leaving the area.
We don't know how these AirTags will adhere to your devices, or if Apple will sell them in bulk at a cheaper price. One thing is for certain though, we should expect to see them really soon.