Introduction
Earlier today, Siri has spilled the beans earlier that the first Apple event this year will be on April 20. It’s now past 9 on the dot (Pacific Daylight Time), and it is now official. Mark your calendars because Apple will host a virtual media event from Apple Park on April 20 at 10am PDT/1pm EDT.
Starting with WWDC 2020, this event is going to be virtual. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines rolling out, Apple is not ready to go back to in-person conferences. As with previous events from last year, this event is going to be prerecorded, and Apple’s style with filming virtual events is quite favorable.
What to Expect
iPad Pro
Apple last updated the iPad Pro back in March 2020 with the A12Z chip and LIDAR scanner. However, the 2020 iPad Pros don’t have any compelling upgrades over the 2018 models. This year’s update should bring a modest substantial hardware upgrade. First, the iPad Pro will sport a 5nm A14X chip, which will bring better performance and efficiency. Second, the iPad Pro will now support Thunderbolt connectivity for its USB-C port of the first time. This will make the iPad Pro a much more appealing PC alternative. Third, only the 12.9″ iPad Pro will have the mini-LED display for much improved brightness and contrast ratio that’s comparable to those of OLED displays. Fourth, both models will most likely have 5G cellular connectivity introduced on the iPhone 12 line. Fifth, the iPad Pro will feature improved cameras, possibly up to par with the performance of the iPhone 12’s cameras. Note that the 12.9″ iPad Pro may launch with initial supply shortages. The Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil may get updated and will be compatible with iPad Air (4th generation) and iPad Pro (2018 or later).
iPad mini
Apple last updated the iPad mini back in March 2019 with an long-overdue upgrade, including an A12 chip and Apple Pencil support. According to recent case leaks, it looks like the iPad mini’s design will remain unchanged with the 6th generation. Others rumors expected a redesign that takes cues from that of the iPad Pro. But that won’t be the case here. It’s also not clear if the next iPad mini will have a larger display. However, it will most likely have an A14 chip to bring the performance up to par with the iPad Air. It will retain the Lightning port for connectivity, so it will only support the first generation Apple Pencil.
Image: Sonny Dickson via Twitter
iMac
The iMac hasn’t seen a major redesign since October 2012 with the front looking the same for over ten years. Apple did update the 27-inch iMac on August 2020, but with SSDs standard across all models, there’s a lot of empty space inside the iMac. With that said, the iMac is in dire need of an upgrade. Recently, Apple discontinued the SSD configurations of the 21.5-inch model as well as the iMac Pro. Apple’s transition from Intel to its own custom silicon is off to a remarkable start with the launch of its first M1 Macs. It’s most likely that the next iMacs will have the same generation of Apple Silicon for Mac, possibly a more advanced ‘M1X’ chip. Following the recent designs of other products, we should see a redesign that takes on the same design cues from iPhone and iPad. This includes rounded display corners, flat side edges, and possibly new colors.
AirTags
For over a year since the iPhone 11’s debut, Apple’s Tile-like competitor has been rumored for a very long time. Recently, Apple updated its Find My network to expand its support to third-party accessories. With products starting to roll-out, Apple would want to offer its official accessory for users to stay in Apple’s ecosystem. That’s where AirTags come into play. Similar to Tile, users will attach AirTags to any “non-smart” everyday item, and they can track its location with the Find My application. It’s rumored to be priced at $39.
Other Accessories
As with every spring when Apple launched a hardware product, Apple will bring new seasonal colors to its accessories, including its iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands.
2021 Spring Colors. pic.twitter.com/EOaZ2P0SAI
— Tommy Boi (@Tommyboiiiiii) April 11, 2021
Software
Additionally, Apple would release software updates to all of its products around this time period as Apple released several betas to each of its platforms. These updates provide under-the-hood and welcomed changes. Apple will release the following software updates as soon as next Tuesday: iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4, and macOS Big Sur 11.3. One of the biggest features is that iOS 14.5 will support unlocking with Apple Watch.
Conclusion
It looks like that next week’s event is going to be well jam-packed with a plethora of hardware announcements! Are you excited for next week? What product are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us at @Appleosophy. You can also download these wallpapers here for fun.
