According to mark Gurman, a well-known Apple whistleblower, Apple has decided to hold a new product launch conference around March 8 this year, when it will release new products such as iPhone SE and iPad Air.
Sources revealed that like Apple's previous press conferences, the March conference is expected to be held online. In the fourth quarter of last year, Apple recorded its highest single-quarter revenue on record and quelled concerns that supply chain bottlenecks were hurting sales. Now, the company is setting higher targets for 2022.
Gurman said that Apple is not only ready to unveil a series of new products at the conference, he also expects the tech giant to make a preview of the new devices launched this year.
However, the source said that the date is still more than a month away, so there may be many variables in the plan.
iPhone SE 3
Gurman wrote that the "star" product of this conference will be Apple's latest iPhone SE 3 (third-generation iPhone SE) that supports 5G networks, at which time the iPhone product line will all shift to support 5G.
In addition to 5G network capabilities, the new phone will also be equipped with a sharper camera and a faster processor. This will be Apple's first update to the iPhone SE model in nearly two years, but the product design is expected to be similar to the version unveiled in April 2020.
According to reports, the iPhone SE 3 will continue to use the physical Home button and the non-full screen design, following the design of the previous generation of iPhone SE, but the processor will definitely be upgraded to the A15 bionic processor.
In addition, the new iPhone SE will be equipped with 4GB of RAM, and the storage space will be upgraded to 128GB to start with a 12-megapixel rear lens. According to the news, in order to compete for low-end users of Android, the pricing of the new iPhone SE is lower than that of the previous generation, which may drop to $299 or 1999 yuan.
iPad Air 5
Another "almost certainty" product, Gurman said, is the iPad Air 5 (the fifth generation of iPad Air). Similar to the new SE phone, the iPad Air 5 will also come with a 5G network as well as a faster processor, the A15 Bionic processor.
According to reports, the new iPad Air may be similar to the new iPad mini configuration, equipped with a 12 million pixel ultra-wide angle front camera (also has a four-color LED true color flash), while the front camera supports the Center Stage character center function.
In terms of design, the iPad Air 5 is the same as the current iPad Air 4 released in October 2020, still a narrow 10.9-inch bezel, and the touch ID is integrated on the power button.
In addition to the new devices, Apple also plans to release iOS 15.4 in the first half of March, an update that makes it easier for users to unlock their iPhones or iPads while wearing masks. In addition, the new system comes with new emoticons and universal controls that allow customers to use keyboards and trackpads on multiple iPads and Macs.
Will there be other surprises?
Apple's 2022 lineup could include new iMac and Mac Pro desktops, a redesigned MacBook Air, an entry-level MacBook Pro, three Apple Watches, four iPhone 14s and new AirPods headphones, Gurman said. Apple plans to launch at least one new Mac this spring, but it's unclear if it will appear at the spring launch.
Gurman said Apple is considering installing face recognition feature "Face ID" on the 24-inch iMac. Because the Macbook is so thin and light, Gurman believes that if Face ID is actually available on a Mac, it will "first appear on an iMac or external display." Apparently, Apple "has certainly been working on this, but time will tell if they'll release it." ”
Gurman added that the new entry-level 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro will use the M2 chip, but will not be equipped with a ProMotion screen like the 14-inch and 16-inch versions of the MacBook Pro. He also revealed that Apple is developing a high-end mixed reality (MR) headset, but as things stand, it's more likely to be released in 2023.
According to media reports last month, the company's original goal was to announce the MR device as early as the end of 2022, but the challenges encountered in the development process delayed the time.