Apple officially announced that the spring conference of the iPhone SE will be held on March 9

On March 3, Apple issued an invitation to the media on Wednesday to hold a spring conference on March 8 (2 a.m. Beijing time on the 9th), and it is expected that the company will release a new low-priced 5G iPhone at the event.

The campaign, under the slogan "Peek Performance," will be broadcast digitally on Apple's website. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Apple's launches have been conducted online.

This will be Apple's new product launch since October 2021, when apple released the new MacBook Pro laptop. Last year, the company held a spring launch event in April, unveiling new high-end iPads and iMac computers.

Compared to the traditional autumn launch, the devices that Apple releases in the spring are relatively less important to the company. At its fall launches, Apple tends to release higher-end iPhone models with higher prices and higher profits before the holiday shopping season. Apple also holds its annual developer conference, WWDC, in June, and sometimes releases new hardware.

According to media and analysts, Apple may announce the launch of a new low-priced iPhone that supports 5G and fingerprint readers, as well as a mid-range iPad. The company currently offers a low-priced iPhone called the iPhone SE, which launched in the spring of 2020 and retails for $399. This is the latest iPhone with Apple Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

It is also reported that the new iPad is expected to be an updated version of the iPad Air. The last update on this device was in October 2020 and currently retails for $599.

In addition, Apple may also release the latest version of the iPhone system software iOS 15.4, which includes several new features, such as the use of facial recognition to unlock devices when users wear masks, and the acceptance of contactless credit card payments without adding hardware.

Here are the new products we might see at Apple's first launch event in 2022:

iPhone SE

The upgraded iPhone SE is one of the most anticipated Apple devices most likely to appear in this launch. Since October 2021, there have been numerous rumors that it will be unveiled sometime in the spring of 2022. Rumor has it that the device is currently being tested in India.

The main improvement of the iPhone SE is considered to support 5G connectivity, which will make it a more cost-effective option for consumers looking to use a faster carrier network. Of course, there are also rumors that although it supports 5G, it does not support the faster millimeter wave (mmWave).

In addition to supporting 5G, it is rumored that the iPhone SE is essentially an upgrade in terms of specifications. It may come with an A15 SoC, increased storage space, and other internal features of the current iPhone model.

As for the look, it seems that this smartphone will retain its existing appearance and 4.7-inch screen. Some rumors suggest it will feature a larger screen design, but that could be appropriate for other future versions.

iPad Air

The "iPad Air 5" was also the focus of Apple's spring conference. Current speculation about the fifth-generation model includes support for 5G links, as well as the use of the A15 bionic chip. It is revealed that this device will also be equipped with a 12-megapixel FaceTime HD camera that supports Center Stage. There are also rumors that the device will use a dual-camera system on the back, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina screen, and continue to use Touch ID.

There is also a lot of controversy about which screen the "iPad Air 5" will use. Some rumors say that Apple is unlikely to launch an OLED version of the iPad Air, but there are also rumors that OLED for the iPad is under development, which may include the iPad Air, but may not include it.

Mac mini

For a long time, there have been rumors that the Mac mini will undergo a major upgrade. Back in mid-2021, there were rumors that Apple would be completely redesigning the smallest Mac currently on sale.

While retaining the square hockey shape, the Mac mini's design changes are thought to include metal edges and polycarbonate tops, as well as rubber tiptoes instead of rounded bases.

The ports on the back are thought to be more numerous than the original M1 Mac mini, including four Thunderbolt ports, as well as two USB-A ports, An Ethernet jack, and HDMI. Borrowing the idea of a 24-inch iMac, it has also been speculated that the Mac mini may support magnetic charging connections.

MacBook Air

Much like the Mac mini, the upgraded MacBook Air is expected to undergo a major redesign. Most notably the change in color, the 24-inch iMac may have inspired this trend.

In addition to color, the 13.3-inch display can also be upgraded to include a mini-LED backlight, like the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the 16-inch MacBook Pro. There are also notches on the display to fill the screen with more displayable surfaces while still providing webcam functionality.

The camera is expected to be a 1080p assembly with an ultra-wide lens and Center Stage support. In addition, it is rumored that it will support MagSafe. Inside the device, the MacBook Air is thought to be equipped with an M2 chip, which will obviously be better than the M1, but probably not the M1 Pro or M1 Max.

13-inch MacBook Pro

There are relatively few rumors about Apple upgrading the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but it could also appear at the spring launch. As one of the first three devices to carry Apple Silicon, it has been identified as one of the models that is likely to be upgraded soon.

As a device similar to the MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is likely to have the same internal upgrades, such as an M2 chip and a new FaceTime camera.

However, it has previously been reported that the 13-inch MacBook Pro will not be as drastically upgraded as the 14-inch and 16-inch products. Obviously, it won't come with a mini LED ProMotion display like a larger model, and as an entry-level model, it will have less storage and processing power, keeping the price low.

On January 17, leakers said that the reason why Apple did not make a major upgrade to the 13-inch MacBook Pro may be because the company intends to launch a 14-inch MacBook Pro upgrade later in 2022, which may become the new entry-level MacBook Pro model.

Despite the potential alternatives, Apple seems to be hoping to launch a 13-inch newer model as soon as possible. It was previously reported that Chinese parts suppliers were always running during the Spring Festival holiday to meet the needs of the MacBook Pro upgrade released in March.

Mark Gurman, a veteran reporter at Apple Information, recently said that the 13-inch MacBook Pro upgrade will be an important part of Apple's spring launch event.

【Source: NetEase Technology】