Could there be an Apple event this spring? There is growing evidence that new products are on the way, from new AirPods to a new iPad Pro and more. The event would almost certainly be virtual because of the ongoing pandemic, but there are many precedents for a spring event …
March event is not happening
First, March 16 gained momentum on social media as a potential date for an Apple event, but trusted sources quickly defeated that expectation.
Then, March 23 was also reported as when Apple would hold its March event this year. Although this date was reported by several different sources, an event on March 23 did not materialize. As such, we now expect the first Apple event of the year to be held in April, at the very least.
Whether or not Apple will host an event in April remains to be seen, but it is certainly a possibility, given the product portfolio the company is supposed to have ready to announce.
Apple Spring Event History
Some Apple events are almost certain to happen every year, including the WWDC in June and the annual iPhone event in the fall. In most years, it is also reasonable to expect a second fall event focused on the Mac. Last year, for example, we had three Apple events in three months: iPad and Apple Watch in September, iPhone 12 in October and Apple Silicon Mac in November.
Spring events are more difficult to predict. Apple did not hold a spring event in 2020 due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but announced a new iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard and MacBook Air via press releases in March, followed by the second generation iPhone SE via a statement. press release in April.
In 2019, Apple held a spring event exclusively dedicated to its Services segment, with details on Apple News +, Apple Card, Apple TV + and Apple Arcade. In March 2018, Apple invited everyone to Chicago, where it announced a new education-oriented iPad.
If Apple held a March 2021 event, we would expect it to be virtual because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. It can be argued that virtual events are easier for Apple to organize than face-to-face events, which gives more credit to the possibility of a virtual event this spring.
Here are some potential candidates for an Apple Spring Event, if one materializes.
New iPad Pro and iPad mini
One of the main rumors is that Apple will launch a new iPad Pro with mini-LED screen technology during the first quarter of 2021. The expectation is that the mini-LED backlight will reach the 12.9-inch iPad Pro first, eventually followed by the 11-inch iPad Pro.
The iPad Pro (2021) line is expected to be virtually identical to the 2020 model in terms of design. Therefore, the biggest change is likely to be the change in screen technology, in addition to a new chip likely based on the internal A14 for even better performance. 9to5Mac I recently found evidence in the iOS and iPadOS code of the new A14X processor that is likely to be used on the iPad Pro.
More recently, Bloomberg reported that the new line of iPad Pro may be announced as early as April. The report also mentioned that the new iPad Pros will feature Thunderbolt connectivity for the first time. This would open the door for additional accessories, such as external monitors, storage and more.
Apple is also reportedly working on a new iPad mini that could be launched this year. The new iPad mini features an 8.4-inch screen with smaller bezels. It, unfortunately, will not feature a design review similar to the iPad Air 4 and iPad Pro, with Apple maintaining the top and bottom bezels, home button and Touch ID.
Apple last updated the iPad mini in 2019, bringing a faster A12 Bionic processor, in addition to other improvements.
Finally, there are rumors that Apple is developing a new low-cost iPad, but we don’t expect it to be released by the end of this year.
Reports of a new Apple TV have been circulating for a while now, as the current line begins to really show its age compared to competing streaming devices. Recent reports have suggested that a new Apple TV is still in progress in 2021, but the details are unclear.
Similarly, AirTags have been rumored for two years. Apple’s item tracking accessories are yet to be released this year. Whether the new AirTags or Apple TV will materialize this spring is not yet known, but Jon Prosser recently tweeted that the accessory is scheduled for March.
The transition of Apple Silicon continues
Apple acknowledged that it will take approximately two years to transition the entire Mac line to Apple Silicon chips. As such, we expect new silicone Macs from Apple to be announced over the course of 2021. Currently, rumors indicate that we can expect a new line of iMac, as well as new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros this year.
Although the new MacBook Pro models are not expected to be released until the second half of 2021, the redesigned iMacs may arrive before that. Apple stopped selling a handful of 21.5-inch iMac models and also recently discontinued the iMac Pro without a clear replacement.
The new iMacs could certainly be announced at an Apple event in April, if one were to happen. Given the expected redesign, Apple is likely to want to host an event for the launch of the iMac, rather than announcing it through a press release.
iPhone SE 3
Macotakara reported that Apple will also launch a new third-generation iPhone SE in April. The details here are not entirely clear, but the April launch would come exactly a year after the launch of the 4.7-inch iPhone SE in 2020. On the other hand, Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is unlikely to announce a new iPhone SE until the next year.
Rumors suggest that Apple is working on a larger version of the iPhone SE, probably with a 5.5-inch screen and a design similar to that of the iPhone 8 Plus. Whether or not this will happen in the spring of 2021 remains to be seen.
AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2
Following the introduction of AirPods Max in December, Apple reportedly has updates on the way for the rest of its AirPods line in 2021.
There are rumors that the new second generation AirPods Pro are on the way. AirPods Pro 2 may feature a “more compact” design that removes the rod that currently sits outside the bottom of AirPods Pro.
Bloomberg warned, however, that such design changes are not guaranteed. Apple is said to have faced challenges in removing the rod from the AirPods Pro while still including features such as transparency mode, the H1 chip and noise cancellation.
Apple is also rumored to be developing new basic AirPods with a shorter stem and replaceable ear tips. They would serve as a replacement for the standard AirPods that Apple sells today. Price information is unclear, but at least one report has suggested that AirPods 3 will cost about 20% less than AirPods Pro, which indicates a price range of $ 199.
That said, the most recent reports have indicated that new AirPods are not likely to arrive by the end of this year, discarding them for the April event.
Conclusion of the Apple Spring event
It remains to be seen whether or not Apple will host an event in April this year. Again, if such an event materializes, we expect it to be completely virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there are rumors of enough new products to fill a 60-minute event, Apple has proven that it is okay to announce new hardware through press releases as well.
To recap, an April event would likely include the launch of the new iPad Pro, AirTags and perhaps new iMacs. Things like the AirPods 3 and the iPhone SE 3 are not expected anytime soon, and the fate of the Apple TV is unclear.
What do you think? Will Apple hold an event in April this year to announce its new hardware for iPad, iMacs and more? Let us know in the comments!
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