It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Okay, for most of us, 2020 was not the best of times. But when it comes to iOS, Apple definitely seemed to be in a party or starvation mode.
The company launched five new iPhone models (did you forget the second generation iPhone SE?), and there was a major overhaul of the iPad Air that basically turned it into a low-cost iPad Pro. The iPad Pro has had an amazing update – but an amazing new accessory on the Magic Keyboard for iPad!
There was more to celebrate than boos in the iPhone and iPad world in 2020, and that puts you well ahead of most of the world. But can 2021 offer something better? It’s time for some predictions.
Lucky number 13
In the past two years, Apple has increased the name of the iPhone by a single number, going to the iPhone 11 and then to the iPhone 12. This would normally make me sure that an iPhone 13 was on the horizon, instead of an iPhone 12S . But we live in a world where some buildings don’t label their thirteenth floor as their thirteenth floor because of … boogins? Bad mojo? Superstition, this is the world.
Will there be an iPhone 13? I can’t see Apple jumping over and going straight to 14, and Apple can’t step in the water by adding letters to the end of iPhone 12 forever. My money is at Apple calling it the iPhone 13, making a joke about superstitions at product launch and moving on as usual.
After a major exterior design update with the iPhone 12, I hope Apple will leave things as they are in 2021. The new iPhone will look more or less like current models, albeit with some new colors, some texture variations and maybe a “smaller notch” for the TrueDepth camera stack.
Michael DeAgonia / IDGThe Lightning port on the iPhone will last at least another year.
It looks like it will probably be another year or two before Apple tries to use a foldable iPhone, but I wouldn’t be shocked if we had a “no-door” iPhone created with the omission of the Lightning port. If that happens, Apple would likely revise the MagSafe connector released this year to also support data transfers and throw one in the box. But if I had to foresee – and I do, that’s why I’m here – I would say that the much-talked about portless iPhone won’t happen in 2021. Why force yourself to include a MagSafe charger when you can sell them as add-ons profitable?
If you bet on Apple by launching some camera improvements for the new iPhone, you will never break. I’m sure that the next iPhone cameras will be better, bigger, better able to capture photos and videos, whatever you want. The sensor stabilization feature introduced this year on the iPhone 12 Pro Max can reach the iPhone Pro. And I predict that Apple will continue to add next-generation features to the Pro Max.
Finally, I will predict that the global pandemic will finally have an impact on the iPhone product line. Thanks to the prevalence of masks in society and the unfortunate barrier they form for Face ID scans, I predict that Apple will launch the Touch ID built into this year’s iPad Air button for the next iPhone, as a compliment to Face ID.
iPad updates for sure
I don’t want to appear ungrateful, but that iPad Pro 2020 update was disheartening. The iPad Pro’s A12Z processor is now based on two-year technology. The entire update looked like a placeholder, and by 2021 we should get a suitable Updated iPad Pro, which uses an A14X processor that offers performance similar to what we see on the Mac with the M1.
The other addition I would like to provide for the iPad Pro is its screen. I don’t think the iPad Pro is going to get any bigger – for those who use a 12.9-inch model every day, it’s already pretty big. Making any of the models bigger would force Apple to also produce new models of the Magic Keyboard, which is a shame.
But what about display technology inside the iPad Pro? There are conflicting rumors about whether Apple will use mini-LED technology on the iPad Pro. But it sure looks like being able to declare the iPad Pro a true HDR screen would be something that Apple would want, wouldn’t it?
Operating system updates coming
Apple always surprises us with operating system updates, and iOS 15 will undoubtedly bring some amazing new features and old standard adjustments.
AppleThe next version of iPadOS may include a redesigned home screen.
However, what interests me most is an iOS 13 feature that is being brought to the iPad for the first time: a redesigned home screen with the ability to place Widgets anywhere, instead of in a sidebar on a single page . I can see why Apple didn’t try to rebuild the iPad home screen during the same cycle as the iPhone, but now is the time. It’s time to rethink everything, perhaps diverging even more from the iPhone’s design than one might expect. I think it will happen.
In addition, however, I think we can be in a relatively quiet year for iOS. To be sure, a huge amount of work is going on under the surface – Apple needs to improve the flow of applications from iPhone and iPad to the Mac, work to better unify the development of the iPad and Mac Catalyst, and develop SwiftUI as the multi – future software writing platform for Apple software platforms.
But for the regular user, I think it will look like a minor update year. Some unexpected fun additions, developer updates and bug fixes. After a year like 2020, I think it would be wise for all of us to focus on healing wounds, fixing bugs and adding as little drama as possible to the procedures.