Top stories: leaks of iPhone 13, iPads and OLED Macs, new evidence from AirTags

Rumors of the iPhone are heating up, with famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo releasing this week a comprehensive report outlining his expectations for the iPhone line in the next three years.

This week there were also rumors about OLED screens potentially coming to the iPad and Mac starting next year, increasing the signs of AirTags functionality in iOS 14.5 beta and more, so check out all the details below!

iPhone 13 Rumors: smaller and bigger batteries, 120 Hz screen for professional models and more

Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week shared a long list of expectations for future iPhones in the years to come.

Kuo said that this year’s iPhone 13 lineup will consist of the same four models as the iPhone 12 lineup, all with a smaller notch, larger batteries, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X60 modem with 5G improvements, upgraded cameras, a Lightning connector and more. Exclusive to the iPhone 13 Pro models, there will be a long-awaited 120 Hz display and improvements to the Ultra Wide lens with a wider aperture and auto focus, he added.

After easing the notch this year, Apple may remove it entirely next year, with Kuo predicting that at least some 2,022 iPhone models will switch to a perforated screen design like many of Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones, but he did not explain how this works given that the notch currently houses the front camera and the facial ID components Some face recognition and camera solutions under the screen already exist.

Apple also plans to launch a new iPhone SE with a design similar to the existing 4.7-inch model in the first half of 2022, with important new features to include a faster chip and 5G support, according to Kuo. And in 2023, a 7.5-8 inch foldable iPhone could become a reality.

iPhone with Lightning port over USB-C for ‘foreseeable future’

As part of his broad research note on future iPhones this week, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo downplayed the possibility of an iPhone without a port being launched this year, noting that Apple will continue to use its proprietary Lightning connector in the “foreseeable future”.

“We believe that USB-C is harmful to MFi [Made for iPhone] the company’s profitability and its waterproof specification is less than Lightning and MagSafe, “wrote Kuo.” So if the iPhone leaves Lightning in the future, it can directly adopt the portless design with MagSafe support instead of using a USB-C port. At the moment, the MagSafe ecosystem is not mature enough, so the iPhone will continue to use the Lightning port for the foreseeable future. ”

It was Kuo himself who originally predicted that Apple would launch a next-generation iPhone without a Lightning connector in 2021. He also expected a low-cost iPhone with a Touch ID on / off button to launch this year, but now he said the moment is not clear to introduce such a resource.

Rumors of 10.9 “OLED iPad for early 2022, 12.9” iPad Pro and 16 “MacBook Pro may follow

There are rumors that Apple is making the transition to mini-LED screens on some of its upcoming iPad and Mac models, but it looks like there may be another screen technology coming to these devices: OLED.

According DigTimes, the first of Apple’s largest notebooks to adopt an OLED screen is likely to be a 10.9-inch PiPad‌, probably an updated version of the iPad Air. The updated PiPad‌ is planned to go into production in the fourth quarter of this year, with a launch in the early 2022. In addition to the 10.9-inch iPad, Apple is also considering using OLED screens for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

iOS 14.5 Beta 3 introduces ‘Item Safety Feature’ before AirTags launch

Apple’s long-awaited AirTag item trackers have been rumored for nearly two years, and there are signs that an ad may finally be approaching.

In the third beta of iOS 14.5 released this week, a new “Items” tab was enabled by default in the Find My app. This section will allow users to track selected non-Apple products, such as Beats headphones and the next Belkin wireless headphones, and items equipped with AirTags, such as backpack or luggage, are expected to be managed in this as well. guide.

There is also a new “Item Security” toggle button in the Find My app. When this feature is enabled, iPhone users will receive a notification when an unknown item is found moving around with them, probably to help prevent a person from being chased by another person with AirTags or similar.

March is a common month for Apple product announcements, so there is hope that AirTags will finally be revealed this month, but the release date is not yet clear. Apple previously said that iOS 14.5 will be released in “early spring”, suggesting that the update will be released in the week of Monday, March 22 or later, and perhaps the AirTags will be released around the same time.

HomeKit Essentials worth checking out

HomeKit was slow to take off after its launch in 2014, but now that it has been around for seven years, there are hundreds of centenasHomeKit‌ products available, ranging from doorbells and speakers to TVs, lights and cameras. In one of our most recent YouTube videos, we have put together some of our favorite ‌HomeKit‌ products that we find most useful.

An example:

• Logitech Circle View Doorbell ($ 199) – Circle View replaces your existing doorbell with a version that offers video, so you can see who’s at your door and keep an eye on package deliveries. It has HomeKit Secure Video, so the only plan you need is a 200 GB or 1 TB iCloud storage plan to record video. Offers HD video, color night vision and a discreet design.

NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover uses the same PowerPC chipset found in the 1998 iMac G3

NASA’s Perseverance rover that landed on Mars last month is equipped with a more durable variant of the PowerPC 750 processor, the same chip used in the colorful iMac G3 in 1998.

Designed by Jony Ive, the iMac G3 is widely considered the computer that saved Apple, which had flirted with bankruptcy in the late 1990s until Steve Jobs returned to the company. After the iMac G3, Apple launched iconic products such as the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010, which helped it become the most valuable company in the world.

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