Apple will have many events in 2021 where it will reveal the latest products and services for fans of Macs, iPads, iPhones and more. Here’s what we think you’ll see at the expected spring event.
When is Apple’s spring event?
Apple has not yet confirmed that a spring event will take place, but noted leaker Jon Prosser tweeted in October 2020 that there would be an event on March 16, 2021.
Okay, how about “One More Thing”?
After this November ARM Mac event, Apple’s next event (currently a digital event) will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 🗓
The event headliner will be AirPods Studio (B515) https://t.co/UxqQr6je1c pic.twitter.com/oCxVhg3owb
– Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser)
October 16, 2020
Although he declared that AirPods Studio would be the star of the show, this is somewhat mitigated by the launch of wireless headsets like AirPods Max in late 2020. Still, Prosser has a good overall track record, so March 16 is still it seems a reasonable assumption on this point.
What can we expect from Apple’s March event?
Apple generally has its spring event in March, although it is not a certainty, as the company has stopped making spring announcements several times in recent years. When there was an event in March, the company recently used this to reveal new iPads along with the iPhone SE and several software-based products.
For example, in 2019, Apple hosted an event on March 25, in which it featured the services Apple Arcade, Apple TV + and Apple News +.
The previous year brought an update to the entry level 9.7in iPad, which had been presented two years earlier at another March event that also saw the arrival of the original iPhone SE. It is important to note that the iPhone SE (2020) was also released in the spring of 2020, but this was through a press release in April, rather than a dedicated event in March.
With all that in mind, here are the latest rumors and thoughts on what could happen if Apple hosts an event in the spring of 2021.
iPad Pro 2021
This spring may see the arrival of a new iPad Pro, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and supply chain sources. There is no precise date, but all the rumors seem to suggest that Apple updates its line of premium tablets in the first quarter of 2021, which would fit into a March event.
To see what the new device looks like, read our iPad Pro 2021 guide.
iPad mini
There is a chance that March will be the month of the iPad for Apple, with more rumors suggesting that we may see an update of the tiny mini. The big rumor is that the iPad mini 6 could have a bigger screen, leaving behind the 7.9-inch design that is the same since it was launched almost a decade ago.
Skeptics will point to the fact that Apple generally announces iPad mini updates in the fall, but as the company left four years between the iPad mini 4 and iPad mini 5 (the last of which was launched in March 2019), we think safe to assume that the first pattern is not set in stone.
10.5 inch iPad
Completing the iPad range is the basic model that traditionally is presented at events in March. Many think that Apple may be about to move the current 10.2-inch iPad into the frame of the recently discontinued iPad Air 3, which would mean an increase in screen size to 10.5 inches.
For more details on what might be in store for the cheapest tablet in the Apple catalog, read our summary of news and rumors surrounding the 10.5-inch iPad 2021.
New iMac design
It has been argued for some time about why the iMac needs a new design. Well, it looks like 2021 may be the year that Apple will finally address the old chassis of its multifunctional desktop Mac.
The main aesthetic updates are designed to see the reduction of the large bezels that surround the screen, the last of which will increase from 21.5 inches to 23 inches. Of course, the main feature is sure to be the move to the Apple M1 processor that arrived on the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini in 2020. With Apple looking forward to moving all its Macs to the new platform, it seems possible that this can do to appear in the spring, instead of the more traditional fall time.
To learn more about everything you can expect when Apple updates the device, read our new iMac 2021 news hub.
Apple TV
It has been more than three years since Apple last updated its set-top box, and that seems very long when you consider that the company launched its new Apple TV + subscription service in March 2019. There were many stories circulating that Apple would update its streaming device in 2020, but nothing came up. With that in mind, we think there is a good chance that we will see a new Apple TV device arrive in March 2021.
There are also suggestions that Apple will launch its AirTags tracker and new AirPods Pro Lite headsets, but we think Apple may focus more on updating its core products this time. Still, I hope we don’t have to wait long to find out.
Further reading
If you’d like to know more about Apple’s upcoming announcements, read When is Apple’s next event? And for specific information on this year’s most important events, take a look at our iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 13 news hubs.