Apple’s big event in September is less than two weeks away. The company never gives an opinion on what will be announced, but we are all almost certain that it will be the iPhone 14 range (iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, both in regular and Max sizes) and the new Apple Watches (Apple Watch Series 8 in two sizes and probably a third larger “Pro” or “Extreme Sport” model, and a new Apple Watch SE).
But it’s not nearly all irons in the fire for the world’s most valuable company. What else is Cupertino up to, and what else might we see at the “Distant” event? Here’s a list of rumored future Apple products, along with our best predictions of whether or not we’ll see them on September 7.
2nd Generation AirPods Pro
Of all the products Apple has in the works, the most likely to appear at the September event alongside iPhones and Apple Watches is the new AirPods Pro.
These second-generation AirPods Pro (or AirPods Pro 2 as some call them) have been rumored for a long time, but they’re said to ultimately hit the market this fall. Why announce them with the new iPhones? Well, one of the rumors is that they will support Bluetooth 5.2 and LE-Audio. Since no current iPhone supports Bluetooth 5.2, it would make sense to combine the ads. We don’t think Apple would dare to run the new AirPods Pro only with newer iPhones, but they may offer more advanced features when used with newer handsets. Kind of like “the new AirPods Pro do all these great things, but if you’ve connected them to the new iPhone, it does these other things too”.
The new AirPods Pro are expected to have a sleek design, better sound quality, better noise cancellation, and possibly new fitness features too.
AppleTV 4K
There are rumors of a new Apple TV coming in the second half of this year, but we don’t know much other than that it should have an “improved cost structure”. That’s a nice way of saying it will cost Apple less… and that could mean a lower price, or just more profit for Apple.
If it does happen in 2022, it could appear at any time. Unless it’s an absolutely huge change in design and functionality, which isn’t planned, it could be a fairly brief announcement that’s slipped into the September events or October, or even just posted straight to the web with little fanfare.
Jared Newman/Foundry
10th generation iPad
One of the most exciting products on the way this year, if rumors are to be believed, is the 10th generation iPad. Finally breaking with its old design, the new iPad is supposed to take inspiration from the design of the iPad Air, with a 10.5-inch screen, Touch ID in the side button and flat edges. Rumors say it will have USB-C and will also support the second generation Apple Pencil.
But we don’t think he’ll show up at the September event. Apple has iPadOS 16 officially delayed, indicating that the first release will be iPadOS 16.1. We suspect that’s going to happen in October, and there won’t be any new iPads unveiled until an October event to coincide with the iPadOS 16.1 release date.
M2 iPad Pro
Now that the M2 processor is out (in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro), it’s time to update those M1-based iPads with an M2 processor. The M2-based iPad Prods might also have wireless charging, but the larger iPad – 14 or 15-inch – probably won’t appear until next year. look for it M2 iPad Pro land in October with the 10th generation iPad.
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Mac mini M2
Another M1-based product ready for M2 processing is the Mac mini. There have been conflicting reports about this…some say they expect the same Mac mini we have today, only with the new M2 processor. Others say there is a new design in preparation with a new case and two-tone design.
It probably won’t be at the September event – mainstream Macs are usually at a later event, so keep an eye out in October if it happens this year.
Mac Pro
The latest product to make the transition to Apple silicon is the Mac Pro. Apple said the transition would take two years and, well, the time is almost up. Does that mean we’ll see the Mac Pro this year? Reviews are mixed. It’s hard to imagine an “M2 Extreme” in a Mac when we don’t even have a MacBook Pro or Mac Studios with M2 Max or M2 Ultra yet. And with the Mac Studio working so well, there doesn’t seem to be any rush to get something even beefier.
Even though Apple is giving us a preview of the new Mac Pro, with a 2023 release date, we suspect that will happen later in the year rather than at the September event.
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iMacPro
While we’re on the subject of Macs, it’s worth mentioning that Apple is expected to release a Larger Apple silicon-based iMac. What some are calling a new iMac Pro would have Apple Silicon and a new design, similar to the iMac M1. The screen would be larger (about 27 inches) and possibly include ProMotion or mini LED backlights for HDR. It would come with a high-end M2 processor, like an M2 Max or an M2 Ultra.
But none of that is ready yet, and the mere existence of this product seems in question – some say the Apple Studio screen is the product that some tipsters confused with a larger iMac. We don’t think it’s coming in 2022 or even 2023, so don’t hold your breath for a release during the September event.
HomePod with screen
Google has its Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, Amazon has a slew of Echo Show devices, but Apple doesn’t have a smart home device with a display. We have heard rumors of a HomePod with a screen (some call it a “HomePod with an iPad connected”) for a while. The most recent rumors say it’s expected in late 2022 or early 2023.
If this is indeed a late 2022 device, there’s no reason Apple can’t unveil it at the September event. But it looks like it would need a bigger demonstration than sitting in the shadow of the iPhone, Apple’s most popular product. We suspect that won’t happen until 2023, if at all, and we won’t see it at an event this fall.
AR/VR Headset
We know that Apple is working on a Headset or AR glasses. The latest rumors say that the first device will be a limited production, high-end and expensive unit, which the developers will follow up with something sleeker and more affordable for the mass market a year or so later.
Some even say the device will arrive as early as January 2023 – and Apple likes to tease major new products months in advance with a big “one more thing” announcement. There’s no reason it shouldn’t happen at the end of the iPhone event or the October event – after all, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch as one more thing during the iPhone 6 event – but it’s much more likely to have its own event.