Every September, Apple returns to have half the world pending its news. This Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. is marked in red by millions of technology enthusiasts to know before anyone else what the Cupertino technology company announces. However, except for a major surprise, Apple will break with ten years of tradition.
Your usual mid-September event won’t revolve around your popular iPhones. The coronavirus has affected everyone, including Apple’s plans. To meet the expected iPhone 12 we will have to wait a few weeks, as confirmed by Apple to its shareholders, while renowned analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo aim in mid-October for the great event of their renewed phones.
The other big star of the afternoon would be a new iPad Air with narrower frames and a more usable useful surface. This could be accompanied by another more basic and affordable tablet. However, it is not ruled out that Apple will get a barrage of news out of the hat and in recent hours the presentation of AirTags locators, new audio devices and even a method to combine their services under a single subscription has gained strength.
Two Apple Watch
Last September Apple launched the Apple Watch Series 5, a device focused on health and that stood out for keeping the screen always active. Now, the company is expected to unveil its renewal: the Apple Watch Series 6, as well as a cheaper version that could be called Apple Watch SE, similar to its more affordable iPhone.
Mark Gurman, one of the insiders with the greatest knowledge of what is happening on the Cupertino campus, details in Bloomberg that the new Watch Series 6 will maintain the two sizes of the current Series 5 (40 and 44 mm), it would have a new color and whose great novelty will be the ability to accurately monitor blood oxygen (spO2).
Another of the great novelties of this new Series 6 would be an improvement in battery life since in addition to improving its physical monitoring, it would also have the ability to measure the quality of sleep. That is why it is also speculated that it could come with fast charging, which seems essential to last day and night.
The Apple Watch SE for its part would sacrifice features to be cheaper and thus replace Series 3 that sells for 229 euros. It would have a smaller screen (40 and 42mm) and without the ability to keep it on when you’re not looking. It would not have the ability to perform electrocardiograms either, but it would be equally focused on health and sports.
iPad Air without frames
If Apple renewed its most ambitious iPad, the iPad Pro, last March, this September it would be the turn of the iPad Air, which will inherit the appearance of its older brother. In this way, the fourth generation of the device will have narrower frames that can make it maintain dimensions but that its screen can grow up to 10.8 inches diagonally, compared to the current 10.5.
Although its design is similar to that of the iPad Pro, there will be notable differences. It would not have Face ID, Apple’s facial recognition system, and instead would have the Touch ID fingerprint reader that could be located on the lock button. Nor would it have the LiDAR on the back but a single camera. Yes, it would have a Smart Connector with which it could be compatible with keyboards like the Magic Keyboard with the idea of having a cheaper iPad that can also replace our MacBook.
iPad Air 4
Touch ID
via 小红书 pic.twitter.com/2jc09uAKUY— DuanRui (@duanrui1205) August 27, 2020
Although it would improve the processor, the new Air would not have a ProMotion screen either, which, thanks to having a refresh rate of 120 hz, makes the experience more fluid. Of course, everything seems to indicate that it would make the leap to Apple Pencil 2. It should be noted that this iPad would be the first of two that would have to arrive this year, revealed Kuo, who pointed out that the iPad Mini could also be renewed before it ends year. Regarding its power, the popular leaker of technological information Evan Blass has pointed out in the last hours that this new iPad Air would equip an A14, the same chip that the next iPhone is expected to have.
Likewise, Blass also points out that Apple could announce an eighth-generation iPad that would replace the tablet that the company unveiled a year ago, during the keynote for the presentation of the iPhone 11. This new device would have the A12X, the processor of the old generation of the iPad Pro, but it would not renew its design as it would continue to bet on lightning output.
AirTags: never lose your wallet
A rumor that has gained weight in recent hours has been the AirTags, Tile- style location beacons, designed so that the user does not lose any of their most precious assets.
As detailed by Jon Prosser Apple will show at its event on Tuesday some small devices that, through Bluetooth technology, will connect with our mobile to determine how far they are from us as well as know the last known location.
If it works like the Tile, one of the veteran references and that some manufacturers already integrate in their products, a community of users could also be created to take advantage of the choral technology and locate them even if we are not close. It should be noted that these trackers would also work in reverse, that is, to locate the phone.
News in services
Services have become a fundamental pillar of the company. Its growth has skyrocketed to account for 22% of revenues, so Apple wants to make them grow hand in hand with its ecosystem.
Last year during the presentation of the iPhone 11, in addition to presenting a watch and an iPad, Apple also announced that its ambitious Apple TV + television service would be free for a year for anyone who bought a new device. Similarly, the company is expected to make an announcement regarding its services at Tuesday’s keynote.
Everything points to the fact that the star ad could be Apple One, a subscription that would combine several of its services in a single payment, which would allow the user to have a discount if they were hired separately. It is expected that there will be different packs with Music and TV + as main references, but to which Arcade orNews +.
Also, given the capabilities of physical monitoring of the clock and the rise of home training caused by the pandemic, could Apple Fitness, a subscription system that would rival the rise of the YouTubers exercise at home and open the door for agreements with companies like Nike or Peloton, which would further exploit GymKit.
Other surprises
Among the last-minute rumors, there are also speculations with other devices that Apple is expected to unveil before the end of the year. Their inclusion is within the possibilities, but not being seen in Tuesday’s keynote would not be a surprise either.
It is speculated that two news related to audio may arrive. A revamped HomePod, smaller and more accessible than the current model, as well as AirPods Studio, which would be the company’s first noise-canceling over-ear headphones. It should be remembered that during the past WWDC Apple announced that the AirPods Pro will have spatial sound, a function that could reach this Studio and will rival the 360 Reality Audio of the Sony WH-1000XM4. It seems less likely that computer news such as its ARM-based Macs, a new MacBook Air or renewal of its Apple TV will be made known.
Of course, nothing can be ruled out since the company always has the ability to surprise the public. In any case, until Tim Cook leaves the Steve Jobs theater stage – although it is empty due to the virtual nature of the event – it will not be possible to confirm what new devices will arrive in stores in the coming weeks.