According to Bloomberg’s report, Apple is set to unveil a busy hardware lineup later this year. The Cupertino, California-based company is said to be planning to launch a total of four new iPhone models, a pair of Apple Watch smartwatches, its first on-ear headphones, a refreshed mid-tier iPad Air and a smaller homepower Smart speaker.
Bloomberg’s rundown is in line with previous rumors and says Apple has asked its suppliers to produce almost the same number of iPhones as they did last year.
The cornerstone of Apple’s upcoming series of new products will be the front line of iPhones. Bloomberg claims that Apple will introduce four, new 5G iPhones, all of which will feature a refreshed exterior with “improved color and clarity” with iPad Pro-esque squared edges and OLED screens. Although the report does not explicitly state that these new displays are equipped with mini-LED technology or not, the description hints at the same.
However, the screen size of each of these iPhones will be different. Base-level models will be available in 5.4- and 6.1-inch options, while the Pro variants will have 6.1- and 6.7-inch panels – the largest for an iPhone. The highest-end iPhone 12 will reportedly also feature the LIDAR system, with additional sensors deployed primarily for depth sensing and better augmented reality experiences that Apple debuted with the latest iPad Pro. As stated earlier, Apple will ship non-Pro models a few weeks earlier than their Pro counterparts.
In addition, this time, Apple will announce two new Apple Watch smartwatches. One would be the successor to the flagship Apple Watch Series 5 and the other would serve as an entry-level option to take on low-cost rivals from the likes of Fitbit. Also in the works is a smaller, more affordable HomePod smart speaker. These low-cost products align well with Apple’s focus on budget price points for new products as it struggles to recapture market declines in countries such as India.
On top of this, the Bloomberg report confirms earlier rumors that Apple would soon roll out a redesigned iPad Air with narrower bezels – similar to the iPad Pro. Although it does not share any more details, the iPad Air will reportedly have a fingerprint reader in its power button and be compatible with the Magic Keyboard.
Finally, it appears that Apple also has plans to refresh its Apple TV streaming media player. The last update to the popular device was in 2017, with Apple TV 4K launching, and Bloomberg re-affirming previous rumors that a new model will come with a faster processor and an upgraded remote “Find My Remote” feature.
Updated September 1, 2020: Added information about a possible Apple TV refresh.
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