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Apple Event in Spring 2022? Three New Products We Could See
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Is it worth it to purchase the new Mac Mini (2020 with M1 chip) this year or just wait for them to upgrade the mini to a newer but still less costly (not M1 max or M1 pro) chip? Not a content creator, not in a rush to spend, thinking about what to buy for a home computer set up.
Apple's first major product announcements of the year often occur in March or April, so there's a reasonable chance that trend will continue in 2022.
Ahead, we recap some of Apple's past spring announcements and look ahead to some of the first new Apple products that we might see this year.
Past Spring Announcements
Last year, Apple held an event on April 20 to unveil its AirTag item tracker, new iPad Pro and 24-inch iMac models powered by the M1 chip, the second-generation Apple TV 4K, and a new purple color option for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.
Apple did not host a spring event in 2020, likely due to COVID-19 being declared a worldwide pandemic in March of that year. Apple still announced new products with press releases that spring, including updated MacBook Air and iPad Pro models on March 18 and the second-generation iPhone SE on April 15.
In 2019, Apple announced several new products with press releases in March, including new iPad Air and iPad mini models, new 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac models, and second-generation AirPods. Apple did go on to host a services-focused event later in the month, where it introduced the Apple Card, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Arcade.
In 2018, the first major product release of the year actually came in February when the full-sized HomePod became available to order, but this is because Apple delayed the speaker's launch by a few months. Apple went on to host an education-focused event in March at a Chicago high school, where it unveiled the sixth-generation low-cost iPad.
Apple did not host a spring event in 2017, but it did announce the fifth-generation low-cost iPad, a (PRODUCT)RED color option for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and new Apple Watch band options with press releases in March.
What We Could See in Spring 2022
Apple is expected to unveil a long list of new products in 2022, and the ones most likely to be announced this March or April with or without an event include a third-generation iPhone SE with 5G, a redesigned 27-inch iMac powered by Apple silicon, and high-end Mac mini configurations also powered by Apple silicon.
iPhone SE With 5G
Apple plans to release a third-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of 2022, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. If this timeframe proves to be accurate, we can expect the device to be released by the end of March.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the new iPhone SE will feature a similar design as the current model, with a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID home button, and thicker bezels. Kuo said key upgrades to the device will include 5G support and a faster processor — reportedly the A15 chip as found in the iPhone 13 series.
27-Inch iMac With Apple Silicon
Apple is rumored to be planning a new 27-inch iMac with a mini-LED display for release in the first half of 2022, so a March or April announcement is possible. The new 27-inch iMac will support ProMotion, enabling a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother content and scrolling, according to display industry consultant Ross Young, who has proven to be a reliable source of display-related rumors.
Twitter leaker @dylandkt, another source who has proven reliable, claimed that the new 27-inch iMac will feature a similar design as the 24-inch iMac that launched earlier this year, but with a darker color scheme. He also said the computer will be powered by the same M1 Pro and M1 Max chips as used in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
High-End Mac Mini With Apple Silicon
Apple is also expected to release new high-end Mac mini configurations powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips in 2022, and a March or April announcement would make sense alongside the new 27-inch iMac.
Apple already updated the Mac mini with the M1 chip in November 2020, but only for lower-end configurations, with the higher-end models continuing to use Intel processors. Once the 27-inch iMac and Mac mini transition to Apple silicon, the only remaining Intel-based Mac would be the Mac Pro desktop tower.
For more details, make sure to check out our guides on What to Expect From Apple in 2022, Upcoming Apple Products, and Apple's 2022 Event Plans.
Article Link: Apple Event in Spring 2022? Three New Products We Could See
If you need it now or in this month, than yes, you can purchase it. Howerer, I think there will be some refresh this year, maybe in the later part (October/November) if not sooner.
Best case scenario:
They bring out an M1Pro Mini this spring and price it so aggressive that they reduce prices on the plain M1 Mini
Worst case scenario:
The bring out an M2 Mini this fall and price it above the M1 (which will stay as option at the current price)
My advice:
Decide what config you would need, search for good offers, if it fits buy one and just don't worry for the next 3-5 years.
I expect the current Mac mini with the M1 to stick around for a couple more years, possibly seeing a mild price drop (say $100) towards the end of the year when the M2 refresh arrives.
So realistically, you can buy when you are ready and an Apple refurbished one will save you 10-15% over new.
I recommend looking at the OWC line of TB4 hubs and docks which are now capable of DAISY CHAINING TB4/USB4 devices with full duplex. I wouldn't purchase a USB4 only hub that lacked TB4 compatibility, for a few dollars more you are future proofing your investment. Also, I personally prefer hubs with their own power supply. Bus powered hubs have always been problematic for me esp with laptops. Often, a laptop charger won't have enought to RECHARGE the laptop while simultaneously running USB bus powered devices off a hub, especially if you using external drives. if you do go w bus powered, make sure it supports 100W, not the older 60W spec.Ok, Apple sometimes seems to focus on thinness and compact products too much, but heat wise the 24" M1 iMac is way cooler then the 2015 i7 Intel iMac I had that heated up the room playing games. I think the $150 Satechi USB4 Hub is a good match for it if the two TB3/USB4 ports and 2 USB-C ports are inadequate. Certainly better buy then 2021 TB3 hubs that didn't match what Apple was pushing.
Resurrecting this thread from a few weeks ago...
Have there been any additional leaks from trusted sources about what Mac hardware we might see launched at the [not even confirmed yet] Spring event?
I'm in a financial position to buy but my FOMO is telling me in two months' time I might regret not having waited just a little longer.
Have there been any additional leaks from trusted sources about what Mac hardware we might see launched at the [not even confirmed yet] Spring event?
I'm in a financial position to buy but my FOMO is telling me in two months' time I might regret not having waited just a little longer.
I strongly suspect the new big iMac is coming this spring and the new MacBook (Air?) is coming in the fall.
I hope you are right, I don’t want to wait to the fall to replace my old iMac. Question still remain, when will they release the Mac Mini Pro/Max. I tend to go back and forth between those options.
What they release 1st will be my choice.
Rumor mill still says Apple Silicon 27" iMac and "Mac mini Pro" are expected, though the 27" iMac might slip due to "production issues".
They do still have that Intel Mac mini as a product in their line. If they don't add an upper tier to the mini line do they just keep that Intel box around? It would be very easy for them to drop at least the M1 Pro in the mini case. They might not even call it more than just mini . They not to call it Pro depending on where they go with the Mac Pro line.
(fixed some editing goofs)
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OWC has the miniStack STX coming out, but I would rather see a drive enclosure (minimal hub capabilities) with the following:
- Matching footprint to Mac mini
- Silver & Space Gray color options
- USB4 connectivity for "full-speed" NVMe M.2 read/write
- One USB Type-A & One USB Type-C front ports for data (thumb drives) and charging (iPhone, etc.)
- Headset 3.5mm front port
- Internal PSU
- NVMe M.2 slot inside for file storage (OS & apps on Mac mini internal SSD)
- SATA III 3.5" HDD slot inside for Time Machine backups
Doubtful...
If Apple did not plan to release a more powerful Mac mini (M1 Pro/Max) they would have removed the 2018 Intel Mac mini when the 2020 M1 Mac mini was released...?
I do think that they will produce a higher end Mac mini. likely by putting the M1 Pro and maybe the Pro Max into it. I'm not sure that they will call that a Mini Pro or just a Mini.
No, they can simply just remove it from the the store, just like they did in the past with Xserve, iMac Pro, etc.
It can happen the Mac mini line wont see the Pro/Max SOCs at all, just the regular Mx CPUs. So maybe next year, the Mac mini gets an M2. Just maybe.
Or the Mac mini will get update with M1 Pro/Max but just after there will be other "pro" Macs with M2/Pro/Max or M3/Pro/Max SOCs.
What I want to say is, that Apple will likely leave the Mac mini internals at least one generation behind the Pro lines. The same can happen with Macbook Air.
Yes, they could do that, it would be a next logical step. But there at Apple, the simple logic sometimes fail.
Anyway, I think they will keep the Mac Pro form factor (big aluminium case). If they designed it for so long, why should they drop it after 3 years (announced in 2019)?
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