Gurman: Apple Preparing 'Widest Array of New Hardware Products in Its History' for Fall

[fourthtunz]

With M1 Pro/M1 Max production issues, I'm not expecting any customer deliveries until Late July/Sept. Unless you got your order within the first 5 mins, have fun waiting months. There are still buyers who have been waiting 4 months for their computers. Now add 4 additional products with the same chip

Heh heh yep, checks in the mail!

 

[fourthtunz]

The 6.7-inch iPhone 14 and M2-based MacBook Air/Pro are the only interesting products on the list with the widest consumer appeal.

I dunno, I know lots of folks that would love a new mac mini.
ME, Myself and I!

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I'm all for a product line up clean-up but I think after Jobs' passing, leadership is very much team based as opposed to dear leader. I'm not knocking the concept of a dictatorial "we're going to restructure now!" but there's a few things that have to be asked.

Is there leadership at Apple Corp. with enough chutzpah to force a "we're going to streamline our product line up to xyz". Even if there is, will whoever else needs to approve go along with it? Jobs was able to clean-up the product line because Apple was in disarray and struggling to survive, so there was enough defeat and humility within leadership for them to be open to idea of restructuring everything and taking in advice. They were going to tank otherwise.

Apple is currently at the top of their game, so will they be open to restructuring that drastically - especially if they see the current line up as a success? Weren't they rated as a trillion dollar company just a few months ago? Imagine the ego of these leaders at Apple Corp. Rarely do companies change unless it's hurting them not to change.

As much as the lineup needs a clean up and clearer offers, I don't know that it's going to happen anytime soon. Apple was able to turn around quick (as seen by the 2021 MacBook Pro offers) but it only happens when the customers start to leave the platform and product line for competitors.

How exactly is the internal Apple corporate politics? There's corporate politics in every company. I'd argue there's more politics the higher up you go. Tim Cook seems like a cooperative type. Jobs was combative and stubborn perhaps people respected his opinion partially due to him being a co-founder - that's a level of respect that is hard for Tim Cook to manufacture. They are two different personalities and Apple is richer than ever.

Do we want that? Yes. Will it happen? I wouldn't hold out. 😐

OK, let’s pretend for a second that Jobs was against multiple products in a lineup. He wasn’t, but let’s just pretend he was.
What would you give the ax?
The only products that I feel like you could *really* make a case for are the iPad Air, the AirPods Max, the Apple Watch Series 3 and the iPod touch.
Outside of that, and some products obviously needing to be updated, I’m not sure what other things you could completely get rid of and not alienate a huge portion of customers.
The iPhone SE clearly brings in tons of customers, The watch is doing absolutely fantastic, etc. Not sure what you can discontinue.
The reason that their products had to be simplified in the mid-to-late 90s is because they had so many of the exact same thing, with no structure or purpose to so many of them. And that’s just not the case today.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I don't think @Cosmosent is suggesting cutting off entire product lines or not to diversify their lineup. That would be insane since the iPhone has a huge market share. I'm assuming OP wants a clean up in their current offerings not a "yeah, stop iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch all together".

Jobs did restructure Apple at the time, Apple was stretched too thin in terms of focus but most importantly money and resources. The focus was chaos back into order. He was restructuring to get Apple stable and profitable and slowly expand. The company was doing no bueno, it was bad y'all.

Your'e right though, Jobs was always adapting and forward thinking. Wasn't there a whole "you don't know you need it until you see it" with Apple while Jobs was around? They were always talking about Jobs in that manner. He was just very anal about building things well (seen or unseen) not that he was not forward thinking. He definitely did introduce the iPods, iPhones, and many things after that - but the focus was on the quality of the existing lineup and making sure there were clear differences between them and I think that's what the Op is touching upon.

I don't think anyone is truly suggesting that Apple should ONLY do computers. If anyone remembers what cellphones were like before iPhones came out, it was unbearable with incremental crap updates. iPhones single handedly changed the industry and forced companies to adapt. I'm assuming that the post is not a complaint about having too much products, but that the lineups are just getting a bit cluttered and needs some clear separation and TLC.

Apple's success is locking us into their ecosystem. We can all complain about certain lineups needing focus, care, a clear direction and attention... but suggesting that an entire industry be ditched? Unless I'm mistaken, who would want that? A world without iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches? That's yeah, a no go for me.

But to me, at least as I’m reading it, a cleanup of every product line is exactly what it sounds like gurman is suggesting.
Updating all the Macs that are still dated with older Intel processors, modernizing the budget iPad and the iPad Air, etc.
Outside of the glasses, it doesn’t look like they’re introducing any completely new products to complicate lineups, just updating lineups to be more clean and modern.

 

[macar00n]

Work on your software! It needs more work than your hardware!

Seriously. I get that Apple can work on multiple things at once. But it feels like more and more attention is slipping away from software and towards anything flashy that the average user will be temporarily excited about enough to buy a product. Can we please, as a prerequisite to everything else, have software that doesn't feel like an everlasting beta?

 

[macar00n]

All I want is for this year the software updates to be exciting, iOS and iPadOS and macOS has become really stale, we need something radical

Are you kidding me? This unstable feature-bloated crapfest isn't exciting enough for you? You want it to have even more features at the expense of stability? I feel like I'm using Windows in terms of how frustrated I am with my desktop OS. iOS more sufferable but still could use fewer features and more stability/reliability. Go to the casino for excitement, don't bring the casino to my devices where I have to hope things work the way they should and troubleshoot often

 

[fourthtunz]

Actually, it is on a different category than the base M chips, and an M1 Pro is probably more powerful than a future M2 chip. Because, you know, “double” the consumption, “double” the heat, and “double” the cores. Maybe not exactly double -thus, the quotes- but you get my point.

I’m not complaining about the M1 Pro/Max but in my head, the mini was aimed at a more casual audience, that’s why I expected it to be much smaller, lighter and efficient with a lower power SoC

I hope they put at least the M1 pro in it, I already have the M1 air which I love but would also love
to have a more powerful mini.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

M1 Max Mac Mini please. Not sold on the rumoured glass top though. Much prefer it if they would bring back the cube design and add the Mac Pro lattice pattern on it.

Then a nice £999 display to go with it would be the icing in the cake.

 

[fourthtunz]

Are you kidding me? This unstable feature-bloated crapfest isn't exciting enough for you? You want it to have even more features at the expense of stability? I feel like I'm using Windows in terms of how frustrated I am with my desktop OS. iOS more sufferable but still could use fewer features and more stability/reliability. Go to the casino for excitement, don't bring the casino to my devices where I have to hope things work the way they should and troubleshoot often

Just curious, which OS and software do you speak of?
I'm still mostly on Mojave on 3 of my macs because of music software compatibility
and 12 on my m1 MacBook air. So just wondering what I might be walking into with an upgrade?
Thanks!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Other than a new Mac Pro it looks like just any other year.

Same thought crossed my mind

 

[Pakaku]

That mini Mac Pro looks consistent yet so silly. You're not going to need two hands to lift that thing...

 

[Zdigital2015]

Anybody remember when Steve Jobs returned to Apple & immediately forced the company to focus on ONLY select products ?

And how that very-likely saved Apple !

That was almost 26 years ago…this is no longer Steve Jobs Apple and hasn’t been for the last 10 years.

 

[blairh]

If something was truly the future, I feel like I would get it.
I get the original iPhone.
I got the Apple Watch.
I get the major major potential of augmented and virtual reality
I don’t get a very fragile Bendy piece of plastic that gives A smart phone an extra… what… inch of usable space?
I’ll take a pair of glasses that give me unlimited space for content over the phone that’s twice as thick, half as durable and requires an extra step and A dozen compromises to use.

You will see in due time.

 

[CoffeeMacBook]

The only products that I feel like you could *really* make a case for are the iPad Air, the AirPods Max, the Apple Watch Series 3 and the iPod touch.

The current lineup needs some products removed but not without adding something in it's place to address that particular market. I do agree with you that Apple is absolutely trying to cover everyone's needs, I think they're trying, but at least for the lineups that I'm interested in there are things that need to be replaced.

The only products that I feel like you could *really* make a case for are the iPad Air, the AirPods Max, the Apple Watch Series 3 and the iPod touch.

I'll address the lineups that I'm interested, mainly their laptops. The other markets I just don't pay enough attention to and so I can't comment - but I'm sure others have their hopes so maybe they'll chime in.


Ditch the MacBook Air and just make it a Macbook. Macbook lineups separated to Consumer vs Pro.
Laptops Streamlined:
Macbook
Macbook Pro

Needs to rename Apple Silicon to reduce repetition (see: MacBook Pro M1Pro). Using Pro to name the lineup plus pro to name the silicon is repetitive. Marketing department needs to research a better naming convention for silicon that isn't also used in their laptop lineups name.

MacBooks: Ultra-light and portable.
Screen sizes 12", 14" and 16" offering.
The goal would be to just offer a consumer level ultra-portable laptop without pro-level beefiness.
The 16" Macbook screen option would be for seniors with bad eyesight; they need a larger screen but not pro-level computing power because they're seniors - retired, just like their eyes.

Consumer models are focused on portability and thinness, the Pro models are focused on Pro stuff. They meet in-between where a maxed out Consumer model would start nearing the price point of a base model of their respect screen inch counterparts.

MacBook Pro: Beefier Pro counterparts.
Keep the current 14" and 16" MBP offerings.
The beefier pro counterparts built with Pro's in mind. 2 more USB-C ports on the 16" model would be nice because many monitors don't offer daisy-changing capability at high resolutions (only lower resolution third party monitors seem to have daisy chain capabitlies) and a 3 monitor setup takes up all of the ports on the current MBPs.

Apple Monitors.
Needs 2 lines, a Pro and Consumer lineup.

Pro Monitors
32", maybe 27"?

Consumer Monitors: thin, lightweight, edgeless, affordable.
Screen sizes: 24", 27"
Needs daisy-chaining capability for their MacBooks that don't have enough USB-C ports. Do consumers want a 32" monitor? I dunno, let me know. For me at least, a 27" consumer model is fine. I can't make the consumer argument for seniors with bad eye-sight here, I think the 27" covers that LOL Maybe Apple can force an upgrade to 32" for Pros.

iPod Touch
Agreed with axing an iPod touch, mainly due to iPhone SE offering. Most parents were buying their kids iPod Touches prior to the iPhone Se offers but I think most parents want their kids to have cellphones for safety and communication. So I'm for axing the iPod touch since I believe the iPhone SE covers that market well and affordably for kids and teens.

Airpods vs Beats
I'm with you on this, are the max necessary? I'm using the Sony WH-1000MX just fine. BEOPlay H9i's before that. I think with the AirPods Max, why not just make the AirPods: Consumer vs Pro. Then leave the Beats lineup as their Over-The-Ear/Can version "Pro". Otherwise just get rid of beats? Like, I don't really understand what is up with AirPods Max vs Beats. Truly. I know Apple purchased Beats but why? If Apple didn't own beats, I could sort of understand if they wanted to make an AirPods Max, but with Beats I don't get the AirPods Max. One or the other.

iPhones
Iphones Pro vs Iphones.
iPhones: Consumer level, not pro, lightweight portable and very affordable. No bells or whistles, just a basic phone that gets the job done.
iPhones Pro: Beefy, all the pro stuff.

I'm just of the belief that there's no need for a mid-level tier, a base level consumer model with upgraded specs will come up to the mid-level tier but not quite the base level pro model. I think with 2 lineups for each of their hardware, you can cover the entire spectrum with upgrades. Just make that line clear between consumers and pros with the options for consumers to upgrade specs to reach a base-level pro mode.

I would be fine with Apple making a clear delineation between their consumer vs pro models. They can push their pro products and then slowly pass the R&D features onto the consumer models a year or two later.

The reason that their products had to be simplified in the mid-to-late 90s is because they had so many of the exact same thing, with no structure or purpose to so many of them. And that’s just not the case today.

You can read my response to this over here:

I don't think @Cosmosent is suggesting cutting off entire product lines or not to diversify their lineup. That would be insane since the iPhone has a huge market share. I'm assuming OP wants a clean up in their current offerings not a "yeah, stop iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch all together".

Jobs did restructure Apple at the time, Apple was stretched too thin in terms of focus but most importantly money and resources. The focus was chaos back into order. He was restructuring to get Apple stable and profitable and slowly expand. The company was doing no bueno, it was bad y'all.

Your'e right though, Jobs was always adapting and forward thinking. Wasn't there a whole "you don't know you need it until you see it" with Apple while Jobs was around? They were always talking about Jobs in that manner. He was just very anal about building things well (seen or unseen) not that he was not forward thinking. He definitely did introduce the iPods, iPhones, and many things after that - but the focus was on the quality of the existing lineup and making sure there were clear differences between them and I think that's what the Op is touching upon.

I don't think anyone is truly suggesting that Apple should ONLY do computers. If anyone remembers what cellphones were like before iPhones came out, it was unbearable with incremental crap updates. iPhones single handedly changed the industry and forced companies to adapt. I'm assuming that the post is not a complaint about having too much products, but that the lineups are just getting a bit cluttered and needs some clear separation and TLC.

Apple's success is locking us into their ecosystem. We can all complain about certain lineups needing focus, care, a clear direction and attention... but suggesting that an entire industry be ditched? Unless I'm mistaken, who would want that? A world without iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches? That's yeah, a no go for me.

 

[theluggage]

Anybody remember when Steve Jobs returned to Apple & immediately forced the company to focus on ONLY select products ?

...and remember when he then completely ignored his own advice - to focus on the Mac - by taking a total gamble on a music player and online music service? Completely potty idea that should have been the final nail in Apple's coffin. Instead it turned them into the giant they are now.

That's either sheer genius or sheer blind luck - neither of which can be reduced to a four-quadrant diagram.

 

[blazerunner]

The lineup will likely include at least one Intel based mac, the Mac Pro that Tim Cook talked about in 2020.

 

[Pezimak]

No mention of the enhanced Mac Mini, which I think they will make.

 

[Boil]

That mini Mac Pro looks consistent yet so silly. You're not going to need two hands to lift that thing...

Nor does it need the tall (and expensive) feet, with the airflow being front to back & it being an actual desktop chassis (no need to raise the chassis off the floor); feet styled after those on the 2021 ASi MacBook Pro would be better...

 

[Wildkraut]

No love for the Apple TV?

People have Xbox’es and PlayStation’s already under their TV’s, a crapy TVBox without any benefits has no future. Newer TV’s comes with Airplay and Chromecast anyway, just remote play from your iDevice and done.

 

[GuruZac]

All about the rugged watch! And maybe 14 Pro Max.

 

[CoffeeMacBook]

But to me, at least as I’m reading it, a cleanup of every product line is exactly what it sounds like gurman is suggesting.
Updating all the Macs that are still dated with older Intel processors, modernizing the budget iPad and the iPad Air, etc.
Outside of the glasses, it doesn’t look like they’re introducing any completely new products to complicate lineups, just updating lineups to be more clean and modern.

Oh I missed this post.

I think what Gurman said is what Gurman said, but I see lots of people with Gurman in their head projecting his thoughts onto other people who simply aren't saying that.

I don't think everybody wants what Gurman is proposing, at least I don't when I say "clean up" or "streamline". I get that many popular Apple Youtuber's (or Tech influencers?) opinions are everywhere and echoed. I don't pay attention to Gurman so he's not in my head when I voice my thoughts on clean-up it doesn't mean I want Apple to completely neglect things. I just want a clear separation between consumer products vs pro products and making that separation very clear with good options at each tier. Right now there are lots of product offers, but the names and tiers are a bit messy.

In design, whether product or fashion, etc.. editing is king. I think Apple needs to edit their lineups. Make the system two tiered. Pro level vs Consumer level. Each tier has their respective optional upgrades whether that's ssd, screen size, etc... but just make that clear and clean up the names a bit.

Instead of Clean or Streamline, perhaps Apple needs to do some Editing on their current line up is a better way to say this to keep Gurman out of people's minds lol At least for me, I'm not suggesting Apple just cut off entire product lines. I like their offerings, I just want an edit and that's the way I read what most people are saying. Just an edit... not a mass deletion of things.

Edit: Man lots of typos here. I think editing is a better way of expressing it, since it requires removal and addition to hit those targets (markets) clearly I think a big reason to why I tend to push for Apple to edit their lineup especially Consumer vs Pro models is due to The Paradox of Choice. If done well, I believe it will help consumers.

Oh and in regards to "budget conscious" shoppers that the iPhone SE was marketed towards... I feel like the used product market addresses this sector just fine. I don't think it's absolutely necessary. Any used Consumer Level iPhone, refurbished, used, or recycled is a great place for budget conscious shoppers. It also has the extra benefit of keeping old technology out of landfills especially IF Apple is willing to continue servicing their older products for much longer. That's just my opinion on iPhone SE, but I think a Consumer Tiered iPhone Level at the lowest tier could absolutely cover the "budget conscious" shoppers just as easily for those reasons.

 

[MacAddict1978]

It’s really a stretch to call what would be all product refreshes new products.
The headline had me excited I’m like oh it’s just iPhones iPads and MacBooks nothing new.

 

[bwillwall]

“iPhone 14, ‌iPhone 14‌ Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and ‌iPhone 14‌ Max”

Wat?

 

[1madman1]

If they come up with a Mac Pro that isnt priced into the stratosphere and actually has expansion slots + removable storage I could bite. Zero interest in any of the rest of it.

Not sure why all the coverage on a potential VR headset, no clue what good it is. I have an HP VR headset and cant figure out what its supposed to be for - sure it's neat, but it's not practical. VR is a nice platform for gaming but given Apple's anti-gaming stance on the Mac I don't see it being even remotely competitive in that area against the PSVR 2.

 

[nintendoswitch]

You made a typo: you said “(iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Max)”. There’s 2 iPhone 14 maxes, when there should be a 14 pro max.