Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
65,704
34,343


Rumors about upcoming Apple products are increasing as we head into March, even as the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to cause uncertainty about the timing. An entry-level "iPhone SE 2" or "iPhone 9" is widely expected in the near future, and it looks like iPad Pro, iMac, and Mac mini updates may also be coming.


Looking out a bit further, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared his thoughts on products coming through the end of 2021 that will use Mini-LED display technology, including a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro. Check out our video above and our list below for more details on this week's biggest news.

Apple Working on 'Six' Mini-LED Products Including New 14.1-Inch MacBook Pro and Refreshed iMac Pro

Apple is developing six products with Mini-LED displays for release by the end of 2021, including new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 10.2-inch iPad, 7.9-inch iPad mini, 27-inch iMac Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

13-14-15-inch-MBP-Comparison.jpg

Kuo expects the new iMac Pro in particular to launch during the fourth quarter of 2020. Apple has not refreshed the iMac Pro since it was originally released in December 2017, so it is well overdue for an update.

Taiwanese publication DigiTimes echoed this information, reporting that Apple plans to launch a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro and multiple MacBook models with Mini-LED backlit displays by the end of 2020. Taiwanese LED manufacturer Epistar is expected to be one of Apple's key suppliers.

Previously Reliable Leaker CoinX Suggests New iMac and Mac Mini Models Are Coming Soon

New models of the iMac and Mac mini are coming soon, according to the anonymous Twitter account CoinX, which has a proven track record.

2018macminifront.jpg

Apple last updated its regular iMac lineup in March 2019 with up to 8-core Intel processors and Radeon Pro Vega graphics options, while the Mac mini was last updated in October 2018 with up to 6-core Intel processors, USB-C ports, and a new Space Gray color option.

March is a common month for Apple product refreshes, so the updated iMac and Mac mini models could be announced at any time.

New 'Entry-Level' AirPods Pro Expected to Enter Production by Early Second Quarter

Apple's suppliers will commence production of new "entry-level" AirPods Pro between the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter, according to Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes, suggesting that assembly of the earphones will begin around early to mid April.

AirPods-Pro.jpg

Details surrounding the alleged entry-level AirPods Pro remain slim. It has been speculated that the earphones could end up being third-generation regular AirPods with the same design and sound quality as AirPods Pro, but without active noise cancelation.

'iPhone SE 2' Said to Have Entered Final Production Verification Stage Ahead of Launch

Apple's lower-cost "iPhone SE 2" or "iPhone 9" model has reportedly entered the final phase of production verification at an assembly plant in Zhengzhou, China, suggesting that the rumored device may be announced soon, but there is some uncertainty around timing due to coronavirus-related production delays.

iPhone-SE2-Maybe.jpg

Even if the lower-cost iPhone is announced in March, initial supply may be limited until Foxconn and other Apple suppliers resume normal operations and ramp up mass production in the second quarter.

Apple Agrees to Pay Up to $500 Million to Settle Class Action Lawsuit Over 'Secretly Throttling' Older iPhones

Apple has agreed to pay up to $500 million to settle a class action lawsuit in the United States that accused the company of "secretly throttling" older iPhone models -- a controversy known as "batterygate."

iphone-6s-battery.jpg

Each affected iPhone user in the class would receive $25, according to the preliminary settlement, reviewed by MacRumors. The amount could increase or decrease slightly depending on the number of approved claims and legal fees, with Apple's total payout to fall between $310 million and $500 million.

Disney World Returns Fully Working iPhone 11 to Family Weeks After Device Sank to Bottom of Seven Seas Lagoon

In early October, parents Lisa and Jacob Troyer took their daughter Sophie on a dream trip to Disney World. Unfortunately, on the final night of the trip, Lisa's brand new iPhone 11 fell out of her bag and landed right into the Seven Seas Lagoon near Magic Kingdom.

iPhone-11-disney.jpg

Nearly two months later, Lisa received some missed calls from the Orlando area. Figuring it was a telemarketer, she ignored them. Then came a call from her father-in-law, who let her know that Disney scuba divers had found her iPhone... and it still works perfectly!

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Article Link: Top Stories: 14-Inch MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini Refreshes, and New AirPods on Horizon?
 
Last edited:

dddddddd

macrumors newbie
Mar 7, 2020
1
0
London, UK
Let's assume they'd need to make WWDC a smaller event - or even need to cancel it because of corona.

How great could it be if Apple had many engineer hours freeing up for fixing iOS and macOS bugs. Those ones being annoying, but got medium and low priorities in their backlogs because of new promised features' deadlines I guess. Finally corona could make us the two OSs stable again.
 

japanime

macrumors 68030
Feb 27, 2006
2,916
4,846
Japan
Details surrounding the alleged entry-level AirPods Pro remain slim. It has been speculated that the earphones could end up being third-generation regular AirPods with the same design and sound quality as AirPods Pro, but without active noise cancelation.
So, they'll be just like the current AirPods Pro, whose active noise cancellation stopped working after a firmware update.
 

recoil80

macrumors 68040
Jul 16, 2014
3,117
2,756
Let's assume they'd need to make WWDC a smaller event - or even need to cancel it because of corona.

How great could it be if Apple had many engineer hours freeing up for fixing iOS and macOS bugs. Those ones being annoying, but got medium and low priorities in their backlogs because of new promised features' deadlines I guess. Finally corona could make us the two OSs stable again.

They ought to improve the documentation and code samples.
Sometimes you can get important information only at minute X of a session in WWDC, and you can't find the same documentation elsewhere.
More samples and more presence online on support forums would help.
The community is great and I contribute myself with some articles when I have time, but it is a shame you have to rely on other developers to get going with new technologies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saturn1217

kerr

macrumors 6502a
Jul 12, 2010
909
1,677
Australia
I have a 2017 13" Pro, my perfect device would be a 14" Air (w/ 16GB RAM). Prefer battery life, Touch ID and no Touch Bar over the performance of a MacBook Pro.

Two-port laptops though should have one port on either side.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gadgetgirl85

calzon65

macrumors 6502a
Jul 16, 2008
943
3,563
If the rumored specs and price for the SE2/iPhone 9 are correct, it's going to be a fantastic value and trigger a huge upgrade rush from the current SE/5/6/6s/7/8 crowd that have been hanging on to their older iPhones.
 

recoil80

macrumors 68040
Jul 16, 2014
3,117
2,756
I have a 2017 13" Pro, my perfect device would be a 14" Air (w/ 16GB RAM). Prefer battery life, Touch ID and no Touch Bar over the performance of a MacBook Pro.

Two-port laptops though should have one port on either side.

Yes, I have the 15'' and the main advantage of charging via USB is that you can use either sides of the laptop on. Ports are too close to each other, if you need two adapters for USB-A some of them barely fit. A little bit of spacing between the ports would help

Speaking of the Mac, they have the new keyboard on the 16 but they continue to ship the old one on the 13''. If the miniLED is too far away they better ship a new 13 with the improved keyboard and the latest CPU available from Intel.
 

kerr

macrumors 6502a
Jul 12, 2010
909
1,677
Australia
Speaking of the Mac, they have the new keyboard on the 16 but they continue to ship the old one on the 13''. If the miniLED is too far away they better ship a new 13 with the improved keyboard and the latest CPU available from Intel.
yeah I'm happy to wait until the 14" comes with the updated keyboard, I can wait for 2021 if I have to.
 

Falhófnir

macrumors 603
Aug 19, 2017
6,146
7,001
A 14" Pro is good, but a 15" Air (or similar) is what the MacBook lineup is really crying out for. Just something to fill the full-size office productivity/ consumer notebook space.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: DeepIn2U and kerr

dogslobber

macrumors 601
Oct 19, 2014
4,670
7,809
Apple Campus, Cupertino CA
El cheapo Air Pods? Couldn't they just, like, lower the rip off price of the current model? It's not clear how you make a cheap pair other than make them bulkier, have less play time, or make them flimsier. Apple might also do a model which stops working after 6 months due to technology obsolesce.
 

Enerccio

macrumors member
Jan 31, 2020
80
47
release the damn 13" with magic keyboard already ffs!
[automerge]1583607666[/automerge]
Intel CPU Security Alert For Millions Of Users As ‘Unfixable’ Crypto Flaw Revealed

Kinda pointless CVE... if you have physical access to computer you can do much more bad stuff than this...
 
Last edited:

AE_stc

Suspended
Feb 25, 2020
161
225
El cheapo Air Pods? Couldn't they just, like, lower the rip off price of the current model? It's not clear how you make a cheap pair other than make them bulkier, have less play time, or make them flimsier. Apple might also do a model which stops working after 6 months due to technology obsolesce.

Agreed. There’s zero reason to charge so much for them. I could buy some but the value just isn’t there for me. Approaching $400 for earbuds with no wire? It’s crazy
[automerge]1583608402[/automerge]
The Mac mini is barely over a year old what would they “refresh”?
 

IchBinMatt

macrumors newbie
Dec 6, 2007
13
2
Mine still have ANC, and I have the latest firmware.
It’s possible you don’t have the latest firmware because Apple pulled it. For those who were upgraded, ANC was severely weakened from the original firmware. It’s been months now since they’ve attempted to fix that mistake.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CarpalMac

high heaven

Suspended
Dec 7, 2017
522
232
iMac rumor is not reliable since Intel's 10th gen CPU is not even out yet and it takes several months to use on Mac system.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.