Upcoming Apple Announcements Likely to Focus on Chip Refreshes

[MacRumors]

Apple's imminent series of announcements will focus on chip updates, rather than redesigned devices, according to a known leaker.

In a new post, the Weibo leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said Apple's scheduled announcements for next week focus on refreshed devices with basic generational chip upgrades, rather than more fundamental redesigns.

Earlier this month, Apple invited the media to an "Apple Experience" in New York, London, and Shanghai on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased "a big week ahead," with announcements starting Monday.

Successors to the iPhone 16e, entry-level iPad, iPad Air, M4 MacBook Air, M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro, Apple TV, and HomePod are all rumored to arrive soon, offering little more than chip refreshes. The most significant new device in the immediate pipeline is the low-cost MacBook, which is set to feature an iPhone's A-series chip. Little is known about what the machine will look like beyond offering a 12.9-inch LCD display and a selection of fun color options, and there's a high chance it will re-use components from existing devices.

Apple devices with major new designs are still expected to arrive this year, such as the first foldable iPhone, a smart home hub product, and the M6-series MacBook Pro, but largely not until the second-half of the year.

Article Link: Upcoming Apple Announcements Likely to Focus on Chip Refreshes

 

[turbineseaplane]

You're kidding!

Overhype for chip spec bumps, per normal?

I'm stunned!
Stunned I tell you!

 

[abatabia]

So….no cheaper MacBook? Why have an “experience” event thing for just spec bumps?

 

[UliBaer]

 

[vanishing]

You can keep your A18, N1, M5 - Apple knows the real money is F1

 

[darngooddesign]

MR: Apple will release new products at this event.
Also MR: Apple won’t release new products at this event.

 

[turbineseaplane]

MR: Apple will release new products at this event.
Also MR: Apple won’t release new products at this event.

The problem is that too many consider chip spec bumps to be "new products".

 

[M3Stang]

So no new MacBook cheap edition? Such whiplash.

 

[justanotherdave]

Qualcomm won’t be happy.

People always overhyping Snapdragon as an Apple M killer when it matches 2 year old processors and gets destroyed when you put current generation processors from each company against each other.

Not to mention Intel Panther Lake made big strides in performance/efficiency. They’re still behind, but the gap has closed considerably and makes Qualcomm Elite processors in Windows laptops irrelevant. Only advantage they had was battery life and that’s pretty much gone away. And with Panther Lake you don’t need to suffer through all the App compatibilities you get with Windows on ARM.

What use are Snapdragon Elite processors these days other than people who hate Intel/AMD but also happen to like Windows? Can’t be many of those customers in the world.

 

[MayaUser]

but but the 12.9" will be a new product on old chip

So 2x false statement , the leaker is not trusted

 

[darngooddesign]

So no new MacBook cheap edition? Such whiplash.

It’s almost like the rumor mill doesn’t know anything.

 

[TwoBytes]

Welcome eeryone today.
We have put a number afteer another M...like last year...and the year before.

Most of you will notice nothing.
A tiny percentage of you will save 3 seconds on exporting a 4h 4k file

 

[hoodlum90]

So the next gen AppleTV is coming next week. Great!

 

[MayaUser]

So no new MacBook cheap edition? Such whiplash.

Mark said it will come...so its coming

 

[Veinticinco]

Be still, my beating heart.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Welcome eeryone today.
We have put a number afteer another M...like last year...and the year before.

Most of you will notice nothing.
A tiny percentage of you will save 3 seconds on exporting a 4h 4k file

I believe it's called "BREAKTHROUGH, GROUNDBREAKING" innovation.

 

[Biro]

So….no cheaper MacBook? Why have an “experience” event thing for just spec bumps?

Did you even read the article?

 

[Veinticinco]

Tim Cook must be an absolute riot at dinner parties.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

So….no cheaper MacBook? Why have an “experience” event thing for just spec bumps?

What if the ‘low cost’ MacBook is in fact an Air with an A-series chip at a lower price point?

 

[JPack]

So….no cheaper MacBook? Why have an “experience” event thing for just spec bumps?

Yea, it’s called marketing.

MacBook will be there. Fixed Focus didn’t say otherwise but it’s probably true everything else next week is just spec bumps.

 

[JPack]

What if the ‘low cost’ MacBook is in fact an Air with an A-series chip at a lower price point?

Isn’t that the expectation? This will be a rehashed 2020 MacBook Air with a cheaper finish. If we’re lucky, all ports will be retained. Internally is where the cost cutting occurs.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Let's not forget that one explanation for the "no N1 chip in the new cheap MacBook" rumor could be that it will use a new chip integrating cellular connectivity for the first time on a Mac laptop. Instead of the new low-end laptop being a dumping ground for old parts, it could be a proving ground for cheap-enough new technologies that might later migrate in fancier versions to higher-end laptops as the technology is proven and matures.

 

[andypanoreo]

How will Apple showcase these new chips? Obviously in new products. We will see new Apple devices for sure...

 

[JPack]

Let's not forget that one explanation for the "no N1 chip in the new cheap MacBook" rumor could be that it will use a new chip integrating cellular connectivity for the first time on a Mac laptop. Instead of the new low-end laptop being a dumping ground for old parts, it could be a proving ground for cheap-enough new technologies that might later migrate in fancier versions to higher-end laptops as the technology is proven and matures.

Apple already integrated the A-series chip with their own modem on the 16e. Getting macOS to work with a modem isn't exactly new technology.

Second, none of the low-cost MacBook buyers are going to sign up for a cellular plan. Heck, most professional users just prefer to tether because it's simple enough. That's why there's no MBP with cellular to begin with.

No N1 is because of cost. MediaTek can do it cheaper and every dollar counts with this low-cost MacBook.

 

[k1121j]

All i can think of is Siri or some AR glasses for an experience.