What to Expect From Apple in 2021: New Apple Silicon Macs, iPhone 13, AirTags and More

[Dustman]

24” for a desktop seems a little small, no? I’m sure there’s a market, sure. But large enough to warrant an “all-in-one” computer?

27” and 31.5” would seem to make a lot more sense. 27” for the ‘consumers’, and 32” for the ‘pro’ model. Aside from dorm room scenarios, I just don’t get it.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Does anyone actually really want a portless phone?!

I can guarantee that I could never possibly get a portless phone for my teenage son. The kids are plugged in listening to music or vids on their phones non-stop, and he'd loose wireless earphones in less than a day. Unless I start earning a 7 fig salary, I simply couldn't afford the headphones bill if he had a portless phone. And yeah, of course, he could just do without headphones. But I guarantee he'd rather a cheap $200 Android with headphones than a $2000 iphone without.

 

[triton100]

All I want from Apple is an enormously greater focus on software quality control...

All I want is you mic-Mac, just you and no one else

 

[triton100]

2021 is going to be even more expensive than 2020 was for me:

- iMac 27”
- MacBook Pro 14”
- iPad Pro 11”
- AirPods Pro 2
- iPhone 13
- Pro Mac Mini possibly

Got to get the wallet ready.

Will you be my sugar daddy ? I’ll promise to love you

 

[triton100]

if there's no new 5.5" or larger LCD screen iPhone at 401 ppi— I'm not buying any of their stuff

Oh don’t be like that ‘now I see it. I’ll do a lil sexy dance just for you if you buy something. I’ll even wear that thing that you like

 

[ericwn]

Oh don’t be like that ‘now I see it. I’ll do a lil sexy dance just for you if you buy something. I’ll even wear that thing that you like

Mick-Mac ain’t gonna like this!

 

[0lf]

iPad Pro

There have been persistent rumors suggesting Apple is working on a new version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with the tablet expected to gain a mini-LED display. Most of the rumors have focused on the 12.9-inch iPad, but it's possible there's also a refreshed 11-inch model in the works too.

Apple's mini-LED displays are expected to use approximately 10,000 LEDs, with each one below 200 microns in size. Mini-LED technology will allow for thinner and lighter product designs that also offer impressive wide color gamut performance, high contrast and HDR, and local dimming, which dims the backlight behind black areas of the screen while keeping bright parts lit for blacker blacks and improved contrast.



14.1 and 16.1-inch MacBook Pro

Both models could have slimmer bezels for more screen real estate. There have been rumors that the new MacBook Pros will have mini-LED displays, which could bring some major improvements in display quality.

Mini-LED displays will use approximately 10,000 LEDs, with each one below 200 microns in size. Mini-LED will ultimately allow for thinner and lighter product designs, offering many of the same benefits as OLED like better wide color gamut, high contrast and dynamic range, and local dimming for truer blacks and superior contrast. Mini-LED displays are expensive, so it's possible that the technology will be limited to higher-end models.

Just for the record, 10000 led on a 12.9’ iPad means approximately a 2.2mm pitch. I let you do the math for the 16’ screen.

 

[lyngo]

Perhaps continued momentum from when things were not as fragmented could be a reason? An example that coves to mind is the iPad. The iPad choices right now are overwhelming and unnecessary. Is there a reason for different iPads, each with multiple skus? I think the market is different enough now due to the share Apple has, but will the fragmentation hurt in the future? IDK.

I think that this is a fair observation. Before ~2012-2013 there wasn’t as much fragmentation as there is now. Maybe the momentum comes from a lack of fragmentation from before. I think you have a fair observation about the iPad (Normal, Mini, Air, Pro - 7.9, 9.7, 10.2, 10.5, 10.9, 11, 12.9 - am I missing any?)

 

[Frank Philips]

So, nobody expects a Mac Mini in 2021? With 4x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, 12 core?

Apple has always neglected mid-level desktop, why do you want them to suddenly stop?
We're still likely going to have the Mini as it is for the entry-level, the Mac Pro (whenever it will be released) for the high-end, the iMac for anything in between, and too bad if you don't want a all-in-one and don't need a screen.

 

[FHoff]

Airtags, airtags.

So tired of reading about bloody Airtags!

Ditto.
mine Apple product couldn’t care less about.

 

[BGPL]

iMac - 24" basic model with larger 32" model to replace the 21.5" and 27". All my displays are either 32" 16:9 or 37" ultra wide...

Apple TV - Native support for TrueHD and DTS. Lossy Atmos is kind of a waste of a home theater.

All computers with Ethernet - 10Gb standard.

All Macs with integrated displays - for the love, anything above 60Hz. I have a 32" display on my gaming machine that runs at 165hz... it's like looking at a painting. 60hz isn't torture, but it's noticeable.

All Macs - better graphics! Now with the potential for a universal binary, gaming could come back to Macs. Developers weren't drawn in before with 15% desktop marketshare, but with iOS and even Apple TV, who knows what we could get.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Seeing how I bought the M1, Apple Watch series 6, the iPhone mini, the iPad Pro (with Magic Keyboard) and AirPods Pro this year, I think I am set for a while. Apple will really need to wow me, in order for me to look forward to new hardware in 2021.

 

[44267547]

Some of these products are reaching a maturity point where I don’t think they need to see an ‘annual release’, the Apple Watch being one of them, the iPhone can even be staggered with a longer release if they wanted to.

The Apple tags I think will be a popular product, but they’ve been rumored for a long time without really any substantial information/updates. I definitely have a used cases for a product like that, but more than anything, I’m curious if they will actually happen, given they’ve been rumored for almost 16 months, I’m definitely on board to see the potential if they ever launch.

 

[LV426]

I’d hand over good money to Apple if they developed a Wireless CarPlay dongle that works with my Toyota. I‘m not going to buy that popular-but-flaky re-badged Chinese gadget.

Most of my car journeys are short, and it’s a pain to connect wired CarPlay. Aside from the fiddling around with cables it sometimes takes more than a minute to connect.

 

[Biglethal69]

Not expecting this to happen but really wish Apple would add some HomePod like features to the next AppleTV like the ability to use Siri without the remote.

What do you want to yell across your room to your Apple TV and every other device you have says hello because they all have Siri that’ll work.

 

[Biglethal69]

Does this mean the iMac will only be available in the smaller size and to replace my 27" iMac, I'll have to get an iMac Pro at twice the price? Please hurry and call me an idiot for getting this wrong, I'm too poor to be right.

No they will bring out a larger one 21’“to 24” 27”to 20,30” so you will be fine.

 

[harriska2]

Waiting for MacOS to stabilize in a year or 2. A macMini without HDMI and bluetooth problems (M2? M3?). A watch that no longer requires an iphone with a great working cell in it. Also waiting on my 2015 ipp 12.9 to die but I’m not holding my breath.

 

[EvilEvil]

16" MBP with M2 processor.

 

[Biglethal69]

Does anyone actually really want a portless phone?!

I can guarantee that I could never possibly get a portless phone for my teenage son. The kids are plugged in listening to music or vids on their phones non-stop, and he'd loose wireless earphones in less than a day. Unless I start earning a 7 fig salary, I simply couldn't afford the headphones bill if he had a portless phone. And yeah, of course, he could just do without headphones. But I guarantee he'd rather a cheap $200 Android with headphones than a $2000 iphone without.

What your on 6 figures lucky you.

 

[kepler20b]

ill be on the frontline for AirPods Pro 2

probably also the new iMac if: mini led display + 32" option

or else I would probably just get an iMac mini +my own external monitor

 

[arvinsim]

Macbook 14" or 16" in H1!

 

[Macaholic868]

Apple will exit the Apple TV business, as they already have, over time. They've proven it by putting their Apple TV app on the Roku and Amazon Fire Stick.

I don’t think Apple is exiting the TV business. Apple has a streaming video service it’s pushing with original content that isn’t cheap to produce so it behooves them to get the AppleTV app on as many devices from as many manufacturers as they can to increase subscribers. Apple has its Music app on Android devices for exactly the same reason.

It may not be as hot of a seller as their other devices but it’s the best platform for the AppleTV app experience and it helps bring in revenue from other services like Apple Arcade, Fitness+ and their cut from apps sold through the Apple TV App Store.

 

[duervo]

Got my eye on the next Apple TV, and whatever they do for a 16” MacBook Pro.

 

[garylapointe]

I would expect that the MacBook Pro 14.1" model would replace the 13" MBP?
and keep the 13" Air, right?

I like my 15", but maybe I could go 14" if it was a significant savings, but sometimes the larger models have some options they don't have on the smaller ones...

 

[FNH15]

Can’t wait to dump my 2018 15”. It’s like a jet in all the wrong ways (fan noise, energy consuming) without the speed.

Now that I’m working from home, screen size is irrelevant. Just give us the option for more than 16GB RAM!