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Apple’s California Streaming event – where the company unveiled the iPhone 13 line, a revamped iPad Mini, and the Apple Watch Series 7 – was full of surprises. But we were also taken aback by what was totally absent from the show.
Popular products like the AirPods 3 and the new MacBook Pros have not made an appearance. The good news? We probably won’t have to wait long for them to take the stage. Apple is expected to have another show scheduled as early as next month. If you’re anxious to see what might be revealed, you’re in luck, as we’ve rounded up everything we expect to see at Apple’s next showstopper.
When will it be?
This event has yet to be officially announced, but we can make some guesses on the date based on recent guesswork and reports.
Reports from leakers Jon Prosser and Mark Gurman both claimed that Apple is planning two events in September, one focused on the iPhone 13 and the other on the MacBook Pro M1X. It has always seemed unlikely, but if it ends up being true, official invitations would be sent out on September 21 for an event on September 28.
The most likely outcome is an event in October. It would provide more space between events and also align with the timeline that Apple has traditionally followed. Apple likes to host events in October and has done so seven times in the past decade. Most (but not all) of these shows took place from mid-October to late. Gurman recently announced that the M1X MacBook Pros will launch in “several” weeks, indicating an event in October.
Any Tuesday in October is possible, but based on previous years, we would consider October 19 or 26 as the most likely candidates for Apple’s next event.
MacBook Pro M1X
We’ve known for a long time that Apple is set to dramatically update its MacBook Pro lineup this year. Given the company’s penchant for October-based Mac events, it looks like the time is almost right.
So what can we expect? Well, according to many reputable sources, Apple is planning a major overhaul of the MacBook Pro 13 that would refine its bezels and widen its screen to turn it into a 14-inch model. This screen will feature the same mini-LED technology as that of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, significantly improving its brightness and contrast. It is also expected to ditch the Touch Bar for the first time since 2016.
Elsewhere, the chassis will be redesigned in a flat-rimmed design, and there will be a lot more variety of ports (including the return of the much-loved MagSafe, plus HDMI, and an SD card slot). New chips are also expected, most likely the M1X, which will offer vastly improved graphics performance. All of these changes are also expected for the MacBook Pro 16, which will get an Apple Silicon chip for the first time – the M1X chip with additional GPU cores.
A high-end Mac Mini
It’s not just the mobile MacBooks that we expect to see in October – the Mac Mini is also ready for an update. Right now, there’s only one chip option for Apple’s small-scale computer (the Apple M1). This year, a high-end edition containing the new M1X chip is expected to replace the Intel models that Apple still sells.
There have been other rumors about an updated Mac Mini with a new design that includes more Thunderbolt ports, a MagSafe power connector, and a “plexiglass top”.
It’s only been a year since the M1 Mac Mini was launched, but we expect Apple to continue selling this model for less, while still offering this “Mac Mini Pro” model to creative professionals.
AirPods 3: better late than never
We were sure the AirPods 3 would make an appearance at Apple’s California Streaming, as were a number of top journalists, analysts and leakers. Yet for some reason this did not happen. Nonetheless, given the prevalence of rumors surrounding this product and the well-qualified people they come from, we still expect to see them at some point this year.
What is in the cards for the AirPods 3 then? For months, there have been rumors that Apple has been planning to bring them closer to the AirPods Pro in terms of appearance. This means much shorter stems which makes the overall product look sleeker and more compact. However, they won’t get the silicone tips from the AirPods Pro, likely because they’re key to the AirPods Pro’s active noise cancellation, and Apple probably wants to keep that as an exclusively high-end feature.
A mixed reality headset? It’s doubtful
Apple’s mixed reality headset is one of tech’s less well-kept secrets. Numerous analysts and outlets have reported on the headset including its features, design and more. We now know that it should mix augmented reality and virtual reality, feature 8K panels for each eye, and weigh significantly less than competing products. All we’re waiting for now is a release date.
In March 2021, Gurman claimed that Apple planned to unveil the headset “in the next few months” at an in-person event, followed by a launch in 2022. It has stirred tongues over the device’s could be set for a reveal at some point in 2021.
However, that now seems very unlikely. Given that Apple shows no signs of slowing down with its online-only events (California Streaming was entirely virtual, for example), an in-person event in 2021 seems overkill. We have no doubt that Apple wants to show and explain its new toy at an offline event so that people can try it out, but given the current state of the world, we doubt the company is ready for it for the moment.
However, other reports have agreed on a 2022 launch date. It’s possible Apple will host an in-person show in early 2022 and then launch the headset later in the year. Or the release date may have been pushed back to 2023. Either way, what seems certain is that we’ll see a totally virtual October show – and therefore not the right place for Apple mixed reality.
What else is coming next year?
There are plenty of other Apple products in the pipeline that have been the subject of a lot of rumors, but likely won’t be ready in time for the next Apple event. Nonetheless, we’ll cover them briefly so you know what to expect in case any of them have a surprise reveal during the show.
The first is the MacBook Air. In 2020, Apple released the latest version of its lightweight laptop alongside the MacBook Pro. This year, however, things should turn out a little differently. According to leaker Jon Prosser, the next MacBook Air will feature a redesigned chassis and come in a range of bright and fun colors, just like the 24-inch iMac. Don’t expect it until spring 2022 at the earliest, however.
A top-of-the-line iMac is also slated for a spring 2022 launch. Apple updated the smaller model when the 24-inch iMac released in April 2021, but the 27-inch version remains unchanged. Expect to see it get the same redesign as its little brother, along with a new Apple Silicon chip.
Still on the pro end of the spectrum, Apple is reportedly reportedly having a new Mac Pro – and an additional “half-size” Mac Pro – in the works. It does come next year, however, to allow Apple to focus on the MacBook Pro in late 2021.
Finally, the AirPods Pro are in line for a redesign in 2022. They haven’t been affected since launching in 2019, and word is that Apple is looking to eliminate the rod entirely with its new version.
Like we said, we don’t expect any of these devices to be at Apple’s next event in October. But given the number of surprises on the California Streaming show, Apple could still have something unexpected up its sleeve for next month.
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