Top Stories: iPhone 13, iPad and Mac OLED Leaks, New AirTags Evidence

IPhone rumors are heating up, with famed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo releasing a high-profile report this week outlining his expectations for the iPhone lineup over the next three years.

This week also saw rumors of OLED displays likely to arrive on iPad and Mac from next year, more and more signs of AirTags functionality in iOS 14.5 betas, and more, so check out all the details. below!

IPhone 13 rumors: smaller and larger batteries, 120Hz display for Pro models, etc.

Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week shared a long list of expectations for future iPhones over the next few years.

Kuo said this year’s iPhone 13 lineup will feature the same four models as the iPhone 12 lineup, all with a smaller notch, larger batteries, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X60 modem with 5G upgrades, improved cameras, a Lightning connector, etc. Exclusive to iPhone 13 Pro models, there will be a long-awaited 120Hz display and Ultra Wide lens enhancements with a wider aperture and autofocus, he added.

After reducing the notch this year, Apple could remove it entirely next year, with Kuo predicting that at least some 2022 iPhone models will switch to a perforated display design like many of Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones, but he did not explain how this would happen. work since the notch currently houses the front camera and Face ID components. Some under-screen cameras and facial recognition solutions now exist.

Apple also plans to release a new iPhone SE with a design similar to the existing 4.7-inch model in the first half of 2022, with key new features to include a faster chip and 5G support, according to Kuo. And in 2023, a 7.5 to 8-inch foldable iPhone could become a reality.

iPhone stuck with Lightning port over USB-C for ‘foreseeable future’

As part of his extensive research note on future iPhones this week, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo downplayed the possibility of a portless iPhone launched this year, noting that Apple will continue to use its proprietary Lightning connector in one. “Foreseeable future”.

“We think USB-C hurts MFi [Made for iPhone] the company’s profitability and waterproof specifications are lower than Lightning and MagSafe, “Kuo wrote.” Therefore, if the iPhone drains Lightning in the future, it can directly adopt the portless design with MagSafe support instead of using a USB-C port. At present, the MagSafe ecosystem is not mature enough, so the iPhone will continue to use the Lightning port for the foreseeable future. ”

It was Kuo himself who initially predicted that Apple would launch a high-end iPhone without a Lightning connector in 2021. He also expected a low-end iPhone with a Touch ID power button to be launched. this year, but he has now said the timing is not clear for such a feature to be introduced.

10.9-inch OLED iPad announced in early 2022, 12.9-inch iPad Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro could follow

Apple is rumored to be moving to mini-LED displays on some of its upcoming iPad and Mac models, but it looks like another display technology could be coming to these devices: OLED.

According to DigTimes, the first of Apple’s biggest laptops to adopt an OLED display will likely be a 10.9-inch iPad, likely an updated version of the iPad Air. The updated iPad is expected to enter production in the fourth quarter of this year with a launch in early 2022. In addition to the 10.9-inch iPad, Apple is also reportedly considering using OLED displays for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. and the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

iOS 14.5 Beta 3 Introduces ‘Item Security Feature’ Ahead of AirTags Launch

Apple’s long-awaited AirTags item trackers have been rumored for nearly two years now, and there are signs that an announcement could finally be near.

In the third beta of iOS 14.5 launched this week, a new “Items” tab has been enabled by default in the Find My app. This section will allow users to keep track of certain non-Apple branded products, such as the Beats headphones and the upcoming Belkin wireless headphones, and it is expected that items equipped with AirTags such as a backpack or baggage will also be managed from this tab.

There is also a new “Item Security” toggle in the Find My app. When this feature is enabled, iPhone users will receive a notification when an unknown item is found moving with them, which could help prevent a person from being harassed by another person with AirTags or the like.

March is a typical month for Apple product announcements, so there is hope that AirTags will finally be unveiled this month, but the release date is still unclear. Apple previously said iOS 14.5 would be released in “early spring,” suggesting that the update would be released the week of Monday, March 22 or later, and perhaps AirTags would be released around the same time.

HomeKit Essentials to check

HomeKit was slow to take off after its launch in 2014, but now that it’s been around for seven years, there are hundreds of KHomeKit‌ products available, ranging from doorbells and speakers to TVs, lights and cameras. In one of our latest YouTube videos, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite ‌HomeKit‌ products that we find the most useful.

An example:

• Logitech Circle View Doorbell ($ 199) – The Circle View replaces your existing doorbell with a version that features video, so you can see who’s at your door and keep tabs on package deliveries. It includes HomeKit Secure Video, the only plan you need is a 200GB or 1TB iCloud storage plan for recording videos. It offers HD video, color night vision and a low profile design.

NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover uses the same PowerPC chipset as the 1998 iMac G3

NASA’s Perseverance rover that landed on Mars last month is equipped with a more durable variant of the PowerPC 750 processor, the same chip used in the colorful iMac G3 in 1998.

Designed by Jony Ive, the iMac G3 is widely regarded as the computer that saved Apple from flirting with bankruptcy in the late 1990s until Steve Jobs returned to the company. After the iMac G3, Apple released iconic products like the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007, and the iPad in 2010, which helped it become the world’s most valuable company.

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