What else Apple could present this year

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After the event is before the event: Apple will have another event this year that will bring out a few more new products. Among other things, the long-awaited Macbook Pros should finally be presented. And what else?

Apple has already delivered properly in the course of its September event: There were new iPhones, new Apple watches and fresh iPads, of which the mini model should be the highlight. Traditionally, the performance is not the last Apple event of the year. In October, the manufacturer should give another one for the best. After all, Apple “owes” us a few more products.

So what else does Apple have in store for this year?

After they were originally expected at WWDC 2021, the new Macbook Pro models will most likely be unveiled in the course of October. That they are already done is shown both by the documents submitted to the EEC and by the inside knowledge of Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

According to various rumors, the new pro notebooks will come in a new, angular design. The smaller model is to have a slightly larger 14-inch display and replace the previous 13-inch model. Despite the slightly larger screen, the computer does not get any bigger thanks to the narrower bezels around the screen, they say. It is also speculated that Apple will use a mini LED display for the models, as it did with the large iPad Pro (test), which provides better contrast values.

With the new Macbook Pros, Apple will most likely announce a more powerful generation of in-house silicon chips. Apple is reportedly working on two new chip variants with the code names “Jade C-Chop” and “Jade C-Die”. In contrast to the previous M1 chips, which each have four high-performance and energy-efficient cores and up to eight graphics cores on board, the new Apple silicon processors should have eight high-performance cores, two energy-efficient cores and, depending on the version, 16 or 32 graphics cores. In addition, the allegedly M1X baptized processor probably supports up to 64 gigabytes of RAM. That would be a big leap to the M1 processor, which supports a maximum of 16 gigabytes of RAM.

Apart from the expected new design, better displays and faster processors, Apple could bring back old friends: For example, the popular magnetic Magsafe charging connector is to be revived; however, it is not entirely clear in what form. In addition, Apple is supposed to revive a few years ago removed connections such as an HDMI port and the SD card slot and kick out the generally unpopular touchbar for it.

In addition to the updated Macbook Pros, a new generation of the Mac Mini is also expected.

According to Bloomberg’s Gurman, the compact desktop computer will be even smaller than the previous version and will have the same processor as the upcoming Macbook Pros. The upcoming device will be optically redesigned and equipped with additional connections, it is said. Among other things, there is talk of four instead of the previous two USB-C ports, which, like the new iMac 24 (test), are likely to support Thunderbolt / USB-4. Furthermore, the USB type A and HDMI connections as well as an Ethernet port (RJ45) should be on board. The charging connection is also realized via a magnetic connection, as with the iMac 24.

Aside from the new Macs with faster Apple silicon chips, we can count on the announcement of the third-generation basic Airpods, which is already expected at the iPhone event.

According to rumors and leaks, the cheaper earplugs should have a similar design to the Airpods Pro. So the handle should be a little shorter, and they should also have silicone pads for better seating comfort. In order to keep the price lower than the Pro models, Apple is said to have dispensed with active noise suppression. In addition, Apple is aiming for a longer term for the Airpods 3.

In the course of the event, Apple will announce the release date for its new macOS version Monterey to match the new Mac hardware. The new OS version is supposed to bring iOS and macOS closer together: Various functions that Apple had announced with iOS and iPadOS 15 are moving in. These include, for example, Shareplay in Facetime, the spatial sound Spatial Audio as well as the quicknotes feature and text recognition in photos, live text. We have already summarized which Macs will receive the update elsewhere.

While we can consider the first products mentioned to be as good as established, it is quite possible that the manufacturer could give a first look at the hoped-for next big thing this year: Apple Glass.

For years, Apple has been working on a new product category in the field of augmented reality, which should have as much relevance as the iPhone in the long term, according to Apple boss Tim Cook. Many rumors and analyst forecasts suggest that the manufacturer could gradually take the shells off this product. Among other things, the renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported at the beginning of the year that 2021 could be the year of AR glasses. Rumor has it that such a product could cost around $ 500 and be used in conjunction with the iPhone.

The industry magazine The Information also reported on a first Apple product at the beginning of the year, which should be on the market by 2022. This is a VR and AR headset that is primarily aimed at developers and is said to cost over $ 3,000.

Whether Apple could show both products or initially only the mixed reality headset or neither – we don’t know. However, it would make sense to first provide developers with the appropriate hardware in order to set up an appropriate ecosystem. Let us surprise.