iPhone 12, 5G support, new Apple Watch ... what else can we expect from Apple this year?
Last year was a big moment for Apple product launches. Not only did the company keep with its schedule of releasing a trio of new smartphones and an Apple Watch in September, but 2019 also held a few surprises such as a new iPod touch and two new pairs of AirPods.
This year has already been eventful for Apple, as it has launched a new iPad Pro with sensors for augmented reality and a new US$400 iPhone called the iPhone SE. If the rumours and reports are to be believed, Apple has a lot more in its pipeline for 2020: most notably its first 5G-enabled iPhones, which are expected to come in the autumn.
The launches would come as Apple is grappling with supply chain disruptions and weakened demand stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, which has prompted Apple to temporarily close most of its global retail stores and shift to remote work arrangements.
Here's a look at some of the new Apple gadgets we're expecting to see in 2020.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, which may come in two new sizes and support 5G
Apple debuts its new iPhones like clockwork every September, and it's expected to introduce new models this year as well. A big question, however, is whether the company will be able to stick to its typical launch schedule given possible disruptions caused by the coronavirus. Apple has reportedly discussed delaying the launch of its 5G iPhones by months, according to Nikkei Asian Review, because of supply chain interruptions and concerns that demand may be too low. Bloomberg has also reported that certain new iPhone models may launch weeks later than usual.
What appears to be more clear are the features we can expect to see. Apple's next-generation iPhones will reportedly come with support for 5G networks, new 3D cameras, and updated screen sizes for the Pro models, according to reports from Bloomberg, Ming Chi-Kuo, and others. The new iPhones are said to come with the same Lidar sensor for enabling better augmented reality experience that's found in the new iPad Pro, according to Bloomberg.
It's also very likely that next year's iPhones will include support for 5G connectivity, coming after Android device makers like Samsung have already launched 5G-ready phones in 2019. Apple may also implement the biggest redesign to the iPhone since the iPhone X launched in 2017. Both Kuo and Korean news outlet ET News have reported that next year's iPhones will come in 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch screen sizes, unlike the current line-up which includes the 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro, the 6.1-inch iPhone 11, and the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max.
A new Apple Watch that can track your sleep
Apple traditionally unveils its new Apple Watch alongside new iPhones in September, so there's a good chance we'll see the company follow a similar pattern in 2020. The biggest update to this year's Apple Watch could be the addition of sleep tracking technology, a feature that rival watches from Fitbit and others have long offered.
Apple has been testing sleep monitoring for the Apple Watch this year and hopes to have the feature ready by 2020, according to Bloomberg. The next-generation watch is also expected to include faster performance and improved water resistance.
An accessory to help you find lost items with your iPhone
Apple is reportedly working on an accessory that can help you find lost items by using your iPhone, according to reports from 9to5Mac and MacRumors. The device would be similar to the Bluetooth tracker Tile, and would likely consist of a small tag to be placed on easily misplaced items like keys and wallets, the reports noted.
It would work with the iPhone's “Find My” app. It's unclear when Apple intends to launch the accessory, if at all, but 9to5Mac and MacRumors have discovered references to the product in Apple's iPhone software. Kuo also said it could launch in the first half of 2020 in a note from January reported by MacRumors. The earlier reports also suggest that the device could be called AirTags, and it may even use augmented reality to point users toward their lost item.
A services bundle that includes Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Music
Apple may offer three of its digital services as a bundle subscription in 2020, according to Bloomberg. The company is reportedly considering offering Apple News+, Apple TV+, and Apple Music as one lump offering in a bid to boost subscribers. Such a move would further Apple's push into services, a business division that helped the company offset slowing iPhone sales throughout most of 2019.
A cheaper version of the HomePod
Apple may introduce a more affordable version of its HomePod smart speaker this year, according to Bloomberg. The cheaper model would include two tweeters instead of the seven present in the current version. This new HomePod may also be noticeably smaller than the original; a more recent report from Bloomberg said the new HomePod will be about half the size of the original. Apple unveiled the US$350 HomePod in 2017 as a high-end audio alternative to rivals like the Amazon Echo and Google Home.
But since the HomePod's launch, firms like Amazon and Google have also placed more emphasis on audio quality through speakers like the Echo Studio and Google Home Max, making it even harder for Apple to differentiate itself and break into the market. A cheaper model could make the HomePod more approachable and appealing to Apple loyalists who were reluctant to shell out US$300 for the company's Siri-enabled smart speaker in the past.
A pair of over-ear premium headphones
Apple's AirPods earbuds are already popular, but the company could be working on premium over-ear headphones to rival Bose and Sennheiser as well, according to reports from Kuo and Bloomberg. The headphones would be positioned as a high-end alternative to Apple's Beats brand, according to Bloomberg, and Kuo recently predicted that they could be released in the first half of 2020, as noted by MacRumors and 9to5Mac. The headphones may also be customisable like the Apple Watch, according to Bloomberg.
A new Apple TV with faster performance
Apple could be preparing to launch a new version of its Apple TV set-top box with faster performance. In February, 9to5Mac found files in the developer beta of tvOS 13.4, the latest version of the Apple TV's software, which referenced what may be a new hardware model. The software indicated that Apple could be developing an Apple TV with a chip based on the same architecture as the company's A12 Bionic and A13 Bionic processors, which power the company's recent iPhones. Apple hasn't released a new Apple TV since it launched the 4K-enabled model in 2017. That version runs on Apple's A10X processor, the same chip in the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros from 2017.
A wireless charging mat
Apple may launch a small wireless charging mat in the first quarter of 2020, Kuo also said in his note outlining future Apple product launches. The note didn't include any other details about the potential product. But since Kuo described it as being small in size, it likely isn't an AirPower alternative. AirPower was a wireless charging pad that Apple had intended to launch last year, but ended up scrapping because it did not meet the company's “high standards.” It would have been able to charge three devices simultaneously, such as an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and AirPods.
Possibly Apple's first smart glasses
There's a chance Apple could unveil its first pair of smart glasses this year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in October that Apple was targeting a 2020 release date for its AR glasses, but has more recently reported that it plans to launch an AR/VR headset in 2021 or 2022 and smart glasses in 2023.
But Kuo has also said that Apple is working with third-party companies on smart glasses that could arrive this year, as the Chinese website MyDrivers reported in October 2019. It's unclear if that report from Kuo references the same products mentioned by Bloomberg.
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This article originally appeared on Business Insider.
Apple is expected to launch a slew of new products this year, including the rumoured iPhone 12, a new Apple TV, an Apple Watch that can track your sleep and other gadgets