What New Things To Expect From Apple In 2021

Hi, this is Gary at MacMost.com. Today I'm going to try to predict what Apple will be doing in 2021.

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So what can we expect from Apple in 2021. I think some things are pretty clear and obvious. But others are going to be harder to predict. First let's start with Macs. In 2020 we saw the release of the first M1 Macs using Apple's own system on a chip ARM processors. Of course this means the end of Intel processors on Macs so you can expect there will be no more new Macs using Intel processors. In 2020 we saw the first three Macs appear using these new processors. The MacBook Air, the low-end MacBook Pro, and the Mac Mini. In 2021 we're going to get the majority of the rest of the Macs. So you're going to see iMacs and the higher end MacBook Pros now with Apple's new processors. But I don't think you're going to see them with the M1 processor. You're going to see the next chip. I don't know what it's going to be called. The M1a, the M1x, the M2. But it's going to be even more powerful than the M1 which has surprised everybody in what it can do. So at some point we're going see both the smaller and larger screen iMacs with these new processors. Probably the same one so the difference will be the screen there. Then you're going to see the higher end MacBook Pros, including the 16" model get probably that same processor. 

The M1 chip has 8 cores in it. Maybe the next version will have 16 cores? Maybe 16 or 32 GPU cores? Or maybe it will just have a faster clock speed although clock speed isn't something Apple talks about anymore. So by the end of the year we're going to see a majority of the Mac models using Apple's new chips. The only ones left out will be the iMacPro and the MacPro. I don't think we'll see those in 2021. I think Apple needs to produce a third chip, maybe something with 32 cores in it for those machines. Maybe we'll get announcement that it's coming but I think those will be 2022. 

So when will these machines come out? Well, Apple traditionally announces things sometimes in March, sometimes in June with the WorldWide Developers Conference. Then it's pretty quiet through the summer with more announcements through the Fall. It feels like it might be too early to see new Macs in March. After all these are completely new chip designs Apple's coming out with and they just came out with the M1. So hopefully it we'll be surprised by some new models in March but I'm thinking it's more likely that we'll see them in June. 

Now another thing talked about is whether or not new Macs will have a redesign. Whether they'll look the same as the old Intel models just as the MacBook Air and the low-end MacBook Pro do even though there's a new chip inside. Some people predict there will be a new design but I kind of doubt it. I think Apple will stick with the same design and work on the new internal parts first. Then get everybody excited again in 2022 or 23 for really cool new designs for the MacBooks and iMacs. But I don't feel really strongly about that. Apple is often unpredictable when it comes to designs so they may surprise us with a new design to either the iMac or maybe the 16" MacBook Pro. Other new hardware should include new iPad Pro s. Apple's due for that. The iPad Air is actually using a newer processor than the current iPad Pro. So I definitely think it's time for the iPad Pro to leapfrog past the iPad Air with a new processor and perhaps even a new screen. A mini LED screen. Apple's been doing a lot of things in the last few years with new types of screen technologies although most consumers haven't been really paying attention to it. It seems like everybody thinks  Mini-LED will make its debut in the new iPad Pros at some point. Maybe we'll see those in March. Probably later in the year we might see other iPad models, like maybe a new iPad Mini. 

Now we know Apple comes out with a new iPhone every year so in September or October we should see the new iPhone 13. But what will be new about it? I mean there will probably be small improvements to it. But will there be big new features. Maybe in the camera. There's been a lot of talk about Apple coming out with something new in terms of a telephoto lens. I really think that's the only thing missing from the iPhone as a camera is the option to have a really good telephoto lens. I mean 2 or 2.5X really doesn't compare to what you can get in a cheap camera with real optics. So there's been some talk about Apple figuring out how to get like a 10X lens into an iPhone. That would certainly make me excited about it. Also the  MagSafe they have connected to the back of the iPhone has proven to be a hit. So it's now really possible for Apple to maybe come out with a completely wireless iPhone. One that doesn't have any port at all on it.  It relies completely on using the MagSafe adapter on the back for charging and wireless for data transfer. Maybe we'll see Apple test that out with one of the lower end models.  

Another thing Apple does every year is the WorldWide Developers Conference. That always takes place in June and I expect it to happen this year too. Now in 2020 it was different because it was virtual. That ended up actually being pretty good because the problem with WWDC is way more people want to go to it than there's actually room for. So it's kind of a lottery for getting in. But when it was virtual all developers were able to attend the sessions without having to get lucky and get a ticket or travel anywhere. I think June might be too soon for Apple to actually go back to an in-person WWDC and I think they liked how the virtual one went. So maybe that might become permanent. I definitely think it will happen this year virtually. The only difference may be that the keynote event may include a small audience. Although I think Apple really enjoyed having the pre-recorded keynote. They were able to do a lot more with those and there really isn't a strong reason to go with a live audience especially when you're dealing with one of the world's largest corporations making significant announcements. At WWDC we'll find out a little bit about the new version of macOS and the new version of iOS that will come out later in the year. 

Other new hardware we may see in 2021 might include new AirPods. They may look like the AirPods Pro just not have any of the AirPods Pro features. In other words use that design but not the noise canceling and other features. There are also some rumors about the new Apple TV and one is due. I don't think this is going to look any different but it may have a slightly different remote as they continue to refine that. It also may be more geared towards games. So there might be more attention paid to the processor inside of the Apple TV and we may even have the option to buy a game controller with it. Maybe Apple's own game controller design or maybe a third party game controller that Apple sells as part of a package. I really think they are going to want to push Apple Arcade as being one of the primary features of a new Apple TV this year. 

Now all of this has been relatively obvious. But what completely new products may Apple come out with. Here's some wild speculation. One is AirTags. This rumor has been around for a few years that Apple is going to come out with a small, little, rechargeable device that you can stick onto anything and then be able to track it. You could put them on your keychain. You could put them on your dog's collar. You could do whatever you want with them. Other companies have products like this and Apple has the software built into the Apple eco system for this. Some maybe we'll finally see them in 2021. It seems like the new AirPods Max, the over the ear headphones, are kind of a hit. At $549 they are kind of expensive and really meant for high end listening. But Apple could come out with a mid range version of those. Something that's maybe $250 that doesn't include all the features but is the same basic design. So it's easy to forget that Apple actually does produce a screen. They produce the $6000 6K high end  Pro Screen. So that leaves any Mac users that want a second screen for their MacBook Pro or a screen from Apple for their Mac Mini out in the cold. You've got to get a third party screen. But Apple produces a really nice 27" screen inside the iMac. So maybe 2021 will be the year that Apple comes out with kind of a mid range screen. You can get a 4K screen now for $300 maybe a little more for better quality. So I think the market is there for Apple to come out with something maybe in the $500-$600 range that has an Apple design to it and connects and works really well with MacBooks. 

So those are my predictions for Apple in 2021. I want to hear your predictions too. Share them in the comments below.