Don’t buy these 4 products: new models are about to hit the market
Since new Apple products are slated for announcement at the company's "Peek Performance" event on March 8, there is no point in buying the previous models. Especially the four Apple devices expected to launch very soon in updated versions.
Apple is likely to reveal the replacements for four or more of its currently available devices at its spring event. The new models will feature moderate to major upgrades.
This is supported by regulatory filings in the database, where
Apple recently submitted four different devices to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), including smartphone, desktop, laptop and tablet models.
iPhone SE
The 2020 second-generation iPhone SE is likely to be replaced with a new version, whose features include 5G connectivity and a faster processor.
These are the four likely main upgrades:
• 5G connectivity (both sub-6GHz and mmWave in the U.S.)
• A15 Bionic chip
• Better cameras
• Up to 256GB storage
The design/color options, the display (4.7-inch LCD) and other features will probably stay the same.
5G connectivity is the hit feature slated to boost the sales of the updated iPhone SE, which is set to become the company’s most affordable iPhone with that option. As of now, the iPhone mini holds that place at $599, but iPhone SE’s $399 retail price (if it is priced the same as the 2020 version) will be far cheaper.
The A15 Bionic chip will also significantly enhance performance and efficiency compared to the A13 in the previous model. If we take the iPhone mini model as an example, we can see that it greatly benefited from this chip’s performance – for instance, it extended battery life, and we can anticipate the same improvements for the SE.
iPad Air
The 2020 4-gen iPad Air will be replaced by a new one with internal upgrades that closely resemble those in the 2022 iPhone SE.
The key new anticipated features are as follows:
• A15 Bionic chip
• 5G connectivity for cell models (possibly only sub-6GHz 5G)
• Ultra-Wide 12-mpx front camera
• Center Stage for your video calls
• Quad-LED True Tone flash
The design is likely to remain unchanged, but there may be new color options available.
Mac mini
Rumors of a new Mac mini being developed have been circulating for a while now. In November 2020 the company updated its basic Mac mini with the M1 chip, but the Space Gray model with a 2018 Intel processor is still the high-end offering. That’s the model that should be getting a replacement in 2022: the all-new and exciting Apple silicon model.
This top-of-the-line Mac mini is likely to be redesigned – for the first time in over a decade. Expect the following:
• New design: more compact, with a "plexiglass" top, and two-tone color options
• Magnetic power connector (like the 24” iMac)
• Apple silicon chip options (probably M1 Pro and M1 Max)
The new model is expected to be similar in form to the currently available Mac mini, but proportionately more compact. The “plexiglass” top is taking over the unibody aluminum frame and resembles the first-gen Apple TV. The set of ports will probably remain the same: 4 Thunderbolt ports, 2 USB-A ports, 1 Ethernet port and HDMI port.
There’s a 16-GB limitation on the M1 Mac mini, but the Intel version supports as much as 64GB of RAM. The M1 Pro works with up to 32GB RAM and the M1 Max - up to 64GB. Thus, the new Mac mini is expected to continue to offer support for up to 64GB RAM.
It is unclear whether the entry-level Mac mini will also be getting an upgrade, but since the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro will switch to the M2 chip this spring, it seems reasonable to expect a similar upgrade for the Mac mini as well.
13-Inch MacBook Pro
The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro was last upgraded in November 2020, with a first M1 Mac debut. This model was revealed along with the MacBook Air and entry-level Mac mini, and while all three product lines are due for a revamp, an update the 13-inch MacBook Pro seems to be the first one underway.
The MacBook Pros got a major update in 2021, but the new 13-inch Pro model will probably have only two changes
• Second-generation "M2" Apple silicon chip
• No Touch Bar (maybe)
The M2 chip will certainly be the headline feature of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M2 chip is slated to feature as many computing cores as the M1 chip, but will boast higher speed and offer 9 or 10 graphics cores (for comparison: the M1 had 7 or 8). Speed and efficiency are likely to improve, particularly if the chip is built on a smaller node.
No design changes are expected, with the same chassis with a Touch Bar, which has been removed from the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Some industry experts disagree on the presence of the Touch Bar, but we will know soon enough.
Beyond the new chip, there are no details on the new MacBook Pro, and it remains to be seen how this new entry-level model will cover the middle ground between the new M2 MacBook Air (slated to launch later in 2022) and the currently available top MacBook Pro model.
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