Here’s what Apple’s (apparently) got in store for 2019

By

The iPhone XS Max is 25 percent larger than any previous iOS handset. So how is it as an iPad mini replacement?
From new iPhones and major Macs to a refreshed iPod touch, this could be a great year for Apple hardware!
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

2018 was a great year for Apple devices, but 2019 could be even better, if a new report is to be believed. Issued over the weekend by noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, his research note runs down some of his hardware expectations for the coming year.

From redesigned MacBooks to Apple’s best-ever desktop display, this could be a year to remember. Heck, there’s even a new iPod in the cards, according to Kuo!

A big year for Mac

If you’re in the market for a giant MacBook, you’ve come to the right year. Kuo predicts 2019 will see the release of Apple’s biggest MacBook since 2012. The new MacBook Pro will boast a screen between 16 inches and 16.5 inches in size. This would be the largest MacBook notebook screen since the end of the 17-inch models seven years ago.

Kuo also suggests there will be a new 13-inch MacBook model with support for 32GB of RAM. That option is currently only available for the 15-inch MacBook Pro. He additionally notes that we will see an “all-new design” for the laptop.

As for Apple’s Mac Pro, Kuo thinks Apple will release its long-awaited upgrade sometime in 2019. While he doesn’t offer any specifics, he says Apple also will create an epic 31.6-inch “6k3k” display.

A neat refresh for the iPhone

On the topic of Apple’s mobile devices, Kuo claims Apple will release three new iPhones. These will include 6.5- and 5.8-inch OLED models, along with a 6.1-inch LCD iPhone. All will support Lightning (meaning no USB-C). They will retain the same “notch” as their predecessors.

The big iPhone updates of 2019 are likely to include a new triple-lens camera system. This will give users the option of wide, telephoto and ultra-wide photography. There’s also the promise of bilateral wireless charging, which could make it possible for the iPhone to wirelessly charge other devices. Face ID is likely to get better recognition, too.

Finally, he suggests UWB (ultra-wide band) for superior indoor positioning, and frosted glass casing.

And in other news…

Kuo additionally thinks a new iPod touch could be on the way, approximately four years after the last model shipped. The upgraded Apple Watch, meanwhile, will boast a new ceramic casing design. And the ECG feature introduced in Apple Watch Series 4 will arrive in new markets.

In all, it looks like a very exciting year ahead for Apple if all of this ships as expected. What are you most looking forward to? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: MacRumors

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.