A redesigned iMac, a more affordable HomePod, and a powerful new Apple TV are just some of the products Apple has planned for 2020, according to one reliable reporter.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also revealed expectations for the 5G iPhone lineup, scheduled to launch this fall, and for a 14-inch MacBook Pro during a Twitter Q&A with followers on Tuesday.
Apple seems to be finding it difficult to keep a lid on leaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple tipsters have in recent months been laying out the company’s plans for both its hardware and software.
Gurman is the latest to provide his predictions. They will be familiar to anyone who’s been following closely following the rumor mill this year, but they make for interesting reading for any Apple fan.
Here’s what Gurman says we can expect from Apple in 2020.
4 options for ‘iPhone 12’
Let’s start with the big stuff. Gurman expects Apple to introduce four “iPhone 12” models this fall, including a 5.4-inch model, two 6.1-inch models, and one 6.7-inch model — all of which will feature 5G.
Photo: svetapple.sk
The 5.4-inch model and one of the 6.1-inch models will be more affordable alternatives to Apple’s flagship handsets, succeeding iPhone 11, Gurman said. They will miss out on some high-end features.
Those features include a LiDAR Scanner, first introduced with this year’s iPad Pro refresh, and a 120Hz ProMotion display. Gurman expects these to be exclusive to the pricier 6.1- and 6.7-inch devices.
All four iPhone 12 options are to sport new designs, inspired by iPad Pro, with sharper edges and flat screens. They will also carry smaller notches, and speakers integrated into their bezels, Gurman said.
What about display-embedded Touch ID? Gurman said no.
Brand-new Macs
Apple is also expected to redesign the iMac this year. The all-in-one’s physical appearance hasn’t change since 2012, but Gurman expects the next refresh to bring “substantial” changes.
Gurman said rumors surrounding a new 23-inch iMac option are likely accurate. But as for whether or not they will be powered by ARM rather than Intel CPUs, Gurman told followers to “stay tuned.”
Reliable tipster Jon Prosser said on Tuesday a new iMac is “mostly ready” to launch “literally at any time.” It’s not clear, however, if this is a redesigned iMac, or a smaller refresh that will carry the same look.
Photo: Apple
The 14-inch MacBook Pro we’ve all been waiting for will debut this year, Gurman reiterated. It is expected to mirror the improvements Apple first introduced in late 2019 with the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Those include a Magic Keyboard with scissor-switch keys, slimmer bezels that allow a larger screen to be squeezed into a compact design, and improved speakers and microphones.
Those who are planning to buy that 16-inch MacBook Pro instead might want to wait. Gurman predicted Apple will refresh its more powerful notebook in October or November of this year.
And a lot more
Other hardware likely coming from Apple in 2020, according to Gurman, include a new Apple TV. It will be more powerful than its predecessor, but won’t support sharper 8K video just yet.
Apple Watch Series 6 with sleep tracking, AirTags, and new Apple headphones with a modular design, which is expected to accommodate different uses, are also scheduled for later this year.
Apple is also focused on “saving the HomePod” with a cheaper model, while an alternative to AirPower is in the works, but could come later.
Live taking your questions on Apple, the Magic Keyboard or just about anything else! https://t.co/m8C3IKhtXT
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) April 22, 2020
Other things Apple is working on for beyond 2020 include an augmented reality headset, and it continues to be focused on self-driving vehicle technology, Gurman said.
Gurman dismissed suggestions from Prosser that Apple is building an Xcode app for iPad. Prosser has since reiterated those claims, and says Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X will also hit iPadOS.
