A regular source of Apple leaks said on Thursday that a less expensive version of the Apple Watch is in the offing.
This was just one of multiple tidbits Jon Prosser dropped during a public Q&A session. He mentioned the first MacBook with Apple silicon, talked a bit about the company’s game controller, and more.
Prosser runs Front Page Tech on YouTube, and has made some high-profile predictions. He has a 78% accuracy rate on AppleTrack.
Get ready for a low-cost Apple Watch
When asked about the possibility of an “Apple Watch SE,” the leaker said “Yep. More affordable Apple Watch on the way.” However, he gave no other details.
Yep. More affordable Apple Watch on the way.
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) August 20, 2020
The latest version of the Apple Watch starts at $399. That’s more than the basic iPad. It’s possible to get a version for half that, but it’s from three years ago. This fuels requests for a more affordable version.
Hopes were raised this spring when Apple was granted a patent for a “Ceramic weave for low-cost, structural, antenna-permeable watch case.” This shows the company is exploring options for lowering the cost of this wearable.
First MacBook Pro with Apple silicon won’t be huge
Among the biggest announcements from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June was that the company is phasing out Intel processors, and will build future Macs around Apple’s own chips based on designs from ARM. But Apple has been vague about the first computers with Apple silicon.
On Thursday, Prosser said “The first ARM Mac will be a 13.3” MacBook Pro.” Again, no other details were revealed.
There’s really nothing to say just yet.
The first ARM Mac will be a 13.3” MacBook Pro.
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) August 19, 2020
Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the same in July, and that the device will be out in 2020.
Apple allegedly hard at work on a game controller
When asked about a game controller, Prosser said “Apple IS making a game controller. Don’t know when it’ll be out.”
Apple IS making a game controller. Don’t know when it’ll be out
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) August 20, 2020
The question didn’t come out of left field. An unconfirmed report that Apple is developing such a controller came to light back in April. It’s supposedly part of boosting interest in Apple Arcade.
Other tips
The Q&A with Prosser ranged widely, tapping on lots of smaller points. He thinks it’s unlikely the next iPhone will have a 120 Hz screen, for example. And he’s not sure if Apple will ever release the AirPower wireless charger. But he’s confident that his earlier predictions about Apple Glass will hold true.
And Prosser all threw out a comment that’ll wave a red flag in front of hard-core Mac fans, “In the near future, whether people believe it or not, the iPad will kill off the traditional Mac.”
