Sources familiar with Apple’s plans have confirmed to Bloomberg that a new iPad Air and Apple Watch refresh are on their way this fall.
The unnamed insiders corroborate recent leaks that indicate the new iPad Air will have an edge-to-edge display, like iPad Pro. The new Apple Watch is expected to come in two very different variants.
Apple has already delivered some huge new products in 2020. We’ve seen a new iPhone SE, a refreshed iPad Pro, various upgrades to the Mac, and more. But, as rumors predicted, there’s more on the way.
Sources for Bloomberg say we can expect big things from the next iPad Air refresh, while there’s a lot to look forward to for fans of Apple Watch. Here’s what Apple has planned for this fall.
iPad Air will be more Pro
“Among a comprehensive product refresh in the fall, Apple is also preparing a new iPad Air with an edge-to-edge iPad Pro-like screen,” reads the report. It’s also expected to get a new aluminum chassis.
That chassis will also be inspired by iPad Pro’s, the sources say, with straight edges and sharper corners. Bloomberg does not mention the inclusion of Touch ID or USB-C connectivity, which are rumored.
2 new Apple Watch models
The next Apple Watch refresh is expected to bring two new variants — one that will succeed Apple Watch Series 5, and another more affordable model that will replace Apple Watch Series 3.
Again, the details are slim; there’s no word on what kind of features we can expect from either model. But Bloomberg says Apple hopes to compete with lower-cost devices from the likes of Fitbit.
New Apple TV, 4 new iPhones
The report also mentions Apple’s plans for a new Apple TV and a smaller HomePod, which we relayed earlier. There are also some details, many of which we’ve heard before, surrounding iPhone 12.
The sources corroborate rumors of four iPhone 12 models — “two basic and two high-end models.” The more affordable two are expected to come with 5.4- and 6.1-inch displays; the Pro options will carry 6.1- and 6.7-inch screens.
“All of the new smartphones will have updated designs with squared edges similar to the iPad Pro,” the report reads. The Pro models will continue to offer stainless steel frames, while the other two will stick with aluminum, like iPhone XR and iPhone 11.
“The company is also planning a dark blue color option on the Pro models to replace the Midnight Green of 2019’s iPhone 11 Pro line … At least the larger of the Pro phones will have the same LIDAR camera as on the latest iPad Pro.”
Cheaper iPhone models will arrive earlier
Other features will include a faster, more efficient A14 processor, the report says. These will also be the first iPhone models with 5G connectivity, but testers warn data speeds won’t be much faster.
Those planning to buy an iPhone Pro, packed with Apple’s latest technologies, will be waiting longer. It is believed the more affordable models will go on sale first, while the others could come in November.
Bloomberg claims that Apple is planning to ship around 80 million next-generation iPhone units in 2020 — up from 75 million units for the iPhone 11 series in the fall of 2019.
