If this were a normal year, we'd be content with an iPhone event right now. This, however, is not a normal year. And while we're, in fact, getting an Apple hardware event tomorrow at 10am PT / 1pm ET, it seems entirely possible, indeed likely, that we won't have much time to take on the iPhone 12.
If the laptop also makes an appearance. After all, Apple has been pretty early on about the months of its long-awaited 5G phone (shareholders, you know) late, due at least in part to some supply chain issues. It follows, therefore, that the company is planning another event in the not so distant future.
As we saw from Samsung, the move to virtual events during the pandemic seems to have made companies a little more daring to hold more events, without the travel obligation. What we can expect this time around, however, are some updates for a couple of Apple's other tent-pole products, namely, the Apple Watch and an old favorite iPad. There are also a handful of other possibilities, including service packages and some additions to the AirPods line.
Let's start with the best bets.
Apple watchThe "Time Flies" slogan is the clearest indication that we are getting some news on Watch. Again, in most years, we would simply be able to look at the calendar. But it's not nearly every year. A healthy combination of rumors, leaks, and some of the new features in the latest version of watchOS gives us a pretty sane picture of what we have in store for tomorrow's big event.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is likely to be the centerpiece of the show. One of the biggest news from the new model is actually a loss of functionality. The latest version of Apple's popular wearable device is expected to drop Force Touch, as support for the feature is available on watchOS 7. Such a move could help streamline the watch - or even more likely / hopefully leave room for more battery.
With the addition of hibernation capabilities in the new version of the operating system, the company should find ways to make the device last longer on a charge, so that users can wear it in bed. There are already some built-in power-saving features to monitor while the wearer sleeps, but a bigger battery would make a big difference and help the company stay competitive on that front.
If not, the device is set to continue to focus on health monitoring improvements. This has long been the key to the success of the watch and, in general, the success of wrist devices. Among the expected features is the addition of SpO2 monitoring. The Apple Watch would be far from being the first smartwatch to monitor blood oxygen levels, but the feature would come at a time when home monitoring of vital health signs seems all the more important.
Rumors also point to the addition of a low-cost model, notably a new watch designed to replace the Series 3, which has remained at around $ 199. The product would answer much of the demand for low-priced smartwatches. This is especially true during COVID-19, as users seek affordable access to health monitoring. That said, it seems likely that the low-cost product won't be quite as sophisticated.
iPadIt seems likely that there is also an iPad on the menu for tomorrow. The best candidate is the iPad Air, which saw its latest update in March 2019. Rumors point to a significant reduction in bezels and a power button with Touch ID moved to the top of the device. Other features for the iPad Air 4 include a 10.8-inch display, and Apple finally replaces the Lightning port with USB-C.
Misc
All those operating systems announced at WWDC (iOS, macOS, watchOS, TVOS) are expected to come out of beta every week. This could be the event, although, again, with the possible addition of an iPhone event, we can't say for sure. The company is also rumored to launch "Apple One," an offering that would include some of its key subscription services, including Apple TV + and Music. Additional packages could include Arcade and News +, along with additional iCloud storage.
Some long-standing additional entries include AirTags, the company's tile-like device tracker that works well with its Find My app. The hardware offering would make it easier to locate lost items in a similar way to Find My iPhone. New AirPods may also be on the agenda. AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2, and the long-awaited over-ear AirPods Studio all seem reasonable possibilities.
