Apple set for a big year

Since this is more rumor/leak than news, I’m not sure it warrants a full post, but this Bloomberg piece may be interesting to Apple fans:

Apple typically follows a pattern of spacing out its new product releases each year.

In the spring, it launches updates to its more minor or complementary products. In the summer, it reveals new software and holds its developer conference. Apple then saves major new hardware for the fall.

It’s a shoo-in that you’ll see a new iPhone SE [at the spring event], which will probably have a similar design to the current model but a faster processor and 5G support. Given that the iPad Air hasn’t been updated since the end of 2020, I’d say a new version of that product also is possible. Look for that device to get the A15 chip from the iPhone 13, matching the iPad mini from last year.

What else could be on the menu? I’d imagine Apple wants to bring the M1 Pro chip to another Mac in the first half of this year. That could mean a higher-end Mac mini or iMac.

But given Apple’s typical strategy, I’d guess that the revamped MacBook Air and Mac Pro aren’t coming until later this year.

To that end, I’m told that Apple is readying the widest array of new hardware products in its history this fall. That makes sense: My back-of-the-envelope list includes four new iPhones, a low-end MacBook Pro, an updated iMac, the new Mac Pro, a revamped MacBook Air, an AirPods Pro upgrade, three Apple Watches, a low-end iPad and iPad Pros.