Blog

Spring

Apple held an event on March 25, 2019 to introduce several new services, and new hardware also debuted via press releases a week before that. There are still a couple of products that have been rumored to be coming in the spring, though, and they could still launch before summer rolls around. 

• 7th-generation iPad – Same design as 6th-generation iPad, but with an upgraded processor and a new 10.2-inch display size. Apple Pencil support, Touch ID, headphone jack, and other iPad features to remain.
• 7th-generation iPod touch – Little is known, but same design as 6th-generation iPod touch with no Face ID or Touch ID. iPhone-style bells and whistles not expected, as Apple will likely want to keep costs low, but it will have faster A-series processor.

June/Summer

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference takes place in June, and this year it’s going to be held from June 3 to June 7. We’re expecting to see new software updates, and sometimes Apple sneaks some hardware in. We don’t know if that’ll be the case this year, but there is a major Mac Pro update on the horizon and details could be shared at WWDC. 

• iOS 13 – Dark mode will be the key feature of iOS 13, and there will be a redesigned Home screen for iPhone and iPad. The files app is getting updated, and we’ll see some iPad-specific features like tabs for apps and a multitasking feature for using two windows of the same app side by side.
• CarPlay – As part of iOS 13, CarPlay may get some revamped interface elements, though details are slim.
• macOS 10.15 – macOS 10.15 will expand cross-platform app functionality to developers, allowing iOS apps to be easily ported over to macOS. macOS 10.15 won’t support 32-bit apps, so expect some of your older apps that haven’t been updated in a while to quit working.
• watchOS 6 – watchOS 6 will come alongside iOS 13 and it could include some interface changes to match, though we don’t know any details about the update right now.
• tvOS 13 – Apple updates tvOS alongside iOS, macOS, and watchOS, so we’re expecting a new version. There have been no rumors of what’s coming in tvOS 13.
• Apple Card – It may not be coming at WWDC, but this summer, Apple is going to launch Apple Card, the credit card that it’s releasing in partnership with Goldman Sachs. Apple Card offers unique benefits like Daily Cash back, spending tracking and budgeting tools in Wallet, privacy, and it comes with a slick titanium physical card.

September

• 2019 iPhones – We’re expecting three iPhones in 2019 that are similar to the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. We’ll get two OLED models (XS and XS Max successors) and one LED model (XR successor), with no significant design changes, though there could be a new frosted glass back and a smaller notch, but rumors are mixed on this last point. The largest iPhone will feature an improved triple-lens camera while the others will use dual-lens cameras. We’ve heard rumors of USB-C, but it ultimately sounds like the 2019 iPhones will stick with Lightning, and we can also expect an A13 chip along with faster LTE and WiFi, bigger batteries, and a new bilateral wireless charging feature that will let the 2019 iPhones wirelessly charge other devices.
• Apple Watch Series 5 – Rumors suggest Apple Watch Series 5 will feature a new ceramic casing design, suggesting a return of the Apple Watch Edition. Expanded ECG support for additional countries is also expected in 2019, with the feature likely to be available in Series 4 and new Series 5 models. New health features have also been rumored for years, such as non-invasive blood glucose monitoring. A micro-LED display is a possibility, as are solid state buttons. We don’t yet know what to expect from the next Apple Watch, but Apple reliably updates it every September just like the iPhone.
• Apple TV+ – Apple TV+ will house Apple’s original TV shows and movies, and it’s set to launch this fall. No pricing has been announced, but it would make sense for it to launch alongside new iPhones.
• Apple Arcade – Fall will also see the launch of the Apple Arcade service, which is a new gaming service that will offer access to more than 100 new and premium games for a monthly fee. Cost and exact launch date haven’t been announced, but this service also makes sense to launch when new iPhones come out.

Later in 2019

• Mac Pro – Apple is working on a high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro for its pro user base. The machine will be easily upgradable and will feature components for the most system intensive tasks. We have no word on when in 2019 this is coming, but Apple did promise a 2019 launch date in early 2018. If it’s anything like the last Mac Pro in 2013, we could get some info at WWDC.
• New Apple Display – To go along with the upcoming Mac Pro, Apple is working on a massive 31.6-inch display with an impressive 6K resolution (6144 x 3072). It could feature a new mini LED-like backlighting design, which would offer “outstanding picture quality.”
• Apple TV Dongle – Rumors suggest Apple is considering a lower-cost Apple TV dongle similar to the Amazon Fire Stick or Google Chromecast, which would be available at a lower price than the current Apple TV set top boxes. Such a dongle would be able to be plugged into the back of a TV and would be used to promote the company’s upcoming streaming TV service.
• HomePod – We’ve heard rumors suggesting Apple is working on a lower-cost HomePod option that would better compete with offerings from Amazon and Google.
• High-end Over-Ear Headphones – To round out its audio offerings of the HomePod and AirPod, Apple is reportedly developing Apple-branded over-ear high-end headphones. Sound quality is said to be a major focus, and Apple will include active noise-cancellation. We don’t know just when the headphones will launch, but the second half of 2019 is rumored.
• iPad Pro – Apple will refresh the iPad Pro lineup with updated processors in 2019, according to reliable Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo, though no other updates are expected at this time. A more substantial update will be introduced in 2020.
• MacBook and MacBook Air – There are no specific rumors about notebook updates, but the MacBook is in need of a refresh since it didn’t get a 2018 update, and Apple could also introduce a minor spec update in the MacBook Air, There’s been some speculation that the MacBook will be Apple’s first ARM-based notebook with a custom chip, but that’s not expected till 2020.