What to expect at Apple’s “spring-loaded” event

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Apple (AAPL) is hosting its first event in 2021 on Tuesday and will likely focus on the new iPads, alongside a product for years.

Invitations to the virtual press conference sent to reporters last week included a colorful spiral image forming the Apple logo – an image that could be made as if it were produced by an Apple pencil, a hint suggesting updates to its iPad line.

The company’s invitations are often full of red herrings, but Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior marketing manager, added to the feed when he posted an animated video on Twitter of the spirals bouncing around the Apple campus. He speculated that augmented reality could be part of the company’s presentation.
Two things are usually given each spring: flowers blooming and the arrival of next-generation iPads. The company is expected to present an updated iPad Pro with a faster processor, 5G support, a Thunderbolt port, so that it can connect to several external monitors and a Mini LED display.

The display is expected to increase brightness, provide a higher contrast ratio, improve energy efficiency for longer battery life, but be slightly thicker than current versions. Apple may also feature a redesigned iPad mini with smaller frames and a larger screen. But it’s unclear whether any of these updates will be enough to persuade users to upgrade.

Eleftheria Kouri, an analyst at technology market consulting firm ABI Research, said tablet deliveries will increase significantly in 2020, in part due to distance learning and work. But this growth will not last forever. “Tablet vendors, including Apple, need to introduce a truly game-changing technology feature to boost sales and encourage consumers to replace their old devices: 5G connectivity is one of those key features,” she said.

AirTags

Perhaps the biggest product in the rumor mill is the potential debut of AirTags, a Bluetooth locator similar to the plates that attach and help you find items like keys, wallets, laptops or even your car. AirTags would have worked since 2019, when images hidden in iOS 13 suggest small, flat, circular disks with built-in chips that could allow someone to locate items when connected to the Find Me Apple app.
This is where AR could come into play. In iOS 13, a string of code said, “Walk around several feet and move the iPhone up and down until a balloon appears,” indicating where an item can be hidden, according to MacRumors.

Apple TV, privacy features and more

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, unveils a new iPad Pro during a launch event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on October 30, 2018, in New York City.
Not only is Apple TV due to a new processor and better gaming refresh support, a redesigned remote could work as a physical locator for AirTags, according to the 9to5Mac technical blog.

And then there are the AirPods 3. It is believed that Apple’s next generation of wireless headphones has a better design than the latest generation AirPods Pro, along with space audio support and touch controls. AirPods have cultivated a number of cultures over the years and have emerged as a symbol of fashion and status, but Apple may have to wait until later this year to unveil a new model.

Apple’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air also need to be updated, but it’s unclear if they’ll receive one as early as next week. Apple recently discontinued its iMac Pro line, once the company’s most powerful computer, and its original HomePod to focus more on the HomePod mini.
The company could also pass users through an expected iOS 14.5 software update focused on privacy. Its future transparency of app tracking will require app developers to explicitly disclose how they collect user data, what it will be used for, and to request user consent before downloading or updating apps from the App Store.

However, all eyes will be on new gadgets on Tuesday. “Despite production line disruptions, the semiconductor industry crisis and the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, consumer product demand has generally remained resilient,” Kouri said.

ABI Research expects demand for certain products, such as real wireless headphones and 5G devices, to grow exponentially in the coming years, but technology companies like Apple will first have to provide enough incentive to consumers to spend dollars.

The Apple event starts at 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT on its website, YouTube and Apple TV.

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