David Hanak With 2017 (finally) behind us, we can turn our attention to the coming twelve months. So far, it looks like there should be a lot going on this year. The year 2017 was quite rich in news, as you can see for yourself in the article below. However, 2018 should go a bit further - at least according to all possible assumptions, conjectures, assumptions and (un)confirmed information. So let's take a look at the beginning of the year at what most likely awaits us this year at Apple.
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Apple picker The first novelty of this year should be a wireless a HomePod smart speaker. It was supposed to hit store shelves sometime in December, but Apple delayed its release and postponed it indefinitely. All we know is that it will go on sale sometime "from the beginning of 2018". However, this can represent a really large period of time. However, it can be expected that this will be the first, or at least one of the first products that Apple will put on sale this year.
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Another basically confirmed thing is the AirPower wireless charging pad. Apple first revealed this at the September keynote, but since then it has been quiet. This too should arrive in the first half of this year and should make it easier to charge the new iPhones, Apple Watch and AirPods. Yes, Apple's wireless headphones are also getting a facelift this year. It is not yet clear how the hardware inside the headphones themselves will change, but it is confirmed that the charging box will change, which will now receive support for wireless charging.
It goes without saying that the new iPhones arrive traditionally in September (unless Apple surprises us with the new iPhone SE generation, which could appear in the spring). According to all information and speculation so far, it looks like Apple will introduce three new iPhones in the fall. All will have a bezel-less display, wireless charging and new hardware. At the top will be two premium models (iPhone X successors) in two sizes. So a kind of "iPhone X2" and "iPhone X2 Plus". They will get OLED displays and the best that Apple manages to fit inside the phone. They should be supplemented by a third model, which will have a classic IPS display, albeit with a frameless design. The latter will serve as the base of the offering and is expected to retail for around $600-750.
iPhone models in 2018, source KGI Securities
All new iPhones should have the design of the current iPhone X, and this could mean that this year will mark the farewell to Touch ID and the Home Button. In addition to the aforementioned iPhones, it is very possible that the True Depth system (which allows Face ID) will be included in both the new iPad Pro and the new MacBooks. We will certainly see an update of both mentioned products this year, and if Apple has this technology, it should not be a problem to implement it in devices with enough space.
They will certainly arrive during the year as well the new Mac Pro, which has been talked about for several months. Its development has been confirmed several times and it is only a matter of time before Apple decides to introduce it. It should be a classic desktop machine that will offer upgradeability (at least to some extent). Its appearance and specifications are unknown, but as for the latter, too many variations cannot be invented. If Apple is really aiming for the highest targets, server "workstation" hardware is a must. It will be very interesting to see if they go the route of Intel and their Xeon W processors again, or if they go for the competing Epyc processor line. In the case of graphics accelerators, perhaps nothing other than the newly introduced nVidia Titan V graphics accelerator (or its professional equivalent in Quadro models) comes into consideration, as the solution from AMD is not that powerful.
Modular Mac Pro concept, source: Curved
As for the other computers, the iMac Pros are only a few days old, and if they have an upgrade planned, it won't be until the end of the year. The classic iMacs will definitely get an upgrade, as well as the MacBook Pro and the small 12″ MacBook. What would deserve a change (and probably a more drastic one) is the Mac Mini. It got its last spec upgrade in 2014 and has been miserable ever since. It's the cheapest macOS machine out there, but its specs are really laughable this year. The MacBook Air could also get a solution this year, which has also been doing well for a few years (especially its display is really worth crying about in 2018).
During this year, there should also be unification of developer tools, within which it will now make no difference whether you are writing an application for macOS or iOS. Apple has been working on this solution for several months, and we could learn the first information at this year's WWDC conference in June. This step will greatly simplify the production of applications and it will be significantly easier for developers to keep applications on both platforms as up-to-date as possible.
A new generation of Apple Watch smartwatches is also certain to arrive (it is speculated about micro-LED displays and new sensors), we will probably also see an updated "budget" version of the iPad. However, not much information is known about these products, so we have no choice but to wait for the first bits. In addition to the aforementioned, this year we can also expect loads of new accessories in the form of covers, cases and other accessories, along with many new Apple Watch straps. We have a lot waiting for us this year, what specifically are you waiting for? Share with us in the discussion.
I was carrying doX because I'm waiting for X2, I have 6+ and a totally slow apple water, please release it
My favorite 6+ has been terribly slow for the last few months, so I had to upgrade to X, now it's delicious?
So far, I have a year-old iPhone 7 128 GB and I am quite satisfied. But I'm waiting for a new ipad, my #4 16 GB is already ripe for replacement :-)
I've had an iP4 for 7 months, it's quite stable, but I haven't quite gotten used to Apple yet. What I will never get used to is the small display and large frames (I was hoping that Apple would replace it with something else?). So I'm also very curious about the new X-ka. But if Apple deliberately slows down an older phone significantly to force users to buy a new overpriced model, that's wrong. It would rather discourage me, the competition is great.
I've had an iP4 for 7 months, it's quite stable, but I haven't quite gotten used to Apple yet. What I will never get used to is the small display and large frames (I was hoping that Apple would replace it with something else?). So I'm also very curious about the new X-ka. But if Apple deliberately slows down an older phone significantly to force users to buy a new overpriced model, that's wrong. It would rather discourage me, the competition is great.