While the rumours have circulated for a while about a number of things like when the upcoming Apple’s April 20 event would happen, well now it’s official. Some of the rumours can be laid to rest as the Apple event is scheduled to take place in a virtual event on April 20th 2021 at 10 am Pacific time. The event will also be available for streaming on Apple’s website and YouTube.
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A few details about what to expect from the event might have also leaked. Like the virtual events held by Apple in 2020, Apple’s April 20 event will consist of a pre-recorded video with executives from Apple’s headquarters in Apple Park California. Apple is generally anticipated to introduce new iPads, including a new iPad Pro with mini LED screens and additional surprises, such as the long-awaited AirTag trackers from Apple or a redesigned iMac with Apple silicon, could be found.
iOS 14.5 will likely be released this week as well following over two months of beta testing. The software update is packed with new features. Among these, Apple added a way to use Face ID to unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask. iOS 14.5 also includes a major update to the Find My app that signals the arrival of the AirTags product finders — a product Apple is expected to announce at this week’s Spring Loaded event.
Here are some of the devices to expect at Apple’s April 20 event
2022 iPhones
Even if we’re still months away from Apple unveiling the apparent iPhone 13 lineup, that will not stop the rumours from spreading.
This week, well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the 2022 iPhone lineup will consist of four models, including two higher-end 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch models and two lower-end 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch models. He said 2022 iPhones will feature significant camera upgrades, including a 48-megapixel rear lens and 8K video recording.
Citing poor sales from the iPhone 12 mini as compared to other iPhone 12 models since the devices launched in October, rumors suggest that an iPhone 13 mini will still be released, it however appears that the 5.4-inch model will be available for just another year.
Mini-LED iPad Pro
Apple is expected to announce an iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display at its April 20 event. According to reports, mini-LED backlighting will be exclusive to the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with benefits such as increased display brightness, improved contrast, and more when compared to LCDs used in current iPad Pro models. A new 11-inch iPad Pro is still on the way, with both sizes rumoured to get a faster A14X chip, Thunderbolt support, improved camera systems, and 5G support for cellular models.
The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro could ship later than normal or be supplied in limited quantities due to some manufacturing constraints. According to Bloomberg, sources in the supply chain say that yields of mini LED are poor, meaning that comparatively few completed and fault-free backlighting systems are being completed.
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Apple rumoured to adopt under display Face ID starting with 2023 iPhones
Looking even further into the future, Ming-Chi Kuo the Apple analyst predicted this week that under-display Face ID would be introduced, allowing for a full-screen design without a notch or any holes in the display. Rumours suggest that a smaller notch will appear on iPhone 13 models this year. Apple will then switch to a hole-punch display design for at least some 2022 iPhones, followed by a full-screen design in 2023, according to Kuo.
Kuo also expects 2023 iPhones to feature a periscope camera lens, allowing for significantly improved optical zoom that goes well beyond the current 2.5x limit on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Air Tags
The potential launch of AirTags at Apple’s April 20 event, a Tile-like Bluetooth locator that attaches to and helps you find items such as keys, wallets, laptops, or even your car, is perhaps the most talked-about product. AirTags were rumoured to be in development as early as 2019 when images hidden within iOS 13 suggested small, flat, circular discs with built-in chips could be used to locate items when connected to Apple’s Find My app.
Spring Colors for iPhone 12 Cases
While rumours have focused on new products such as a Mini-LED iPad Pro debuting at Apple’s April 20 event, new spring-themed colors for select iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands are also expected.
Twitter user “Tommy Boi” recently shared a photo of some of the allegedly new iPhone 12 case colours, including Cantaloupe, Pistachio, Capri Blue, and Amethyst. The leaks have since continued, with Twitter user “Majin Bu” having shared a photo showing off three more allegedly new colours without names yet, including a sky blue, mustard yellow, and a red.
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