As the coronavirus pandemic has distorted our sense of time, some of us may be constantly asking ourselves what day it is. But in the world of gadgets, at least one thing is certain in the fall. Apple announces new iPhone.
Apple will hold its annual fall hardware launch on September 14th (US time). As usual, the entire tech industry (and people who are about to buy a new iPhone) will be watching the launch (again, online) to see how Apple is responding to consumer tech trends and how it will respond. It's a day to try to feel whether it is evolving.
At least two new iPhones?
Before this presentation, there is one thing I know for sure. That means there will be at least two new iPhones. (It remains to be seen whether the name will be "iPhone 13" or if Apple will decide that the numerical naming is getting a little ridiculous).
Bloomberg's Marc Garman, an Apple expert, wrote an early article that the biggest enhancements to the new iPhones will be the cameras. New features include higher quality video formats, bokeh effects when shooting video, and "smarter filters," the company said.
Of course, the new iPhones will also feature Apple's latest proprietary chips, and the display refresh rate will finally catch up to Samsung's flagship models. Wedbush Securities' Dan Ives also announced to investors that the high-end version of the new iPhone, the Pro, could come with a whopping 1 terabyte of storage.
Other rumors suggest a redesigned iPad mini and new AirPods as part of the fall hardware announcements. The invitation to the virtual event read the words "California Streaming" and featured images suggesting that augmented reality (AR) could be part of the event (the invitation included an AR Easter Even the eggs were hidden).
What about the new Apple Watch?
Important news may also include information about products that won't start taking pre-orders this week. It's the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 7 is reportedly delayed due to production issues, but there are reports that it may be able to clear the obstacles in time for the launch event.
The delay in producing a well-established product means that when the Apple Watch Series 7 launches, it will have a major redesign and new features beyond run-of-the-mill activity tracking. It may be. But the production delays show that Apple is no stranger to manufacturing-related problems and supply shortages affecting the entire consumer tech industry.
The timing of Apple's fall hardware event is also a challenging time for the company. Like many tech companies, Apple has weathered the pandemic admirably so far. Consumers clamored for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and web services to work remotely, study, exercise, relax and connect with others.