According to news on January 3, in 2021, Apple released a number of slightly upgraded devices. The company will increase its product launch in 2022. In addition to launching new iPhones and AirPods, it may also include new VR devices. In terms of revenue, 2021 is the most successful year in Apple’s history. However, although its product lineup continues to expand, including the launch of the new MacBook Pro, compared with previous years, its product update range is not large. However, this situation will change in 2022.
Well-known Apple reporter Mark Gurman led us to review Apple’s products released in April 2021, including AirTags, the new Apple TV, iPad Pro and iMac:
- AirTags has been discussed for many years before its launch. Although it is a good Christmas gift, it has not changed the rules of the game in its field, and it is a few years later than competitors such as Tile.
- Apple TV is more expensive than its competitors and lags behind in functionality. Since the release of the latest model, although the remote control has been greatly improved, I (Gurman) do think that Apple should use the A13 or A14 chip, after all, the A12 chip is a bit out of date.
- iPad Pro is essentially an upgraded version of the 2020 version of iPad Pro, from the A12z chip to the M1 processor. The design speed of the chip is 50% faster than its predecessor, making the iPad Pro a major improvement in daily operation.
- The 24-inch iMac design is an engineering miracle. It is essentially a giant iPad Pro with the same processor but without a touch screen and MacOS operating system. However, I do think that the M1 chip may not be fast enough for heavy users.
In June 2021, Apple held a rather low-key Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This is incomparable with the previous year’s event when the company announced its self-developed Mac chip and redesigned macOS.
Instead, the latest conference only brought iOS 15, WatchOS 8, and macOS Monterey, although there were a few changes, but none of them stood out. September is usually when Apple releases its most important products, including the new iPhone and Apple Watch. In 2021, Apple also released a new iPad mini:
- The performance of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro series is very good, but the changes are not big, but the processor is slightly faster, the camera is better, and there are new software features, such as movie mode. Before the arrival of the iPhone 14 in 2022, all this will be enough to support Apple’s market.
- The iPad mini is the biggest update in the history of the product. From the perspective of external hardware, it is an awesome device. But I am not a fan of its running software. In my tests, the iPad mini felt awkward to use, and the icons and other touch targets were often too small.
- I am a fan of the Apple Watch Series 7. The most important improvement is to increase the screen size and the built-in QWERTY keyboard. If you are using Apple Watch Series 3 or 4 and plan to stay in this ecosystem, then it may be time to upgrade. Unfortunately, these improvements have not been accompanied by faster processors, new housing options, or new health sensors.
Apple kept the best new product of 2021-the new MacBook Pro for the end. I was very impressed with this new laptop. I appreciate its speed, battery life, MagSafe charging and other improvements while removing the Touch Bar. The HDMI port is also very convenient in my workflow.
The new AirPods don’t have much to say, but since the second-generation AirPods were released two and a half years ago, they have been in desperate need of upgrading. HomePod mini is even less noticeable, just simply update the yellow, blue and orange options.
Outlook For 2022
However, Apple’s launch activities this year should be much stronger. The company has a number of new Pro Macs based on M1 Pro and M1 Max chips under development, and these chips have been used in MacBook Pro. This includes a smaller Mac Pro with up to 40 CPU cores and 128 graphics cores, a new Mac mini and a large-screen iMac Pro. I expect Apple will complete the transition from Intel chips to independent chips at the developer conference in June at the earliest.
In addition, Apple will usher in the largest redesign and upgrade in the history of MacBook Air, including the launch of the latest entry-level MacBook Pro and the new iPad Pro with wireless charging. Considering that the performance of the iPad Pro has been so strong, and the M2 chip is still some time away from the market, I don’t know whether Apple will stick to the M1 or wait for the M2.
Speaking of Mac and iPad, Apple’s next external display is expected to be released this year, and the price will be about half of Pro Display XDR. Smartphones and smartwatches, Apple is expected to launch in the first half of this year the 5G version of the iPhone SE, autumn will launch the new iPhone 14 series, which will be smaller bangs. Three new Apple smartwatches are also in preparation, including the new SE, Apple Watch Series 8, and a sturdy version for extreme sports enthusiasts.
In terms of software, it is too early to determine which new features will eventually be introduced. We are about 6 to 7 months away from the next Apple Developer Conference, and the decision on which features to include is usually not confirmed until the spring. Therefore, in the next few months, we will pay more attention to iOS 16 (codenamed Sydney) and MacOS 13 (codenamed Rome).
Of course, the most anticipated in 2022 will be the first virtual reality (VR) device that Apple may release, code-named N301, which may have some augmented reality (AR) functions. The matching ROS code-named Oak is also worthy of attention. However, the release schedule of this product is still uncertain. Apple’s initial goal was to release it in 2020, and then push it to 2021, and now it is most likely to be unveiled at this year’s Apple Developer Conference.