Last year wasa little quietfor Apple , but 2024 is pass to be loud . The launch of the Vision Pro , a unexampled merchandise move a unexampled operating system in a new category ( for Apple ) , more or less guarantees it . But there ’s a lot more than the exit of the Vision Pro to Apple ’s 2024 .
Let ’s take a look at what this year will offer through the electron lens of your longtime Apple - watching columnist and his reasonably cloudy crystal ball . How good to mean about the future , after all , than to predict it on a web site ?
iPad clarity
After a year where the biggest iPad annunciation was anew ( weird ) Apple Pencil fashion model , 2024 is a class where Apple will likely refresh every single iPad model . A pile of ink has been spilled about whether the iPad product line is too complex and confusing , and I ’m here to tell you that in 2024 , thing will get lessconfusing – but only somewhat .
For a few years now , it ’s been unreadable where theiPad Airfits , since it ’s so similar in so many ways to theiPad Pro . In 2024 , I think that differentiation will become much clear , which should make the iPad line a lot easy to parse . The iPad Air , which received a new design in 2022 , is on class for a minor rescript – with the rumor that it ’ll be release in both 11- and 12.9 - inch theoretical account .
If those size sound familiar , it ’s because those are the current sizing of the smalland largeiPad Pro model . await , another iPad Air ? Is n’t thatmoreconfusing ?
A bigger version of the iPad Air could debut in 2024.
I do n’t think so . The iPad Air , which uses Touch ID instead of Face ID and will not get the late and greatest Apple processors , will bear on to use the Magic Keyboard innovate in 2020 . It will settle in as a mathematical product with some mainstream appeal but without the pricy mellow - ending feature of speech that will be limit to the iPad Pro .
In the meantime , the iPad Pro will fully embrace the “ Pro ” in its name . Both models will get big and sport gorgeous organic light-emitting diode display . With the new sizing will come newfangled accessory – most notably a young keyboard case . This example will feature aluminum elements that will make the resulting iPad feel more like a MacBook than the current model . I ’m go to pretend it ’ll also offer a full routine row like Apple ’s other keyboards – and backlighting like the fellowship ’s laptop computer .
The prices will go up , undoubtedly , give the increase of OLED … and that keyboard wo n’t be cheap , either . But with the iPad Air continue to be uncommitted at a more reasonable price , the iPad Pro will appeal to people who love the modularity and portability of the iPad and have way to hold it to their professional life story . ( If Apple really wanted to make the iPad Pro solicitation , it would permit users operate a virtual copy of macOS on that M3 processor – even I am not enough of a sicko to make that anticipation . )
A bigger version of the iPad Air could debut in 2024.
A large interlingual rendition of the iPad Air could debut in 2024 .
metalworks
In lower - ending iPad tidings , say goodbye to the plate release . The9th contemporaries iPadwill die at last , with the 10th multiplication model drive its topographic point on the terms list . A new , slightly boost eleventh - generation theoretical account will debut above it . And that jankyoriginal Apple Pencil , with its Lightning port and eldritch Lightning - to - USB adapter , will fade into history .
If the iPhone 15 Pro Max display isn’t big enough for you, your wish may come true later this year.
Mac iteration on tap
With the M3 processor already out in the world , I suspect that the Mac ’s 2024 will be for the most part devoted to updating be models to add in the M3 . The best - selling Mac of all , the MacBook Air , will certainly get an M3 mannequin . The question is , what materialize to theexisting MacBook Airs ? I ’m going to prognosticate that the M2 model will be phased out since the M3 model will apply that same modern design … but the trustworthy ( and cheap!)M1 modelwill stick around . At some item , Apple will belike need to make aMacBook SE , but this does n’t seem like the yr .
Beyond the MacBook Air , I think that all existing Mac role model will see M3 updates . Yes , that means not just theMac minibut theMac StudioandMac Pro . And just when we least expect it , Apple willupdate its input gadget from Lightning to USB - C … at least a year later than we all hoped they would do it . No new Apple display standalone this yr , though . I ’ve been burned too many times .
If the iPhone 15 Pro Max display is n’t big enough for you , your wish may derive true afterward this year .
The big update to the Apple Watch will probably not happen until 2025.
Jason Cross / Foundry
Uninspiring iPhone changes
Rumor has it that theiPhone Pro models will get slightly largerthan this year ’s modeling , adding blind literal estate at the cost of a slight system of weights increase . I enjoy the removal of laborious unsullied sword from this year ’s models , but there ’s room for Apple to experiment , and no smartphone maker has been punished for giving exploiter bigger screen . Seems sensible .
I ’d imagine that all iPhones will get in effect at shooting Spatial Video , with the Pro models getting promote camera and the base iPhones gaining that capability for the first time . There might be some nonaged camera rise , but honestly , this feels like a year when iPhone hardware update will be relatively minor .
On the software side , though … this feels like the year where Apple will sharply show off its attempts to desegregate more motorcar - learnedness - based technology into its equipment . Some of that will tramp out at WWDC in June , but I would n’t be surprised if there are also a raft of ML - specific features that will only be enabled by the pro - level chip on the iPhone 16 Pro models … because software features can be hardware discriminator , too , especially when the computer hardware is n’t really that different .
Even with an early 2024 release, whether the Vision Pro is a hit or not won’t be known for some time.
More broadly , yes , I mean Siri 2.0 is going to happen , and it ’s go to be based on a ChatGPT - like words model – with a sight of guardrails and limitation that make it less utile than other chatbots , but with less chance of hallucination and inaccuracy . And it will probably be label as a genus Beta , just in case .
Same old Watch and some new TV content
Is this the year that the received Apple Watch gets its first hardware redesign ? Those are therumors , but I ’m not see it . While this fall will be the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch , next year is the literal anniversary of the gadget shipping . I think a fresh Apple Watch is on the horizon , but the Apple Watch Ultra just appeared in recent 2022 . It feel like Apple can hold back another year before breaking band compatibility .
The boastful update to the Apple Watch will probably not happen until 2025 .
David Price / Foundry
On the services side , I predict that Apple will make another deal for sports rights . Maybe the NBA ? perchance something 3 - D relate for Vision Pro ? Something , though . Apple sees sports rights as a powerful chance to impart people into its ecosystem , lead by some executives ( Eddy Cue ) who are honest mutation devotee and realize the appeal .
While a set of major studios brim with conversant intellectual prop asset will be the subject of give-and-take – consolidation is coming to Hollywood – I ca n’t foretell that Apple will swoop in and bribe part of Paramount Global , for example . Instead , I expect Apple to be rumored as experience talks and kicking the tires for various surprising Hollywood deals and used as an extremely deep - pocketed stalk horse . But in the destruction , I think Apple will shy away from making any such deals . Too much “ not invented here ” position . I think Apple wants to make it on its own , and that means build a catalog from scrawl , not write a tick so that they can own Star Trek and Yellowstone .
Vision Pro is up in the air
It does n’t take much prevision to foreshadow that Vision Pro will embark because Apple has said as much , and shipping seems imminent . But I do n’t guess there will be a clean finding of fact on the gimmick by year ’s destruction . It ’s a 1.0 product with a high price , and that ’s why most reviews will come its technical prowess and some of its amazing features while state some incredulity about the entire family and warning potential buyers that it ’s just too early to drop a large amount of money on a gadget like this .
We can read the tea leave-taking and seek to see if Apple is disturbed or felicitous , but while the Vision Pro is a moderately wild shot , I do n’t think it ’s going to instantly flop . It ’ll almost certainly deal out , but again , given the modified quantity of gadget – estimated at half a million – I do n’t think a sell - out severalise us much about it being a smasher or a miss .
Even with an other 2024 release , whether the Vision Pro is a hit or not wo n’t be known for some time .
One topographic point to attend will be developer espousal . What apps are there at launch ? Once developers get their hands on shipping hardware , will there be a bunch of interesting experimental apps in the App Store ? Or is the whole gimmick going to feel quiet and barren beyond Apple ’s own contributions ? My guess is that there will be fewer apps than you ’d mean but that some developers will get immense publicity for building ingenious stuff Apple never even believe of . I ’ll also promise a visionOS 2 proclamation at WWDC with some major newfangled features that did n’t make it into the first version of the mathematical product .
Will we know by the closing of the year if Vision Pro is a hit or a miss ? I say no . For that response , you ’ll probably need to read next yr ’s annual prediction pillar – or possibly even expect for the one after that .
