Apple Event in Spring 2022? Three New Products We Could See

[MacRumors]

Apple's first major product announcements of the year often occur in March or April, so there's a reasonable chance that trend will continue in 2022.

Ahead, we recap some of Apple's past spring announcements and look ahead to some of the first new Apple products that we might see this year.

Past Spring Announcements

Last year, Apple held an event on April 20 to unveil its AirTag item tracker, new iPad Pro and 24-inch iMac models powered by the M1 chip, the second-generation Apple TV 4K, and a new purple color option for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.

Apple did not host a spring event in 2020, likely due to COVID-19 being declared a worldwide pandemic in March of that year. Apple still announced new products with press releases that spring, including updated MacBook Air and iPad Pro models on March 18 and the second-generation iPhone SE on April 15.

In 2019, Apple announced several new products with press releases in March, including new iPad Air and iPad mini models, new 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac models, and second-generation AirPods. Apple did go on to host a services-focused event later in the month, where it introduced the Apple Card, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Arcade.

In 2018, the first major product release of the year actually came in February when the full-sized HomePod became available to order, but this is because Apple delayed the speaker's launch by a few months. Apple went on to host an education-focused event in March at a Chicago high school, where it unveiled the sixth-generation low-cost iPad.

Apple did not host a spring event in 2017, but it did announce the fifth-generation low-cost iPad, a (PRODUCT)RED color option for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and new Apple Watch band options with press releases in March.

What We Could See in Spring 2022

Apple is expected to unveil a long list of new products in 2022, and the ones most likely to be announced this March or April with or without an event include a third-generation iPhone SE with 5G, a redesigned 27-inch iMac powered by Apple silicon, and high-end Mac mini configurations also powered by Apple silicon.

iPhone SE With 5G

Apple plans to release a third-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of 2022, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. If this timeframe proves to be accurate, we can expect the device to be released by the end of March.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the new iPhone SE will feature a similar design as the current model, with a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID home button, and thicker bezels. Kuo said key upgrades to the device will include 5G support and a faster processor — reportedly the A15 chip as found in the iPhone 13 series.

27-Inch iMac With Apple Silicon

Apple is rumored to be planning a new 27-inch iMac with a mini-LED display for release in the first half of 2022, so a March or April announcement is possible. The new 27-inch iMac will support ProMotion, enabling a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother content and scrolling, according to display industry consultant Ross Young, who has proven to be a reliable source of display-related rumors.

Twitter leaker @dylandkt, another source who has proven reliable, claimed that the new 27-inch iMac will feature a similar design as the 24-inch iMac that launched earlier this year, but with a darker color scheme. He also said the computer will be powered by the same M1 Pro and M1 Max chips as used in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

High-End Mac Mini With Apple Silicon

Apple is also expected to release new high-end Mac mini configurations powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips in 2022, and a March or April announcement would make sense alongside the new 27-inch iMac.

Apple already updated the Mac mini with the M1 chip in November 2020, but only for lower-end configurations, with the higher-end models continuing to use Intel processors. Once the 27-inch iMac and Mac mini transition to Apple silicon, the only remaining Intel-based Mac would be the Mac Pro desktop tower.

For more details, make sure to check out our guides on What to Expect From Apple in 2022, Upcoming Apple Products, and Apple's 2022 Event Plans.

Article Link: Apple Event in Spring 2022? Three New Products We Could See

 

[dantracht]

Seems to make sense anytime between spring and dub dub.

 

[gugy]

Well, I don't think it will happen but I would love to see a stand-alone display at a better price than the XDR.

 

[KaliYoni]

Other predictions:

Thinnest and lightest AirTags ever! Now available with AirTag Pro™.

Arcade now available in 12 colors.

HomePod mini gets a notch.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The new MacBook Air and iMac MacBook will sell out so fast. Hopefully, Apple has new colors set on the line up.

 

[Think creative]

I'm not seeing people thinking the airs are coming out but I thought they were assumed for spring? I hope they are, I want them out so I can compare between that and the 14 inch pro.

 

[MayaUser]

i

The new MacBook Air and iMac MacBook will sell out so fast. Hopefully, Apple has new colors set on the line up.

dont have high hopes for the air....the macbook air will come with M2

 

[CWallace]

I'm not seeing people thinking the airs are coming out but I thought they were assumed for spring? I hope they are, I want them out so I can compare between that and the 14 inch pro.

Latest supply chain rumors say the next MacBook Air (with the M2 SoC) will not ship until late Q3 or early Q4.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

i

dont have high hopes for the air....the macbook air will come with M2

Hopefully, it’ll be industrially re-design

 

[CWallace]

Mark Gurman last Sunday noted he continues to believe that the (Apple Silicon) 27" iMac, Mac Pro and "Mac mini Pro" will all be announced by WWDC.

I expect the Mac Pro will be a WWDC announcement, but the iMac and MmP with M1 PRO and M1 MAX could be a "Spring event" announcement.

 

[aesc80]

The new MacBook Air and iMac MacBook will sell out so fast. Hopefully, Apple has new colors set on the line up.

Guess what? I might be in the market for an iMac again! LOL ... and of all the things why - TurboTax won't support anything south of Monterey next year. PAIN!

 

[jz0309]

27 imac replacement and high end max mini is what I’m looking for, and, affordable monitor but my hopes for that are low.
Not in a rush, my iMac is going to be 5 this year and still going strong

 

[dwaltwhit]

Other predictions:

Thinnest and lightest AirTags ever! Now available with AirTag Pro™.

Arcade now available in 12 colors.

HomePod mini gets a notch.

Wouldn't that be the AirTag Air?

 

[icanhazmac]

Pro-ish mini, can't wait!

 

[44267547]

Personally, I just want to see if the physical touch ID on this rumored iPhone happens. If it includes touch ID, the A-15 and and a $400-ish price point, that’s huge.

 

[BrownyQ]

I try not to buy into all the rumors and whatnot, but I am still hopeful for the new MacBooks sooner rather than later. I don't know how much longer this laptop I'm running will go...

 

[Jaro65]

32" iMac or iMac Pro, pretty please.

 

[lakerchick4life]

am hoping for a new ipad pro will upgrade my 2018 model if they do..that and a new iMac either 27 inch or 32 inch

 

[greenbreadmmm]

I wish the mini had a higher profit margin, we'd a prolly seen it much sooner.

 

[mcnallym]

Well a high end mini and a new SE sounds nice. Can offload existing SE second gen to parents along with the mm2018.

 

[MayaUser]

Hopefully, it’ll be industrially re-design

for sure...the M2 macbook air will be smaller thnx for the slimmer bezels, and around 10% in cpu increase, and around 50% for the gpu increase

 

[ELman]

M1 Apple TV would be nice.

 

[Warped9]

At this stage with what we’ve heard it would be a shocker if the new big iMac is larger than 27in. And although I would love to see the new MacBook Air replacement (whatever it’s called) released in the spring I strongly suspect we won’t see it until autumn.

 

[docbop]

I hope they don't screw up the iMac like they did with the 24" leave it thick so the ports and power are where they are now. This would be a Pro level machine so screw all those colors too.

A Mac Mini with M1 Pro/Max would be very nice be even better if they made it thicker with user removable storage and more ports. That would be a great portable machine for audio and video work. Think of it as a Mini Mac Pro.

 

[Bug-Creator]

am hoping for a new ipad pro will upgrade my 2018 model

For a spring or summer release:

a) they do a A15x chip just for the iPP
b) they introduce an A15 based M2 for the iPP and some low end Macs
c) they introduce an A16 based M2 for the iPP and some low end Macs

The iPP just doesn't have the volume to justify a), b) would damage the hype for further M1Pro/Max/Duo/Quad Macs. So would c) with the added benefit of also harming the iPhone14.

My guess:
More M1Pro/Max/Duo/Quad Macs in spring/summer with maybe an A15 iPadAir thrown into the mix.

A16 based M2 low end Macs in October with an A16 iPadAir (if the A15 version doesn't happen) around the same time.
M2 based 24" iMac and iPP in early 23.