MacRumors

In June, we reported that starting with iPadOS 15, Apple is giving developers the ability to allocate their apps more RAM, allowing apps to use more of the available memory in the iPad to run faster and smoother.

Via an entitlement, Apple is giving developers the ability to let iPadOS know that certain functions of their apps may perform better if they have access to more system memory. Currently, Apple caps the amount of memory an app can use, mainly to ensure that a single app does not utilize all of a device's memory, impacting other core system functions.

Till now, we had limited information regarding specific details of this entitlement, including exactly how much RAM an app can request. However, with iPadOS 15 launching on September 20, we now know that on the highest-end M1 iPad Pro, apps can use up to double the amount of RAM that was previously allowed.

The new details were shared by the developers behind the graphic design app Artstudio Pro, and according to their findings, on the highest-end ‌M1‌ ‌iPad Pro‌, which features 16GB of RAM, apps can request through the entitlement to use up to 12GB of that available memory. On the other ‌M1‌ ‌iPad Pro‌ models, which feature only 8GB of RAM, apps can request up to 6GB.

In both cases, even if an app informs iPadOS that additional memory is needed, iPadOS still allocates a 2GB buffer for the app, on top of the 4GB available for 16GB ‌iPad Pro‌ models, and the 2GB free for the other models.

The new change is likely to be most beneficial to graphically intensive apps, such as those for drawing, modeling, and photo and video editing. While the added RAM allocation is welcomed, some users may continue to argue that iPadOS is not taking full advantage of the hardware within ‌iPad‌, especially with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad‌ Pros powered by the ‌M1‌ chip.

Apple says the new entitlement will be available on "supported devices," and at this point, which devices are supported beyond the new ‌iPad‌ Pros is unknown. For example, this week, Apple released a new iPad mini and a new baseline ninth-generation ‌iPad‌, with 4GB and 3GB of RAM respectively. For these new models, Apple is unlikely to allow apps to request RAM above the system limit, as it may impact core functions of iPadOS.

iPadOS 15, which includes the ability to place widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, an improved multitasking experience, Live Text, and more, will launch alongside iOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 on Monday, September 20.

Alongside iOS 15, Apple introduced an iCloud+ service that adds new features to its paid ‌‌iCloud‌‌ plans. One of these features is ‌‌iCloud‌‌ Private Relay, which is designed to encrypt all of the traffic leaving your device so no one can intercept it or read it.

According to Apple, "regulatory reasons" prevent the company from launching Private Relay in China, Belarus, Colombia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Uganda, and the Philippines.

Apple mentioned these country limitations in June, but it seems that Private Relay will not be available in Russia either, after Apple apparently disabled the feature there over the last day or so.

Based on reports from Twitter users and as reported by iPhones.ru, the feature was previously available to use in Russia via beta versions of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, but now when they try to enable it, those same users are met with the message "Private Relay is not supported in this region."

Private Relay works by sending web traffic to a server that is maintained by Apple to strip the IP address. Once IP info has been removed, Apple sends the traffic to a second server maintained by a third-party company that assigns a temporary IP address and then sends the traffic to its destination, a process that prevents your IP address, location, and browsing activity from being used to create a profile about you.

Involving an outside party in the relay system is an intentional move that Apple says was designed to prevent anyone, including Apple, from knowing a user's identity and the website the user is visiting.

Why Apple has apparently disabled Private Relay in Russia only recently isn't entirely clear, but the company has bowed to demands from the Russian authorities in the past, so there's good reason to presume this is down to another regulatory issue.

iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 will be released on Monday, September 20.

Apple has made much of its iPhone 13 battery life improvements, noting for example that the 13 Pro Max offers the longest battery life ever in an iPhone. However, when you look at Apple's own battery comparisons versus the iPhone 12 lineup, it's the streaming video performance that the company has eked out of its new smartphones that really stands out.

The iPhone 13 lineup features new low-power displays, a more efficient A15 chip, larger batteries, and more power-efficient components, all of which make for dramatic improvements when streaming, as the numbers above show.

For example, Apple claims that when streaming video, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max last nine hours and 13 hours longer than last year's equivalent models, respectively. Taking the same metric, the battery in the iPhone 13 mini manages 13 hours, which is longer than even the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

With video streaming services so ubiquitous these days, not to mention Apple TV+ (and obliquely, Fitness+), Apple has clearly factored the computations involved into the power optimizations that it has achieved through the tight integration of its hardware and software.

Of course, battery life varies by use case and many other factors, so actual results will vary, but if they're anything near what Apple is claiming, binge-watching your favorite show should be a cinch on these latest devices.

(H/T to Jack for pointing this out!)

Apple's online store is down ahead of iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max pre-orders, which are set to begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States.

"You're... early," reads the Apple Store message when attempting to visit the U.S. website. "Pre-order begins at 5:00 a.m. PDT. Enjoy the extra sleep." Apple used to do new device pre-orders at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, but since 2019, has been holding iPhone pre-orders at 5:00 a.m.

The ‌iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13,‌ iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max are launching in more than 30 countries and regions around the world, and a full list of launch times can be found in our time zone guide.

All of the new iPhone 13 models are nearly identical in design to last year's iPhone 12 models, featuring flat edges, an aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure, a glass back, and a slight increase in thickness.

Key features across the iPhone 13 lineup include a faster A15 Bionic chip, camera improvements, longer battery life, and a smaller notch. The two Pro models also feature a ProMotion display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. The iPhone 13 models are available in Pink, Blue, Midnight (black), Starlight (silver/gold), and (PRODUCT)RED.

If you're hoping to get one of the models in the ‌new iPhone 13 lineup on launch day, it's a good idea to purchase early because there's no word on how much supply Apple will have.

Pricing on the iPhone 13 mini starts at $699, while pricing on the iPhone 13 starts at $799, the iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max begins at $1099. The official launch, when pre-orders will be out for delivery, is next Friday, September 24.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max will kick off on September 17 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, allowing customers to purchase any iPhone model in Apple's 2021 iPhone lineup.

Apple is planning to make the new devices available in multiple countries around the world simultaneously, so we've created a list of when pre-orders will kick off all around the world.

We haven't listed every time zone for every country, such as in Canada, Russia, and the United States, nor have we listed every available pre-order country, so make sure to double check your specific time zone so you're certain you know the exact time that pre-orders will kick off. A time zone converting website is a useful tool for confirming accurate pre-order times.

Reports detailing Apple’s iPhone 13 manufacturing preparations suggest that Apple has been taking steps to prevent launch delays. That said, it's best to pre-order the iPhone 13 model you want as soon as possible if you're aiming to get a new device on release day.

iPhone 13 pre-orders will be available on Friday, September 17 and all four devices will launch one week later on Friday, September 24. These dates apply to customers in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, and more than 30 other countries and regions.

All of the iPhone 13 models will subsequently be available in Turkey on Friday, October 1, followed by Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and select other countries and regions beginning Friday, October 8, according to Apple.

Customers who order one of Apple's lower-cost Apple Watch SE devices will now receive an upgraded USB-C charging cable in the package, rather than the previous USB-A charging cable.

Apple is changing the cable in the box as it continues to transition away from USB-A and for consistency across the Apple Watch lineup.

The Apple Watch SE will apparently ship with the same USB-C Fast Charger that's available with the Apple Watch Series 7, but fast charging is limited to the new models. Though the cable is the same, the Apple Watch SE will charge at standard speeds.

With the fast charge cable, the Series 7 is able to charge 33 percent faster than with a standard Apple Watch charging puck thanks to new charging architecture that is not built into the Apple Watch SE.

The Apple Watch SE's product page confirms the upgrade and lists the device as shipping with a "1m Magnetic Charger to USB-C Cable" rather than the standard Magnetic Cable that used USB-A. Apple previously had a non-fast charging version of the USB-C Apple Watch cable, but it has been discontinued and is no longer available.

While the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE will ship with a USB-C Apple Watch charging cable, the Apple Watch Series 3, Apple's lowest cost option, still continues to feature a USB-A charging cable.

Classicbot designer Philip Lee has created a range of robot figurines, toys, plushes, and pins that are modeled after classic Apple devices like the Mac and the iPod.

The latest Classicbot product is an updated version of the iBoy that's available in pouch form. Lee's previously released iBoy was made from plastic and modeled after the Classic iPod. The iBoy Phone Pouch looks similar to the original figurine, but in a larger plush format.

Because it uses an iPod design, the iBoy Phone Pouch is rectangular in shape with plush stuffed headphones for ears, long arms, and short legs. The stitching is top notch and this feels like a high-quality accessory, which I would expect at this price point.

There's an embroidered display at the front with a cute robot face and an embroidered click wheel, which is what gives the iBoy its recognizable iPod styling. All of the limbs and add-ons are well attached, and it feels like a durable little bag that's going to hold up well.

Size wise, the iBoy has a limited amount of space inside. It will fit an iPhone, including the iPhone 12 Pro Max in a case, but that's a snug fit and not much else is able to go inside. In fact, it's such a snug fit that I don't think this is something I'd want to use for my Pro Max unless I wasn't using a case, but it is a looser fit for the smaller iPhones. There is a soft plush lining inside that's going to prevent an iPhone (or whatever else is inside) from getting scratched up, and a plastic zipper at the top keeps the pouch closed up.

In terms of measurements, the iBoy Phone Pouch measures in at 7 inches by 4.25 inches by 1 inch, and there's an adjustable 34-inch strap that attaches to the earbud antennas for carrying it cross body or around the neck. It is not big enough to hold more than an iPhone, a set of keys, and a few other small accessories. There's also a small pocket at the back with the iBoy branding, and this pocket is big enough to hold a chapstick, a pen, or something similarly small.

Given its small size and plush design, the iBoy Phone Pouch isn't something that's practical for most people for everyday use. I personally would not use this out and about on a day to day basis, but I might bring it along on an Apple-themed event like MacRumors' annual WWDC meetup.

I don't think most Apple enthusiasts who might be interested in this will want to wear it, but the strap can be removed and it can be placed on a desk as a little accessory that can also hold your odds and ends, and this is my preferred way to use it. The iBoy Pouch does not stand up on its own, but it can kind of sit leaned up against something on a shelf.

The front of the iBoy is white and the back is a light gray, so I'm concerned that if this was used as a bag, it could potentially get dirty, so it will need to be used with care. On a shelf as a trinket holder, it's much less prone to dirt stains. The iBoy Phone Pouch could also be used to hold cables and other small accessories in a bigger backpack for those who need more storage space or don't want to carry it like a purse.

Bottom Line

The iBoy Phone Pouch is undeniably adorable and will be appealing to some, but it's a niche product that isn't entirely practical and definitely something to be bought for the aesthetic rather than the function. It works as a pouch for small accessories, but I suspect most people on MacRumors who might be interested in it would prefer to use it as a desktop or shelf decoration, and luckily it also looks great as decor.

How to Buy

The iBoy Phone Pouch can be purchased from the Classicbot website for $49.

Both the iPhone 13 and the new iPad mini are equipped with Apple's latest A15 Bionic chip, but benchmark results reveal that the chip is downclocked to 2.9GHz in the iPad mini, compared to 3.2GHz in all iPhone 13 models.

As to be expected, the downclocked chip appears to have a small 2-8% impact on the iPad mini's performance compared to iPhone 13 models. In early Geekbench 5 results, the new iPad mini has average single-core and multi-core scores of around 1,595 and 4,540, compared to averages of around 1,730 and 4,660 for the iPhone 13 Pro.

MacRumors ran the benchmarks by Geekbench founder John Poole, who said the results appear to be legitimate, including the 2.9GHz clock speed.

It's unclear why Apple has downclocked the A15 chip in the iPad mini, but most users are unlikely to encounter any issues with performance using the device. Even with a downclocked A15 chip, the new iPad mini is up to 40% faster in single-core performance and up to 70% faster in multi-core performance compared to the previous-generation iPad mini with an A12 chip, according to benchmarks. We've reached out to Apple for comment.

The new iPad mini is available to order now and launches Friday, September 24. iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro pre-orders begin tomorrow at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, and we've also shared iPhone 13 benchmarks for those interested.

Going into an Apple fall season, excitement typically revolves around the new iPhones. This year, however, the Apple Watch stole some of the iPhone's spotlight due to reports, leaks, and rumors suggesting it would be getting a significant redesign.

One of the biggest surprises during Apple's "California streaming" event was the new Apple Watch, not because of the features or design it included, but instead, the features and designs it didn't.

Flat-Edged Design? Not so fast...

In the weeks and months leading up to the event, credible reports from reliable journalists and leakers suggested the new Apple Watch would be sporting a flat-edged design. The first time we heard of the 2021 Apple Watch getting a redesign was from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who stated in September of 2020, exactly a year before Apple's "California streaming" event, that the new watch will receive a "significant redesign" in 2021 "at the earliest."

In the months that followed Kuo's report, rumors were quiet and stale regarding the 2021 Apple Watch as the focus shifted to more immediate products released throughout 2020. The second time we heard and saw the alleged redesign for the Apple Watch was from Apple leaker Jon Prosser, who in May shared renders depicting an Apple Watch with fully flat-edges, similar to the iPhone and iPad.

In the video sharing the renders, Prosser noted that the renders, he believed, showcased the Apple Watch Series 7, given that Kuo had previously mentioned a significant redesign. Prosser, at the time, however, could not confidently label the design he leaked as the upcoming Apple Watch but became increasingly confident in doing so as the weeks and months went on.

Shortly after, in June, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported several aspects of the Apple Watch Series 7 that turned out to be accurate. In his first report for the new watch, Gurman noted that it would have a larger display with thinner bezels, a new lamination technique, and a faster processor. Gurman pointed out that the Series 7 would include updated ultra wideband capabilities, but that doesn't seem to be the case now.

In reports and newsletters after, Gurman reported that the Apple Watch Series 7 would feature flat-edges, corroborating Prosser's previously showcased renders. Gurman, however, accurately stated the Series 7 would be equipped with new watch faces, bands and feature significantly more pixels with a redesigned display.

Is miscommunication to blame?

Given that Kuo, Bloomberg's ‌Mark Gurman‌, and leaker ‌Jon Prosser‌, the most reputable sources for Apple's unreleased product plans, have all reported a flat-edged Apple Watch, it's difficult to dispute its existence within the walls of Apple's labs and offices.

The Apple Watch is a product that garners many rumors and reports, specifically targeting future health capabilities. Recent reporting suggests that next year's Apple Watch, the Series 8, will feature more powerful health sensors and features. Our expectations and the reports of a flat-edged design may have simply been wrongly attributed to the Series 7, while Apple's plans for a complete redesign were aimed for 2022 all along.

Apple is a company that builds on yearly iterative improvements, building on features to achieve an even more all-encompassing product, and that is especially the case for the Apple Watch. With the Series 7, Apple is adding a larger display, improved battery life and energy efficiency, and is elevating the experience of watchOS 8. Using these upgrades, the company is further prepared to launch a redesign of the Apple Watch next year, featuring flat-edges and advanced health sensors.

Alternatively, but highly unlikely, is that Apple made last-minute design changes to the Apple Watch due to production issues. Two weeks before the Series 7 was announced, a report revealed that Apple and its suppliers were struggling to reach "satisfactory" quality levels of the device during "small-scale" production.

While some may speculate the possibility that coupled with the Apple Watch's small footprint and rumored flat-edges, Apple had to suddenly make last-minute design changes, it's worth noting that Apple plans and tests products months, if not years in advance, so it would certainly be unprecedented and nearly impossible for the company to have altered its plans at such a late date.

One thing, however, is for sure, whether or not last-minute design changes were made to the Series 7, is that it's a peculiar release. For example, on Apple's website, the company lacks offering specifications for the new watch, leaving only marketing material boasting about the new and larger display and the features in watchOS 8.

Most striking of all is the lack of information regarding availability and prices for the Apple Watch Series 7. Apple only states it's coming later this fall, which leaves the door open for a release as late as November, and the lack of information regarding pricing beyond the starting price of $399.

Conclusion

Of course, we'll never know for certain what happened and whether Apple had last-minute design changes, or whether all of the previous rumors and reports were simply meant for the Series 8, rather than the Series 7. As stated above, Apple hasn't provided any dates on availability or pricing for the Apple Watch Series 7 and may do so during its rumored second event for the fall, now expected to headline new Apple silicon Macs.

Update: As of 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time, the "Expired Pre-Order" issue appears to have been fixed for many Apple customers.

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Some Apple customers who went through the pre-approval steps to purchase a new iPhone 13 on Apple's website or Apple Store app are seeing the message "Your iPhone pre-order has expired" when subsequently checking their order status page.

Apple customers can use the ‌Apple Store‌ app on the iPhone or Apple's website to go through all of the pre-approval steps to get ready to purchase a new ‌iPhone‌, including checking upgrade eligibility if going through the iPhone Upgrade Program, choosing an AppleCare+ plan, browsing accessories, and confirming payment information.

The idea is that they can then pre-order their devices with the tap of a button on launch day, in the hope of guaranteeing their pre-order before the first lot of devices sell out.

For some, however, an unexpected message is appearing when customers return to their account orders page on the Apple website, or look at the For You section of the ‌Apple Store‌ app and tap the card labeled "Your iPhone is ready to preorder on 9.17."

In the app, the screen loads for a moment to access pre-order information before reading "Your iPhone Pre-order has expired. You can still order iPhone now. Just choose a model and select a payment option." A Buy Now link accompanies the message, encouraging users to repeat the "Save time at iPhone pre-order" process again.

The issue, which Apple Support is apparently aware of, appears to be down to a processing glitch. Some users who click the link in their pre-approval email are still able to see their pre-order status on Apple's online store, while others are having no such luck.

It's possible that Apple's product order systems are experiencing high traffic the day before pre-orders begin, and it looks as though Apple is still struggling to resolve the issue, but if in doubt, contact Apple Support and raise the matter to confirm that your "Get Ready" pre-order steps have been saved.

Apple has always had the pre-approval process for ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program customers, but the new streamlined pre-order preparation for other customers appears to be a new addition.

The ‌iPhone 13‌ models are priced starting at $699, while the ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌ models are priced starting at $999. Pre-orders begin on Friday, September 17 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Apple this week debuted the sixth-generation iPad mini, cellular models of which can connect to 5G for the first time. However, it's worth noting that cellular connectivity on the new ‌iPad mini‌ does not extend to support for faster mmWave 5G.

Apple doesn't maintain a cellular compatibility page for iPad models like it does for its iPhones, so the lack of mmWave 5G support on the ‌iPad mini‌ could surprise some Apple customers. Currently, Apple's mmWave 5G support is limited to the iPhone 13 lineup, iPhone 12 lineup, and the cellular variants of the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

On the plus side, like the new iPhone 13 models, the ‌iPad mini‌ does support more 5G bands overall than iPhone 12 and cellular ‌iPad Pro‌ models, according to Apple, so the ‌iPad mini‌ does have greater 5G coverage around the world than the iPhone 12 and ‌iPad Pro‌.

Despite rumors suggesting iPhone 13 models would support mmWave 5G in additional countries, support for mmWave remains limited to iPhone and ‌iPad‌ models sold in the United States, so its absence in the new cellular ‌iPad mini‌ is only likely to concern customers who are based there.

mmWave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, making it best suited for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas. All four iPhone 13 models support sub-6GHz outside of the United States, and sub-6GHz networks are more common in countries that have rolled out 5G.

Starting at $499 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only model, the redesigned sixth-generation ‌iPad mini‌ is available to pre-order now on Apple's online store. Cellular models are available for $150 more over the base price of each configuration. ‌iPad mini‌ shipping begins Friday, September 24.

Following updates to its product lineups this week, Apple has quietly discontinued the 256GB capacity option for the iPhone SE.

Prior to this week, the iPhone SE was available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB configurations, but since Tuesday's "California streaming" event and subsequent product lineup rejig, only the first and second of those capacities are listed on Apple's online store. Pricing for the 64GB and 128GB iPhone SE options remains the same.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning an update to the iPhone SE for the first half of 2022. The current model was launched in April 2020, so the removal of the 256GB variant could be a sign that Apple is beginning to ramp down production of this particular model.

During its virtual event, Apple announced that the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini start with 128GB of storage, which is double the base 64GB offered for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.

The storage capacities available for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini include 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, while the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max also have a new 1TB storage option.

Pricing continues to start at $699 for the iPhone 13 mini, $799 for the iPhone 13, $999 for the iPhone 13 Pro, and $1,099 for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Preorders for the new iPhone 13 models begin Friday.

Earlier today, we reported on a Geekbench Metal result for the iPhone 13 Pro showing an approximately 55% graphics performance improvement compared to the iPhone 12 Pro.

Since that time, additional Geekbench results for both CPU and GPU performance across the iPhone 13 lineup have surfaced to provide a more complete look at the improvements.

On the graphics side, a Metal result for the iPhone 13 (designated iPhone14,5) reveals a score of 10608 for the A15 Bionic in that device, roughly 15% higher than the score for the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12.

The Metal score for the iPhone 13 is significantly lower than the corresponding 14216 score for the iPhone 13 Pro due to the fact that the Pro models (and the new A15-equipped iPad mini) feature a 5-core GPU while the regular iPhone 13 models include a 4-core GPU.

Turning to CPU performance, we see similar scores across regular and Pro devices in the iPhone 13 lineup because they all feature the same 6-core CPU setup. A survey of scores coming in today reveals single-core scores of around 1725 and multi-core scores generally around 4600.

These scores represent a roughly 10% increase in single-core performance and 18% increase in multi-core performance compared to the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 lineup.

With only a handful of results registered in the Geekbench database so far, these scores are still rough estimates, but the average scores will firm up over time as more come in.

Samsung Display today announced that it has started mass production of 14-inch and 16-inch OLED displays for laptops, and a key feature of the panels is support for up to a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother appearing content.

Samsung Display said it has been supplying the OLED panels to global manufacturers, including ASUS, Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Samsung Electronics, for use in laptops, including ASUS's recently announced Zenbook and Vivobook Pro laptops. Apple was not mentioned as being a customer, but Korean website The Elec last month reported that Samsung Display was preparing its production lines for future MacBooks with OLED displays, and DigiTimes has said Apple plans to launch a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an OLED display in 2022.

MacBook Pro models currently use LCD displays with a 60Hz refresh rate, so the potential move to OLED and 90Hz would be significant. OLED benefits include higher brightness, improved contrast, deeper blacks, and more, while a 90Hz refresh rate would result in smoother appearing content while watching videos, gaming, and scrolling text.

In the meantime, rumors suggest Apple will soon release redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with LCD displays, but with mini-LED backlighting, which offers many of the same advantages as OLED. Given that large OLED displays are expensive to manufacture, perhaps Apple will eventually offer both mini-LED and OLED versions of the MacBook Pro, with the latter technology reserved for higher-priced configurations.

Apple already uses OLED displays for the Apple Watch and several iPhone models, including the entire iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups. Samsung is reportedly the exclusive supplier of OLED displays for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Apple held its "California Streaming" event yesterday to unveil new iPads, the iPhone 13 lineup, and the Apple Watch Series 7, but we're not yet done with new products for the year.

We're expecting a second fall event to be held in either October or November, and this event will likely focus on Macs. Below, we've highlighted the products that are still rumored to be launching before the end of 2021.

14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro Models

We're overdue for a 16-inch MacBook Pro refresh, and rumors suggest that it's coming soon. Multiple rumors have pointed towards 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with slimmer bezels and a flat-edged design that's not too much of a departure from the current design.

The new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will regain ports that have been missing since 2016, including an SD card slot and an HDMI port, which will join the headphone jack and USB-C ports.

Apple is making a return to MagSafe, and the new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will use ‌MagSafe‌ ports for charging rather than a USB-C cable. Prior to 2016, ‌MacBook Pro‌ models used a quick-release ‌MagSafe‌ cable that prevented damage to the computer when the cord was yanked. ‌MagSafe‌ technology could bring faster charging speeds than are available with USB-C, but specific details aren't known yet.

In addition to reintroducing ports, the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models are expected to do away with the Touch Bar that's been used since 2016. Instead, Apple plans to replace the Touch Bar with a standard row of function keys.

Mini-LED display technology is a possibility, and the new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models may be the first Macs to gain mini-LED, which was introduced in the 2021 iPad Pro models. ‌Mini-LED‌ technology will allow for a thinner and lighter design, while offering many OLED-like benefits such as improved wide color gamut, high contrast and dynamic range, and truer blacks.

Rumors suggest the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will be equipped with a faster and more powerful "M1X" chip that builds on the technology introduced with the M1. The M1X could feature a 10-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, along with 16-core or 32-core GPU options.

The new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models are expected to support up to 64GB RAM, and both may have feature parity due to Apple's plans to use the same M1X chip for the 14 and 16-inch sizes.

M1X Mac Mini

Apple is working on a high-end version of the Mac mini that features a revamped design, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in August that a new mini would come in the "next several months."

Because the machine is expected to use the same M1X chip that's being introduced in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, we may see it before the end of the year.

The high-end Mac mini is expected to replace the Intel ‌Mac mini‌ that Apple is still selling, and it will likely be offered alongside the ‌M1‌ ‌Mac mini‌ introduced last year.

AirPods 3

Rumors have suggested that AirPods 3 are ready to launch, and we were expecting to see them at Apple's September event given their link to iPhones and the Apple Watch.

That didn't happen, so if AirPods are still coming before the end of 2021, we could see them introduced at Apple's second fall event.

The AirPods 3 are expected to feature a more AirPods Pro-like design with shorter stems and a redesigned charging case, but they'll continue to be available at a more affordable price point and won't have high-end features like Active Noise Cancellation.

Mixed Reality Headset Reveal?

Back in March, Bloomberg's ‌Mark Gurman‌ said that Apple would announce a mixed-reality headset at an event "in the next several months." Gurman said that Apple did not want to announce a new product like the headset at an online event and would aim for an in-person event, but that's not going to happen in 2021.

We haven't heard anything else about a mixed-reality headset being debuted this year, so it's possible that Apple has decided to hold off on unveiling the product until it can indeed do so in person.

There have been endless rumors about the AR/VR headset that's in the works, which is distinct from the Apple Glasses that are also in development. The latest rumors indicate that it will look similar to an Oculus Quest VR headset, but with a sleeker, more lightweight design. It will feature two high-resolution displays along with several cameras for tracking hand, head, and eye movement.

The headset will focus more on virtual reality than augmented reality, and it will not work on its own - it will need to tether to an iPhone for processing power.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and sites like The Information have indicated that Apple is aiming for a 2022 launch date, so we may not see an unveiling this year since Apple can't hold an in-person event.

In the Works But Not Coming Yet

There are also several other devices that are in development, but for the most part, launches are rumored for 2022 rather than 2021. The products below are coming, but we're not expecting them this year.

• MacBook Air - Rumored to have a mini-LED display, a new Apple silicon chip, and multiple color options, the MacBook Air refresh is expected in 2022.
• iPad Air - The next-generation iPad Air may feature an OLED display and Pro-level features like 5G connectivity, LiDAR, and new cameras and speakers, but it's not rumored to be coming until 2022.
• AirPods Pro - Apple is working on a new version of the AirPods Pro with a stemless design and a new wireless chip, and these could come in 2022.
• iPhone SE - There's a new version of the iPhone SE in development, and it's rumored for the first half of 2022. It's expected to feature the same general design, but with an updated chip and 5G connectivity.
• Larger iMac - There's another iMac in the works that has a larger display and a faster Apple silicon chip, but little is known about it and it's not expected in 2021.
• Mac Pro - Apple is developing two versions of the Mac Pro, one of which will feature a redesigned chassis that's smaller in size. The new Mac Pro models will feature high-end Apple silicon chip options with 20 or 40 computing cores, made up of 6 high-performance or 32 high-performance cores and four or eight high-efficiency cores. We don't yet know when the new Mac Pro models are coming.

Event Date Speculation

Apple last year held three events, one in September, one in October, and one in November. The split last year was largely due to iPhone delays, which didn't happen this year, so there may only be two fall events rather than three.

If there's a second event, it could happen in October or November, but October is perhaps the more likely target to allow Apple to prepare for holiday sales. The last three October events that have happened have been held on the following dates: Thursday, October 27, 2016; Tuesday, October 30, 2018; and Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

The 2020 event date may have been an outlier due to Apple's three event plan, so based on the two prior events, we could see a late October event, perhaps right around the 26th. If Apple wants to line up with the 2020 event, though, October 12 is a strong possibility, and we can't rule out October 19th or even dates in November.

This is all just speculation, and we have no solid details yet on when the second event might happen, but there definitely appears to be one in the works. We should be hearing more in the coming weeks, allowing us to narrow down a possible event date and get more concrete information on the products that we'll see.