Apple's 2020 Event Plans: New Products and Software Coming in 2020

In an average year, Apple holds three to four events. There's usually a spring event in March, the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, a September event that's focused on iPhone and Apple Watch, and sometimes an October event if there are iPads or Macs expected in the fall.

In this guide, we're keeping track of all of the Apple events that are on the horizon and what we're expecting to see at each one, so make sure to check back in regularly.

No Early 2020 Event

Apple's first event of each new year typically happens in the spring, usually in March. We were expecting an event in March, perhaps on March 31, but the global health crisis delayed Apple's plans and there was no spring event.

Apple introduced a new MacBook Air and new iPad Pro models via press release in March, and debuted the 2020 iPhone SE via press release in April.

WWDC

Apple held the 2020 WWDC event in a digital only capacity and unveiled iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS Big Sur, tvOS 14, and watchOS 7, but no new hardware was announced. Apple did, however, share its future plans for Arm-based Macs, and the first machine is expected to launch in late 2020.

Fall 2020

September always brings new iPhones and Apple Watch models, and September 2020 will be no exception. We're expecting four new iPhone models in 5.4-, 6.1-, and 6.7-inch size options, all of which are rumored to feature OLED displays and 5G connectivity.

The 6.7-inch and one of the 6.1-inch iPhone models will be "Pro" models priced higher than the 5.4-inch model and the other 6.1-inch model, which are expected to be more affordable alternatives akin to the iPhone 11. September also often brings new Apple Watch models, so we're also likely to see the Apple Watch Series 6, perhaps with sleep tracking capabilities.

Though Apple may stick to a September unveiling, rumors suggest that this year's iPhones are going to be a little bit delayed. Rather than launching in September, the new iPhones could become available for purchase a few weeks later, perhaps in October.

Late 2020

Apple is working on Arm-based Macs that use its own Apple Silicon chips, and while we don't yet know what the first Arm-based Mac will be, Apple has said that the first machine equipped with Apple Silicon will be released before the end of the year.

Other Products in the Works

There are several other products that have been rumored, but we don't know exactly when to expect them.

AirTags

Apple is working on an "AirTag" that will compete with products like Tile, offering up Bluetooth tracking for items like keys, wallets, cameras, and more. AirTags will integrate into the Find My app and will take advantage of offline tracking capabilities. There's no word on when AirTags will launch.

High-End Bluetooth Headphones

Apple is rumored to be working on high-end over-ear Bluetooth headphones with an all-new design and superior sound quality, which may be called "AirPods Studio." There may be two versions in development, a premium model with leather-like fabrics and a fitness-focused model with lighter, breathable materials. Detachable ear cups and headband padding may be included, which would allow these components to be swapped out. The headphones are expected to feature Active Noise Cancellation like the AirPods Pro. Apple is targeting a 2020 launch date, and pricing could be around $350.

Small Wireless Charging Mat

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said Apple is working on a "smaller wireless charging mat" set to be released in 2020. No other context or information was provided on the upcoming product, so it's not clear if this wireless charging mat will be a scaled down version of the AirPower, which was discontinued, or something else entirely.

Low-Cost iPad

Apple is rumored to be working on a new 10.8-inch low-cost iPad that could come in the second half of 2020.

New Apple TV

Code found in an internal build of iOS 13 references a new Apple TV 11,1 model, suggesting Apple is working on an updated Apple TV. Little is known about the new device, but it could feature an A12 processor. There's no word on when we can expect a release.

New 16-inch MacBook Pro

Apple refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro in May, adding scissor switch keyboards and a new 32GB maximum RAM option, but there are also rumors that a new 16-inch MacBook Pro will be released in 2020, and it could feature a mini-LED display. It's not clear if the ongoing health crisis will affect Apple's plans, however, and the rumored mini-LED MacBook Pro could be delayed until 2021.

2020 Product Refreshes and Announcements So Far

Apple in March started releasing new 2020 products, with a list of the new and refreshed devices below.

• March 2020 - iPad Pro
• March 2020 - Magic Keyboard
• March 2020 - MacBook Air
• March 2020 - Mac mini
• March 2020 - Powerbeats
• April 2020 - iPhone SE
• May 2020 - 13-inch MacBook Pro
• June 2020 - Apple Silicon chip plans
• June 2020 - iOS 14
• June 2020 - macOS Big Sur
• June 2020 - iPadOS 14
• June 2020 - watchOS 7
• June 2020 - tvOS 14

Apple's 2019 Product Refreshes

• March 2019 - iPad mini 5
• March 2019 - 10.5-inch iPad Air
• March 2019 - 4K and 5K iMacs
• March 2019 - AirPods 2
• March 2019 - Apple News+
• May 2019 - Powerbeats Pro
• May 2019 - MacBook Pro
• May 2019 - Seventh-Generation iPod touch
• July 2019 - Entry-level MacBook Pro
• July 2019 - MacBook Air
• August 2019 - Apple Card
• September 2019 - iOS 13
• September 2019 - iPadOS
• September 2019 - tvOS 13
• September 2019 - watchOS 6
• September 2019 - iPhone 11
• September 2019 - iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max
• September 2019 - Apple Watch Series 5
• September 2019 - 7th-generation iPad
• September 2019 - Apple Arcade
• October 2019 - macOS Catalina
• October 2019 - AirPods Pro
• October 2019 - Apple TV+
• November 2019 - 16-inch MacBook Pro
• December 2019 - Mac Pro
• December 2019 - Pro Display XDR

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