With the first week of 2021 now under our belt, news and rumors are starting to rise again. This week went into details of the AirTags item trackers, the Apple Car, and an upcoming update for most of Apple’s Apple lineup.
We also heard a bit about Apple’s AR glasses and the iPhone 13, while getting our hands on Belkin’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe charger. The Mac App Store finally turned ten years old this week, so read on for full details on all of these stories and more, and check out our video above for even more broadcast!
Apple Rumored to Unveil AirTags, Augmented Reality device, New AirPods, and More this year
The calendar has now turned to 2021 and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has outlined his expectations for some of Apple’s new devices this year, including AirTags item detectors to the long-awaited, new AirPods, the first iPads and Macs with Mini-LED displays, more Macs with Apple silicon chips, and an augmented reality device of some sort.
/article-new/2020/10/airtags-mockup-4-blue.jpg?resize=560%2C315&ssl=1)
AirTags is intended to help users keep track of their personal belongings, such as their keys, wallets, and backpacks, and would notify users on their Apple devices when they are separated from a selected object. In 2019, MacRumors received screenshots showing that AirTags will be managed via the New Things tab in the Find My app. Accessory manufacturers are already starting to prepare for the release of the accessory.
As for the augmented reality device, Apple is reportedly working on both an AR / VR headset and AR-only glasses. At an internal meeting last year, Apple chief executive Mike Rockwell said the headset could be announced in 2021 and released in 2022, while the specs are expected in 2023 at the latest earlier, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg.
Taiwanese publication DigiTimes this week announced that a prototype called “Apple Glasses” is about to enter the “second phase” of development as the product progresses to engineering certification. .
The third-generation AirPods are rumored to feature an interior design like the AirPods Pro, but without a sound barrier.
The first Macs with Mini-LED displays will feature 14-inch and 16-inch redesigned MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon, according to Kuo, while a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro is expected with a Mini-LED display introduced later. this year. Rumors have surfaced that the 11-inch iPad Pro will get a Mini-LED display as well.
Apple’s deal with Hyundai for Apple car production
New report from Bloomberg this week says that Apple is indeed aiming to launch a full – fledged car rather than just developing autonomous systems for other car manufacturers, but Apple ‘s car will not be ready for launch. launched for at least five to seven years.
/article-new/2021/01/Apple-and-Hyundai-feature.jpg?resize=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Shortly after the report, word surfaced that Apple has been in talks with Hyundai about partnering in battery technology and automotive production. Hyundai initially confirmed the talks in an official statement, but later walked back to specifically neglect Apple, saying only that it had been discussed with “various companies regarding the development of autonomous EVs.”
IPhone 13 Pro models are said to use Samsung LTPO technology for 120Hz Display
Rumors continue to suggest that low-power LTPO display models will feature in iPhone 13 Pro models, allowing for the long-awaited 120Hz refresh rate.
/article-new/2020/08/iphone-12-NO-120hz-feature2.jpg?resize=560%2C315&ssl=1)
This week’s report is from the Korean website An Elec states that Samsung will be the sole provider of this LTPO technology for iPhone 13 Pro models. An LTPO coupled with a 120Hz refresh rate would result in smoother scrolling and smoother movement without consuming too much battery life.
In other rumors on iPhone 13 this week, we learned that the LiDAR Scanner could be extended to the entire iPhone 13 lineup, rather than just the Pro models, and mmWave 5G ultra -Available on iPhone 13 models sold outside the United States. As well.
While Apple no longer includes a charger in the box with new iPhones, the company is reportedly working on smaller, lighter, and GaN-based USB-C powered devices, and more energy efficient than the silicon-based power devices it is currently selling for release as early as this year.
The next low-cost iPad is said to feature a thinner, lighter design
Japanese Blog Mac Otakara this week offered some potential details about several upcoming iPad models, including the upcoming 10.2-inch ninth-generation iPad, claiming that design thinner and lighter in the device, and will hold both Touch ID and electronic connector.
/article-new/2021/01/ipad-air-gold-16x9-feature.jpg?resize=560%2C315&ssl=1)
The report also said there will be no significant design changes in the next iPad Pro, but the device is expected to be equipped with an A-series chip much faster. In a follow-up report, the site said both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models should be expected in March, with camera lenses now surpassing the larger camera cluster. The 12.9-inch model can also be 0.5mm thick as part of the move to a Mini-LED display.
Finally, Mac Otakara says the next-generation iPad mini will launch in March and see its display size rise from 7.9 inches to 8.4 inches. Overall, the design will be similar to the third-generation iPad Air, retaining a Touch ID Home button and a Lightning port, but with slower display bezels than on the standard iPad mini.
Comparison: M1 MacBook Pro vs Razer Book 13
Razer in November released the Razer Book 13, a new portable laptop that focused on productivity rather than gameplay. Since it is similar in many ways to the M1 Macs that Apple recently launched, we decided to compare Razer Book 13 with the M1 – based 13 – inch MacBook Pro to see how they perform pile up.
/article-new/2021/01/macbook-pro-vs-razer-book.jpg?resize=560%2C315&ssl=1)
While the MacBook Pro wins in terms of performance and efficiency, the Razer Book 13 is a capable laptop for those who need or prefer the Windows operating system. Our comparison takes a deeper dive into tech specs, features, and more.
Review: Belkin’s 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro is offering a free MagSafe 15W charge for iPhone 12
Belkin’s new 3-in-1 Wireless Boost Charge Pro with MagSafe is now available to order from Apple at a $ 10 discount off its regular $ 150 price tag, and ahead of time, we got our hands on it. the accessory to see if it is worth the cost.
/article-new/2021/01/belkin-boost-charge-pro-magsafe.jpg?resize=560%2C560&ssl=1)
Overall, if you are looking for a multi-device charger for iPhone 12, this is the one we get in our opinion. It works with any iPhone 12 model, the Apple Watch, and AirPods, and is just $ 30 more expensive than Apple’s MagSafe Duo. And as an Apple-certified MagSafe utility, the Boost Charge Pro is capable of delivering up to 15W of power to iPhone 12 models, but unofficial magnetic wireless chargers are still limited to up to 7.5W.
Belkin also offers a MagSafe-compatible car kit for iPhone 12 models, available for $ 39.95 from Apple’s online store.
This week marks 10 years since the Mac App Store
While the App Store launched on the iPhone in July 2008, the Mac App Store arrived on January 6, 2011, when Apple released Mac 10. X Snow Leopard version 10.6.6. Accordingly, this week marked 10 years since the Mac App Store!
/article-new/2021/01/mac-app-store-10-years.jpg?resize=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Apple announced that the Mac App Store was “open for business” in a press release back in 2011. “With over 1,000 apps, the Mac App Store is off to a great start,” said Steve Jobs, co. Apple founder and former CEO. “We believe consumers are going to love this innovative new way to find and buy their favorite apps.”
Since its inception, the Mac App Store has drawn its fair share of criticism from developers. Apple has addressed some of these complaints over the years by allowing developers to offer free trials through in-app purchases, create app packages, distribute apps on multiple Apple platforms as a purchase. universal, view analytics for Mac apps, respond to user reviews, and more.
In 2018, the Mac App Store received a major redesign as part of macOS Mojave, with a new “Discover” tab that highlights popular apps and games and features editions from Apple. Another breakthrough came to the Mac App Store in 2020, when Apple made iPhone and iPad apps available on Macs with Apple silicon, as all devices share the Army architecture.
Overall, Apple has certainly made progress with the Mac App Store over the last 10 years, but some developers feel that further improvements are needed if they are to accepting the shop front.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting Apple’s top stories, making it a great way to get a repeat of the size of the week covering all the key topics we’ve covered and linking related stories for a photo overview.
So if you want to deliver key stories like the recap above to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!