Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman is typically a reliable source for Apple rumors, so we listen when he says the company plans to hold a spring event on March 8 to show off a new low-cost iPhone SE with 5G, as well as a refreshed iPad Air that will feature a new CPU. and adding 5G for mobile phone models.
Rumors of an update to the iPhone SE have been around before the iPhone 13 launched, and now Bloomberg says we can expect a faster chip and improved cameras in a housing similar to the existing model with a 4.7-inch screen. The current iPhone SE was introduced in 2020 and the $399 price is now the same as it was on launch day, so an A15 CPU and 5G could make it a much better value. There’s no word on the fate of Touch ID, but without a design update, it seems unlikely that will change.
For iPhones and iPads that use Face ID, Gurman hears that we can also expect a new version of iOS with mask-friendly facial recognition support in March. Software updates may also add new emoji and the long-awaited Universal Control feature that pairs a single keyboard and mouse configuration to work across multiple Macs and iPads.
Speaking of the Mac, a new model with Apple’s custom CPU technology in it could also arrive in March, though it hasn’t been tipped for the same event. Later in 2022, we can probably look forward to “new iMac and Mac Pro desktops, a redesigned MacBook Air, an updated low-end MacBook Pro, three Apple Watches, four iPhone 14 models, and new AirPods.” Don’t wait for a chance to buy an AR/VR mixed reality headset from Apple – it won’t arrive until 2023 at the earliest.
