2024 is here and that means a whole new generation of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more, are on the way from Apple.
But 2024 also brings new beginnings for the company. For the first time, Apple will enter a new market in the tech space with its latest product: An AR/VR headset.
Here’s what Apple has in store for us in 2024.
Apple Vision Pro (and potentially a cheaper version too)
This is a big one for Apple. With the Apple Vision Pro, Apple will enter a whole new space and product category.
The Apple Vision Pro was first officially announced in June 2023 and showed off the company’s vision for “virtual reality.” The Apple Vision Pro is, in part, an AR headset. It can overlay virtual screens and apps over the visible real-world around the user. However, it’s also a VR headset, too. It features a dial that lets users enjoy full immersion inside simulated worlds.
Apple currently plans to release the Apple Vision Pro “early next year,” which is now this year. But, it turns out we’re likely looking at a February 2024 release window, according to Bloomberg.
Many potential Apple Vision Pro consumers were understandably put off by the exorbitant starting price of $3,499. But Apple is rumored to be working on a more affordable version of Vision Pro, which will trade-in some of its more advanced features to shave somewhere between $1,000 to $2,000 off its retail price.
Major iPad updates
Apple pretty much ignored the iPad in 2023. The company didn’t release a single new model all year. But that just means 2024 is poised to be a big year for Apple’s line of tablets.
According to Bloomberg, Apple’s most premium iPad model, the iPad Pro, will likely receive an OLED display and be powered by the M3 chip, the same chipset that powers the brand new MacBook Pros.
The iPad Air will also likely see a refresh that offers consumers a model with a new 12.9-inch display along with the 10.9 inch screen size option that’s already available.
The entry-level iPad will also very well see a 11th generation release, along with a refreshed iPad mini, which was last updated in 2021.
M3 roll outs to the rest of the Mac family
Speaking of the M3 chipset, it’s highly likely we’ll see Apple’s most powerful silicon chip yet roll out to the rest of the company’s Macs.
After Apple unveiled the M3 MacBook Pros and M3 iMac in October of 2023, it gave MacBook Air users a hint of things to come. It also seems very plausible that Apple will roll the M3 out to its desktop line of computers, including the Mac mini and Mac Studio in the coming months.
However, when it comes to Apple’s desktop models, it’s possible that Apple could skip a generation or two worth of hardware upgrades. Just look at Apple’s most expensive computer, the Mac Pro. The M2 upgrade just last year was the first time the Mac Pro was refreshed since 2019.
If I had to guess, I’d say an M3 Mac Mini is expected, an M3 Mac Studio is also quite likely, and an M3 Mac Pro is almost out of the question — but don’t count it out completely.
What’s next for the Apple Watch
Right before the holidays, Apple made the decision to pull the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 from its stores to comply with a judge’s order over a patent dispute.
So, Apple is surely to move forward with the Apple Watch in some brand new ways in 2024.
According to Bloomberg, Apple’s got plans to completely redesign its smartwatch for at least one model. This could be the rumored Watch X model that Apple is reportedly planning for the Apple Watch’s 10-year anniversary.
Some new features that Apple has in the works include blood pressure monitoring with hypertension and sleep apnea detection. Apple is reportedly also working on a new magnetic band attachment system as well.
iPhone 16
Yes, the next iPhone will come out later this year, around September, as is the yearly tradition. The iPhone 15 came out only a few months ago, so the rumors surrounding the next iteration of the smartphone are very thin right now.
However, there are some things we know.
Apple is reportedly working on bringing the tetraprism telephoto camera to the iPhone 16 Pro. This is the 5x optical zoom lens that’s currently only available in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
In addition, much like how every iPhone 15 model got the Dynamic Island that was once exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models, it seems Apple will roll out the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action Button to the base iPhone 16 models, too.
It appears that the Action Button itself will be getting an update as well. Apple is reportedly working on making the iPhone 16’s action buttons a “capacitive-type button” instead of a mechanical one. This means that the Action Button will respond to pressure instead of the button physically clicking.
Speaking of buttons, it’s also possible that the iPhone 16 will get an entirely new button: the Capture button. According to the Power On newsletter, Apple is looking to create a dedicated video record button on the device, inspired by the spatial recording abilities coming to the device alongside the Vision Pro.
Wildcards and odds and ends
We’ve touched on most of the big product categories for Apple so far, but the company could possibly have even more in store for 2024.
One thing that seems like a sure thing, for example, are new Airpods that incorporate USB-C into the charging case. Apple released the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C last year, so it seems natural that the base model will get the same refresh this year too.
As for wildcard picks, Apple can completely surprise us with another all-new product in 2024. That does seem unlikely, as this year appears dedicated to the Apple Vision Pro, but you never know. The long-rumored foldable iPhone has been making some buzz online lately, but analysts believe we may be waiting until 2025 for that one. But, Apple is known for its secrecy. You never know if the company will shock consumers with “one more thing” at the next Apple event.
