Apple announced many things during its 4/20 Spring Loaded showcase. But, of course, we couldn’t help but focus on the devices you might be getting soon. We’re definitely loving the burst of color coming to some of the devices and their usability.
Let’s take a quick look at what you can expect to get in the coming months.
Apple iMac
The Apple iMac gets modernized with a new thinner panel. Plus, it gets the fun colors of the original iMac! Apple boasts that it built this new iMac from the ground up to work with its M1 chip. It comes in seven unique colors that we’re loving and has a slimmer 24-inch 4.5K display. And yes, there are matching keyboard, mouse, and trackpad options, too! The new keyboard now has Touch ID integrated into it, too.
In the age of work from home, Apple has finally upgraded the camera, mic, and speakers on the iMac. The camera, particularly, gets bumped up to 1080p resolution with a larger sensor.
Apple also redesigns the power cable on the iMac with a new magnetic cable that reminds us of the old MagSafe one. To reduce clutter on your desk, Apple integrates the ethernet port into the iMac’s power brick, so you can hide away that extra cable underneath your desk.
The Apple iMac has a starting price of USD 1,299 (around PHP 62,830), but you can only get some of the colors in the more expensive models. It will be coming in the second half of May in some markets.
Apple iPhone 12
We’re a sucker for fun colors on our gadgets. So, we welcome Apple’s announcement that there’s a new purple color option for the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini. We certainly want to get our hands on that. The iPhone 12 mini‘s price starts at USD 699 (PHP 33,810), while the iPhone 12‘s price begins at USD 799 (PHP 33,809). Pre-orders in some markets will kick off on Friday.
Apple iPad Pro
The Apple iPad Pro might not get a new look, but it gets a significant performance upgrade that the professionals who use these tablets. Apple brings its M1 chip the iPad Pro, promising a performance boost of up to 50%. It’s also the first Apple tablet to get 5G support and a new high-speed Thunderbolt port. While the former improves internet speeds and transfers, the latter allows for better connectivity with higher-speed external storage, advanced docks, and even monitors.
We see this tablet as a powerful mobile device that could replace laptops for some users. The more premium 12.9-inch model even gets a Liquid Retina XDR panel with a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, wider-than-ever color spectrum, and high contrast. For traveling photographers and videographers, this iPad Pro will be an enticing device to have around.
Another key feature of this new iPad Pro is for those who make a lot of video calls. Apple introduces a new “center stage” feature on the iPad Pro, which keeps you in the center of the camera’s field of vision, even if you walk around while talking. If it spots another person in the frame, this tablet will zoom out to accommodate the other person.
The new iPad Pro is available in two sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. Pricing for the 11-inch model starts at USD 799 (PHP 33,809), while the cost of the 12.9-inch variant begins at USD 1,099 (PHP 53,157). Pre-orders will start on April 30 in some markets, with shipping expected to begin in the second half of May.
Apple AirTag
Apple’s answer to the Tile tracker or the Samsung Galaxy SmartTags is here. The Apple AirTag will help you locate your commonly misplaced items using the Find My app on iOS. This small, puck-like accessory can be slipped into a leather loop or keyring accessories that Apple plans to offer. According to the company, it is collaborating with accessory makers to create luggage tag enclosures for the AirTags.
It has a built-in speaker, support for Bluetooth LE and NFC, accelerometer, user-replaceable battery, and Apple’s U1 chip. That Apple processor uses Ultra-Wideband technology, which can help you precisely pinpoint where your missing item is located. Its battery can supposedly last for up to a year.
Apple wants to assure users it protects your data. It won’t store location data or history on the device, and it uses end-to-end encryption when the AirTag communicates with Find My network.
The company sells the AirTag for USD 29 (PHP 1,403) apiece or USD 99 (PHP 4,789) for a four-pack. Pre-orders will begin on Friday in some regions, and it’ll start shipping on April 30.
Apple TV 4K
Not much has changed externally for the Apple TV, but you get beefed-up internals this time with a new A12 Bionic processor (seen on last-gen iPad Pros) and support for high frame rate HDR and Dolby Vision Video. This means you can enjoy fast-moving action smoothly, and visuals will look more lifelike than ever.
The new Apple TV 4K even works with your iPhone to color-calibrate it for your TV based on ambient light.
What gets redesigned is the new aluminum Siri Remote. It features a clickpad with an outer ring that supports “intuitive circular gesture.” It’s designed to fit more comfortably in your hand. And as its name suggests, it works with Apple’s voice assistant.
The Apple TV 4K has a starting price of USD 179 (PHP 8,658). It’s available for pre-order on April 30, with shipping expected to start in the second half of May.