At least one iPhone 15 model launched in 2023 will feature a periscope camera system, allowing for increased optical zoom, according to analyst Jeff Pu.
With a periscope system, light entering the telephoto lens on the back of the iPhone would be reflected by an angled mirror towards the camera's image sensor. The change in direction in which the light travels would allow for Apple to fit a longer telephoto setup inside the iPhone, enabling users to zoom in further without any blurriness.
Rumors about the iPhone getting a periscope lens have been circulating since early 2020, with reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo the first to mention the possibility. Kuo initially said that a periscope lens would be an iPhone 14 Pro feature, but it is now looking like we'll have to wait until the iPhone 15 Pro next year.
There are already some Android smartphones with periscope lenses, including Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra and Huawei's P40 Pro+. Both of those devices feature up to 10x optical zoom, and with the addition of a periscope lens, the iPhone 15 Pro could follow suit. In the meantime, iPhone 13 Pro models are limited to 3x optical zoom.
Amazon today has returned the Apple Watch Series 7 to its record low price that we saw over the holidays, dropping the 41mm GPS Green Aluminum model with a Clover Sport Band to $339.00, down from $399.00. This $60 off sale remains the lowest price we've tracked on any model of the Series 7.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
At this point, Amazon doesn't have any significant discounts on any other models of the Apple Watch Series 7. For the 41mm GPS Green Aluminum Apple Watch, this version is shipped and sold by Amazon and it's in stock today.
In another sale happening on Amazon this week, you can save $5 on an AirTag one pack. The accessory is available for $24.00, down from $29.00. Shipping estimates have slipped into late January on the AirTag, but you can still order today to lock in the $5 off deal.
Apple is gifting engineers and staffers who worked on the M1 chip a unique t-shirt to commemorate the end of the first year of the Mac's transition to Apple Silicon, according to an image shared on Twitter by an Apple engineer.
Andy Boretto, who works at Apple as a senior software engineer, tweeted an image of a special t-shirt with the M1 chip and its accompanying glow, alongside a card from Apple that reads, "Every so often, something comes along that changes everything. Congratulations and thank you for helping make Apple M1 possible!"
Boretto noted that December 31, 2021, was the "last day of the year special delivery" and that he is proud to have worked on Apple's transition to Intel and now Apple silicon.
Apple announced its transition to Apple silicon in June 2020 and released M1, the first Apple silicon chip, in November of that year. Apple has said the transition will take a total of two years to complete. This past October, the company added progress to its transition by introducing the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, the first high-end chips designed for the Mac.
In 2022, Apple is expected to release a redesigned MacBook Air with M2, a larger Apple silicon iMac, a high-end Mac mini, and a new Mac Pro.
Smart home company Eve Systems today announced the launch of two new HomeKit-enabled products, the Eve Outdoor Cam and the Eve MotionBlinds.
The Eve Outdoor Cam is a floodlight cam that works with HomeKit Secure Video, with 10 days of storage available with an iCloud+ subscription, which is priced starting at $0.99 per month. Thanks to HomeKit Secure Video, the Eve Outdoor Cam is privacy focused and access is fully encrypted regardless of whether you're viewing the camera footage locally or remotely using a home hub (the Apple TV or the HomePod).
Eve Outdoor Cam features a matte black metal frame and an opaque white glass for the light component, with IP55 water and dust resistance. It is equipped with a 1080p camera with a 157 degree field of view, and it can be mounted to the wall with a three-axis hinge. Infrared night vision is available, and it supports two-way communication with the built-in microphone and speaker.
Users can receive notifications when motion is detected, and through HomeKit Secure Video, the camera can detect people, animals, vehicles, and package deliveries for tailored alerts.
Alongside the Eve Outdoor Cam, Eve is also debuting the Eve MotionBlinds in partnership with window coverings company Coulisse. MotionBlinds are HomeKit-connected roller shades that offer easy setup and Thread connectivity for better responsiveness and reliability than other smart blind solutions.
The MotionBlinds are equipped with a rechargeable battery powered motor, and they support on-device schedules for precise control over positioning throughout the day. Eve says that the MotionBlinds use direct communication without cloud dependency for privacy purposes, with all data stored on the blinds themselves.
In addition to offering smart connectivity, the MotionBlinds also have a manual control feature and are able to be lowered with a simple pull.
The Eve Outdoor Cam will be available on April 5, 2022 from Eve and Amazon. It will be priced at $249.95. The Eve MotionBlinds are available starting today from Coulisse resellers, with details available on the Eve website.
Siri appears to have lost the ability to carry out requests to rate songs played in the Apple Music app in iOS 15 and later, based on user reports and tests conducted by MacRumors.
When listening to a song from your music library on iPhone and iPad, it used to be possible to ask Siri to "rate this song five [or whatever number] stars," and the virtual assistant would do so without fuss.
This ability to rate songs in the Apple Music app with Siri was introduced way back in iOS 8. Listeners usually rely on the function to give songs in their library a rating when they're listening handsfree via CarPlay, exercising while wearing AirPods, or making smart playlists based on ratings.
Yet reports on Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and the MacRumors forums suggest that the function is not available in iOS 15 or iOS 15.1, and has remained out of action in the latest iOS 15.2 point release, issued in December. Instead of carrying out the request, Siri responds with "I'm Sorry, I'm afraid I can't do that," or some variation thereof.
It's unclear if this is an intended change by Apple, or an intermittent server-side problem that has arisen since the release of iOS 15, but it's worth noting that iOS 15 and iOS 15.2 both made functional changes to Siri, in relation to Apple Music interoperability and more generally at the system level.
In iOS 15, Apple made changes to Siri so that some requests are handled without an internet connection, for faster query recognition when doing things like opening apps and setting alarms and timers. Then, in iOS 15.2, the company introduced a new Apple Music Voice Plan that exclusively relies on Siri for music playback and user interaction.
Whether either of these changes are behind Siri's inability to rate songs on request is unknown at this time, but we've reached out to Apple for more information and will pass on any clarifying details if we do hear back.
Verizon and T-Mobile have discontinued their iPad rebate program in partnership with Apple following widespread customer complaints that the program was ineffective, flawed, and rarely worked as intended.
In recent weeks, complaints from customers have emerged across social media regarding Verizon's and T-Mobile's rebate programs. If it worked according to plan, the program would give customers up to a $200 rebate when purchasing a cellular iPad and activating through Verizon and T-Mobile. Unfortunately, customers have faced a subpar experience with the program, often reporting being denied for the rebate for unclear reasons.
There have been several complaints regarding the iPad program (1, 2, 3). Nevertheless, at the start of December, a Verizon spokesperson toldBloomberg that the iPad rebate program was running "as it should for eligible Verizon customers."
Things have now clearly changed as Apple has scrapped all references of the program with Verizon and T-Mobile from its website, including the purchase pages for its range of iPads.
The now-removed overlay from Apple's website detailing the rebate program
Verizon and T-Mobile initiated the program following the launch of the updated iPad Pro in April. Still, the program was previously available on all cellular iPad models, including the new iPad mini and baseline ninth-generation iPad.
Update: A T-Mobile spokesperson has issued a statement to MacRumors saying that the iPad rebate program in partnership with Apple was a limited time offer that started in April 2021 following the launch of the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The spokesperson added T-Mobile is always looking to give its customers the "best deals on devices."
The iPad rebate with Apple was a limited time offer that has been in market since April 2021 and ended December 31. We're always looking for opportunities to give our customers the best deals on devices.
A Verizon spokesperson also confirmed to MacRumors that the offer was set to end on December 31.
Apple sold north of 40 million iPhone 13 models over the holiday period in a record number for the company, despite industry-wide chip shortages, according to Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives.
Last year, reports began emerging that demand for iPhone 13 models was slowing ahead of the holidays as delivery estimates for iPhone 13 models started to improve.
However in a new note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Ives said demand remained strong for the current iPhone cycle going into 2022, with demand outstripping supply be several million units in the December quarter, a positive sign for Apple as supply chain issues begin to resolve themselves in the first half of this year.
Based on our supply chain checks over the last few weeks, we believe demand is outstripping supply for Apple by roughly 12 million units in the December quarter which now will add to the tailwinds for Cupertino in the March and June quarters as the supply chain issues ease in 1H22.
According to Ives, China has been a major source of strength for Apple over the last 12 months and a key region for iPhone sales, particularly in relation to increased market share due to the "multi-year supercycle" afforded by the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.
According to Ives, roughly 230 million of 975 million iPhone users worldwide haven't upgraded in the last three and a half years, and the analyst believes Apple's continuing smartphone sales will provide highly influential tailwinds as excitement builds for Apple's much-anticipated mixed reality headset, which is expected to be announced in the summer.
Ives says the "linchpin" to Apple's valuation re-rating remains its services business, taking in the likes of Apple Music, iCloud, Apple TV+, and Apple Fitness+, which Wedbush believes is now worth $1.5 trillion. On that basis, Wedbush predicts that despite reports of supply constraints, Apple's chip shortages are a "transitory issue" and "nothing more than a speed bump" on the way to Apple becoming the first $3 trillion market cap company in 2022.
Apple's rumored new consumer-oriented standalone monitor could appear this year and come in at around the $2,500 price mark, based on comments made by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his first "Power On" newsletter of 2022, Gurman says the new monitor is "destined to be about half the price of the Pro Display XDR," which he's "hoping" launches sometime this year.
Speaking of Macs and iPads, I'm hoping Apple's next external monitor — destined to be about half the price of the Pro Display XDR — launches in the coming year.
Apple is believed to be developing a lower-priced external monitor that would be sold alongside its high-end Pro Display XDR, which costs $4,999 before factoring in the optional $999 stand.
Taking that into consideration, Gurman's wording suggests he's confident the new display will be somewhere around the $2,500 price mark, although he appears to be less bullish about it being released this year.
Gurman first reported on Apple's development of a standalone display in January 2021, and suggested it will be a consumer-oriented successor to Apple's previous Thunderbolt Display, which was introduced in 2011 for $999 and discontinued in 2016.
In the December edition of his newsletter, Gurman used his Q&A section to double down on his belief that Apple is readying the new display, predicting it would be a "hot seller for those looking to add a larger screen to their new MacBook Pro without spending the equivalent of a luxury car down payment on the Pro Display XDR."
In related rumors, Twitter-based leaker @dylandkt last month claimed LG is developing three new standalone displays that may end up being for Apple, including one based on the current 24-inch iMac, one based on the upcoming 27-inch iMac, and a 32-inch model that may be a new Pro Display XDR with an Apple silicon chip.
In Gurman's latest newsletter, the well-connected journalist also covered his other expectations for new upcoming Apple products in the year ahead, which we've summarized separately.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated his expectations for new Apple products in 2022, including the iPhone 14 series, a redesigned MacBook Air with an M2 chip, an iPad Pro with wireless charging, and more.
Gurman said at least some iPhone 14 models launching later this year will feature a hole-punch display design, as we've heard from other sources like analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. A hole-punch design refers to a display with only a small circular cutout for the front camera, as seen on some Samsung smartphones. This design would result in the notch being removed and the Face ID system would likely be moved under the display.
Apple is planning a redesigned MacBook Air powered by a new M2 chip that will be "marginally faster" than the M1 chip, according to Gurman. He expects the M2 chip to have an 8-core CPU like the M1 chip with a 9-core or 10-core GPU, which would be an upgrade over the 7-core or 8-core GPU options for the current MacBook Air.
Gurman also expects a smaller Apple silicon version of the Mac Pro desktop tower to launch this year with up to a 40-core CPU and 128-core GPU, along with a new Mac mini and a new larger iMac. 2022 should be the year that Apple completes its transition from Intel processors to its own custom-designed chips in Macs, as Apple said the changeover would take around two years to be completed when it first announced its plans in June 2020.
One of Apple's biggest product launches of 2022 would be its long-rumored AR/VR headset, which Gurman said could be announced at WWDC 2022, but he cautioned that the launch timeframe for the product has been pushed back before.
Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro will feature support for Lossless audio and a charging case that can emit a sound for location tracking purposes, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Kuo explained that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature new selling points that will lead to strong demand, including support for Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio and a charging case that users can trigger a sound from to highlight its location.
It seems likely that this sound-emitting charging case will integrate into the Find My app, similar to how users can currently emit a sound from their individual AirPods inside the case to help find them. This lines up with alleged leaked photos of the next-generation AirPods Pro, which showed a charging case with speaker holes to emit a sound for location tracking, allowing the earbuds and the case to be located separately.
All of Apple's current AirPods products, including the third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, do not support Lossless audio. This is because AirPods play audio via Bluetooth, limiting them to the AAC codec. Higher quality Apple Lossless Audio Codec files may need to be streamed to AirPods directly to circumvent Bluetooth and enable a Lossless listening experience, but it is possible that Apple could develop an alternative solution.
Kuo also reiterated that the next-generation earbuds will feature a new design and launch in the fourth quarter of 2022, which is slightly later than the third-quarter prediction suggested by other rumors. Kuo still believes that AirPods may support health monitoring features in the future, but did not directly associate this rumor with the second-generation AirPods Pro.
Apple today shared a new ad titled "911" that emphasizes the Apple Watch's life-saving potential during emergencies.
The suspenseful ad revolves around three individuals named Amanda, Jason, and Jim who were each able to get help by dialing 911 using the Apple Watch, with the ad highlighting excerpts from their frantic phone calls with dispatchers. Amanda, for example, said that her car had flipped over and was starting to fill up with water.
Fortunately, the ad concludes that all three individuals were rescued in minutes. "These are just three of many incredible stories where people were able to get help using Apple Watch," wrote Apple in the video's description.
The ad suggests that buying an Apple Watch could help save your life in emergencies where you don't have access to your iPhone by allowing you to dial 911 from your wrist. Apple Watch has an Emergency SOS feature that allows you to quickly get in touch with emergency services by pressing and holding the watch's side button and dragging your finger on the Emergency SOS slider that appears on the screen.
Importantly, if you have an Apple Watch without cellular connectivity, using Emergency SOS requires either having an iPhone nearby or the Apple Watch needs to be connected to a known Wi-Fi network and you must set up Wi-Fi calling. Apple has a support document on using Emergency SOS on the Apple Watch with more details.
Update: Apple shared a similar ad on Twitter highlighting the Apple Watch's fall detection feature.
Bob B. was knocked unconscious mountain biking in the forest. His Apple Watch detected the hard fall and automatically called 911 with his location. The future of health is on your wrist.
— Apple (@Apple) December 20, 2021
In celebration of the upcoming Chinese New Year on February 1, Apple has released special-edition AirPods Pro with a custom-designed tiger emoji through its online store and retail stores in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao.
2022 is the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar. The special-edition AirPods Pro have a custom-designed tiger emoji printed on the wireless charging case, with a larger red version printed on the AirPods Pro box. When purchased at Apple retail stores in China, customers have also received a set of 12 red envelopes with each of the Chinese zodiac signs printed on them in emoji form. It is a Chinese New Year tradition to gift red envelopes to your family and friends, often with money inside.
The special-edition AirPods Pro are otherwise identical to the standard ones, and priced equally.
In China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, customers can also take part in a free in-store or virtual Today at Apple session called "Share Your Love" in which they will create personalized greeting cards for the New Year.
Apple also has Year of the Tiger artwork and decals on display at select retail stores in China.
Earlier this week, Apple unveiled special-edition Beats Studio Buds for the Chinese New Year. The custom Beats feature a red design with gold tiger print accents on the earbuds and charging case as a tribute to the Year of the Tiger. They are available starting today, but only in China, with pricing set at 1,099 yuan.
In our What to Expect guide that we shared yesterday, we went over everything that we're expecting to see from Apple in 2022 based on current product rumors and historical release data.
New iPhone 14 models with a hole punch camera and no notch are a possibility, plus we could see more powerful Apple silicon iMacs and Mac minis. The second-generation AirPods Pro are coming, and there's a significantly redesigned MacBook Air on the horizon. Rumors also suggest that 2022 is the year that we could see Apple's first dedicated AR/VR product with the launch of a mixed reality headset expected to cost upwards of $3000.
We know what we think we're going to see from Apple in 2022, but we want to hear from the MacRumors community. What do you want to see Apple release this year?
Are there new features you're hoping to see in iOS 16 or macOS 13? New iPhone features? What do you hope to get out of Apple's AR/VR headset?
Let us know what you want to see in the comments, and take a look at our What to Expect guide for a look at all of the current rumors. We'll learn more about Apple's 2022 product plans during the early months of the year, and as usual, we'll have in-depth coverage of all rumors here at MacRumors.com.
Our MacRumors forums also serve as an excellent resource and community for discussing upcoming products and rumors, and with a new product category and some exciting iPhone changes planned for 2022, or forums are the place to be for all Apple-related discussions.
Thank you to our readers and our forum members for making MacRumors the number one site for Apple news, rumors, and advice on the web. MacRumors celebrated its 21st birthday this year, and that's all thanks to our dedicated readers. We look forward to another year of rumors in 2022. Happy New Year!
There are some exciting products on the horizon for 2022 if rumors are to be believed, including the first iPhone without a notch, a larger iMac with a mini-LED display and Apple silicon chip, an entirely overhauled MacBook Air, and maybe even Apple's first new wearable since the Apple Watch -- the long-rumored AR/VR headset.
If current rumors pan out, 2022 could be the year that we get an all-display notch-free iPhone. Rumors suggest that a high-end version of the iPhone 14 will have a hole-punch cutout for the camera and Face ID components that are located under the display.
This would allow for the elimination of the notch, but at this early point, it's not a sure thing and Apple's plans could change. We're once again expecting four iPhones, but this year, there's not going to be a "mini" iPhone with Apple doing away with the 5.4-inch iPhone mini.
Instead, we'll see a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 "Max," and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, with the "mini" size replaced by a larger "Max" size. All displays in 2022 might have 120Hz "ProMotion" technology, reserved for the iPhone 13 Pro models now.
Apple might use titanium as a material for some of the upcoming iPhones, and one rumor says we could see a thicker body that allows for the elimination of the camera bump, with the lenses, flash, and LiDAR Scanner sitting flush with the rear glass.
As for the camera, we're expecting improvements to the Ultra Wide lens, and there's a possibility the iPhone 14 could get a "periscope" lens that allows for greater optical zoom, but it's not clear if this is slated for 2022 or 2023.
Apple will use an updated A16 chip in the iPhone 14, and each new A-series chip iteration brings improvements in power and efficiency. The new iPhones will feature updated X65 5G chips from Qualcomm with faster connectivity speeds. The new Qualcomm chip could power a satellite-based emergency feature that would let users send texts in emergency situations and report emergencies in areas where there is no cellular coverage.
Other features may include up to 2TB of storage space and faster WiFi 6E connectivity, with a full rundown available in our iPhone 14 roundup.
We didn't get any new health features with the Apple Watch Series 7, but that may be changing with the Apple Watch Series 8. Apple is working on features that include blood glucose monitoring, blood pressure measurements, temperature sensing, and sleep apnea detection.
It's not yet clear if all of these health features are coming in the Series 8, but we could get at least some of them. Temperature sensing seems likely, and it could be used for fertility and sleep tracking. Blood pressure monitoring and blood glucose monitoring are more advanced and could take more time.
Car crash detection is also a possibility, and it would build on the fall detection features that are already available with the Apple Watch. Crash detection would automatically dial emergency services in the event of a crash, using accelerometers and other sensors.
At least one version of the Apple Watch Series 8 could be marketed as "rugged," with the device aimed at athletes, hikers, and others who use the Apple Watch in more extreme conditions. It will feature improved impact resistance and protection.
We don't know anything about the design of the Series 8, but since the Apple Watch Series 7 just got a size update and design tweak, the Series 8 could focus on internal improvements. That said, many of the Series 7 rumors pointed toward a flat-edged design that didn't end up happening, so we could get that design change with the Series 8.
Apple is also rumored to be working on an updated version of the Apple Watch SE to launch alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, but we don't yet know what features might be added to the new Apple Watch SE.
Second-generation AirPods Pro are in the works and set to launch in 2022, and there are some design changes coming. Rumors suggest Apple could perhaps do away with the stem on the earbuds, with the AirPods Pro 2 featuring a more rounded shape similar to the Google Pixel Buds or Samsung Galaxy Buds.
Though a new design could be coming, it's not a sure thing and Apple has been having trouble getting the hardware of the AirPods Pro into a smaller package.
Other than prospective design changes, the AirPods Pro are expected to offer all of the same features as the original AirPods Pro, though there could be unspecified fitness-related improvements. We don't yet know just when the AirPods Pro 2 might debut, but we could be looking at a third quarter launch.
In 2022, we're expecting a new version of the iPhone SE. Early rumors about the next iPhone SE suggested it could have a larger display, but that's no longer happening this year.
Rumors indicate that the 2022 iPhone SE will feature the same design as the current iPhone SE, which is modeled after the iPhone 8. The upcoming iPhone SE will feature a 4.7-inch display, thick top and bottom bezels, and a Touch ID Home button.
Though the iPhone SE will use an older design, it will continue to appeal to those who prefer Touch ID. It is expected to include an A14 or A15 processor and a 5G modem, with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo calling it the most affordable 5G iPhone available.
There won't be a size increase, but Apple might still call the next iPhone SE the "iPhone SE Plus" because of the 5G connectivity. Apple might change the name to reflect the faster speeds.
Apple is expected to continue to sell the iPhone SE for $399, and a launch could come in the first half of the year.
In 2022, the MacBook Air is going to get the most radical redesign we've seen since 2010. Apple is doing away with the wedge design, and the new machine will have no taper, instead featuring a look similar to the MacBook Pro.
Apple plans to make the MacBook Air thinner and lighter than the current version, and it is going to adopt design elements from the 24-inch iMac. The bezels and the keyboard are expected to be an off-white color, while the chassis will come in a rainbow of iMac-like colors.
The MacBook Air could feature a mini-LED display similar to the MacBook Pro, but with no ProMotion technology. It's not yet entirely clear if there will be a notch, but at least one rumor says we can expect it. It is also expected to have a MacBook Pro-like keyboard with full-size function keys and a 1080p camera.
As for ports, it will feature multiple USB-C/Thunderbolt pots, but it will not have the SD card slot or HDMI port that have been included on the MacBook Pro.
The MacBook Air is expected to feature a next-generation version of the M1 chip called the M2. It won't be as powerful as the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that are used in the MacBook Pro models, but it will be an upgrade to the M1.
The M2 chip is said to feature the same number of computing cores as the M1 (eight), but it is expected to feature speed improvements. It could also have improved graphics with nine or 10 GPU cores, up from seven or eight in the current M1 MacBook Air.
We don't know exactly when the MacBook Air is going to launch, but mass production is expected in the late second quarter or early third quarter, which will perhaps see a debut in August or September.
Apple in 2021 introduced a new version of the 24-inch iMac, but there's also a refresh of the larger 27-inch iMac on the horizon too.
The smaller iMac went from 21 inches to 24 inches, but the 27-inch iMac isn't going to get a size increase, according to current rumors. It's expected to feature a 27-inch mini-LED display with slim black bezels and a design similar to the Pro Display XDR.
The mini-LED display is expected to support 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, and while Apple has tested Face ID, it's not a sure thing as of yet. Port wise, the new iMac will likely offer a similar port configuration to the MacBook Pro, and it's also expected to use the same M1 Pro and M1 Max chip options.
The M1 Pro features up to 16 graphics cores, while the M1 Max features up to 32 graphics cores, and these chips will also be appropriate for the iMac. To differentiate the upcoming larger iMac from the 24-inch iMac, Apple may name it the "iMac Pro." The iMac Pro is rumored to be launching in the spring of 2022, so it could come at a March event.
The next version of the Mac mini could feature an updated design. It will still have the same square shape as the current Mac mini, but Apple may slim down the size and make part of it out of a new material.
Rumors suggest it will have a "plexiglass-like top" that will sit over the aluminum enclosure, with two-tone color options a possibility.
The upcoming Mac mini is expected to use the same M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that were first introduced in the 2021 MacBook Pro models, and it will feature a total of four Thunderbolt ports, up from two. Other ports will include a pair of USB-A ports, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and a port for a magnetic charging cable.
Apple's Mac Pro models are still using Intel chips, and 2022 may be the year that Apple is able to transition its high-end desktop machine to Apple silicon.
There are two new versions of the Mac Pro in the works. Rumors suggest that one will be a direct successor to the 2019 Mac Pro that introduced a new modular design, with no major changes to the enclosure.
The second Mac Pro in development will have a smaller form factor that's similar to the current design, but with a more compact enclosure that's approximately half the size.
The smaller Mac Pro will have a mostly aluminum exterior, and Bloomberg has described the design as one that could "invoke nostalgia" for the Power Mac G4 Cube.
Apple's larger Mac Pro will reportedly continue to feature Intel chips inside, with Apple perhaps planning to use Ice Lake SP chips. Apple plans to transition its entire Mac lineup to Apple silicon, but early versions of the Mac Pro chips may not be able to compete with Intel's processors for heavy duty professional workloads.
The smaller Mac Pro will use high-end Apple silicon chips with 20 or 40 computing cores and 64 to 128-core GPUs. At the top of the line, the graphics chips would be several times faster than graphics modules Apple has used from Nvidia and AMD.
The Information has said that the Mac Pro will use an M1 Max chip with at least two dies, allowing for more compute cores. We don't know when new Mac Pro models might launch, but sometime in 2022 seems likely.
Apple has been working on augmented and virtual reality devices for years now, and the first AR/VR (or "mixed reality") headset is rumored to be launching at the end of 2022. The headset is said to look somewhat similar to Facebook's Oculus Quest virtual reality headset, but with a sleeker design that uses fabrics and lightweight materials for a comfortable fit.
It will apparently feature two 4K micro-OLED displays from Sony, along with multiple sensors and more than a dozen cameras for mapping surfaces, edges, and dimensions of rooms as well as tracking hand movements. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that it will use 15 optical camera modules with eight used for augmented reality experiences and another six used for "innovative biometrics."
Apple is working on multiple control methods, including a thimble-like device worn on the finger. The headset will be able to track eye movements and hand gestures, and there could also be physical controls.
Rumors suggest the headset will be equipped with a chip that's similar to the M1 in Apple silicon Macs, and that it will be able to operate independently without being tethered to an iPhone or other Apple device. Apple plans to create an App Store for the headset, offering games, streaming video content, and more.
Apple's AR/VR headset is expected to be expensive, priced at around $3,000. We don't know a specific launch date as of yet, but it's said to be launching at the end of the year.
We're expecting a new version of the iPad Pro in 2022, likely with the same 11 and 12.9-inch size options. The 11-inch model could be updated with the same mini-LED display that was introduced in the 12.9-inch model, and Apple is rumored to be planning to include a glass back to support wireless charging.
The 2022 iPad Pro may get a MagSafe charger, similar to the charger that's used for the iPhone 12 and 13 models, and there could also be a reverse wireless charging feature. Reverse wireless charging would allow the iPad Pro to charge other devices like the iPhone or AirPods.
The new iPad Pro models will also get an updated A-series chip, using the latest technology from TSMC. Leaker Dylandkt has claimed that the next iPad Pro could feature a horizontal camera alignment and a landscape-oriented Apple logo on the back, a change meant to promote usage of the iPad in landscape mode instead of portrait mode.
There have been other iPad Pro rumors suggesting we could see OLED displays, a new Apple Pencil, and perhaps a titanium chassis, but it's not clear if this information will pan out.
Apple is working on an updated version of the Pro Display XDR and other lower-cost Apple-branded display options that are expected to be sold alongside it. Apple could release a 24-inch display, a 27-inch display, and a 32-inch Pro Display XDR successor, and these display options could come out at some point in 2022.
Other Updates
We haven't heard much about refreshes for other devices, but there are products that Apple typically updates on a yearly or bi-yearly basis, so we could see updates for the following products:
Based on what we know so far, Apple has some exciting announcements in the works for 2022, and we could see some surprises as well. Make sure to follow MacRumors.com and the MacRumors roundups and guides over the course of 2022 to keep up with the rumors we're hearing, and bookmark our What to Expect Guide and our Events Guide to see a continually updated overview of what's ahead.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up Throwboy to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Apple-themed t-shirt or hat. Throwboy is best known for its pillows designed to look like classic Apple products, but the company also has a line of t-shirts and a series of hats featuring designs immediately recognizable to Apple fans.
The 9:41 shirt, for example, displays the exact time that Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone, and the now-iconic time is also used regularly in Apple marketing and screenshots. A "Think Different (again)" shirt pairs the famous phrasing with rainbow coloring.
There's a "1984" design featuring a mouse pointer and Apple's iconic typeface, along with a "Command" shirt, which has the same Command logo featured on all of Apple's Macs.
For Face ID fans, Throwboy has a new "Face" shirt that uses the little icon that Apple uses to represent Face ID in the "Face ID & Passcode" section of the Settings app. It comes in either black or white, as do many of Throwboy's other shirts. The Command shirt is available in a whole rainbow of colors.
Throwboy's shirts are unisex and come in sizes ranging from XS to 4XL, with all of the shirts priced at $32.99. The t-shirts are made from 100 percent cotton and are preshrunk, and they're constructed with double stitched sleeves and hems for durability.
Hat wearers will be pleased to hear that Throwboy's t-shirt designs also come on classic baseball hats, so you can get the popular Apple-themed icons in hat form.
There's a 9:41 hat, a command hat, a "Hello" hat, and a hat with a mouse pointer to choose from, with all hats priced at $30. Hats are adjustable, and color options include black, white, and blue.
We have 15 prizes to give away to MacRumors readers, and each winner can pick out their favorite t-shirt or hat. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (December 31) at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 7. The winner will be chosen randomly on January 7 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Apple in October introduced the redesigned third-generation AirPods, which have an updated design, Adaptive EQ support, spatial audio, and other new features. To explain some of the design decisions Apple made with the AirPods 3, Apple's vice president of acoustics Gary Geaves sat down for an interview with What HiFi (via 9to5Mac), providing some interesting insight into the limitations of Bluetooth and the feature set of the AirPods 3.
According to Geaves, AirPods 3 were built entirely with custom-made components, using nothing "off the shelf." Apple is using a "complicated acoustic system," "carefully tuned bass port," and a "brand new, custom amplifier" all in the name of the best possible sound quality. Apple can optimize for sound with hardware components, but as What HiFi points out, Bluetooth is the real limitation.
When asked if Bluetooth is holding back Apple's hardware and "stifling sound quality," Geaves declined to say too much, but he said that Apple "concentrates very hard" on getting the most out of Bluetooth, and that "it's fair to say" that Apple would "like more bandwidth."
"Obviously the wireless technology is critical for the content delivery that you talk about", he says, "but also things like the amount of latency you get when you move your head, and if that's too long, between you moving your head and the sound changing or remaining static, it will make you feel quite ill, so we have to concentrate very hard on squeezing the most that we can out of the Bluetooth technology, and there's a number of tricks we can play to maximise or get around some of the limits of Bluetooth. But it's fair to say that we would like more bandwidth and... I'll stop right there. We would like more bandwidth", he smiles.
When conceptualizing the AirPods 3, Geaves said that the AirPods team "looked very closely" at the strengths of the second-generation AirPods. The "effortless open fit" that doesn't create a seal in the ear is a big draw of the AirPods, but designing around the lack of a seal "creates challenges for the audio team."
Because no two ears are the same, Geaves said that the sound people experience will be "significantly different, especially the bass," which is what led Apple's AirPods team to add Adaptive EQ, an AirPods Pro feature, to the AirPods 3. It's designed to provide a "consistent frequency response regardless of the level of fit that each person gets."
When designing audio hardware, Apple works from a "strong analytic foundation" and has done "extensive measurements" and "deep statistical research" to inform an "internal acoustic analytic response" that's taken into account. Geaves says that Apple also understands that listening to music "is an emotional experience which people connect with on a very deep level," so Apple works with an "expert team of critical listeners and tuners" as well. The team is from the pro audio industry, and refines the sound for each product, including the new AirPods 3.
The full interview with Geaves goes into more detail on the AirPods 3 and it's well worth a read for those interested.
2021 was a whirlwind of a year when it came to Apple rumors. Many of the rumors this year turned out to be accurate, like the MacBook Pro getting a notch, but some failed to materialize, like the flat-edged Apple Watch Series 7.
With the year now drawing to a close, we thought it would be fun to look back at six of the biggest Apple rumors of 2021.
1. MacBook Pro With a Notch
Out of all of the rumors that circulated throughout the year, the last-minute rumor suggesting the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros would feature a notch stands out prominently. The rumor surfaced just a few days before Apple's highly-anticipated fall event focused on the Mac and it was met with quite a lot of skepticism.
To much surprise, the rumor ultimately came true, with Apple adding a notch to the new MacBook Pros as a means of reducing the bezels around the 14-inch and 16-inch displays.
2. Siri Leaking an Apple Event
In early April, Siri leaked that Apple would be holding an event on April 20, a few hours before Apple officially announced the event. When asked when the next Apple event is, Siri responded with "the special event is on Tuesday, April 20, at Apple Park in Cupertino, CA" and said more details were available on Apple.com. While not a "rumor" by definition, it was still a high-profile leak that confirmed Apple's first event of 2021.
As a refresher, Apple's "Spring Loaded" event in April 2021 was packed with new product announcements, including the AirTag, a redesigned 24-inch iMac, a new Apple TV and redesigned Siri Remote, and revamped 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. In 2022, it is likely that Apple will hold another event in the similar March-April timeframe.
3. Flat-Edged Apple Watch Series 7
In May, Apple leaker Jon Prosser reported that a future Apple Watch, presumed at the time to be the upcoming Apple Watch Series 7, would feature flat edges. The flat-edged design would have been a departure from the curved design of previous models and the first significant redesign to the Apple Watch since its introduction. The rumor quickly became the most talked about feature of the Series 7, when little else was known about what to expect.
To much dismay and mystery, the rumor did not prove to be true. In fact, quite the opposite happened, with Apple emphasizing the Series 7's more rounded corners. While we might never know for sure why the flat-edged Apple Watch Series 7 rumor failed to materialize, there are a few possible explanations.
4. MacBook Pro Gets Its Ports Back
In January of 2021, respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo dropped a bombshell of a report outlining for the first time what the world could expect from Apple's next-generation MacBook Pros later in the year.
Kuo, some 10 months before the new MacBook Pros officially launched, revealed that they would include an entirely new design with 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, additional ports like HDMI, the removal of the Touch Bar, and the return of MagSafe. Kuo's report was largely corroborated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who revealed that one of the connectivity options returning would be an SD card slot.
These rumors in early January were the first time we had learned new details about the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which Apple announced in October of the year.
One of the largest points of contention was whether Apple would include Face ID in the bezel or embed Touch ID into the Side Button, similar to the iPad Air. The later proved to be accurate, with Apple announcing the sixth-generation iPad mini with a new design, USB-C port, Touch ID built into the Side Button, 5G support, and the A15 Bionic chip.
6. Colorful New iMac
Around three months before its official unveiling, Apple leaker Jon Prosser shared that Apple's first iMac redesign in several years and the first with Apple silicon would feature a lineup of different colors. Prosser followed Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who was first to report that a new iMac with smaller bezels was in the works.
Conclusion
2021 was a busy year for Apple in which it updated several of its product lines. Looking ahead to 2022, expectations are high for Apple, as the company is rumored to announce its first AR/VR headset, continue its transition to Apple silicon across the Mac lineup, and more. Rumors and reports are always hard to keep track of, but luckily, MacRumors has a comprehensive guide to help get you ready for 2022.
I've been a swimmer for as long as I can remember, so I jumped at a recent opportunity to try out the FINIS Smart Goggle, a pair of swim goggles with a small display inside and sensors to help track your swims and keep on top of your metrics even while your head is underwater.
The FINIS Smart Goggle kit, developed in partnership with Ciye, is priced at $235 (on sale for $188 as of this review), so it's not an inexpensive purchase, but if you're a frequent swimmer who enjoys technology, it might be a worthwhile investment.
Unlike some other smart goggle options like the FORM Smart Swim Goggles, the FINIS goggles include separate Smart Goggle and Smart Coach display components. That's a nice touch that will likely come in handy over time, as swim goggles tend to wear out as the gaskets degrade, the lenses get scratched up, or some other misfortune befalls them.
While I'm much more careful with these smart goggles than I am with normal goggles that might cost $5, it's reassuring to know that if the goggle portion ever needs to be replaced, I can purchase a new pair for $35 and slip my existing Smart Coach module into them rather than having to buy an entirely new kit.
You could also purchase an extra Smart Goggle in a different color and swap the Smart Coach module back and forth as needed, such as using blue goggles indoors and smoke goggles outdoors in bright sun.
The digital Smart Coach display sits off to the side of the goggle, allowing good visibility of the water in front of you, although it definitely obscures your peripheral vision to the left. The display is fairly small, so it can only show a limited amount of information, but what it does show is very clear.
Setup, syncing, and workout history are all handled through the companion Ciye app on your iPhone, and there's a very clear step-by-step walkthrough to get you up and running. It includes pairing the goggles to your phone via Bluetooth, instructions on starting workouts and getting a good fit, and adjusting the display to make sure it's aligned properly for your vision. The onscreen text can be shifted left or right and up or down, and you can also customize the brightness.
At any time, you can also head into the app to customize what you see while swimming with four options to choose from: standard swim plus three optimized displays for those who focus on swimming laps, for time, or sets. With each option, you'll see different metrics pop up while you're swimming, after each turn, and while you're resting.
For example, with the standard swim setting, you'll see a rolling time counter for your current swim, as well as a count of how many laps you've done. After each turn, it will briefly tell you your split time before switching back to the in-swim display. Once you stop to rest, it will cycle through screens telling you how far your last swim was and how long it took, how long you've been resting, and the current time. The other display options generally emphasize a subset of metrics, such as only displaying a time counter and the current time while swimming if you choose "I swim for time."
As part of the setup process, you can also specify goals for how many yards per week, number of swims per week, and total swim time per week, and the app will keep you updated with graphs at the top of your swim history page showing how well you've done over the past four weeks.
The Smart Goggle is charged with an included USB-A cable that has a proprietary two-pin magnetic charging connection on the other end. It snaps right on to the Smart Coach, and as long as you have the Ciye app open on your phone it will automatically initiate syncing of your workout data back to your phone. Alternatively, you can manually initiate syncing by opening the Ciye app on your phone and holding the button on the smart goggles for three seconds.
FINIS recommends that you fully charge the Smart Goggle after each swim, but I found it unnecessary. A swim of a little over an hour only used about 5–10% of the battery capacity in my experience, so you can easily get multiple swims in before you even need to think about recharging.
I found the goggles to be quite good at tracking my swimming and identifying which stroke I was doing at any given time, although there was one time when I was doing 200 yards of butterfly in the middle of a 2000-yard swim and it thought I was doing breaststroke. To be fair, my drowning butterfly may have looked more like breaststroke at that point so I'm not sure I can pin that one entirely on the goggles. You can always go into the app on your phone after your swim and correct any strokes that were misidentified.
The app offers several convenient views that make it easy to look back at your swims to see how you did. You can see the time, distance, stroke(s), and average split time for each set, and you can drill down further to see your times for every single lap down to the tenth of a second.
An aspect of the goggles that I found pretty handy was the fact that the display pretty much sits in your blind spot when you're looking straight ahead while swimming. That lets you completely tune out what's going on in the display if you want to focus on other things. But with a quick glance to the side, you can easily check in on your metrics.
For many years, I've used the Swim.com Apple Watch app to track my swim workouts, and it does a very solid job monitoring my yardage and intervals, all easily visible in the Swim.com iPhone app and synced over to Apple's Fitness and Health apps. FINIS recently added the ability for the Smart Goggle to sync with the Swim.com app and it can also sync with Apple's Health and Fitness apps and Strava, so it's easy to always keep on top of your workout history.
Smart Goggle-tracked workout in the Ciye app (left) synced to Swim.com (center) and Apple Fitness (right)
It's important to note that while high-level metrics like total swim/rest times and yardage will sync over from the Ciye app, detailed data like stroke identification and splits won't appear in either the Swim.com app or Apple workouts.
Another thing to be careful of is making sure you have your various syncing settings configured properly in order to prevent double counting of workouts. If you use the Ciye app to sync your FINIS-tracked workouts to both Swim.com and Apple Fitness and Health but also have Swim.com syncing to Apple's apps, for example, you'll end up with your workouts appearing twice on your Apple apps as both Ciye and Swim.com will push them to Apple. It's not a big deal to toggle your settings to make sure things are reported correctly to Apple, so it's just a source of potential confusion to be aware of.
The goggles come with an adjustable silicone-type strap that I found quite comfortable, and gaskets around the goggle lenses help them sit comfortably against your face. Six different sizes of nose bridges are also included to ensure you can find one that fits your face. A chemical-resistant anti-fog treatment on the inside of the lenses helps keep your vision clear, and so far it's holding up well for me.
I did discover one specific issue during my testing, and it's that I don't love using these goggles while doing backstroke, particularly while swimming outside without a ceiling as a frame of reference to know where I am in the lane. Typically in such situations, I'm able to glance a little to the side to keep an eye on the lane line to make sure I'm swimming in a straight line.
But with the FINIS Smart Goggle, it blocks my view of the lane line. Not only that, but there's a bit of refractive effect with the goggle lenses themselves that make it feel like I'm somehow about to simultaneously crash into the lane lines on both sides of my lane. I'd hoped I'd get used to this over time, but with half a dozen swim practices under my belt with these goggles, it's still an unnerving feeling that hampers my backstroke speed and comfort.
The Smart Coach display unit also sits fairly close to the eye, and while it allows for very clear visibility, I can actually feel my eyelashes brush against it slightly as I blink. I am pretty much able to ignore it once I get into my workout and am focused on my swimming, but it's something I do notice as I get started each time I use them for a workout.
That's a minor nitpick, and while the backstroke issue is a bit annoying, I don't do a lot of backstroke, so it's something I can live with. I've otherwise found the FINIS Smart Goggle to be an excellent companion that helps keep me on target during my workouts and maintain records of my workouts over time.
Note: FINIS provided MacRumors with the Smart Goggle kit for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Smart Goggle-tracked workout in the Ciye app (left) synced to Swim.com (center) and Apple Fitness (right)
