MacRumors

iPhone camera lenses may not see significant hardware updates through at least 2022, according to a new research note by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo seen by MacRumors.

Today's note focuses on a new price war between lens suppliers Largan and Genius Electronic Optical that will affect profitability for the suppliers, with Genius Electronic Optical at particular risk due to its high reliance on Apple combined with Largan's willingness to cut prices and Sunny Optical's upcoming entry into the high-end ‌iPhone‌ camera lens supply chain.

We predict that Largan will bargain the ASP of iPhone mid-to-high-end lenses by about 15-25% in 1H21 in order to increase its capacity utilization rate. Yujingguang's [Genius Electronic Optical's] order proportion, capacity utilization rate and gross profit margin will be directly affected. The impact of the price war will begin in January 2021, and Yujingguang's January revenue may only grow in single-digit YoY or even decline.

Kuo specifically predicts that there will be "no significant upgrade of the camera lens in 2022," indicating that challenges for Genius Electronic Optical could stretch for several years "unless the structural challenges of the lens industry are significantly improved or Yujingguang can significantly reduce its dependence on Apple orders."

Despite Kuo's prediction that there will not be significant hardware advancements for the camera lenses in ‌iPhone‌ models for 2021 and 2022, that doesn't necessarily mean there won't be improvements to overall camera performance. Apple also puts considerable effort into the software side of its camera capabilities, so we may still see new features and other tweaks due to improvements in both software and other elements of the camera hardware stack beyond the lenses.

Update: As noted by 9to5Mac, Kuo's comments may refer to only the main wide camera lens, as he has previously discussed upcoming updates for the ultrawide and telephoto lenses. Kuo's report is not entirely clear which lens or lenses he is referring to.

Following up on its report from yesterday about the next-generation iPad and iPad Pro models, Japanese site Mac Otakara has released a new report sharing some additional details about the upcoming ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

The report claims that updated 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models should be arriving in March and that the overall design remains the same as the existing models with a few exceptions.

First, ‌Mac Otakara‌ says that the 12.9-inch model will be about 0.5 mm thicker than the current model, a change that could be to accommodate a long-rumored Mini-LED display that would offer better display performance compared to traditional LCDs. The 11-inch model will apparently remain the same thickness as the current model, which is in line with rumors that only the 12.9-inch model will initially get the ‌Mini-LED‌ display.

Second, the rear cameras are said to protrude less on the upcoming models. The overall camera bump remains, but the additional protrusion of the individual camera lenses is no longer required, leaving a flat camera bump.

Finally, there are apparently some changes to the design of the speakers, with the overall number of speaker holes on the sides reduced by two-thirds and the positions of the speaker holes changed compared to the current models.

Apple is planning to work with Hyundai on the upcoming Apple Car, according to a report from Korean site Korea Economic Daily.

The report suggests that Apple is in negotiations with Hyundai Motor Group to manufacture an Apple Car. Apple is said to be planning to work with Hyundai to produce electric vehicles and develop batteries due to the "enormous costs" of the technology and the necessary production facilities.

Multiple prior rumors have suggested that Apple will work with a manufacturing partner to produce the Apple Car, but until now, there hasn't been word on which manufacturer Apple might team up with. Since the report mentions "negotiations," a deal may not be established as of yet, so Apple's plans could change.

An Apple Car report earlier today from Bloomberg said that work on the project is still in the early stages and "nowhere near production stage," nor was there a mention of Hyundai. According to Bloomberg, it will be at least five to seven years before an Apple Car is ready to launch.

Update: In a statement to CNBC, Hyundai confirmed that it is in discussions with Apple. "We understand that Apple is in discussion with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor. As the discussion is at its early stage, nothing has been decided."

Update 2: Bloomberg reports that Hyundai again revised its statement, removing the reference to other automakers. A few hours after that, it issued another revision that omits Apple completely: "We've been receiving requests for potential cooperation from various companies regarding development of autonomous EVs," reads the latest version. "No decisions have been made as discussions are in early stage."

Since the AirPods Max headphones were released on December 15, there have been a growing number of complaints from MacRumors readers who have run into a problem with condensation.

Some ‌AirPods Max‌ owners who have been wearing their headphones for a prolonged period of time have noticed condensation forming inside the ear cup. From MacRumors reader ssong:

So I've had my AirPods max for just under a week and have noticed that after prolonged usage there's a decent amount of condensation inside the ear cup.

it's quite noticeable when you detach the magnetic ear cushions from the ear cup.

The condensation seems to happen regardless of temperature, and most people have reported seeing it after several hours of use, but for some, it shows up within an hour or two. One user has claimed that the condensation has led to issues with Active Noise Cancellation, but this has not been echoed by other ‌AirPods Max‌ owners and no one else has reported problems caused by condensation.

Other ‌AirPods Max‌ owners have said that the same issue has happened with headphones from other brands. From MacRumors reader JBGoode:

I get this on my Sony WH1000XM3. I've had them for a long time and it's no big deal. Have none of you owned over the head cans before? Your ears are gonna a sweat and there will be some condensation. I think it's pretty common for this type of headphones.

The ‌AirPods Max‌ are not water resistant and those who are affected by the condensation are concerned about the longevity of the headphones with the water droplets pooling inside. The ear cushions are not affected and remain dry despite the condensation inside the ear cups.

Some ‌AirPods Max‌ owners have returned the headphones, while others have picked up AppleCare+ in case of future problems. Apple has not yet commented on the issue.

Rumors about Apple's work on an autonomous car have picked up in recent weeks, but the project is still in the early stages and it will be years before an Apple Car launches, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

Sources with knowledge of Apple's product plans told Bloomberg that it will take Apple "at least half a decade" to launch an autonomous electric vehicle.

Apple has a small team of hardware engineers that are working on drive systems, vehicle interiors, and external car designs with the goal of eventually shipping a vehicle to customers.

Apple's car plans have shifted multiple times over the years and just a couple of years ago, rumors indicated Apple had decided to forego development of a full car and was instead focusing on an autonomous driving system that could perhaps be provided to other car manufacturers.

As development has continued, Apple is once again focusing on the more ambitious goal of creating an entire vehicle. The car team is aiming to create a self-driving vehicle that would let a user input their destination and be driven there with "little or no other engagement."

The car is "nowhere near production stage" and it could be ready in five to seven years, though timelines could shift. Apple is also still pursuing a self-driving car system for a third-party partner, so the company could still opt to end development on its own car.

Apple Car employees are working from home at the current time or spending limited time at the office, which is apparently slowing work on the vehicle project. Apple has a wide range of car experts working on the project, as outlined by Bloomberg.

This includes former Tesla VP of interior design Steve MacManus, self-driving safety expert and former Waymo employee Jaime Waydo, and former Tesla VP Michael Schwekutsch, who worked on motors and transmissions. Apple recently picked up Jonathan Sive, a BMW vehicle engineer who also worked at Tesla and Waymo, and Stuart Bowers, another former Tesla vice president.

Vehicle-related job listings suggest Apple's hiring is ramping up, with the Cupertino company seeking employees with expertise in wireless communication, LED lighting, high-voltage battery systems, and more.

A recent report from Reuters suggested Apple is aiming to launch a car in 2024, but that timeline sounds ambitious based on the new information from Bloomberg. Reuters said that Apple is developing a new battery design that will reduce cost and increase range, and has also been working with automotive supply companies.

Another report indicated Apple is designing a custom chip for the Apple Car that TSMC will manufacture, and Bloomberg confirms that Johny Srouji's team is developing a custom Arm-based chip with a focus on machine learning processing to run the self-driving car system.

Apple is likely to use a manufacturing partner to build the vehicles, but it continues to be unclear what company might secure a deal with Apple. 2016 rumors indicated Apple was in talks with Magna International, but the talks ended as Apple's plans at the time were unclear.

Amid rumors that Apple's long-rumored AirTag product is going to launch in 2021, accessory makers have begun preparing and planning for accessories to house the AirTags.

Nomad, known for its range of Apple device cases, chargers, and more, has plans for an AirTags Keychain and an AirTags Glasses Holder, as highlighted by leaker Evan Blass.

Apple does not generally provide accessory makers with details on its product plans ahead of when new devices launch, so the renders that Nomad has created as part of a 2021 product plan are likely based on rumors and are not representative of any kind of final accessory design. The keychain designed by Nomad features a thin leather housing that appears to be created for a square-shaped ‌AirTag‌, while the "AirTags Glasses Holder" has a rounded design.

Rumors to date suggest that the AirTags will feature a disc-like design with a white front and a silver backing with an Apple logo, though the AirTags design has yet to be confirmed.

AirTags will work similarly to other item trackers like Tile, allowing users to attach them to various important accessories like cameras, wallets, keys, glasses, and more to be able to locate those items should they become lost. Rumors indicate AirTags will feature a built-in U1 ultra wideband chip for accurate indoor positioning information that will also allow for augmented reality-based tracking functionality.

We've been seeing signs of AirTags since iOS 13, and there were rumors suggesting Apple was planning for a 2020 launch, but that did not end up happening. Earlier this month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple will release the AirTags at some point in 2021, though he did not provide more specific information.

Ahead of CES 2021, OWC is introducing four new products compatible with Macs, including the Thunderbolt Dock, USB-C Travel Dock E, Envoy Pro FX storage drive, and U2 Shuttle storage carrier for 3.5-inch drive bays.

Priced at $249, the Thunderbolt Dock is equipped with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an SD card slot, and a combo 3.5mm audio in/out. The dock connects to a Mac with a single Thunderbolt cable, with up to 90W of pass-through charging. With the dock, users can create a daisy chain with multiple bus-powered Thunderbolt drives, and connect a single 5K/6K/8K display or up to two 4K displays.

OWC's USB-C Travel Dock E features six connectivity options in a compact design: two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, an SD card reader, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB-C port that delivers up to 100W of pass-through charging.

The Envoy Pro FX is described as "the fastest and most compatible portable drive ever made," with read/write speeds up to 2,711 MB/s and compatibility with both USB-C or USB-A with an adapter. The drive features an aluminum housing with IP67-rated water resistance, a drive status LED, and silent operation without a power adapter. Pricing starts at $169 for a 240GB drive, with 480GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage capacities available.

The U2 Shuttle is described as "the world's first" U.2 carrier shuttle for 3.5-inch drive bays, combining four NVMe M.2 SSDs into a swappable, RAID-ready storage solution. The enclosure is available empty for $149.99 or with up to 16TB of storage.

The Envoy Pro FX and U2 Shuttle are available to order now on OWC's website, while the Thunderbolt Dock and USB-C Travel Dock E can be pre-ordered and will begin shipping in mid-January and February, respectively.

Satechi today announced the launch of four new backlit USB-C keyboards, including the Slim X1 Bluetooth Keyboard, the Slim X1 Wired Keyboard, the Slim X3 Bluetooth Keyboard, and the Slim X3 Wired Keyboard.

The Slim X1 models are compact and portable, for taking along while on the go, and the Slim X3 models are full-sized. The Slim X1 offers a full QWERTY layout, while the Slim X3 also includes a numeric keypad. Both models come in both wired and wireless versions.

Both keyboard models are designed with Apple products in mind, offering an aluminum finish that matches Apple's Macs and iOS devices. The built-in hot keys work across Mac and iOS devices, and multi-device Bluetooth functionality is included for fast device switching.

There are 10 adjustable brightness levels for the backlit keyboard, and the Bluetooth models charge over USB-C while the wired models connect using USB-C.

Satechi today also introduced the Aluminum Desktop Stand for iPad, which is designed to work with the new keyboards. It offers a hands-free way to elevate tablets to an optimal viewing level with an adjustable 180 degree mount and a 135 degree base hinge. Available in space gray aluminum, the stand has protective grip padding to keep Apple devices safe from slips and scratches, plus it collapses down so it can be used both at home and while out and about.

Satechi's ​Slim X1 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard and larger ​Slim X3 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard can be purchased from the Satechi website starting today, while the wired models will be available in late January. Pricing starts at $60.

The Aluminum Desktop Stand for iPad is available from the Satechi website for $44.99. Customers who opt to purchase the new keyboards, ‌iPad‌ stand, or another Satechi product can get 20 percent off using the promo code WFH20 when checking out through January 10.

Satechi's latest charger, the USB-C Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable, is modeled after Apple's MagSafe charger and includes a built-in magnet that allows it to attach to Apple's iPhone 12 devices, but it's not ‌MagSafe‌ and can charge Apple devices at a maximum of 7.5W rather than 15W.

Since this is a Qi-based charger, it works with AirPods and also Android smartphones, and for Android smartphones that allow for faster charging, it can charge at up to 15W.

Design wise, Satechi's Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable looks similar to a ‌MagSafe‌ charger, but it is made from a space gray plastic with a white front that's not quite the same material as a ‌MagSafe‌ charger. The back of the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable is slightly domed when attached to an ‌iPhone‌, so it doesn't quite sit flush and can rock a little, but I didn't find this to be a major issue because the rounded shape is so slight.

As with a ‌MagSafe‌ charger, the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable attaches to the ring of magnets in one of Apple's ‌iPhone‌ 12 models or a ‌MagSafe‌ compatible case. There's a 1.5m cord along with a USB-C connector, but the charging cable does not come with a power adapter and you must supply an 18W+ charger.

By default, the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable can charge earlier iPhones because it's a Qi charger, but you're not going to get the same magnetic alignment unless you buy a secondary Satechi accessory, the Magnetic Sticker, which is available for ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models. The Magnetic Sticker comes with a series of guides that let you know where to place it on an ‌iPhone‌ 11 or an ‌iPhone‌ 12.

You peel off the guide, stick it to the appropriate phone, and then attach the magnet with adhesive. Once attached, the magnet that you've added to an ‌iPhone‌ is able to adhere to Satechi's charger with automatic alignment over the built-in wireless charging coil. The magnet is slim and it works well, making this a useful accessory for an ‌iPhone‌ 11, plus it can also be used to add magnets to non-MagSafe ‌iPhone‌ 12 cases to allow those cases to work with the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable.

The Magnet Sticker is compatible with Apple's ‌MagSafe‌ Charger as well, though non-iPhone 12 models will still be limited to slower non-MagSafe charging speeds. I found the sticker to be useful for setting my iPhone 11 Pro Max to charge with my ‌MagSafe‌ Duo and the standard ‌MagSafe‌ Charger, so that might be worth picking up even if you don't plan to get the cable from Satechi. I was not able to use this with Belkin's new 3-in-1 MagSafe charger because the adhesive does not stay in place when the ‌iPhone‌ is positioned upright for charging, but it worked fine flat. Note that charging with the sticker using Apple's ‌MagSafe‌ chargers is limited to 7.5W.

I think the most logical use case for the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable is with an ‌iPhone‌ 11 model and the Magnetic Sticker. At $29.99 + $9.99 for the sticker, it's reasonably priced, and the magnetic attachment makes it simpler to use than standard Qi-based wireless chargers where you might need to shift things around to get the alignment right.

The Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable is also fine for the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, and I found that it attaches to the correct spot and charges at the advertised 7.5W speed, but it's just not as fast as ‌MagSafe‌. It has the same design as the ‌MagSafe‌ Charger and is just $10 cheaper, so ‌iPhone‌ 12 owners will likely be better served paying the extra $10 for the faster 15W ‌MagSafe‌ charging (or 12W if you have an iPhone 12 mini).

There are already other "magnetic" chargers like this Satechi charger on the market, and there's a lot of potential for confusion here. Chargers that aren't official ‌MagSafe‌ chargers (Apple requires Made for ‌iPhone‌ certification for ‌MagSafe‌) are not going to charge an ‌iPhone‌ 12 model at 15W even though they're attaching to the ‌iPhone‌ magnetically, so those who want to make sure they're getting the fastest charging will need to double check labeling and advertised charging speed.

Bottom Line

As I said up above, I like the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable paired with the Magnetic Sticker as a simple wireless charging solution for the ‌iPhone‌ 11 models, but it's not an accessory that I would recommend for the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models because for $10 more, you can get double the charging speed with the $39 ‌MagSafe‌ Charger.

That said, if you want something that's more affordable and don't mind the slower charging speeds, the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable works as well as any Qi-based charger and has the benefit of easy-attach magnets.

How to Buy

The Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable can be purchased from the Satechi website for $29.99. The Magnetic Sticker is also available from Satechi for $9.99.

Note: Satechi provided MacRumors with a Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable and Magnetic Sticker for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

JBL today introduced the latest addition to its sound bar lineup, the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. With support for AirPlay 2, the Bar 5.0 is ideal for Apple users, as audio can be wirelessly streamed to the sound bar from devices like the iPhone and iPad.

AirPlay 2 allows for multi-room audio when the JBL sound bar is paired with other AirPlay 2 devices, such as the HomePod, Apple TV, select Sonos speakers, and more. Additionally, users can use Siri to control audio playback.

The sound bar delivers surround sound, with support for both Dolby Atmos and JBL's proprietary beamforming technology MultiBeam:

Equipped with four passive radiators for deep and punchy bass, the Bar 5.0 produces clear, heightened and room filling JBL 3D Surround Sound, without the need for an additional subwoofer. Highlighted within the Bar 5.0 is HARMAN's MultiBeam technology that enables users to hear and feel surround sound without needing additional surround speakers, generating an immersive listening experience. In addition, Virtual Dolby Atmos allows the Bar 5.0 to reproduce the audio height dimensions from a movie or TV show, turning any living space into a 3D personal theater.

JBL says the sound bar will be available on JBL.com and at select retailers in Spring 2021, priced at $399.95 in the United States.

JBL is introducing several other products ahead of CES 2021, including a new retro-inspired integrated amplifier with AirPlay 2 support. The new SA750 amplifier is priced at $3,000 in the United States, with availability beginning April 2021.

The Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE may give incorrect altitude readings in unusual weather conditions, as noted by iphone-ticker.de.

The Apple Watch Series 6 and ‌Apple Watch SE‌ feature a next-generation always-on altimeter to provide real-time elevation information. Apple says that its updated altimeter cross-references information from GPS and nearby Wi-Fi networks to detect even the smallest changes in elevation above ground level, up and down to the measurement of 1 foot.

However, a large number of Apple Watch users in Germany have been receiving altitude readings that were incorrect by a wide margin. Many users reported that their altitude was calculated 200 to 300 meters too high, despite the fact that affected devices had worked correctly in the past.

Users on Apple's German support forums found that a period of low air pressure was causing the Apple Watch's altimeter to give incorrect altitude readings. While it is normal for changes in air pressure to affect barometric altimeters, the problem is usually dealt with by regular recalibrations to the current air pressure value at sea level. However, Apple does not allow users to manually prompt altimeter recalibration, and it is unknown how often the Apple Watch automatically recalibrates itself.

Affected users should still receive correct information when tracking a workout such as a hike, since the Apple Watch records altitude relative to the start point. Nevertheless, it is not clear why some Apple Watches are not using GPS information to link barometric measurements to location. This would allow the Apple Watch to identify when there are fronts of weather that significantly affect air pressure and then prompt altimeter recalibration.

Some users in Germany are reporting that they are still receiving disproportionately incorrect readings, while others have found that the only way to prompt altimeter recalibration was to factory-reset their Apple Watch and iPhone.

Apple's iPhone 12 is around a fifth more costly to make than an equivalent ‌iPhone‌ 11, based on an analysis of the blended materials by Counterpoint's component research practice.

Producing a 128GB iPhone 12 mmWave (millimeter-wave) smartphone will cost Apple up to $431, 26% higher compared to the iPhone 11, according to the latest bill of materials (BoM) analysis by Counterpoint's component research practice. Despite over $27 cost savings due to the simplified RF design, the BoM cost of the sub-6GHz-only model for overseas markets still increased by 18%.

Assuming a 38% mmWave mix, the blended materials cost for the iPhone 12 with 128GB NAND flash is nearly $415, a 21% increase over its predecessor. Application processor, 5G baseband, display and 5G RF components represent the major areas of the cost increase.

According to the report, Apple's self-designed components including the A14 Bionic chip and Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip make up over 16.7% of the overall bill of materials cost, while the shift from LCD to OLED in the ‌iPhone‌ 12 results in an over $23 cost increase.

The ‌‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ start at $999 and $1,099, respectively, which are the same prices that the ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max were when they launched in 2019. However, the 256GB and 512GB storage options for both ‌‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro‌ models are $50 cheaper than their predecessors were at those capacities. Meanwhile the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ starts at $799, and the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ starts at a more affordable $699 entry point – although sales of the latter device have reportedly disappointed Apple so far.

Apple is believed to have put a pricing squeeze on component suppliers to help offset increased costs for the new 5G technology and minimize the need for price increases. In addition, Apple is also said to have adopted a hybrid hard and soft battery board for the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ that is reportedly 40–50% cheaper than the equivalent part in the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will push the envelope even more with the ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup this year, adopting a purely soft board design that will shave off an additional 30–40% compared to the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ board price.

Apple will this year begin transitioning its devices to mini-LED technology, according to Apple analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌, and a new DigiTimes report on Thursday reiterates Kuo's expectation that a mini-LED version of Apple's MacBook Air is set to arrive in 2022.

Kuo believes Apple will release iPad Pro models and redesigned MacBook Pros in 2021, followed by a new MacBook Air in 2022, all with mini-LED displays and Apple Silicon chips. Today's DigiTimes report, citing supply chain sources, echoes that general sentiment:

The sources expect that Apple's 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros and 16-inch MacBook Pro set to be released in 2021 will be equipped with miniLED displays and adoption of miniLED will be expanded to its MacBook Air products in 2022.

In addition to a redesigned 16-inch MacBook Pro, Kuo has said he expects Apple to launch a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an all-new design in the late second quarter or third quarter of this year. Kuo says these MacBook Pro models will feature Mini-LED displays for increased brightness, improved contrast, richer colors, and more.

MacBook Pro models are projected to be the main driver of mini-LED panel shipments since they will purportedly gain mini-LED before the iPad and see faster shipment growth.

As a result, Apple will likely introduce mini-LED as a "Pro" Mac feature, however Kuo believes the company will be able to offset the increased cost because the cost of ‌Apple Silicon‌ chips is significantly lower than that of Intel processors, which will allow it to bring the technology to its most popular MacBook further down the line.

Kuo's optimistic scenario sees MacBook shipments growing by 100 percent over the next three years, with up to 35 million units per year, thanks to the adoption of ‌Apple Silicon‌ and the refreshed designs.

TikTok has launched its first augmented reality effect to make use of the LiDAR technology present in iPhone 12 Pro devices (via TechCrunch).

Shared on TikTok's official Twitter account, the effect celebrates the New Year with golden balloons and explosions of confetti that react to the presence of real objects in the environment.

First introduced on the iPad Pro in March 2020, and since expanded to the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, the LiDAR Scanner is a small sensor that uses 3D sensing to measure the distance to surrounding objects up to five meters away.

Using the technology's APIs, developers can create enhanced augmented reality experiences and utilize unique capabilities in their apps, such as the ability to measure a person's height instantly.

In TikTok's new AR effect, the behavior of the virtual confetti makes it seem like it's actually in the room, as it gently settles on the man's arms and the furniture around him. TikTok says the AR filter is being rolled out globally with the exception of a few countries, and is just the first of "more innovative effects" to come this year.

Snapchat was one of the first apps to use the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro LiDAR Scanner for AR. Apple is expected to expand its LiDAR tech to the entire ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup in 2021, rather than only the Pro and Pro Max models, according to a recent supply chain report.

In celebration of Chinese New Year, Apple today launched a special edition version of the AirPods Pro that feature an Ox icon, as 2021 is the Year of the Ox.

The AirPods Pro, which are priced at RMB 1,999, are identical to standard ‌AirPods Pro‌ but feature an ox engraved on the charging case. They also ship in a box that has the same ox icon on it.

In addition to launching new ‌AirPods Pro‌ for Chinese New Year, Apple has a special Chinese New Year gift guide on its website in China, recommending gifts that include iPhone 12 models, MagSafe accessories, the special edition AirPods, Apple Watch, M1 Macs, iPads, and more.

Apple unveiled the new ‌AirPods Pro‌ on WeChat. "Here comes a box of blessings for the Year of the Ox," reads the translated announcement, which is also accompanied by several ox-themed graphics and an Apple Music playlist with songs for the new year. In 2021, Chinese New Year will begin on Friday, February 12, 2021.

Apple says that the ox-themed ‌AirPods Pro‌ are in short supply, with a total of 25,400 available. 11,480 of those will be sold in retail stores, while 13,920 are available for purchase online.

Apple today launched its annual Back to University Program in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Brazil, offering students and teachers free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad.

Eligible devices include the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, ‌iMac‌ Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad Air, including the new M1 models. Purchases come with free standard AirPods, but customers can upgrade to AirPods with Wireless Charging Case or AirPods Pro for an additional fee.

Mac and ‌iPad‌ models are available at discounted educational prices when purchasing through the educational stores for Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Korea. Apple also offers AppleCare+ protection plans at a 20 percent discount.

To get the free AirPods, customers will need to add an eligible Mac or ‌iPad‌ to their carts, where the option to add the AirPods (or upgrade) will come up during the checkout process.

Discounts are available to current and newly accepted university students, parents buying for students, and teachers and staff at all levels. Sign up and enrollment verification through UNiDays is required. Educational discounts will be available for a limited time both online and in Apple retail stores that are open at the current time.

The Back to University program is identical to the Back to School promotion that launches in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Europe in the summer months, so expect similar deals when Back to School rolls around in those countries later this year.

The ninth-generation low-cost iPad that Apple is expected to debut in 2021 will feature a design that's based on the third-generation iPad Air that Apple introduced in 2019, reports Mac Otakara, citing Chinese supply chain sources.

The display size is expected to remain the same at 10.2 inches, but it will be "significantly thinner" at 6.3mm. The current eighth-generation ‌iPad‌ is 7.5mm thick, so a 6.3mm chassis would mark a significant design change. It is also expected to be lighter at 460 grams vs. the current 490 gram weight.

Mac Otakara says that the device will continue to feature a Touch ID Home button and a Lightning port, with Apple declining to transition to USB-C. It is expected to have a full-lamination display, anti-reflective coating, P3 wide color support, and True Tone.

In addition to the ninth-generation ‌iPad‌, ‌Mac Otakara‌ has some detail on the next-generation iPad Pro models. ‌Mac Otakara‌ says that the upcoming refresh will not see the changes to the display size or the housing, but the A-series chip performance could be "significantly improved."

‌Mac Otakara‌ does not mention the rumored 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ model that is expected to have a mini-LED display, which suggests that this is going to perhaps be a standalone high-end model sold alongside updated ‌iPad Pro‌ models that are getting a more standard refresh. Many ‌iPad Pro‌ rumors we've heard to date have also focused heavily on the 12.9-inch model and have suggested that this will indeed be a higher-end version.

Back in December, a rumor from Chinese website cnBeta echoed much of what ‌Mac Otakara‌ had to say today, but claimed that the next-generation ‌iPad‌ will have a 10.5-inch display, an A13 Bionic chip, and 4GB RAM.

That rumor suggested that the new ‌iPad‌ could perhaps see reduced pricing, with Apple selling it for $299 rather than $329. The ‌iPad‌ refresh has been rumored for the spring of 2021, but that may be an optimistic estimate as the eighth-generation ‌iPad‌ was released in September.