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Apple is holding a virtual event on September 15 that is expected to bring a new Apple Watch and iPad Air.
AFP via Getty Images
It’s not often that Apple Inc.’s launch event in September has a big question mark, but this year it’s different.
Now that Apple AAPL,
Warned that its next iPhone will be delayed a few weeks in the fall, there is debate as to whether the company will actually announce the new family of devices during its event on Tuesday or whether it will save the smartphones for a future launch event.
The September 15 virtual programming tagline, “Time Flies,” suggests to some that Apple may focus the event on the Apple Watch along with some subscription-related developments, such as new package deals. The new iPhones may debut at an October event, according to Bloomberg News.
But Lopez Research principal analyst Maribel Lopez still believes the company will choose to introduce all of its new products at once, including the iPhone. “When you’re thinking about the weather, it’s best to pitch earlier and have them come later, as you’re entering the Christmas planning cycle,” Lopez said.
When the iPhone comes out, it is expected to be the first of Apple’s devices to feature 5G connectivity. Although 5G isn’t allowing too many game-changing experiences so far in the US, Lopez sees this as a critical feature for Apple given that people tend to hang onto their smartphones for more than two years. Consumers may hesitate to buy new phones today that they know will not be compatible with 5G technology once those networks become more available.
Apple could launch up to four new iPhones this year, although these devices may not ship until November. All devices are expected to have OLED displays and square edges, according to Bloomberg News. The more sophisticated device could have a 6.7-inch diagonal screen, the largest yet for an iPhone, and that phone may have a LIDAR camera that allows better interaction with augmented reality applications.
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The likely Apple Watch Series 6 should focus on health aspects, as the 9to5 Mac has seen hints in Apple’s new mobile operating system that the company is looking to improve EKG readings with this upcoming device. The code in the new operating system also suggests that Apple will add blood oxygen detection, 9to5 Mac reported.
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. 005930,
recently announced blood pressure monitoring for its watch, a feature Lopez would like Apple to add as well.
“It’s getting harder and harder to see really big differences between the major hardware vendors,” he said. Apple, like other hardware companies, is trying to figure out how many more sensors it can fit in its devices, in its opinion.
Tuesday’s event, which starts at 1 p.m. ET, is also expected to bring a new iPad Air with slimmer bezels and USB-C connectivity, just like the more expensive iPad Pro you already have. A preview of 9to5Mac cites alleged leaked documentation from an instruction manual for the device, which also shows that the tablet could have a TouchID button on the side for authentication. The iPad Pro uses FaceID facial recognition and Apple has yet to add a fingerprint reader on the side of one of its devices.
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Apple also plans to finally start bundling its subscription offerings into a bundle called the Apple One, based on code found in the latest version of Apple Music for Android devices.
The code, discovered by 9to5Google, had no information on the price of this new service. The idea is for consumers to pay a lower price for the bundled offering than they would pay if they paid for individual services on their own, and the bundles are meant to drive adoption of more Apple subscription services.
Bloomberg reported in early summer that Apple would offer a basic package consisting of Apple Music and Apple TV + while also incorporating services like Apple Arcade, Apple News + and iCloud storage in more expensive offerings. The company may also be launching a subscription fitness offering aimed at competing with Peloton Interactive Inc.’s PTON,
popular Connected Fitness product, which allows access to a library of virtual workouts.
“It’s about trying to eliminate friction” in Apple’s subscription buying process, Lopez said of the bundling strategy.
Some are hoping Apple will finally launch over-the-ear headphones that include some of the qualities of the company’s AirPod headphones, including automatically pausing music when a user removes the headphones.
Apple shares have enjoyed a strong rally in 2020, rising 53% on the year according to the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA,
which counts Apple as a component, is down about 3%. There has been optimism about Apple’s next line of devices and its success in services, though the stock has fallen more than 16% from its September 1 closing high amid a pullback from some of the tech names that saw big. earnings at the beginning of the year.
