Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, has announced that a new product launch is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. While the most anticipated announcement is the iPhone SE 4, there are other potential reveals to consider. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.
iPhone SE 4
After being rumored for over two years, the iPhone SE 4 is set to make a significant leap from its predecessor. The redesign will mirror the iPhone 14’s aesthetics, combined with enhanced performance and a superior camera.
- New design eliminating the Home button, featuring a notch and Face ID
- A18 chip accompanied by 8GB of RAM
- Integration of Apple Intelligence
- 6.1-inch OLED display
- Face ID replaces Touch ID
- 48MP rear camera
- 12MP front-facing camera
- USB-C port for charging, replacing the Lightning connector
Per Bloomberg, it’s almost certain that the iPhone SE 4 will be the centerpiece of Apple’s announcement on Wednesday. I’m looking forward to its market debut and believe it could be a hit if priced competitively.
Wildcard: M4 MacBook Air
The forthcoming M4 MacBook Air will introduce several enhancements over the M3 variant. The standout upgrade comes from the M4 chip, which promises improved performance and greater energy efficiency, potentially resulting in enhanced battery life.
Additionally, the M4 chip will allow for a maximum RAM configuration of 32GB, a jump from the M3 MacBook Air’s cap of 24GB.
Another significant upgrade is the support for two external displays with the M4 MacBook Air, even with the lid open. In contrast, the M3 model permits this only when closed.
It’s anticipated that the M4 MacBook Air will be released soon, as available stock in Apple retail locations is dwindling. The timeline for this launch, whether this week or later in the spring, remains uncertain.
Wildcard: iPad updates
Apple is reportedly developing two updates for its iPad range. The first update is for the iPad 11, set to be the new version of its base model. It will feature improved performance with the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, a significant upgrade over the iPad 10 which uses the A14 Bionic chip and has 4GB of RAM. These enhancements will bring Apple Intelligence capabilities to Apple’s entry-level iPad.
Additionally, a new version of the iPad Air is in the works, focusing primarily on a basic specification bump, upgrading from the M2 chip to the M3 chip.
Wildcard: ‘HomePad’ smart display
A new product anticipated to join Apple’s offerings this year is a smart home device. According to DMN, this device will feature a square display with an A18 chip to support Apple Intelligence.
As reported by Bloomberg, this device is expected to have a 7-inch display and roughly the dimensions of two iPhones placed side by side, framed by a thick edge. Its design will be optimized for wall mounting, and it will come in silver and black color options. There will also be bases equipped with additional speakers designed for placement in various settings such as kitchens, nightstands, or desks.
Originally, Apple aimed for a March release of this smart display, but recent reports indicate that the launch may happen later than planned.
New software betas
Finally, anticipation is building for the next round of software betas across all of Apple’s platforms. iOS 18.4 is expected to introduce multiple features powered by Apple Intelligence, including a more context-aware Siri, screen awareness, and streamlined in-app actions.
- Personal Context Understanding: Leveraging the on-device semantic index from Apple Intelligence, Siri will be capable of comprehending emails, messages, photos, calendar events, files, and more. This enhancement will allow Siri to respond to personalized queries effectively. For instance, when asking, “What was that movie recommended by Jamie?” Siri will find the relevant message. Additionally, while filling out forms, saying, “Add my passport number,” will prompt Siri to extract the number from a saved passport photo.
- On-screen Awareness: Siri will gain the ability to understand and act upon visual content on your screen. For instance, when a friend texts you about a new coffee shop, you can ask, “How long would it take to walk there from home?” and Siri will comprehend your request.
- In-App Actions: Siri will have the capability to perform hundreds of new actions within both first and third-party applications. While editing photos, you could say, “Make this photo warmer,” and Siri will automatically apply the adjustments using the Photos app. Moreover, actions can span across applications; for example, post-editing that photo, you can say, “Add this to my ratatouille recipe note,” and Siri will transition from the Photos app to complete the task.
According to Bloomberg, the first beta for iOS 18.4 is likely to be released as soon as this week. Additionally, updates for iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 are also expected.
Wrap up
This week is likely to spotlight the new iPhone SE 4. Its launch is highly anticipated as it will bring Apple Intelligence to a more accessible price point. While many of DMN‘s readers may find the announcement lacking in excitement, it represents a critical market for Apple.
Given last year’s timeline, we are overdue for the inaugural beta of iOS 18.4. Whether this arrives this week remains to be seen.
My favorite iPhone 16 accessories:
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