Katie Marsal
Apple plans to introduce new iPad Pros and iPad minis during the 2019 calendar year, along with a new ceramic Apple Watch design, a well-informed Apple analyst said Sunday.
TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told clients in a research note that Apple plans to release two new iPad Pro models "with upgraded processors" in 2019, along with a similarly enhanced iPad mini. Apple hasn't touched the Mini line since 2015's Mini 4, to the dismay of people who preferred its pricing and compact design.
Apple's 9.7-inch "budget" iPad — first introduced in 2017 — is expected to grow to 10.2 inches, putting it close to the size of the base 2017 iPad Pro. Last year's model gained Apple Pencil support, but remained behind Pros with Lightning instead of USB-C, and Touch ID instead of Face ID. Its performance was likewise kept slower, and its display missing technologies like ProMotion and True Tone.
The new ceramic casing design for the Apple Watch will emerge sometime this year, as will ECG support in more countries, Kuo added. Ceramic was dropped from Watch options when the Series 4 premiered last fall. This may have been because of poor sales, production issues, or simply because Apple no longer felt it was necessary.
Other upcoming hardware covered in Kuo's memo includes three new iPhones, second-generation AirPods, a 16- to 16.5-inch MacBook Pro, and even a 31.6-inch 6K monitor.
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18 Comments
How did I guess it wold be Ming-Chi Kuo?
For well informed, wasn't there something he got wrong late last year? I don't remember the details, but I think there was something he said was going to happen that didn't. Does anyone have a scorecard of his predictions so far?
[EDIT] Oh, and new iPad Pros is kind of a no-brainer. They'll upgrade them to use this year's processors at some point. The Ceramic Apple Watch is less of a given, since they seemed to have dropped the Edition line. I suppose you can always say that the ceramic back on the normal watch might have been a source for confusion.
Other than that, nothing really exceptional. No predictions on the iMac updates, or this year's MacBooks or iPhones. Or even the non-Pro iPad. All of which I expect to see upgraded this year. Do I get my lucrative analyst job now?
I’d love to know if Canada will get the ECG feature on the Apple Watch. That I’d upgrade for.
I would love to see an iPad mini upgraded with the current top spec processors and display. The price does not even have to be that bargain basement.
Even better would be an iPad mini allowed to function as an iPhone with LTE, run CarPlay and thether to an Apple Watch. With the Apple Watch and AirPods, the phone really does not have to be something we hold to our ears.
At work my Phone sits secured and my Apple Watch functions as my iPhone on campus, linked over a secure Wi-Fi network. In the car it is just sitting connected by USB. At home it hands off calls to my desktop Mac or Watch. Out walking the dog or at the YMCA it connects to my Plantronics headset. I rarely pick it up and use it as a handset phone. There is no real reason an LTE iPad mini could not be equipped to function as an iPhone.