Apple announces April 20 special event - iPad Pro, AirTags expected

Apple has confirmed it will be holding a April release event on April 20, called "Spring Loaded," expected to feature the long-awaited "AirTags," an iPad Pro refresh, and perhaps other surprises.

Following rumors and claims that Apple would hold an event at all in March, Apple has announced that it will be holding one soon. A press release and an Apple Event page update on Wednesday says that the event will take place on April 20 at 10 a.m. Pacific.

Given the last three Apple special events and the all-virtual WWDC 2021, the event will likely take the form of a pre-produced video without a live audience.

AppleInsider will be covering the event live, providing full analysis during and after the event, and will include details of all of Apple's product launches and updates.

What to expect at the event

The biggest candidates for unveiling have to be "AirTags," Apple's long-rumored tracking accessory. Operating with the Find My app, the "AirTag" can be attached to anything, according to speculation, and by using encrypted Ultra Wideband pings received by nearby iPhones, it could offer the ability to track down items lost in public.

As events earlier in the year have previously featured iPads, it's likely that an updated iPad Pro and iPad mini could make an appearance. The former may use mini LED backlighting for an improved picture, including high contrast levels and enhanced color reproduction, among other features.

However, reports of mini LED production shortages through manufacturing issues in April, with low yields from suppliers. This could result in there could be either a delay or a limited supply of products using the technology.

The sixth-generation iPad mini may have a bigger 9-inch display, but at the same time the dimensions of the tablet may stay the same, or even shrink.

The push for Apple Silicon Macs may also prompt some updates to the product lines. A top favorite for inclusion is a 24-inch iMac, rumored to pack the M1 processor and be offered in a variety of color options.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro also stands chance of appearing, again using Apple Silicon. The larger 14-inch display may not increase the physical size of the model, as it may use a thinner bezel and take up the same space as the 13-inch version.

AirPod announcements are a possibility, such as the "AirPods 3," the "AirPods Pro lite," and the "AirPods X." While recent leaks point to Apple preparing the "AirPods 3" for launch, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo instead claims we should expect the model to arrive later in 2021 and not the event.

An update to Apple TV is also long overdue, but it may simply be a specifications bump rather than offering much in the way of new features.

Lastly, there's a chance Apple may introduce a multi-user Apple Card feature or announce an expansion of the financial product into a new territory.

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