As expected, Apple today officially announced its upcoming digital-only “Spring Loaded” event on Tuesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. Siri had leaked the event overnight, spoiling Apple’s surprise.
The event will be a digital-only event, with no members of the media attending the event in person, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
There are several possibilities as to what we might see at the “Spring Loaded” event. perhaps the best bet for an unveiling is Apple’s much-rumored “AirTags” tracking accessory. AirTags will use Apple’s “Find My” app, and can likely be attached to any object the user would like to track. AirTags are expected to use encrypted Ultra Wideband pings from nearby iPhones to track items that may be lost or misplaced in a public area.
New iPad Pro and iPad mini models are a good bet to make an appearance. The iPad Pro could make use of mini-LED backlighting to offer improved images, higher contrast levels, and improved color production. However, reports of mini-LED production issues could delay new iPad Pro production.
New Apple Silicon Macs might make an appearance. A new 24-inch iMac, powered by Apple Silicon is a popular prediction. The new iMac is rumored to be available in numerous color options.
A 14-inch MacBook Pro is also a possibility. The much-rumored MacBook Pro would be powered by an M1 or newer Apple Silicon processor, boast a larger 14-inch display that uses thinner bezels to fit in the same space as the current 13-inch display model.
New AirPods could make an appearance. Recent leaks indicate Apple is working on its “AirPods 3” for a launch this year, although Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kup says new AirPods will arrive later this year and won’t be unveiled at the event.
While an update to Apple’s venerable Apple TV lineup is long overdue, any update is likely to be internal, featuring improved specs, such as a faster processor.