15 things Apple will definitely* be making soon**
*Maybe **At some point
15 things Apple will definitely be making soon
There’s no rumour mill in tech quite like the Apple rumour mill, and every week – if not nearly every day – there’s something new that Apple is totally making. We’ve heard a lot of absurd speculation over the years, but the moles have gotten both chattier and smarter over time. Here’s a look at 15 recent or still-active rumours we’ve heard about Apple’s plans.
1) An electric (and self-driving?) car
An Apple car is probably the most audacious thing on this list, and yet surprisingly, it’s been widely reported on. Rumours caught fire in early 2015, claiming that Apple had hundreds of people working on an electric car known as Project Titan, and the hits kept coming. We could see it as soon as 2019, if the reports prove correct.
Likelihood: 9/10
2) A bigger iPhone X
The iPhone X only just came out, and already there’s talk about how it’ll be outmoded. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, Apple may be working on a larger version of the revamped iPhone to release in late 2018. We’ll reportedly see a 6.5in version alongside an updated 5.8in model. It sounds massive, but also pretty appealing.
Likelihood: 9/10
3) A cheaper, LCD model too
And that won’t be the only one, according to the KGI analyst. He also believes that Apple will release a cheaper take on the iPhone X that uses a lower-resolution LCD panel instead of an OLED display. He expects it to come in at 6.1in, putting it between the expected higher-end models, and at a price between US$649-749.
Likelihood: 5/10
4) A streaming TV service
For years, Apple has been rumoured to be creating its own streaming TV service to complement its set-top box. Reports said that Apple would cobble together a cheaper package of channels like Sling TV or PlayStation Vue, but channel operators reportedly pushed back on Apple’s low pricing demands. Still, we imagine Apple can apply pressure to get it done someday.
Likelihood: 6/10
5) A smart ring
Will the Apple Watch beget the Apple Ring? We’re not counting on it, but Apple is at least looking into the possibility. A patent application uncovered in late 2015 shows a wearable device with a screen that sits on your finger, a bit like the Orii (pictured). The touchscreen could be used to interact with the Apple Watch, even, but who on earth needs two different wearable screens?
Likelihood: 2/10
6) An iPad Pro X
The iPhone X represents a significant redesign for Apple’s smartphone, and the company might take it to tablets next. Reports suggest that the 2018 versions of the iPad Pro could feature the same True Depth front-facing camera system and very minimal bezel in the design. LCD panels are expected alongside a new, super-speedy, eight-core A11X Bionic chip.
Likelihood: 8/10
7) An AR headset
The latest version of iOS made a big push into augmented reality with Apple’s ARKit software, but analysts believe the company has bigger plans with a dedicated headset. Reports suggest something similar to Microsoft’s HoloLens, with a transparent lens that you can look through to see digital items projected onto your view of the real world. It’s pegged for 2019.
Likelihood: 4/10
8) A 3D sensor for iPhones
According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to outfit iPhones with a new 3D sensor that’ll help improve mobile AR experiences. The sensor will fire off loads of lasers and use the data to build a 3D picture of your space, creating more natural AR in the process. It’s kind of like the iPhone X’s True Depth camera, but on the back. Expect it in 2019, supposedly.
Likelihood: 8/10
9) Built-in iPhone joystick
Would Apple really build a gaming-specific hardware function into the iPhone? It seems far-fetched, yet a patent application shows a concept for a pop-out home button that turns into a physical analog stick. Sounds like a neat idea, but also a feature ripe for added repair woes. Besides, didn’t the iPhone X just kill the home button for future handsets?
Likelihood: 1/10
10) An Apple McLaren
Help for Apple’s electric car project could come from an unexpected source. In September 2016, the FT reported that Apple has been in serious talks with exotic carmaker McLaren for month about a full takeover. That’s the last we heard of it, however, and Apple’s ambitions are (hopefully) a bit more affordable than McLaren’s usual fare.
Likelihood: 3/10
11) A phone with a stylus
Steve Jobs famously slammed stylus-driven phones, but Apple has gone against its late founder’s whims at times. According to Korean publication The Investor, Apple has been talking to stylus makers about a partnership to build an iPhone with an included stylus. Why wouldn’t Apple just make a smaller Apple Pencil to bundle with? Yeah, this one sounds off.
Likelihood: 2/10
12) An all-seeing HomePod
Apple’s new HomePod speaker will be released in early 2018, but rumours are already swirling about the next-generation model. A report claims that Apple’s HomePod supplier is looking into bundling facial-recognition tech into such devices, so it’s possible we’ll see that in the next revision. Sounds like an extrapolation of the iPhone X’s Face ID feature.
Likelihood: 4/10
13) A self-sealing iPhone
The iPhone 8 and X are, thankfully, water-resistant but Apple is reportedly working on some next-generation weatherproofing powers. A patent application shows "self-healing" rubber port enclosures, which split apart when you insert a headphone jack or Lightning cable. When removed, they expand back to their normal shape, thus closing up the holes. Neat!
Likelihood: 5/10
14) Contorting Apple Watch bands
We already have lots of Apple Watch band choices, but none of them do much more than stop your iPhone companion from falling off your wrist. An Apple patent application shows a magnetic, contorting band that can cover up the screen while stored, or be rolled in a way to keep the Watch upright on a surface. You can also just pop it onto your fridge or a metal cabinet. Very useful.
Likelihood: 5/10
15) A Touch ID touchscreen
A patent application discovered in early 2015 suggests that Apple could build fingerprint recognition technology directly into an iPhone or iPad screen. That way, it could scan one or more fingers from any point on the display. However, if the iPhone X’s Face ID really is the future of Apple device security, then there won’t be much need for this.
Likelihood: 2/10
