The day has come, folks. We have our April Apple event, 'Spring loaded,' today, and we're expecting, well, quite a lot. After all, the event supposedly will take up two hours, and since it's all prerecorded, they go by fast. Here's what I'm hoping to see today.
AirTags
This is it, folks. We either get AirTags today, or it'll go the way of AirPower (maybe I'm being a little dramatic). AirTags has been in the rumor mill for a while now, and honestly, some of us here at iMore have even held out on buying products like Tile because we want AirTags.
While I've tried out both the Tile Mate and Tile Pro, I am still very eager for AirTags. As you may expect, I'm very heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, and even though Tile works nicely, I'd rather just have everything under the Apple umbrella. Plus, with AirTags, it'll be integrated seamlessly into the Find My app, which already has all of my Apple devices and friends. For me, just having everything in one place, instead of having to use yet another service, is the icing on the cake.
Another thing I'm hoping for is that Apple won't charge a fee to get a notification of when you leave an AirTag behind. This is something that Tile does for all of its trackers, and honestly, it bugs me. The "Smart Alert" feature of Tile products should be something that comes with the initial purchase of the Tile, instead of having to pay at least $30 a year for it.
Recent rumors indicate that a single AirTag may cost around $39, which is a few dollars more than a Tile Pro. But perhaps this is also because Apple could be including the alerts and notifications with the initial purchase. I could be entirely wrong, and Apple may charge a fee like Tile too, but at least this could be integrated with its existing services, or even an Apple One bundle.
And honestly, if AirTags cost $39, then it's one of Apple's more affordable products out there, and most of us can pick up at least two for keys and a wallet, at the very least. Also, with so many people having the best iPhone, an AirTag Lost Mode would be beneficial for all.
AirPods 3
I also want to see the third-generation AirPods today. We've had a few leaks regarding the next iteration of Apple's wireless earbuds, which will take a page from the AirPods Pro design book.
While I love my AirPods Max, I don't really use them for phone calls or even just going out. I prefer to use my AirPods Pro when I want to have a pair of earbuds while I'm commuting, or even on those rare times I'm on a phone call. I have a pair of first-generation AirPods, but I'm not a big fan of how they're shaped because they always fall out of my ears after a few minutes.
But the AirPods 3 are supposedly going to look more like the AirPods Pro, without the silicone ear tips. Though I prefer having the silicone ear tips for the more secure fit and comfort that they provide, I'm still excited to see a redesign in the regular AirPods. It's been two years since the AirPods 2 were released, and I know there are some people out there who don't like how the Pros feel in their ears. Perhaps the in-ear design of the AirPods 3 without the silicone could be a great alternative for those who don't need ANC but still just want AirPods with a slightly improved fit. Plus, these should still be cheaper than the Pros, which will be a draw for others.
iPad Pro
The rumors are strong with this one, which is a new iPad Pro (2021). It may not look much different from the 2020 models, but the big change with the new iPad Pro is the display, which could use mini-LED instead of OLED.
As great as OLED is, there are still issues with smearing, off-axis color shifting, pulse-width modulation, burn-in, and inconsistent brightness. Mini-LED could solve all of that while still providing blacks almost as deep as OLED, as well as contrast ratios that will be close to OLED level HDR.
Personally, I don't think this will affect me too much, as I don't rely on my iPad Pro for work. However, this is a big deal for anyone who uses the iPad Pro for graphical work, such as video and photo editing, graphic designing, and more. Either way, I'm excited to see the improvements that Apple is bringing to the iPad Pro display, though it may only be on the larger 12.9-inch model.
Apple TV
It's been three years since the Apple TV 4K debuted, so I'm definitely expecting to see a new Apple TV (2021) announced today. However, it is very likely that the focus of the next Apple TV is going to shift to gaming, rather than just movies and television, since it may be equipped with a new A12X processor.
I'm excited to see what Apple has in store for the next Apple TV. After all, there are a ton of great games on Apple Arcade that work with the best game controllers, making the Apple TV a legit gaming system for those who don't want to pick up something like a Nintendo Switch or PS5.
And while I personally do not have an older Apple TV, I have heard nothing but disdain for the current Siri Remote. With a new Apple TV, Apple has a chance to fix one of the biggest flaws with the hardware, which is the remote. We may not know what a new remote may look like, but as long as it improves the current experience for the average user, hey, I'm all for it.
Apple Pencil
There have not been a lot of Apple Pencil 3 rumors, but it's still a possibility that I hope to see. In fact, the most significant leak about a new Apple Pencil only showed a new tip and a possible new color, but that's about it.
I said it before, but the Apple Pencil 3 really needs a bigger overhaul than just a new color and a tip. Still, with the potential release of a brand new iPad Pro, I'd expect Apple to drop a new Apple Pencil to go along with it. I talked about it last time, but I want to see some more features for the Apple Pencil, such as doubling as a mouse or even having programmable buttons or touch areas. Even making it a universal product that can be used across every iPad and iPhone in the lineup would be a plus too.
What are you hoping to see?
These are just the things I'm hoping to see today during Apple's 'Spring loaded' event. Hopefully, most of them come true, if not all. Regardless, I can't wait to see what Apple has in store! What are you hoping to see? Let us know in the comments.
