Fresh Apple product rumors appear just in time

The news agenda slows to a crawl every August at the best of times, and 2023 is not really the best of times, despite the looming iPhone 15. How fortunate, then, that fresh Apple product rumors have emerged to keep us entertained. They include a new model iPad mini, pink Apple Watch and more. Here’s the run down.

Get ready for iPad mini 7 (maybe)

iPad mini 7 is coming later this year, claims summertime speculation machine, ShrimpApplePro in a rumor-laden series of tweets. The new model may feature an upgraded Apple Silicon processor (it would be cool if this got an M-series boost, but the speculation is A16/17 Bionic). You may also get better cameras, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and other improvements. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also predicted a new iPad mini 7, though not until next year. The new iPads should host thinner bezels, just like iPhones.

Apple’s generative AI game (think different)

Writing on Medium, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also warns that Apple has no plans to integrate generative AI type machine intelligence in its hardware or services in the next 12 months. Apple is understood to be developing such solutions, but apparently has no go to market strategy as yet.

Pretty in pink – Apple Watch Series 9

With an aluminium model now also available in pink but still also rectangular, Apple Watch Series 9 will gain a speedier chip, potentially A15 Bionic as used in iPhone 3. The watches will ship in a smaller box, the leak said. Here’s an old song about being pretty in pink.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

With the same design as last year the claim is that the Apple Watch Ultra will now be available in black titanium. That’s going to be popular among the wannabe super-fit armchair and Nike trainers set.

Apple Watch SE? Not until next year

The story is all in the subtitle – the next iteration Apple Watch SE won’t appear till September 2024.

AirTag 2 for ’24, with a different twist

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo strikes again, this time claiming a new AirTag is on the way. He suggests the tag may have an improved Utra Wideband chip, probably with better battery life and improved location sensing. This could relate to Apple Vision in some way, likely I think acting as ‘surfaces’ for better connectivity and indoor sensing.

Forever frenemies: Samsung and Apple

Samsung may yet end up making OLED displays for iPhone 15. It has apparently beaten rivals to get approved to supply the screens for use on all four iPhone 15 models. LG Display will supply them for Pro models while BOE should end up creating displays for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models.

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