Apple’s “Peek Performance” March event: What to expect

Apple is poised for its first livestream occasion of 2022 on Tuesday, March eighth at 1PM ET. The corporate despatched out press invitation emails for the occasion titled “Peek Efficiency,” with rumors strongly suggesting Apple will announce a brand new third-generation iPhone SE with 5G.

The iPad Air may additionally get a brand new spec bump replace on the occasion, with upgrades to each 5G and an A15 Bionic processor, just like final yr’s iPad Mini. One other rumor suggests an Apple Silicon “M2” improve alongside a redesigned MacBook Air is likely to be coming. New Macs, together with a extra highly effective Mac Mini / much less highly effective Mac Professional (presumably named the “Mac Studio”) with an M1 Professional / M1 Max processor replace, may be introduced alongside a last-minute rumor that implies the launch of a brand new monitor known as the “Studio Show.”

That’s not all Apple may announce on Tuesday, so prime your expectations for the Apple occasion by studying about all of the rumors and particulars under.

iPhone SE 3 with 5G

The upcoming third-generation iPhone SE is predicted to succeed the 2020 mannequin as the brand new budget-friendly iPhone choice. The primary iPhone SE got here out in 2016 and remained accessible for 4 years, which implies the SE line is ready for a faster change of tempo.

In accordance with dependable analyst and leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone SE 3 will most likely embrace the newest A15 Bionic chip, 5G with millimeter wave, 64GB base storage with 128GB / 256GB choices, and retain the design and colours of the present mannequin. Kuo shared the information through Twitter on a verified account that has remained quiet till now.

The 2020 iPhone SE provided shockingly good worth with the then-latest chipset, however its battery life was by no means the star of the present. Now that US carriers solely need telephones with 5G on their cabinets, the battery life in a brand new iPhone SE can be an even bigger concern — particularly if the shape issue stays the identical. The present iPhone SE physique fashions the iPhone 8, however its ageing design language dates all the way in which again to 2014 with the iPhone 6.

It’s additionally attainable that the iPhone SE might borrow the shape issue of the iPhone 13 Mini. As a consequence of studies of lower than anticipated gross sales of the iPhone 12 Mini, it’s rumored that the iPhone 13 Mini is likely to be Apple’s final compact mainline cellphone. However simply because the iPhone SE from 2016 carried on the compact design of the iPhone 5s, and the 2020 iPhone SE copied the smaller iPhone 8 design, the iPhone SE may turn out to be the brand new house for the Mini.

There’s no phrase on worth but, however don’t anticipate to see a discount to the beginning $399 worth. 5G modems are nonetheless costly, so a beginning storage choice of 64GB is smart if the value is to stay intact. Contact ID would additionally maintain prices down if the design stays.

Picture by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

A breath of recent iPad Air

The iPad Air obtained an iPad Professional-style redesign in 2020: it received flat edges, skinny bezels, Apple Pencil 2 help, USB-C, and a brand new Contact ID sleep / wake button. However the nonetheless recent design is already lagging behind: the iPad Mini from final yr adopted the design of the iPad Air however one-upped it with with the newest A15 Bionic processor and 5G information choices (although simply sub-6GHz and no millimeter wave help).

So it is smart for Apple to roll out an up to date iPad Air with the newest A15 Bionic processor and with a 5G choice — and maybe middle stage as nicely. And though FaceID would welcome, don’t anticipate some other modifications.

Picture by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

MacBook Air redesigned and with a brand new M2 Processor

It’s attainable that Apple declares a brand new MacBook Air with a brand new M2 chip at this occasion. The present design of the MacBook Air dates again to 2018 and was a testbed for the Apple M1 chip debut in 2020.

We reviewed the present MacBook Air with M1 as top-of-the-line laptops you might purchase in 2020, with a rating that was reduce in need of good solely due to the less-than-stellar webcam.

But it surely’s 2022 now, and we have now freshly up to date MacBook Professional designs with higher screens and a greater digital camera that you would be able to anticipate the MacBook Air will quickly comply with. It’d even include a notch.

Mac Studio

A brand new Mac Mini was rumored to come back late final yr, but it surely by no means confirmed up. Proper now, the one technique to harness the ability of the newest M1 Professional and M1 Max chips is within the newest MacBook Professional fashions. A brand new Mac Mini with the newest processor choices would change that.

Rumors are coalescing round Apple saying a sort of Mac Mini / Mac Professional hybrid system on Tuesday known as the “Mac Studio,” in line with 9to5Mac. In January Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stated the “principally aluminum” system “might invoke nostalgia for the Energy Mac G4 Dice,” suggesting it would resemble a taller Mac Mini.

The present Mac Mini design dates again to 2010, which was made to be simply massive sufficient to suit an optical drive. So it’s about time we get a brand new Mac Mini chassis, but when we don’t, then hopefully, we are going to at the least get a “Professional” wanting area grey end once more. We might even see Mac Mini break up up into a professional choice and a normal choice that comes with a brand new M2 processor.

Proper now, there’s just one iMac choice with M1 processors, but it surely solely has a 24-inch display choice. If we don’t see new bigger iMacs on Tuesday, we’d see it later within the yr. The iMac Professional was additionally discontinued a yr in the past, so that may make for an attention-grabbing shock, although there haven’t been any provide chain leaks that may point out a brand new model is imminent. There’s additionally the Mac Professional that has no M1 choice but — and whereas it’s rumored to be within the works, don’t maintain your breath for that one on Tuesday.

Studio Show

Final minute rumors counsel Apple will launch a brand new 27-inch 5K monitor to accompany its new Mac Studio desktop laptop. The so-called “Studio Show,” in line with 9to5Mac, can be priced for shoppers, not like Apple’s very costly Professional Studio XDR show which begins at $5,000 earlier than including a $1,000 stand. Curiously, Bloomberg’s Gurman says it’ll be working iOS, suggesting an A-series chip inside. Apple’s earlier 27-inch providing listed for $999.

Apple received out of the monitor recreation in 2016 to the disappointment of many. The introduction of the Professional Studio XDR in 2019 was welcome information, but it surely was priced manner past the technique of most consumers. Let’s hope Apple rectifies that on Tuesday with one thing norms can afford.

Apple TV plus getting extra exhibits and flicks

The final time Apple held an occasion in March was in 2019, a reside presentation that showcased new premium Apple providers like Apple TV Plus. Three years later, it’s very attainable Apple might showcase new TV exhibits or films prefer it did final September.

Yet one more factor?

Some hypothesis of the that means of Apple’s occasion invite title “Peek Efficiency” factors to the phrase “Peek” because the title of a VR / AR product. Whereas Apple’s long-rumored headset product is not anticipated to be prepared till 2023, maybe there’s an opportunity Apple can shock and delight — simply don’t anticipate to see an Apple Automobile anytime quickly.

Apple can be anticipated to launch some software program updates: iOS 15.4 that may let your Face ID-enabled iPhone unlock whereas carrying a masks and likewise a macOS Monterey plus iPad OS 15.4 replace that can lastly allow the iPad to Mac traversing Common Management characteristic.

Try all the newest Apple information because it breaks right here on The Verge.

Replace March eighth, 4:20AM ET: Added newest rumors about Mac Studio and Studio Show.