Apple’s 2024 Event Plans: New Products Coming in 2024
Each year, Apple typically holds three or four events to unveil new products. There’s generally a spring event around March or April, the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, a September event focused on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and sometimes, an October event that usually includes Macs and iPads.
In this guide, we’re tracking the Apple events that are on the horizon, including what we’re expecting to see at each one. Make sure to check in regularly, because we’ll be updating this guide on a regular basis.
February Vision Pro Launch
Apple in February launched the Vision Pro, its first new product of 2024. There was no launch event because it had already been introduced at WWDC last June, but Apple did market it through product videos and a press release. The Vision Pro is priced starting at $3,500, and as of right now, it is limited to the United States.
visionOS, the operating system that runs on the Vision Pro, also came out in February.
As an entirely new product, the Vision Pro has some cutting-edge technology and you can find all the details on the device in our Vision Pro roundup.
Surprise March MacBook Air Launch
In late 2023, there were rumors that Apple would hold a 2024 spring event to unveil new MacBook Air and iPad Pro models, but in late February, we got word that Apple had no plans for an event after all.
On March 4, Apple announced the new 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch MacBook Air models. There are few physical changes compared to the prior-generation MacBook Air models from 2022 and 2023, but both machines adopt the 3-nanometer M3 chip. The M3 is approximately 20 percent faster than the prior-generation M2 chip, and it has improved graphics capabilities such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Other new additions include Wi-Fi 6E, a fingerprint-resistant coating for the Midnight color, and microphone improvements, with details available in our MacBook Air roundup.
May 7 iPad Event
Apple is planning to introduce new iPad Pro models and a new set of iPad Air models at an event set to be held on Tuesday, May 7.
OLED iPad Pro
Apple is working on redesigned iPad Pro models in ~11.1- and ~13-inch sizes, and a major update will include a new OLED display panel that will feature enhanced contrast for improved HDR, better colors, faster refresh rates, and greater power efficiency.
The iPad Pro models are expected to use Apple’s M3 chip, and rumors suggest they’ll be announced alongside an updated Magic Keyboard with an aluminum shell and a larger trackpad, plus a new Apple Pencil.
iPad Air
For the first time, Apple is planning to introduce two iPad Air models. One will measure in at 10.9 inches, which is the current size, and the second, larger model will come in at 12.9 inches, the size of the current iPad Pro. The iPad Air lineup will mirror the iPad Pro lineup, but it won’t have ProMotion or OLED display technology in order to distinguish it from the more expensive iPad Pro. It’s also not quite clear what chip the iPad Air will use, but the latest rumors point to the M2 rather than the M3.
WWDC in June
The Worldwide Developers Conference in June will see Apple unveiling iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS 15, HomePod Software 18, and visionOS 2. The updates will officially launch in September, but Apple previews them in June and begins seeding beta versions to testers to give Apple time to incorporate new features and refine them.
iOS 18
With iOS 18, Apple is introducing a new focus on artificial intelligence, specifically large language models that are similar to what’s offered by companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.
Rumors suggest that Apple plans to integrate AI capabilities into a range of apps to give them more advanced functionality. In Apple Music, for example, Apple might add AI-generated playlists, and apps like Keynote and Pages could have AI-generated writing tools or slide creation options.
Siri will be smarter than before and could include deeper integration with the Shortcuts app, letting the personal assistant complete more complex tasks.
September iPhone Event
Apple’s September event will include new flagship iPhone models and new Apple Watch models, plus it sometimes also includes updated AirPods. We’ve outlined some of what we’re expecting below.
iPhone 16
The standard iPhone 16 models will get the Action button added to the iPhone 15 Pro, alongside a new Capture button that’s designed to make it easy to capture videos when the iPhone is held in a horizontal orientation. We’re also expecting an upgraded A-series chip that’s branded as an A18 chip, plus a rear camera lens setup arranged in a vertical orientation rather than a diagonal orientation.
Aside from the new Capture and Action buttons and the camera tweak, the iPhone 16 models are expected to look identical to the iPhone 15 models. Full details on the iPhone 16 feature set can be found in our iPhone 16 roundup.
iPhone 16 Pro
As with the iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16 Pro models will look like the prior-generation iPhone 15 Pro models, but we are going to get bigger screen sizes. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to have a 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to have a 6.9-inch display, up from 6.7 inches.
The Pro models will feature the Capture button, a faster A-series chip, and an upgraded 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, plus the tetraprism 5x Telephoto lens introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be in both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the smaller iPhone 16 Pro this time around.
More on what to expect from the iPhone 16 Pro can be found in our iPhone 16 Pro roundup.
Apple Watch X
In 2024, we’re expecting the Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch X, which will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the device if you’re counting from when it was introduced in 2014 rather than when it launched in 2015.
Rumors suggest that the Apple Watch this year could get a major redesign that will make it thinner, and there is a possibility that it will feature a new magnetic band system for attaching bands. If Apple does swap over to this, there is a chance that existing bands won’t be compatible with the new models.
We’re also counting on new health features that include blood pressure monitoring for hypertension detection and the ability for the Apple Watch to tell whether someone has sleep apnea using sleep data and breathing information.
AirPods 4
Apple is working on a fourth-generation version of the AirPods, which are expected to come out sometime around September 2024. There will be two models, one with the Active Noise Cancellation technology that has been limited to the AirPods Pro.
The AirPods 4 will come in at two different price points, and both models will feature a new design with shorter stems, and a case with USB-C charging and speakers for Find My alerts. Apple is also expected to add hearing aid functionality that will let the AirPods serve as an alternative to a traditional hearing aid.
AirPods Max
Apple will finally refresh the AirPods Max in 2024, but don’t expect new features. Apple plans to keep the design and the internals the same, swapping only the Lightning port for a USB-C port. New colors are a possibility, though.
Late 2024/Early 2025 M4 Macs
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to begin refreshing the Mac lineup with M4 chips as soon as late 2024. Several Macs are slated to be refreshed in the late 2024 or early 2025 timeframe, but Apple’s exact release plans aren’t yet clear.
iMac
The 24-inch iMac will be updated with the next-generation M4 chip in late 2024. The M4 is expected to feature improved performance to support AI tasks, and rumors suggest that Apple will add an updated Neural Engine with more cores.
MacBook Pro
Apple will refresh the MacBook Pro lineup with the M4-series chips starting in late 2024 or early 2025. The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will get the M4 chip in late 2024, while the 14-inch and 16-inch models will be refreshed with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips in either late 2024 or early 2025.
Mac mini
The Mac mini will be updated in late 2024 or early 2025. Right now, Apple sells a standard M2 version and an M2 Pro version, and we are expecting that to continue with the M4 lineup. The Mac mini is likely to have M4 and M4 Pro chip options.
2025 M4 Mac Refresh
Several other Macs will be updated with M4-series chips across 2025.
MacBook Air
Apple plans to refresh the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models sometime in spring 2025, updating them with M4 chips. Design changes are not expected, with the focus to be on the chip refresh. Spring 2025 ranges from March 20 to June 20.
Mac Studio
The Mac Studio was updated with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips in June 2023, and it sounds like Apple might possibly skip M3 chips in the desktop machine. Current rumors suggest the Mac Studio will be updated in mid-2025, and mid-year updates usually happen around WWDC. The Mac Studio will likely get M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips, keeping in line with the current options.
Mac Pro
Apple plans to update the Mac Pro sometime in late 2025. It will be equipped with the highest-end version of the M4 chip, which is codenamed “Hidra,” and it could be either an “Ultra” or “Extreme” M4 chip. The Mac Pro is also expected to support up to 512GB Unified Memory.
Products With Unknown Release Dates
There are a number of new products in the works that don’t yet have specific release dates associated with them. Some of these could come at an October event, or at other times throughout the year.
Apple TV 4K – A new Apple TV 4K with a faster A16 processor is rumored to be coming in 2024. iPad mini 7 – The next iPad mini won’t have any design updates, but it could have an upgraded A-series chip and new front and rear cameras. Low-cost iPad – Apple is working on an 11th-generation iPad with a faster chip and support for Wi-Fi 6E. HomePod with Display – Apple is rumored to be working on a next-generation version of the HomePod that has a touchscreen display at the top. This would look similar to the existing HomePod, but the screen would be able to be interacted with in new ways. New Display – There have been multiple rumors of a Pro Display XDR successor, but there’s no word on when an update might come. Home Hub Device – Rumors suggest Apple is working on a smart home display that would serve as a central hub for controlling smart home products, and it could launch as soon as 2024. Further in the Future iMac Pro – Apple could introduce a larger 32-inch iMac, replacing the previously discontinued 27-inch iMac. Apple’s plans and a potential launch date continue to be unclear. Foldable iPhone – Apple is allegedly working on a foldable iPhone that might be between 7.5 and 8 inches, with a launch date slated for 2025 at the earliest. Foldable iPad/Mac – Before we ever get a foldable iPhone, Apple will introduce some kind of foldable notebook and perhaps a foldable iPad. Current rumors suggest that Apple is working on a 20-inch MacBook that has a foldable display, but it won’t come out for at least three years. Vision Pro 2 – Apple is working on a new Vision Pro, or multiple new models. Rumors are a little mixed right now, but Apple seems to want a successor for the current model and also a lower-cost version that would be closer in price to the iPhone. 2024 Product Refreshes and Announcements 2023 Product Refreshes and Announcements
We have a list of all the products that Apple released in 2023, which can be useful for predicting 2024 launch timelines.
2022 Product Refreshes and Announcements 2021 Product Refreshes and Announcements Guide Feedback
Know of an upcoming product that we’ve missed on this list or see an error that needs to be fixed? Send us an email here.
