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  • First look at iPhone 13 design shows new camera setup and smaller notch

    First look at iPhone 13 design shows new camera setup and smaller notch

    The leak: Apple’s 5.4 and 6.1-inch iPhone models in 2021 will make a number of changes to the iPhone 12 design, according to MySmartPrice (100% accurate for 4 rumors).

    • After years of stagnation, the notch is finally shrinking horizontally…and MySmartPrice speculates that there could be two front-facing cameras
    • On the rear cameras, Apple has adopted a new pattern for the dual-camera setup: but there’s no LiDAR sensor as some sources rumored
    • The dimensions of the iPhone 13 will be identical to iPhone 12: 146.7×71.5×7.6mm

    Our take: I don’t buy the dual front-facing cameras that is speculated in this piece, but I do dig the new camera look on the back. It’s a subtle change but it really makes the design look fresh, even though it’s just a minor revision to iPhone 12.

  • MySmartPrice: 100% accurate

    MySmartPrice: 100% accurate

    Posting a wide range of exclusives each year, MySmartPrice has a proven track record of sharing images of unreleased AirPods before anyone else.

    Rumor accuracy

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    Rumor list

    2021

    April

    • 2021 iPhone 13 first look, link
      • Same dimensions as iPhone 12
      • Tweaked camera setup on rear
      • New notch design

    January

    • iPad Pro first look, link
      • New dimensions of 245.74 x 176.61 x 5.9mm
      • 12 speaker holes are now reduced to 8
      • 3rd mic placed at the top of the device

    2020

    July

    • iPhone 13 battery capacities, link
      • Apple iPhone 12 mini (5.4-inch): 2227mAh
      • Apple iPhone 12 (6.1-inch): 2775mAh
      • Apple iPhone 12 Pro (6.1-inch): 2775mAh
      • Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch): 3687mAh
  • Siri: 100% accurate

    Siri: 100% accurate

    Apple’s poster child for the future of smart assistants, Siri will drop tidbits about future Apple events and products…from time-to-time.

    Rumor accuracy

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    Rumor list

    2021

    April

    • Apple will hold their next event on April 20 at Apple Park, link
  • Apple officially announces ‘Spring Loaded’ April 20 event

    Apple officially announces ‘Spring Loaded’ April 20 event

    The news: After months of anticipation and speculation, Apple’s first hardware launch of 2021 is official.

    • The event is taking place at 10am PST at Apple Park on April 20, and will be a pre-recorded event like those in 2020
    • Apple is expected to unveil AirTags and a new iPad Pro at the minimum, but AirPods or iMac are also possible

    Our take: The artwork, as always, is fantastic. Apple knocked it out of the park. See you in 7 days!

  • Apple holding April 20 special event, leaked by Siri

    Apple holding April 20 special event, leaked by Siri

    The news: For a short time on Tuesday morning, Siri revealed when the next Apple event would be taking place, as first spotted by MacRumors (71.9% accurate).

    • When asking Siri “When is the next Apple event?” Siri replies the following: “The event is on Tuesday, April 20, at Apple Park in Cupertino, CA. You can get all the details on Apple.com”
    • Invites for Apple’s Tuesday, April 20 event should be going out in just a few hours as they are generally sent 7 days in advance

    Our take: The wait is finally over: we’re getting an Apple event in a week! New iPad Pro and AirTags here we come…

  • New photo shows upcoming iPhone 12 case colors

    New photo shows upcoming iPhone 12 case colors

    The image: A new photo showing the colors of the Spring 2021 iPhone cases has been shared on Twitter.

    Our take: While these are not the official cases, they are a 1:1 look at the colors and configurations for the real ones…and they match up exactly with the leaks from a week or two ago.

    https://twitter.com/tommybo50387266/status/1381296689596624897?s=21
  • Apple Stores may be preparing for a new product launch next week

    Apple Stores may be preparing for a new product launch next week

    The rumor: Apple Stores are gearing-up for a product launch next week, according to Jon Prosser (77.2% accurate).

    • Heard first on the Genius Bar podcast, Prosser says “Apple Stores are preparing for some sort of product release toward the end of next week”
    • Apple is widely expected to release a new iPad Pro with MiniLED, 5G, Thunderbolt and more in the second half of April

    Our take: Prosser is yet another source who has heard that at least a new Apple product is coming next week. I think it’ll be the new iPad Pro…and I don’t think we’ll be seeing an April event…

  • ‘HomePod G4’ & ‘HomePod TV’ concepts depict radical designs for future products

    ‘HomePod G4’ & ‘HomePod TV’ concepts depict radical designs for future products

    The concepts: Following a fresh report from Mark Gurman (89.9% accurate) about the future of the HomePod, designers have released new concepts for what the products could look like.

    • In a simplistic image posted to Twitter, @pwign shares his vision of an iMac G4-style device: a HomePod base and swiveling arm that connects to an iPad Air
    • Writing for 9to5Mac, Parker Ortolani concepts both a sound bar-like Apple TV and iMac-inspired HomePod with iPad fascia

    Our take: As much as I felt like these products could be a design disaster earlier, these concepts are quite something. A ‘HomePod G4’ would work super well in my kitchen and, well, we’re all still waiting for a significant Apple TV upgrade…

  • Future HomePod + Apple TV combo device may feature camera & more

    Future HomePod + Apple TV combo device may feature camera & more

    The rumor: Apple is working on new, combo versions of the HomePod, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate).

    • Gurman notes the devices is in “early development,” and would include features from both HomePod, Apple TV and include a camera for video calling
    • There’s a second device in the works, too: “Apple has explored connecting the iPad to the speaker with a robotic arm that can move to follow a user around a room, similar to Amazon’s latest Echo Show gadget.”

    Our take: Apple’s future HomePods sound like a stark departure from the smart speaker category they’ve explored historically. I’ll be honest–the robotic arm HomePod/iPad combo sounds pretty cheesy. I just hope it won’t look like what I’m imaging in the header image, though…

  • New iPad Pro coming in second half of April due to display shortage

    New iPad Pro coming in second half of April due to display shortage

    The rumor: Apple’s first hardware announcement of 2021 is happening as soon as next week, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate).

    • Although the supply of MiniLED displays has been constrained due to a shortage, the new iPad Pro is still on track to launch “as early as the second half of April”
    • However, Gurman notes “that the larger iPad Pro (could) ship later and be available in constrained quantities to begin with”
    • The new iPad Pro is rumored to have a faster processor like the M1 chip, new Thunderbolt port and better cameras

    Our take: This confirms that Nikkei article from the other day and lines up with what every other good source has been reporting. Seems like we are getting the new iPad Pro sometime next week!

  • Some iPad and MacBook models delayed due to global chip shortage

    Some iPad and MacBook models delayed due to global chip shortage

    The rumor: Apple has pushed back the production of some iPad and Mac models, according to Nikkei Asia (rating pending).

    • What’s happening with the Mac? “Chip shortages have caused delays in a key step in MacBook production — the mounting of components on printed circuit boards before final assembly”
    • And bad news for iPad, too: “Some iPad assembly, meanwhile, was postponed because of a shortage of displays and display components, sources said”
    • Nikkei Asia notes that Apple has pushed back some component orders from the first half of 2021 until the second half of this year

    Our take: I don’t think this applies to the upcoming iPad Pro…but this could certainly be an explanation for why we haven’t seen an Apple event announced just yet. This global chip shortage is quickly becoming a big issue for even large players like Apple.