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It's been a while since we've seen a true overhaul of the iPhone's now-classic design. And if you're hoping the iPhone 16 will see a big departure, don't hold your breath. But where the iPhone may be staying the course, Apple's wearable division may be the true star of 2024.
According to various inside sources, the iPhone 16 series will be a minimal upgrade. MacRumors and 9to5Mac claim we won't see any fundamental design change, just upgraded camera and Wi-Fi specs and maybe a larger display choice for the Pro models. It's a continuing trend for Apple. Where once the iPhone ushered in profound changes to the smartphone world and served as the "star" of announcement events, lately there's been less to show off. Even the iPhone 15 Pro saw little more than a camera upgrade and a "new" button you can remap.
But that doesn't mean Apple isn't working on anything at all. While the iPhone seems to have found its stride, the wearables division is just starting to run.
In 2024, we'll see Apple's most significant release in years: the Vision Pro, which will take a page from the Apple Watch and launch exclusively in Apple Stores. Apple may require an in-store appointment just to get trained on using the device, which honestly sounds like a benefit given its $3,499 price. The company is already pushing some features of the Vision Pro even before its release by adding spatial video capture in the latest iOS update.
But while not everyone can afford or will want a Vision Pro, Apple's other wearables are getting similar special treatment, according to Bloomberg. The standard AirPods will get a complete overhaul, phasing out both the 2nd and 3rd generation versions. In their place, according to sources, Apple intends to release two versions of the 4th gen AirPods. Both versions will feature new USB-C cases with speakers for Find My alerts. The more expensive pair will include ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).
The Apple Watch is also likely to share in the new push for wearable dominance. Rumors include an overhauled look for at least one model and new sleep apnea and hypertension tracking features. Of all the wearables, though, the Apple Watch's fate is the most precarious, as the company will remove the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from its stores this week unless the Biden administration steps in to squash a patent dispute.
All of this is rumor, speculation, and details provided by inside sources, though. And it's possible Apple will change course on any or all of these plans. That could either be scrapping a planned product or pushing back for years, as we saw with AirTags. Or the rumors could simply be wrong. Only time will tell how it all plays out.