The rumor mill is buzzing like crazy today. Here’s what’s being speculated about and the chances the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) think that they’re true.
The first Mac to pack Apple Silicon will be a 12-inch MacBook with an A14 processor and a battery life of 15-20 hours, according to the Chinese-language site, The China Times.
Apple Silicon is, per Apple, “world-class custom silicon to deliver industry-leading performance and powerful new technologies.” It involves customized ARM technology, as well as Apple’s own System on a Chip.
The Apple Silicon MacBook will purportedly weigh only 35 ounces and sport a USB Type-C interface. (The China Times adds thats the next gen iPad Pro will also use the A14X processor.)
Chances the rumor is true: 100%. It makes sense that the first Apple Silicon Mac would be the MacBook.
Speaking of Apple Silicon, The China Times says that we’ll see an iMac incorporate it in the second half of next year. What’s more, the report says the all-in-one will also sport an Apple-developed GPU [graphics processing unit].
Chances the rumor is true: again, 100%. I believe the 12-inch MacBook will be the only Apple Silicon Mac released this year. 2021 should see the iMac (both 21 and 27 inches), Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air making the transition. I think the Mac Pro won’t make the move until the first half of 2022, and that the iMac Pro will be discontinued.
Moving on to the iPhone, DigiTimes says the smartphone welcome in dark blue for the first time and will see LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology incorporated in some models.
Chances the rumor is true: 90%. Regarding the dark blue color, well, why not? And I suspect LiDAR will only be incorporated in the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max (and perhaps not even the former).
DigiTimes also says that Apple’s third generation AirPods will launch in the first half of 2021. Chances this rumor is true: 99%. I think they’ll launch with a form factor similar to the AirPods Pro.
