Apple is about to make history in 2024 as it will be the first time since 2015 that the company enters a new product category. New iPads, an amazing new Apple Watch, the Vision Pro headset, and much more are what we have our fingers crossed for.
The top five most intriguing Apple product updates scheduled for release in 2024 are listed below.
Apple AirPods 4
The upcoming AirPods in 2024 will resemble a hybrid of the current AirPods and the AirPods Pro thanks to their updated design and shorter stems. There will be two models, which is another significant change, along with better fit and sound quality.
The AirPods 4 will come in two price ranges, with the more costly model sporting Active Noise Cancellation—a feature previously exclusive to the AirPods Pro. A new case for the AirPods 4 will also be available, featuring a USB-C charging port in place of a Lightning port and a speaker for Find My alerts.
The AirPods 4 should be much more appealing due to its new design and ANC at a lower price than the AirPods Pro. Apple's AirPods 3 were functionally similar to the AirPods 2 and had few new features to entice customers.
OLED iPad Pro
In 2024, Apple will introduce OLED technology to the iPad Pro, marking the company's first-ever release of a device with an OLED display this size. OLED provides deeper blacks, better contrast, enhanced HDR, and higher power efficiency when compared to mini-LED or LED.
The 13-inch and 11.1-inch iPad Pro models will be redesigned and released in new sizes. Apple might be able to reduce the thickness of the new iPad Pro models thanks to OLED displays, and we can also expect a faster M3 chip—an improvement over the M2 found in the current model.
It's been years since the iPad Pro's design was updated, so a fresh appearance and improved display technology are welcome adjustments.
The Apple Watch X
The anticipated release of the Apple Watch Series 10 or "X" is scheduled for the upcoming year. If you count backward from the 2015 launch date, this coincides with the Apple Watch's tenth anniversary.
A new magnetic band attachment mechanism and a slimmed-down body are among the anticipated design updates for the 2024 Apple Watch. Although a magnetic band attachment system might prevent existing bands from working with the new model, Apple might be able to save important internal space inside the Apple Watch for a larger battery or other components.
Apart from its updated appearance, there are rumours that the Apple Watch X will have sleep apnea detection and blood pressure monitoring capabilities. The Apple Watch can detect blood pressure trends and indicate a potential risk of hypertension, making it a noteworthy achievement to monitor blood pressure on the wrist. The blood pressure monitor will still give useful information even if specific systolic and diastolic readings are not available.
Regarding sleep apnea, the Apple Watch X will track sleep patterns and look for breathing irregularities to see if a user may be having breathing problems while they are asleep. A doctor can receive the information and conduct additional testing on it.
iPhone 16
A faster 3-nanometer A-series chip and the Action Button, two features previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, will be available to the regular iPhone 16 models. Apple may be able to reduce the size of the Action Button this year if it becomes capacitive instead of mechanical.
The ability to capture spatial video—currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models—will probably be made possible by a new vertical camera lens arrangement. In addition, Apple is including a new capacitive Capture Button on all four iPhone 16 models. The button is positioned on the right side of the phone, beneath the Power button. There are rumours that the button will be used for recording video in addition to sensing pressure and supporting haptic feedback.
The iPhone 16 Pro models will have larger displays than the iPhone 16 standard models, which will have the same design as the iPhone 15 models. The dimensions of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have been revised to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively, from 6.1 and 6.1 inches.
Wi-Fi 7, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and a quicker 5G chip from Qualcomm are among the other rumours surrounding the iPhone 16 Pro that are exclusive.
Vision Pro
Customers will finally be able to test out Apple's Vision Pro headset in early 2024, after it was first unveiled half a year ago.
Referred to as the first spatial computer, Apple views the Vision Pro as the computing device of the future. You can switch between AR and VR with the Digital Crown on the side of the headset, which is a mixed reality headset. With hand and eye tracking and extremely high-resolution micro-LED displays, Apple's headset will not look or feel like any other headset available.
The Vision Pro is expected to include immersive games, apps, and experiences. Users will also be able to record and replay spatial video on the device.
Our ranking of the best products isn't topped by the Vision Pro because not everyone will find it suitable. The headsets are too costly, and because of their intricacy, Apple is only producing a small quantity of them. An additional constraint on the Vision Pro's availability is that it will only be sold in the US at launch.
Despite these drawbacks, the Vision Pro is expected to have a significant impact on Apple's future for some time to come. Those who have had the opportunity to test-drive the device have noted that the original version can be cumbersome and uncomfortable to wear.