Apple’s Future: A Glimpse into 2024 with Vision Pro, iPhone 16, Revamped iPad Pro and Beyond

2024 is going to start off strong with the launch of the Vision Pro, Apple’s first major new product since the 2015 Apple Watch, and new iPads, Macs, AirPods, and iPhones are set to follow. There are some exciting products in the works, including a larger version of the iPad Air, the first OLED iPad Pro, updated iPhones, an Apple Watch with new health features, and more. Apple announced the Vision Pro headset at WWDC in June 2023, but it’s finally almost ready to launch. Apple introduced the Vision Pro early to give developers time to create apps for the device, and since then, Apple has been working on finalizing the hardware and the visionOS operating system. The most recent rumors have suggested Apple will debut the Vision Pro in February. At launch, the Vision Pro is only going to be available in the United States, and it sounds like Apple may require customers to purchase in store or pick up online orders in a store in order for Apple employees to provide the right Light Seal and knitted headband for a good fit, plus Zeiss prescription lens inserts for those who need them. The Vision Pro headset is a mixed reality device that transitions between virtual and augmented reality using a Digital Crown on the side. Content can be displayed in a full virtual environment, or in the real world around you using the augmented reality capabilities. Apple didn’t update the iPad lineup in 2023, but 2024 will be the year of the ‌iPad‌. The iPad Pro models are set to get upgraded OLED displays for the first time, so ‌iPad Pro‌ screens will be as impressive as iPhone screens. Sizes will be similar to the ‌iPad Pro‌, coming in at 10.9 inches and 12.9 inches. The ‌iPad Air‌ models won’t have OLED displays, ProMotion, or other high-end ‌iPad‌ features, but they will be cheaper than the ‌iPad Pro‌ models. Apple introduces new software updates on an annual basis at its Worldwide Developers Conference, and this year, we’re expecting iOS 18. ‌iOS 18‌ should be one of the most interesting updates we’ve had in years because rumors so far suggest that we’re going to see Apple getting into generative AI in a big way. Along with ‌iOS 18‌, we’ll also get new versions of macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. We haven’t heard much about these updates, but we can expect some of the same AI improvements. The Mac mini is due for an update, as it was last refreshed with M2 chips in January 2023. A 2024 version of the desktop machine will include Apple’s M3 and M3 Pro chips. Apple is working on a new version of the Apple TV 4K, but it is not yet clear when it’s going to launch. Rumored features include a faster A16 processor and support for Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. The standard iPhone 16 models are expected to look similar to the iPhone 15 models with no size or design changes, but there will be some notable improvements. Apple is planning for a vertical camera arrangement to support spatial video capture, doing away with the diagonal lens setup. Apple’s flagship lineup consists of four phones, two standard models and two Pro models. This year, the iPhone 16 Pro models are going to get a size update. Apple is planning a major update for the Apple Watch this year, perhaps in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the device. The Apple Watch was announced in 2014, but didn’t come out until 2015, so technically it’s not clear whether the anniversary will fall in 2024 or 2025. 2024 will, however, be the year that we’re expected to get the “Apple Watch 10” or “Apple Watch X” as rumors have called it. Fourth-generation AirPods are coming in 2024, and as with the MacBook Air and ‌iPad Air‌, Apple is going for a two-model launch. Two versions of the AirPods will be available at different price points, with the higher-end version to gain Active Noise Cancellation, a feature that has previously been limited to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. There’s a new version of the iPad mini coming, but no design changes are planned. We can expect an upgraded A-series chip, likely the A16, along with upgraded front and rear cameras. Alongside the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models, Apple is expected to debut an updated version of the Magic Keyboard. The new Magic Keyboard will feature a sturdier frame made from aluminum, giving it a more Mac-like look. A refreshed version of the Apple Pencil is in the works, with the new device set to be a followup to the Apple Pencil 2. It will be a higher-end ‌Apple Pencil‌ able to work with Apple’s next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ and ‌iPad Air‌.