10 Most Exciting Apple Products Coming in 2022

Laelia Yang May 24, 2022 | 18:23

The second half of 2022 is shaping up to be exciting as rumors suggest we can look forward from Apple to a number of updated Macs, iPhones and accessories coming to market.

Top 10 Most Exciting Apple Products Coming in 2022

It’s already been a busy year for Apple. The Cupertino giant introduced the Mac Studio and the Studio Display at its Spring event. It also released the iPhone SE 3 as well as the iPad Air 5. With Apple’s renewed focus on the Mac lineup and the fact that the new iPhone 14 is slated to launch in September, the tech giant will likely debut more products throughout the year. Although we can’t say which ones, there are several high-profile products coming our way in 2022.

With many more months left in the year, there's still a massive amount of time for Apple to introduce new hardware to the public.

This is what you can probably expect to see Apple show off before the end of 2022.

When's the next product launch?

Apple tends to hold events in three periods of the year. Apple's March events are usually the earliest.

The next major event for Apple will be WWDC, which takes place in June of each year. While it is a developer-focused event, with the attention squarely on Apple's operating systems and software, Apple has used it to discuss hardware.

After that, the next period would be the fall launches. Though usually considered to be the September event for iPhone launches, Apple has tended to spread its announcements into October, and in 2022, November.

And, all year, there's the potential for a sneak press release. After all, the second-generation iPhone SE was released that way.

Top 10 Most Exciting Apple Products Coming in 2022

1. iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro

2. WWDC: iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, and more

3. Redesigned MacBook Air

4. M2 chip

5. Mac mini

6. Mac Pro

7. Airpods Pro 2

8. iPad Pro

9. New iMac (but no 27-inch version)

10. Apple Watch Series 8

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1. iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro

Photo: appleinsider

Of all of the product launches on this list, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are the most likely to occur. Apple has regularly launched iPhones during its fall event, even during a pandemic. It would take something world-changing for Apple to miss out on releasing an iPhone in 2022.

As far as rumors suggest, the model will feature a few notable external design changes, such as changing out the infamous notch for a hole-punch camera arrangement. There may be a hole punch and pill for the Pro line, but a change of some form is expected.

Around the back, the camera bump will also change, in that it is believed to disappear completely. Instead, you'll have a completely flat back to the iPhone. Behind the bump, there could also be a move to a 48-megapixel sensor.

There have been murmurs of size changes, including the suggestion that the "mini" model will be dropped in favor of two 6.1-inch and two 6.7-inch models.

While introducing a new iPhone would usually involve an upgrade of chip, it may not necessarily be the case for 2022. In March, it was proposed the Pro models could move to an "A16" chip, while the non-Pro stick on A15 for another year.

2. WWDC: iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, and more

The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event is where Apple unveils an upgrade to Operating Systems for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, and TV. For this year’s WWDC, which will be held from June 6 to 10, we will see iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, tvOS 16, and WatchOS 9 with new features and improvements.

Users have been complaining about the bad notification management in iOS for a long time. With iOS 16, Apple may finally bring improved notifications management. iPadOS may receive a new multitasking feature, and watchOS is expected to get an upgraded Power Reserve mode.

Only time (and Apple) can tell what awaits us in the new upgrades!

3. Redesigned MacBook Air

Photo: macrumors

The MacBook Air, which debuted in late 2020, was an important shift for Apple’s Mac lineup. Although its design wasn’t altered, the idea was to show the capabilities of the debut M1 silicon. But it’s time for Apple to show a true next-generation MacBook Air with a complete redesign as well as a performance boost. If rumours are to be believed, the next MacBook Air will have a uniform look, similar to that of the 16-inch MacBook Pro. It could come with thinner white bezels and will be available in multiple colours, just like the M1 iMac. The MacBook Air 2022 may get upgraded to a new Apple M2 chip, which will replace the existing M1 chipset. There are also rumours that the next MacBook Air could come with a mini-LED display as well as a notched screen. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in his PowerOn, newsletter, mentioned that the next MacBook Air won’t launch until late this year, meaning the launch is likely to happen in September.

4. M2 chip

With the M1 chip, Apple shocked the entire industry, thanks to its incredible performance and power efficiency. Since then, the M1 series has received Pro, Max, and Ultra variants, an incredible upgrade for creators.

However, in its March event, Apple insinuated that these chips were the last additions to the M1 family. So one can expect the M2 chip this year! And it remains to see what Apple has on its shelf after giving almost every possible upgrade to its M1 Max and Ultra chips.

Besides, rumors suggest that M2 won’t be as powerful as M1 Pro or above chips! This is primarily based on Mark Gurman’s previous claims that the chip would have an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 4 efficiency and high-performance cores.

Furthermore, M2 may power the new MacBook Air, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro that will launch in the second half of 2022. However, the release date is unsure. And like the M1 series, the M2 series will boast 4 chips which would release incrementally.

5. Mac mini

Photo: notebookcheck

A major update to the Mac mini has been rumored for some time, with claims from mid-2021 including a radical redesign of the smallest Mac Apple currently sells.

Retaining the same general square puck shape, the updated design of the Mac mini is thought to include a metal rim and a polycarbonate top, along with rubber feet instead of a circular base. Around the back are believed to be considerably more ports than the first M1 Mac mini, with four Thunderbolt ports accompanied by two USB-A ports, Ethernet and HDMI, and possibly the magnetic charging connection from the 24-inch iMac.

Inside the Mac mini, reports have said that M1 Pro and M1 Max versions could be introduced, though so could an M2 variant.

However, while it was heavily hyped for the spring event, the Mac mini was a no-show. The introduction of the Mac Studio reusing the existing Mac mini design aesthetic also calls into question whether the visual revamp could take place at all.

Despite not appearing in March, the age of the first Apple Silicon generation lends itself to an update at some point in the year.

That being said, not all is guaranteed. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said on March 11 that it may end up being released in 2023.

6. Mac Pro

The Mac Pro is perhaps the most exciting product coming in 2022 because it will see Apple finishing its transition to Apple silicon. After the ‌Mac Pro‌ comes out, Apple will no longer be reliant on Intel chips, and the Mac Studio has shown us that the ‌Mac Pro‌'s Apple silicon chip is going to be impressive. The ‌Mac Pro‌ is expected to feature a chip that has up to a 40-core CPU and a 128-core GPU, double the M1 Ultra.

During its special event in March. Apple VP John Ternus said: “That leaves just one more product to go: Mac Pro, but that’s for another day.” In all indications, Apple will launch a new Mac Pro sometime this year featuring Apple silicon and it’s possible the high-end desktop computer will use a variation of the M1 Ultra chip that Mac Studio ships with. According to a Bloomberg report, a new Mac Pro could be around half the size of the current Mac Pro in terms of design. With the launch of the next-generation Mac Pro, the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon will get completed. The upcoming Mac Pro will be aimed at professional users, including graphic designers, animators and content creators.

7. Airpods Pro 2

Photo: tomsguide

AirPods Pro were released in October 2019. Hence, the updated versions are long due now! Hence, after AirPods 3, the next much-anticipated earbuds are Apple AirPods Pro 2.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have shared that we can expect AirPods Pro 2 in Fall 2022. These premium earbuds will probably sport a more compact design and a new wireless chip.

This will likely eliminate the short stem that sticks out at the bottom of the current AirPods Pro. Of course, they will bring impressive new features, including Lossless audio support (ALAC), a prominent upgrade, Find My sound integration to help people locate the device easily, and perhaps built-in fitness tracking.

This will surely elevate the appeal even more! They will most probably launch in the second half of the year.

8. iPad Pro

Apple has updated the iPad Pro on a 14 to 16-month cycle for the last few iterations. In theory, if Apple continues the trend, that firmly puts an iPad Pro refresh in mid to late 2022.

Though somewhat plausible for an update in 2022, especially considering the iPad Air has been updated to use the same chip, the rumors so far have been about general technology concepts rather than specifics, and primarily for models beyond 2022.

For example, talk about new sizes is for future models. While there has been allusions to OLED displays, they again have centered on 2023 and 2024 releases.

Coming back to the 2022 product upgrades, there has been the suggestion that the 11-inch iPad Pro could gain the mini LED backlighting that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has. This is a fairly obvious assumption to make, since it's quite likely for Apple to implement.

On the design side, there was a rumor from June 2021 that Apple was considering adding a glass back to the 2022 models. As well as bringing the iPad Pro in line with the iPhone's aesthetics, it would also enable wireless charging via MagSafe.

9. New iMac (but no 27-inch version)

Photo: worldtechkhabar

While Apple introduced the all-new 24-inch iMac in April of 2021, fans of the larger 27-inch iMac are still waiting. In fact, the 27-inch iMac was removed from sale following the launch of the new Mac Studio and Studio Display.

While Apple was once rumored to be working on a 27-inch iMac powered by Apple Silicon, 9to5Mac exclusively reported recently that there is no 27-inch iMac in the near-term pipeline. While the company could certainly launch one sometime in the future, we aren’t expecting it anytime soon.

With that being said, Apple is working a new version of the colorful 24-inch iMac powered by the new M2 chip. This machine is expected to be released sometime later in 2022.

10. Apple Watch Series 8 with new health features

If Apple keeps up with its current pattern, we could see a new Apple Watch model that will hopefully address those shortcomings of the last year’s model. There aren’t many rumours about the Series 8 yet, aside from a prediction from Ming-Chi Kuo that the next model will likely have the ability to measure the body temperature. We also expect Apple to add a bigger battery inside the Series 8. Also, maybe the time has come when Apple make the Apple Watch completely independent from the iPhone. We also expect a new processor, some design refinements and software improvements that will help the Apple Watch become a more integral part of a user’s life.

Other: AR/VR, and more

These are just the major new products we expect from Apple in 2022. There are many other possibilities on the table, including iterative updates to the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, new accessories, and much more. Apple is also expected to announce its latest round of software updates – including iOS 16 – at WWDC in June.

While 2022 is expected to be the year of Apple’s AR/VR headset, more recent rumors say that Apple has been forced to delay this launch until 2023 due to design and software issues. It’s still possible that Apple provides a preview of the headset this year, but a release is seemingly out of the question.