Apple has scheduled the release of its next line of products for November 1, 2024. The lineup will feature a low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, as well as high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by M4 chips. Additionally, there will be Mac mini options with M4 and M4 Pro chip configurations, an iMac with an M4 chip, and a new iPad Mini.
The company also plans to release Apple Intelligence and iOS 18.1 on October 28. A series of incremental updates through early 2025 will follow this.
Apple Intelligence will debut with features like notification summaries, automated email filing, Image Playground app for creating custom background images, while further updates in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.4 will introduce ChatGPT integration, Genmoji custom emoji, and Siri upgrades.
In 2025, Apple plans to unveil 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M4 chips, the iPhone SE, 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models, Magic Keyboards for the new iPad Air, and upgraded AirTags.
Apple is also expected to introduce updated Mac Studio and Mac Pro models by the middle of 2025, with the next-generation M5 chips likely arriving in the latter half of the year. The iPhone 17 line and new Apple Watches will round out the product launches for 2025.
Apple Inc. appears to be moving away from its traditional annual product upgrade cycle, a strategy that has served the company well for decades. Historically, Apple has previewed new software in June, followed by the release of its flagship products during September and October.
However, as Mark Gurman from Bloomberg points out, this schedule, while effective for streamlining operations and boosting holiday sales, shows signs of strain as Apple’s product lineup grows more complex.
Apple’s traditional fall releases have several advantages. They create a unified timeline for employees, investors, and analysts to follow, ensuring synchronised efforts and predictable sales bumps during the holiday season. The fall launch event also allows the company to capitalise on media attention, timing them just as most people return from summer vacations.
Yet, Apple’s product portfolio has expanded significantly over the years, and it updates all these products annually when certain models, like the iPhone SE or Apple Watch Ultra, don’t require frequent updates.
Apple has already shown signs of flexibility by releasing a new iPad in May 2023, refreshed Macs, and a HomePod in early 2023.
Apple’s challenges extend beyond hardware releases. The company’s complex range of operating systems — including iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and the new visionOS — makes it difficult to release fully polished products on time. In recent years, software delays have plagued major announcements, with key features slipping by weeks or even months past their scheduled release.
Apple’s decision to stagger releases throughout the year could also affect investor sentiment. While the new strategy may reduce the financial windfall from holiday quarter sales, it could lead to more consistent revenue throughout the year.
Additionally, spreading out product releases may allow Apple to focus more on innovation.
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