It’s been a busy few weeks for Apple, and a busy time for the wallets and purses of Apple fans. We didn’t get an updated iPhone SE, but we did get the brand-new iPhone 16e, Apple’s newest “budget” handset. Apple’s decision to include “16” in the name of the new affordable economy line suggests yearly updates from now on (otherwise, that 16 is going to look mighty old in a couple of years).
Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the 16e for a week – here’s my buying advice now
But wait, there’s more! The iPad<!–> and iPad Air–> received a much-needed update, with the former getting the A16 chip and starting with 128GB of storage, while the latter gets the M3 chip and also starts with 128GB of storage. Both are available for pre-order and will begin shipping this week.
But wait, there’s even more! The 13-inch<!–> and 15-inch MacBook Air–> receive an upgrade to the M4 chip, while the pro-oriented Mac Studio<!–> receives an M4 Max and M3 Ultra upgrade.
This is quite the update for Apple, and it refreshes much of the lineup on offer.
Tariffs and trade wars
The biggest elephant in the room right now is tariffs. While the trade war between the US, Canada, and Mexico seems to oscillate between being on and off (keeping in mind that Canada ranks fourth in Apple markets by revenue share, behind the United States, Japan, and China), it’s very much ongoing where China is concerned.
Also: Is this the end of multi-year AppleCare+ plans? What’s replacing them and why
When asked about any potential tariff impacts during Apple’s last earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook had this to say: “We are monitoring the situation and don’t have anything more to add than that.”
It’s unclear what effect this will have on prices (both overall and specific to Apple), but since the smart money is betting that costs are unlikely to fall, given the uncertainty, it might be better to make your Apple purchases now rather than later.
Future Apple product launches (near and far)
1. Apple TV
It’s coming; we’re just not sure when! It’s rumored to make use of Apple’s new networking chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 6E, and will be powered by the A15 chip, which opens the door to Apple Intelligence features.
2. AirTag update
The new AirTags are expected to use a new Ultra Wideband chip, bringing improved range and accuracy. Apparently, the speaker will also be more difficult to disable, serving as a countermeasure to prevent tags from being used to stalk people. Given how trivial it is to modify AirTags, and how you can even buy them already modified, this will be a welcomed change.
3. Hypertension Detection for Apple Watch
The Apple Watch can already do a lot, uncovering hidden medical conditions such as atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. Adding the ability to detect high blood pressure would reinforce its place as a personal, wrist-mounted physician.
Also: Your next Apple Watch or smart ring could have a feature that transforms healthcare
Now, let’s look at Apple tech that you might want to wait on.
–>
The ‘Naughty’ list
Give these Apple devices a hard pass:
- Apple TV: Last updated in October 2022, this device is due for a refresh. When? Rumors suggest a fourth-gen Apple TV 4K will be announced during the first half of this year.
- HomePod Mini: Released in October 2020, this is officially Apple’s oldest product. While there’s nothing wrong with it technically, it’s hard to recommend dropping full price for such old hardware.
- Vision Pro: It’s hard to bet against Apple, and it’s difficult to put something with so much potential on the naughty list, but if the rumors are true that Apple has pulled the plug on production because sales have slumped, it’s hard to have faith in the product. I’d hold out and see what Apple has planned.
The ‘Nice’ list
1. iPad Air
The newly refreshed iPad Air–>
