It’s that time of the year again when rumour hailstorms pelt us with so-called leaks about the next iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, AirPods and Macs; about how Apple will fail this time around or why the company will make less money than predicted. Just because Apple doesn’t comment on rumours, the rumour mill continues to spin. Make no mistake, there will be big upgrades and the Tim Cook-led company will set new tech benchmarks, once again, like always.

Worried about upgrading?

Whether or not the new iPhones will make for a compelling upgrade from the iPhone 12 is perhaps not the question for most. Even Apple doesn’t expect people with 2020’s iPhone to move to the new one, even if money wasn’t tight. Car companies make cars every year. Do you upgrade?

There is the immediate adopter market, which is mainly ruled by tech enthusiasts, loyalists and the affluent for whom the company keeps coming up with new colours and offer a design refresh. They want to be seen with the latest and greatest. Then there are those who want the new iPhone for camera upgrades because most of the time, the iPhone is their only “camera”. So they trade in last year’s phone, which has a high resale value, to use that money to pay down towards the new model.

For most, it will be an upgrade from four years ago. Over the years, Apple has improved its build quality and software capabilities to the point that a phone is easily good to last for at least four years. Expect many to upgrade from iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

Rumored satellite link

The one feature that has been doing the rounds is iPhones being able to connect with emergency services from areas that don’t have enough cellular coverage. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that the iPhone 13 may be able to make satellite calls but Bloomberg’s sources point to a limited rollout for the time being. According to the latter, Apple has been working on satellite technology for years, with a team exploring the concept since at least 2017. Even if the new phones are packed with hardware needed satellite communications, the features will probably come at a later date.

There is one component called Emergency Message via Satellite, and it will allow users text emergency services and contacts over a satellite network even if there’s no cell signal available. This may get integrated into the Messages app as a third protocol, besides SMS and iMessage. The second feature will be a tool to report major emergencies, like plane crashes and sinking ships, also using satellite networks.

The invitation to Apple’s big event on September 14. Picture: Apple

What can we expect?

Most probably, Apple will introduce phones in the same sizes as that of last year — 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch for regular options, and 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch for Pro models. Don’t expect any big design changes, except for a smaller notch.

What we want to see is new camera capabilities, so maybe a video version of Portrait mode, which some are calling ‘Cinematic Video’, also a new AI-driven filter system to apply different styles to your photos, and higher-quality video recording in Pro models. Of course, a more powerful chip and new screen technology.

Though nothing is confirmed, we may get Apple Watch Series 7 with some redesign, like flatter displays and updated screen technology. Perhaps new entry-level AirPods? And a new iPad Mini? Plus, more power to the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Like in the other years, the launches are expected to be spread out.