TOP 5 Apple devices that need an update. Some Apple devices have been out for over 18 months, and given how fast technology is advancing, many Apple devices are already in need of an update.
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While some devices, like the Pro Display XDR and HomePod mini, may need an update, there are at least five major Apple devices that definitely need an update.
5.iMac
- The current model came out in April 2021 (a year and seven months).
While there’s some controversy over whether Apple will introduce a larger iMac model again, the current 24-inch display model has an M1 chip, which means it’s outdated compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, updated MacBook Air, and iPad Pro. . Apple announced the M2 chip earlier this June at WWDC, and since the chip is now used in three different devices, the iMac should also get an upgrade.
However, based on reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, an “iMac” with an M2 chip won’t come out. Gurman believes that following the “M2” line of Macs, a new “iMac” will follow, which will be one of the first Macs in the M3 series. The M3 line will include an updated 13-inch “MacBook Air”, an all-new 15-inch “MacBook Air” and possibly a new 12-inch laptop that is “still in early development.”
The M3 chip is expected to be built using TSMC’s 3nm process, unlike M1 and M2, which are built using a 5nm process. The improved manufacturing process is expected to lead to significant increases in productivity and efficiency.
The device is expected to be the successor to the current iMac M1 and, according to Gurman, may not be released before the end of 2023, meaning it will take time before the new iMac arrives. It is not clear why Apple decided to exclude the “iMac” from the line with the “M2” chip and is waiting for the release of the “M3” chip
4.AirPods Max
- The current model was released in December 2020 (1 year and 11 months).
Released almost two years ago, the AirPods Max are the oldest AirPods in Apple’s product line. While they are the most expensive AirPods at $549, the “AirPods Max” lack many of the features that came with the second generation AirPods Pro earlier this year.
At a minimum, AirPods Max lack the H2 chip, advanced active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.3, adaptive transparency, skin detection sensor, U1 chip, and precise locator search. Headphones could also become more popular if they get updated colors, MagSafe or USB-C charging, Conversation Boost, and protection against sweat and water.
The status of the next generation AirPods Max is currently unclear. In May 2021, Gurman stated that Apple is not actively working on the second generation AirPods Max, and at the moment it is not known whether something has changed since then or not. With Apple releasing one new AirPods a year, “AirPods Max” could be the next update.
3.Mac mini entry level
- The current model was released in November 2020 (2 years have passed).
The Mac mini M1 is the oldest Mac on Apple Silicon, like the 24-inch iMac, it must be upgraded to at least the M2 chip.
Even though adding an M2 chip to the Mac mini will apparently require limited internal changes, Apple has yet to do so. Earlier this year, it was reported that Apple initially “had plans” to introduce new “Mac mini” models in 2022, but those plans “probably changed” in favor of an all-new Mac Studio. It is assumed that the new “Mac mini” with the “M2” chip is still in development and will be released sometime in 2023.
2.Mac Pro
- The current model came out in December 2019 (2 years and 11 months).
The Mac Pro is one of the last Intel-based Macs still on sale, and the only remaining Mac product line that does not support the Apple Silicon chip. The release of an all-new Mac Pro with Apple Silicon for professionals has been expected for more than two years. At the Peek Performance presentation earlier this year, Apple even mentioned the Mac Pro on Apple Silicon, saying “that’s for another day.”
Based on reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on the capabilities and specs of Apple’s Silicon “Mac Pro” chips, it’s clear what to expect from the new Mac flagship. According to Gurman, users will be able to choose the Mac Pro chip between the M2 Ultra and M2 Extreme.
However, aside from its main specs, little is currently known about the device’s design, ports, performance, and modularity and customization options. Apple is expected to introduce the Apple Silicon Mac Pro next year, along with a “Pro” version of the Studio Display with a mini-LED matrix and ProMotion support.
1.Intel Mac Mini
- The current model came out in October 2018 (four years and one month).
While the M1 Mac mini is considered an entry-level model, the high-end Mac mini is still equipped with an Intel processor. The high-end “Mac mini” was theoretically updated in 2020 when Apple doubled the amount of storage on the device, but is otherwise identical to the 2018 Space Gray model.
Apple is believed to have been working on a new Mac mini for some time now. Earlier there were rumors that the old high-end model will be replaced by the Apple Silicon model, but now it looks like both the entry-level model and the high-end model can be upgraded at the same time. Apple is believed to be working on two versions of the next-generation Mac mini, one with the standard “M2” chip, and a higher-end model with the “M2 Pro” chip.
The new high-end “Mac mini” with Apple Silicon could gain significant performance and efficiency gains over the current model and have more Thunderbolt ports than the entry-level model. There is also the possibility of updating the design. Because the computer was released more than two years before Apple started moving to its own Apple Silicon chips in the Mac, and two years after the entry-level Mac mini update. The high-end Mac mini is the Apple device most in dire need of a hardware upgrade.
