In his new “Energy On” e-newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that Apple’s focus in 2024 will likely be extra on its wearables division slightly than the iPhone as common.
“The iPhone will nonetheless get an improve subsequent yr, after all,” he writes. “It’s the corporate’s most necessary product and nonetheless brings in greater than half of income. However there gained’t be main adjustments: Apple plans to retain the iPhone 15’s design whereas rising display sizes on the Professional model. Decrease-end fashions will get the Motion button, and there will likely be a brand new devoted button for taking video.”
Nonetheless, he thinks that, along with the upcoming Imaginative and prescient Professional, Apple will launch overhauled variations of its lower-end AirPods and compelling well being options for the Apple Watch. Right here’s what Gurman is predicting:
° Two new fourth-generation non-AirPods Professional fashions which have up to date designs, redesigned circumstances and USB-C charging. The upper-end model of the 2 fashions will embody lively noise cancellation, bringing that characteristic to a cheaper price level.
° An AirPod mannequin that trades within the Lightning charger for USB-C and probably provides new colours. Different new Professional options, comparable to body-temperature and well being monitoring, stay in early growth.
° A significant software-based growth: listening to support performance. The corporate plans to launch that characteristic later subsequent yr, and it might be the beginning of one thing huge. Apple believes its tackle the listening to support has the potential to upend a multibillion-dollar business.
° The Apple Watch is additionally due for a increase, with the corporate planning not less than one mannequin with a brand new look. Extra considerably, Apple is engaged on a pair of well being options designed to take the smartwatch to new heights: hypertension and sleep apnea detection. This expertise will alert customers if it believes they’ve one of many situations and counsel follow-up testing.
° Apple continues to be making an attempt to determine the important thing promoting factors for the Imaginative and prescient Professional, however does appear to imagine it may develop into a giant a part of its monetary story inside a number of years. Individuals throughout the firm like to check it to the Apple Watch, noting that the primary three generations of that product weren’t excellent. By the point the fourth mannequin rolled round, the {hardware} was as much as par and gross sales started buzzing
° The iPad can be due for main adjustments. The Professional model is getting revamped, and the Air will have the choice of a bigger display. The iPad mini and entry-level mannequin, in the meantime, are getting quicker chips.
° The Mac is due for giant upgrades too, with the MacBook Air slated to acquire the M3 chip quickly. And new MacBook Professionals, codenamed J614 and J616, are already in growth.
This data from Gurman is from the free version of “Energy On”. For those who prefer it, take into account subscribing to Bloomberg.com—you’ll obtain the e-newsletter earlier and get unique entry to a Q&A piece.
