Apple’s apparent final hardware release of 2022 is here with the latest Apple TV 4K, as it looks like we won’t see any Mac updates until early next year.
However, there’s still a bit more on the calendar before the end of the year, including the holiday shopping season and software updates like iOS 16.2 that will bring a host of new features and improvements when they’re released in another month or so. This week we also saw rumors about future products like the iPhone 15 and iPhone SE 4, so keep reading for details on these stories and more!
iOS 16.2 is expected to be released in mid-December with several new features
After seeding initial beta versions of iOS 16.2 and associated updates last week, we now have a estimated time frame for public releasewith BloombergMark Gurman of Mark Gurman indicating that they will be released in mid-December.
Updates will bring a host of new features including Live Activities integration for select sports games via the built-in TV app, a new Sleep widget for the iPhone lock screen, the new Freeform collaboration app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and more.
Gurman: Apple does not plan new Mac launches for the rest of 2022
While previous rumors had suggested we could see some Mac updates before the end of the year, it appears that’s no longer the case. BloombergMark Gurman Says Mac Models Like MacBook Pro, Mac Mini and Mac Pro Updated will not appear until at least the first quarter of 2023.
The claim coincides with comments by Apple CFO Luca Maestri in last week’s earnings conference call where he stated that Apple’s “product line is ready” for the holidays and that Mac sales will see a substantial decrease year over year in the current quarter.
Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro models will feature solid-state buttons and three touch engines
The volume and power buttons on next year’s iPhone 15 models can no longer be mechanical buttons and could move to a solid-state design, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Like the home button on iPhone 7 and later with Touch ID, the physical click of the side buttons on future models can be replaced with haptic feedback using two additional Taptic Engines.
The change would come at the same time Apple switches to a USB-C port instead of Lightning on next year’s iPhone models, marking the first change to the physical connector in more than a decade.
Apple TV 4K 2022 reviews: Faster and more affordable with HDR10+ support and USB-C remote, but largely unchanged
What appears to be Apple’s final product launch of 2022 took place this week with the third-generation Apple TV 4K, and ahead of Friday’s launch, reviews from various media publications and YouTubers go to the web. we did too our own short and handy unboxing with the new box on launch day.
The new Apple TV is a modest upgrade, but it offers faster performance, HDR10+ support, a USB-C charging port on the remote, and a thinner and lighter fanless design. The most important thing is that it comes with a lower price.
Apple has not finalized details for the iPhone SE 4 display, 5.7″ to 6.1″ OLED and LCD screens being considered
Apple’s budget iPhone SE is still based on an old design with a home button and large screen bezels at the top and bottom, but it looks like the next version planned to launch in 2024 will come with a Significant upgrade from the current 4.7-inch screen.
Exactly what that upgrade will entail, however, apparently has yet to be worked out, as display analyst Ross Young claimed this week that Apple is weighing options that include a 6.1-inch OLED screen and a 5.7- or 6.1-inch LCD.
Apple now sells refurbished MacBook Air M2 models
Just a few months after its launch in July, the M2 MacBook Air models have began to appear in Apple’s online store of refurbished products.
The store offers approximately a 10% discount compared to new prices, and Apple refurbished products go through an extensive refurbishment process to make them nearly identical to new units. Refurbished units are also eligible for AppleCare and carry the same standard one-year warranty and 14-day return policy.
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