airpods
ipad mini

Every year Apple releases new products. Sometimes these products are just redesigns from the previous models, which end up giving the product a bit of a boost. But in other cases, they’re a full on, new version of the product itself. In the past few years, we’ve seen both versions of this, especially when it comes to iPad’s. We’ve seen brand new iPads with all the fancy new bells and whistles, and we’ve seen upgrades, if you will. In today’s post we’re going to talk about the products that are rumoured to be getting those upgrades.

Starting with the iPad mini 5 – it’s not intended to get a very exciting upgrade, and we’re being told that it’s going to look almost identical to the iPad mini 4 design. Is that ok? I think so. I mean, just because something looks the same, doesn’t mean that the engine or some feature inside it isn’t improved. Further, how much “different” can you make an iPad look? Honestly though. It’s an iPad. If it looked much more different than previous versions, I think we would be upset about it. Wouldn’t we?

So why release the version 5 then? There are rumors that the iPad mini 5 is aimed at a lower cost market segment. But as far as the design goes, it is mostly the same as the previous version. It’s rumored that the new iPad mini will keep the Lightning connector, Touch ID, and the 3.5mm headphone jack. It will also feature the same bezels and the overall dimensions will not substantially change. The rear microphone will move, however, into the same place as the sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad. The iPad mini was released back in 2015 and is still on sale – 128 GB for $399. That said, we are expecting an upgrade to an A10 chip, although it’s not clear if it will be more powerful than the A10X chip that is being used in the 2017 iPad Pro.

Another product that we are expecting from Apple this year is a new version of the AirPods. It’s rumored that the new AirPods will feature a new design and a grip-inclined coating. It is also rumored that the AirPods will have improved audio quality, a black color offering, and an improved design that allows for greater bass response. The new coating is similar in style to the glass found on the rear of the Google Pixel 3. And if you’re not familiar with the Google Pixel 3, it features a frosted, soft touch feel glass, which also provides a subtle-grip. This could be helpful for people who are prone to sweating. Like myself.

The rumors also suggest that the case for the AirPods will also have this coating, which is great for people who are prone to losing things. Like my boyfriend. And as for the price, we are being told that these will run around $199, which I believe is the same price as the current AirPods. Which is good and bad news. Good news that they’re not any more expensive, but bad news that Apple products aren’t going to go down in price any time soon. We are also being told that these products are anticipated to be released in the first half of 2019. Stay tuned for more on these products as they become available.