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Summary
This year, Apple could drop several big new hardware releases, including a new AirTag, iPhone SE 4, the M4 MacBook Air, and the iPhone 17 series later in 2025.
AirTag 2
A new AirTag could be on the cards for 2025. The first iteration of the personal belongings tracker came out in 2021. Its deep integration with iOS andadvanced spatial tracking abilitiesgot the AirTag a spot on ourlist of best Bluetooth trackers.
According to Bloomberg’sMark Gurman, the 2025 AirTag could feature Apple’s second-generation ultra-wideband (UWB), also found on theiPhone 15(and newer models). Given that the addition increases the Precision Finding range on the newer iPhones, it could also do the same for the AirTag (up to 200 feet).
The same publicationclaimsthe presence of aharder-to-remove speakeras a safety measure. Last but not least, Apple might integrate the device with the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset (viaMing-Chi Kuo).
Apple might also refresh theiPhone SEin 2025. While there have been numerous leaks and rumors about the budget iPhone, the most recent one comes from noted leakerJukanlosreve, who claims the phone could cost under $500 in the United States. This would be great since the iPhone SE 4 is rumored to offer several significant upgrades over its predecessor.
Back in August 2024,Bloombergreported that the iPhone SE 4 could borrow its looks from the iPhone 14 (including the edge-to-edge OLED screen). This marks a significant design change for the lineup, as the iPhone SE 3 is the only model that ships with a Home Button (that doubles as Touch ID).
The report also mentions how the next iPhone SE could debut in early 2025. Notable analystMing-Chi Kuorecently claimed that the smartphone will enter mass production in December 2024, pointing toward a possible release in the first quarter of 2025. Last but not least, the iPhone SE 4 is also said to supportApple Intelligence, including features likeGenmoji, Image Playground,Writing Tools, and more.
While the iPhone SE 4 could debut in March 2025, Apple will likely stick with a September launch for theflagship iPhone 17 lineup. According to analystsJeff Pu(via MacRumors) andMing-Chi Kuo, Apple might replace the iPhone 17 Plus with theiPhone 17 Air(with a thinner chassis and lighter weight).
Ross Young, the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, claims that all the iPhones in the iPhone 17 lineup could support 120Hz displays (or what Apple calls aProMotion display) with always-on functionality. Known Chinese tipsterDigital Chat Stationalso seconds the claim.
Other notable rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 might feature Apple’s in-house 5G chip (viaDigiTimes), an upgraded 24MP selfie camera (viaMing-Chi Kuo), and a new anti-reflective display (viaMacRumors), just like what we’ve seen on theGalaxy S24 Ultra.
Out of the two Pro models, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to get new 48MP ultrawide and telephoto cameras (viaMacRumors). We also expect the iPhone 17 Pro models to ship with a new A19 Pro chipset.
In 2024, the regular iPad didn’t get a new model. That could change in early 2025 with the debut of the rumored iPad 11 (via9To5Mac), thesuccessor to the iPad 10. Although there’s not much information about the purported iPad, it might feature Apple’s new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, a faster A-series chipset (which may bring support for Apple Intelligence), and come in new colors.
ABloombergreport also claims that Apple is readying a new M3 iPad Air model for release in 2025, but given that the company has already released a newiPad Air in 2024 with M2 chip, it seems unlikely that it will touch the lineup anytime soon.
M4 MacBook Air
In a report via9To5Mac, Ross Young claimed that display shipments for the M4MacBook Airshould begin in October or November, which indicates an early 2025 launch.
Another report fromMacRumorsstates that leaked macOS Sequoia 15.2 contains references to the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air and the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air. While those are the leaks or references available online, we expect the upcoming MacBook Air lineup to ship with16GB of unified memory in the base variant.
AirPods Pro 3 and Apple Watch Series 11
In 2025, Apple is expected to reveal the AirPods Pro 3, a much-awaited upgrade that could add several big improvements. Although there were rumors about the device debuting at theiPhone 16 launch event, that didn’t happen.Bloombergclarified at the time that the AirPods Pro 3 could come out “early next year,” indicating a 2025 launch.
Another report from thepublicationstates that the AirPods Pro 3 could ship with a major design overhaul. In my opinion, Apple could shrink the charging case and earbuds, as it did withthe AirPods 4. The change will make the upcoming AirPods lighter and easier to fit in pockets. Further, the company might replace the physical pair/reset button on the Pro earbuds with a capacitive touch button.
I think it’s likely that the AirPods Pro 3 would debut with the H3 chip, which could also help improve the overall sound quality. There’s a solid rumor thatthe noise cancelationon the AirPods Pro 3 is getting much better than that on the current model (viaMacRumors, citing leaker Kosutami).
Most recently,Bloombergreported that the company plans to turn the AirPods Pro into a health tracker, primarily by equipping it with some sort of heart rate sensor.
Besides the new AirPods Pro, Apple might reveal three new smartwatches in 2025: theWatch Series 11 and the Watch Ultra 3. A recent report fromMark Gurmanstates that the upcoming Ultra watch should be able to send messages via satellite. Further, the regular and the Ultra versions could get a blood pressure monitoring system (though that has been rumored for a while and has yet to materlialize).
Upcoming Apple Watches could feature a more efficient S12 chipset. Last but not least, all the models, including the purported Watch SE 3 (viaMing-Chi Kuo),could get a taste of Apple Intelligenceor some other health-related AI features.
New Smart Home Devices
One of the most interesting rumors surrounding Apple in 2025 tells of an “AI Wall Tablet” or a smart home control device.
This also comes from one of the most reputable sources in the industry,Bloomberg, and talks about how the company is preparing a product that contains a hemispherical base and a small screen (in the shape of two iPhones stacked side-by-side) that extends at an angle. If you need some help visualizing the product, it could, in a very real way, look like the original iMac G4.
Moreover, the smart home device could include several Apple apps, includingFaceTime, Notes, Calendar, and other iOS-inspired features, likeSiri and Apple Intelligence. The device might also include the ability to showcase pictures (as slideshows) and play videos (with speakers included in the base unit). While there’s no particular launch timeline for the product, it is said to arrive sometime next year.
In anotherPower-Onedition, Gurman mentions how the company is developing a Face ID-enabled smart doorbell, which should be able to unlock doors by analyzing user’s faces (the same wayFace ID works on iPhones).
The Cupertino team could also unveil theHomePod mini2 with a new networking chip (via9To5Mac) and a new Apple TV version that supportsWi-Fi 6E(viaMacRumors). The latter is also said to feature a new processor for seamless performance.
Apple Intelligence
Last but not least, 2025 will see the release of the remaining Apple Intelligence features with new iOS 18 updates. While theiOS 18.3 update might not be as excitingas Apple users might have expected it to be, subsequent updates could come with features like Priority Notifications, on-screen awareness for Siri, and the availability of Apple Intelligence in additional languages.
If you’re thinking about switching to Apple in 2025, check outhow much it costs to create a functional ecosystem here.
