March 8 Apple Event: Everything We Know So Far

Table of Contents

Main Highlights:

Apple’s current iPhone SE reinvention of the iPhone 8, complete with large top and bottom bezels, a Touch ID Home button, and a 4.7-inch LCD.
Apple will Livestream the March 8 event on the Apple Events website, YouTube, and the Apple TV app for Apple TV and other devices.
macOS Monterey 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 offer the much-anticipated Universal Operation feature, which enables simultaneous operation of several Macs and iPads using a single mouse/trackpad and keyboard.

We’re anticipating an upgraded version of the iPhone SE, a new iPad Air, and at least one Apple silicon Mac during the 2022 spring presentation. Below, we’ve compiled a list of everything we could see during the March 8 event.

iPhone SE 5G

The 2022 iPhone SE is projected to appear identical to the 2020 iPhone SE. Apple’s current iPhone SE is a reimagining iPhone 8, with substantial top and bottom bezels, a Touch ID Home button, and a 4.7-inch LCD.

The iPhone SE is and will remain Apple’s only iPhone with Touch ID rather than Face ID, and it will be the only iPhone produced in 2022 with an older LCD panel since Apple’s flagship range has migrated to OLED.

Wireless charging will be enabled, but we’re not anticipating MagSafe, and battery life is unlikely to be significantly improved. The current iPhone SE is available in black, white, and red, and we may expect similar color possibilities for the next iPhone SE.

With no external design improvements on the horizon, the iPhone SE’s revisions will be entirely inside. We’re anticipating a speedier CPU, and the iPhone SE might receive the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13 for a significant performance boost. Apple is said to start at 64GB and offer 64, 128, and 256GB storage choices.

The second significant new feature coming to the iPhone SE is 5G connectivity, which will bring the iPhone SE up to speed with the flagship iPhones. Apple’s iPhone SE will be the cheapest 5G iPhone, with a price tag of $399. The only other rumor we’ve heard regarding the iPhone SE is that it may have an improved camera, maybe the iPhone 13’s Wide camera.

iPad Air

Unlike the iPhone SE, a new iPad Air is in the works, but no design changes are planned. The next-generation iPad Air will retain the same design as the present iPad Air; however, additional color variations are possible. The iPad Air is now available in space grey, silver, rose gold, green, and blue.

According to rumors, a significant portion of the iPad Air update will focus on bringing the device up to speed with the sixth-generation iPad mini released last fall, which means it will likely receive an updated A15 chip, which Apple added to the iPad mini following its introduction in the iPhone 13 models.

Apple downclocked the A15 CPU in the iPad mini to 2.9GHz, down from 3.2GHz in the iPhone, but it’s unclear whether the iPad Air will employ the same clock speed. In either case, the A15 will be a significant upgrade over the A14 found in the current model.

Apple will add a 5G connection to cellular iPad Air models, allowing the upgraded tablets to function with speedier 5G networks. Because the processor in the iPad mini is limited to sub-6GHz 5G networks rather than the fastest mmWave 5G networks, the iPad Air will probably have the same restriction.

Sub-6GHz 5G is the more generally available variant of 5G, with coverage in urban, suburban, and rural regions throughout the United States and other nations. In contrast, mmWave 5G has a smaller coverage area and range. AT&T and Verizon have extended their 5G networks with a C-band spectrum, increasing the availability of mmWave networks in the United States; thus, it’s probable that Apple may consider this when upgrading the iPad Air.

The iPad Air will have largely internal upgrades. However, it is possible that it may receive the same upgraded 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera that works with Center Stage, a feature debuted with the iPad Pro and iPad mini 6.

Center Stage is a FaceTime feature that keeps you focused and ideally framed during video calls on FaceTime. The wide-angle front-facing camera captures more of the space you’re in, while the iPad’s CPU keeps you front and center even as you move. If there are more participants in the call, the camera will zoom out to ensure everyone is seen.

The back camera is believed to retain its single lens configuration; however, a quad-LED True Tone flash may be added. Other than that, it will continue to use a USB-C connector, and we don’t expect any significant changes to the battery life.

The iPad Air’s pricing is anticipated to remain the same, which means the next model might start at $599 for 64GB of storage.

Mac mini

Apple upgraded the lower-end Mac mini with an M1 processor in 2020, and now it’s time to update the higher-end Mac mini. According to rumors, the new computer will be powered by Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs, with Intel chips being phased out of the Mac mini family.

The M1 Pro and M1 Max processors contain a ten-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency cores; however, an eight-core version is also available for the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

In terms of graphics capability, the M1 Pro processor includes a 16-core GPU (14-cores in the 14-inch MacBook Pro basic model), whereas the M1 Max chip features a 32-core GPU. Additionally, a lower-tier 24-core variant is available as a build-to-order. These identical processors may make their way to the Mac mini.

Because the M1 Pro chip supports up to 32GB of RAM and the M1 Max chip supports up to 64GB, the new Mac mini will continue to support up to 64GB of RAM. The Mac mini M1 is restricted to 16GB of RAM.

Rumors say that the Mac mini may receive a makeover, possibly with a smaller casing, a plexiglass-like top, and a two-tone color scheme. If Apple introduces a new color scheme, the Mac mini may be available in hues other than space grey or silver, comparable to the 24-inch iMac. However, updated colors are only speculation at this stage.

Apple’s new Mac mini is believed to include four Thunderbolt connections, two USB-A connectors, an Ethernet port, and an HDMI port, as well as the same magnetic charging cord found on the company’s 24-inch iMac.

13-Inch MacBook Pro

A few rumors have suggested that Apple will unveil an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro at its spring event, but that is unclear given that the machine will almost certainly use an updated M2 chip and that other Macs that will also use the M2 chip, such as the refreshed MacBook Air, will not launch until later in the year. It’s unlikely that Apple would include the M2 processor in the 13-inch MacBook Pro at this time, but it’s not impossible.

If there is an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro on the way, it will not have a significant design refresh. It will resemble the previous-generation model, albeit there will be conflicting information about the Touch Bar. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will remove the Touch Bar from the 13-inch MacBook Pro, although other leaked data indicates that it will remain.

As an entry-level model, the redesigned 13-inch MacBook Pro will not likely contain a mini-LED display or 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates.

Apple’s M2 processor is believed to contain the same eight-core CPU as the M1 but with improved performance and efficiency due to the possibility of building it on a smaller node.

In terms of GPU enhancements, it will include more GPU cores. There are believed to be nine and 10-core GPU options, up from the seven and 8-core GPU possibilities in the original M1. The M2 will lack the punch of the M1 Pro and M1 Max, superseded by the M2 Pro and M2 Max.

Apple may launch new iPhone case colors

At the end of February, new iPhone case colors were leaked on Twitter, and these covers will probably be introduced following the March event. A light blue, a deeper green blue, an orange hue, and a yellow are new colors.

These same colors will probably be available for iPad covers and maybe Apple Watch bands. Apple will not highlight these new cases at the event, but they will be uploaded to the online shop following the event.

iOS 15.4, iPad 15.4, and macOS Monterey Release Dates

Since late January, Apple has been beta testing iOS 15.4, iPad 15.4, and macOS Monterey 12.3, and the upgrades are nearly ready to ship. Although the software will not be available on March 8, Apple will very certainly give us a launch date and release candidates following the event.

iOS 15.4 is a massive update that includes the capability for using Face ID while wearing a mask on iPhones 12 and later, as well as new emoji characters, sets the basis for Tap to Pay, adds a Siri’s voice, and enhances the anti-stalking feature of AirTags.

macOS Monterey 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 include the long-awaited Universal Operation functionality, enabling simultaneous control of many Macs and iPads using a single mouse/trackpad and keyboard. For anyone interested in what’s included in iOS 15.4, we’ve created a comprehensive guide outlining all of the new features.