There are only a few months left to 2018, but Apple has still many surprises in store for loyal users. The Apple Special Event held last September 12 from the Steve Jobs Theater has revealed the products Apple is planning to launch in the next few months, including a new batch of new iPhones and a cheaper, more colorful version of it.
We’ve also seen the release of the new Apple Watch Series 4 which Apple fans have been looking forward to. Apple has also revealed the release dates of the new macOS, as well as other software updates.
Let’s look at the upcoming Apple releases for 2018 and 2019 one by one.
New iPhone Series
The main star of the September event is the introduction of Apple’s latest phone series—the iPhone XS and XS Max. These phones bear some similarities with last year’s iPhone X but are packed with more significant improvements. For example, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are the same iPhone with two different screen sizes. The XS comes with a 5.8-inch display, while the XS Max has a bigger 6.5-inch screen. This is the only difference between these two phones, aside from the price. Both iPhones also feature Super Retina displays with a pixel density of 458 ppi.
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This new range of iPhones also offers improved water resistance of up to IP68. This means that your new iPhone is waterproof even when submerged in up to two meters of water for 30 minutes. So you don’t have to worry when you drop it in the pool or salt water. The new iPhones are also protected by the “most durable glass ever in a smartphone” according to Apple. So if you’re someone who drops your phone frequently, this might be a good investment.
When it comes to speed, this new iPhone series is powered by the first 7nm smartphone chip – the new A12 Bionic chipset, making them faster and more efficient than the iPhone X. You’ll see the difference when you play online games, browse the Internet or use Face ID recognition. In terms of storage, the new iPhones are available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities.
The most important feature of the new iPhone series is probably its Dual-SIM capability. Yes, it’s what most iPhone users have been waiting for. Now you can have two numbers in a single phone, which is ideal for those who want to use both work and personal numbers in a single device or those who frequently travel abroad and need to switch networks every time.
This is different from Android’s dual-SIM feature where you can actually use two SIM cards on your phone. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are equipped with one physical SIM card slot and one eSIM slot. The eSIM is nothing because it has been introduced in previous cellular iPad models, but this is the first time it’s being used in an iPhone. eSIM allows you to change your network provider, depending on where you are located.
Apple fans can now pre-order their new iPhone through Apple’s website. You can choose between white, space grey and gold colors. The iPhone XS is priced at $999 for the 64GB version, while the iPhone XS Max is a bit more expensive at $1099.
iPhone XR
Aside from iPhone XS and XS Max, Apple has also announced a new iPhone that will be launched in October. This new series is a colorful version of the iPhone X series, taking inspiration from the more vibrant iPhone 5c line. As you can guess, the main feature of the XR range is its colorful selection.
Just like the 5C range, the iPhone XR will be slightly cheaper than the XS, estimated to be priced around $799. It is a good deal, considering the fact that it has the same features as that of the iPhone XS. It has the same A12 Bionic chipset, Face ID Recognition system and Portrait mode you’ll find in the XS version.
However, the iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina display instead of the OLED Super Retina display of the XS and XS Max. Because of this, the XR has a lower resolution of 1792×828 and lower pixel density of 326 ppi. The 3D Touch feature has also been replaced with Haptic Touch.
The iPhone XR has a single 12MP wide-angle rear camera, while the XS and XS Max have two. However, the XR can still offer Portrait mode despite having a single-camera setup.
Pre-orders for the iPhone XR will go live on October 19, 2018, while the release is scheduled on October 26.
macOS Mojave
This is what Mac users have been waiting for since the release of High Sierra last year. The new version of macOS is packed with lots of cool, new features we can’t wait to try out. Here are some of them:
Dark Mode
Although Dark Mode has been available since El Capitan, the new macOS takes it a step further by making the translucent background and the menu bar’s dropdown menu darker.
Desktop Stacks
Another change that’s coming in macOS Mojave has something to do with the Desktop. If you have a messy Desktop, then you’ll definitely appreciate Desktop Stacks. If you tend to save everything on your Desktop, which some users are guilty of because they want to easily access the files, the Desktop Stacks is a new way to organize everything on your home screen. In macOS Mojave, all the files (images, documents, folders, etc.) will be clumped together in a stack so you can easily find what you need.
Here’s a tip: Minimize your Mac’s clutter by deleting all your junk files with an app such as Mac repair app. Not only does it get rid of all your trash, it also improves your device’s overall performance.
Dynamic Desktop
Apple has also introduced the Dynamic Desktop feature which replaces the backdrop of your screen with the most appropriate image according to the time of the day.
Screenshots
In previous versions of macOS, you need to press the shortcut Cmd + Shift + 4 to take a screenshot. With Mojave, taking a screenshot will be like screen-capturing using an iOS device. You will see a small thumbnail to the right of the screen whenever you take a screenshot, and you can also easily access the editing tools from within preview.
New Apps
macOS Mojave will also introduce new apps, including News, Voice Memos and Home. Some Mac apps will also undergo a makeover, such as Safari, FaceTime and the Mac App Store.
MacBook Air 2018
According to reports and predictions, Apple is set to launch a new MacBook Air, or another version of it, later this year or in early 2019. This could be the hottest MacBook to be ever released by Apple if we go by the reports and projections of Apple experts.
The new MacBook Air will be a revamp of the 10-year-old 13-inch MacBook Air that we know of today. It will be a low-cost MacBook with a Retina display and thinner display bezels. The new MacBook will be powered by either an Older Kaby Lake processor or by the newly announced Whiskey Lake quad-core 8th gen processor.
The price will be around $1000 or a bit higher. The announcement will probably happen before the end of the year, but MacBook fans are already excited about this new product.
iPad Pro 2018
Another Apple product that’s worth waiting for is the new iPad Pro of 2018. According to reports, the new iPad Pro will be available in 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch sizes, with an iPhone X-style design. It will have a full-active LCD and the same Face ID features that Apple’s latest phones have but will use the TrueDepth Camera System instead. It is rumored that the new iPad Pro will have no Home button, no notch and no headphone jack. We can’t wait to see how the new iPad will work without these major features.
The price will be similar to the current iPad Pro pricing — $649 for the 10.5-inch and $799 for the 12.9-inch.
Conclusion:
2018 may be nearing its end, but Apple still has a lot of surprises in store for its loyal customers. Whether they are updates, new OS, new apps, new iPhone or other macOS and iOS devices, the upcoming Apple Releases of 2018 and 2019 are worth anticipating.