Apple Product Launches, Updates to Look for in 2016

Apple is rumored to be working on new iPhones, Macs and iPads, and is expected to expand its enterprise presence via acquisitions.

There is no doubt that Apple will launch the iPhone 7 in 2016. The device is expected to be a major upgrade over the iPhone 6s line. Internally, the iPhone 7 will likely include more powerful processors and improved cameras. Look for the iPhone 7 to launch next fall.

Several rumors have suggested that the second-generation Apple Watch will be unveiled in March. While Apple has not confirmed that’s the case, many of the wearable’s owners say that Apple Watch is a bit underpowered compared with some of its competitors, and battery life has been an issue. The second-generation Apple Watch is expected to address those issues and potentially help Apple stay atop the wearables market.

Apple’s MacBook line hasn’t changed much in the last several years, but that is expected to change in 2016. According to some analysts who have checked the overseas supply chain, Apple is expected to update its notebooks with a new and slimmer design. There’s also talk that Apple’s MacBook Air screen sizes may get bumped to 13 and 15 inches. Regardless, look for Macs to get an overhaul in 2016.

Apple’s mobile operating system will reach its 10th version in 2016. Apple’s iOS 10 will likely launch sometime in the fall and perhaps just a few days before the iPhone 7 launches. The mobile operating system will come with some design tweaks and additional features, according to rumors, and may even add in some new apps. Several reports say iOS 10 will be a much bigger upgrade than iOS 9 was.

As Apple has each year for the last several years, the company will also upgrade OS X in 2016. According to the latest rumors, Apple will announce the software update at the Worldwide Developers Conference. The operating system will boast some design updates and a slew of under-the-hood improvements, according to reports.

At a recent talk, CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves said that Apple has decided to put a live-TV-streaming service “on hold.” He noted that the service would come with about 14 channels at launch and cost customers $30 to $40. While he didn’t say when Apple might go back and launch the service, he indicated it wouldn’t be long. Expect to see a live-TV, subscription-based service launch on Apple TV sometime in 2016.

In a recent investors’ note, an analyst wrote that Apple could be looking to make at least one major transaction in 2016. With more than $200 billion in cash on hand, the idea isn’t so far-fetched. While the analyst mentioned several possible targets, one may stick out to enterprise users: Box. According to the analyst, Apple has an interest in expanding its presence in the corporate world, and buying up Box could help it do just that.

It’s no secret that the iPad has been in trouble for years now and the iPad Pro is designed to help Apple fix that issue. However, 2016 will be the year Apple doubles its efforts to fix the iPad. The company will likely announce a new version of its corporate-friendly iPad Pro, alongside new options for iPad Air and iPad Mini customers. As Tim Cook has said, he believes there’s a “long runway” for the iPad, and his company’s 2016 moves will prove it.

One of the more persistent Apple rumors as of late is that the company is planning to launch a miniature smartphone with a 4-inch screen. The device, which could be called the iPhone 6c or the iPhone Mini, is slated to be announced alongside the new Apple Watch at a special press event in March. While Apple seems committed to selling bigger-screen smartphones, it’s feeling increasingly likely that the iPhone 6c will launch next year.

Apple Music isn’t necessarily a breakout success, but it’s big enough and important enough to the company’s future that Apple will spend considerable time on it in 2016, according to analysts. Apple is expected to add more of its own branded radio stations to complement Beats 1 and could sign deals that get some of the more popular artists away from competitors. By the end of 2016, expect Apple Music to look dramatically different (and bigger) than it does now.