Apple’s first event of the year is hours away and we still have a lot of questions.
Update 9:30 pm ET: We’ve updated our rankings to reflect the latest rumors. Apple’s first event of 2022 has certainly piqued our curiosity. While we usually have a pretty good idea about what’s going to be released at this point—the only real surprise at the “Spring Loaded” event was Apple Card Family—Apple has done a good job keeping its “Peek Performance” event under wraps. So if you’re playing along, here’s what we’re most likely to see on Tuesday. The one product we’re absolutely certain to see at “Peek Performance” is a new iPhone SE. It’s been about two years since the second-generation model was released, and rumors have been flying for several weeks. It won’t be all that exciting—an A15 chip, a slightly better camera with night mode, and 5G connectivity are the main upgrades—but look for it to get a prime spot in the keynote. Another certainty, the iPad Air will reportedly get the iPad mini treatment, with a new processor, ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage, and 5G cellular connectivity. Those are nice, if not overdue upgrades, but like the iPhone SE, not all that exciting. The high-end Mac mini is one of a handful of Macs with Intel chips that Apple still makes, so it’s definitely getting a refresh this year. We’ve heard rumors for a while that the enclosure would be getting a new design along with a faster processor and more ports, but now we hear that it might be getting a new name too: Mac Studio.
