Top-rated Apple analyst reveals more product changes

Sep 10, 2018 16:27 GMT  ·  By

While all eyes are on the new iPhones projected to launch this week, here’s top-rated Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with a new scoop on future products.

Kuo says that one of the biggest changes that Apple will make on its product lineup will be giving up on the Lightning connector for USB-C on the iPad Pro.

This is without a doubt a major change given Apple’s recent investments in Lightning, and it may hint at similar plans that could be embraced on the iPhone too.

As a reminder, Apple may be facing legal issue in Europe after the company failed to comply with EU requirements on adopting a universal charger model for the iPhone, and moving to USB-C could be a way to comply with regulations.

The analyst says the upcoming iPad Pro will ship not only with USB-C, but also with a new 18W adapter allowing for faster charging. The adapter has already been spotted online lately, and it was originally believed that it was developed for new-generation iPhones.

New more affordable MacBook

Additionally, Apple is projected to launch a low-cost MacBook to replace the 12-inch MacBook, and one of the surprises that the company may be considering is offering Touch ID even on models that do not boast the Touch Bar.

Future Apple Watch models could also get substantial upgrades, and Kuo says that a ceramic back will be used across the entire lineup. The next generation will also boast electrocardiography (ECG), which should help detect heart diseases and issue alerts to owners recommending additional medical investigations.

At this point, it’s not yet clear when all these products could see daylight, but at least the Apple Watch is likely to launch with the said upgrades on Wednesday at Apple’s press event.

The next lower-cost MacBook and the iPad Pro could hit the shelves at a later time if Apple uses this new press event exclusively for the iPhone.