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This week in Apple: New iPads, Apple Watches, plus iPhone 12 rumors
This week in Apple news all eyes were on the launch of new Apple hardware and two new Apple services (well, one service and one bundle). Unfortunately, we didn’t see any new iPhones, but we probably won’t need to wait much longer for them.
In other Apple news, we saw some fresh iPhone 12 rumors and a rumor suggesting a second iPhone SE could launch this year. However, news this week was mostly dominated by the hardware/service launch on Tuesday.
See the Apple news roundup below for all the latest.
The top Apple news stories of the past week:
- New Apple Watches debut: Apple on Tuesday took the wraps off two new Apple Watches: the Apple Watch Series 6 and a brand new line of lower-cost watches known as the Apple Watch SE. A SpO2 sensor is the main new feature of the Series 6, while the Watch SE features most of the design elements of the Series 6 but costs much less.
- iPads get a refresh: Apple also refreshed two of its iPad lines. The “classic” iPad got some spec upgrades and a lowered price but mostly stayed the same. The iPad Air, meanwhile, got some spec upgrades, a larger screen, and some new colors.
- New service called Apple Fitness Plus: For $9.99-per-month, Apple Fitness Plus will give you access to training sessions that sync with your Apple Watch. You can watch instructors on your screen of choice and follow along with the workouts while listening to tunes from Apple Music.
- Long-expected Apple One bundle is here: With all the different Apple services now expanded further with Fitness Plus, it was inevitable that the company would start selling bundles. There are now three tiers of Apple One: Individual, Family, and Premier. Each one offers a selection of Apple’s services for a reduced total price.
- Latest operating systems land in their stable forms: On September 16, Apple pushed out the stable versions of iOS 14, iPad OS 14, Watch OS 7, and more. If you have an eligible device that supports these new versions, you should already have them or see them quite soon.
- Looks like 120Hz displays are a no-go for iPhone 12: According to reliable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, none of the iPhone 12 models are expected to come with 120Hz display refresh rates. Lots of leakers have chimed in on this so far, but Kuo shooting the rumor down makes us pretty confident that it’s not happening. Maybe next year, Apple fans!
- Best Buy lists suspicious screen protector: A Redditor spotted a curious screen protector listed for sale at Best Buy that allegedly fits something called the iPhone SE Plus. It supposedly also fits the iPhone 6/7/8 Plus models, too. Could there be a larger iPhone SE on the way? The Best Buy listing is still live, although its headline has since been changed.
- Supposed AirPods Studio leaked: It’s inevitable that Apple will introduce a set of AirPods-branded over-ear headphones at some point. This week, an image showing what could be AirPods Studio headphones leaked on Twitter. See it for yourself here. We’re skeptical.
- Online Apple Store finally landing in India: Shoppers in India will finally be able to visit the online Apple Store and buy Apple products. The store will open on September 23 and offer the usual fare: iPhones, iPads, Macs, etc. There will also be iPhone trade-in deals on offer.
Thinking about making the switch?
If you are reading this Apple news article on an iOS device and thinking about making the switch to Android, we have multiple articles and guides that can help you with that process. Despite how it might seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.
The best place to start would be our guide on how to switch from iPhone to Android, which goes over all the basics. We also have more specific guides, such as how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples, such as our list of best alternatives to FaceTime on Android.
If you’re looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, consult our list of the best Android smartphones available now.