When it comes to Apple products, there's often a very blurry line between rumours and informed speculation. The former tends to be what you'll find from oddly named people on Twitter, and the latter often comes from well-connected industry analysts whose contacts have told them things off the record. I'm hoping the latest Apple Watch and AirPods rumours are the latter.
According to tech analyst Jeff Pu as reported by MacRumors, Apple is working on two important products for 2024: lower-priced AirPods, and a brand new Apple Watch Ultra with a micro-LED display.
Why we're taking these predictions with a big pinch of salt
According to Pu, the new Apple Watch will be a high-end model – most likely the Ultra – with a 2.1-inch micro-LED display. That's very slightly larger than the one in the current Ultra, which is 1.92 inches. The main advantage of micro-LED is significantly improved brightness without increased power drain, making it an ideal option for wearables such as the Apple Watch.
If Apple is indeed moving to micro-LED, I doubt we'll see it in the standard Apple Watch models: it's a good way to differentiate the Ultra, much as Apple has done with the always-on displays in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
As for the AirPods, while Pu calls them "AirPods Lite" it's highly unlikely that Apple would use such branding – but unfortunately Pu has very little other information to share other than that these AirPods would be priced lower in order to compete with the best true wireless earbuds from other firms.
As MacRumors points out, Pu has a "mixed" track record with Apple predictions – and as these are the first we've heard of either a micro-LED Apple Watch or cheaper AirPods, we should probably curb our enthusiasm: even if Pu is right, Apple's plans could well change between now and the likely late-2024 launch of these predicted products.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
This iPhone model will be replaced by iPhone 17 Slim, says report
It's the end of the line for the iPhone Plus as Apple changes its design direction
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
The next Samsung Galaxy software update could borrow a lot from the iPhone
Including One UI 7's take on Dynamic Island
By Chris Hall Published
-
Apple Vision Pro just got a load of new reasons to justify that cost
Some of the extra content coming sounds incredible
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Apple's iPad is now at a record-low price this Amazon Prime Day
If you've been waiting to pick up an Apple iPad, now might be the time to buy
By David Nield Published
-
Surprise new Apple HomePod mini arrives, and you can order it today
Apple has announced a new Apple HomePod mini
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Diver gets his Apple Watch back a year after losing it in the ocean – thanks to Find My
When technology works, it really works
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Forget Amazon Prime Day – MacBook Air now at lowest-ever price at Walmart
Apple silicon computing for less
By David Nield Published
-
iPhone 16 Pro could finally add something Android users have been enjoying for years
This is one rumour we can definitely get on board with
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
iPhone 16 "design changes" could impact Face ID on forthcoming handsets
No one's sure what it'll look like
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Apple Arcade subscribers getting 95% rated roguelike RPG for free
Taking a bite of the Apple
By Rik Henderson Published