2025 is set to be a big year for Apple hardware launches, and that will even be true for a variety of rarely-updated products. Here are six new products coming that will have waited about three years (or more) between hardware updates.
iPhone se 4
Last update: March 2022
Apple’s preparing a huge update for its next iPhone SE model, with compelling upgrades that could make it the best iPhone for most buyers.
New features for the budget iPhone include:
the A18 chip that just debuted in iPhone 16
Apple Intelligence support
OLED display
Face ID and a notch
8GB of RAM
48MP main camera
USB-C charging port
Apple’s first in-house 5G modem
Apple’s expected to launch the new iPhone SE 4 around March as one of its first products of the year.
AirTag 2
Last update: April 2021
The first AirTag took a very long time to debut, with years of rumors and leaks preceding it—especially throughout 2019 and 2020. It finally arrived in 2021, and now after four years, AirTag 2 is finally coming.
AirTag 2 is expected to offer three main upgrades:
Better range
Improved wireless chip
Privacy enhancements
Apple’s targeting a mid-year release for AirTag 2, per mark gurman.
HomePod mini 2
Last update: November 2020
HomePod mini launched in 2020 as the budget smart speaker many users were waiting for. Apple’s standard HomePod was widely seen as overpriced, and the HomePod mini was the solution.
It’s been over four years since that initial HomePod mini arrived, and while Apple has added new color options over the years, the basic tech has stayed the same. At long last, the HomePod mini 2 is coming—expected near the end of the year.
Details on new features are scarce, but I’m hoping for Apple Intelligence support and strong integration with the forthcoming ‘HomePad’ product.
AirPods Pro 3
Last update: September 2022
It almost seems unfair to say that AirPods Pro are rarely updated, since Apple has consistently added great new features in software. But on the hardware side, AirPods Pro have historically gone three years between updates—and that trend will continue when AirPods Pro 3 arrive this September.
One nice thing about the rare AirPods Pro updates is that, when new hardware does arrive, so far it’s offered compelling change. AirPods Pro 3 are expected to get:
a physical redesign
the first H3 chip
likely a heart rate sensor
plus improved noise cancellation and more audio enhancements
Apple Watch SE 3
Last update: September 2022
Apple’s budget Apple Watch SE, like the iPhone SE, is expected to receive a new version this year. Very little is known about the Apple Watch SE 3, but it should pick up several features from more recent Watch models, like a newer chip and potentially additional health sensors.
Historically Apple has launched new Apple Watch SE models in September with its flagship watches. That may happen this time around too, but perhaps we’ll instead see a spring debut alongside the iPhone SE.
New Apple TV 4K
Last update: November 2022
The Apple TV, perhaps more than any other Apple device, has historically received very erratic and unpredictable updates.
If you go back to the very first, pre-App Store version, here’s how long the gaps have been between models: 3 1/2 years, 1 1/2 years, 1 year, 2 1/2 years, 2 years, 4 years, 1 year. And now, it’s been over 2 years and will likely end up close to 3 before the new version debuts.
Mark Gurman says a new Apple TV 4K is coming this year—expected around October or November. All we really know about it so far is that it will include Apple’s new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. Expect to see a big processor speed bump too, perhaps laying the groundwork for some Apple Intelligence features in future tvOS versions.
Apple’s rare product updates: wrap-up
Not every Apple product needs an annual update. But what’s important is that when rare updates do arrive, Apple makes them count. There are plenty of unknown details about several of the products above, but here’s hoping Apple has big things in store for these long-awaited revisions.
Which of these upcoming Apple products are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPhone accessories
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings