Apple Watch6 and iPad Air4 killer upgrades were confirmed just before the apple event

Apple Watch6 and iPad Air4 killer upgrades were confirmed just before the apple event

The Apple Watch 6 and iPad Air 4 will be the stars of Apple's September 15 event, but the upcoming iPhone 12 will not be at the party.

The Wall Street Journal has confirmed that the Apple Watch 6 and iPad Air 4 will be unveiled at tomorrow's product launch; the Series 6 will feature a faster processor, blood oximeter, and Apple Watch sleep tracking capabilities. Meanwhile, the new tablets will look like the iPad Pro but will be priced lower. These releases will be accompanied by iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and watchOS7 software updates this month.

The Apple Watch is one of the company's best-selling devices, capturing 55.5% of the global smartwatch market. The new Series 6 will come in the same sizes as the current model, 40mm and 44mm; along with the Apple Watch 6, Apple will reportedly release a cheaper version called the Apple Watch SE to compete with lower-priced models from Fitbit and Garmin.

The new watchOS 7 has been in beta testing over the summer, and if Apple follows its normal process, a software update will be released a few days before the new watch ships.

The iPad Air 4 represents the first update to the tablet since the product relaunch in March 2019. The new model will look like the iPad Pro (no more home button), but will use a slower processor and lack some features. However, at a price of only $499, it will be considerably cheaper than the iPad Pro. The WSJ speculates that "the new mid-range iPad will continue to contribute to Apple's sales as consumers look for a device to help them work and learn at home."

In addition to the Watch and iPad upgrades, Apple will reportedly announce the Apple One bundle, which combines news, music, streaming TV, and gaming services into one subscription. It may also announce a new HomePod speaker, over-the-ear AirPods Studio headphones, AirTags device trackers, and the first Apple Silicon MacBook.

But the big elephant in the room at tomorrow's event is the exclusion of new iPhones; the WSJ has confirmed that Apple plans to announce four new iPhone 12s in October. The iPhone 12 Pro could ship as early as November, as Apple is shifting the release date to address production issues caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

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