An internal memo relating to AppleCare changes suggests that a new round of Apple products could be coming next week. Per the memo, Apple reportedly wants to prepare its technicians and service providers for new product SKUs, as well as new pricing, according to MacRumors.
While rumors have pointed to previous Christmas-related announcements from Apple, this latest memo suggests that there could indeed be Mac-related or other Apple announcements on the way. The internal memo mentions that changes are coming for AppleCare at 5:30 a.m. PT on December 8. Apple has sent similar memos before previous launches, including before the launch of the iPhone 12.
This time slot is usually reserved for Apple announcements of new Mac products, as seen in the past with the mid-2020 MacBook Pro 13-inch model, as well as the late 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro. Even the second-generation Airpods were announced at this time, in the first half of 2019.
There’s no doubt that 5:30 a.m. PT is an odd time of the day, so it’s likely that any upcoming products could be announced in an Apple Newsroom post, instead of a dedicated event, come Tuesday, December 8. Though Macs are the obvious choice for such a launch, it could be that Apple may also announce the AirTags, AirPods Studio, or a new gaming controller bundled with Apple TV.
These have all been topics of discussion in many rumors heading into the end of the year. However, Apple could even announce just a small “minor accessory,” with no blog post at all, according to MacRumors.
Apple has already had three press events this year, and it would be rare to see a fourth. It announced the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, Apple Fitness+, and a new iPad Air and iPad, as well as Apple One, in September. Then, a month later, in October, the new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, MagSafe accessories, and HomePod mini were announced. In November, new Macs with the Apple M1 were announced during a “One More Thing” event.
It’s also important to note that this is still just a rumor, with the memo coming from a “reliable internal source.” Other rumors from famed Apple analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo have hinted that new Macs might not come until 2021, with Apple possibly launching two redesigned MacBook Pro models. These 2021 Macs could come with a new form-factor design, Apple Silicon chips, and a mini-LED display. A redesigned MacBook Air, meanwhile, could be coming in 2022, with the same chip and design.
