☕ Hello! Lots to come: tomorrow the ROG Phone 5 launches, followed by the Find X3 series on Thursday.
Apple’s possible event in March looks familiar …
Apple’s next event is rumored to be on March 23, with a reliable Chinese leaker “Kang” offering a March 23 date for the eventual launch of new devices. What could be unfortunate is that OnePlus, which announced its March 23 date yesterday, can (again) change its launch date.
March?
- Apple has held “special event” launches in March in recent years, most notably in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, which often featured non-iPhone, non-Mac devices.
- The 2019 edition launched Apple News +, Apple Card, Apple Arcade, and Apple TV +, while March 2020 was rocked by the outbreak of the pandemic.
What could it be?
- Apart from a new iPhone, Apple products regularly released for the beginning of 2021 include: AirPods 3, new AirPods Pro, new models of iPad Pro, updated iPad mini, lower cost iPad, an updated iMac and, of course, the continuing possibility of Apple’s smart trackers in its AirTags. There are also more elusive M1 laptops, like a MacBook Pro with a more powerful M1X chip with more CPU and GPU cores.
- None of these are guaranteed to launch – I would place my bets on the iPad Pros and AirPods 3, but we should find out more as we approach the date.
- In addition, more recently, Apple’s virtual events have been quick business. I don’t have a device rating per minute, but I feel like more products are launched per event than in the past. This may be the case again.
And what will OnePlus do?
So there is a possible conflict for OnePlus and Apple. In 2018, OnePlus postponed its launch of the OnePlus 6T by one day.
A quote from OnePlus at the time:
- “For hours, we chatted with our press contacts to better understand how Apple’s announcement could affect the launch of the OnePlus 6T. We have received thoughtful, honest and thoughtful feedback. They showed us that if we chose to stick to our original schedule, by launching the OnePlus 6T on October 30, we would be eclipsed by Apple. “
Is it different this time?
- With virtual event launches, flights and hotels don’t need to be changed, and single-day event clashes seem much more manageable.
- And in 2018, it was a direct battle between the next iPhone (iPhone X) and the next OnePlus (6T) smartphone.
- This does not appear to be the case this time around.
- So if all of this is true, OnePlus may not think it needs to move the dates.
- Either way, March is a busy month regardless.
Roundup
📈 OnePlus just released an image of the OnePlus 9 Pro. Looks just like leaks! (Android Authority).
🔜 Cheaper Snapdragon 888 chipsets could be headed our way, the tradeoff being the lack of built-in 5G. Full-throttle performance without 5G? Hmm (Android Authority).
🆕 Samsung Galaxy A52 and A72 appear early on Samsung official website, some leaked prices show similar or cheaper prices than previous A51 / A71 models (Android Authority).
👂 Nothing mentions “Concept 1”, its first product. Uh, just a headphone rendering? Not much to see (Android Authority).
💓 Google’s heart and respiratory rate measurement tool with a Pixel is finally here (Android Authority). Where is it? See the next story!
👉 “The problem with Android is you never know when you’ll get something”. Yeah. I have a Pixel. I don’t yet have Google Maps dark mode or Google’s new tool (Droidlife).
🔓 Microsoft Outlook Exchange “Crazy Huge Hack” Explained (Gizmodo).
💻 Microsoft would offer AMD processors in its Surface Laptop 4 line (Engadget).
💻 Dell’s new G15 is a spotty gaming laptop that arrives first in China. These spots! Hmm (The edge).
🏀 HeheStreams: The hacker assembling a better sports streaming service (The edge).
🧻 Amazon Dash Smart Shelf Review: When supplies run low, this thing orders new things. But… is it good? “I haven’t run out of toilet paper since I installed Amazon’s smart shelf in my laundry closet,” but: “I don’t know when Amazon will decide it’s time for me to buy more toilet paper, or if I get the best deal on toilet paper » (Wired).
📡 SpaceX plans Starlink broadband for airplanes, ships, large trucks and RVs, but not for passenger cars because the “terminal is way too big” (Ars Technica).
🍏 “If Skynet takes over, try writing” Robot “on your shirt” (Gizmodo).
🚔 “Reddit FBI / CIA agents, what can you tell us without killing us?” (r / askreddit). Here’s a funny one: “Whatever the latest technology you can buy, the government is five years ahead.”
Tuesday chart
In the United States, coal now produces less electricity than nuclear power while wind and solar continue to grow (r / dataisbeautiful). But is this good news?
All my wishes,
Tristan Rayner, Editor-in-Chief