Oliver Haslam on September 11, 2018, 6:41 am

New iPad Pro To Feature USB-C, Apple Watch S4 To Add ECG, Low-Price MacBook Getting Touch ID

Even with the big 2018 Apple event just a couple of days away and kicking off on September 12th, we continue to receive new rumors and notes from analysts that could potentially give us a little insight into what the new hotness will be after the event. This time, it’s renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who is stepping up to take a bash at the predictions, and he has a few of them to share.

Kuo does have a pretty impressive track record when it comes to getting things right ahead of Apple announcements, so when he speaks, it is usually a pretty good idea to listen. With that said, he has a few lines to take heed of this time around with multiple products involved.

Kicking things off, we have the 6.1-inch iPhone, which Kuo believes will launch in “late Sep-early Oct due to quality issues of assembly and display.” This is the device that has become known as the iPhone Xc or, based on Bloomberg‘s most recent claims, the iPhone Xr.

Moving on to the iPad Pro, Kuo’s sources have told him that it will indeed feature Face ID as has been heavily rumored, with a switch from Lightning connectivity to USB-C also set to take place. A new 18W USB-C charger is also said to be part of Apple’s plans, suggesting this may have legs. That said, it’s still a wildcard at this point.

Next up is the low-price MacBook that has also seen rumors of late, with the suggestion being that it may be a revisited MacBook Air. Kuo says that this device may replace the existing 12-inch MacBook, with Touch ID included but notably, without the Touch Bar.

Finally, we have the Apple Watch. Slimmer bezels are apparently the order of the day with support for ECG tracking. Ceramic backs will also be used across the whole lineup, whereas currently, aluminum Apple Watches that don’t have LTE capabilities use composite glass.

Some of this is not new while the rest of it builds on previous rumors that may have been disregarded. The iPad Pro shipping with USB-C connectivity is one such rumor, and it’s absolutely one that we will wait to see before suggesting is in the cards. If the iPad Pro did indeed move away from Lightning, it would surely only be a matter of time before the rest of the Apple product lineup did the same.

(Top Image: iPad Pro 2018 concept)