At Apple's event on September 10th, the foldable iPhone 'iPhone Duo' and 'iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max' were hot topics, but some might have been surprised by the absence of the standard model 'iPhone 18'.
While the iPhone Duo was a hot topic, some things didn't make an appearance.
The rumor that 'this year would only see the iPhone 18 Pro and a foldable device' had actually been circulating before the event. Including the iPhone 18, let's summarize the Apple products that didn't appear at this event, as well as those expected to arrive in the future.
Arriving Next Spring? Pay Attention to Memory Capacity! The 'iPhone 18'
First up is the standard model 'iPhone 18'. Assuming it arrives next spring as rumored, what kind of advancements can we expect?
Will the evolution from iPhone 17 to 18 not be that significant? What about its relationship with the 18e?
First, rumors suggest that the exterior and design won't see major changes. With Dynamic Island adopted in the iPhone 15, this design is already in its fourth generation, and many might not feel the need for further significant evolution.
Incidentally, the Dynamic Island was miniaturized in the iPhone 18 Pro, but will this be an advantage exclusive to the Pro models in the 18 series? Or will it be adopted to differentiate it from the iPhone 18e, which we'll discuss later?
The Dynamic Island was miniaturized in the iPhone 18 Pro, but it seems unlikely to be included in the standard iPhone 18 model?
Another point of interest is the memory capacity, which doesn't appear in the official spec sheet. While the iPhone 17 supports Apple Intelligence, it cannot utilize the more advanced Siri AI features that are only available on the iPhone 17 Pro/18 Pro/Air. If the reason for this is memory capacity, an increase would naturally be expected, but given the soaring semiconductor prices, this would significantly impact costs. It remains to be seen whether the CPU will be the 2nm process 'A20'.
Dynamic Island and 120Hz Support: Will They or Won't They? The 'iPhone 18e'
The affordable 'e' model iPhones have appeared for two consecutive years in the spring, with the iPhone 16e and 17e. They are also said to be an important presence for Apple and carriers as models for large-scale corporate deployments, so is it highly likely that the 'iPhone 18e' will be announced alongside the iPhone 18 next year?
Soft Pink was added to the iPhone 17e, bringing it to three colors. Will a new color replace it in the 18e?
Expected advancements include 'Dynamic Island' and '120Hz ProMotion support', but if these are adopted, the difference from the iPhone 18 would be limited to just the number of cameras. Considering the balance with the iPhone 18, will they once again not be adopted?
Will it Even Appear? Or Not? If it Does, It Better Be Simple! The 'iPhone Air 2'
There are both 'it will appear' and 'it won't appear' theories surrounding the second-generation iPhone Air. While the iPhone Air cannot be called a massive sales success, it is highly regarded by a core demographic, and it would be a shame to end the product after just one generation.
This overwhelming simplicity is the charm of the iPhone Air.
So, if a second generation does appear, what improvements will it bring? Adding two cameras might boost sales, but it would certainly sacrifice that refined simplicity... Personally, I'm most excited to see what form it takes.
Arriving in October or November? M6-Powered '14-inch MacBook' and 'iMac'
The latest CPU, the 'M6,' was first adopted in the Mac mini. Currently, with the 14-inch MacBook Pro featuring M5 and the iMac with M4, the arrival of M6-equipped models is highly anticipated.
On the other hand, since the Mac mini debuted with M5 Pro and the Mac Studio with M5 Max/M5 Ultra in September, will MacBook Pros with M6 Pro/M6 Max arrive next year or later? Or is there a theory that they might appear with the 'M5 Ultra' instead!? At this timing, will we finally see an OLED-equipped MacBook Pro, or touch support (making us wonder if Jobs would be angry)? There are many rumors.
The Mac Studio appeared with M5 Max/M5 Ultra, not M6 Max/M6 Ultra. Could it be that only the vanilla M6 will be available?
As for an M6-equipped MacBook Air, if it follows the usual pattern, it would likely be next spring.
iPad Series: Pro, mini, and Standard Models Are Due for a Refresh
For the iPad series, new models (excluding the M4-equipped 'iPad Air' released this March) could appear from October this year or next spring.
It wouldn't be surprising if an M6-equipped 'iPad Pro' were released. The pricing is also a concern...?
Rumors of an OLED-equipped 'iPad mini' are strong. However, it's already quite expensive, starting from 99,800 yen, so if it features OLED, a further significant price hike is almost certain? Hmm, that would make it a much less accessible iPad.
While it's exciting for the iPad mini to evolve further, will an OLED display lead to a significant price increase?
The standard 'iPad,' which debuted last spring with the 'A16' chip, does not support Apple Intelligence, so will it be equipped with the 'A18' to gain support?
HomePod, Apple TV, and Smart Glasses Next Fall!? Smart Devices Ready for the Siri AI Era
With 'Siri AI' debuting alongside iOS 27, enabling more natural and advanced conversations with AI, the value proposition of smart devices will significantly increase.
In that sense, the current models of HomePod and Apple TV haven't been updated for several years, making us anticipate new products alongside Siri AI.
Including the mini, the HomePod is a device that will greatly benefit from the evolution of Siri AI. We anticipate new models, regardless of whether they arrive soon.
And the main contender for a smart device to pair with Siri AI is 'smart glasses'. Rumors of Apple's smart glasses have been circulating since around 2024. Recently, there's a theory of an announcement at WWDC in June 2027, with a release in the fall of the same year, but like the foldable iPhone, which has been in development for many years, they should be released once Apple has assembled the technology to provide a satisfactory level of experience.
Smart glasses from various companies. While the convenience of those with displays is clear, display device evolution is still needed. When will Apple's long-awaited entry arrive?
Honestly, it's completely unknown whether that will be next year, three years from now, or five years from now, but regardless of whether you look at its affinity with AI, its complementarity with smartphones, or its extensibility through apps, 'smart glasses themselves are a serious contender,' so I'd venture to predict that Apple will eventually release them.