The iPhone 13 was supposed to acquire satellite connectivity last year, but that didn’t materialize. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this year’s iPhone 14 is in line to gain this functionality, and even the next-gen Apple Watch, presumably the Apple Watch Series 8, might arrive with satellite communication. The following are the specifics.
The Apple Watch this Year Will Have Satellite Connectivity!
Gurman recently disclosed in his “Power On” newsletter that the Apple Watch is “destined” to acquire satellite connectivity functionality, which may happen either this year or in 2023.
The email also confirms that the iPhone 14 series would include satellite connectivity, something the iPhone 13 didn’t have because the feature wasn’t ready to launch. This year’s lineup is likely to include four iPhone models, a new design, 48MP cameras, and much more.
For the uninitiated, satellite connectivity will allow users to send short messages to emergency contacts when cellular service is unavailable, rather than being used for calls as previously thought. This is supposed to be a collaboration between Apple and Globalstar Inc. Globalstar Inc is said to have signed a deal to buy 17 new satellites for an unknown “potential” customer, which may be Apple.
Given that Apple is expected to release three Apple Watch Series 8 models, there’s a good likelihood that at least one of them will support the feature. Although, as Gurman stated last year, the feature would be limited to a few regions. It’s unclear how Apple intends to go with this.
Aside from discussing this year’s iPhones and the Apple Watch, Gurman also revealed a new iMac featuring the M3 processor. However, this Mac is set to launch in 2023, and little is known about it at this time. It also hinted that an iMac Pro is in the pipeline, but that it won’t be released anytime soon. These plans will be in addition to a spate of Mac devices expected this year, including an entry-level MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, a revamped MacBook Air with the M2 chip, two Mac Minis, and a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, respectively.
One thing to keep in mind is that the above information is still speculative, and Apple has yet to confirm it. As a result, take these insights with a grain of salt and keep checking Beebom for further information on Apple’s next goods.
