Apple plans big for 2017

2016 has been a mixed year for Apple, with the launch of the iPhone 7 and MacBook Pro. The company sure tried something fresh to the table by ditching the audio jack, an unpopular choice which was then compensated with the launch of AirPods.

The company also witnessed its first decline in the iPhone sales in 2016. However, 2017 can see a huge turn around in the sales numbers, considering the revision the next iPhone will witness. Besides, major iPad changes, software enhancements and refreshed desktop Macs are also expected.

iPhone 8

Rumours about the iPhone 8 started piling up before the iPhone 7 was even launched, so we have a lot of information regarding the device. It looks like there's going to be at least three iPhone models, and one of those will have an OLED display.

According to few online reports, the iPhone 8 will be eliminating the Home Button, integrating the Touch ID scanner beneath the display itself. Ambient light sensors, microphone, and camera may also be located under the display for a true single piece of glass look.

The next iPhone will also include a faster A11 processor, more advanced biometric features like improved facial recognition techniques or perhaps even iris scanning. Dual cameras will surely make a comeback in the bigger variant, but optical image stabilisation could be added to both the lenses.

MacBook Pro

Apple came up with a Touch Bar for the 2016 MacBooks, and if the company sticks to the upgrade cycle, we’ll see a enhanced internal components with the next MacBook iteration. New upgrades can include Kaby Lake processors and minor price cuts, but no external design changes are expected for the next several years.

iOS 11

Apple introduces a new version of its mobile operating system for iPhones and iPads on a yearly basis, and in 2017, we're expecting to see iOS 11. If the rumours are to be believed, the company is also building its own social networking app that will go against the likes of Snapchat and Facebook.

Apple has also been exploring augmented and virtual reality with a dedicated AR/VR team, and some kind of augmented reality feature could potentially be introduced in iOS 11.

Apple Watch

We haven’t heard any rumours about the next generation of the Apple Watch. But if we are going to get one, it could be unveiled alongside the iPhone 8. The new watch is expected to feature a faster processor at its heart with design changes and new sensors that Apple was not able to build into the first and second-generation versions.