Apple event 2021: Spring Loaded stream time, UK date – and latest rumours including new Apple TV, iPad and Mac

Apple has confirmed it will hold a virtual event next week, at which it is expected to reveal several new products.

The event – the company’s first of 2021 – will again take place online in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

An Apple spring event was rumoured to be in the works for a while, with suggestions the hardware giant may be ready to unveil a new iPad Pro and other new accessories.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What will be announced?

Reports have suggested Apple will announce a new version of the iPad Pro, which is said to feature a new mini-LED backlit display

If rumours of a new iPad Pro do come to be true, it’s expected the product will see a spring launch window not long after the event itself.

It's also thought that Apple’s iPad Mini may get an update, with rumours suggesting it will get a larger screen 8.4 inches from corner to corner. If such a product is confirmed, it’s likely it will be delayed for release until the autumn, however.

The company may also reveal updated Apple TV hardware, with increased internal processing power that could put it on a par with games consoles like the Nintendo Switch and PS4.

Headphone fans could also be in for a treat with rumours swirling that Apple is ready to unveil its long rumoured AirPods Pro Lite, which are thought to be positioned price wise between the wireless charging standard AirPods, and the AirPods Pro.

Apple could also reveal a number of accessories, which could include the much-rumoured AirTags. These Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices can be attached to items like keys and wallets to help prevent users losing them.

Mac fans may also get some exciting news in the form of revisions of the iMac, with rumours suggesting larger screens, Face ID technology and Apple’s new, more powerful M1X processor under the hood.

That processor is also expected to come to any new MacBook Pros that might be announced, with rumours hinting at a design revision for the 2.0GHz 13 inch MacBook Pro that could involve a bigger screen.

When is it?

The event will take place on Tuesday 20 April, and will be streamed live at 6pm UK time.

Confirmation of the event came after Apple’s virtual assistant Siri appeared to reveal plans for the event, responding to questions from some users with the date before it was officially announced by the company.

Asking the voice assistant when the next live event is triggered a response that a “special event” will take place at the company’s California headquarters on Tuesday 20 April.

Siri’s message, which was also displayed on-screen, was: “The special event is on Tuesday, April 20th, at Apple Park in Cupertino, CA. You can get all the details on Apple.com.”

The response was first reported by the US website MacRumours, but was later corrected by Apple, with Siri directing people to the company’s website for event news and no longer mentioning a date.

Apple is to continue running its events virtually until at least the summer, having already said it will hold its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) virtually for the second consecutive year when it takes place in June.