If you’ve been waiting for Apple to kick off its 2025 hardware releases, you won’t have to wait much longer. On Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a tease on X about the “newest member of the family” making its debut on February 19.
While you can’t tell by the static image we’ve posted here, Cook’s post is actually an animation where the Apple logo looks like it has chrome flowing through it.
Tim Cook/X
Macworld’s David Price points out that the image looks like an AirTag, which has a polished aluminum cap with an Apple logo on it. A new AirTag isn’t completely out of the question; last November, we found out that Apple had been running “manufacturing tests” on a new AirTag, so it could be the product being referred to by Cook. But it’s unlikely a $29 accessory would garner such a teaser from Apple’s CEO.
Or perhaps the X image can be interpreted as the Apple logo on the back of an iPhone. The iPhone SE was thought to debut this week, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said last Tuesday that it “should be announced by next week.” It’s also entirely possible Apple could release a new iPhone SE and a new AirTag, though Cook’s reference to “newest member” is in the singular (if you get pedantic about it).
Cook’s phrasing suggests a redesign and rebranding for the iPhone SE, both of which have been heavily rumored. Apple’s new budget phone is expected to feature a new iPhone 14-style design with a USB-C port and support for Apple Intelligence. Apple might also change the name of the phone to iPhone 16E to bring it in line with the current models.
Another product with a polished aluminum logo is the MacBook Air. Gurman has reported that the M4 MacBook Air will be released “within weeks.” The new Air would arrive 11 months after the M3 MacBook Air. Apple is also expected to unveil the 11th-generation iPad, but there have been few reports of it in the rumor mill. The current 10th-gen iPad was released in October 2022, so its update is due.
Apple’s releases in 2025 so far have been software (and Apple TV+ shows and OS updates). On Wednesday, the Apple TV Android app was made available in the Google Play store. Last week, the Invites app was released. Earlier this month, Apple released the Black Unit Collection (which includes a commemorative Apple Watch band) to celebrate Black History Month. Apple kicked off 2025 with new Fitness+ content.
For more information about what we could see next week, check out the following:
