Apple's upcoming products appear to be have been revealed by its own software update.
The company is planning to update the iPod Touch as well as releasing new iPads, according to details discovered in a software update recently made available for iPhones.
Though it is not clear when the new products will arrive, their inclusion in the beta update suggests that they will be available within the coming months.
Code within iOS 12.2 – a beta version of the iPhone and iPad software, which has been made available to developers – includes references to four new iPads, in cellular and WiFi versions, alongside an update version of the iPod Touch. The details were discovered by Stephen Troughton-Smith, a developer who has found a range of leaks inside Apple's own releases.
The code also seems to suggest the iPads will keep using the TouchID fingerprint sensor, rather than Apple's FaceID. That facial recognition technology was first unveiled with the iPhone X and came to the iPad line last year with the updates to the iPad Pro, but appears not to be arriving across the iPad line yet.
It also suggests that Apple could finally update the iPad Mini, which has not been altered since 2015. The four versions presumably refer to two different sizes, each with WiFi or a cellular connection, and so probably indicate there will be a normal-sized and smaller tablet.
The leaks also suggest that the iPod Touch does not have any form of biometric identification. The current iPod Touch – which was also last updated in 2015 – does not have a fingerprint sensor and relies on users inputting a passcode to unlock it.
Numerous leaks have suggested that updates to the iPad Mini and iPad Touch are finally on their way, after years of staying largely unmentioned. Apple might also be planning to release a new version of its AirPods wireless earphones soon.
