Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple’s next case rebrand

• The latest iOS updates are odd

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Would you buy a battery-powered home camera if Apple made it?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you buy Apple-branded cases for your iPhone? Why or why not? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

📱 Apple’s Case Rebrand

Apple might be launching a new line of cases for the iPhone 17 series. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is rumored to launch a new TechWoven line of cases for the iPhone 17 series!

• In 2023, Apple introduced FineWoven, an eco-friendly material that replaced its leather accessories for the iPhone 15 series.

• But this was a major flop, with many users reporting stains, scratches, and the cases simply ripping apart after less than a year. So, Apple discontinued FineWoven last September.

• Now, Apple is taking another shot with TechWoven. And while these cases will still use fabric instead of leather, they’re said to offer enhanced durability and have a non-slip texture for improved grip.

• They’re also expected to have MagSafe support and two lanyard holes for convenient and secure carrying.

• The cases are said to come in black, brown, blue, green, and purple colors.

My take: After the FineWoven fiasco, I think a lot of customers will be skeptical this time - it’s quite frankly a risk for Apple. But if TechWoven truly fixes the durability issues and adds lanyard holes, it’ll be a risk worth taking.

I still miss Apple’s leather cases. So looks like it’ll be another year of using third-party cases for my iPhones.

And remember, this is technically still a leak, but given how close we are to announcement day, it’s likely somewhat accurate. This also serves as another signal that Apple will be switching the rear camera design for the Pro models. That in itself is another risk for Apple, design-wise.

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😳 Important Software Updates

This week, Apple launched an important security update. There’s also another lawsuit brewing from last week’s update. Here’s what’s going on.

The security threat

• Apple released iOS 18.6.2 this week with one simple change: to address a zero-day vulnerability in the software.

• Apple patched a flaw in iOS and iPadOS (CVE-2025-43300) tied to the Image I/O framework, which handles opening and saving images.

• Hackers figured out a way to sneak malicious code into a photo file, so just opening or even receiving that picture could corrupt your phone’s memory and give them a way in.

• Apple says this was an “extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.”

• This is a must-update, so you won’t be vulnerable to this exploit.

• This bug was present in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so that’s why updates came out for all platforms earlier this week.

The new lawsuit

• Last week, Apple released iOS 18.6.1 to bring back a revamped version of the Blood Oxygen monitoring feature for Apple Watch users in the US. This came years after Masimo sued Apple over it.

• Well, this workaround has led to a fresh lawsuit from Masimo.

• Masimo filed a new lawsuit in D.C. federal court, accusing U.S. Customs of unlawfully letting Apple import watches with blood oxygen tech.

• Customs ruled on August 1st that Apple’s redesigned approach was allowed, but Masimo says it only learned about it on August 14th, when Apple publicly announced the feature’s return.

• Apple’s workaround shifts blood oxygen calculations to the iPhone, instead of the Watch, though Masimo argues it still infringes its patents.

• Masimo is asking for a restraining order and injunction to block Customs’ ruling, saying the agency’s job is to enforce the ITC’s ban, not create loopholes for Apple.

My take: Masimo is pushing hard here, but Apple doesn’t look like it’s backing down.

The patents in question specifically cover processing on a “user-worn device” (the Watch). Apple’s workaround shifts that processing to the iPhone, which is why Customs approved it.

Masimo’s patents don’t expire until August 2028, so they’ll keep fighting, but with Customs already siding with Apple, I don’t see this update getting rolled back.

As for the iOS 18.6.2 update, it’s pretty self-explanatory. Install this update ASAP.

📰 Quick Bites

• Spotify copies Apple Music’s AutoMix feature before iOS 26 even ships

• UK drops demand for backdoor into Apple encryption

• Apple TV+ Price Increase Announced

• Y Combinator Backs Epic Games, Says App Store Fees Stifle Startups

• Apple Finally Destroyed Steve Jobs’ Vision of the iPad. Good

• New Apple Watch With Touch ID and More Uncovered in Leaked Code

• iPhone Driver's License Support Expands to Montana

• South Park mocks Tim Cook’s golden gift to Donald Trump

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple’s AI hardware plans

• The $599 MacBook

• Big changes in iOS 26 Betas

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you want a ChatGPT-like chatbot from Apple?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Would you buy a battery-powered home camera if Apple made it? Would you ditch your Ring/Nest camera for it? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

⚙️ Apple’s AI Hardware Roadmap

Decoder

Apple is planning its most aggressive move into the smart-home market with some new AI hardware, along with a revamped Siri. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is planning to release a tabletop robot in 2027 that will feature a lifelike Siri with conversational abilities, face tracking for video calls, and a design nicknamed the “Pixar Lamp.”

• Both the robot and smart display will run a new OS called Charismatic, designed for multiuser households with voice-focused controls and facial recognition.

• The iPhone screen might even serve as a joystick for letting users move the robot to show different people in a room during video calls.

• As for the “lifelike Siri” that will be able to engage with users throughout the day and more easily recall information. It’s being designed to engage in back-and-forth discussions for things like planning a trip or getting tasks done. This will be similar to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode.

• This new Siri will also get a visual overhaul, with the report indicating that it could look like an animated version of the Finder logo.

• Apple is also working on battery-powered cameras with facial recognition and automation features for household functions, aiming to compete with Ring and Nest.

• But before those products come, we’ll get a new smart home speaker with a display in mid-2026, along with the revamped Siri (aka LLM Siri) in the Spring.

My take: With all of the negativity surrounding Apple and AI lately, this is the kind of news that was needed to remind people Apple is still going to be a big player in AI software and hardware.

I think the most interesting thing from this report is the “lifelike Siri” that’ll be added to the tabletop robot. If you’ve used ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, you can envision how useful this would be to have built-in to a (seemingly) always-on robot on your kitchen counter. This will be especially useful with the built-in HomeKit support and access to all of your other Apple applications like Notes, Reminders, etc.

With that being said, I think it’s best to take these release dates with a grain of salt, as Apple has not officially announced any of this yet. Let’s start with the release of LLM Siri next Spring, then we can start to get more excited for the future hardware.

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😳 The $599 MacBook

MacRumors

Apple is rumored to launch a new low-cost MacBook as early as later this year. Here are the details.

• Apple’s low-cost MacBook could start at just $599 and launch in late 2025 or early 2026, according to a new report from DigiTimes.

• This MacBook is expected to have a 12.9-inch display and the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro. This would be the first Mac ever to be powered by an iPhone processor!

• The A18 Pro chip lacks Thunderbolt support, so it will likely have standard USB-C ports instead.

• Based on prior reports, this laptop will be ultra-thin, lightweight, and come in Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow finishes.

• Annual shipments could hit 5-7 million units, boosting MacBook sales by 30-40%!

• The current MacBook Air starts at $999 ($899 for students), so this would be Apple’s cheapest MacBook by a wide margin.

My take: If Apple releases a $600 MacBook, it will sell like hotcakes, and I do not think that anybody buying it will care that it’s being powered by an iPhone chip or care about Thunderbolt support.

I can see this becoming the go-to device for a kid’s first laptop after they graduate from an iPad. Or for someone older who doesn’t do anything but check their email and browse the news.

I do find it funny that we have iPads with Mac chips, and soon a MacBook with an iPhone chip.

🍏 Latest iOS 26 Betas Get Big Improvements

This week, Apple dropped a new round of Betas for iOS 26, and they offer the best experience yet. Here's the latest.

• On Monday, Apple released iOS 26 Beta 6 to developers, and it comes with several new changes, including a dramatic change to app launching speeds!

• Apple has significantly sped up the animation speed when you tap to open an application from your Home Screen. So much so that the comments on my video have people convinced that this makes their phone feel brand new.

• This update also includes multiple new ringtones. One of them is called Dreamer and it’s so good that Mashable called it their song of the summer, and a follower made a 1-hour version of it.

• Also in the update: Apple removed the Camera scrolling toggle, some tweaks were made to Liquid Glass, there’s a new onboarding process, and more.

• Later in the week, on Thursday, Apple released iOS 26 Public Beta 3. And because this update had a new build number, Apple re-released Developer Beta 6 to align the build numbers.

• Also on Thursday, we saw the public release of iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 to bring back the Blood Oxygen monitoring feature! I made a video on this update to show how it works.

My take: For the first time in the iOS 26 Beta cycle, I can say that Beta 6 feels significantly better than prior builds. You can still tell it’s in Beta, but I think most would find it to be quite stable. We should be seeing iOS 26 release to the public in about a month from now!

📰 Quick Bites

• 'A19 Pro' Chip Coming to Studio Display 2

• Report: Apple Testing Revamped Siri With Apps Like Uber & YouTube

• Live Translation Coming to AirPods

• iPhone 17 Pro to Start at $1,049 With Doubled Base Storage

• Elon Musk Threatens to Sue Apple Over App Store Rankings

• Apple Denies Musk's ChatGPT Favoritism Claims, Says App Store Has No Bias

• Netflix Finally Rolls Out Redesigned Interface to Apple TV

• United Airlines Now Lets You Watch Hit Apple TV+ Shows For Free

• MacBook Pro With OLED Might Launch Later Than Expected

• AOL Dial-Up Internet Service to End After 34 Years

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• iPhone 17 Pro exposed in public

• Apple’s Plans for U.S. Manufacturing

• Apple’s New AI Team

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you purchase AppleCare for your Apple products?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you want a ChatGPT-like chatbot from Apple? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

😳 Apple Employee Exposes iPhone 17 Pro

SkyFops/X

An Apple employee was spotted out in San Francisco using a pre-release iPhone 17 Pro, and the internet lost its mind! Here’s what happened.

• A random user on X posted a pair of photos claiming to have seen a pre-release iPhone 17 Pro out in the wild.

• And the images looked legit from the jump, despite many instantly writing them off as AI-generated or staged.

• If you look closely, you’ll notice that the position of the flash and LiDAR scanner looks exactly like the leaks/renders we’ve been seeing for months.

• In a separate image, the user shows the screen of the iPhone 17 Pro and it appears to have a privacy screen protector on it to avoid anything else getting out there.

My take: We haven’t seen a pre-release iPhone in the wild since the iPhone 4 fiasco back in 2010! And while this is a rare event, it’s not totally unbelievable.

I also don’t think this employee will get fired or punished because he was simply out in the real world testing the new phone, exactly what he was instructed to do.

The phone is concealed with a thick case and a protective screen protector for a reason: Apple knew that it would be seen by random people.

It’s no different than pre-release cars that drive on public roads with a wrap on the car to conceal the details. Real-world testing is a critical part of the testing process for any consumer tech product, especially something like an iPhone.

I just think it’s cool that we got confirmation that all of the leaks from the past few months have been accurate!

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🍏 Apple’s Secret New Team

Apple has formed a secret “Answers” team to create a stripped-down ChatGPT rival. Here’s what to know.

• Apple is reversing course on its “no-chatbot” stance, forming a new Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) team to build a ChatGPT-like search experience.

• The group is led by Robby Walker (the former head of Siri), and they’re developing an “answer engine” that can crawl the web and respond to general-knowledge questions.

• A standalone app is being explored, along with new infrastructure to bring AI-powered search to Siri, Spotlight, and Safari.

• Job listings show that Apple is also hiring engineers with search algorithm expertise, signaling that the project is still early but moving forward.

• Apple’s AI search product will compete with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Perplexity.

• Meanwhile, Apple’s more conversational Siri is still delayed until at least iOS 27. So maybe not even in iOS 27.0.

My take: It’s refreshing to see Apple go back on its word for something that we all knew they were wrong about at the time. People DO want chatbots. They DO want AI browsers. And now Apple will finally deliver its own, eventually.

If you’ve never used an AI Browser, I highly recommend you do so. They’re amazing, and they have almost replaced Safari for me. Dia, specifically.

 🇺🇸 Apple Goes American (Again)

This week, Apple announced its biggest investment ever: a $600 billion pledge to U.S. manufacturing over the next four years. But, this isn’t the first time.

• Apple is boosting its U.S. manufacturing investment to $600B, adding $100B to the $500B pledge it made earlier this year.

• The new American Manufacturing Program (AMP) will focus on advanced manufacturing in the U.S., partnering with 10 major companies like Corning, Texas Instruments, Samsung, GlobalFoundries, and Broadcom.

• $2.5B will go to Corning to build the world’s largest smartphone glass production line in Kentucky.

• Soon, 100% of iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass will be made in the U.S.

• Apple and Corning will also open an Apple-Corning Innovation Center for advanced materials and next-gen manufacturing.

• Tim Cook even gave Donald Trump a gift from Apple before announcing the $2.5 billion Kentucky investment.

My take: If you feel like you’ve heard this before, it’s because you have. And keep in mind: iPhone and Apple Watch glass has been made in Corning’s U.S. factories for years, so this is basically just Apple doubling down on the initiative.

We all know that these big U.S. investments win favor with the government, and that gives Apple leverage in trade negotiations and regulatory battles. Also, a big part of this play is to avoid future tariffs, which is important for Apple.

And as much as Trump might want it, I don’t see the iPhone ever being fully manufactured in the U.S. because it would be far too expensive. Components, yes. Full device, no.

What are the odds that all of these “plans” take place before Trump leaves office? It’s anyone’s guess!

📰 Quick Bites

• 28 Years Later Director Danny Boyle Innovates with iPhone [Video]

• Apple iPhone 17 Event Set for September 9, German Carrier Sources Claim

• MacBook Pro With OLED Display to Launch Late Next Year

• iPhone 17 Air Battery Allegedly 2.49mm – Half the Thickness of 17 Pro's

• Apple Reportedly Developing Its Own Custom Image Sensor for iPhone

• Employees Arrested Over Alleged Theft of Chip Tech for Apple A20 Chip

• Apple set to purchase another Silicon Valley campus for $365 million

• Introducing Chat GPT-5

• Photoshop Gets New AI Editing Tools

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple sues YouTuber Over iOS 26 Leaks

• iOS 26 Public Beta launches

• A new solution for multiple Apple products

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Would you buy a lighter and cheaper version of the Vision Pro?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you purchase AppleCare for your Apple products? Why or why not? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

😳 Apple Sues YouTuber Over iOS 26 Leaks

Apple is going after a YouTuber who obtained iOS 26 information ahead of its launch. Here’s the story.

• Apple is suing Jon Prosser over allegedly obtaining iOS 26 trade secrets and

• According to the lawsuit, Prosser offered money or a future job opportunity to Mike Ramacciotti to break into his friend’s development iPhone.

• That friend, Ethan Lipnik, was an Apple software engineer who had an early build of iOS 26 on the device at the time.

• So, with the promise of compensation, Ramacciotti watched Lipnik unlock the phone to get his passcode.

• He then went to his house (as a friend), but stayed back when Lipnik decided to leave the house. That’s when he tracked his location and broke into the development phone.

• That’s when Ramacciotti FaceTimed Prosser, who screen recorded the call, sent it to others, and used it to make renders for his leak videos.

• Apple learned the details of this breach via an anonymous email in April. The email claimed to have seen the recording and noticed Lipnik’s apartment.

Apple v. Ramacciotti and Prosser

• Apple also claims to have an audio note of Ramacciotti apologizing, saying the scheme was “all Prosser’s idea.”

• The Apple engineer, Ethan Lipnik, was terminated for failing to follow security policies.

• Prosser has responded to the lawsuit, saying that he was “unaware of how the information was obtained.”

• Since this is currently a civil lawsuit, Prosser is presumed innocent until proven liable. More to come.

My take: This has to be one of the wildest Apple leak stories I’ve ever heard. This case has the potential to go to trial given the malicious intent, but I can’t imagine it will make it that far. The more likely scenario in these cases is an agreement of some sort. Maybe Prosser will just have to agree to never post Apple leaks on this channel again, instead of facing the legal threats.

Also, after reading comments online about this story, there seems to be confusion surrounding leaks vs. reporting on leaks/rumors. As you can read above, the parties involved in this breach did not just sit at their computer and write an article based on information they saw elsewhere - they were the ones who received and spread the trade secrets.

Most YouTube creators, journalists, and social media users are just reporting on leaks or rumors that come from anonymous insiders. That’s not illegal, it’s just a form of journalism. The insiders who provide intel to big publications stay anonymous to protect themselves from situations like this.

🍏 AppleCare Gets Makeover

Apple

If you own multiple Apple devices, Apple’s newly announced AppleCare plan might be worth checking out! Here’s what you need to know.

• Apple just launched a new AppleCare plan called AppleCare One.

• This plan allows you to add coverage for up to 3 products for $19.99/month, with the ability to add more for $5.99/month per device.

• The plan includes all of the benefits that come with AppleCare+, such as unlimited repairs, battery coverage, theft and loss protection (including for iPad and Apple Watch), etc.

• Subscribers can add existing devices up to 4 years old, and you can move devices in and out of the plan at any time.

• Apple says that a customer who enrolls their ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and Apple Watch could save up to $11/month versus enrolling in separate ‌AppleCare‌+ plans.

• This is only available in the US, and you can sign up here.

My take: This is a good deal, but only if you’re someone who gets the latest, high-end products.

For example, if you have an iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Vision Pro, and M4 iPad Pro, it would cost you $47/month for AppleCare+. You’d save a decent amount by switching to this AppleCare One plan. But that’s an outlier. For most people, this plan might save you a couple of bucks a month.

The real benefits of this plan are: the ability to add devices up to 4 years old (instead of the typical 60-day window), and the ability to freely move devices in and out of the plan at any time.

The only thing stopping it from being a GREAT deal is, well, two things: 1) all devices need to be on the same Apple account. And 2) there’s no annual payment option, only monthly.

📲 iOS 26 Public Beta Launches

This week, Apple launched iOS 26 Developer Beta 4 and the first iOS 26 Public Beta. Here’s the latest.

• On Tuesday, Apple released iOS 26 Beta 4 to registered developers. It contained a notable change to the Liquid Glass design, reverting back to being more glass-like (like in Beta 1 and 2).

• There were several additional changes in iOS 26 Beta 4, and I covered them in my what’s new video.

• Then, on Thursday, Apple released iOS 26 Public Beta 1 alongside a revised version of iOS 26 Developer Beta 4. Both software versions are the same, as they have matching build numbers (23A5297m).

• I made a video outlining how to install the Public Beta, along with answers to some frequently asked questions related to Betas.

• The final, stable build of iOS 26 is expected in September, so there will be additional Beta releases leading up to that.

My take: I’ve been using iOS 26 Beta 4, which is essentially the same as Public Beta 1, for around 3 days, and it is by far the most stable build yet. It’s still not what I’d consider “stable” since it’s a Beta, but I’ve seen much worse.

As long as you’re fine with taking a hit to performance and battery life in exchange for early access to the new features, I think it’s fine to install on a main, daily device. Just be aware that there will be bugs and that you need to report them in the Feedback app.

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple rumored to introduce new “Liquid Glass” color for iPhone 17 Pro

• The First Foldable iPhone Will Arrive Next Year in Un-Apple-Like Fashion

• Apple Shares New Customizable Wallpaper With Mix-and-Match Options

• Apple Seemingly Working on Sleep Score Feature for Apple Watch

• BMW Confirms It Has No Plans to Offer CarPlay Ultra

• T-Mobile's Starlink Satellite Service Officially Launches

• Foldable iPhone's Display Sizes Leaked

• New Case Brings USB-C Port to Lightning iPhones

• Sonos names Tom Conrad permanent CEO

• WhatsApp Tests Reminders for Specific Messages

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Siri might never be the same again.

• Apple’s roadmap for its “Vision” products

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you use AI apps on your iPhone?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Would you buy a lighter and cheaper version of the Vision Pro? Why or why not? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

🍏 The End of Siri?

MacRumors

We’ve been hearing for years that Apple would finally improve Siri - only to be let down again and again. Now, even Apple seems to realize it’s at a point where it might need to make a tough call. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is in talks with OpenAI and Anthropic to potentially power a revamped Siri with third-party AI models.

• This would mark a major strategic shift, acknowledging that Apple’s in-house models may not be up to par.

• Apple has asked for custom versions of Claude and ChatGPT to run on its Private Cloud Compute servers.

• This would help Apple maintain its strong privacy stance while outsourcing the AI brainpower.

• Anthropic’s AI is currently the frontrunner, and Apple has already discussed a potential multibillion-dollar per year deal.

• That steep price tag is why Apple is still keeping OpenAI and other options in play.

• A new LLM-powered Siri is still in development for iOS 27, while the Apple Intelligence Siri features remain delayed to iOS 26.4 next year.

• In the meantime, Apple plans to lean on partnerships to keep up with AI expectations. This explains the report of Apple potentially acquiring Perplexity soon.

• The shift has caused internal tensions, as Apple’s AI team fears the move signals broader abandonment of in-house efforts. Key engineers have already left, including top LLM researcher Tom Gunter.

My take: Well, this was not on my bingo card. Instead of Apple sticking to its in-house models for the “ChatGPT-like Siri,” they’re looking to outsource it to speed things up.

Does this mean Apple is giving up on its own models? Of course not. I see this as a stop-gap solution while Apple continues to polish its foundation models. They’re giving us something, instead of nothing at all.

I’m not worried about privacy since Apple would route the third-party AI services through its own PCC servers, just like it currently does with the ChatGPT integration.

So at the end of the day, I think this is a solid move for Apple. This would instantly give users the feeling that Siri is far better than it’s ever been - even if it’s not actually Siri doing any of the work. All while Apple continues to make its models as good, fast, and accurate as possible before shipping.

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👓 Apple's Secret Vision Roadmap

Apple has seven AR/VR products in the works, including three Vision headsets and four smart glasses models. Here’s the latest on Apple’s roadmap.

2025

• Apple plans to launch a refreshed Vision Pro with an M5 chip this year. This will only be a refresh, not a true “second generation” model.

• Mass production is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025 and Apple is expecting to ship 150,000–200,000 units this year.

2027

• Apple plans to debut the Apple Smart Glasses in 2027. 

• These will be similar to the Meta Ray-Bans: no display, but will include audio playback, photo/video capabilities, gesture control, and AI-powered environmental awareness.

• Just like Meta, Apple will offer multiple frame and temple material options.

• These smart glasses could replace AirPods or the iPhone camera in certain situations.

• The glasses will be more of a lifestyle product, so Apple is expecting big sales volume: 3-5M units in the launch year.

• Also in 2027, we’re expecting to see the Vision Air.

• This will feature an all-new form factor, be over 40% lighter than the original Vision Pro, and use an iPhone chip instead of an M-series chip, all while coming in at a significantly lower price.

2028

• 2028 is when the “real” second-generation Apple Vision Pro will debut with a completely new design, lighter build, a cheaper price, and a Mac-grade processor.

• Mass production is projected to begin in the second half of 2028.

• Also in 2028, Apple will launch its first pair of XR Glasses!

• These will differ from the Ray-Ban-like glasses because they will have a color Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) display with waveguide optics.

• The XR glasses will include voice and gesture control, but they’ll rely heavily on AI features.

• Mass production is projected for the second half of 2028.

2029 and Later

• An upgraded version of the XR glasses are expected in 2029, but little is known about this device for now.

• Apple has also paused work on a display accessory that tethers to iPhones and Macs. It features display technology from Birdbath optics with electrochromic dimming as an additional key selling point.

• The device was originally scheduled to enter mass production in 2026, but development was paused in 2024 due to lack of competitive edge, specifically related to weight.

• The project is currently under review for “repositioning and specification refinement” and could be restarted at a later, unspecified date.

My take: Apple clearly sees head-mounted devices as the next major trend and AI will play a massive role, especially for the glasses with no screen.

The good news for Apple is they’ve got the hardware and ecosystem advantage. But just like with Siri, the real challenge will be making AI features that actually feel useful and don’t come years after competitors.

We’ll see this play out more as other brands jump in and try to grab early attention in this space. Kuo expects “several” brands to release similar products, so it’ll be fun to watch!

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

• Apple's 'F1: The Movie' roars to top of US, Canada box office

• Apple Planning to Change iPhone 17 Pro's Logo Placement

• Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

• Proton Sues Apple Over 'Artificial and Arbitrary' App Store Fees

• Apple Accuses Former Employee of Stealing Vision Pro Secrets

• Beats and AirPods Headphones Shut Off When You Fall Asleep in iOS 26

• Apple Pauses Work on Foldable iPad

• Injured mountain climber rescued by using Apple satellite texting

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• There’s a CarPlay Ultra roadblock

• Apple buying its way to AI greatness

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Did you install iOS 26 Beta 1 yet?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you use AI apps (ChatGPT, Anthropic, Perplexity, etc) on your iPhone? Why or why not? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

🚗 CarPlay Ultra Roadblock

Apple

Last month, Apple officially rolled out CarPlay Ultra, its next generation of CarPlay. But it has already hit a new roadblock that could spell trouble. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is facing resistance from automakers over CarPlay Ultra, its next-gen dashboard system that aims to take over the entire vehicle interface.

• Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, and Renault have now said they no longer plan to support CarPlay Ultra, despite Apple previously naming them as future partners.

• This is a major shift from Apple’s 2022 announcement, which listed 14 partner brands including those now backing away.

• Some carmakers feel Apple is overstepping, with Renault reportedly telling Apple: “Don’t try to invade our own systems.”

• Automakers are concerned about losing control over their own in-car software and potential revenue streams. CarPlay Ultra controls the full dashboard, showing things like speed, fuel, and climate alongside iPhone apps.

• Aston Martin was the first to launch vehicles with CarPlay Ultra support but more are on the way. Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, and Porsche remain committed.

• Audi, BMW, and others are opting to stick with standard CarPlay, though.

My take: This sentence tells you everything you need to know: "Automakers are concerned about losing control over their own in-car software and potential revenue streams.”

So since the automakers might miss out on revenue, they’re going to offer an inherently worse interface with far less functionality. Not to mention, CarPlay Ultra is optional, not forced. When a user enters the car, they are greeted with the default infotainment until they decide to plug in their phone or connect wirelessly to enable CarPlay.

This is disappointing since surveys continue to show that drivers are more satisfied with CarPlay than the default infotainment system. So clearly the majority of users would love to at least have the option to enable CarPlay Ultra in their vehicle.

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💻 Will Apple Buy its Way to AI Success?

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Apple executives are holding internal discussions about purchasing AI startup Perplexity. Here’s what that could mean.

• Buying Perplexity could help Apple build its own AI-powered search engine, which is a hedge against possibly losing its $20B/year Google search deal due to antitrust scrutiny.

• Perplexity is valued at $14B, meaning a deal would be Apple’s largest-ever acquisition if it proceeds.

• Meta tried and failed to buy Perplexity earlier this year and instead bought 49% of Scale AI. Apple and Meta are both aggressively recruiting top AI talent.

• Apple is also considering partnering with Perplexity, potentially integrating it into Safari and Siri as an alternative to Google.

• A deal may be complicated by Samsung’s upcoming partnership with Perplexity, as Samsung is a direct Apple competitor in AI features.

• Internally, Apple is working on “Project Knowledge,” led by ex-Siri chief Robby Walker, to rival ChatGPT with open web-based answers.

• The talks are early-stage and led by Adrian Perica and Eddy Cue, though no formal bid has been made yet.

My take: Perplexity is basically what Google should be: fast, smart, and actually gives you answers with citations. If Apple wants to level up Siri and get more serious about AI search, this would be a solid move.

And it wouldn’t just be a solid move because of the tech, but also because of the talent that would come along with the acquisition.

Would I rather Apple purchase Anthropic? Of course, but that’s likely far out of budget for them. And it’s clear that Apple intends to purchase its way into AI greatness.

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Considers Theatrical Arm Amid $250M Bet on 'F1: The Movie'

• Foldable iPhone Leak Reveals New Camera Details

• Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

• M5 iPad Pro OLED Displays Enter Mass Production for October Launch

• iPhone 17 Pro's Alleged Vapor Chamber Cooling System Partly Revealed

• Apple sued by shareholders who allege it overstated AI progress

• Samsung's Headset to Offer Better Displays Than Apple Vision Pro

• Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Won't Be Wearable, Court Filings Reveal

• Introducing Oakley Meta Glasses

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple’s secret camera project

• The next MacBook redesign

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Are you a fan of the iOS 26 redesign?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Did you install iOS 26 Beta 1 yet? Why or why not?

🗞️ The Latest

🎥 Apple’s Secret Camera Project

Wired

Apple developed a custom camera using iPhone components to capture high-speed footage for its upcoming film "F1: The Movie." Here’s how and why it’s so fascinating!

• Apple replaced standard F1 broadcast cameras with a bespoke camera module engineered around an ‌iPhone‌ camera sensor.

• Why? Well, because traditional broadcast cameras weren’t cinematic enough.

• These custom modules included a 48MP sensor (likely from iPhone 15 Pro), an A-series chip (likely A17 Pro), an iPhone battery, and a built-in ND filter for better exposure control.

• It ran a custom iOS firmware to capture the footage in ProRes Log, giving editors full control over dynamic range and color grading.

Custom iPad app

• A custom iPad app was built to control the camera via USB-C. This allowed for adjustments to frame rate, exposure, white balance, etc. No wireless radios were used, per F1 rules.

• Apple rigorously tested the system to withstand extreme shock, heat, and vibration, exceeding the durability of standard F1 gear.

• POV footage from real races (in the 2023 & 2024 seasons) will appear throughout the film, blending seamlessly with traditional shots from the movie set.

• This project also directly led to two iPhone 15 Pro features: Log video and ACES color workflow support.

• While the iPhone didn’t do all the heavy lifting alone, this move puts Apple even deeper into high-end film production and tool development.

• The F1 movie joins other films shot on iPhone, like Tangerine and 28 Years Later, showing how far smartphone cinematography has evolved.

• F1: The Movie hits international theaters on June 25, and debuts in the U.S. and IMAX on June 27.

• On a related note: Apple's infamous Shot on iPhone advertising campaign just won a Grand Prix award for Creative Effectiveness at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity!

My take: It’s wild that the camera in our pocket is powerful enough to shoot a major Hollywood film. The best part? When Apple pushes the limits like this, we benefit. ProRes Log for video might’ve never come to the iPhone if it weren’t for this experiment.

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💻 Apple’s MacBook Redesign

Apple is expected to fully redesign the MacBook Pro in 2026, marking five years since its last major revamp. Here’s the latest.

• The biggest change will be the move from mini LED to OLED. This will offer better brightness, contrast, and color accuracy.

• This won’t just be any OLED, though. Apple is expected to borrow the same Tandem OLED tech from the iPad Pro, which stacks two RGB layers for more brightness and improved display longevity.

• The notch may be going away, replaced by a smaller hole-punch camera cutout. This is said to be similar to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island.

• Apple is also focusing on delivering the thinnest and lightest possible device without compromising on battery life or major new features.

• Another possibility is cellular connectivity using Apple’s second-gen 5G modem chip with mmWave. This would be a game-changer.

• Under the hood, we’ll see the debut of the M6 chip family, built on TSMC’s 2nm process. This should be a solid improvement for both performance and efficiency.

• Models will likely include M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max versions in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes.

My take: The MacBook Pro got thicker and heavier with the last redesign in 2021, so I’m expecting the opposite this time around. It seems that Apple is continuing the trend we saw with the iPad Pro: make everything thin and light. And honestly, I’m all for it.

As for features, the one I’m most excited about is cellular connectivity. It’s been at the top of my Mac wishlist for years and would make working on the go so much easier.

Let’s hope this redesign happens in the first half of next year!

📰 Quick Bites

• Google Says iOS 26 Copies Three Android Features [Video]

• How Apple’s New Speech APIs Outpace Whisper for Transcription

• Apple Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over iCloud Backups

• New code in Spotify’s app references the long-awaited ‘lossless’ tier

• Using Ad Blockers on YouTube? Get Ready for Delayed Videos

• Anker is recalling over 1 million power banks due to fire risk

• Trump to delay ban on TikTok again

• Meta brings ads to WhatsApp

• Adobe Firefly App Launches on iOS

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Everything announced at WWDC 2025

• What’s going on with Apple Intelligence?

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Are you more excited for a redesign or new features? Why?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Are you a fan of the iOS 26 redesign? Why or why not?

🗞️ The Latest

⚙️ Apple’s Big Shift

Apple unveiled all of their new software updates at WWDC ‘25 and just as rumored, the numbering scheme has been changed across the board to match the year. So now, every OS ends with “26” for the year 2026. The new Liquid Glass redesign was also rolled out across every OS.

Here’s a rundown of the standout features from each update, what apps got “sherlocked,” and some thoughts.

iOS 26

• iOS 26 brings the biggest visual overhaul since iOS 7. Icons and UI elements now feature a sleek, glass-like finish making them feel more modern than iOS 18. Also, tilting your phone causes light to refract off the app icons, creating a subtle shimmer effect.

• The Messages app gets polls, chat backgrounds, typing indicators in group chats, a new section for unknown senders so it doesn’t clog up your actual messages, a “select" option to copy certain text from messages, and more.

• The Phone app gets a redesign and includes major new features such as Call Screening, where an unknown caller needs to state why they’re calling before it rings on your end. Along with that, it includes Hold Assist, Live Translation, and being able to mark voicemails as spam.

• Music gets a new AutoMix feature for better transitions, full-screen animated album art on the Lock Screen, an option to pin music, folders for playlists, and more.

• Screenshots have been revamped with a new look and, for Apple Intelligence-compatible devices, features Visual Intelligence. This allows you to take a screenshot and search Google for similar images, or ask ChatGPT for more details. It’s basically an improved version of Android’s Circle to Search feature.

• The Battery screen in settings has a new look, there’s a new Adaptive power mode, and Battery Intelligence will show you how long it’ll take until your battery finishes charging on the Lock Screen.

• Camera gets its first major redesign in years, with a much simpler UI, a new notification if the camera lens is dirty, camera control adjustments, and more.

• Here’s my detailed video covering everything new in iOS 26 (so far).

iPadOS 26

• This was the biggest update to the iPad…maybe ever! And that’s because iPadOS is finally more like macOS.

• There’s a new Windowing system for multitasking that is far more flexible than Stage Manager and adds a new flick gesture, app expose, and works with external displays.

• There are new macOS-like window control buttons (Close, Minimize, Full-Screen), along with a Menu Bar up top that has the same File, Edit, View, and History tabs that we’re used to on the Mac.

• Files finally gets closer to a real file management system with resizable columns, collapsible folders, customizable folders, and the ability to change the app that certain file types open in by default.

• You can now run intensive tasks, like video exports, in the background.

• Here’s a video covering everything new in iPadOS 26 (so far).

macOS Tahoe 26

• macOS 26 gets the Liquid Glass treatment, along with a transparent menu bar, a new Brightness & Volume HUD (finally), a redesigned Control Center, and even a new cursor!

• Spotlight search has been supercharged with a clipboard manager, the ability to run app/system actions, and a spotlight search that actually shows you the files you’re looking for.

• There are four new apps: Phone, Journal, Games, and Magnifier. Along with a revamped Preview app and Automations added to Shortcuts.

• Continuity with the iPhone is also improved with Live Activities support. The app will open on iPhone when you click the live activity on Mac.

• Here’s a video covering everything new in macOS 26 Tahoe (so far).

watchOS 26 & Others

• watchOS 26 gets a new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications, the Notes app, an AI-powered Workout Buddy, automatic volume adjustment based on your ambient noise, and the new Liquid Glass design. Minor update!

• tvOS 26 was even more minor than watchOS. Aside from design changes, it gets the ability to select a profile on wake, gets Apple Music Sing with the iPhone mic, you can set a permanent AirPlay speaker, and you can link login information to your Apple Account.

• visionOS 26 was a big update. Personas got their most significant upgrade yet, to the point where it actually looks like a real person on a call with you. Spatial Scenes are incredibly cool, you can finally join another Vision Pro user (in the same room) for spatial experiences, there’s spatial browsing in Safari, and much more.

Sherlocked Apps

AppleInsider

Every year, Apple unveils new features that mimic the functionality of popular third-party apps. This is referred to as “sherlocking,” and here are the latest victims.

• Truecaller and Robokiller: iOS 26 comes with a new call screening feature that forces an unknown caller to state why they’re calling before it rings on your end. This is even better than third-party screening apps.

• Notes apps for Apple Watch: watchOS 26 brings the Notes app to Apple Watch.

• Package tracking apps: Apple Wallet adds a new Apple Intelligence-powered feature that automatically identifies and adds tracking details from emails sent from merchants and delivery carriers.

• Bartender and Ice: macOS Tahoe allows you to control which third-party apps are allowed to be displayed in the menu bar.

• Riverside: The new Local Capture feature in iPadOS 26 allows users to record video & audio locally while on a call, so they can share recordings with others for podcast creation.

• Flighty: Apple finally adds live activities to flight tracking with iOS 26, along with airport navigation and gate information in Maps. Flighty is still much more powerful though, so it will likely benefit from Apple’s addition.

• Raycast and Alfred: macOS 26 adds actions to Spotlight, allowing you to run system commands and set custom keyboard shortcuts straight from Spotlight. The two alternatives are also more powerful than Apple’s, so they’ll likely benefit.

• PastePal and Clipboard managers: macOS Tahoe also adds clipboard history to spotlight.

• Alex for Xcode: Xcode 26 adds ChatGPT as the default assistant and allows developers to integrate other AI models using API keys.

My take: Wow, this WWDC was one of the best in recent memory. No AI promises, no filler, just pure software features like it should be.

I love the new Liquid Glass design. It might be my favorite design language yet from Apple. The UI elements, the animations, and the hidden Home Bar in applications. Chefs kiss. It just feels more modern compared to iOS 18. I haven’t felt that way since iOS 14.

Aside from the design, iOS 26 isn’t as feature-packed as iOS 18, as expected. But I do think the Messages and Phone features are going to be a huge hit for average consumers. Not being forced to pick up a spam call until they explain why they’re calling is huge, as is live translation, and hold assist.

Aside from that, I’ve been loving Visual Intelligence with screenshots, AutoMix in Apple Music is insanely good (when it works), the CarPlay additions are great, and I can’t wait to try out the new boarding pass features.

For watchOS 26, I’ve been enjoying the Notes app more than anything. Being able to quickly create a note by lifting your wrist and talking to Siri is so clutch!

But I think iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and visionOS 26 were the biggest winners from WWDC.

After years of hearing the same rumor over and over again, the iPad is finally more macOS-like! The new Windowing feature is excellent, coming from someone who disliked Stage Manager with a passion. Oh, and the new Windowing mode is even available on the base $300 iPad. Awesome!

I can’t believe it. Spotlight search on Mac actually shows me the result for the file I was looking for. It’s a miracle!

Aside from that huge change, I’ve been loving the clipboard manager feature, and even though it only holds the last 8 hours of clips, I rarely ever need to go back that far anyway. I’ll be ditching my third-party solution now.

Also, the Liquid Glass design shines extra bright on macOS, especially in dark mode. I think I like it on Mac better than anywhere else.

And the Vision Pro got a massive update that has gone overlooked by many, for obvious reasons.

Overall, I was impressed with WWDC 2025 and I love how Apple didn’t make any new Apple Intelligence promises that they couldn’t keep.

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📲 What’s up with Apple Intelligence?

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There was a stark contrast between this year’s WWDC and last year’s: Apple Intelligence dominated the conversation in 2024, while it was barely mentioned this time around. Let’s discuss.

• There were some additions to Apple Intelligence, such as Visual Intelligence with screenshots, ChatGPT in Image Playground, Workout Buddy on watchOS 26, Live Translation, and contextually-aware Spotlight on macOS 26.

• But developers got one of the biggest AI features this time around: access to Apple’s Foundation Models.

• Apple is now giving developers access to its AI models through the new Foundation Models framework.

• This lets developers integrate more advanced AI features into their apps while leveraging Apple’s on-device systems with “as few as three lines of code.”

Upgraded Siri Gets New Hope

Apple

One thing missing, though, was any mention of Siri. And now we know why.

• Apple’s Siri revamp is now expected in iOS 26.4 next spring.

• This new Siri will understand personal context, have precise control over actions inside applications, and more.

• If they stick to this timeframe, Apple will have gone nearly two years between announcing the new Siri and shipping it.

• Apple execs opened up about why the upgraded Siri was delayed and their plan for the eventual rollout. You can see what they have to say in this interview with Joanna Stern.

• One interesting thing they mention is that the Siri features were real and working, but were delayed due to reliability. So, no, the features were not vaporware, they were actually developed and real at WWDC ‘24.

My take: It seems that Apple has learned a big lesson after the failed Apple Intelligence rollout. They are no longer announcing, nor mentioning, new AI features well in advance of launch.

It’s refreshing to see Apple execs being honest about the rollout and not making excuses. They just want it to be the best and they’re willing to take the heat in the short term if that means they get the praise in the long term.

As for the revamped Siri delay, this is the timeframe we predicted a few months back: Spring 2026. Let’s hope these features deliver and that Apple continues to make progress on ‘LLM Siri’ aka the more ChatGPT-like version of Siri.

And then for the developer features announced at WWDC ‘25: I think these are huge and will open up a lot of opportunities for apps to be more intelligent and cost less (as this will be free, as opposed to paying for API calls).

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple to Let iPhone Users Watch Videos on CarPlay Screen While Parked

• Apple Releases Exclusive Haptic Trailer for 'F1' Movie

• WWDC 2025 Proved That Apple Learned a Valuable Lesson

• 'AirPods Pro 3' Referenced in iOS 26 Code

• Apple Says These 13 Vehicle Brands Will Soon Offer iPhone Car Keys

• Steve Jobs' Iconic Speech at Stanford Now Available in Higher Quality

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Last minute WWDC 2025 leaks

• iPhone 17 details

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Are you a fan of Apple’s (expected) rebrand from iOS 19 to iOS 26?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Are you more excited for a redesign or new features? Why?

🗞️ The Latest

⚙️ iOS 26 to Change Everything

WWDC 2025 takes place on Monday, June 9th and we have some final details to share. Warning: spoilers ahead!

• The Messages app will add a new automatic translation feature for both incoming and outgoing messages.

• Messages will also add an option for creating polls without relying on third-party apps. The polls could be powered by Apple Intelligence, with Apple suggesting polling categories.

• The Music app will add full-screen, animated album art to the Lock Screen.

• Apple Notes is finally adding Markdown export, a long-requested feature that third-party apps have supported for years.

• CarPlay will receive an updated user interface to match the design of ‌iOS 26‌.

• The Shortcuts app will be revamped and allow users to create actions using Apple Intelligence models.

Apple Intelligence

• As for AI features: don’t expect much. Some Apple employees even believe that WWDC ‘25 will be a "letdown" from an AI standpoint.

• However, it will be good for developers because Apple Intelligence is coming to third-party apps, as Apple will allow developers to integrate its AI features directly.

More WWDC Details

• The name of the next macOS version has been leaked and it will supposedly be: macOS Tahoe.

• Like all macOS versions, this is named after a well-known destination near California: Lake Tahoe.

• Interestingly, the deep blue lake is also known to show the reflection of the sky and surrounding mountains. That could be a hint at the upcoming glassy redesign we’re all expecting.

• Apple is not expected to release any new hardware this time around.

• Apple shared its WWDC 2025 Apple Music playlist.

• We also saw the 2025 Design Award winners get announced.

My take: I’d expect WWDC 2025 to be more low-key compared to the last two years, which featured Apple Intelligence and the Vision Pro.

While a major software redesign is coming, don’t expect much new functionality or AI features alongside it. Apple typically focuses on the look and feel during redesign years, not big feature drops.

We might get a sneak peek at the HomePad, Apple’s rumored smart home device but it likely won’t launch until late 2025 at the earliest.

Regardless, this is one of the most exciting days of the year for us Apple fans and I can’t wait for the event! Be sure you stop by the livestream on Monday to react with myself and thousands of others.

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📲 iPhone 17 Confusion

The rumors surrounding the iPhone 17 have been relatively consistent for the past several months, but now there are fresh rumors that have us questioning things. Here’s the latest.

• All iPhone 17 models are now expected to adopt metalens tech for Face ID.

• This ‘metalens’ will lead to smaller Face ID components and potentially a more narrow Dynamic Island on all models, not just the Pros like previously rumored.

• The base iPhone 17 is also now expected to have the same A18 chip as the 16, while the 17 Air gets the newer A19 chip and the Pros get the A19 Pro chip.

• The base model will also allegedly stick with 8GB RAM, while all other models get upgraded to 12GB RAM.

• The iPhone 17 display size is expected to jump to 6.3” (from 6.1”), while the 17 Air will be 6.5”, and the Pros will remain unchanged.

• According to a Chinese leaker, the iPhone 17 & 17 Air will not get ProMotion displays with a variable refresh rate, but will use LTPS panels fixed at 120Hz.

• The iPhone 17 could also support Qi 2.2 wireless charging with speeds up to 50W.

My take: This year’s base model iPhone is shaping up to be a very minor upgrade, aside from the bigger display size. This is likely due to Apple trying to push the new 17 Air and the Pro models.

As for the fixed 120Hz rumor, I’m personally not sold on that one. I think this is the year we either see fixed 60Hz screens with a 120Hz toggle, or we finally see 120Hz ProMotion displays across the board. I think Apple will continue to keep the ProMotion displays for the Pros, as much as I don’t want that to be the case.

Previously, there were doubts the iPhone 17 Air would sell well, given its sole focus on being thin and light. But if the base model feels even more like a minor upgrade, users may be more likely to step up to the Air.

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Executives Won't Be Appearing at This Year's WWDC Episode of The Talk Show Live

• AirPods to get camera control, sleep detection, new gestures, more

• iOS 18.6 Apple Intelligence Launch in China Delayed by U.S.-China Trade Tensions

• Court Rejects Apple's Emergency Motion to Pause App Store Rule Changes

• Ex-Apple Designer Reveals 'Living Glass' iOS 26 Concepts

• Apple's ChatGPT Rival Moves Forward, But Siri's Future Still Uncertain

• Instagram Expected to Release iPad App Later This Year

• Filmmakers Used 20 iPhones at Once to Shoot '28 Years Later'

• ChatGPT can now read your Google Drive and Dropbox

• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Fold Said to Use A20 Chip With New Design

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple’s software rebrand

• iPhone redesigns incoming

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Would you buy Apple smart glasses?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Are you a fan of Apple’s (expected) rebrand from iOS 19 to iOS 26? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

⚙️ Apple’s Software Rebrand

Apple is expected to announce a major rebrand to its operating systems at WWDC 2025 on June 9th. Here’s the intel.

• Apple is skipping iOS 19 and jumping to iOS 26, aligning software names with the upcoming year rather than version numbers.

• This change will apply across the board, so expect iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26 this September.

• Apple is naming it “26” since the users will be using it more in 2026 than in 2025. It's the same logic applied by car makers, where cars released in late 2024 are labeled as 2025 models.

• This would be Apple’s first software rebrand since iOS 4 in 2010, when iPhoneOS was rebranded to iOS.

• The goal is to make versioning feel less outdated and more cohesive across the ecosystem.

• This rebrand also sets the stage for a unified design language across all Apple platforms. Now those early rumors about a redesign seem more likely!

More iOS 26 Details

• A new Apple job posting confirms that a Calendar revamp is in the works.

• iOS 26 could make transferring an eSIM from iPhone to Android easier.

• Apple recently acquired gaming studio RAC7 and plans to launch a standalone gaming app with iOS 26.

• To go along with the cohesive naming scheme, Apple is expected to extend the iOS 26 design changes to the Apple TV and Apple Watch as well.

My take: I’m a big fan of this change, especially given how inconsistent Apple’s software versioning has become. We have iOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. Those numbers are scattered and confusing.

If you asked random people on the street to name the latest versions of all of Apple’s operating systems, you’d be waiting a while before anyone got them all right.

But calling everything “26” makes it much easier for everyone to instantly recognize the latest software version, just like they do with cars, video games, and other software out there.

I’m also thinking that the iPhone 17 might not be called the iPhone 17 this year. Could we see a shift in Apple’s naming scheme for the iPhone like they do for the iPad and Mac? If so, we might be getting an iPhone (A19) or iPhone (2026).

📲 New iPhone Redesigns

The upcoming 2025 iPhone is not the only iPhone expected to receive noteworthy design changes - the next 3 iPhones will see some sort of redesign!

• This year’s iPhone lineup is expected to see a redesign to the camera bump, along with the introduction of the new “Air” model.

• It’s also rumored to get a 200mp main camera, like we’ve seen with the past two Samsung Galaxy flagship models.

• After that, the 2026 iPhone is rumored to have a hole-punch cutout for the camera, with the Face ID sensors hidden under the screen.

• And then in 2027, the iPhone will have a “comprehensive” redesign where the front of the iPhone will be all screen - no cutout. This means under-screen Face ID and front camera!

My take: Apple has never had a 3-year stretch of iPhone “redesigns,” so this would be a major surprise in the best way possible.

The iPhone feels stagnant at this point, so these design changes are necessary while we await the iPhone Fold, which is expected in the next couple of years. And thankfully without that dreaded crease.

📰 Quick Bites

• Elon Musk And Apple Locked In High-Stakes Battle Over Satellite Connectivity

• WhatsApp launches long-awaited iPad app

• App Store prevented more than $9B in fraudulent transactions over last 5 years

• Nothing’s CEO Thinks the Phone of the Future Will Only Have 1 App

• Apple's Rumored Smart Home Hub Has Faced a Disappointing Setback

• Tim Cook’s Bad Year Keeps Getting Worse

• Ted Lasso season 4 starts filming in July

• Mac browser Arc being discontinued in favor of new Dia app

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple Smart Glasses are coming

• OpenAI’s huge acquisition is a threat to Apple

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you think Apple will raise iPhone prices?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Would you buy Apple smart glasses? Why or why not? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

🕶️ Apple Smart Glasses

MacRumors

This week, we heard that Apple plans to release their Meta Ray Bans competitor next year. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is expected to launch a set of smart glasses by the end of 2026.

• These smart glasses would have cameras, microphones and speakers, allowing them to analyze the external world and take requests via Siri.

• They could also handle phone calls, music playback, live translations, and turn-by-turn directions.

• However, these are not expected to have AR capabilities. So don’t expect a display inside the spectacles.

• These will also feature a proprietary chip designed to manage the multiple cameras integrated into the glasses.

• Apple will start producing large quantities of prototypes at the end of 2025, so expect some further details around that time.

• The AR glasses with built-in displays are still years away.

My take: I use the Meta Ray Bans nearly every day, so I am excited for these. Even if they just match what the Meta glasses do, but with better build quality & deeper integration into the ecosystem, I’ll be happy.

If you’re wondering what I use the Meta glasses for so often: they’re sunglasses, so I wear them anytime I leave the house. While wearing them I take phone calls, listen to music/podcasts, ask Meta AI random questions, and record videos without my phone.

With that being said, I am most excited for Apple’s future AR glasses

📲 Should Apple Be Worried?

OpenAI

Former Apple design chief Jony Ive will be working with Sam Altman and OpenAI to develop new consumer hardware products. Here’s the latest.

• OpenAI is acquiring io, the hardware-based AI startup co-founded by Jony Ive, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion.

• Ive and his design firm, LoveFrom, will continue to be independent, but they will “take over design for all of OpenAI, including its software.”

• About 55 hardware engineers, software developers, and manufacturing experts will join OpenAI as part of this acquisition.

• WSJ reports that Altman and LoveFrom have been collaborating on a secret project for the past 2 years.

• The first device, set to launch in 2026, will allegedly be pocket-sized, contextually aware, and screen-free. And no, it isn’t a pair of smart glasses.

• The product will be capable of being fully aware of a user's surroundings and life, will be unobtrusive, able to rest in one's pocket or on one's desk, and would be a third core device a person would put on their desk after a MacBook Pro and an iPhone.

My take: Jony Ive is one of the greatest product designers in history, so this is a big deal.

While OpenAI is still a long way from competing with Apple in consumer hardware, this is one of the first truly credible threats to Apple’s future we’ve seen in a very long time.

Keep in mind, Ive led design for the original iPhone, AirPods, MacBook Air/Pro, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. So, I’d expect these OpenAI products to have that Apple-like design that we all know and love.

But since this secret product is expected to be a ‘first of its kind,’ I don’t expect it to gain mass popularity right out of the gate.

Some seem to think that Ive is too old and past his prime, but I disagree. A legendary product designer like Ive will always have an eye for great design and innovation, especially with a talented team around him.

In the interview with Bloomberg, Ive called the Humane Pin and Rabbit R1 “very poor products,” so I’m hopeful that the first round of products will not flop like those two.

📰 Quick Bites

• The ONLY Way to Maintain 100% iPhone Battery Health [Video]

• Fortnite Returns to U.S. App Store

• Apple's Next-Gen Version of Siri Is 'On Par' With ChatGPT

• iOS 19 Will Let Developers Use Apple's AI Models in Their Apps

• Apple Will Let iPhone Users in the EU Switch Away From Siri

• Google Launches Dedicated AI Mode in Search

• Google Shows Off Android XR Smart Glasses With In-Lens Display

• Xiaomi Announces Custom Chip to Rival Apple Silicon

🎨 Set Wallpaper

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Fresh iOS 19 Details

• Apple considering raising iPhone 17 prices

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you use Stage Manager on your iPad or Mac?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you think Apple will increase prices for the iPhone lineup this year? Why or why not? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

⚙️ iOS 19 Features Revealed

This week, we got fresh details on Apple’s upcoming AI features, along with new accessibility features that were officially announced. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is expected to debut an AI-powered battery management feature in iOS 19.

• It learns your usage patterns and adjusts background activity and features to save battery life.

• Apple uses real battery data to predict when to reduce power draw intelligently.

• A new lock screen indicator will show estimated time to full charge.

• This was likely developed with the upcoming iPhone 17 Air in mind, but it’s expected to work on other devices.

• iOS 19 is also expected to include a feature to sync captive Wi-Fi details between devices. This can be useful for public Wi-Fi in gyms, hotels or office buildings.

• But most importantly, Apple is allegedly pushing engineers to ensure that iOS 19 is “more functional and less glitchy.”

New Accessibility Features

Upcoming Accessibility Features/Apple

• Apple announced dozens of upcoming accessibility features coming with iOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3.

• Head Tracking will allow users to more easily control their iPhone with head movements. It can detect raised eyebrows, an open mouth, when you're smiling, sticking out tongue, and more.

• Name Recognition is a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to know when their name is being called. This will be added to Sound Recognition.

• Live Listen is coming to Apple Watch with watchOS 12. This Apple Watch will support Live Listen with real-time Live Captions for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• A New Magnifier feature is coming to the Mac to make the physical world more accessible for users with low vision. Also, Vehicle Motion Cues are coming to the Mac with macOS 16.

• Accessibility Reader is a new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with a wide range of disabilities, such as dyslexia or low vision. It can be launched from any app and is built into the Magnifier app.

• Braille Access is an all-new experience that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into a full-featured braille note taker with a built-in app launcher.

• Accessibility Nutrition Labels are coming to the App Store to highlight accessibility features within apps and games, allowing users to learn whether an app will be accessible to them before they download it.

A genius new Shortcut

Apple released a useful new Shortcut this week called Hold That Thought.

• Interruptions can cause you to forget tasks and affect productivity, especially for neurodivergent minds.

• This shortcut lets you capture your current task (screenshot, clipboard contents, Safari page, etc) and Recall it later when you're ready to refocus.

• These “Recalls” live within the Notes app.

• Download it for free here.

• This is useful, but only if you have a quick way to trigger it. I’d recommend mapping this to the Action Button or Back Tap.

• I made a video showing how this Shortcut works, along with a recap of all new iOS 19 accessibility features.

My take: I think the ‘Battery Intelligence’ feature is going to be a hit if Apple debuts it with iOS 19. This is something Android has had for years and I’ve always wanted it on iOS. I guess the 17 Air gave them enough reason to finally ship the feature.

I also see the Wi-Fi sharing feature being extremely useful. I go to hotels all the time and have to log in via the captive web page for each device. But with this feature, I’ll only have to log in on one device.

As for the accessibility changes, several of these are huge and will make a big difference for those who rely on the accessibility suite. This is a key area where Apple dominates every competitor and that doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

📲 iPhone Price Hikes

Getty

This week, WSJ reported that Apple is considering raising prices for the iPhone 17 lineup. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is planning iPhone price hikes, but will pair them with new features and design changes to avoid linking the increase to U.S.-China tariffs.

• A 20% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods, including smartphones, remains in effect. This impacts Apple’s cost structure.

• Apple is allegedly worried about backlash, so they want to avoid public perception that tariffs are behind the price jump.

• iPhone production is shifting to India, with Tim Cook saying most iPhones shipped to the U.S. in Q2 will be made there.

• Despite the shift, Pro and Pro Max models will still be made in China due to India’s current manufacturing limitations.

My take: It’s likely no coincidence Apple just launched the lower-cost iPhone 16e and plans to debut the new iPhone 17 Air this fall.

New iPhone models = new pricing structure.

This allows Apple to restructure the lineup to make higher pricing feel natural. By adding a cheaper 16e and another “premium model” like the 17 Air, they’re stretching the range and subtly nudging customers toward higher price points. It’s classic product marketing strategy.

I would not be surprised to see a price increase for all iPhone models this year. Maybe an additional $100 and maybe a 256GB starting storage option across the board.

To me, price hikes seem more likely this year than any prior year that it has been rumored. But they probably won’t be as steep as some analysts expect.

However, despite price hikes being the logical move for Apple’s bottom line, they’re just as focused on the psychology behind how consumers perceive those increases. So, this could be a reason to keep prices the same for another year or two. We shall see!

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Releases iOS 18.5 - What’s New? [Video]

• CarPlay Ultra, the next generation of CarPlay, begins rolling out today

• 25+ NEW iOS 19 Features Confirmed [Video]

• Apple and Universal Music Announce 'Sound Therapy'

• Apple Maps Now Features Insights From 'Expert Sources'

• visionOS 3 Will Let Apple Vision Pro Users Scroll With Their Eyes

• Watch the New Trailer for Apple's Big Summer Movie “F1”

• AirPods and Apple Watch Models to Get Tiny AI Cameras in 2027

• Gurman: First Foldable iPhone 'Should Be on the Market by 2027’

• 20th Anniversary iPhone Will Be Mostly Glass With All-Screen Design

🎨 Set Wallpaper

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple’s new iPhone launch strategy

• AI search is coming to Safari

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you use Stage Manager on your iPad or Mac?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: When doing research for a topic, do you use Google or AI (ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc)? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

🤖 Apple’s AI Search

Apple is planning to implement AI into its Safari browser soon. Here’s the latest.

• Apple’s SVP of services, Eddy Cue, said that Apple is actively looking at revamping Safari to focus on AI-powered search engines.

• This comes after Safari saw its first-ever decline in search volume, which Cue credits to people using AI for research instead of Google.

• He also said that AI search providers like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic will eventually replace standard search engines like Google. Apple could bring those options to Safari in the future.

• After this news broke, Google’s stock price plummeted, as Google pays Apple $20B/year to be the default search engine for Safari.

• The default search engine is unlikely to change this year. Instead, we’ll likely see additional options for the services mentioned above.

My take: As somebody who rarely goes to Google to research a topic these days, this move seems like an obvious one for Apple.

I don’t see Apple changing the default search engine away from Google anytime soon. The average user is still going to rely heavily on Google (instead of AI). But we’ll still get additional options in Settings when the AI partnerships happen.

I’d expect to see some of this come to fruition starting with iOS 19, given these statements come directly from Apple.

📲 Staggered iPhone Launch

Apple

For many years, Apple has had a predictable iPhone launch rollout: They release the base model iPhone, along with the Pro models in September. And then, in some years, they’ll release a budget-friendly model or a new color in the Spring. But that might be changing as soon as next year.

• Apple is planning to split its flagship iPhone lineup between two separate launch windows annually, starting next year.

• The iPhone 18 Pro models and a brand-new foldable iPhone will launch in the second half of 2026, followed by the standard iPhone 18 and an updated iPhone 18e in the first half of 2027.

• This shift is driven by rising competition, especially in China. Most rivals launch their flagship phones in the first half of the year, so Apple is closing the marketing gap.

• Splitting launches also avoids crowding the spotlight, ensuring budget models aren’t overshadowed by the Pro series.

• Below are the expected iPhone launch timelines.

The timeline outlined above aligns with the latest report from The Information, which also revealed Apple's plans to debut the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max, Air, and a new foldable device in Fall 2026, with standard models following in the Spring.

My take: With a foldable iPhone joining the lineup next year, this staggered launch strategy makes even more sense. It not only eases the marketing load but also helps Apple better manage manufacturing resources.

However, the downside to this staggered rollout is that Apple would have to make it clear that more/cheaper models are coming in the Spring.

But overall, I like this approach and think it will be a net positive for Apple and for consumers.

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Designing Chips for Smart Glasses That Rival Meta Ray-Bans

• Apple’s Eddy Cue: ‘You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now’

• iPhone 17 Air Expected to Have Battery Case Due to 'Worse' Battery Life

• I tested every Apple Watch feature for battery drain. The usual advice is wrong

• Apple Watch Sales Falling Continuously Amid Lack of New Models

• Apple files appeal to wrest back control of its App Store

• Apple Music launches new ‘Viral’ playlist fueled by Shazam activity

• Google Gemini App Gets iPad Optimization

• If you used Siri from 2014-2024, you may have a claim against Apple

• Apple announces new 2025 Apple Watch Pride band, watch face, and wallpaper

• 20th-Anniversary iPhone Will Reportedly Feature an All-Screen Design

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple vs Epic lawsuit results

• Fresh iOS 19 details

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you want a redesign for iOS 19? Why or why not?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you use Stage Manager on your iPad or Mac? Why or why not? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

👨🏻‍⚖️ Apple’s Epic Lawsuit

Apple has lost a major legal battle with Epic Games, and it could change how Apple handles app payments in the App Store.

On Wednesday, a judge ruled that Apple was in willful violation of a 2021 injunction meant to stop anticompetitive pricing tactics.

As part of the ruling, the judge says that Apple cannot:

• Impose “any commission or any fee on purchases that consumers make outside an app”

• Restrict developers’ style, formatting, or placement of links for purchases outside of an app

• Block or limit the “use of buttons or other calls to action”

• Interfere with consumers’ choice to leave an app with anything beyond “a neutral message apprising users that they are going to a third-party site”

For context: Apple takes a commission of up to 30% on in-app purchases. In 2021, a court ruled that Apple must allow developers to include links directing users to external payment options.

But in response, Apple implemented a new policy: developers could use external links - but only if they paid Apple a 27% commission.

That move sparked renewed criticism from Epic Games, which argued Apple was sidestepping the spirit of the court’s decision.

That’s what led to this week, where the judge agreed and ruled in favor of Epic Games.

Fortnite on iOS

As a result of this ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says that Fortnite will be back on the US App Store next week.

Sweeney is also offering a “peace proposal” from Epic: “If Apple extends the court’s friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we’ll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic.”

In June, Epic will allow developers to launch their own webshops, enabling out-of-app purchases.

Apple responded to the ruling: "We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal."

My take: This is a win for both consumers and developers. Developers keep more of what they earn, and consumers could end up paying less. Win-win.

Apple will almost certainly fight back, and don’t be surprised if they still find a way to apply some kind of fee to external payments. But it likely won’t be as aggressive as before.

As for Apple’s App Store business? I don’t see this making a huge dent. This change only applies to external payments. Most users still use the built-in in-app purchase flow, and I doubt that behavior will change anytime soon.

📲 Apple’s Software Overhaul

We are about one month away from WWDC (June 9th) and we have new details on what to expect from iOS and iPadOS 19. Here’s the latest.

• iOS 19 is rumored to add Stage Manager support to USB-C iPhones.

• iPadOS 19 is expected to get an overhaul that brings it closer to macOS, starting with Mac-style menu bars in apps and improved Stage Manager.

• Other new features will be focused on productivity, multitasking, and app window management.

• We’re also expecting iPadOS 19 to get the same design changes anticipated for iOS 19.

The iOS 19 Redesign

iOS 19 render

• As for iOS 19, several sources are expecting a redesign of the OS. Perhaps the biggest redesign since iOS 7.

• We have renders from FPT that are based on a preview build of the software.

• Aside from the design, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he hopes to reach a deal with Apple for built-in Gemini integration on iPhones by mid-2025. Just in time for iOS 19!

• Meanwhile, Apple is already testing iOS 19.4 after delaying the highly anticipated Personalized Siri features.

My take: Every year, we hear the same rumor about how iPadOS is going to be more like using a Mac.. and it never happens. When it does, you get Stage Manager (yuck).

Needless to say, my hopes are not high for iPadOS 19 to become more macOS-like. But these rumors come from Gurman, so I am taking it more seriously than in years past.

As for iOS 19, we also hear the same “redesign” rumors every year. And I’m always the one to say that it’s probably not going to happen. However, this year, I think it’s actually going to happen.

I do not think the redesign is going to be as significant as some are hoping for, but it will be a nice fresh paint job. Oh, and the Samsung DeX-like feature with Stage Manager could be an interesting addition.

As for Google Gemini support: We’ve heard that this was coming for a while, so it’s good to see it confirmed by Google’s CEO. I think iOS 19 will have more Apple Intelligence additions than the rumors suggest. We’ll know soon!

📰 Quick Bites

• Millions of Apple Airplay-Enabled Devices Can Be Hacked via Wi-Fi

• iPhone 17's Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display Coating Canceled

• Apple Reports 2Q 2025 Results: $24.8B Profit on $95.4B Revenue

• Apple notifies new victims of spyware attacks across the world

• iPhone Shipments Up 13% Amid Global Smartphone Market Slowdown

• Apple Must Pay Over $700 Million in Major Patent Damages Case

• Third US Plant Set to Make Apple Chips Breaks Ground

• Apple Plans to Source All US-Bound iPhones From India by 2026

• Meta Launches New AI iOS App

• OpenAI rolled back a ChatGPT update that made the bot excessively flattering

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• iOS 19 will be huge - with some caveats

• Apple sued over Apple Intelligence delays

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you think the iPhone 16e is appropriately priced at $599?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you want a redesign for iOS 19? Why or why not?

🗞️ The Latest

📲 iOS 19 Could Change Everything

MacRumors

We are less than 3 months away from seeing iOS 19 at WWDC and this could be an update for the ages. Here’s why.

• Apple is planning one of the most dramatic overhauls to iOS, iPadOS and macOS for 2025.

• The updates will bring a visual redesign with new interfaces inspired by visionOS. This includes new icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons.

• This revamp is expected to bring visual consistency to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

• We’ve also heard that iOS 19 will not unveil groundbreaking new Apple Intelligence features, but will rather improve upon existing features and bring them to more apps.

• The big Apple Intelligence features, including the ChatGPT-like Siri are now expected in iOS 20, potentially even iOS 20.4 in 2027.

• However, we should see Apple adopt RCS 3.0 in iOS 19. This will add end-to-end encryption, in-line replies, unsend & edit messages, and more.

The EU Rulebook

Apple will also be forced to include several changes to satisfy the EU’s government.

• The European Commission recently published a long list of changes that Apple is legally required to add in iOS 19 and iOS 20.

• Some of the requirements include:

Apple quickly responded by saying that these new requirements are "bad for our products and bad for our European users."

My take: Every year we hear about a “redesign” coming to iOS and it never happens. However, this time, we’ve heard this same rumor from at least 3 credible sources, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, and that never happens.

So, I do believe that iOS 19 will include a major redesign for the first time in many years. And while many are expecting circular icons (like on visionOS), I’m not convinced that will be coming to iOS/iPadOS. I also vocalized my dislike for the circular icons in a concept image shared on X.

Now, do I think that this design overhaul is a cover-up for the Apple Intelligence blunder? No. This software was being designed/developed long before iOS 18 was released and the backlash became widespread.

As for the EU requirements, I think this just gets more and more ridiculous as time goes on. They should not legally have the right to demand so many fundamental changes to the iOS platform, especially when the asks are a net negative to Apple as a company.

Apple spends billions on hiring the best designers and developers in the world, so why should they be forced to hand out their features for free? There are many things I agree with the EU on, but it’s getting a bit ridiculous at this point.

🫣 Apple’s AI Controversy

Apple

If you have been following Apple news for the past few months, it has been impossible to ignore the headlines of Apple delaying its Apple Intelligence features. Here’s the rundown and my thoughts.

• Last month, we heard that Apple’s long-awaited upgrades to Siri and Apple Intelligence were being delayed from iOS 18.4 to iOS 18.5.

• Then, just a couple of weeks later, we heard that Apple had delayed the features even further - this time until iOS 19! Apple’s statement is below:

• The most alarming part of this delay, though, is that Apple might have to completely scrap the new Siri AI features and start over.

• Bloomberg reported that “some within Apple’s AI division believe that work on the features could be scrapped altogether, and that Apple may have to rebuild the functions from scratch. The capabilities would then be delayed until a next-generation Siri that Apple hopes to begin rolling out in 2026.”

• John Gruber also wrote an interesting piece called ‘Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino’ that details how the writing was on the wall for these delays.

• Meanwhile, the ChatGPT-like Siri has been delayed until 2027 at the earliest. This was never announced by Apple, though, so it’s hard to call it “delayed.”

Do the Features Actually Exist?

Bloomberg

• After all of these delays, many have questioned whether or not these Apple Intelligence features ever existed in the first place, or if they were just concept designs created to show off potential future functionality.

• That does not appear to be the case, though. Apple's senior director of Siri, Robby Walker, demonstrated some of the personalized Siri features during a recent all-hands meeting with the Siri division.

• So, the features weren’t entirely non-existent, but when Apple demonstrated them at WWDC, it only had a barely functional prototype. And it wasn’t until months later that we hear about live demos. Very un-Apple.

• Apple's top Siri exec called the AI delays “embarrassing & ugly” in a meeting, while saying a decision to promote features before they were ready worsened the situation.

• Regardless, Apple is currently facing a lawsuit for false advertising. Shocker, I know.

A New Face in Charge

• After the “embarrassing” Apple Intelligence rollout, Apple is shaking up its executive ranks in a rare move made on Thursday.

• Tim Cook has lost confidence in the head of AI, John Giannandrea, to execute on product development.

• So now, Cook has appointed Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell to lead Siri and bring its Apple Intelligence dreams to life.

My take: At this point, there’s no defending Apple for the botched rollout of Apple Intelligence. However, it’s important to note that there has only ever been one official delay - and that’s for the personal context Siri being pushed from iOS 18 to iOS 19.

The other delays weren’t really “delays” as Apple never formally announced an exact release date. This is especially true for the “ChatGPT-like Siri” that was labeled as “delayed” despite never being announced by Apple.

The real issue for me isn’t the delays—that’s part of software development. It’s that Apple showcased features at WWDC knowing they weren’t anywhere near ready for public use. That’s just disingenuous.

I think Tim Cook’s decision to replace the previous head of Siri is a great move that will hopefully get the ball rolling in the right direction again.

Anyway, I genuinely believe iOS 19 will bring a major design overhaul. I think it’ll spark a similar reaction to iOS 7—where the changes are polarizing at first, but eventually become widely accepted and even loved over time.

📰 Quick Bites

• Report: Apple losing over $1 billion a year on Apple TV+ service

• iOS 18.3.2 Broke iCloud Mail Delivery

• Vision Pro Creator Taking Over Siri After Apple Intelligence Setbacks

• How Bribes Helped a Crime Ring Steal Thousands of iPhones From Porches

• YouTube Says Videos Are Blurry for Some iOS Users, But a Fix Is Coming

• Audi A6 Avant e-tron Supports Apple Car Keys, Porsche Likely to Follow

• Foldable MacBook-iPad Hybrid Device Likely to Run macOS, Analyst Says

• Apple makes Tap to Pay available in more European countries

• Apple Working on Mystery New Display

• Resident Evil 3 Now Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

• Apple Debuts Short Film Starring Pedro Pascal With AirPods 4

• The Latest iPhone 17 Dummy Units

🎨 Set Wallpaper

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• The iPhone 16e launch

• Apple’s big software delays

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you think the upcoming budget iPhone will be called iPhone SE or iPhone 16E?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you think the iPhone 16e is appropriately priced at $599? Why or why not? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

📲 Welcome, iPhone 16e

This week, Apple announced the newest member of the family, the iPhone 16e. And this has received quite the reaction. Let’s break it down.

• The iPhone 16e has a 6.1" OLED display with Face ID, the Action Button to replace the mute switch, and a notch instead of Dynamic Island.

• It’s the first product to use Apple’s new in-house C1 modem. This replaces the existing Qualcomm modem and while it won’t perform as well (no mmWave), it is more efficient and gives the 16e longer battery life.

• It has a single 48mp camera with an integrated 2x Telephoto.

• A18 chip with 1 less GPU core than the iPhone 16.

• 8GB of RAM, which means it supports Apple Intelligence.

• Starts at $599 for 128GB, comes in Matte Black & White.

• Pre-orders begin today and it ships next Friday.

What’s Missing?

• The most disappointing omission has to be MagSafe compatibility. It can charge wirelessly, but only at the slow 7.5W.

• Camera Control is missing as well, although most haven’t been a fan of that button anyway.

• Since there’s a notch, Dynamic Island is missing. So no cool animations and being able to check your flight details while in another app.

• Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 support is missing; the 16e only supports Wi-Fi 6.

• But more importantly, the Ultra Wideband chip is missing! This means that features like precision finding with AirTags/AirPods won’t work.

• Smaller features are missing, but these are the noteworthy ones.

• Watch my full video comparing the iPhone 16 to the 16e.

My take: Yes, the iPhone 16e costs more than previous SE models, but it’s also not a direct SE replacement. I see this as a similar release to the iPhone XR back in 2018 and if you remember, that phone sold extremely well.

I think the 16e is a better buy than the iPhone 15 since it has Apple Intelligence support, better battery life, it will last longer in terms of software support, and it’s cheaper.

Let’s not forget that there will be dozens of new Apple Intelligence features introduced over the next few years. Why miss out on all of those features by getting an older iPhone 15 that won’t have access to those features?

Anyway, I do think the iPhone 16e is a great entry-level iPhone and while the price is on the higher side of expectations, I believe it to be the sweet spot in the pricing ladder. However, I’m still not a fan of Apple removing MagSafe support.

⚙️ What’s up with Apple Software?

Apple

iOS 18.4 is one of the most anticipated versions of iOS 18 and Apple has delayed not only some of the features included but also the release of Beta 1. Here’s the latest.

• iOS 18.4 Beta 1 was supposed to be released this week but it was delayed due to “engineering reasons.”

• This comes after it was revealed that some of the big changes coming to Siri have been delayed due to last-minute engineering and software bugs.

• Now, some of these Siri changes are expected to come in iOS 18.5.

• Along with the iPhone 16e launch, Apple confirmed that the final release of iOS 18.4 will be coming in April.

• In related (good) news, Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and the iPhone 16e will get Visual Intelligence in a future update - likely iOS 18.4. This will be activated via a control center toggle, which can also be mapped to the Action Button. Nice!

My take: This whole Apple Intelligence situation has been very unlike Apple. There have been countless delays and features missing for months. However, I’d much rather have stable software than a buggy version that was released prematurely. All we can do at this point is just hope these features don’t slip further to iOS 19.

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Maps Might Start Showing Ads

• Each iPhone 16 model’s wallpaper is inspired by the number of camera lenses it has

• Apple Says 'Severance' Is Now More Popular Than 'Ted Lasso'

• M4 MacBook Air Models to Launch by March 'At the Latest'

• Apple Already Testing a C2 Modem for iPhones

• iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

• iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame

• iPhone 17 Lineup Rumored to Support Up to 35W Charging Speeds

• All iPhone 17 Models Will Feature Apple-Designed Wi-Fi Chip to 'Enhance Connectivity'

• MacBook Pro Now Expected to Get M5 Chip Before iPad Pro

• Humane has killed its Ai Pin less than a year after its release

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• New Apple product launch incoming

• Important software changes

• New Beats launch

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you use a Magic Mouse or a 3rd party mouse with your Mac? Why?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you think the upcoming budget iPhone will be called iPhone SE or iPhone 16E? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

📲 First Product Launch of 2025

Apple is planning to unveil the first iPhone of 2025 next week, but there are still some question marks.

• Tim Cook announced that Apple will be launching the “newest member of the family” on February 19th.

• This product launch is expected to be the iPhone SE 4 or iPhone 16E - whichever naming scheme Apple decides to go with.

• The phone is expected to have an iPhone 14-like design with a notch, Apple Intelligence support, a single 48mp camera lens, and cost under $500.

• The other products that could launch on/around the same time are a new iPad & iPad Air, M4 MacBook Air, and the recently-rumored Home Hub.

• I would also expect to see iOS 18.4 Beta 1 roll out next week.

My take: I think that the circle in the teaser video hints at the solo 48mp camera lens expected on the iPhone SE 4, not a new AirTag as many speculated.

But I’m stumped on the wording Apple used. Saying “newest member of the family” makes me believe that this could still be named the iPhone 16E instead of SE. What do you think?

⚙️ iOS 18.3.1, TikTok Returns & More

Apple TV+ finally comes to Android

There were a lot of Apple software-related stories this week, some of which are highly controversial. Here’s what to know.

• TikTok has finally returned to the App Store and Google Play store.

• iOS 18.3.1 launched with an important (and rare) security patch. Here’s my video explaining everything.

• Apple Maps & Google Maps have officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. This was one of President Trump’s first orders when he took office.

• The popular Apple TV+ streaming service is now available on Android, more than 5 years after launch. Now Android users can enjoy Severance!

My take: This was an active week for software, but next week will be even more interesting with iOS 18.4 Beta 1 coming, which will have major changes to Siri.

🎧 Beats Launch Redesigned Powerbeats Pro 2

Powerbeats Pro 2 colors

This week, Apple-owned Beats announced the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, featuring a radical redesign and adding nearly every missing feature from the original 2019 model.

• The Powerbeats Pro 2 are the first earbuds from Apple/Beats to feature heart rate monitoring during workouts!

• Compared to the first gens, the earbuds have a 50% smaller ear hook and are 20% lighter.

• They also have Apple’s H2 chip inside, providing ANC, Transparency Mode, improved sound quality, and more.

• Battery life is up to 45 hours and the (now 33% smaller) charging case can be charged wirelessly.

• They come in 4 colors and are $249 on the Apple Store.

• Here’s my review video, after using the earbuds for the past two weeks.

My take: I have been loving the Powerbeats Pro 2, a lot more than I anticipated. These have fully replaced my AirPods Pro 2 for activities such as the gym, running, sports, etc. Hefty price tag but I think they’re worth it, especially if you can snag them at a discount over the next 6 months or so.

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Partners With Alibaba to Bring iPhone AI Features to China

• Apple TV+ App Now Available on Android

• Apple Working on New 27-Inch Mini-LED Studio Display

• iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

• Apple Now Lets You Move Digital Purchases From One Apple Account to Another

• iPhone Users Can Sign Up to Try Starlink Connectivity For Free Until July

• Apple Sports App Updated With NASCAR Support Ahead of Daytona 500

• Apple Maps Cycling Directions Expanded in UK and Ireland

• OLED MacBook Pro With Thinner Design on Track for 2026 Launch

• iPhone 17 Pro Max to Feature Smaller Dynamic Island

• Google's Upcoming Pixel 9a Virtually Eliminates the Camera Bump

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple’s redesigned Magic Mouse

• Free Apple TV+ this weekend

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Would you buy an Apple-branded smart doorbell for your home?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Do you use a Magic Mouse or a 3rd party mouse with your Mac? Why?

🗞️ The Latest

🖥️ The Next Magic Mouse

Apple

Apple’s Magic Mouse has faced years of criticism for its inconvenient charging port placement, but that could soon change.

• Apple is working on a redesigned Magic Mouse that will address some "longstanding complaints," including the location of the charging port.

• A prototype of the new mouse has allegedly been designed and it adds a mixture of touch, voice controls, and hand gestures.

• These extra functions would be great for today's workflows, which are becoming increasingly voice-focused.

• Mark Gurman chimed in on this report by saying: “Voice control in the new Magic Mouse I wrote about this month makes sense in light of AI — and the fact that Apple is on a decade-plus cycle. From what I’ve heard, big focus is ergonomics and gestures (relocated USB-C too). I’d expect a new keyboard too.”

• This is expected to be released alongside the upcoming M6 OLED MacBook Pro in 2026.

My take: A Magic Mouse with voice control would be excellent and something I’d use daily for dictation, quickly launching Siri, etc. I’d find it more convenient than pressing a button on a keyboard.

As for the charging port: its location never bothered me. However, changing it would be a significant upgrade for those who found it inconvenient.

📺 Free Apple TV+

Apple

For the first time ever, Apple is offering up a free weekend of the Apple TV+ service - and it’s this weekend! Here are the details.

• Apple TV+ will be available to stream for free from January 3-5.

• This includes the full catalog, with no subscription fees or limits.

• Apple TV+ will be free on any device where Apple TV+ is available.

My take: Take advantage of this. If you’re not already a subscriber, this could very well turn you into one! The shows and films on Apple TV+ are top notch.

My show recommendations: Severance, Shrinking, Silo.

📰 Quick Bites

• 'iPhone SE 4' Rumored to Be Named 'iPhone 16E'

• iPhone SE 4/16E Could Be More Expensive

• CarPlay 2 is missing in action as Apple fails to hit its own deadline

• Apple to delay 2nm chips for 2026 as TSMC struggles with yield

• Apple to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit

• Apple Stops Selling iPhone 14 and iPhone SE in More EU Countries

• Apple Vision Pro May Now Be Out of Production

• Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

• New MacBook Air Models Coming Soon With These Rumored Features

• My Apple Watch saved my life [Reddit story]

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple’s new smart home play

• AirPods Pro 3 details

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Are you impressed with Apple Intelligence so far?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Would you buy an Apple-branded smart doorbell for your home? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

🏡 Apple’s New Smart Home Play

CNET

We’ve already heard about Apple’s upcoming smart home hub coming next year, but now there’s another smart home device being developed. Here are the details.

• Apple is planning to develop a smart home doorbell that wirelessly connects to a deadbolt lock.

• This doorbell will use facial recognition to automatically unlock the door for residents—basically, Face ID for your front door!

• The doorbell is expected to work with third-party locks already on the market that support HomeKit.

• The doorbell is still in its early stages, so we’re not expecting a release until late 2025 at the earliest.

• In the future, Apple could team up with a specific lock maker to offer a complete Doorbell + Deadlock system.

AirPods Pro 3

Bloomberg

• Apple is working on the AirPods Pro 3 and health features will be the main focus.

• The two big features are expected to be built-in heart rate monitoring and temperature sensing.

• While the Apple Watch already tracks your heart rate and temperature, AirPods could serve as a backup fitness tracker—or a great option for those who don’t like wearing a watch.

• In Apple’s testing, the heart rate data from the Apple Watch is more accurate than the AirPods, but it’s not a big difference.

• For future AirPods Pro models, Apple is planning to put cameras into the earbuds to help with AI services.

Other Smart Home Details 

• Yet another source is also reporting that Apple will release a new "HomePod" with a 7-inch LCD display, A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support in 2025.

• Despite Apple’s upcoming in-house Wi-Fi + Bluetooth chip, they’re not currently working on a new AirPort wireless router.

My take: The Apple Doorbell seems like it could be the first real competitor to the Amazon Ring and Google Nest, which dominate the market. And Face ID on a doorbell is a fascinating idea that seems more secure than a number pad or even a fingerprint.

As for the AirPods Pro 3, these seem to be taking forever to launch, but it’s for good reason. The health features will be a big deal and Apple’s recent addition of the hearing aid feature on the AirPods Pro 2 proves how game-changing these features can be. The AirPods are much more than just earbuds for listening to music and I think Apple will focus on that message when the Pro 3’s launch in 2025-2026.

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple seeks to defend Google's billion-dollar payments in search case

• iOS 18.2.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhone

• X Announces Price Hike for Premium+ Plan

• Apple Teases Apple TV+ Surprise on January 4 and 5

• New MacBook Air Models With M4 Chip Expected to Launch 'Earlier' Than iPhone SE 4 and iPad 11

• Apple's Ambitious Bezel-Free iPhone Faces Setback

• iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Be More Like DSLR Camera With This Upgrade

• M5 Pro may separate out GPU and CPU for new server-grade performance

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Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Is Apple Intelligence a failure?

• Apple’s folding iPad is coming

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Would you buy a cellular MacBook?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Are you impressed with Apple Intelligence so far? Why? More on this below.

🗞️ The Latest

🧠 Did Apple Intelligence Flop?

Apple

Apple Intelligence launched in October and it was supposed to be a big deal for Apple. But now, a couple of months later, a new study reveals that most people are not finding it useful.

• The study found that 47% of iPhone users consider AI features key when choosing a new phone. However, 73% of them report finding “little to no value” in Apple Intelligence (so far).

• Writing Tools (72%) and Notification Summaries (54%) were unsurprisingly the most popular features. Those were followed by Priority Messages (44%) and Clean Up (29%).

• Roughly 1 in 6 iPhone users (16.8%) said they would consider switching to Samsung if they offered better AI features.

• Meanwhile, the study also found that a whopping 87% of Samsung users say AI features add little to no value. So this is not just an Apple thing.

Criticism Over AI-Generated News Headline

BBC

• The BBC has complained to Apple after the “summarize notifications” feature generated a false headline about a high-profile murder case.

• The screenshot shows that 22 BBC notifications were summarized and the first line reads: “Luigi Mangione shoots himself.” That, of course, did not happen.

• After this incident, the RSF is arguing that these summaries illustrate that "generative AI services are still too immature to produce reliable information for the public, and should not be allowed on the market for such uses.”

• By the way, this is not an isolated incident. Over the past few months, I’ve come across numerous social media posts highlighting similar instances of inaccurate summaries.

But isn’t this normal?

Another ‘misleading’ summary

• Here’s the reality: AI, whether from Apple, OpenAI, Google, or any other LLM, will never be 100% accurate.

• Apple Intelligence is still in Beta, and the settings for the ‘Summarize Notifications’ feature says: “Summary accuracy may vary based on content.”

• Yet, despite these facts, many users are surprised and disappointed when inaccuracies or hallucinations occur.

• This may also stem from a misunderstanding of how the feature is meant to be used. For instance, I never treat the summaries as “facts.” Instead, I use them to get a general sense of what the notifications are about before tapping to view the full notification text.

It’s still early

• I hate to say it, but the best part of Apple Intelligence (so far) is the ChatGPT extension in iOS 18.2.

• That opinion could change come April, since Apple will be releasing the upgraded Siri with App Intents in iOS 18.4.

• After that, Apple is planning to launch several new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 19, including a new ChatGPT-like LLM for Siri.

• Apple Intelligence is still in its infancy and will likely keep the “Beta” tag for at least another year or two.

My take: We’re only on round 1 of Apple Intelligence, so I don’t think it’s realistic to call such an elaborate software operation a failure after just a few months.

While I don’t love every new Apple Intelligence feature, I do find myself using Writing Tools, ChatGPT, and Notification Summaries daily.

I’m excited for the future and for everyone to become more familiar with AI as a whole.

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🍎 Apple’s Foldable Future is Near

MacRumors

It looks like Apple could be launching a massive foldable tablet in the near future! Here’s the latest.

• Apple is working on a "giant" foldable iPad that unfolds into the size of two iPad Pros side-by-side.

• How giant? ~20 inches!

• Apple’s goal for a foldable device is to avoid the crease that runs through the middle of the screen when the device is opened up.

• They also want the screen to look like a “single, uninterrupted piece of glass.”

• It’s expected to be released around 2028.

• This foldable iPad is expected to run iPadOS. But by 2028, Gurman expects iPadOS to be advanced enough to run macOS apps.

What about a foldable iPhone?

• WSJ just reported that Apple is planning to release a foldable iPhone in 2026-2027.

• It’s rumored to feature an inward-facing display larger than the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max.

• They also report that Apple will eventually release a large, 19-inch MacBook with a foldable screen.

My take: As someone who is not a fan of foldables, I’m excited to see if Apple can change my mind on the concept. If Apple can completely eliminate the crease down the middle of the screen, that will be huge and it will turn many of the naysayers into believers. I don’t expect any Apple-branded foldable to be cheap, though.

📰 Quick Bites

• AirTag 2 Expected Next Year with 'Considerable' Upgrade to Item Tracking

• macOS Sequoia 15.3 Brings Genmoji to Mac

• 14 Airlines Now Support Apple's Find My for Lost Luggage Feature

• Apple Drops Plans for iPhone Hardware Subscription Service

• Apple reveals 2024’s most downloaded apps and games on the App Store

• Apple in talks with Tencent, ByteDance to roll out AI features in China

• Apple Close to Winning Indonesian Approval to End iPhone 16 Ban

• New Magic Mouse said to fix everything that's been wrong with it

• Blackmagic Debuts $30K 3D Camera for Capturing Video for Vision Pro

• Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Add Live AI, Live Translation, & Shazam Support

• You Can Now Call ChatGPT on the Phone, for Some Reason

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