Author: Sam Kohl

  • All 2022 iPhones could get 120Hz-capable LTPO displays

    All 2022 iPhones could get 120Hz-capable LTPO displays

    The rumor: All 2022 iPhones will be getting low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) displays capable of varying refresh rates, according to The Elec (75% accurate, source).

    • A new supplier, potentially LG, will have a new production line capable of making LTPO displays ready for Apple’s lower-end 2022 iPhone models
    • Later this year, LTPO displays enabling a 120Hz refresh rate are coming to only the iPhones Pro

    Our take: This sounds unlikely considering that 120Hz is the definition of a premium feature, but The Elec has a solid track record for these sorts of details. But I’m not convinced yet. For example, the Apple Watch Series 4 had an LTPO display, capable of always-on functionality, but Apple didn’t enable the future until a year later on Apple Watch Series 5.

  • M2 chip could launch in new MacBook Air in first half of 2022

    M2 chip could launch in new MacBook Air in first half of 2022

    The rumor: Apple’s next major M-series chip is coming next year in a new MacBook Air, according to dylandkt (81.3% accurate).

    • The M2 chip is separate from the upcoming M1X chip, and will come in the first half of 2022 inside a new MacBook
    • This source also mentions that the MacBook Air will be colorful, as Jon Prosser (74.2% accurate) had previously reported

    Our take: dylandkt has a wildly good track record for these types of scoops, so I would bet on this being the case. Seems like M1/2/3 will be for consumer level hardware and M1/2/3X will be for pro devices.

    https://twitter.com/dylandkt/status/1412089676220055555?s=20
  • 2021 iPhone will be called ‘iPhone 13,’ according to least accurate source of all-time

    2021 iPhone will be called ‘iPhone 13,’ according to least accurate source of all-time

    The rumor: This year’s iPhone will be called “iPhone 13,” according to Economic Daily News (EDN) (38.6% accurate, source).

    • The new report says the 5.4, 6.1 and 6.7-inch iPhone models will be called “iPhone 13 mini,” “iPhone 13,” “iPhone 13 Pro,” and “iPhone 13 Pro Max” respectively
    • EDN is the weakest source on the AppleTrack leaderboard, and has been sine the site’s inception in May 2020

    Our take: Sure, the 2021 iPhones could be called iPhone 13. But for that to be the case, the following had to be true: 1) a weak supply chain source has months-early access to highly protected marketing information 2) Apple will break the naming tradition they’ve followed for the past 5+ years and 3) the upgrades would have to be much more significant than we’re hearing about now. So yeah, I’m skeptical.

  • iPhone 12s may have larger MagSafe coil for reverse wireless charging & Portrait Mode video

    iPhone 12s may have larger MagSafe coil for reverse wireless charging & Portrait Mode video

    The rumor: Apple is planning some minor internal upgrades on this year’s iPhone 12s models, according to Max Weinbach (69.1% accurate, via EverythingApplePro).

    • Portrait Mode video, which is technically enabled in iOS 15’s FaceTime app, is said to be expanding to the camera app on iPhone 12s later this year
    • A slightly larger MagSafe charging system may also feature better heat/wattage management, and could enable the long-awaited reverse wireless charging feature
      • This would allow AirPods to be wirelessly charged on the rear of the iPhone itself

    Our take: Reverse wireless charging would be a killer feature for me and I hope it’s this year that we finally see it. And with Portrait Mode video technically enabled right now in FaceTime, making it more broadly available in the camera app doesn’t feel like too much of a stretch.

  • Report: M1X 14/16-inch MacBook Pro announcement in September

    Report: M1X 14/16-inch MacBook Pro announcement in September

    The rumor: Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pro models are coming late in the third quarter of 2021, according to DigiTimes (63.5% accurate).

    • The new report says the new MacBook Pros with faster Apple Silicon are coming this September, when Apple traditionally holds their iPhone event
    • Other rumors say the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will be redesigned and bring back the HDMI port, SD card reader and MagSafe charging connectivity

    Our take: Second report in recent history suggesting a Fall launch for the MacBook Pros. Still a couple months of waiting on these…

  • Next iPad Air update coming in 2022, may have OLED display

    Next iPad Air update coming in 2022, may have OLED display

    The rumor: Apple is planning to put OLED in new iPad models coming next year, according to The Elec (75% accurate).

    • The Elec says a 10.86-inch iPad with an OLED display is coming in 2022…which is the exact size of the current iPad Air
    • Apple will be reportedly transitioning their Pro iPads to OLED in 2023, the following year

    Our take: I’m still so skeptical of Apple’s full conversion of iPads to OLED when they just announced Mini-LED on iPad Pro in April of this year. That being said, OLED is the best looking display tech on the market right now…so, maybe?

  • Apple releases public betas for iOS/iPadOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8 and tvOS 15

    Apple releases public betas for iOS/iPadOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8 and tvOS 15

    The news: Apple has just released public beta versions of all the software they announced at WWDC 2021.

    • Alongside an updated build of iOS 15 beta 2 for developers, Apple has released public beta version of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8 and tvOS 15
    • You can sign up for any of the public betas at beta.apple.com

    Our take: If you’ve been wanting to try out some new features early, this is the best way to hop on and provide feedback before everything is solidified this Fall. From my experience, iOS 15 is absolutely stable enough to be on your daily driver, but proceed with caution as bugs will be there, some of your favorite apps may be glitchy or not work, and battery life won’t be as good as what you see now on iOS 14.

  • Apple releases new build of iOS 15 beta 2

    Apple releases new build of iOS 15 beta 2

    The news: Following last week’s iOS 15 beta 2 release, Apple has issued a new version of the same beta to developers.

    • The new version has the build number 19A5281j
    • iOS 15 beta 2 included a new Maps icon, Memoji outfits, and new splash screens
  • Apple releases 22 new limited edition watch bands in International Collection

    Apple releases 22 new limited edition watch bands in International Collection

    The news: Ahead of the 2021 Olympics, Apple has unveiled 22 new, limited edition watch bands.

    • “The soft, breathable, and lightweight International Collection Sport Loop bands are available representing the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the US,” Apple says
    • The new watch bands are available only for a limited time and can be ordered on apple.com now

    Our take: I love to see Apple making these limited edition watch bands more widely available for the 2021 Olympics…they did this ins 2016 but the bands were incredibly exclusive and hard to find.

  • New report says Apple forcing some employees to wear body cameras in revitalized effort to curb leaks

    New report says Apple forcing some employees to wear body cameras in revitalized effort to curb leaks

    The rumor: Apple is stepping up their efforts to prevent future products from leaking, according to a new report from Jon Prosser’s (74.2% accurate) FrontPageTech.com.

    Our take: At the end of the day, these products leaking are things that people genuinely care about…not governmental conspiracy secrets that must be protected at all costs. Call me crazy, but even if Apple’s entire roadmap leaked, in great detail with product images and videos…I don’t believe that any company other than Apple could pull it off to be market viable. The iPhone has been out since 2007 and everyone from Samsung to LG to OnePlus have tried to copy it: but there’s still only one iPhone.

    In conclusion, this is the most serious we have ever seen Apple take leaks, and I have to assume that this will have a negative effect on the culture there. But at least they’re focusing on the source of the leaks, and not on members of the press.

  • Gurman: No major Apple announcements happening for the ‘next several weeks’

    Gurman: No major Apple announcements happening for the ‘next several weeks’

    The rumor: Apple is saving their next major product announcements for the Fall, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • The Apple news drought will reportedly be continuing for the foreseeable future
    • “For Apple, all attention is on the fall, so the next several weeks are destined to be light on product news. We’re about three months away from the next iPhone and Apple Watch models going on sale—along with the releases of iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8, so stay tuned for plenty of news on those after the summer doldrums” Gurman says

    Our take: Seems like we aren’t getting an event or redesigned MacBook Pro models before the Fall.