Category: News

Redesigned iPad mini may have USB-C & A15 processor
The rumor: Apple is planning more radical upgrades to the next iPad mini than just the design, according to 9to5Mac (78.7% accurate).

According to their report, here’s what’s coming:
- An A15 processor, the same one that will also be found in the 2021 iPhone lineup
- A USB-C port will replace long-standing Lightning connectivity
- The magnetic Smart Connector is coming to Apple’s next iPad mini, as well
Our take: A new design. USB-C. A15 chip. Color me surprised that Apple is putting the most work they have ever put into an iPad mini after broadly ignoring it for years. And apparently it’s coming before the end of the year…
July 20, 2021
iPhone SE 3 likely coming in first half of 2022 with A14 chip & 5G
The rumor: Apple’s next iPhone SE won’t be debuting until the first half of next year, according to DigiTimes (63.5% accurate).
- According to the report, ‘iPhone SE 3’ will include the A14 processor and support for 5G connectivity
- This story echoes prior rumors also pointing to a launch in the first half of 2022
Our take: If every source in the game is saying that a new SE is coming in the first half of 2022, I’m inclined to believe it. And feature-wise, it sounds like it’ll be just as minimal as the 2020 iPhone SE.
July 20, 2021
MagSafe Battery Pack first look shows it’s real thick & can charge AirPods
The photos: A first hands-on look at Apple’s new MagSafe Battery Pack shows what it really looks like, as first shared by Steven Russell.
- The thickness appears quite a bit more significant than Apple showed in their photos…which were creatively framed
- It also appears that you can wireless charge AirPods using the MagSafe Battery Pack
Our take: This is thicc. Quite a bit more than was shown in the initial photos. But the fact that it can wirelessly charger AirPods is cool as hell and I can’t wait for mine to come in tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/stevenrussell/status/1417161249238945800
July 19, 2021
Apple releases iOS 14.7, watchOS 7.6 & tvOS 14.7 with minor changes
The news: Apple just dropped a slew of new software updates for iOS, watchOS and tvOS with a handful of new features.
- iOS 14.7:
  - MagSafe Battery Pack support for iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
  - Apple Card Family adds the option to combine credit limits and share one co-owned account with an existing Apple Card user
  - Home app adds the ability to manage timers on HomePod
  - Air quality information is now available in Weather and Maps for Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, South Korea, and Spain
  - Podcasts library allows you to choose to see all shows or only followed shows
  - Bug fixes include:
    Share playlist menu option missing in Apple Music
    Dolby Atmos and Apple Music lossless audio playback may unexpectedly stop
    Battery service message that may have disappeared after reboot on some iPhone 11 models is restored
- watchOS 7.6: ECG support for 30 additional countries
- tvOS 14.7: no known changes
July 19, 2021
Gurman: New MacBook Pros launching in November ‘at the latest’
The rumor: Apple’s highly-anticipated, redesigned MacBook Pro models are no more than four months away, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On)
- Rumors for a new M1X-powered MacBook Pro have been all over the place…the new laptop is expected to include a new Mini-LED display, HDMI port, SD card reader and revamped Touch ID key also expected
- Now, Gurman says “you should probably expect a launch between September and November at the latest.”
Our take: This is actually really good news, considering that I was expecting this to launch this Fall at the earliest…not the latest. Still, this product can’t come soon enough as the whole world is seemingly waiting to see what Apple’s M1+ silicon looks and feels like.
July 18, 2021
iPhone 13 may feature new always on display mode
The rumor: On top of a new 120Hz refresh rate on Pro models, some new iPhone 13 models may also see an always-on display mode, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).
- For the 2021 iPhones, “expect a a faster A15 chip, smaller notch, a new display for better battery life and the potential of an Apple Watch-like always on mode and a 120Hz refresh rate and upgrades to video recording” Gurman says
- This echoes an initial report from February that iPhone 13 could finally see this long-awaited always-on feature
Our take: With the LTPO screen tech to support this, I would hope that we see this. But considering that most Android handsets have had this for as along as I can remember, I’m still not convinced that Apple will finally implement it. Even though Gurman is nearly 90% accurate…

This week’s Power On: Apple should improve its Apple Card amid its larger push into financial technology, Netflix plans to add video games to its service, details on the next iPhones, and Apple launches a MagSafe battery pack. Read here and subscribe! https://t.co/QqGqzS9Lup
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) July 18, 2021
July 18, 2021
iPhone 13 design hands-on: major camera upgrades, smaller notch & more
The exclusive: This is your first look at the updated design coming to Apple’s 2021 iPhone lineup, rumored to launch sometime in September.
- There aren’t any major, structural changes…but there are big camera upgrades happening across the board
  - The lower-end 5.4/6.1-inch iPhone models will see their lenses criss-crossed for a fresh design
  - Apple’s 6.1-inch Pro model is getting a much larger camera module equal in size to that on the Pro Max
- A smaller, redesigned notch is also coming: the speaker grill has been relocated to the top bezel accordingly
- Minor button placement changes for the side button and volume rocker can also be seen here, but it’s possible they could also be a printing error
Our take: We’ll have to wait until September for the full picture of what these iPhones will be, but on the outside these absolutely look like an “S year” upgrade. It’s the same great design we got on iPhone 12 but with camera changes and a new notch. And this is a good thing: I wasn’t ready to part with the iPhone 12 design so soon. It still holds up with no contest.
July 17, 2021
Second report says iPhone 13 will get upgraded WiFi 6E
The rumor: Apple’s 2021 iPhones will get upgraded WiFi connectivity, according to DigiTimes (63.5% accurate, source).
- DigiTimes says iPhone 13 will get WiFi 6E, echoing a prior report from Barclays (62.2% accurate)
- The Wi-Fi Alliance describes Wi-Fi 6E as “higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates – extended into the 6 GHz band”
Our take: Although two sources have made the 6E claim now, both are just above 60% accurate. Still haven’t heard this from anyone super reputable yet…
July 15, 2021
What’s new in iOS 15 beta 3? Major Safari UI improvements, updated Music widget & more
The news: Apple released the third developer beta of iOS 15 on Wednesday morning following a medium-sized beta 2 about 3 weeks ago.

What’s new?
- Safari UI improvements include a new reload button and the search bar now remains consistent on the bottom of your display
- New icons in Focus settings and a new Focus Status explainer
- New ‘Prepare for New iPhone’ section and what you see when tapped
- Updated Music widget shows now playing colors instead of just the Music app icon colors
- When swiping on notifications, the two options are now individual buttons
- New ‘+’ button on the top of Find My tabs
- New App Store splash screen
July 14, 2021
iPhone 13 to include improved optical zoom among other video improvements
The rumor: The 2021 iPhone will boast more expansive video capabilities, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).
- Gurman says “more advanced video recording features” like upgraded optical zoom will be packaged as part fo the overall camera upgrades
- Other rumors have suggested that Portrait Mode for video will finally debut on this year’s handsets
Our take: I’ve wanted to see better optical zoom on iPhone for years…even though it doesn’t sound like this will be the major pericope zoom upgrade rumored for 2023.
July 13, 2021
Gurman: Smaller notch on iPhone 13, even smaller cutout in 2022
The rumor: Apple is planning to (finally) shrink the notch on the new iPhones coming later this year, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).
- As previously rumored, iPhone 13 models will see the size of the notch reduced when they’re unveiled in September
- Gurman also says the notch will likely get even smaller again, next year
Our take: A smaller notch this year is something we’ve heard over and over again, but only Ming-Chi Kuo (76.6% accurate) has said that an even smaller cutout is happening next year. No mention of hole-punch, specifically, from Gurman though…
July 13, 2021