The news: Ahead of pre-orders next week, the first hands-on media of iPhone 12 mini has popped up online.
Our take: I’m really excited to get this, and could absolutely see this becoming my vacation phone or even daily driver.
The news: Apple is inviting select developers to one-on-one sessions ahead of a rumored next month, as spotted by 9to5Mac.
Our take: Seems like perfect timing that Apple is meeting with select devs and a November event is rumored to be just around the corner…
The rumor: After years of speculation, Apple may actually be working on a competitor to Google Search, according to the Financial Times (FT).
Our take: Logically, it makes sense that Apple would be exploring the idea of their own search engine. But financially, leaving $8 billion dollars on the table each year? No way.
The news: The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro secretly support reverse wireless charging, according to a new FCC filing.
Our take: I can see it now: new AirPods next year will boast reverse wireless charging on only the new iPhones. Of course, all of this is meaningless if Apple never enables it through software. But hardware wise, it appears the functionality is present!
The rumor: Apple is planning to launch a revamped iMac with a modified A14 chip next year, according to The China Times (77.8% accurate).
Our take: While The China Times is not known for their solid track record, they have done pretty good this year with the claims they’ve made. Looks like we are only getting a new MacBook with Apple Silicon this year.
The rumor: After rumors reignited a few months back about AirPower still being worked on at Apple, Jon Prosser (85.5% accurate) has provided an update on the state of the project.
Our take: As soon as I saw MagSafe announced earlier this month, I knew AirPower’s fate in my heart. The idea—a mat where you can just lay your stuff on it (anywhere) and it’s fully charged the next day—is beautiful. And AirPower was beautiful. But it’s time to move on to MagSafe, which is entirely different, but still cool enough.
The evidence: Apple may be refreshing the 16-inch MacBook Pro soon, as spotted by Atharva Kale and MacRumors.
Our take: It’s been about a year since the 16-inch MacBook Pro was released initially, so it is feasible that an upgrade is coming soon. But I have a hard time imagining that Apple would introduce a new Intel Mac at next month’s November 17 Apple Silicon event.
The rumor: Following the recent announcement of HomePod mini, Apple is considering a mid-range model to fill the gap, according to Mark Gurman (88.3% accurate).
Our take: For a product line that has struggled to sell well for so long, I don’t think anyone is asking for or is interested in a third HomePod model. The HomePod has potential to be a great smart speaker, but a third model doesn’t seem like a good move.
The rumor: Apple is working on a radical upgrade to AirPods Pro, according to Mark Gurman (88.3% accurate).
Our take: It certainly makes sense for Apple to break from their current design to compete with other designs that are becoming increasingly popular. But changing the pods to look too similar to competitors could be damaging for the instant-recognition that AirPods have accrued.
The rumor: The third generation version of AirPods will see a significant change in their iconic design, according to Mark Gurman (88.3% accurate).
Our take: I’m super disappointed to hear that Apple is doing-away with the iconic AirPods design. AirPods Pro have never worked well for me and still regularly fall out of my head when I use them in any athletic capacity. I don’t think in-ear earbuds are the best option for everyone, even though AirPods Pro are beloved by a ton of people.
The latest: Apple is preparing to release a new accessory known as AirTags…but two highly-rated sources are split on when the circular devices will be revealed.
Our take: With both sources scoring above 85% accurate on our leaderboard, either one could very well be right about AirTags. The two things giving Gurman an edge here are a significantly longer track record and almost 3% better accuracy. At the same time, Prosser has been on a roll with dates lately.