Blog

  • Gurman: Apple has no imminent plans for Touch ID on Apple Watch

    Gurman: Apple has no imminent plans for Touch ID on Apple Watch

    The rumor: Apple is not planning to add Touch ID to Apple Watch anytime soon, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • Gurman says that while there is some merit for Touch ID to make its debut on Apple Watch, he doesn’t “see that happening any time soon, if ever”
    • A previous rumor from The Verifier (54.7% accurate) said that Touch ID would be shipping on the Apple Watch Series 7

    Our take: Genuinely, what will the upgrades for Apple Watch Series 7 be? A new design, a faster processor…and what else? Each year the Apple Watch upgrades seem to be shrinking.

  • Redesigned iPad mini likely coming this fall with iPad Air-like design

    Redesigned iPad mini likely coming this fall with iPad Air-like design

    The rumor: The first-ever major redesign for the iPad mini is happening later this year, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • The new look is described as “more similar to the iPad Air, complete with the latest processor and a larger screen with slimmer bezels” which matches the first look shared by Jon Prosser (74.2% accurate) from earlier this year
    • Gurman says that he expects this new iPad mini to come sometime this Fall

    Sam Kohl’s take: Honestly, I’m kind of surprised this is happening at all. Apple has largely ignored the iPad mini for the past few years and I’m fascinated that they’re bringing it back with this huge upgraded later this year. The Fall is looking more exciting by the day.

  • Exclusive: Upcoming MacBook Pros will feature backlit Touch ID button

    Exclusive: Upcoming MacBook Pros will feature backlit Touch ID button

    The exclusive: Apple’s upcoming MacBook Pro redesign will include an upgraded Touch ID sensor, according to new information obtained by AppleTrack.

    • According to new information we’ve reviewed, the upcoming MacBook Pro series will feature a revamped Touch ID button that is backlit by multiple dedicated LEDs
    • Interestingly, the Touch ID backlight is notably separate from the rest of the keyboard, suggesting that there may be unknown additional functionality tied to this key

    Luke Miani’s take: While this information may be minor, there could be additional functionality involved here. While it’s possible this could be a simple backlight like other keys, the dedicated LEDs and repeated emphasis suggest to me that additional functionality could be involved. For example, if the redesigned MacBook Pros carry over the circular ring around the sensor as found on new iMacs, the LEDs could illuminate the ring with animations when prompted to use the sensor, or to confirm sensor readings.

  • Latest iOS 14.7 beta fixes strange WiFi disable bug

    Latest iOS 14.7 beta fixes strange WiFi disable bug

    The news: Apple has fixed a somewhat serious bug that would completely disable networking capabilities on your iOS device, as spotted first by YouTuber Aaron Zollo.

    • A recently discovered bug showed that connecting to a WiFi network with the name “%p%s%s%s%s%n” could permanently disable network connectivity…until you went into settings and reset all network settings
    • The latest beta version of iOS 14.7, iOS 14.7 beta 5, appears to fix this bug (video below)

    Our take: Surprised it took Apple this long to correct the issue, which was relatively serious, but glad to see this ship alongside iOS 14.7. No idea when that update is coming, though, as it has been in beta testing for some time now…

  • 2022 MacBook Air will be redesigned, have new Mini-LED display

    2022 MacBook Air will be redesigned, have new Mini-LED display

    The rumor: The next MacBook Pro will be the most significant upgrade since the original model was unveiled, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (76.6% accurate).

    • The next MacBook Air will be redesigned, and it’s possible we may have already seen what it will look like
    • It is also said to don a Mini-LED display like the one found on the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro
    • More recent rumors have suggested the new MacBook Air will have an M2 chip inside and ship in the first half of next year

    Our take: The next MacBook Air…kind of sounds like a pro device? I’m sure the performance won’t be as wild as the MacBook Pro, but I’m surprised to hear Mini-LED is coming to the Air so soon.

  • 11-inch iPad Pro to get Mini-LED next year

    11-inch iPad Pro to get Mini-LED next year

    The rumor: Apple is planning to expand Mini-LED on iPad Pro to the smaller model in 2022, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (76.6% accurate).

    • Next year, Apple will significantly step up their Mini-LED game, expanding it from the 12.9-inch model to the 11-inch iPad Pro as well
    • Apple is planning a gradual transition of many of their products to this new display tech

    Our take: I think everybody saw this coming, and I fully believe that the supply bottleneck is the only reason it didn’t happen on the 2021 refresh. But this is even more confusing considering that OLED is supposed to be coming to iPads in 2022…

  • Leaked iPhone 12s cases visualize significantly larger camera modules

    Leaked iPhone 12s cases visualize significantly larger camera modules

    The leak: New photos of iPhone 12s cases showing sizing changes have surfaced, as spotted first by DuanRui on Twitter.

    Our take: I didn’t realize how much bigger than camera modules were getting until I saw these photos…wow. Definitely seems like the cameras will be a larger focus than normal this year.

  • 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.