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  • Digital Apple event may happen on March 16, 2021

    Digital Apple event may happen on March 16, 2021

    The rumor: Apple plans to hold a special event in March 2021, according to Jon Prosser (85.8% accurate).

    • The event, likely digital, may be taking place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021
    • Set to headline the event is AirPods Studio, which have been in development and rumored for years
    • AirPods Studio have reportedly hit production issues that have caused them to be pushed back

    Our take: Already talking about Apple events into 2021: wild. Apple historically releases something each year in March, so this makes sense to me. Plus, Prosser is pretty good with dates.

  • Video shows unboxing of redesigned iPhone packaging, only 1 sticker included

    Video shows unboxing of redesigned iPhone packaging, only 1 sticker included

    The news: Apple refreshed the packaging on all iPhones they currently sell, and a new video from YouTuber Rjey gives us our first look at the physical changes…inside the box.

    • Due to slimmer internal packaging, the box has essentially been trimmed to half the size of previous boxes
    • Of course, the reduction in height was achieved by removing EarPods and the charging brick
    • Only 1 Apple sticker remains inside, bundled with the quick start materials (previously there were 2 stickers)

    Our take: That leak from a few moths ago was legitimate. This is the smallest, thinnest iPhone box ever and Apple is able to pack way more of these on each shipment pallet now.

    Thanks for the tip, Jinay!

  • Apple Store experiences major issues after iPhone 12 pre-orders go live

    Apple Store experiences major issues after iPhone 12 pre-orders go live

    The news: Apple’s online store was experiencing significant outages worldwide as iPhone 12 pre-orders went live.

    • Users report seeing numerous errors and bad gateways right after the store came back online around 5am PST
    • Many were able to make it to checkout, only to experience lengthy loading times as ship dates quickly began to slip

    Our take: So you’re Apple, and you launch a big new product…how do you not have the capacity to handle this launch? This year was the worst-pre-order experience in recent memory for me, hasn’t been this stressful for a long while.

    https://twitter.com/reneritchie/status/1317077802945028098
  • Apple ARM Mac event likely happening on November 17

    Apple ARM Mac event likely happening on November 17

    The rumor: Apple will unveil the first-ever Mac with Apple Silicon inside in mid-November, according to Jon Prosser (85.2% accurate).

    • At least one new ARM Mac powered by Apple Silicon is expected at the November event, which Mark Gurman (88.3% accurate) has also rumored
    • Leaks suggest it will be either a new version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro or the reincarnation of the ‘MacBook’ line
    • AirTags, Apple’s Tile competitor, may also be coming at this event

    Our take: Prosser, whose credibility increased significantly following Apple’s last event, was spot-on when leaking the date for Apple’s October 13 event. So we’re likely just over a month away from the first ever Mac made with Apple Silicon!

  • Sources agree refreshed Apple TV likely delayed until 2021

    Sources agree refreshed Apple TV likely delayed until 2021

    The rumor: Apple no longer has plans to update the Apple TV this year, according to Jon Prosser (85.2% accurate).

    • The Apple TV 6, which may have an A12x processor inside and redesigned remote, is now scheduled to release sometime in 2021
    • Mark Gurman (87.8% accurate) also suggested that the Apple TV originally scheduled for this year had been pushed back
    • However, The Verifier (51.9% accurate) maintains that a new model is still coming in November or December of this year

    Our take: For once, Gurman and Prosser agree on this one: no new Apple TV this year. Sigh. Not that there are a ton of Apple TV fans drooling over the idea of an updated model, but 3 years without an update is a bit much.

  • Evan Blass: 92.9% accurate

    Evan Blass: 92.9% accurate

    A prolific source with years of leaks behind him, Evan Blass, better known as evleaks, has seen a recent resurgence in sharing official images of Apple products ahead of their unveiling.

    Rumor accuracy

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    Rumor list

    2020

    October 13

    • First look at HomePod mini, link
    • First look at iPhone 12, link
    • First look at iPhone 12 Pro, link
    • First look at iPhone 12 Pro Max, link

    September 15

    • First look at iPad Air 4, link
    • First look at iPad 8, link

    September 14

    iPad Air 4

    • A14 processor, link
    • USB-C

    iPad 8

    • A12x processor
    • Lightning

    Apple Watch Series 6

    • 2 sizes
    • S4 processor

    Apple Watch SE

    • 2 sizes

    September 9

    • iPhone 12 will have 5G, link
  • iPhone 12 pre-orders go live tomorrow at 5am PST

    iPhone 12 pre-orders go live tomorrow at 5am PST

    The news: Following their October 13 event, Apple has confirmed that pre-orders for iPhone 12 go live bright and early on October 16.

    • When: Around the world, pre-orders go live at 5am PST/6am MST/7am CST/8am EST on October 16. The devices begin arriving at doorsteps on October 23.
    • What: Only the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro will be available to order initially. iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pre-orders happen on November 6.

    Our take: It’ll be an early morning for those of us in the US. And it seems like they will sell out quickly. I’m gonna go with iPhone 12 Pro for my personal device this year.

  • iPhone 12 tidbits: Actually starts at $729, Qi charging limited to 7.5w, 5G cutout & more

    iPhone 12 tidbits: Actually starts at $729, Qi charging limited to 7.5w, 5G cutout & more

    The news: Following the reveal of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, a number of interesting new details have emerged about Apple’s new handsets.

    • Higher starting price than advertised: Apple says iPhone 12 starts at $699: this is only available through a special carrier offer with AT&T or Verizon, currently. Unlocked models of iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 start at $729 and $829 respectively.
    • Smart Data Mode: This mode means that 5G will be used only as needed, and seems to be enabled by default. The Verge says that 5G will only be enabled when streaming a movie or doing a video call, but not when checking email or Twitter. Apple suggests this can be toggled off.
    • Mysterious side cutout: Apple has confirmed this is a transparent cutout for the faster mmWave 5G frequency (sorry, no Touch ID here).
    • RAM: iPhone 12 has 4GB RAM while iPhone 12 Pro has 6GB RAM (confirmed by MacRumors)
    • Qi charging is remains at 7.5w: You’ll only be able to get the faster 15w wireless charging speeds when using an official MagSafe accessory.
    • MagSafe Duo and Leather Sleeve accessories: Neither of these fascinating products have a release date yet. Apple just says “MagSafe Duo Charger and Leather Sleeve will be available at a later date.”
    • Apple ProRAW: A speaker in the Keynote said the feature was coming to iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max before the end of 2020. Apple’s press release more ambiguously claims “Apple ProRAW will be available in a future iOS 14 update.”
    • 1080p FaceTime: You can broadcast your face in 1080p over FaceTime on Wi-Fi and 5G (non-iPhone 12s are limited to Wi-Fi only)
    • 3 months free of Apple Arcade: Similar to the free year of Apple TV+ last year, Apple is giving buyers of a new iPhone 12 (or other Apple products) 3 months free of Apple Arcade
  • AirTags & iOS 14.3 may ship as soon as November

    AirTags & iOS 14.3 may ship as soon as November

    The rumor: Apple is preparing to release AirTags and another significant update to iOS 14 before the end of the year, according to Jon Prosser (84.7% accurate).

    • AirTags, Apple’s Tile-like tracking accessory, could debut in November after months of delays
    • iOS 14.3, also scheduled to ship in November, is said to include support for AirTags
    • AirPods Studio have reportedly been pushed back due to production issues

    Our take: In the past few months, Prosser has gotten a seriously good pulse on when new products are coming…and when they aren’t. The only argument against release AirTags now is that…a whole bunch of people sit and work from home all day so they’re not exactly losing their stuff. iOS 14.3 in November sounds about right, though, with iOS 14.1 and 14.2 likely dropping later this month.

  • iPhone 12 has 4GB RAM, 12 Pro has 6GB

    iPhone 12 has 4GB RAM, 12 Pro has 6GB

    The news: iPhone 12 Pro has significantly more RAM this year than last year, as spotted by MacRumors (70% accurate).

    • A new Xcode beta has revealed RAM on iPhone 12 Pro now sits at 6GB, and is corroborated by a new Geekbench result
    • Like iPhone 11, RAM on iPhone 12 and 12 mini remains at 4GB

    Our take: This probably explains why some features (ex. Dolby Vision 4k60p) have been restricted to the higher-end Pro iPhones this year. Plus, it’s a nice benefit for those willing to spend a bit more on their mobile.

    Xcode .plist file, courtesy of MacRumors

  • Apple October 2020 event leaderboard update

    Apple October 2020 event leaderboard update

    This is our biggest leaderboard update yet. While other products see rumors intermittently throughout the year, Apple’s biggest product, the iPhone, is relentlessly leaked week-by-week until the eventual Fall unveil. Following the October 13 event, here’s how iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and HomePod mini rearranged the source leaderboard.

    Sources that increased

    🏀 Mark Gurman: 87.8 ⮕ 88.3% accurate

    • +30 correct rumors
    • -2 incorrect claims

    🧻 Jon Prosser: 74.5 ⮕ 85.2% accurate

    • +69 correct rumors
    • -6 incorrect claims

    👨‍💻 Ming-Chi Kuo: 74.6 ⮕ 77.5% accurate

    • +19 correct rumors
    • -1 incorrect claims

    🗞 WSJ: 76.7 ⮕ 77.4% accurate

    • +1 correct rumor

    ❓ MacRumors: 69 ⮕ 70% accurate

    • +1 correct rumor

    🧭 Macotakara: 66.7 ⮕ 69.6% accurate

    • +16 correct rumors
    • -5 incorrect claims

    🍍 Max Weinbach: 63 ⮕ 67.1% accurate

    • +23 correct rumors
    • -8 incorrect claims

    🔢 DigiTimes: 61.3 ⮕ 65% accurate

    • +14 correct rumors
    • -4 incorrect claims

    🦅 Barclays: 57.9 ⮕ 64.5% accurate

    • +9 correct rumors
    • -3 incorrect claims

    ✅ The Verifier: 51.3 ⮕ 51.9% accurate

    • +1 correct rumor

    💵 Economic Daily News: 36.1 ⮕ 36.8% accurate

    • +1 correct rumor
    • -1 incorrect claim

    Source(s) that stayed the same

    🧧 Kang 康总: 97.8 ⮕ 97.8% accurate

    • +84 correct rumors
    • -2 incorrect claims

    Sources that decreased

    🌙 L0vetodream: 88.9 ⮕ 87.9% accurate

    • +32 correct rumors
    • – 5 incorrect claims

    Note: As you may have noticed, no source is 100% accurate. That’s because all sources get some info right and some info wrong: do not harass anyone for their track record. The leaderboard functionality on AppleTrack is here only to help Apple enthusiasts better understand how likely a rumor really is.

    As always, if you notice a discrepancy on someone’s record, let us know.