Tag: mark gurman

Apple Watch Series 7 mass production delayed due to issues
The rumor: Apple has run into issues producing the new design for Apple Watch Series 7, according to Nikkei Asia (accuracy pending, source) and Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Bloomberg).
- Nikkei Asia reports that “manufacturers of Apple Watch 7, as the device is expected to be called, began small-scale production last week but encountered critical challenges in reaching satisfactory production performance, multiple people familiar with the situation said”
- According to Gurman, a new lamination process used on the updated display could be also contributing to the issues
Our take: This is not a great sign, just days ahead of the expected unveil at the September event. Will Apple still announce the watches alongside iPhone 13 and provide later ship dates? I’m not sure. It’s possible they could also push the Apple Watch Series 7 to a different event entirely…
August 31, 2021
Apple Watch Series 7 will include new watch faces optimized for larger displays
The rumor: Apple is planning a revamped design and more for the upcoming 2021 Apple Watch models, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).
- “I’m told that Apple will bundle multiple new watch faces to take advantage of the bigger screen, including an updated Infograph Modular face” Gurman says
- New 41/45mm sizes are expected this year, alongside a new design with design language similar to iPhone 12
Our take: Sure, the new watch faces sound great…but again, what new features are actually coming to the Series 7? We’ve heard essentially nothing other than it will look new, which will make upgrading year-over-year essentially pointless for even Apple’s most diehard fans. Don’t get me wrong, a new design goes a long way. But the past three years of which upgrades have been incredibly muted and the lack of competition to this product is showing.
August 29, 2021
‘Apple Glass’ may be Tim Cook’s final product as CEO
The rumor: Apple’s upcoming augmented reality glasses are set to drop around 2025, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).
- Tim Cook’s final product as the CEO of Apple may be ‘Apple Glass,’ according to the new report…Apple’s car project is still much further off
- Cook previously suggested the he plans to retire from his position within 10 years
Our take: I think Cook wants his legacy to be a product that fundamentally changes the world and the way we work in it. For Steve Jobs, that was the iPhone: for Cook, I think he sees that device as these AR glasses. We’re still years away from this watershed moment, though.
August 29, 2021
M1X Mac mini releasing ‘in the next several months’
The rumor: Apple is planning to update the Mac mini with a faster chip in the (somewhat) near future, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).
- The new info suggests the new Mac mini will have additional ports, and M1X processor and a different design than the current M1 model
- Gurman also reports that a launch is happening within “in the next several months”
Our take: We’ve already seen our first look of the Mac mini courtesy of Jon Prosser a few months back. Seems to line up with this info pretty closely.
August 23, 2021
Gurman: AirPods Pro 2 not releasing until 2022
The rumor: Apple doesn’t plan to update AirPods Pro this year, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).
- “I don’t think there will be an AirPods Pro hardware refresh until 2022,” Gurman says
- However, a new version of lower-end AirPods is expected to release as soon as September
Our take: A reiteration of a prior report, but part of me thought there was a small chance we still saw an AirPods Pro update this year. Seems like it’s still a pretty good time to buy…
August 23, 2021
Gurman: Apple holding multiple special events this Fall
The rumor: Apple may be holding multiple product launch events this Fall, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).
- “I believe there will be multiple virtual Apple events this fall given all of the new incoming hardware and software” Gurman says
- Apple held September, October and November special events in 2020 to announce a comparable amount of new products
Our take: I think two events happening is a for-sure thing, and three events is a strong maybe. I’d put my bets on September and October.
August 15, 2021
iPhone 13 major camera upgrades leaked, powered by new A15 chip
The rumor: The biggest camera upgrades for Apple’s 2021 iPhones have been shared by Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Bloomberg).

3 major camera upgrades…
- Portrait Mode video: like standard portrait mode, creates a more cinematic look and feel for your content, and the blur is adjustable in post (a wild technical accomplishment that likely speaks to the power of the A15 chip)
- ProRes video: Higher-quality video in larger file sizes that will likely be exclusive to the Pro iPhones, just like ProRaw on iPhone 12 Pro
- Speciality filters that edit custom elements: “Another feature will let users better control the look of colors and highlights in their pictures. Users will be able to choose from several styles to apply to their photos, including one for showing colors at either a warmer or cooler temperature while keeping whites neutral. Another option will add a more dramatic look with deeper shadows and more contrast, and the company is planning a more balanced style for showing shadows and true-to-life colors with a brighter appearance”
Our take: As I predicted, cameras will be the biggest focus for this year’s iPhones. A great, detailed report from Gurman that will likely be unveiled in a virtual event in just a few weeks…
August 10, 2021
Apple TV/HomePod/FaceTime combo device not launching until 2023
The rumor: Apple’s wild new device set to revitalize the Apple TV line is still years away, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).
- Apple is “developing a combined Apple TV, HomePod and FaceTime camera home hub device for release around 2023” Gurman says
- Gurman first described this device a few months ago—while mentioning it was in early development—but it appears that Apple is still working on it presently
Our take: If this device that is supposed to be the savior to the Apple TV line doesn’t describe the current situation of the Apple TV & HomePod, then I don’t know what does: it’s confusing and chaotic with no clear path forward. How can Apple nail a product like iPhone or Mac yet be so clueless for their audio/visual suites?
August 9, 2021
Gurman: AirPods 3 coming this Fall
The rumor: Apple is preparing to unveil AirPods 3 alongside new iPhones this Fall, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).
- “Look for Apple to debut its new low-end AirPods this fall, around the same time as the next iPhones” Gurman says
- AirPods 3 have been leaked extensively, but it’s still murky what specific upgrades are coming…aside from a brand-new design
Our take: I think this hybrid in-ear design is truly going to be game changing for AirPods and spark some fresh interest in a brand that Apple updates only every couple of years. This is the third time we’re hearing new AirPods this Fall, so expect them sometime in the September/October timeframe.
August 1, 2021
Gurman: All Macs will have Apple Silicon inside by November 2022
The rumor: Apple will hit their two-year transition for Apple Silicon by the end of next year, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).
- “I think Apple will barely hit its two-year timeline…that leaves the 27-inch iMac, the high-end MacBook Pros, the high-end Mac mini and the Mac Pro as the last remaining Macs to be updated. I’d then expect the iMac to fully transition by the end of next year and the revamped, smaller Mac Pro with Apple Silicon to hit later next year as well. I think Apple will hit that timeline within a month, give or take” Gurman says
- In this Q&A Section of his weekly newsletter, he reaffirms that new MacBook Pros with Apple Silicon inside are (finally) just around the corner
Our take: This isn’t necessarily news, as Apple themselves announced that the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon would take two years…but with the incredibly slow rollout thus far there were questions about whether or not they would stick to the schedule. It looks like they are, and that 2022 will be much more busy than 2021.
August 1, 2021
Gurman: iPhone Fold still ‘two or three years’ away
The rumor: Apple is actively working on a foldable iPhone, but it won’t be coming anytime soon, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).
- On the topic of an iPhone that folds, “I think Apple will eventually do it, but it’ll be at least two or three years. I reported earlier this year that Apple has prototyped foldable iPhones, and personally, I think an iPhone with a giant, unfolding 7- or 8-inch screen would be the perfect device for me and a lot of other people” Gurman says
- Numerous sources have suggested that this ‘iPhone Fold’ is in the works, but have also indicated that it is some time away still
Our take: I’m still not sold on foldable phones as I’ve yet to be impressed by anything I’ve seen on the market so far. Broadly, I think they’re a gimmick for people that are bored of the traditional smartphone design—and while I get that—it’s not for me. I think Apple will have to come up with a killer design and feature set to make something like this gain mass appeal.
August 1, 2021