MacRumors

Ahead of Apple's "It's Glowtime" iPhone event, on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the major announcements we're expecting to see.

The iPhone 16 and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus are rumored to feature vertical camera layouts, enabling spatial video recording. The devices are expected to be powered by the A18 chip with support for Apple Intelligence. The Action Button, which is currently exclusive to Pro models, is expected to appear on the standard models for the first time, offering customizable functionality for actions such as launching the camera or enabling silent mode. A new Capture Button is also rumored to be included, allowing for dedicated photo and video controls, with gestures such as swiping to zoom or using a soft press for focus.

The iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max will reportedly introduce larger displays, increasing from 6.1- to 6.3-inches and 6.7- to 6.9-inches, while incorporating slimmer bezels for a sleeker design. These models are also rumored to include an upgraded 48-megapixel ultra wide camera to enhance low-light photography. Like the standard models, the Pro variants will feature the A18 chip and the all-new Capture Button.

Apple is also expected to unveil the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, which will reportedly have sleep apnea detection and the S10 chip, potentially bringing some AI enhancements. The Series 10 is also expected to have larger, thinner casings. Meanwhile, the more affordable Apple Watch SE 3 is rumored to feature larger displays, plastic casings to lower manufacturing costs, and a faster chip.

Apple is also expected to introduce the AirPods 4 in two variants. Both versions will reportedly include an improved design, a USB-C port, the H2 chip, and Bluetooth 5.3. The high-end model is expected to feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and a charging case with a built-in speaker for Find My.

Apple's "It's Glowtime" event starts at 10:00 a.m. PDT on Monday, September 9. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about what we're expecting from this year's M4 Mac models.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

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Apple is rumored to have been working on its own 5G modem for iPhones since 2018, and it appears the chip will finally debut next year.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today estimated that shipments of Apple's in-house 5G chip will reach 35-40 million units in 2025, and "grow rapidly" to 90-110 million units in 2026 and 160-180 million units in 2027.

Kuo previously said two iPhone models with an Apple-designed 5G modem will be released in 2025, including a fourth-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of the year and an all-new, ultra-thin iPhone 17 model in the third quarter.

All existing iPhones that are currently sold by Apple are equipped with Qualcomm modems for cellular connectivity, but Kuo expects Apple to transition away from Qualcomm over time. Earlier this year, Apple extended its 5G modem supply agreement with Qualcomm for iPhone launches through 2026, so Apple still has plenty of time.

Apple acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019, as part of its efforts to design its own 5G chip. It is unclear if Apple's chip would have any consumer benefits over Qualcomm's modems, but it would reduce Apple's reliance on Qualcomm. In 2017, Apple sued Qualcomm over alleged anticompetitive practices and $1 billion in unpaid royalty rebates. The two companies settled the lawsuit in 2019.

In his report today outlining his expectations for Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 event, which takes place on Monday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman briefly mentioned that a new iPad mini is "on deck" for another Apple event in October.

Gurman expects the new iPad mini to be announced at the October event alongside the first Macs with the M4 series of chips, including the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac. The M4 chip debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year.

Apple has yet to confirm an October event this year. In 2023, it held a virtual event on October 30 to unveil MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M3 series of chips.

Gurman did not reveal any new features planned for the seventh-generation iPad mini, but previous rumors have indicated that upgrades will include a faster chip, upgraded front and rear cameras, a fix for "jelly scrolling" screen tearing in portrait orientation, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, and new color options.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the next iPad mini would enter mass production in the second half of 2024, so there is agreement from multiple credible sources about the device being updated later this year.

Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with new features at the time including a larger 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and more.

Gurman said "new iPads" plural would be unveiled at the October event, so the entry-level iPad may be updated then too.

The iPhone 16 Pro is set to succeed 2023's iPhone 15 Pro, introducing over 30 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones. With many users adopting three-year upgrade cycles, plenty of iPhone 13 Pro owners will be looking to upgrade to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, so this guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations based on rumors.

The ‌‌iPhone 13‌‌ Pro debuted in 2021, introducing a brighter display with ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz, the A15 Bionic chip, a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, macro photography and photographic styles, Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field, ProRes video recording, a 1TB storage option, and up to five hours of additional battery life.

Three years later, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is expected to offer over 65 further upgrades. All of the changes the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are expected to feature compared to their 2021 predecessors are listed below, using information from reliable sources that we have previously covered here on MacRumors. We will continue to update this article as more rumors emerge prior to Apple's "It's Glowtime" event on Monday, September 9.

Design

The design of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is expected to be a relatively significant evolution over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, iterating on the titanium frame and slightly rounded edges introduced on the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ models last year.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
Surgical-grade stainless steel chassis	Aerospace-grade titanium chassis
Glossy frame with squared-off edges	Brushed frame with contoured edges
Ring/Silent switch	Action button
Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing	New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing
	More repairable design
Lightning port	USB-C port
Alpine Green, Silver, Gold, Graphite, and Sierra Blue color options	Black Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, and Titanium Gray color options

Dimensions

To accommodate larger displays, both ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to grow in height and width. In addition to last year's increase in depth, the devices are due to be considerably larger, but with a notable reduction in weight thanks to the adoption of a titanium frame.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
7.85mm depth	8.25mm depth (0.4mm thicker)
iPhone 13 Pro: 146.7mm height iPhone 13 Pro Max: 160.8mm height	iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6mm height iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163.0mm height
iPhone 13 Pro: 71.5mm width iPhone 13 Pro Max: 78.1mm width	iPhone 16 Pro: 71.45mm width iPhone 16 Pro Max: 77.58mm width
iPhone 13 Pro: 204g weight iPhone 13 Pro Max: 238g weight	iPhone 16 Pro: 194g weight iPhone 16 Pro Max: 225g weight

Displays

Both ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max to be the biggest iPhone ever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store, in addition to considerably slimmer bezels, making for a noticeable overall display upgrade.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
6.1- or 6.7-inch display	6.3- or 6.9-inch display
"Notch" TrueDepth camera array	Dynamic Island
	Always-On Display
	Slimmer borders around the display
Up to 1,000 nits typical max brightness Up to 1,200 nits peak HDR brightness	Up to 1,200 nits typical SDR brightness Up to 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness
	More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology

Performance

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, including a 3nm Apple silicon chip with support for Apple Intelligence and 33% more memory.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
A15 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N5P" 5nm process)	A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced ‌3nm‌ process)
16-core Neural Engine	Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support Apple Intelligence more effectively
	Dedicated AV1 decoder
6GB memory	8GB memory

Connectivity

Connectivity is also due to get a significant upgrade on the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, bolstering the device's 5G, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ultra Wideband specifications.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
Snapdragon X60 5G modem	Snapdragon X75 5G modem
Wi‑Fi 6 connectivity	Wi‑Fi 7 connectivity
	Thread networking technology
First-generation Ultra Wideband chip	Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away)
	Precision Finding for Find My friends

Cameras

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
	Capacitive "Capture Button" with force-sensitive half-press and sliding gestures to trigger photography and videography features
12-megapixel main camera	48-megapixel main camera
	Photonic Engine for better low light performance
1/1.65-inch main camera sensor	iPhone 16 Pro‌: 1/1.28-inch main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor
Sony IMX-703 main camera sensor	iPhone 16 Pro: Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control
7P main camera lens	8P main camera lens
Telephoto camera with sensor-shift optical image stabilization	Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module
77mm maximum focal length	120mm maximum focal length
4P telephoto camera lens	5P telephoto camera lens
12-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/1.8	48-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 48-megapixel ProRaw support, and improved low-light performance
5P ultra wide camera lens	6P ultra wide camera lens
	Anti-reflective coating on camera lenses
0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom	0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom
	13mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 120mm focal length picker
12-megapixel super-high-resolution photos	24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos
Smart HDR 3	Smart HDR 5
Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control	Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
Night mode and Night mode portraits	Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits
	Support for new JPEG-XL format
	Shoot and instantly transfer 48-megapixel ProRAW images to Mac via USB 3
	Record video directly to an external drive
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps	ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording
	Log video recording
	Academy Color Encoding System
	Record spatial video for Apple Vision Pro
	Action mode for improved video stabilization

Batteries and Charging

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
	Setting to prevent charging above 80%
	Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings
Single-layer battery technology	Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan
iPhone 13 Pro: 3,095 mAh battery iPhone 13 Pro Max: 4,352 mAh battery	iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355 mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery
Up to 20W wired charging	Up to 40W wired charging
15W charging via MagSafe	20W charging via ‌MagSafe‌

Other Features and Changes

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models will also offer support for Apple Intelligence, Apple's new suite of personal AI features, later this year, as well as satellite connectivity, Crash Detection, and more storage.

‌iPhone 13‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
	Apple Intelligence support
	Emergency SOS via Satellite
Microphone	Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance
	Crash Detection
	Improved audio quality on phone calls
Lightning connector with USB 2 transfer speeds (up to 480Mb/s)	USB-C port with USB 3 transfer speeds (up to 10Gb/s, 20x faster)
	DisplayPort support for up to 4K HDR video output
Up to 1TB of storage	Up to 2TB of storage

Release Date

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max are expected to be announced at Apple's "It's Glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. For more information about the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, see our comprehensive roundup.

Will It Be Worth Upgrading?

The ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ was a fairly significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing a vast array of significant features including a titanium chassis, much slimmer bezels, the Action button, and a USB-C port. The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ will build on these upgrades, offering larger displays, the Capture button, improved cameras, and Apple Intelligence support. With a total of over 65 upgrades likely to be in store, many ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro users will find upgrading to an ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ model worthwhile.

Update: Apple told MacRumors that Open Web Advocacy's allegation that Apple is misleading the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is inaccurate. Apple says it told the CMA that the design of the identified browser setting was changed in a recent software update. The design was apparently never intended to discourage users from setting third-party browsers as the default.

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Apple faces allegations of misleading the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over a user interface issue in iOS related to changing the default browser, Open Web Advocacy reports.

Earlier this year, reports surfaced accusing Apple of implementing a deceptive design practice in iOS that made it more difficult for users to switch their default browser if Safari was already set as the default. The issue was initially highlighted in March 2024 and was independently verified by multiple sources, including Ars Technica and the CMA. Specifically, the design hid the option to change the default browser when Safari was set as the default, while other browsers like Chrome and Firefox continued to display the option regardless of whether they were the default or not. This behavior was eventually addressed in an iOS update.

Now, in a formal response to the CMA, Apple has denied that this issue ever existed. The company responded to the regulator's inquiry on August 1, 2024, stating that the allegations regarding the hidden option to change the default browser were incorrect. The response read, "This is not correct. The default browser app setting in the Safari tab is clearly visible when the user has set Safari as the default." The statement effectively denies that the behavior reported by the CMA and others had ever been present in iOS, despite the availability of screenshots, videos, and other forms of evidence supporting the claims from media outlets and industry experts.

Apple has not provided an explanation for how its claim in the August response aligns with these findings, leaving open the question of whether the company's internal processes failed to verify the accuracy of its statements or whether it is actively attempting to minimize the situation. The matter could have legal implications. Under UK law, providing false or misleading information to a regulatory body such as the CMA can be considered a criminal offense. The CMA has the authority to request documentation, internal communications, and other records to verify claims made by companies under investigation. If it is determined that Apple provided false or incomplete information, the company could face penalties, including fines.

Samsung is getting ready to kick off a new Discover Samsung sale soon, and today the company has a few early access discounts available to customers. The popular Smart Monitor M80D is being discounted during this sale, but you'll also find sales on storage, audio, TVs, smartphones, and wearable tech.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Samsung has its new 32-inch Smart Monitor M80D on sale today for $549.99, down from $699.99, which is a second-best price on the monitor. The display retains key features of the previous model, like USB-C charging connectivity, AirPlay 2 support, an integrated webcam, and several smart TV features that enable it to be used when not connected to a PC.

In terms of new features, the M80D includes a Multi Control feature that allows images and text to be moved between the display and a Galaxy Book, Tablet, or Phone. You can also pair Galaxy Buds to the monitor for a spatial audio experience with head tracking, as well as guided workouts when paired with a Galaxy Watch.

Monitors

• 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $999.99, down from $1,299.99
• 34-inch OLED Curved Smart Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,199.99
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,099.99, down from $1,799.99
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,799.99, down from $2,999.99
• 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,599.99, down from $2,499.99

TVs

• The Frame TV - Save up to $1,700
• 70-inch QLED 4K QE1C TV - $989.99, down from $1,799.99
• 55-inch Neo QLED 4K Smart TV - $1,099.99, down from $1,499.99
• 55-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV - $1,099.99, down from $1,999.99
• 65-inch OLED S90C TV - $1,499.99, down from $2,599.99
• 85-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV - $2,599.99, down from $4,799.99

Galaxy Products

• Galaxy Z Fold6 - Save up to $1,500 with trade-in credit
• Galaxy Z Flip6 - Save up to $800 with trade-in credit
• Galaxy Watch Ultra - Save up to $350
• Galaxy Buds3 Pro - Save up to $130

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, and the item tracking accessory has not received any hardware updates since then.

Below, we recap rumors about when the second-generation AirTag is expected to be released, as well as potential new features and changes.

Timing

In a report today outlining his expectations for Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 event, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman briefly mentioned that Apple is developing a new AirTag, but he does not expect the accessory to be released until 2025:

A fresh AirTag is also in development, though Apple isn't planning a release until next year either.

He did not provide any additional details about the next AirTag in the report.

In October 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the second-generation AirTag had been postponed from the fourth quarter of 2024 until some point in 2025, but he did not provide a reason for the apparent change in plans. Kuo and Gurman are thus in agreement that a new AirTag is not coming until next year.

Features

Gurman previously said the new AirTag would feature an upgraded chip with improved location tracking. If so, the AirTag could be updated with the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in all iPhone 15 models last year.

Kuo believes the new AirTag will have some kind of integration with Apple's Vision Pro headset, but he has not shared any specific details.

No design changes have been rumored for the AirTag so far. Read our AirTag 2 guide for more.

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models will be able to record 4K video at up to 120 FPS, according to "reliable sources" cited in a 9to5Mac report today. For comparison, all four iPhone 15 models are capable of 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS.

The report adds that Apple has allegedly tested 8K video recording on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but it is unclear if this capability will be enabled. Since an 8K image is around 33 megapixels, the rumored 48-megapixel Main and Ultra Wide cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro models would be capable of 8K video recording, but the 12-megapixel Telephoto camera would not be. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max rumored to gain a 48-megapixel Telephoto camera next year, the report said 8K video recording might debut on that device instead.

In addition, the report said the iPhone's built-in Camera app will finally allow you to pause and resume a singular video recording.

Many other details mentioned in the report have already been rumored by other sources, including support for a new JPEG-XL image format, the Capture/Camera button supporting third-party apps, and both iPhone 16 Pro models supporting the 5x optical zoom functionality that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 16 series during its special event on Monday.

Apple's next-generation iPhone 16 series is expected to launch on September 20 and will compete in a quickly evolving smartphone market, and with some notable upgrades rumored, the new models could see price changes compared to previous years.

Successive iPhone models always come with new features and hardware upgrades, but Apple typically does not increase the retail prices as a result. However, that could change this year due to an increasingly competitive smartphone market, potential supply chain disruptions, and other global economic challenges.

Last year saw a record high for the total cost of an ‌iPhone‌'s components, and could be a harbinger of things to come. According to one report, last year's iPhone 15 models cost more to produce than the previous iPhone 14. For example, iPhone 15 Pro Max is believed to cost Apple $558 to produce, a 12% increase over the ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌ Pro Max model released in 2022.

The other models in the ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌ lineup were also subject to cost increases. The standard ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌'s components totaled $423, a 16% increase compared to the ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌. The ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌ Plus is calculated at $442, a 10% increase over its predecessor, while the ‌‌iPhone 15 Pro‌‌ grew by 8% to $523.

Despite the increased costs, Apple did not increase the retail prices of any of its ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 15 models last year. However, Tokyo-based research company Fomalhaut Techno Solutions believes that Apple's bottom line will be impacted if the company continues to absorb the impact of increased production costs. That could see Apple choose to hike the retail prices of this year's ‌iPhone 16‌ series.

Speculation about a price hike is also due to a bump in hardware components required to support Apple intelligence. Apple is expected to increase the RAM in the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ models to 8GB, up from 6GB in the previous versions.

On the other hand, Apple will be wary of hiking prices in the face of the increased cost of living, as well as recent market challenges in Asia that have seen falling sales. For example, ‌iPhone 15‌ resellers in China have become increasingly dependent on promotional discounts to move stock, indicating Apple's latest ‌iPhone‌ generation is struggling to achieve the same popularity as previous models in China. Additionally, the design of the ‌iPhone 16‌ is not expected to change significantly, making it even harder to justify a price increase.

Apple is also mass producing iPhone 16 Pro models in India for the first time as it looks to diversify production beyond China, which could potentially result in cost savings. According to a report by The Economic Times, the ‌iPhone‌ maker is anticipated to reduce production expenses by 10% through manufacturing Pro models in India. However, despite these savings, consumers may not see lower prices, as taxes and component costs could well keep retail prices steady.

We don't know with complete certainty what prices Apple will set for its next-generation ‌iPhone‌ models. But it's worth noting that if the starting price of the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ model remains unchanged ($799), it will have the same starting price as the ‌iPhone‌ 12, which was released in 2020. That said, Apple could remove certain configuration options so that customers are essentially forced to pay more, as it did with the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max last year.

Prior to the ‌iPhone 15‌ release, speculation circulated that the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max might have a higher starting price of $1,199, up from the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max's $1,099 base price. This prediction proved partially correct, but for a different reason than expected. Apple didn't raise the price outright – instead, it removed the lowest storage option of 128GB for the Pro Max model. As a result, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max now starts at 256GB of storage, priced at $1,199 – the same amount Apple previously charged for the 256GB ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max. So while the price-per-gigabyte remained consistent with the previous generation, the entry price increased.

Apple could adopt the same strategy for the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌. According to a new TrendForce report, this time Apple is expected to offer both the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max with a minimum of 256GB storage, doing away with the 128GB starting option on its smaller Pro model for the first time.

• iPhone 16 Launch Month Is Here: Here's Everything We Know

Apple will debut the new ‌iPhone‌ series on Monday, September 9 at a special event, dubbed "It's Glowtime." For all the details of what we can expect from the four new ‌iPhone 16‌ models, be sure to check out our dedicated iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro roundups.

New versions of the AirPods Max and Apple TV may not debut at Apple's upcoming "It's Glowtime" event, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested.

In a report detailing some final expectations for the September 9 Apple event, Gurman said that the company is still working on a new version of the ‌AirPods Max‌ with new color options and a USB-C port instead of Lightning. This product refresh has been rumored for some time, but with plenty of ‌AirPods Max‌ inventory still in stock, Gurman suggested that the new model may not arrive until later.

Likewise, Apple has apparently been working on an updated ‌Apple TV‌ that was originally supposed to launch earlier this year. With no sign of the new model and stable inventory of the current model, Gurman says that "a new version isn't on the immediate horizon."

The new ‌AirPods Max‌ are not expected to feature the H2 chip introduced in September 2022 or features like Adaptive Audio. Gurman previously said that the changes are expected to be so minor that the refreshed device will still be considered to be first-generation ‌AirPods Max‌.

Whenever it comes out, the next ‌Apple TV‌ is rumored to feature a faster processor than the current A15 Bionic chip, and even lower pricing. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the next ‌Apple TV‌ could have a sub-$100 starting price

Apple is "shaking up its color palette" for its iPhone 16 lineup this year, according to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

According to Gurman, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models will come in a Gold Titanium to replace Blue Titanium, while the Black, White, and Natural Titanium options that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro will remain unchanged.

Previous rumors and leaks were apparently accurate about the Pro model colorways, although the Gold Titanium version was previously described as "bronze-like" with a "Desert Titanium" naming convention. Gurman recently said the Gold color "looks impressive and not terrible like the early renders."

Meanwhile, the ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus will reportedly come in four colors: Yellow (replacing white) and new shades of green, pink, and blue. Previous leaks and dummy models were apparently only half-accurate, suggesting the ‌iPhone 16‌ would come in white, black, green, pink, and blue.

Apple will debut the new ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup at its upcoming "It's Glowtime" event, which is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, September 9.

The Apple Watch Series 10 will include a new sleep apnea detection feature, but it may not be available as soon as the new model launches, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Sleep apnea detection, which builds on the watch's existing sleep tracking, will attempt to determine if a wearer has sleep apnea and then suggest further testing with a medical professional.

Gurman had expressed doubt about the feature's inclusion in the 2024 Apple Watch model, previously reporting that Apple's efforts hadn't gone smoothly and that it had "run into some serious snags."

The sleep apnea detection feature was said to be in trouble because it relies on blood oxygen saturation, which Apple Watches in the United States cannot currently measure due to an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo.

Gurman previously suggested that the dispute with Masimo could be resolved by September, or Apple could find a way around it by arguing that the blood oxygen sensor could be used for purposes that are not directly related to blood oxygen levels. Either way, the Apple Watch Series 10 model will eventually feature sleep apnea detection, perhaps via a later software update.

Meanwhile, the new hypertension detection (high blood pressure) feature Apple appears to have been working on has been insufficiently reliable during testing, suggesting the feature is being delayed and "no longer on the cards for an immediate release," according to Gurman.

The overall design of the Apple Watch Series 10 is said to be similar to the Apple Watch Series 9, but Apple has given them slightly larger screen-size options and the watch case itself is said to be noticeably thinner. Apple is expected to unveil the new models alongside the iPhone 16 at its September 9 event.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared his final expectations for Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, providing some new tidbits and clarifications about the new devices set to be announced on Monday.

iPhone 16 Pro

• Along with larger 6.3- and 6.9-inch display sizes, the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max will have bezels that are "now about a third slimmer" for a "sleeker overall look."
• The new models will feature faster chips with an improved Neural Engine that Apple will say is optimized for artificial intelligence.
• The new "Capture" button coming to both models will be the biggest selling point for the new devices beyond AI features. It will work like a DSLR camera's shutter button, with the ability to press it lightly to focus on a subject and press harder to capture a picture. Swiping across the button will switch between photo and video camera modes, as well as zoom in and out.

AirPods

• Apple is preparing to announce the ability for AirPods to work as a hearing aid replacement, as well as a device for conducting hearing tests. The company has experienced delays with developing the new functionality and it may not be available until a later date.
• Gurman added that Apple apparently discovered a bug on the upcoming, fourth-generation AirPods that resulted in draining battery life. The issue was software-related and fixed prior to factories shipping the new devices.

Apple Watch

• Apple's "It's Glowtime" event will be the first time that Apple updates all three Apple Watch lines simultaneously.
• The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will only offer minor improvements that focus on internal upgrades rather than exterior changes.
• The Apple Watch Series 10 will feature the first design update for the device since the Series 7, offering larger display size options and a "noticeably thinner" casing.
• While the Apple Watch is not expected to get "major" Apple Intelligence capabilities, any AI technology debuting on the new devices will likely be tied specifically to a "future health coach service."
• Despite plans to bring hypertension detection to the new Apple Watches this year, Gurman now believes that the feature has been delayed.

Gurman added that new Mac and iPad models are likely to appear at a follow-up event, no earlier than October, rather than at the September event. The next-generation iPhone SE and a new version of the AirTag are also scheduled for release next year. See the full report for more information.

Apple has approved an update to WeChat for the upcoming iPhone 16, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the tech giant and Tencent, the Chinese company behind the massively popular messaging app. The development, reported by Bloomberg, comes as Tencent and Apple continue negotiations over revenue-sharing agreements for WeChat's mini-games ecosystem.

The approval of the WeChat update for Apple's upcoming iPhone lineup is likely to quell speculation about a deteriorating relationship between the two companies, and suggests Apple is committed to maintaining WeChat's presence on its devices, given the app's critical importance in the Chinese market.

Tencent's chief strategy officer, James Mitchell, revealed during an earnings call that the company is in talks with Apple regarding a revenue-sharing deal. The negotiations center around allowing Tencent to accept payments in WeChat mini-games through Apple's payment system, potentially resolving a long-standing point of contention.

With nearly 1.4 billion users in China, WeChat serves as a ubiquitous platform for various services, including bill payments and ticket bookings. While many of these transactions are exempt from Apple's fees, in-app content and online entertainment, such as mini-games, remain subject to Apple's App Store policies.

The rise of mini-games within WeChat has led to developers seeking ways to monetize their creations by selling in-game items. Some have resorted to "steering" practices, guiding players to make payments outside of Apple's ecosystem to avoid fees and improve their profit margins. Apple has been pushing Tencent to close these loopholes, viewing them as violations of its ‌App Store‌ policies.

Apple has also warned ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, about in-app spending policies. However, these aggressive actions reportedly risk alienating content creators in a crucial market at a time when Apple's business practices are under increased global scrutiny.

Unlike in the US, Apple holds a smaller market share in China, failing to make the top five in smartphone sales last quarter. Meanwhile, Chinese companies like Tencent and ByteDance maintain significant control over online content, including games and video platforms. Apple's challenges in the Chinese market were underscored by a 6.5% decline in Greater China revenue for the June quarter.

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Apple is expected to offer both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with a minimum of 256GB storage, doing away with the 128GB starting option on its smaller Pro model for the first time, according to a new TrendForce report.

Currently, Apple's 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and comes with the minimum 128GB of storage, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 with a minimum 256GB of storage. Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 15 models, there were rumors that the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max could start at $1,199, instead of the $1,099 starting price it charged for the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

That did turn out to be accurate, but only because Apple eliminated the lower priced 128GB storage tier. The iPhone 15 Pro Max now starts at 256GB, and $1,199 is the same price Apple charged for the 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max. Looking ahead to the upcoming iPhone 16 series, TrendForce believes Apple will follow the same strategy for the iPhone 16 Pro model.

TrendForce bases its prediction on the assumption that the iPhone 16 Pro will include a costly tetraprism periscope lens – a feature that was last year exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max model. In other words, upping the minimum capacity to 256GB will allow Apple to pass over the cost to the consumer while diluting the impression of rising prices.

TrendForce notes that even if the price remains at the same level, consumers' usage habits, such as shooting and storing a large number of high-definition photos and videos, and downloading music and large-scale games, will continue to push up the demand for the average storage capacity.

• Is 128GB Enough iPhone Storage?

In 2018, Apple's iPhone X came with 64GB, an entry-level storage tier that persisted in successive premium device generations until the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020, when Apple adopted 128GB as the new baseline. The next year saw all iPhone 13 models offered with a minimum 128GB. If Apple makes 256GB the new minimum across its premium devices this year, we could well see it reach all models in 2025.

This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be getting bigger display sizes, increasing to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The new display sizes will be the largest ever for the iPhone, and should also increase the physical space for internal components and parts.

• iPhone 16 Launch Month Is Here: Here's Everything We Know

Apple will unveil the new iPhone 16 lineup next week on Monday, September 9 at an event with the tagline "It's Glowtime," which is believed to be a reference the new Siri interface that comes with Apple Intelligence.

Ugreen today announced the launch of several new Apple-specific charging products that have a robot-style design with emoji faces. The Uno series includes a Qi2 charger, a wireless power bank, and a 100W USB-C charger.

According to Ugreen, the chargers were created with "Fast and Fun Charging" for Apple users in mind. Each one has a TFT screen that can display different emoji faces when charging.

The 10,000 mAh Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank has a Qi2 wireless charger that can charge a compatible iPhone at up to 15W. There's also a 20W two-way USB-C port for charging, and a foldable metal stand.

The Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger is also Qi2, and it is able to charge the ‌iPhone‌ at up to 15W and AirPods at up to 5W. It has an upright magnetic charging puck with an adjustable viewing angle. There's also a 5W USB-C charger that an Apple Watch charger can be plugged into for Apple Watch fast charging.

The Ugreen Uno Charger 100W can be used to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 43 percent in 30 minutes. It has a total of three USB-C ports and a single USB-A port, with power distributed between the different ports when multiple devices are plugged in.

Ugreen is also working on a 30W 10,000 mAh power bank and a 6-in-1 USB-C hub for the Uno series. The products will be available later this year.

Google today said it has started rolling out early access to a new "Ask Photos" feature for its Google Photos app. Available to both iOS and Android users, the new Google ‌Photos‌ feature takes advantage of Google's Gemini AI to provide new ways to search.

With Ask ‌Photos‌, users can use natural language search terms to find specific memories or information in their images. Google says that Google ‌Photos‌ users can ask all sorts of questions to find content from their image libraries, with the feature able to search through all of a person's Google ‌Photos‌ images to bring up relevant results. Some examples:

• What are the best photos from each national park I visited?
• Where did I camp last year?
• When do my tickets expire?
• What were the best things we saw on our trip?
• What did I eat at the hotel in [location]?
• What did I eat at the market in Thailand?
• What are the best photos from the birthday party?
• What themes have we had for family birthday parties?

Ask ‌Photos‌ is able to understand the context and subject of photos to provide answers to questions. With the last question listed above, for example, Ask ‌Photos‌ can see what decorations are in the background of an image or on a birthday cake to answer the query.

The feature can be used to curate the best images taken on a trip, saving editing time. It can also provide trip highlights, and suggest top pictures complete with captions to share on social media.

Google says that personal data in Google ‌Photos‌ isn't used for ads, but some queries will be reviewed by humans to improve the feature. Data will not be linked to a Google Account for privacy protection purposes. Answers provided by Ask ‌Photos‌, including photos and videos, are not reviewed by humans unless feedback is provided or in rare cases to address abuse or harm.

Ask ‌Photos‌ was already previewed at Google I/O, but it has now started rolling out, with Google providing early access to select iOS and Android Google ‌Photos‌ users. Those who want to try the feature can sign up for the waitlist on Google's website.

Over two and a half years have passed since Apple released the current iPhone SE, so the device is due for an update. Below, we recap the latest rumors about the next-generation iPhone SE, including potential features and launch timing.

Timing

The latest word comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter last month, he said he expects the next iPhone SE to launch in the spring of 2025. All three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so it seems likely that the fourth-generation model will also be introduced in March next year.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and the technology publication The Information also previously claimed that the next iPhone SE will launch in the first quarter of 2025, so that timeframe has been corroborated by multiple sources. The Information said that Apple suppliers would begin ramping up mass production of the device in October.

Features

The current iPhone SE starts at $429 in the U.S. with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. The device's key features include a 4.7-inch LCD display, A15 Bionic chip, Touch ID, 5G support with a Qualcomm chip, a single 12-megapixel rear camera, and a Lightning port.

The next iPhone SE is rumored to have an iPhone 14-like design with the following features:

• 6.1-inch OLED display
• A18 chip
• Face ID
• USB-C port
• Action button
• Apple-designed 5G chip
• A single 48-megapixel rear camera
• 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence

Gurman believes the next iPhone SE will likely be priced in the $400 to $500 range, so the device would remain a lower-cost option in Apple's smartphone lineup, despite gaining a larger display and a more modern set of features.

Update — September 2024:

Japanese publication Nikkei Asia has since also reported that the iPhone SE 4 with an OLED display will be released in 2025.