The MacRumors Show: 2024 Apple Rumor Q&A

As 2023 begins to draw to a close, on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show we take your questions about Apple rumors and more.


We answer your queries about the chances of another Apple event for Vision Pro, whether the device really has the potential to replace the Mac, and the potential "failure" of the headset. We also talk MacBook Air accessories, when new HomePod models could launch, the potential of more iPad models adopting a landscape front-facing camera, and the usefulness of MagSafe charging on next-generation iPad Pro models, as well as when we could see an iOS 17 update that adds app sideloading capabilities in the EU.

The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so head over and subscribe to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the recent controversy surrounding Android apps that seek to enable iMessage functionality.

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 like Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, 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, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Popular Stories

iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

iOS 19 to Have Some of the 'Biggest' Design Changes in iPhone's History

Sunday March 16, 2025 10:35 am PDT by
Apple is planning some of the "biggest iOS and macOS redesigns in its history," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman reiterated that iOS 19 will have a visionOS-like design with more transparent interfaces:The new interfaces will adopt the design principles introduced in visionOS, the software for Apple's Vision Pro headset. That includes greater...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Launch Now Just Months Away: Here's What We Know

Tuesday March 11, 2025 3:26 am PDT by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as excellent for...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Max Rumors Allegedly Refer to 'iPhone 17 Ultra' Model

Friday March 14, 2025 7:56 am PDT by
If you've been following iPhone rumors over the last few years, you may remember reading reports that Apple flirted with the idea of introducing a super high-end "Ultra" model that would either replace its Pro Max device or sit above it in Apple's smartphone hirearchy. These reports appeared in the pre-launch iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 rumor cycles, but ultimately came to nothing. Now though, the...
iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

Ultra-Thin 'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Include These 12 Features

Saturday March 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the "iPhone 17 Air" sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
Bent iPhone Air Feature

Apple Canned Larger iPhone 17 Air Model Over Fears of Bendgate 2.0

Monday March 17, 2025 4:07 am PDT by
Apple prototyped a larger ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air with a 6.9-inch display, but ultimately decided not to go ahead with the device because of fears that it could be susceptible to bending, according to a new report. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, writing in his latest Power On newsletter: When it first started work on the phone, it prototyped a device with a 6.9-inch screen — matching...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Apple's First Foldable iPhone Estimated to Cost Nearly Twice as Much as iPhone 16 Pro Max

Monday March 17, 2025 6:42 am PDT by
In an investor research note today with British bank Barclays, analyst Tim Long said Apple's first foldable iPhone could have a starting price in the $2,300 range in the United States, which would make it by far the most expensive iPhone model ever. If the first foldable iPhone starts at $2,299, that means it would cost nearly twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199. ...
iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Start at $899 With Surprisingly Good Battery Life, Camera Control, and More

Sunday March 16, 2025 9:05 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared some new details about the rumored iPhone 17 Air. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman said he was told that the device may start at roughly $899 in the U.S., which means that it would occupy the same price point as the iPhone 16 Plus. This would make sense, as it has been widely rumored that the Air model will take over the Plus model's spot in the iPhone...
apple surveyor app

Apple Launches 'Surveyor' App for Apple Maps Data Collection

Friday March 14, 2025 10:38 am PDT by
Apple today launched a new app called Surveyor, which is designed to allow users to collect data like images of street signs and roadside details to improve Apple Maps. The app is not public facing and appears to be for use with companies that Apple partners with to assign mapping tasks. Downloading the app and opening it up directs users to "Open Partner App" to choose a task. Tapping on...
iphone 16e usb c feature

'iPhone 17 Air' is Step Towards Slimmer iPhones Without USB-C Ports

Sunday March 16, 2025 9:36 am PDT by
Apple considered launching the iPhone 17 Air without a USB-C charging port, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said that while Apple ultimately decided against making the iPhone 17 Air its first iPhone model without a charging port, the idea is still on the table for future iPhone models. He said the iPhone 17 Air will "foreshadow a move to...

Top Rated Comments

DFZD Avatar
16 months ago
Vision Pro will fail until it can be made at 20% of the weight, volume and price.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
halledise Avatar
16 months ago

Vision Pro will fail until it can be made at 20% of the weight, volume and price.
i have enough trouble coping with day to day reality let alone forking out big $ for a modified reality or spatial computing or whatever you want to call it … ;)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DFZD Avatar
16 months ago

Ok, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, remember people are happily spending up to 2k on a smartphone today…
It’s going to be a long road and only time will tell but there is huge potential with this
Most people spend around $999.. in fact even the US average is around $550-650 I think.. and most of those people use smartphone as their only computing device. So taking all that in account, the comparison with a smartphone is not just unfair, its also incorrect.

Also until it becomes its own category, the Vision Pro is going to be perceived as a VR Set.

Total VR Set Sales in 2023 were only 7.5 Million. Of this 7.5M, Around 5.5M are Meta's Oculus sets. So considering that Apple doesn't really have a gaming console to tie this up with.. we'll be really surprised if Apple sells even a Million of these sets at this price and in this form.

I'm not saying the product doesn't show promise.. I'm just saying that the top down approach for a product we don't know we need may not work for the mass market. Do remember that most Apple Premium products like Watch Ultra, iPad Pro and iPhone Pro Max took the bottom up approach.. in fact the iPhone X, no matter how iconic had underwhelming sales.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DFZD Avatar
16 months ago

Apple can only make a million of them within the next year so that is fine. They are supply chain constrained at 500K per year and they have probably been stockpiling for a year. Higher production then that is still years away.
I meant Apple can only sell 1 Million of those, in their lifetime, and that would be a dream run for the product. Realistically it would be a miracle if they even push 100K of those toys.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DFZD Avatar
16 months ago

The iPhone X didn't have underwhelming sales at all. It sold less units than the iPhone 7 (1M in the first quarter if I recall correctly), but considering that price increased significantly and there was another model launched at the same time (iPhone 8), that was already forecasted. In fact, I remember that was one of the most extraordinary years for Apple (beating guidance by a lot). Low (or lower) doesn't equal underwhelming, i.e. AirPods Max probably sells in low quantities but it's a big success in its context. If Apple sells 1M Vision Pro, it wouldn't be a failure (although in this case I think it will be constrained by supply and not demand).
iPhone X was a huge disappointment for Apple. The whole X and XS Series just ended up confusing the buyers. This is why it was dumped completely within 2 years and Apple brought the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro and simplified the whole process with a Good Phone and an even better Phone.. instead of a Great Phone and a not so great Phone.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DFZD Avatar
16 months ago

I wouldn't compare it to those two, as this is probably the most adventurous product Apple has ever launched, and they can't allow it to be anything less than impressive and admirable during its early years.
It is super impressive and admirable. It’s just not something people think they need or want, yet. Remember that Apple was building a car from 2016 and then they hyped it for a few years and eventually it was all forgotten. That was a product market knew it needed. Vision Pro is like a Space Tour.. we are all excited.. we all love the idea but not sure we are actually going to go for it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)