Sony will replace Lumentum and WIN Semi as the exclusive supplier of LiDAR Scanner components for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, according to the latest information shared by reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a series of tweets today, Kuo said Sony's time-of-flight VCSEL has lower power consumption than those from Apple's existing suppliers. This would result in the LiDAR Scanner being more power efficient on the iPhone 15 Pro models, which Kuo said could either contribute to longer battery life or allow for the LiDAR Scanner to offer improved performance at the same level of power consumption as on existing iPhones.
Kuo said the improved LiDAR Scanner could benefit camera features, like Night mode and autofocus, as well as augmented reality uses. First introduced on iPhone 12 Pro models in 2020, the LiDAR Scanner can measure light distance and capture depth information, and the hardware is expected to remain exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro models.
Earlier this week, Beats introduced three new colors for its Beats Fit Pro wireless noise canceling earbuds. Today on Amazon you can already get these at a discounted price, available for $169.83, down from $199.95.
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You can get the Volt Yellow and Coral Pink colors at this price, with the only new color not on sale being the Tidal Blue. Both yellow and pink are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon, with a delivery estimate for February 26 with free delivery.
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we're joined by YouTuber and audio aficionado David Lewis to discuss the state of AirPods, HomePod, and Apple Music in 2023 and where they could be set to go in the next few years.
David is a tech YouTuber and podcaster with a background in broadcast radio, jazz music, and voice-overs – giving him unique insights on Apple's audio products and services. See more of David's work over on his YouTube channel or follow him on Twitter @Dtalkingtech.
Following a major update for the AirPods Pro and the reintroduction of the full-size HomePod, as well as acquisitions of companies like Primephonic and AI Music, Apple seems to have doubled-down on its commitment to audio technology. Yet, amid the delay in launching Apple Classical, a long wait time before the second-generation AirPods Max are expected to be released in late 2025, and fierce competition from companies like Spotify, plenty of questions remain about the direction of Apple's audio products and services over the next few years.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our in-depth discussion about Apple's positioning in the ongoing race to develop generative AI tools.
Writing in a new Medium post summarizing his latest survey findings and predictions, Kuo says both models will likely arrive in 2025.
Apple's second-generation AR/MR headset has two high-end and low-end models. The high-end and low-end will be developed and produced by Luxcaseict and Foxconn, respectively. The current launch schedule for both models will likely be in 2025.
Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset has yet to be announced, but a report earlier this week claimed that the company's manufacturing partner Foxconn is already developing a cheaper second-generation version of the headset.
That report said Apple's first headset will be "extremely expensive," with industry estimates ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, while Apple's second-generation headset will have a more affordable price within the territory of "a high-end Mac computer." Now it seems Apple is planning a two-tiered series of the second-generation device to appeal to a wider customer base, similar to the way it offers both standard and more premium Pro-branded iPhones each year.
In his latest report, Kuo says that Pegatron is gradually withdrawing from Apple's headset business, and will likely transfer its AR/MR development team and production resources to Luxcaseict (a joint venture between Luxshare ICT and Pegatron), led by Luxshare ICT, in the first half of 2023.
This will see Luxshare ICT taking over the subsequent design and production of the high-end version of the second-generation headset. Such changes will lead to "the subsequent acceleration of reducing the cost of the headset, which is what Apple expects," adds Kuo.
Apple's plans to release a cheaper version of its AR/VR headset were first reported last month by The Information's Wayne Ma and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The headset would supposedly use more affordable components, such as lower-resolution lenses.
According to The Information, "significant" work on the second-generation device started last year, and at the time, the goal was to launch the cheap headset in 2024. Bloomberg previously reported that Apple's budget mixed reality headset could arrive in either 2024 or 2025.
In a follow-up tweet to his latest Medium blog, Kuo said his prediction for the mass shipment schedule of the first-generation headset is unchanged, but the likelihood of it being released at a spring event this year is decreasing. However, Kuo also said that the probability of the headset's launch alongside the iPhone 15 in the third quarter of this year "is rising."
Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, and had he not passed away in 2011 at the age of 56, today would have been his 68th birthday. Every year on the 24th of February, we remember Jobs and all that he did to turn Apple into the wildly successful company that it is today.
Jobs founded Apple alongside Steve Wozniak in 1976, launching the Apple-1 that would revolutionize the personal computer. The Apple II followed, as did the Lisa, the Macintosh, and other early machines that defined Apple at the time. Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985 and founded NeXT, but Apple floundered without him.
Apple purchased NeXT in 1997 to bring Jobs back on board, and he worked his magic once again, overseeing the launch of the iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, iMac, and tons more, along with services that include iTunes and the App Store. Jobs oversaw the debut of Apple's most popular devices, and his passion and drive for perfection continue to shape Apple even today.
Apple CEO Tim Cook often says that Jobs' DNA, including his taste, thinking, dedication to hard work, and lust for innovation will always be "the foundation of Apple." Jobs has touched innumerable lives and there is no Apple product on the market today that was not influenced by his philosophies.
The iPhone, iPad, and Mac lines continue to be incredibly popular with more than two billion active devices worldwide, and Cook has built on Jobs' legacy with new products like the AirPods, Apple Watch, and even the AR/VR headset expected later this year.
MacRumors would not be here today without Jobs and the company that he built, so it is fitting that MacRumors shares a birthday with the Apple founder. MacRumors was created on February 24, 2000, by Arnold Kim, and 23 years later, it continues to be the number one Apple news site.
We here at MacRumors are grateful to all of our dedicated readers, enthusiastic community members, and volunteers, and we look forward to bringing you the best Apple news and rumors each and every day.
Several Apple services appear to be experiencing issues at the current time, according to Apple's System Status page. Outages are impacting the App Store, Apple Books, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple TV Channels, the Mac App Store, Podcasts, TestFlight, Messages, Apple Fitness+, Find My, Game Center, iCloud Mail, App Store Connect, and more.
According to Apple the problem has been ongoing since 4:03 p.m. Eastern Time, and there is no word on when all of the services will be back up and running. Apple says that these impacted services may be slow or unavailable for some users.
Update: According to Apple's System Status page, all services are once again operational.
With every iteration of the iPhone, Apple changes the available color options, often introducing a special color or set of colors that set new iPhones apart from the prior generation. With the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple introduced a dark purple, while the standard iPhone 14 was offered in a purple shade.
Apple's iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models will also come in unique colors, and 9to5Mac says that an unnamed source indicates Apple is working on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models in a dark red, which is close to a burgundy shade. The color hex code is #410D0D, described as a dark sienna.
The standard iPhone 15 models could be available in new dark pink and bright, light blue colors. The pink shade, color hex code #CE3C6C is a deeper pink described as "telemagenta." The blue, color hex code #4DB1E2, is described as "picton blue."
The dark red shade that Apple may have planned for the iPhone 15 Pro models would likely be accompanied by standard (PRODUCT)RED devices in a brighter shade, along with more traditional shades close to silver/gold and space gray. iPhone 15 models could have more color options, including colors akin to red, black, and white.
Apple's dark red color would presumably be offered for the titanium finish rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apple so far has released titanium Apple Watch models in a standard silver titanium color and a darker titanium color, but red anodization would be entirely new.
According to 9to5Mac's source, the information on the color options is "still early" and "could change" closer to the fall, so the colors shared could be off. As Apple plans devices well in advance of when they launch, design choices will likely be solidified in the near future. Apple is expected to begin the EVT (engineering validation test) phase of iPhone 15 production in March.
Apple-1 computers are some of the rarest and most expensive Apple-related collectors items that go up for sale, and RR Auction today announced a "Steve Jobs and the Computer Revolution" auction that includes an Apple-1 computer.
The Apple-1 for sale is "undiscovered," as it was not on the known list of remaining Apple-1 devices until 2023. It was first used as a demonstration system at the Data Domain computer store in Columbus, Indiana in 1977. After that, it was given to the current owner.
The machine was signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and it is in full operational condition. There were around 200 Apple-1 computers produced in 1976, and 175 of those were sold. A limited number of the devices remain, and they can sell for upwards of $400,000. The Data Domain Apple-1 is considered an "exceptional and historic" example of one of the machines, and RR Auction expects it to sell for over $500,000.
An original, sealed iPhone is up for sale as well, notable as a sealed first-generation iPhone just sold for more than $63,000, quite a premium over the initial $599 retail price. Bids for the RR Auction model are already at $5,000, and it is expected to sell for well over $20,000.
Other items up for sale include notes handwritten by Steve Jobs, a Steve Jobs-signed check, a Steve Jobs business card, an Apple IIe, a Macintosh 128K prototype computer, an Apple Lisa, an Apple Computer stock certificate, an Apple Computer latch hook rug, a collection of Apple pins and keychains, and more.
Google today announced several new features that are available to Google One subscribers who have the Google Photos app, including the Magic Eraser tool that was previously only available on the Google Pixel 6 and the Google Pixel 7.
Google One members on all plans can use the Magic Eraser tool to remove unwanted objects and people from their photos in the Google Photos app for iPhone and iPad.
There's also a new HDR video effect and exclusive collage styles in the Google Photos app, which adds to the exclusive tools available to Google One subscribers. Existing features include Portrait light, Portrait Blur, color focus, smart suggestions, HDR effects, and sky effects.
In addition to these new features, Google is also providing free shipping on all print orders to its Google One members. The features are rolling out starting today and will be available to all Google One members over the coming weeks. These features are also rolling out to those who have older Pixel devices with no Google One membership required.
Google One is Google's all-in-one cloud storage and VPN feature. Pricing starts at $1.99 per month and that tier unlocks the Google Photos functionality, but getting VPN access requires the 2TB plan priced at $9.99 per month.
With the Mac mini's current design dating back over a decade, one MacRumors forums user has imagined what a redesign could look like if Apple were to take hints from the Mac Studio.
The idea mainly comes from MacRumors forums user "Rickroller," who shared basic images of the concept earlier today. They suggest that a Mac Studio-like design could bring significant thermal improvements to the Mac mini to enable better performance, and even add some simple quality-of-life enhancements such as front-facing USB-C ports and an SDXC card reader.
Leaker Jon Prossershared renders of a complete redesign for the Mac mini in early 2021, thought to be destined for an M1 Pro or M2-series model. The design depicted a smaller chassis with a "plexiglass-like" top, but did not emerge with the latest M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini models last year.
The unibody design of the Mac mini, 2010-present.
In 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo warned that the next Mac mini models would have the same design as prior models. Looking to the future, Kuo again believes that the new Mac mini models in 2024 will have the exact same design as their predecessors.
The Mac mini currently features a silver aluminum unibody design that Apple introduced in 2010. It has used this design for every Mac mini, other than offering a Space Gray colorway in 2018. By the time the next-generation Mac mini models launch in 2024, this design will be 14 years old – becoming the longest continuously used Apple design in the company's history.
Proposed Mac mini redesign, rear.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently suggested that Apple has no plans to update the Mac Studio with the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips in the near future. The main reason for the decision seems to be the change in direction of the Apple silicon Mac Pro, which will now have the M2 Ultra chip as a top-tier option and offer limited modularity. Apple may leave the Mac Studio without a hardware refresh for some time and could even discontinue the product line, similar to 2017's iMac Pro, which served as a stop-gap device until the release of the 2019 Mac Pro.
The M2 Pro Mac mini's rear and selection of ports.
If the Mac Studio is indeed discontinued sometime in the next several years, a post-2024 Mac mini may be even more likely to adopt a Mac Studio-like design, since there would no longer be a risk of further cannibalizing the Mac Studio with a similar design. Apple often introduces new designs and features on its high-end devices before slowly trickling them down to other products in the lineup, such as the squared-off industrial design of the 2018 iPad Pro, which finally came to dominate the whole latest-generation iPad lineup upon the release of the 10th-generation iPad last year.
What is in store for the Mac mini's design after 2024 is unclear and likely has not even have been firmly decided upon by Apple yet, but considering how long the company has stuck with the aluminum unibody design, a redesign sometime in 2025 or beyond is highly plausible.
Apple ramped up testing of iOS 16.5 internally this month, according to mounting evidence of the update in our website's analytics logs. iOS 16.5 will likely be one of the last notable updates before Apple announces iOS 17 at WWDC in June.
As for iOS 17, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week said he has yet to hear about "anything especially game-changing" planned for the iPhone, but the update is still months away and there could still be some notable features uncovered.
iOS 17 will introduce Apple's next generation of CarPlay, which will offer deeper integration with vehicle functions like the A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, increased personalization, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay would be announced in late 2023, with committed brands including Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Volvo, and others.
iOS 17 is also expected to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone in Europe, as required by the Digital Markets Act. Gurman previously reported that the change would be implemented by mid-2024 as part of a later version of iOS 17.
In the meantime, Apple has made the first iOS 16.4 beta available to developers and public testers. The update includes a range of new emoji, support for web push notifications, Podcasts app improvements, and a change that will prevent iPhone users from getting access to the iOS 17 developer beta for free when it becomes available.
WWDC typically begins in early June. At the weeklong developers conference, Apple will also announce macOS 14, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and reportedly the realityOS/xrOS operating system for Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset.
Apple's M1 iMac (7-Core GPU, 256GB) has returned to its all-time low price of $1,099.99 in Pink on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. Only the Pink color option is available to ship in February.
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This deal previously appeared once in January, marking today's sale only the second time in 2023 that we've tracked this record low price on the M1 iMac. As of writing, only Amazon is offering this sale.
Amazon also has the M1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This is another match for an all-time low price on the M1 iMac, and it's available in five colors right now on Amazon.
Apple has reportedly ordered OLED panels from LG Display and Samsung for its next generation of iPad Pro models, which are widely expected to arrive next year.
Business Korea reports that Apple placed orders for the development of 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch OLED panels from the two display companies, while rival Chinese display maker BOE lost out.
Apple reportedly placed orders for the development of 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch panels for the iPad with Samsung Display and LG Display. BOE was excluded.
Korean display makers are planning to produce OLED panels for the iPad at their current sixth-generation (1500mm x 1850mm) line.
According to a separate report from Taiwan's Economic Daily News, Apple has not yet finalized the order volume of OLED displays for iPad Pro, but it may divide the order equally between the two Korean factories mentioned above.
Apple is developing 11.1-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Pro models that will come out in the first quarter of 2024, according to display analyst Ross Young, who has a good track record for Apple rumors.
It's not entirely clear why the display dimensions are different in the two latest Korean reports, which appear to be citing the same industry sources. Previous reports have indicated Apple plans larger 11.1-inch and 13-inch screen sizes for the OLED iPad Pro models with potentially slimmed-down bezels rather than an overall change in the size of the device.
At the current time, Apple sells a 12.9-inch mini-LED iPad Pro and an 11-inch iPad Pro with a traditional LCD display, as mini-LED has continued to be reserved for the higher-end iPad Pro model. With the 2024 update, Apple could return to feature parity between the two iPad Pro models.
There is also a question mark over the launch timing of Apple's planned new MacBook models with OLED displays. Both of today's reports suggest new OLED 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will arrive in 2026. However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that a new MacBook Pro with OLED display could be coming in 2025, and this could also be the first touchscreen Mac.
An all-new "compute module" device has been spotted in Apple beta code, hinting that new hardware may soon be on the way.
The new "ComputeModule" device class was spotted in Apple's iOS 16.4 developer disk image from the Xcode 16.4 beta by 9to5Mac, indicating that it runs iOS or a variant of it. The code suggests that Apple has at least two different compute modules in development with the identifiers "ComputeModule13,1" and "ComputeModule13,3."
The modules' purpose is unclear, but speculation argues that they are designed for the Apple silicon Mac Pro – potentially serving as a solution to enable a modular interface for swappable hardware components or add additional compute power via technologies like Swift Distributed Actors. There is also a chance that the compute modules could be designed for Apple's upcoming mixed-reality headset or something else entirely.
Yesterday, recent Apple Bluetooth 5.3 filings were uncovered, a move that often precedes the launch of new products, so the compute module finding could be the latest indication that new Apple hardware is likely on the horizon.
WhatsApp is actively working on an ability for iPhone users to edit messages after they have been sent over the popular Meta-owned encrypted chat platform.
With iOS 16, Apple introduced the ability to edit or unsend recently sent iMessages. Telegram also offers a similar edit-after-sending feature. Now it looks like WhatsApp will be next.
To edit a sent message, users will need to tap and hold on a chat bubble and select the Edit option. According to WaBetaInfo, WhatsApp users can expect to be able to edit a message for up to 15 minutes after sending it, which is the same duration that Apple gives iMessage users wanting to edit sent messages. In contrast, Telegram gives users 48 hours to do their editing.
The ability to edit sent messages will be released in a future update of the app to some WhatsApp beta testers, but as the feature is under development, the public rollout schedule is unknown.
In other Meta-related developments, WhatsApp is also said to be experimenting with private newsletters. WABetaInfo discovered code in a recent beta for Android that includes references to the feature, which is described as a private space in the Status tab that lets users share content with followers.
Last week, WhatsApp began rolling out picture-in-picture support, allowing users to continue their video call in a small window while doing something else on their iPhone.
Up until now, Apple was expected to release four models in its upcoming iPhone 15 series that replicate the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes of its iPhone 14 series, but a new leak suggests the base iPhone 15 model will have a slightly larger display.
iPhone 15 on left, iPhone 15 Pro on right
According to 3D CAD files obtained by 9to5Mac that designer Ian Zelbo turned into renders, the iPhone 15 will have a display size of 6.2 inches. Whether this size will be common to the smaller of the two "Pro" models is uncertain, although previous CAD leaks suggest the body of the latter device is a few millimeters smaller than the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, with a thinner bezel and a deeper curve around the edges.
Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro CAD leak, the base iPhone 15 CAD does not suggest this model will have capacitive buttons. Otherwise, the iPhone 15 CAD renders corroborate previously established rumors, including a dual camera setup, the pill-shaped Dynamic Island being adopted on all four iPhone 15 models, and USB-C adoption in lieu of a Lightning port.
iPhone 15 on left, iPhone 15 Pro on right
Apple's iPhone 15 series is expected to launch in the usual September timeframe. For more on the features we can expect to see from the iPhone 15, we have a dedicated iPhone 15 roundup.
Last September, Chinese smartphone maker realme hosted an online competition titled "What's your dream island like?" in which it asked its "loyal fans" to submit ideas for how it could implement what was essentially a copycat version of the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island on its own devices. So, what version of Apple's innovation did the company settle on?
As reported by Smartprix, realme CEO Madhav Sheth briefly shared an image on Twitter of what he calls the "Mini Capsule," a new feature of the company's upcoming C-series phone that looks similar to Apple's Dynamic Island, just with nowhere near the functionality.
Based on the image, and a video subsequently shared by @OnLeaks, realme's slightly wider Mini Capsule looks as if it is limited to animating in response to battery charging status, and that's about it. If the feature does anything else, realme isn't letting on.
By contrast, Apple's Dynamic Island utilizes the pill-shaped area at the top of the display to showcase relevant contextual app and system information to users. When making an Apple Pay payment, for example, Dynamic Island expands into a square shape to match the Face ID confirmation interface, and when on a phone call, it expands to be larger so you can have phone controls right at your fingertips.
realme isn't the only Android device maker to co-opt Apple's latest iPhone UI feature. Chinese brand LeEco has also launched a new smartphone that's basically a shameless knockoff of the iPhone 14 Pro series, right down to the triple-lens rear camera design and Dynamic Island. There have also been apps in Android's Google Play Store that attempt to replicate the look and behavior of Dynamic Island.
Rumors suggest this year's iPhone 15 models will look similar to the iPhone 14 models, but the pill-and-hole cutout will expand to the entire lineup. That means all iPhone 15 models will have no notch, instead adopting the Dynamic Island introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro models.
Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset has yet to be announced, but Nikkei Asia today reported that the company's manufacturing partner Foxconn is already developing a cheaper second-generation version of the headset.
Image Credit: Ian Zelbo
The report cites an unnamed "executive with knowledge of the development" who claims that Apple's first headset will be "extremely expensive," with industry estimates ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. The source believes Apple's second-generation headset will have a more affordable price within the territory of "a high-end Mac computer."
From the report:
Foxconn is also helping with the AR project, four people told Nikkei Asia. The longtime iPhone assembler will work on parallel development of a cheaper second-generation AR device, four sources said. Foxconn's focus will be on automating mass production and improving production performance to help Apple lower overall costs, according to two people familiar with the plans.
Apple's plans to release a cheaper version of its AR/VR headset were first reported last month by The Information's Wayne Ma and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The headset would supposedly use more affordable components, such as lower-resolution lenses.
Apple's first headset is expected to be announced at WWDC in June and will reportedly have over a dozen cameras, dual 4K lenses, advanced eye and hand tracking, a physical knob similar to the Apple Watch's Digital Crown, and many other advanced features. On the software side, the device is said to have an iOS-like interface with a grid of apps.