As widely rumored, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will exclusively feature an upgraded Telephoto lens with periscope technology, according to Twitter account @URedditor. In a tweet today, the leaker said they finally independently confirmed this information.
Last month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated that the periscope lens will enable up to 5x-6x optical zoom when shooting photos with the rear camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, compared to up to 3x on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. When taking a photo, optical zoom does not have any blurriness when zooming in, like digital zoom does.
With a periscope lens, light absorbed by the image sensor is bent or "folded," allowing for a greater distance between the camera elements within the compact design of a smartphone. This technology allows for increased optical zoom and is already used by some Android brands like Samsung, Google, and Huawei, with phones like the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra offering between 5x and 10x optical zoom.
Apple will launch the iPhone 15 Pro Max in September. Other upcoming models, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro, are not expected to feature a periscope lens. For more details, read our periscope lens guide.
@URedditor was the first source to share alleged real-world images of the iPhone 15 Pro, but they do not have a long-term track record with Apple rumors.
YouTuber Unbox Therapy has shared a hands-on look at the iPhone 15 Pro Max using a one-to-one replica created by third-party case makers with access to early Apple schematics, and by far the most obvious difference is the sheer thinness of the bezels around the display.
The video provides a side-by-side comparison between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and its direct successor, and as Unbox Therapy notes, bezel thinness on the unreleased model looks "almost half" the size of those found on its predecessor, potentially offering the best screen-to-bezel ratio of any smartphone.
Both iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have thinner, curved bezels compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, resulting in an Apple Watch-like appearance, and rumors suggest the larger 6.7-inch model will have the most minimal of bezels.
According to leaker Ice Universe, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will "break the record" of 1.81mm bezels held by the Xiaomi 13, with Apple's upcoming model coming with a bezel width of just 1.55mm at the thinnest edge. For comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro’s bezel measurements are 2.17mm, while the Samsung Galaxy Ultra S23 bezels measure in at 1.95mm.
Unbox Therapy's replica includes the button configuration on the new Pro models as they were originally rumored, with a single unified volume button and an additional software-configurable button in lieu of the mute switch, suggesting the mockup was based on early schematics.
As rumors stand, the mute switch is still gone but the volume buttons are now believed to be separate on the iPhone 15 Pro models, while the rumored solid-state haptic volume buttons and new Taptic Engine have apparently been delayed until next year's models, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Apple's new iPhone 15 series is expected to be launched in September as usual. For everything we know about what to expect in the new devices, click the links below.
The upcoming Apple Watch Series 9 will include a new processor based on the A15 chip that was first used in the iPhone 13 models, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman shared the information in the new Discord channel for his Power On newsletter subscribers.
The Apple Watch Series 8, like the Series 7 before it, uses a chip that's essentially identical to the S6 chip that was used in the Apple Watch Series 6. Apple calls the Apple Watch Series 8 chip the "S8," but it is a two-year-old chip with no speed improvements.
Gurman says that the Series 9 chip will be a "new processor" rather than a rebranding of the prior-generation chip, and when asked whether the chip would be based on the A15 chip, he said that he believed that would be the case.
With an updated chip that's built using the A15 technology, the Apple Watch Series 9 could see speed and efficiency improvements, resulting in quicker load times and better battery life. The new chip could help power some of the updated features that Apple plans to introduce in watchOS 10. Apple is working on overhauling the watchOS interface in watchOS 10, with a specific focus on a new widget system.
While we are expecting some notable changes to watchOS this year, the Apple Watch Series 9 will be largely similar to the Series 8. No major design updates are expected, but we will see a modest speed boost due to the new chip.
"Peridot," the latest game from augmented reality company Niantic, is now available for download from the App Store. A Tamagotchi-style game, Peridot allows users to choose a virtual pet to raise.
As with Niantic's other games, Peridot is an augmented reality title that encourages players to take their pets for walks in the real world. During walks, users can collect items, discover new places, and capture photos.
The game syncs with the Health app to allow players to earn walking distance even when the app is closed, and the augmented reality interface is quick and responsive, letting users tap a spot on the screen to direct their pet.
The Peridot or "Dot" is raised from birth, and players can pet, feed, and play with their Dots to help them grow. In addition to exploring places in the real world and uncovering items, there is a breeding mechanic that can unlock new Peridot archetypes. Raising a Peridot into an adult and leveling up unlocks new character traits that can be used for future pets.
Dots are modeled after existing animals and mythological creatures like cheetahs, dragons, unicorns, and more, with "infinite possibilities of Peridot archetypes" available.
Niantic first announced Peridot in April 2022, so it has been in development for over a year. The official launch date is May 9, but the game is available for download as of today. [Direct Link]
The refurbished models are discounted by approximately 15 percent compared to the equivalent brand new configurations. Apple tests, inspects, cleans, and repackages all refurbished Macs to ensure they are fully functional and in good condition, and they are covered by a one-year limited warranty and eligible for AppleCare+ coverage.
The latest MacBook Pro models provide up to 20% faster performance and up to 30% faster graphics compared to the previous generation. The laptops can also be configured with up to 96GB of RAM, compared to a max of 64GB previously, and they feature Wi-Fi 6E, an HDMI 2.1 port with 8K external display support, and longer battery life.
Today we're tracking a few fresh discounts on Apple's latest MacBook Pro at Amazon. These markdowns include a return of the best-ever price on the entry-level 10-Core M2 Pro, 512GB 14-inch model at $1,749.99, down from $1,999.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can get both space gray and silver at this discounted price, but silver is seeing delayed delivery dates into June, while space gray can be delivered as soon as May 17. This price is a match of the previous all-time low price on this model.
In a rarer discount, we're also tracking a new sale on the 12-Core M2 Max, 1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro at Amazon. You can get this notebook for $2,849.99, down from $3,099.00. Both colors are on sale at this price, but stock on space gray is dwindling fast.
In terms of the larger screen model, Amazon also has a few notable discounts on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. You can get the 12-Core M2 Pro, 512GB 16-inch notebook for $2,249.99, down from $2,499.00. This deal is available in both colors and they're both in stock with delivery estimated for around May 10 through May 14.
Lastly, you can get the 12-Core M2 Pro, 1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro for $2,449.99, down from $2,699.00. Both colors are on sale at this price, and silver is starting to dwindle as of writing, although delivery dates for both are still estimated for around May 10.
iOS 17 will introduce a new iPhone experience for Apple Maps that integrates detailed turn-by-turn directions to the Lock Screen without taking over the display, claims a leaker with alleged insider information.
Concept render shared by Analyst941
Currently in iOS 16, when real-time Maps directions are active and the iPhone is locked, the Maps app takes over the screen and all other Lock Screen elements are hidden. According to Twitter account Analyst941, this will change in iOS 17, with Maps directions including live visual map data taking over a portion of the Lock Screen, but with app notifications and the Camera and Flashlight buttons remaining at the base of the display.
The leaker claims that app notifications will still be accessible by swiping up on the screen, while the physical act of unlocking the iPhone will remain a seamless transition. According to Analyst941, the new Maps Lock Screen interface will be coming to "all iPhones."
This is the first time we have heard about specific changes to Maps for iOS 17, and the leaker has made several other claims about iOS 17 that have yet to be corroborated. This rumor, and others like it, should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has expressed doubt about Analyst941's claims and believes that some of the information is inaccurate. We'll know more about their accuracy in just under a month when Apple unveils iOS 17, watchOS 10, and other updates at the June 5 WWDC keynote.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this weekend confirmed that Apple has nixed haptic buttons, and will instead introduce them next year. Gurman says Apple has been "wavering" on the feature because of the costs and the complexity. While internal test models still have the functionality at the current time, Apple is "likely" to hold solid-state technology until the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also claimed that Apple plans to hold solid-state buttons until the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro models, with Kuo attributing the delay to "unresolved technical issues before mass production." Solid-state buttons will be limited to next year's iPhone 16 Pro models, while the more affordable iPhone 16 models will retain the same volume button design as the iPhone 14 and the upcoming iPhone 15.
With the transition to solid-state buttons, Apple planned to change the design of the volume controls, adopting a single, unified button rather than a dual button design. That design change seems to be tied to the swap to haptic technology, and so the iPhone 15 Pro models will use the standard two button look for volume.
We are still expecting one notable design change, though, with Apple to adopt a mute button instead of a mute switch. The mute button could serve as an "Action" button similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra, with the option to program it to perform different functions.
B&H Photo today has the first discount we've ever tracked on Apple's second generation HomePod. You can get the white model for $279.00, down from $299.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Only the white color is available at this new all-time low price, while midnight is on sale for $289.00 right now on B&H Photo. Delivery estimates are given for around May 10 with free expedited shipping to most residences in the United States.
Apple introduced the new HomePod this past January, and it features new temperature and humidity sensors, improved sound and microphone technology, and HomeKit and Matter support. Today's discount at B&H Photo is the first sale of any kind we've seen on the 2023 HomePod.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Apple will likely release iOS 16.5 to the public next week, based on a protected Twitter account that has shared build numbers for several iOS updates up to a week before they were released. In a tweet today, the account said the upcoming iOS 16.5 Release Candidate for developers will have a build number of 20F65.
iOS 16.5 has been in beta testing since late March and is shaping up to be a minor software update ahead of Apple announcing iOS 17 at WWDC in June. So far, only two notable features and changes have been discovered for the iPhone, including a Sports tab in the Apple News app and the ability to start a screen recording with Siri.
Sports Tab in Apple News
Apple has added a Sports tab to the News app on iOS 16.5, giving you easy access to news, scores, and schedules for your favorite teams and leagues. This information was previously available in the Today tab, but it is now featured more prominently as Apple continues to push deeper into sports content across its services.
Screen Recordings via Siri
A small but convenient feature added with iOS 16.5 is the ability to ask Siri to start a screen recording. You can say "Hey Siri, start a screen recording" to record a video of your iPhone's screen, and ask Siri to stop the recording when desired. You can still start a screen recording via Control Center after enabling the feature in Settings → Control Center.
The calendar has flipped to May, which means WWDC is right around the corner. There continues to be lots to talk about as far as rumors and expectations on both the software and hardware sides, so buckle up!
This week also saw a few somewhat unusual software updates from Apple, including the first-ever public Rapid Security Response updates, as well as an acknowledgment that recent firmware updates for various AirPods and Beats models address a security issue that could allow hackers access to your earphones. That's not all though, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!
One Month Until WWDC 2023: Here's What's Coming
WWDC 2023 is now just under a month away, and rumors are heating up. We've been hearing details about what we expect to see with iOS 17, watchOS 10, Apple's long-rumored headset, and more, so we've put together an overview to sum it all up as we enter the homestretch.
We've also recapped in more detail what we're expecting in iOS 17. The first iOS 17 beta should be made available to members of Apple's Developer Program moments after the keynote, while a public beta will likely be available in July for members of Apple's Beta Software Program. As usual, the update should be widely released in September.
Widgets Said to Be 'Central Part' of watchOS 10's Interface
Apple this week released a new firmware version for the second-generation and third-generation AirPods, the original AirPods Pro, the second-generation AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max.
Rapid Security Responses are optional updates that provide important security fixes between normal iOS updates, allowing Apple to patch zero-day vulnerabilities and other critical flaws more quickly.
Apple Expected to Announce 15-Inch MacBook Air at WWDC
Trade-in values routinely fluctuate, and the latest increases come about four months before Apple announces the next-generation iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 models. It's also a chance to get a few extra dollars towards that rumored 15-inch MacBook Air.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of Steve Jobs introducing the iMac, a computer that helped Apple return to profitability following near bankruptcy in the late 1990s. The original iMac featured a colorful, translucent design in an era where most computers were boxy and beige, proving that computers did not have to look boring.
"This is iMac," said Jobs, at the Flint Center in Cupertino. "The whole thing is translucent. You can see into it. It's so cool. We've got stereo speakers on the front. We've got infrared right up here. We've got the CD-ROM drive right in the middle. We've got dual stereo headphone jacks. We've got the coolest mouse on the planet right here."
The original iMac pioneered many industry firsts, such as USB and FireWire, while abandoning the floppy drive and other legacy ports. The computer featured a 15-inch display, a PowerPC G3 processor, a 4GB hard drive, 32MB of RAM, a CD drive, two USB ports, and an Ethernet port for connecting to the still-nascent internet.
Over the past two and a half decades, the iMac has received many design changes, moving to a flat screen and an aluminum enclosure. Fittingly, the current 24-inch iMac features a colorful design just like the original model did all those years ago.
When to Expect a New iMac
Apple released the 24-inch iMac in April 2021 with the M1 chip and an ultra-thin design available in seven colors, including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. This is currently the only new iMac in Apple's lineup, as the Intel-based 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro models were both discontinued over the past few years.
A new iMac will launch in late 2023 at the earliest, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In February, he said Apple had no plans to update the iMac with the M2 chip and is waiting until the M3 chip, which has yet to be announced. The M3 chip is expected to use TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements.
TSMC has reportedly faced yield issues with 3nm chip manufacturing, and Gurman said there is a possibility the new iMac does not launch until 2024. In any case, the next iMac appears to remain several months away from launching.
Apple CEO Tim Cook this week said initial response to the new Apple Card Savings feature has been "incredible" following its launch last month.
Speaking on Apple's quarterly earnings call, Cook said both the savings account and the new Apple Pay Later financing feature help customers to live a "healthier financial life," adding that he is "very excited about the first days of both of them."
Apple Card users can now open a high-yield savings account from Goldman Sachs and start earning interest on their Daily Cash cashback balance and other deposited money, with no fees or minimum balance requirement. The account currently offers a 4.15% APY, a rate Apple said was "more than 10 times the national average" as of late March. The account can be set up and completely managed in the Wallet app on the iPhone.
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, but the Apple Card savings account's APY remains unchanged for now. It's unclear if or when Goldman Sachs will increase the account's APY in response to the rate hike, as many other banks offering high-yield savings accounts commonly do.
Apple's credit card and the savings account are available in the U.S. only.
As of today, there's just a month to go until the keynote event for Apple's 2023 WWDC event, which is set to take place on Monday, June 5. WWDC 2023 is going to be exciting, because in addition to iOS 17 and the usual software updates, we're also expecting to see Apple's AR/VR headset.
iOS 17 won't be an update where we get a major feature overhaul like iOS 16's Lock Screen, but according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it will have some of the "most requested features" that iPhone users have been hoping for.
Dedicated journaling app for tracking and recording daily activities and thoughts.
Note that some of these features, like the journaling app and mood tracking, come from reliable source Mark Gurman. Others, like the widget rumor and the changes to Dynamic Island, are from a source with a less established track record.
We aren't getting notable updates to the Apple Watch hardware this year, but changes are coming in watchOS 10. This could be one of the bigger watchOS updates that we've had in recent years, with Gurman describing it as "fairly extensive."
A new widget system will make it easier to get to key information on the Apple Watch without the need to open an app. Widgets will be scrollable, and will allow glances at activity tracking, weather, calendar appointments, and more.
Buttons like the Digital Crown could be more customizable, with users able to choose to have a press open up the widgets interface rather than the Home Screen.
Apple could overhaul the Apple Watch Home Screen in some way, offering a more intuitive layout than the app grid.
Apple's mixed reality headset, which could be called the "Reality One" or "Reality Pro," will be the company's first new product category since the 2015 launch of the Apple Watch. It will be Apple's second wearable device, and rumors suggest it is going to be packed with cutting edge features.
The headset will use dual 4K micro-OLED displays from Sony for 8K total resolution and a display quality that exceeds the display quality available from competing products.
Dozens of cameras will be included for everything from mapping the environment around the wearer to monitoring facial expressions, hand gestures, and leg movement.
Iris scanning will be used for authentication.
Facial expression tracking will be available to relay the wearer's facial expression to a virtual avatar in chats and calls.
Augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities will both be available, with users able to swap between them using a Digital Crown-like knob. AR will use the cameras to map the world around you, overlaying virtual objects on the real world, while VR is entirely virtual and shuts out the world.
The headset will be controlled by hand gestures detected by the cameras.
Mac-level M2 chips will be included in the headset to handle all of the processing needs. Rumors suggest Apple will use one high-end main processor that's supplemented with another lower-end processor that manages the sensors in the device.
There will be no built-in battery, with the battery instead attached to the headset via a cord and worn in a pouch at the waist. Battery life will be around two hours.
Rumors suggest we can expect a thin and light design for the headset, and it will be lighter than competing headsets because it doesn't have an included battery.
Air typing support will be available so that users can handle text input without a physical keyboard, but it will also support text input through the iPhone.
xrOS, the operating system that runs on the headset, will include Apple-designed apps optimized for virtual reality, with a specific focus on gaming, video conferencing, fitness, and consuming media. Apple will work with gaming companies and third-party app developers for app experiences.
The headset will be able to run apps designed for the iPad in a 3D environment, and it will also allow for watching content like Netflix and YouTube.
Those who wear prescription glasses may be able to order the headset with prescription lenses.
A larger version of the MacBook Air is finally coming this year, and we're expecting to see it introduced at WWDC.
Display size around 15.5 inches.
Design and feature set similar to the current M2 MacBook Air.
M2 chips inside, with Apple likely offering 8-core and 10-core GPU variants. M3 chips are not expected.
macOS 14 and tvOS 17
macOS Ventura will get a followup with macOS 14, but we haven't heard much about the update as of yet and don't know what to expect in terms of features. Headset support is a given, and updates on the Mac sometimes mirror what we get on the iPhone, so we'll likely see the rumored journaling app available cross platform.
The Mac will get the same Find My updates, and if there are improvements to features like Siri and Search, those will come to the Mac too.
As for tvOS 17, tvOS updates are so minor in scale that we're not expecting much beyond minor tweaks and new screensavers.
Other Possibilities
We're waiting on the Mac Pro and new AirPods models with USB-C, but Gurman says the Mac Pro is a no go for WWDC and we have heard no rumors of AirPods refreshes for the summer.
What we will likely see is new case options for the iPhone and the iPad, along with updated Apple Watch bands, all of which will be in summer hues.
More Coverage
In the next month leading up to WWDC, we'll be seeing a growing number of leaks about iOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, the new 15-inch MacBook Air, and the AR/VR headset, so you'll want to stay tuned to MacRumors to keep up with the latest leaks.
In addition to our daily news coverage, we also have a long list of dedicated roundups and guides where we keep track of rumors for upcoming releases, and these are great to follow if you can't keep up with the site each day.
Last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that watchOS 10 will introduce an all-new system of widgets for interacting with the Apple Watch. He explained that widgets will become a "central part" of the Apple Watch's interface and compared the new system to Glances, the widgets interface that launched on the original Apple Watch before being scrapped in watchOS 3, and the style of widgets that iOS 14 brought to the iPhone.
Apple is also apparently testing changes to the functions performed by the Apple Watch's buttons. For example, a press of the Digital Crown may now launch the new widgets view, rather than navigate to the home screen.
The new interface will apparently be "reminiscent" of the Siri watch face that was introduced in watchOS 4, but as an overlay for any Apple Watch face. "It's also similar to widget stacks, a feature in iOS and iPadOS that lets users pile many widgets into one and scroll through them," Gurman added.
There are also rumors about watchOS 10 introducing a new home screen layout that takes cues from iOS with features like app folders. The changes are part of what is expected to be one of the Apple Watch's biggest software updates since its introduction and the most significant change to the Apple Watch this year, as only minor hardware updates are expected to be unveiled later this year.
We consider how this new UI could take shape and how we feel about the proposed changes, reflecting on Glances, watchOS 4's Siri watch face, past changes to the Apple Watch's buttons, and the future of apps on the device.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about all of the top features and improvements we'd like to see come to tvOS 17, the HomePod, and HomeKit at WWDC later this year.
Apple today announced it will stream Ed Sheeran's live performance of his latest album "Subtract" at the Eventim Apollo theater in London. Apple Music and Apple TV+ subscribers will be able to watch the concert at no additional cost on Wednesday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and an on-demand stream will be available starting an hour later.
Sheeran will kick off the second season of Apple Music Live, a series of live performances by music artists on Apple Music, and also on Apple TV+ for the first time. Behind-the-scenes footage and a setlist will be available in the Shazam app after the show.
The first season of Apple Music Live began in May 2022 and featured performances by Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Alicia Keys, Wizkid, Luke Combs, and others. Apple has yet to announce additional performers for the second season.
Apple Music and Apple TV+ cost $10.99 and $6.99 per month, respectively, for a standard individual subscription in the United States. First-time users can try Apple Music with a free one-month trial, while Apple TV+ offers a free seven-day trial.
This week we began tracking the best Apple-related Mother's Day deals as the holiday gets nearer on Sunday, May 14. In addition to these deals, you'll want to keep an eye on our exclusive promo code at OWC, which is providing a total of 45 percent off Atlas memory cards through this Sunday.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
OWC Memory Cards
What's the deal? Take 45 percent off Atlas memory cards
This week we partnered with OWC to share discounts on the retailer's Atlas brand of memory cards, providing a solid 45 percent off these accessories. To get this deal, enter the code MACRUMORS at checkout when purchasing any Atlas-branded memory card from this page. You can find more information on the sale in our original post, and we've listed a few examples of memory cards on sale below.
Additionally, OWC is also hosting a Thunderbolt dock sale right now, with up to $50 off select docks. One of the highlights of the sale is the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $229.99, which is $50 in savings.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is getting closer, taking place on Sunday, May 14 this year, and coinciding with the holiday are a few deal events at places like ZAGG, AT&T, Belkin, Hyper, Casely, and more. You can check out our original post on Mother's Day deals, most of which are still live, as well as browse our quick list of the best sales below.
One of the biggest discounts of the week can be found on the previous generation MacBook Pro, with Amazon providing a massive $800 discount on one model. You can get the 16-inch MacBook (10-Core M1 Max, 1TB) for $2,699.00, down from $3,499.00, which is a new all-time low price on this notebook.
In addition, there's $600 off the 16-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro, 1TB) at B&H Photo and $500 off the 14-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro, 1TB) at Amazon, which are matching record low prices for the 2021 MacBook Pro.
iPad
What's the deal? Take up to $170 off iPad mini 6 and 2021 iPad
Earlier in the week we saw solid discounts on Apple's iPad mini 6 and 2021 iPad, including up to $170 in savings on these tablets. Prices on the iPad mini 6 start at $399.99 ($99 off) and at $269.99 for the iPad ($59 off), and also include a few other Wi-Fi and cellular options. Additionally, there's an all-time low price on the Apple Pencil 2 ($89.00) at Amazon still available.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
In a shareholder letter today, Apple supplier Cirrus Logic seemingly confirmed that iPhone 15 Pro models will no longer feature solid-state buttons.
"That said, among the HPMS opportunities we have discussed, a new product that we mentioned in previous shareholder letters as being scheduled for introduction this fall is no longer expected to come to market as planned," the letter states. "As we have limited visibility into our customer's future plans for this product at this time, we are removing the revenue associated with this component from our internal model."
Cirrus Logic's high-performance, mixed-signal ("HPMS") segment includes haptic drivers for the Taptic Engine in iPhones. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said iPhone 15 Pro models would have been equipped with two additional Taptic Engines that provided haptic feedback when the solid-state buttons were pressed, and Cirrus Logic hinted that it would have supplied related components for the devices in a previous shareholder letter.
"We continue to engage with a strategic customer and expect to bring a new HPMS component to market in smartphones next year," the supplier said last year.
Apple is Cirrus Logic's largest customer and accounted for 79% of its revenue in the 2022 fiscal year. In an investor note today, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O'Malley said the supplier's comments today likely rule out solid-state buttons.
Last month, Kuo said iPhone 15 Pro models would no longer have solid-state buttons as initially rumored due to "unresolved technical issues before mass production." He now expects the devices to have traditional buttons that move when pressed. Rumors suggest the Ring/Silent switch will still be be replaced with a button as previously claimed, and this button could be customizable like the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple analyst Jeff Pu believes the solid-state buttons will likely be pushed back to iPhone 16 Pro models launching next year, but Cirrus Logic's comments today suggest it has limited knowledge of Apple's future plans at this time.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
