Apple today provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 18.3 update for testing purposes. The third beta comes a week after the second beta.
The beta is available to registered developers, and can be downloaded from the Settings app on the Apple TV. Apple has also seeded new HomePod 18.3 beta software.
There were no notable new features found in the update, but code suggests that Apple will add support for robot vacuums to HomeKit, which means it will be a supported category in the Home app in tvOS 18.
Apple also plans to add a new notice about digital movie and TV show sales in the update.
We are expecting tvOS 18.3 to be released sometime in late January alongside iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, and visionOS 2.3.
A pre-construction render of Apple Miami Worldcenter
We have since learned that Apple's retail store plans in Florida go slightly beyond that. In early December, the company closed its store at The Galleria shopping mall in Fort Lauderdale, and opened a new store across the hall from it. We have confirmed that the new store is a temporary location, meaning that the original store is likely undergoing renovations and will eventually reopen with a modernized design.
"We've moved, but let's stay close," says the page for Apple The Galleria. "Visit us in our new location just across the hall."
We do not know when the original store will reopen.
Apple said the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay would arrive in 2024. It didn't happen.
Now what?
We are two weeks into 2025, and Apple has yet to update or remove the 2024 timeframe for next-generation CarPlay advertised on its website. Apple also remains completely silent about whether or not it still plans to launch the system.
There are still a few signs of hope.
First, 9to5Mac recently reported that additional references to next-generation CarPlay were added in iOS 18.3 beta 2's code. Second, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris today uncovered some additional next-generation CarPlay images that were filed in a EU database last month. Apple previously showed that next-generation CarPlay will feature customizable widgets, and the images provide a closer look at the widget selection screens.
Due to Apple's reluctance to comment on future plans, we do not know if next-generation CarPlay is still happening. Hopefully, Apple will finally provide an update about next-generation CarPlay soon to set the record straight.
Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, more than two and a half years ago. For now, the wait continues.
Disney today announced that it is rolling out support for the Live Activities feature on iPhones for mobile food and beverage orders at its two big U.S. parks.
The feature started rolling out today at select mobile order locations across Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, the company said. Where available, the feature allows you to track the status of your mobile order on the iPhone's Lock Screen or in the Dynamic Island, without needing to open the My Disney Experience or Disneyland apps.
You can tap the "I'm Here, Prepare My Order" button to have your order freshly prepared, and view your order number, order status, and pickup location.
Live Activities are available on the Lock Screen on all iPhone models that are updated to iOS 16.1 or later, while the Dynamic Island is limited to the iPhone 14 Pro models, all iPhone 15 models, and all iPhone 16 models. You may also need to ensure that your My Disney Experience or Disneyland app is updated to the latest version.
Apple has backed a technology that could contribute to future Apple Intelligence advancements.
The consortium behind the "Ultra Accelerator Link" or "UALink" technology today announced that Apple, Alibaba, and Synopsys have joined its Board of Directors. The three companies will contribute to further development of the technology.
UALink is described as a "high-speed, scale-up interconnect for next-generation AI cluster performance." The consortium is aiming to release UALink 1.0 in the first quarter of 2025, and it will enable data speeds of "up to 200Gbps per lane."
The technology could pave the way for faster and more efficient Apple Intelligence servers.
"UALink shows great promise in addressing connectivity challenges and creating new opportunities for expanding AI capabilities and demands," said Becky Loop, Director of Platform Architecture at Apple. Loop added that "Apple has a long history of pioneering and collaborating on innovations that drive our industry forward."
It is not clear if or when Apple will adopt the technology, or if it is merely interested in helping out the overall AI industry.
Apple Intelligence servers are currently powered by the M2 Ultra chip, and they are expected to start using M4 series chips this year. In an eventual move away from Mac chips for server use, The Information recently reported that Apple has been developing a new AI server chip that will offer even faster performance for AI workloads.
Today we're tracking a big selection of discounts on Anker's and Jackery's best portable power stations on Amazon, with as much as $1,500 in savings on these devices. These accessories are high-capacity portable batteries that can provide backup power to a wide variety of devices, from laptops to RVs.
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.
In most cases, you'll need to clip an on-page coupon before you see the final deal price for deals from both brands. Once you do, the coupon code will be applied to the accessory in your cart, and at the checkout screen you will see the final sale price.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
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Apple is nearing the start of mass production for its first U.S.-made A-series chips at TSMC's Arizona plant, Nikkei Asia reports.
The report suggests that test production of the chips at the new TSMC plant near Phoenix has already been completed, and Apple is now in the final stages of verifying their quality and performance. The first batch of commercially viable chips could be ready for mass production as early as this quarter, pending the completion of quality assurance processes.
The factory is expected to produce A-series chips used in Apple devices, primarily for older iPhone models. A recent report suggested the facility would make the A16 Bionic chip for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and the S9 chip for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The commencement of mass production at the Arizona plant will mark the first time Apple silicon chips are manufactured in the United States.
Apple today stopped signing iOS 18.2, which means that iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.2.1 can no longer downgrade to iOS 18.2. Apple released iOS 18.2.1 earlier in January.
When new versions of iOS are released, Apple typically stops signing the prior version after a week or two. An update that is not signed is not able to be installed on an iPhone because there is a server-side software verification check.
By preventing downgrading to older versions of iOS, Apple ensures that users keep their devices up to date with the newest security improvements.
Data broker Gravy Analytics has been hacked, and location information from millions of iPhone and Android users is at risk, reports TechCrunch. Gravy Analytics' parent company Unacast disclosed the data breach earlier this month [PDF], and said that its AWS cloud storage environment had been accessed by an unauthorized person using a "misappropriated access key."
"Some files" were obtained, and preliminary findings suggest those files "could contain personal data" collected from users of third-party services that use Gravy Analytics. According to 404Media, hackers are claiming to have customer lists and location data from smartphones that shows peoples' precise movements, with millions of users affected. Some of that data, which does indeed include the historical location of smartphones, has been published on private forums.
Gravy Analytics says that it tracks more than a billion devices around the world daily, and security researchers that saw a sample of the data collected by Gravy Analytics confirmed that the information can be used to track a person's recent locations, with no anonymization.
In December, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibited Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary Venntel from selling, disclosing, or using sensitive location data in any product or service. The FTC warned that the two companies exposed consumers to privacy harms that could include disclosure of health information, political activity, and religious practices, and put people at risk of stigma, discrimination, violence and other harms.
The order required Gravy Analytics to delete all historic location data and any data products developed using data collected from consumers, but it was apparently too late because the company's systems had likely already been breached at the time.
Gravy Analytics collects location data through a real-time ad bidding process that allows companies competing to buy an ad to see customer IP address and more precise location data if enabled. Gravy Analytics' database had location data from iPhone apps that include FlightRadar, Grindr, and Tinder, and while the apps did not have a direct relationship with the data broker, user location information was collected through their ads.
Turning off app tracking in the Privacy and Security section of the iPhone's Settings app keeps ads from being able to obtain a unique device identifier to link location data to a specific device, and preventing apps from using precise location data is also a way to preserve more privacy.
Baptiste Robert, CEO of security firm Predicta Lab, told TechCrunch that iPhone users that had app tracking disabled did not have their data shared.
iPhone users from Illinois will soon be able to add their driver's licenses and IDs to the Apple Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch, the Illinois Secretary of State announced today [PDF].
An Illinois state law that went into effect on January 1 legalizes mobile IDs and allows places of business to accept digital driver's licenses in lieu of physical licenses.
As of right now, Illinois does not have a mobile license program, and the state is in the beginning process of developing digital driver's licenses. The Secretary of State plans to establish standards of security and conduct "rigorous testing" to make sure data from Illinois residents is kept private. Illinois is aiming to bring driver's licenses and IDs to Apple Wallet by the end of 2025, but that may be ambitious with nothing in place just yet.
Like in other states that have adopted Wallet integration for digital IDs, mobile IDs will be a companion to physical IDs instead of a replacement. Banks, police, and more can still ask for a physical ID.
Select airports in the United States accept digital licenses in the Wallet app instead of requiring a physical version.
Apple first announced Wallet support for digital IDs in 2022, and states have been slowly adopting the feature since then. So far, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Hawaii, California, Ohio, Iowa, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico have implemented support.
In addition to Illinois, Connecticut, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Utah, Montana, and West Virginia are working to implement the feature.
Any typical search for a consumer Mac monitor inevitably leads to the Apple Studio Display – a seamless but prohibitively expensive option for most users at $1,599. That's where BenQ's MA270U steps in, offering Mac-native features at a much more palatable $459.99.
Unlike typical PC monitors that often feel retrofitted for Mac compatibility, this is a 27-inch 4K display that arrives ready for MacBook use out of the box, complete with built-in color matching, keyboard integration, and even Focus mode support. But can a third-party monitor truly deliver Apple-like integration without the Apple price tag?
Key Display Specifications
27-inch IPS panel with Nano Matte coating
3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution
400 nits peak brightness
1200:1 native contrast ratio
99% sRGB, 95% P3 color gamut
60Hz refresh rate
5ms response time
HDR10 with VESA Display HDR 400 certification
178° viewing angles
Design and Build Quality
Peeling the protective material off the "Nano Matte" IPS panel reveals a thin black bezel around the top and sides, and a slightly thicker chin with the BenQ logo centered in an inoffensive, almost hidden black finish. The rear of the display is plastic with a metallic finish that curves outwards slightly, while the stand is a brushed metal pipe about 2.5 inches in diameter.
Assembly is extremely simple and requires no tools. You just click the neck of the stand to the back and then use the key-screw to fasten on the rectangular base, which includes a rubber strip along the front for placing accessories.
Once the monitor was set up alongside my Apple Studio Display, BenQ's design perhaps inevitably looked a little dated. The monitor sports clean lines and thin bezels, but its predominantly plastic construction lacks Apple's signature sophistication. The aluminum-effect back cover tries to bridge this gap, though it can't match Apple's minimalist refinement and keen eye for curves and lines.
That said, build quality impresses where it matters. The steel neck provides rock-solid stability, while the soft-touch area on the base is a nice afterthought. While it won't win any design awards in my book, the construction feels reassuringly robust.
Connectivity and Setup
Connectivity-wise, the monitor is fairly well-accommodated round the back. The 90W USB-C port connects and provides power to your Mac, while an additional 15W USB-C port and one 7.5W USB-A port offer options for connecting other devices (in my case, a Bluetooth receiver for my mouse, and an external USB hard drive).
Crucially, the hub can provide power even when the display is off, so you can keep your MacBook and whatever else plugged in and charging regardless. There are also two HDMI 2.0 ports (sadly not 2.1), plus a headphone jack and an extra 7.5W USB-A port located under the panel, next to a glowing power button and a physical toggle to manually set brightness, volume, and display output.
Getting started couldn't have been easier. I plugged in the supplied USB-C cable and my MacBook Air instantly recognized the display and began drawing 90W of power from it. I also tried connecting to an M4 Mac mini, both directly and via a Ugreen Thunderbolt 4 dock, and had zero issues.
As I got comfortable with the setup, I was impressed by the flexibility of the MA270U's stand, offering a range of adjustments that make it easy to find your ideal viewing position. The height adjustment provides a generous 115mm of vertical travel, while the tilt mechanism allows the screen to move from -5° backward to 20° forward. Paired with 15° of swivel in each direction, you can fine-tune the display's position to minimize glare and maximize comfort. The robust stand keeps the display stable at any position, and the smooth pivot function rotates 90 degrees in either direction for portrait orientation viewing.
The built-in 3W speakers are adequate for system sounds but won't replace dedicated audio solutions – you won't be surprised to learn that they're noticeably inferior to MacBook speakers, and the less said about them the better.
Display Performance and Color Accuracy
Here's where the MA270U excels. The 60Hz panel's 3,840 x 2,160 resolution delivers crisp, vibrant visuals, while the 5ms response time is perfectly adequate (unless you're a hardcore FPS gamer). Colors pop without appearing oversaturated, and BenQ's color-matching technology is impressive – the difference between my MacBook Air's display and the MA270U was barely perceptible when using the recommended color profile. I even swapped out my Air for a MacBook Pro with a Liquid Retina XDR display, and only the brightness difference was visible. The monitor maintained consistent color reproduction across its 400 nits brightness range. Indeed, I was impressed with how good it looked alongside my Studio Display.
The Nano Matte panel handles glare admirably under normal conditions. However, direct sunlight remains challenging. It's not quite as effective as Apple's nano-texture glass option in this respect, but remember – that's a $300 upgrade on the Studio Display, which also boasts a higher 600 nits of brightness. One other thing worth mentioning is how fast the MA series monitor wakes from sleep – it impressively matched the speed of my Mac and the Studio Display.
Display Pilot 2 Software
The Display Pilot 2 software deserves special mention, as it's clear BenQ has put serious effort into making this feel like a natural extension of the Mac experience. I never had to use the physical toggle on the bottom of the display to change settings via the OSD – the menu bar app effectively replaced it, offering native control of the MA270U. You can adjust these settings independently for each connected display, with options to sync them if desired, and you can customize which settings appear in the interface. For color management, Display Pilot 2 provides quick access to different color modes including M-Book (designed to match MacBook displays), Display P3, and sRGB. You can switch between them with a single click when dealing with color-critical work, and you can assign specific color modes to launch automatically with different applications – a nice touch that you'd usually only expect when using a reference monitor.
On the other hand, the Display Pilot software feels like it's half-baked in some respects, and some of the functions work better than others. I found the HDR option so-so – it blew out the colors when viewing my desktop, and only vaguely improved the movie-watching experience. The app also enables features like automatic display rotation and desktop partitioning, though macOS Sequoia's built-in window management makes the latter a little redundant. Meanwhile, the Low Blue Light mode seemed to have almost no effect. However, credit where credit is due: The Mac keyboard integration works seamlessly – adjusting the brightness and volume of the external panel from your MacBook feels natural, and the syncing is seamless. The ICCSync feature ensures the monitor's colors stay perfectly matched with your MacBook's display, and I particularly appreciated the Brightness Sync feature, which automatically matches the brightness levels between your MacBook and the MA270U.
FocuSync connects with macOS Focus modes to adjust display settings automatically based on your selected Focus state, while the B.I.+ Gen2 feature uses the monitor's ambient light sensor (located at the top of the panel) to adjust brightness and color temperature based on your environment. FocuSync isn't something I would ever use, but it worked as advertised once I granted the necessary permissions. The same can't be said for BenQ's Brightness Intelligence feature, which often made everything overly dim and washed out in normal lighting conditions.
You can adjust the resolution in the app with a slider, but I found this wanting. In my experience, the native 3,840 x 2,160 resolution made text too small to read comfortably for any length of time, though the 32-inch model may fare better in this regard. My biggest bugbear is that the scaled options were too few and far between for me to find an optimal setting, so I ended up using the Better Display app instead, settling on 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, which paired well alongside the Studio Display (a 5K panel scaled to 2,560 x 1,440). Sat back normally and looking at both monitors, I got a decently uniform picture from them, with only the superior brightness of the Studio Display making the difference. Of course, in most contexts, comparing a 4K panel to a 5K panel is like comparing apples to oranges, but macOS scaling is so good these days that I genuinely can't tell the difference unless my nose is almost touching the screen.
Summing Up
The BenQ MA270U delivers where it counts – 4K display quality and Mac integration. While its design may not match Apple's aesthetic, its performance-to-price ratio is compelling. The 32-inch MA320U offers higher brightness (550 nits vs 400 nits) and a slightly better color gamut, but the core features remain identical.
This monitor should suit Mac users seeking a quality external display without Studio Display pricing (so long as you bring your own webcam and external speakers). It's especially appealing for productivity work, content consumption, and even light creative tasks, thanks to its excellent color reproduction. Professional creators might prefer BenQ's Thunderbolt PD series or the brighter image of a Apple's 5K Studio Display, but for everyone else, the MA270U represents excellent value.
Where to Buy
The BenQ MA270U is available from BenQ's website and authorized retailers for $459.99/£449.99. The 32-inch MA320U retails for $599.99/£549.99.
Note: BenQ provided MacRumors with a 27-inch MA270U 4K monitor for the purpose of the review. No other compensation was received.
Amazon this week is providing record low prices on multiple models of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. Best Buy is also matching every one of these deals.
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.
Amazon has three colors of the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 on sale at this all-time low price, and it's the first time in 2025 that we've seen any deal on the new tablet. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00 and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $699.99, both $100 discounts and available in multiple colors.
Deals on cellular models are a bit rarer on Amazon, with one color of the 128GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $549.00, down from $649.00. If you prefer shopping at Best Buy, remember that the retailer is matching all of these sales on the iPad mini 7.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
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Sonos CEO Patrick Spence has stepped down after eight years, following widespread criticism over the company's failed app redesign (via Bloomberg).
The company has appointed board member and former Snap and Pandora executive Tom Conrad as interim CEO, effective immediately, while the search for a permanent replacement is conducted. The catalyst for the leadership shake-up was the May 2024 launch of a redesigned Sonos app, which sought to modernize the software and alongside adding support for the company's first headphones, the Sonos Ace, which were positioned to compete with Apple's AirPods Max.
The app rollout was marred by widespread technical issues and the removal of features such as sleep timers, alarms, and key accessibility options. Users reported connectivity problems, interface confusion, and lag, with some older Sonos systems rendered effectively unusable.
The company's revenue subsequently declined by 16% in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2024, with analysts projecting a further 15% drop for the critical holiday period. Sonos's stock price fell approximately 13% following the app update's release.
Sonos made efforts to address the new app's issues, including restoring some removed features and committing to fixing lingering bugs. Spence issued a public apology to customers, acknowledging the company's failings and outlining a timeline for improvements, but the damage to the company's reputation proved difficult to repair.
The company also faced internal struggles, including the postponement of new products, the cancellation of projects such as an Apple TV-style set-top box, and the layoff of approximately 100 employees in August 2024.
Tom Conrad has served on the Sonos board since 2017 and now steps into the role of interim CEO. Conrad was a co-creator of the Pandora music service and a vice president at Snap.
In an email to employees, he said: "When it doesn't work, our customers are taken out of the moment and are right to feel that we've let them down. I think we'll all agree that this year we've let far too many people down... Getting back to basics is necessary, but clearly not enough to unlock the future we all envision for Sonos," suggesting that he wants to expand the company "well beyond" home speaker equipment.
A new social engineering tactic is being used by cybercriminals to trick iPhone users into disabling iMessage's built-in phishing protection, in a bid to expose them to malicious links and scams, according to BleepingComputer.
The scam exploits a security feature in iMessage that automatically disables links from unknown senders. Apple told the outlet that when users reply to these messages or add the sender to their contacts, the links become clickable – a behavior that scammers are now actively exploiting, according to the report. The deceptive messages often masquerade as notifications from trusted organizations like USPS or toll road authorities.
Scammers are apparently looking to exploit the familiar "reply STOP" or "reply NO" that often appears at the end of messages from authentic businesses or services, as there's been a surge in SMS phishing (smishing) attacks that specifically ask recipients to reply "Y" to "activate" supposedly legitimate links.
By getting users to respond, attackers not only enable the previously disabled links but also identify active phone numbers that are more likely to engage with future scams.
Tech-savvy users are likely to easily identify these as phishing attempts, but the main concern is that older or less experienced users will be particularly vulnerable to the tactic. Needless to say, the best way to ensure that you never fall for the scam is to never reply to suspicious messages from unknown senders.
SMS phishing attacks with disabled links (Image credit: BleepingComputer)
Another line of defense is to enable message filtering on your iPhone or iPad. Message filtering sorts messages from people who are not in your contacts into a separate list, where you can more easily view them in the Messages app. To filter messages from unknown senders, open Settings and go to Apps ➝ Messages, then toggle on the switch next to Filter Unknown Senders.
Bear in mind that the feature can filter legitimate messages – from couriers or your bank, for example – so don't automatically assume that a filtered message is dodgy. And, as mentioned above, you can't open links in a message from an unknown sender until you add them to your contacts or reply to the message, but that's by design.
Apple is heading to court in London on Monday to defend against a class-action lawsuit seeking £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) in damages over alleged anti-competitive App Store practices in the UK.
Filed by King's College London academic Dr. Rachael Kent, the lawsuit claims Apple has violated UK and European competition laws by requiring iOS users to download apps exclusively through the App Store while charging developers a commission of up to 30% on purchases.
The legal action represents around 19.6 million UK iPhone and iPad users who may have been overcharged for apps and in-app purchases between October 2015 and November 2024. Under UK law, affected users are automatically included in the claim unless they opt out.
Kent argues that while the App Store was initially "a brilliant gateway" for services, it has become "the only gateway" for millions of consumers, with Apple acting as a monopolist by blocking access to alternative platforms that could offer better deals.
Apple has firmly rejected the allegations, calling the lawsuit "meritless," and says that its App Store commission rates are "very much in the mainstream" compared to other digital marketplaces. The company says that 85% of apps on the App Store are free, and many developers qualify for a reduced 15% commission rate.
The trial at the Competition Appeal Tribunal is expected to last seven weeks and is one of several legal challenges Apple faces globally regarding its App Store practices.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple's global smartphone market share declined to 18% in 2024, down from 19% the previous year, while Chinese manufacturers expanded their presence in the global market, according to new data from Counterpoint Research.
The iPhone maker saw a 2% decline in year-over-year sales, despite the broader smartphone market seeing 4% growth, as Chinese brands like Xiaomi showed remarkable growth of 12% during the same period.
The absence of Apple Intelligence features, particularly in China, appears to have impacted iPhone 16 sales. "Apple's iPhone 16 series was met with a mixed response, partly due to a lack of availability of Apple Intelligence at launch," noted Counterpoint research director Tarun Pathak. Despite this setback, Apple maintained strong growth in emerging markets like Latin America.
While overall sales declined, Apple saw increased demand for its premium models. Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam reported that consumers are increasingly choosing ultra-premium devices, with Pro and Pro Max models gaining significant traction in China. The share of these high-end models is expected to surpass 50% in the Chinese market for Q4 2024.
Samsung maintained its lead in the global smartphone market, buoyed by strong demand for its AI-equipped S24 series and A-series devices. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers Huawei, Honor, and Motorola emerged as the fastest-growing brands among the top 10 smartphone makers.
Apple has been rolling out Apple Intelligence features since October via software updates, but there are indications that this is not pushing people to upgrade their devices. A report just last week from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested Apple Intelligence "appeal has significantly declined" compared to cloud-based services like ChatGPT.
Meanwhile, a December survey suggested that many iPhone users feel Apple Intelligence has added little or no value to their iPhone experience, but that could always change as Apple Intelligence matures. There are still Apple Intelligence features that have not been implemented, including major changes to Siri that are rumored to be coming in April.
Apple may choose to refresh its iPad Air models in the spring with an M4 chip, skipping the M3 generation for the lineup entirely, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested.
Apple released the M2 iPad Air in 11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes in May of last year, and the going assumption, backed by rumors, was that Apple would refresh the iPad Air this year with an M3 chip upgrade.
However, writing in his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Gurman said he "wouldn't be terribly surprised" if Apple opts for the M4 chip instead. From the report:
The new iPad Airs — code-named J607, J608, J637 and J638 — will be more about specification upgrades than design changes. The current version, introduced last year, has the M2 chip. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the 2025 models get bumped up to the M4, matching the iPad Pro. That would mean the Pro has less of an edge over the Air, but that shouldn't be too shocking. Most Macs rely on the same chip family, and iPads could do the same.
Gurman's claim runs counter to previous rumors that indicated Apple plans to keep the iPad Air one step behind the iPad Pro in terms of processor generations. However, Apple surprised many when it announced M4 iPad Pro models in May 2024. Those devices were expected to feature the M3 chip right up until the last minute of their unveiling but skipped the generation entirely, and there's no hard and fast rule that says the company won't do the same thing for the iPad Air.
No design changes are expected for the next-generation iPad Air, but it could include Apple's upcoming custom 5G modem, which will also be introduced in the iPhone SE, low-cost iPad, and iPhone 17 Air in 2025.
Apple is also developing a new version of the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air. It isn't expected to have an aluminum top case like the iPad Pro, but it could have a function row of keys and some other features from the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard.
Apple's long-rumoured smart home hub or "command center" may not arrive in the spring as previously expected, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
We've heard various rumors and reports about Apple developing an all-in-one smart home management hub. The device is said to feature a square-shaped 7-inch display, a FaceTime camera and speakers, and a new homeOS operating system with support for several Apple apps. Rumors suggest users will be able to mount it on a wall, but Apple is also designing a dock that will let it sit on a table or desk.
Apple originally planned to introduce the home hub in March 2025. However, writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that the device "may take longer to reach consumers," owing to the operating system's heavy reliance on App Intents features that won't be ready until iOS 18.4 and iOS 19. This in itself means "it's plausible that the hardware itself will ship later," adds Gurman.
Gurman's prediction lines up with a December 2024 report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo about a so-called "HomePod with a display" in the works with support for Apple Intelligence. Kuo said the device had been delayed and would arrive in the third quarter of 2025.
At the time of Kuo's report, it wasn't clear if the products being discussed were completely different devices (Gurman himself has said Apple is developing several HomePod variants with screens, including one with an iPad-like display and another featuring a screen mounted on a robotic arm). However, the alignment of the two timeframes are beginning to suggest they are one and the same thing. Like Gurman over the weekend, Kuo had said the delay could be attributed to software development challenges, rather than hardware issues.
As a result, Apple could still unveil the smart home hub with an announcement in March, with the actual hardware arriving later in the year, sometime after WWDC 2025. Apple this spring is also expected to announce a next-generation, entry-level iPad with support for Apple Intelligence, an iPhone SE 4, and new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M4 chips.
A pre-construction render of Apple Miami Worldcenter
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 Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
