While it has been many years since Apple stopped providing first weekend sales numbers for new iPhones, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty today said that iPhone 13 Pro pre-orders are "off to a promising start" with "strong early demand."
Huberty based her opinion off of Apple's delivery estimates for iPhones, which she has been tracking for many years. Shortly after pre-orders began last Friday, delivery estimates for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max began slipping into October, with Huberty having calculated the average lead time at around 27 days. She said this is the second longest lead time on the first day of pre-orders amongst all iPhone models launched over the past five years, surpassed only by the iPhone X in 2017.
As of last Friday, Huberty said the iPhone 13 mini was faring better with a lead time of 3.1 days, while the standard iPhone 13 faced no delays.
As with every iPhone launch, it is possible that lengthy delivery estimates are a function of low supply rather than high demand, but Huberty said Morgan Stanley's supply chain checks indicate minimal near-term component headwinds for iPhones and concluded that these long lead times "are at least partly a function of strong early demand."
All four iPhone 13 models will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Friday, September 24. Key features across the iPhone 13 lineup include a faster A15 Bionic chip, camera improvements, longer battery life, and a smaller notch. The two Pro models also feature a ProMotion display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz.
In 2021, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 as the successor to the popular iPhone 12, with improved rear cameras, longer battery life, the A15 Bionic chip, and more. As devices that are more affordable than the Pro models, but more full-featured than the low-cost iPhone SE or iPhone 11, the iPhone 13 will likely be the most popular option among consumers.
The iPhone 12 from 2020 continues to be sold by Apple. As it is a year older than the iPhone 13, it starts at $599, while the iPhone 13 starts at $699. As the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 share a large number of features, should you consider purchasing the older model to save money? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you, but overall the iPhone 13 is only a minor upgrade over the iPhone 12.
Comparing the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 share a large number of key features, such as display size, 5G connectivity, and camera specifications. Apple lists these same features of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13:
Similarities
6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with HDR, True Tone, P3 wide color, and Haptic Touch
Dual 12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and ƒ/1.6 Wide cameras with two-times optical zoom out
Photography features including Night mode, Deep Fusion, True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Portrait mode, and more
Videography features including 4K video recording at up to 60fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision, Audio zoom, slo-mo video up to 240fps at 1080p, Night mode Time-lapse, and more
Apple's breakdown shows that the iPhones share a number of notable key features. Even so, there are meaningful differences between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, such as their processors and battery life.
Differences
iPhone 12
Super Retina XDR display with 625 nits max brightness (typical)
A14 Bionic chip
Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)
Smart HDR 3 for photos
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 30fps
Up to 17 hours battery during video playback
Weighs 164 grams
Available in Purple, Blue, PRODUCT(RED), White, and Black
Available with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options
iPhone 13
Super Retina XDR display with 800 nits max brightness (typical)
20 percent smaller notch
A15 Bionic chip
Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM) and dual eSIM support
Smart HDR 4 for photos
Photographic Styles
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60fps
Cinematic mode video recording with shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps)
Up to 19 hours battery during video playback
Weighs 174 grams
Available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Green, and PRODUCT(RED)
Available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPhones have to offer.
Design and Colors
Both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 have the same industrial design with squared-off edges and a flat aluminum band around the sides. The devices use aerospace-grade aluminum on the edges and a single piece of polished glass on the rear. The iPhone 13's dual rear cameras are offset against each other diagonally, as opposed to the iPhone 12's vertical orientation.
The iPhone 13 features a 20 percent smaller notch for the TrueDepth camera array, which frees up more display area and makes the cutout less obtrusive. Other than the rear camera positioning and the smaller notch, the devices look otherwise the same.
The iPhone 12 is available in Purple, Blue, Green, White, and Black, while the iPhone 13 is available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, and Green. Both are also available in PRODUCT(RED). The two shades of Blue are similar, as are White and Starlight, and Black and Midnight. As similar-looking devices, preference for either the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13 in terms of design and colors will come down to personal taste.
Display
The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 both have a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with HDR, True Tone, P3 wide color, and Haptic Touch. The only difference with the iPhone 13's display is that it is able to get 175 nits brighter during typical non-HDR use, but this is not a major reason to get the newer model.
A14 vs. A15
The iPhone 13's A15 Bionic chip brings a modest performance improvement over the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12. Benchmarks show that the A15 in the iPhone 13 offers around 10 percent better single-core performance and 18 percent better multi-core performance compared to the iPhone 12's A14 chip. In graphics tasks, the iPhone 13 performs roughly 15 percent better than the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12.
These performance improvements with the A15 are iterative rather than a substantial reason to upgrade alone. The A14 is still an extremely capable chip, and in day-to-day use, the two devices are likely to perform similarly.
Dual SIM
Both devices support dual SIM, with one physical nano-SIM and an eSIM, but the iPhone 13 is also able to support two eSIMs simultaneously. If you need to switch between two eSIMs, you will need to get the iPhone 13 to get this functionality.
Cameras
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 have dual 12MP rear cameras with a ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and a ƒ/1.6 Wide camera. The iPhone 13's Wide camera features a larger sensor in the iPhone 13, capable of capturing 47 percent more light for less noise and brighter images, and the Ultra Wide features a new sensor to capture more detail. The Wide camera also contains sensor-shift optical image stabilization technology for smoother video and improved image quality.
Although the devices can both record Dolby Vision HDR video, the iPhone 13 is able to record this up to 60 fps, as opposed to the iPhone 12's 30 fps.
The iPhone 13 features a brand new camera feature called Cinematic mode, which allows users to record video with a shallow depth of field at 1080p and 30fps. Cinematic mode can rack focus to seamlessly shift the focus from one subject to another when capturing video. It holds focus on the subject while blurring the background, and can automatically change the focus when a new subject is about to enter the scene. Blur and focus can be adjusted after capturing video as well through the Photos app.
The iPhone 13 also supports Photographic Styles, which are smart, adjustable filters that can do things like boost or mute colors without affecting skin tone. Styles apply selectively to an image, unlike a filter that is applied to the entire image. Photographic Styles include Vibrant (boosts colors), Rich Contrast (darker shadows and deeper colors), Warm (accentuates golden undertones), or Cool (accentuates blue undertones). Tone and Warmth are customizable for each style, so you can get the exact look that you want.
While the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 feature cameras with similar specifications, the iPhone 13 offers Dolby Vision HDR video at a higher frame rate, Cinematic mode, and Photographic Styles, as well as hardware improvements such as a larger sensor and sensor-shift stabilization. The iPhone 12's camera is still highly capable, but with more photography and videography options and improved image quality, the iPhone 13 is the better option.
Battery Life
One area of significant difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 is battery life. The iPhone 13 features up to 19 hours of battery life during video playback, which is two hours more than the iPhone 12's 17 hours. When streaming video, the iPhone 13 can deliver 15 hours of battery life instead of the iPhone 12's 11 hours. The iPhone 13 can also stream audio for 10 hours longer than the iPhone 12. The iPhone 13 is therefore clearly the better device for users who need the maximum possible battery life from their iPhone compared to the iPhone 12.
Storage
The iPhone 12 is available with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options, while the iPhone 13 is available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. This means that if you need more than 256GB of storage, you will need to get the iPhone 13 to have the option of a larger 512GB storage capacity. Otherwise, there is no difference between the devices in terms of storage options.
Other iPhone Options
It is worth noting that the iPhone 13 mini provides the same feature set as the iPhone 13 for $699, simply with a more compact design, a 5.4-inch display, and a slightly shorter 17 hours of battery life (during video playback). Likewise, the iPhone 12 mini provides the same feature set as the iPhone 12 for $599, but with a more compact design, 5.4-inch display, and 15 hours of battery life (during video playback).
For a ProMotion display with a refresh rate up to 120Hz, additional RAM and a more graphically capable processor, more premium design, even longer battery life, and a more capable rear camera setup, there is the iPhone 13 Pro, which starts at $999. The iPhone 13 Pro offers the most full-featured and capable iPhone experience, but is $200 more expensive than the standard iPhone 13.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 13's upgrades over the iPhone 12 are mostly iterative, offering refinements in terms of a brighter display, a smaller notch, performance improvements, and new camera software features. The more significant upgrades include the camera hardware and longer battery life, but at face value there is likely not enough to justify getting the new model over the iPhone 12 for most customers.
However, when looking at the 128GB and 256GB storage options only, since these options are available with both models, the iPhone 13 costs $699 and $799, and the iPhone 12 costs $649 and $749, respectively. This means that like for like, there is only a $50 price difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13, providing you need more than 64GB of storage. While the iPhone 13's upgrades are mostly iterative and not major reasons to upgrade, they are easily worth the additional $50, so if you need more than 64GB of storage you should buy the iPhone 13.
If 64GB of storage is sufficient for you, it will be a case of weighing up if the iPhone 13's selection of improvements and extra storage are worth the additional $100. The iPhone 12's A14 Bionic chip, 17-hour battery life, and dual-camera setup are still highly capable for everyday use, and the device shares an overwhelming majority of the iPhone 13's most versatile features, such as 5G connectivity, Night mode, MagSafe, and IP68 water resistance, which may make the additional $100 for the iPhone 13 difficult to justify.
Following in the footsteps of Expercom and Walmart from last week, Amazon today has introduced its first ever discount on the new iPad mini 6. You'll find the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet in all colors except Purple at $459.99, down from $499.00.
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.
Today's sale matches the same discount we saw at Walmart, which has since expired. This makes Amazon the best place to get a solid discount on the all-new iPad mini 6.
Only the 64GB Wi-Fi model is on sale at this time, and we're not seeing any cash discounts on Amazon for the 256GB model or either cellular version of the tablet. For the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6, you can get the discount in Pink, Space Gray, or Starlight.
This is technically a pre-order on Amazon, as the iPad mini 6 will not officially launch until this Friday, September 24. But once you place your order and lock in the sale price, Amazon Prime members will get the usual two-day shipping estimate.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Just ahead of the release of iOS 15, Algoriddim today announced it has integrated Apple's new ShazamKit framework into its award-winning DJing app djay.
ShazamKit brings Shazam's music recognition technology to the djay app, allowing users to discover music playing in their surroundings. Once a song has been identified, djay instantly loads it onto the virtual decks and plays the audio in sync with the external music source. The app's Automix feature can then create a mix with similar tracks. djay also saves previously identified songs to users' Shazam history in Control Center on iOS 15.
"Integrating Shazam into djay completely transforms the creative workflow of DJs," said Algoriddim CEO Karim Morsy. "As a DJ you are constantly on the lookout for great new music to play at your next gig, but identifying a track and the process of getting it into your library has been a challenging task with no seamless way to do it. Now, whenever you hear a great song you can load it into djay's decks with the tap of a button."
We've partnered with Anker again this week to bring our readers a collection of coupon codes that introduce notable discounts on Anker's best wall chargers, portable chargers, earbuds, and more. The highlight of the sale is a markdown on the Anker Magnetic Car Mount for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, priced at $17.99 ($12 off) with our exclusive code.
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'll also find discounts on three of Anker's best USB-C wall chargers, starting at $24.99 ($11 off) for the PowerPort Strip. If you're looking for portable chargers, this sale has everything from the PowerCore Wireless Power Bank at $25.99 ($10 off) to the high-end PowerHouse Station at $273.99 ($186 off).
Our readers should remember that all of the sales listed below require an accompanying coupon code to see the discount. Additionally, one accessory (the PowerHouse Station) requires a code and an on-page coupon, which you can clip before adding to your cart in order to see the full discount. All codes will remain valid through September 26, and only one code works per order.
The popular Apple TV+ comedy series "Ted Lasso" has been awarded four new Emmy awards, making history for Apple TV+ as it became the first streaming service to win an Emmy award in a program category in only its second year of eligibility. Ted Lasso has won a total of seven Emmy Awards in 2021.
As Apple touted in a press release, "Ted Lasso" made history by becoming the most nominated freshmen comedy series in Emmy Award history, including awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Hannah Waddingham, who plays Rebecca Welton in the series, and Brett Goldstein, who takes on the role of Roy Kent, won Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor in a Comedy Series, respectively. The star of the show, Jason Sudeikis, who portrays Ted Lasso, was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show itself was crowned Oustanding Comedy Series.
Apple TV+ has previously won Emmy awards for "The Morning Show," "Ghost Writer," and "Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10."
Apple recently updated its iOS 15 features page to highlight some additional information about the software update ahead of its imminent release.
In addition to revealing that Find My network support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max has been delayed until "later this fall," Apple said iOS 15 allows users to seamlessly switch between phone numbers in the middle of an iMessage conversation on an iPhone with Dual SIM support, including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and newer.
Regional updates to the page include the addition of Japanese in the list of new Voice Control languages and the addition of Singapore for countries with air quality maps in the Weather app on iOS 15. Apple has also revealed that iOS 15 has a new SF Arabic system font, and in India, users can choose from up to 10 of their most recently used UPI payment apps when they scan UPI QR codes using the Camera app for merchant payments.
Apple labeled iCloud Private Relay as a beta feature last month, and the iOS 15 features page now states that when using Private Relay, some websites may have issues, such as showing content for the wrong region or requiring extra steps to sign in. This mirrors fine print added to the iCloud Private Relay section of the Settings app on iPhone.
Apple did not provide a reason for the delay, but several other iOS 15 features will not be available until later this year either, such as SharePlay, Legacy Contacts, the ability to add a driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app, and more. Apple also labeled iCloud Private Relay as a beta feature last month.
If you lose your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max and someone else with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac comes close to them, the Find My network will be able to relay an approximate location of the headphones securely and privately back to you. The feature is designed to help you get within Bluetooth range of the AirPods so you can play a sound and locate them.
iOS 15 will be released tomorrow following over three months of beta testing. The software update is compatible with the same iPhones as iOS 14, including older devices like the original iPhone SE and iPhone 6s. iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 will also be released tomorrow, while a release date for macOS Monterey has yet to be announced.
As announced at Apple's "California Streaming" media event on September 14, the public release of iOS 15 will be on Monday, September 20. iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 will be arriving on the same date, while a release date for macOS 12 Monterey has yet to be announced.
While we know iOS 15 is coming on September 20, Apple has not specified exactly what time of day it will be released. We can, however, make an educated guess as to the release timing.
The most frequent time of day for Apple software releases is right around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. In some parts of the world, this corresponds to times early in the morning of the following day, and Apple's regional websites for some of these countries do list the release date as September 21 rather than September 20.
Based on this information, it seems very likely that iOS 15 will indeed be released right around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, September 20. For the local time in your area, we've put together this list covering some major cities in time zones around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii — 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska — 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 7:00 p.m. SAST
Moscow, Russia — 8:00 p.m. MSK
Helsinki, Finland — 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China — 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore — 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia — 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong — 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea — 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan — 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia — 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia — 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand — 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
Apple has on occasion released software updates closer to 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, but that does not line up with the information on Apple's Indian site, which specifies a September 20 launch. In order for that to be the case, a release would need to happen before 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
Device Compatibility
iOS 15 is compatible with the same iPhones as iOS 13 and iOS 14, including older devices like the original iPhone SE and iPhone 6s. iOS 15 compatible devices are listed below.
iPhone 12 and 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2020)
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS and XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone X
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
iPhone SE (2016)
iPod touch (7th generation)
iPadOS 15 is compatible with all of the same devices that were able to run iPadOS 13 and iPadOS 14, which include:
watchOS 8 can be installed on Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, and Series 6 models, as well as the Apple Watch SE. It is not compatible with the original first-generation Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series 1, or Apple Watch Series 2.
tvOS 15 is designed to run on the Apple TV 4K (1st and 2nd generation ) and the Apple TV HD (originally called the 4th generation Apple TV). It is not compatible with earlier versions of the Apple TV, as those models do not support tvOS.
Apple has started shipping out iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max orders to customers who pre-ordered one of the new devices on Friday, September 17.
Many orders will still say "Preparing to Ship" in Apple's ordering system and will continue to do so until later this week, but customers in the United States who are receiving their devices through UPS can use the UPS My Choice feature for tracking purposes or can track through a reference number like a phone number or an order number.
UPS My Choice is free to use and well worth checking out for those in the United States who want to keep an eye on their upcoming shipments. If you've ordered a new device and it's shipping via UPS, details should be available soon if they're not already available. At the current time, iPhones are shipping from China and will soon be arriving in the United States.
The new iPhone models are priced starting at $699 and the first pre-orders will begin arriving on Friday, September 24. Apple may also have some in store stock on Friday for walk-in purchases, so those who were not able to pre-order and get a Friday delivery date may still be able to get a device right on time.
All colors and capacities of the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max have sold out and orders placed now will not arrive until mid to late October. iPhone 13 and 13 mini orders will arrive in early October, though some stores still have September pickup dates available.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shared his expectations for future Apple products.
Gurman still expects new MacBook Pros and AirPods to be announced by the end of 2021, but he doesn't anticipate any other groundbreaking product launches until at least next year. Looking ahead to 2022, Gurman said Apple plans to debut several products, including new AirPods Pro, a redesigned iPad Pro, a revamped Mac Pro tower with Apple silicon, a redesigned MacBook Air with Apple silicon, as many as three new Apple Watch models, and more.
Gurman and Bloomberg's Debby Wu previously reported that the new AirPods Pro will feature new motion sensors for fitness tracking, and they said Apple has also tested a smaller design that eliminates the stems below the earbuds. As for the redesigned iPad Pro, Gurman and Wu said Apple is testing a new glass back with wireless charging support and the ability to charge AirPods by placing them on the back of the iPad Pro.
2022 might also be the year that Apple previews its widely rumored mixed-reality headset that combines augmented reality and virtual reality features, according to Gurman. He said Apple's "true AR glasses" are probably still between two and four years away.
Gurman insisted that Apple is working on satellite functionality for future iPhones, which would allow users to send text messages and file emergency reports in areas without cellular service, noting that the features "just aren't ready yet."
Apple's highly anticipated "California Streaming" event on Tuesday had an interesting mix of expected and unexpected news, including the iPhone 13 lineup that largely followed expectations and the Apple Watch Series 7 that didn't get the expected flat-sided redesign but otherwise matched up with rumors pretty well.
On the more unexpected front, we got updates to the iPad mini and entry-level iPad, something most people weren't expecting until a second autumn event in October or November. We also didn't get the third-generation AirPods, which were rumored but fairly uncertain about heading into the event.
Apple Announces iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini With Smaller Notch, Repositioned Rear Cameras, and More
Apple on Tuesday announced the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, both featuring a smaller notch, repositioned rear cameras, improved performance, and more while maintaining the same 6.1-inch and 5.4-inch sizes of their respective iPhone 12 predecessors.
As rumored, the new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini include a 20% smaller notch, allowing for more display area. Inside, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are powered by the brand new A15 Bionic chip, while a more advanced dual-camera system on the rear delivers better photos and video than ever.
Apple Unveils iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max With ProMotion Displays and Up to 1TB Storage
In additon to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, Apple on Tuesday also announced the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, featuring brighter Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion, improved rear cameras, a more powerful variant of the A15 Bionic chip, up to 1TB of storage, a new Sierra Blue color option, and more.
Both devices sport the A15 Bionic chip with a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU for a significant performance improvement. This variant of the A15 chip contains one extra GPU core than the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13's A15 chip.
Pre-orders for the Pro models are also underway ahead of their September 24 launch, and if you're having trouble deciding which model to get, we have a buyer's guide comparing the regular and Pro lineups.
Apple Unveils Apple Watch Series 7 Featuring Larger Screen Sizes From $399
As expected, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 7 at Tuesday's event, delivering the expected larger display size thanks to thinner bezels and slightly larger casings.
What we didn't expect is that the design is quite similar to the Series 6 and other recent models, with smooth, rounded edges rather than the flat-edged redesign that had been rumored by several prominent sources.
You'll also have to wait a while to get your hands on the new Apple Watch, as Apple has said only that it will be available "later this fall." Recent reports indicated that Apple was having trouble ramping up mass production of the new models, and that's almost certainly the reason for Apple's vague launch timeframe.
Apple Introduces Redesigned Sixth-Generation iPad Mini With Touch ID, USB-C Port, 5G, and More
The new iPad mini features a larger 8.3-inch display that largely covers the front of the device, Touch ID on the power button rather than having a Home button, a USB-C port instead of Lightning, and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil.
Orders for the new iPad mini are available now, with a launch coming on Friday, September 24.
Apple Announces New 9th-Generation iPad With A13 Chip, True Tone Display, and More
While it didn't see as big an overhaul as its smaller sibling, the entry-level 10.2-inch iPad did receive an update on Tuesday, upgrading to an A13 Bionic chip offering up to 20% faster performance, a True Tone display, an improved front camera, and more.
The new iPad features an upgraded 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage, which uses machine learning to automatically detect people in the frame, panning and zooming to keep them in view during FaceTime calls. The feature recognizes when other people join or exit a call, adjusting the camera position to fit everyone in.
Orders for the new iPad are available now, with a launch coming next week on Friday, September 24.
iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 Will Be Released on September 20
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.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with iMazing to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max with up to 1TB of storage and a copy of the iMazing software, which is ideal for iPhone backups and management.
If you're unfamiliar with iMazing, it's Mac and Windows software that provides a range of handy tools for iOS device management, and it offers more versatility than Apple's Finder-based iPhone management system on the Mac and iTunes on Windows.
iMazing allows for hassle-free Time Machine-like wireless backups with multiple backup versions available. With iCloud and Apple's Mac/Windows backup tools older backups are overwritten rather than being saved, making it more difficult to get to the backup that you might prefer. With iMazing, you can also do your backups on a set schedule so you never forget to save your data.
You can browse through all of your backup snapshots to see your saved data, with backups able to be saved for weeks, months, and longer. Backups can also be encrypted for privacy, and iMazing backups are useful for device-to-device transfers like when you upgrade your iPhone.
If you need to transfer photos from an iOS device to a Mac, there's a simple drag and drop option that lets you move your images from one device to another. You can keep what you need and delete what you don't want, and iMazing is able to load HEIF, RAW, and PNG, and JPG files so you can see what's what. There's also a built-in EXIF viewer that provides information on file type, size, and location.
iMazing is also useful for saving backups of your iMessages or your WhatsApp messages. You can save all of the content of your messages, like photos, videos, contacts, and links, and export that content later if it's needed.
For those who download their own music, iMazing can be used to transfer songs from an iOS device to a computer and vice versa. This can be particularly handy if you have an old iPhone or iPod and no other way to get the music off of it. Data remains local, with nothing uploaded to the cloud when you're working with iMazing.
If you want to see what makes iOS tick, you can also dig into system files, find logs, access a real-time device console, and check device diagnostics, including information on the iPhone's battery. Configuration and supervision tools are available for small businesses, making it easier for them to manage multiple devices.
App management features are helpful for those who miss the app access that iTunes used to provide on the Mac. iMazing supports bulk deleting apps, backing up and restoring app data, and downloading apps to the iMazing app library so they can be reinstalled if an app is deleted from the App Store.
iMazing gets regular updates, and some of the newest features include spyware detection and a podcast management feature. iMazing is compatible with iOS 15 and the upcoming macOS Monterey update. Those who want to purchase iMazing can do so from the iMazing website, and we have a 30 percent off discount for MacRumors readers. Just check out with the promo code MACRUMORS21 to get it.
We have one iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max to give away to a lucky MacRumors reader. The winner will be able to choose their preferred device, including storage space and color.
To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (September 17) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 24. The winner will be chosen randomly on September 24 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
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During Tuesday's media event, Greg Joswiak noted that Apple has redesigned the packaging for the iPhone 13 lineup to eliminate the traditional outer plastic wrap on the box, a change that will avoid creating 600 metric tons of plastic waste.
As shared in a tweet by leaker DuanRui earlier today, it appears that Apple's solution is one already used on many Apple accessories, involving a sticker with a tear-off strip that secures the box until it's ready to be opened.
Apple is not the only company making changes to its packaging for sustainability reasons as part of the iPhone 13 launch, with Belkin today announcing that its new lineup of screen protectors for the iPhone 13 family will arrive in packaging made entirely of recycled plastic water bottles and forest certified paper.
In addition to the packaging change, which is part of a broader internal and external sustainability initiative at the company, Belkin says the Screen Protector Applicator kits made available to retail stores to assist with installation will also transition to more sustainable materials including kraft paper, plant-based plastic liners, and soy-based ink.
Belkin's Anti-Glare Screen Protectors for all iPhone 13 models are available from Apple for $19.95, while the UltraGlass Screen Protectors with double ion-exchange strengthened lithium aluminosilicate glass are priced at $39.95.
Starting next month, Apple is ramping up COVID-19 testing requirements for employees. According to The Verge's Zoe Schiffer, unvaccinated employees will be required to get frequent COVID-19 tests, while vaccinated employees will receive infrequent tests if going into an office or store.
Unlike other tech companies, such as Google and Facebook, Apple has not mandated vaccines for its employees and still does not require workers to get vaccinated to remain at Apple. Prior to the upcoming testing mandate, testing was encouraged, but not required.
Apple earlier this month began asking employees to provide details on their vaccination status, and it has been pushing vaccines through an internal vaccination campaign.
Apple offers vouchers to get employees vaccinated through Walgreens along with on-site vaccinations in the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin. Paid time off is available for vaccine appointments, as is paid sick leave for those who experience side effects.
Many corporate employees are still working from home at this point and will not be returning to the office until January at the earliest, but Apple also has a large retail workforce.
The details on Apple's testing plans came from today's company-wide town hall meeting, where Cook also spoke on plans for a hybrid work model going forward. "We learned as a company what it means for everyone to come in everyday because we did that before," he said. "We know what it's like when hardly anyone comes in. We don't really know about the middle range. We need to learn."
Cook said that Apple is committed to learning and tweaking its plans going forward, and he said that Apple plans to give everyone an extra three days off next quarter. In the U.S., employees will receive this time off on Thanksgiving week.
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Apple this week expanded the option to extend an expiring AppleCare+ plan for iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch to additional countries, including France, Italy, and Spain.
Prior to now, extended AppleCare+ coverage options for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch were limited to the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan. The three new countries have been added in an updated version of Apple's AppleCare+ support document.
In all eligible countries, if you paid upfront for an AppleCare+ plan for iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, you may be eligible to purchase new coverage that renews monthly.
Apple says that new coverage must be purchased within 30 days of when the original coverage ends, and customers can find out if they're eligible for extended coverage by going to mysupport.apple.com and following the on-screen instructions. The new coverage plan will automatically renew until it is canceled.
Except in places where local law requires it, Apple will not provide notifications that an AppleCare+ plan is about to expire, so customers must check themselves.
Apple has a separate renewal plan for customers in mainland China, who can pay annually for continued AppleCare+ coverage once their original plans expire.
AppleCare+ provides device coverage beyond the initial warranty period, plus it covers two incidents of accidental damage every 12 months, with customers paying a small deductible for repairs or replacements.
Update 7:10 p.m.: Based on Apple's support document, this article originally indicated that annual renewals of AppleCare+ for Mac were now available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Apple has, however, updated its support document again to note that Mac renewals remain exclusive to the U.S., and this article has been revised accordingly.
Apple today published a seven minute video positioned as a tour of the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro, with the walkthrough coinciding with the pre-orders that are now live.
Filmed at the Tower Theater Apple Store in Los Angeles, the tour highlights the four available sizes, camera technology like Cinematic Mode and improved low-light performance, the Ceramic Shield display and IP68 water resistance, battery life, ProMotion Display, and more.
Apple suggests the video will help users choose the iPhone that's the right fit for them.
Find the right iPhone for you. Let's walk through the new iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max as we explore the incredible new features, sizes, and colors available.
The iPhone 13 and 13 Pro models are available for purchase as of today, and pricing starts at $699 for the iPhone 13 mini and goes up to a $1099 starting price for the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Customers who pre-order today can expect to get their devices starting on Friday, September 24.
Apple is planning to use an LTPS OLED display for at least one of the four models planned for the iPhone 14 series next year, according to Korean website The Elec, meaning that at least one iPhone 14 model would still have a 60Hz display.
The new iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max unveiled this week feature ProMotion displays with a variable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, resulting in smoother appearing content when watching video, gaming, or scrolling text. The devices are able to offer this feature because they are equipped with lower-power LTPO OLED displays, whereas the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini have LTPS OLED displays without support for ProMotion.
The lack of ProMotion on at least one iPhone 14 model wouldn't be too surprising, as Apple may keep the feature limited to the Pro models next year to maintain differentiation with the standard iPhone 14 models. Rumors suggest Apple plans to launch four iPhone 14 models next year, including a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, with no iPhone 14 mini.
The report adds that LG Display is aiming to start supplying Apple with LTPO OLED displays in 2022, which would give Apple another supplier of ProMotion displays for iPhones beyond Samsung, which is currently its exclusive supplier.
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