MacRumors

We're still a year away from ever seeing the iPhone 14 and not even a month since the ‌iPhone‌ 13. Despite that, the rumors are already floating on what Apple has planned for next year. The latest rumor suggests that for the ‌iPhone‌ 14, Apple plans to include a whopping 2TB storage option.

With the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max, Apple added a 1TB storage option for customers, the largest ever storage configuration offered on an ‌iPhone‌. The new option was due primarily to new camera features, such as ProRes for videos launching later this year. ProRes videos, in addition to 4K 60FPS videos shot on the ‌iPhone‌, consume significantly more storage than regular videos.

Apple has marketed the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max as the ultimate tool for videographers and cinematographers, and the 1TB choice is inherently tailored towards the most professional of users.

With the ‌iPhone‌ 14 next year, Apple is settings its eyes on making its Pro iPhones even more "Pro" by offering a 2TB option, according to a sketchy rumor from Chinese site MyDrivers. The rumor, which should be viewed with a considerable amount of skepticism, claims that Apple will adopt QLC flash storage for next year's ‌iPhone‌ and that thanks to the newer storage technology, it will increase capacity to 2TB.

A report earlier this week from DigiTimes was the first to suggest Apple would be adopting new storage technologies for next year's ‌iPhone‌, but that report lacked mention of a 2TB option in specific.

Apple doesn't regularly offer new storage configurations, and when it does, as evident this year by new camera features, it has a reason in mind. Next year's ‌iPhone‌ 14 is expected to focus more heavily on a complete redesign that removes the notch rather than concentrate on camera upgrades. Regardless, camera improvements are a given for every new ‌iPhone‌. Still, there's no indication to think that the ‌iPhone‌ 14 will expand camera capabilities to the extent that a new 2TB storage configuration is practically warranted.

For the ‌iPhone‌ 14 lineup, Apple plans two 6.1 and 6.7-inch models, meaning the end of the smaller 5.4-inch form factor, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. On the higher-end ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max models, 6.1 and 6.7-inches in size, respectively, Apple's rumored to include a hole-punch design for Face ID rather than a notch. There's also the possibility of the higher-end models featuring titanium bodies and a vapor chamber thermal system.

Catch up on everything we know so far about next year's ‌iPhone‌ using our dedicated guide.

Update: Apple has announced that Apple Watch Series 7 pre-orders will begin on Friday, October 8, checking off one of the items we thought we might see at an October Apple event.

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Following Apple's "California Streaming" special event in September, which saw the unveiling of the new iPad mini, Apple Watch Series 7, and iPhone 13 lineup, the company is broadly expected to host another event this month, where it could reveal a number of long-awaited products and key pieces of information.

Apple's last event took place on Tuesday, September 14, but the reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, who often reveals accurate insights into Apple's plans, has said that the company has another event planned to take place within the next several weeks.

The timing of Apple's annual Back to School promotion may also have hinted at an event on Tuesday, October 12, but we won't know for sure until invites are sent out, which could happen within the next few weeks. Here's what Apple is likely to reveal:

Redesigned MacBook Pro

The biggest unveiling of the event is expected to be the much-anticipated redesigned MacBook Pro models. Apple introduced a 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with the M1 chip last November as an entry-level model, but the high-end 13-inch and 16-inch models still have Intel chips and have not been updated for almost two years.

The new machines are expected to come in 14 and 16-inch sizes, feature new designs with improved thermals, brigher mini-LED displays with higher resolutions and improved contrast, and a more powerful variant of the ‌M1‌ chip called the "M1X" with support for more RAM.

The ‌MacBook Pro‌ is expected to regain some of its ports, such as HDMI, an SD card reader, and MagSafe for faster charging, and restore the physical function keys in place of the Touch Bar. There may also be other improvements such as a 1080p webcam, improved battery lift, and a "High Power Mode." For more information, see our detailed guide.

Redesigned Mac mini

Apple is believed to be working on a new high-end version of the Mac mini to launch this fall. Apple introduced an entry-level Mac mini with the ‌M1‌ chip last November, but it still needs to replace the high-end Intel versions that are currently in the lineup.

The new ‌Mac mini‌ is rumored to feature the more powerful "M1X" chip and a new design with additional ports, a magnetic power cable, and a "plexiglass" top.

AirPods 3

Apple's third-generation AirPods have been believed to be ready for release for months now, with counterfeit clones first appearing way back in April.

The updated earbuds are expected to feature a design that mirrors AirPods Pro, a shorter, wider charging case, a next-generation wireless chip, force sensor controls, a pressure relief system, and Qi charging as standard.

It would also not be unreasonable to expect the new ‌AirPods‌ to feature improved sound quality and better battery life, but there have been no rumors about these aspects thus far. The third-generation AirPods are believed to already be in mass production and are expected to be released before the end of the year.

macOS Monterey Release Date

With iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 now released to the public, macOS Monterey is the last major OS update Apple has left to release this year.

Apple usually waits a little longer to release new versions of macOS, but following months of beta testing, the preview of macOS Monterey appears to be reaching its final versions. The release of the new OS could line up with the launch of the new ‌MacBook Pro‌ and ‌Mac mini‌ models, and Apple could announce its release date at the potential October event.

Apple Watch Series 7 Release Date

While Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 7 at its event in September, detailing a new design with larger displays, improved durability, and faster charging, the company did not provide any information about when the new smartwatch is set to go on sale other than simply suggesting that it would be later this fall.

It was rumored prior to the announcement of the Series 7 that Apple was experiencing some manufacturing problems with the new device that could delay its launch, with mass production reportedly ramping up at the end of September. This now appears to have been the case, with no date for the launch of the product having been announced. With almost all of the details about the Series 7 now revealed, Apple could pin down dates for the Apple Watch Series 7's pre-orders and launch at its next event.

The third-generation AirPods are still on track to be launched before the end of this year, despite their lack of appearance during the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7 event earlier last month, according to DigiTimes.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported the weekend before Apple's September 14 "California streaming" event that the third-generation AirPods would make an appearance during the fully digital event. While that did not happen, the new AirPods are rumored to already be in mass production, and Apple is seemingly gearing up to launch them before the end of the year.

The new AirPods will be the first significant update to the AirPods lineup since the AirPods Pro three years ago. The new AirPods are expected to feature an updated design that takes inspiration from the higher-end ‌AirPods Pro‌ but lacking in "Pro" features. Rumors are unclear on whether the new AirPods will feature silicone ear tips or not, as leaked images and renders depict both possibilities.

Apple announced its ‌AirPods Pro‌ via a press release in 2019, and besides their initial announcement on stage in 2016, AirPods have not yet been given dedicated airtime during an Apple event. Apple could announce the new third-generation AirPods via a press release in the coming weeks, or alternatively include them in its rumored second event for the fall, expected to take place later this month or in November.

Apple supplier Foxconn has agreed to buy a former General Motors factory in Ohio, a move that potentially puts it in a better position to assemble cars for Apple, should the tech giant choose to formally enter the automotive sector in the future (via Bloomberg).

The purchase is part of a $280 million deal Foxconn has agreed with embattled automaker Lordstown Motors, which will sell the factory to the Taiwanese company for $230 million after buying it from GM for just $20 million two years ago.

Under the terms of the deal, Foxconn will also buy $50 million worth of common stock in Lordstown Motors and will assemble the automaker's Endurance electric pickup truck. Foxconn plans to start mass producing the vehicle in April, according to Bloomberg's sources.

Foxconn said in August that it plans to begin construction of all-electric vehicle plants in the United States and Thailand this year, with the aim of being operational by 2023.

The Lordstown deal is one of Foxconn's biggest vehicle-related investments it has made over the past two years. Foxconn has yet to commercially release any vehicle following the debut of its EV platform last year, but its purchase of the Ohio plant means it won't have to build capacity from scratch, which could help the iPhone manufacturer in any attempt to court Apple's business if it enters the market, although that isn't expected for at least several years.

Apple is widely reported to be working on its own vehicle and is thought to be exploring the potential for third-party companies to help it launch the Apple Car. One report vaguely referenced Foxconn as a potential candidate for the ‌Apple Car‌'s production, but Apple is also looking at other possible suppliers.

Apple reportedly wants to ensure that the battery used in the ‌Apple Car‌ is produced in the United States, and that sentiment could extend to other auto parts, which could work in Foxconn's favor if it's able to demonstrate proof to Apple of vehicle manufacturing expertise.

The Apple Watch Series 7 will ship in mid-October with pre-orders to begin "as early as next week," claims leaker Jon Prosser, citing sources "familiar with the release."

Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 7 at its September "California Streaming" event alongside the iPhone 13 models, but at the time, said the new Apple Watch would ship later in the fall.

There has been no official word on when the Series 7 will be available, but most Apple Watch Series 6 models have been sold out in the United States for a couple of weeks now. Rumors suggest the Apple Watch Series 7 was delayed because of manufacturing issues caused by the complexity of the device, which pushed back mass production.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in early September that Apple had resolved the production issues and that manufacturing would ramp up in mid to late September.

Prosser says that Apple has started "informing the press" inquiring about review units to expect more information on the Series 7 "in the coming weeks," with no other information available. Prosser has a mixed track record when it comes to leaks, particularly with launch date predictions, so this information should be viewed with some skepticism.

Still, mid-October is a reasonable guess and timeline for the Apple Watch Series 7 launch, especially as we are still expecting one more event this year that could take place in mid to late October.

The Apple Watch Series 7 did not get the design changes we were expecting, including the flat-edged design described by Prosser earlier this year. There is a redesign with a larger display, slimmer borders, and new 41mm and 45mm size options, but the general curved design of the Apple Watch remains the same.

The Apple Watch Series 7 does not feature new health tracking capabilities, but Apple improved durability and added a fast charging feature. Pricing on the Apple Watch Series 7 will start at $399.

Apple today seeded a macOS Big Sur 11.6.1 beta to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after the launch of macOS Big Sur 11.6.

Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.

According to Apple's release notes, the update "improves the security of macOS." It's not clear why it's being released as a beta rather than to all users, but there's also a developer beta of a security update available for macOS Catalina as well.

Apple is offering customers in India free AirPods with the purchase of an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 12 mini in celebration of the upcoming Diwali festival, which starts on November 4.

Apple's promotion will kick off on Thursday, October 7, and last year, it was highly popular with supplies selling out in just a couple of hours. According to Apple, the deal will be available from October 7 to November 4, though it's not clear how long supplies will hold up this year.

There is limited stock available on a per model basis, and Apple says that the promotion will only be available while stock lasts, so those in India hoping to take advantage of the deal should order early on October 7.

Customers in India can get the standard AirPods with Charging Case free with the promotion savings of INR 14900, or can pay extra to upgrade to the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case or the AirPods Pro. Pricing on the ‌iPhone‌ 12 starts at INR 59900, but monthly payments are available, as are discounts with older device trade-ins.

(Thanks, Purav!)

All four iPhone 13 models still ship with EarPods in the box in France due to a law in the country that requires all smartphones to include a "hands-free kit" in order to protect children under 14 years of age from potential electromagnetic radiation.

Apple's website in France confirms the inclusion of EarPods with a Lightning connector with all iPhone 13 models sold in the country, as was the case with iPhone 12 models. To accommodate this, Apple ships the iPhones in two boxes in France, with the standard iPhone box placed inside a larger white box that contains the EarPods.

Starting in October 2020, Apple stopped including EarPods and a charger in the box with all new iPhones that it sells. The company said omitting these accessories helps to reduce carbon emissions and avoids the mining and use of rare-earth elements. Apple added that many customers have switched to wireless headphones like AirPods. Outside of France, all new iPhones only include a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box.

Apple continues to sell EarPods separately, with pricing set at $19 in the United States.

We've teamed up with Flexispot to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Kana Pro Bamboo Standing Desk, which is the perfect work from home accessory and a great complement to any Apple product workflow. Flexispot makes a whole range of standing desks, ergonomic chairs, and desk bikes.

Available with a rectangular or curved design, the Kana Pro Bamboo Standing Desk has a simple, clean look that works with many office designs. It measures in at 48 inches long by 24 inches wide, with an adjustable frame that comes in white, black, or gray.

As the name suggests, the desktop is made from bamboo, which Flexispot says has twice the durability of ordinary wood, plus it's been protected with a lacquer coating to provide protection from scratches, dings, and water damage. The height of the desk can be adjusted from 23.6 inches to 49.2 inches high using the dual-motor lifting system, and it can hold up to 275 pounds, which is enough for a desktop computer setup with multiple displays.

The desk's controls are located on the right side, and there are simple touch controls that can be used to adjust the height. There are up/down movements and four memory slots for saving favorite positions. At the right side, there's a USB-A port that can be used for charging, and an LED screen lets you know the height of the desk.

An anti-collision feature aims to detect and prevent collisions with the desk before they happen, and a child lock option locks the height in a certain position until it's deactivated so children cannot play with the controls.

At the bottom, there's a built-in cable tray with a groove that's meant to hide cables below the desk to keep them organized and out of sight, and there's an optional Socket Outlet that adds three sockets, a USB-A port, and a USB-C port right to the top of the desktop.

We have one Kana Pro Bamboo Standing Desk to give away to MacRumors readers. 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 MacRumors Facebook 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 30) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 7. The winner will be chosen randomly on October 7 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.

Apple today updated its list of vintage and obsolete products to add the 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch models to the vintage list, marking the first time that the Apple Watch has been included.

The first Apple Watch was introduced more than six years ago in April 2015, with the "Series 1" replacement and Series 2 upgrade following in 2016. Apple has continued on updating the Apple Watch each year, and in 2021, we're expecting the Apple Watch Series 7 to see a release sometime in October.

The original 2015 Apple Watch now qualifies for Apple's "vintage" list, which includes devices that Apple stopped distributing for sale more than five years ago and less than seven years ago.

For most products, the vintage designation means that they're no longer eligible for repairs at the Genius Bar in Apple retail stores or from Apple Authorized Service Providers, but Apple does offer extended repairs of some vintage products and in locations where extended repairs are required by law.

In another couple of years, the original Apple Watch will move on to the obsolete list and hardware service will be entirely discontinued.

Alongside the new iPhone 13 models, Apple introduced an updated version of the MagSafe Wallet that has Find My built in. The new MagSafe Wallet is designed to be easier to find should it slip off of an ‌iPhone‌ or fall out of a pocket, but some new ‌MagSafe‌ Wallet owners are unable to get ‌Find My‌ to connect.

According to a long thread on Reddit, affected users do not get the proper ‌Find My‌ pop up when attaching a ‌MagSafe‌ Wallet to an ‌iPhone‌. The issue seems to be impacting ‌iPhone‌ 13 models in particular, but there are also some complaints from ‌iPhone‌ 12 owners.

The ‌MagSafe‌ Wallet is meant to connect to ‌Find My‌ automatically when attached to an ‌iPhone‌, as we demonstrate in our hands-on video below, but it simply does not work for some people.

Some users have been directed by Apple Support to Erase Network Settings and have had success with that method, but others say that this method does not work.

I had 3 calls with customer support and we were able to get it working for my iPhone 13 pro max. This is what worked: they told me to go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase > Erase Network Settings. The phone restarted, and after restarting and attaching the wallet to the back of my phone, the animation popped up and wallet is now in my Find My app!

Reddit user EndlessApology was told by Apple Support to take more drastic measures and put his ‌iPhone‌ into Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode to reinstall the OS using a Mac.

Got my own Wallets today and immediately had this issue with both my 13 Pro & Pro Max. Spoken to Apple tech, and followed what they said and it fixed it. Put the phones into DFU mode, and reinstall the OS and Firmware. Set the phone up again without doing any recovery. Once set back up, pop the wallet on and it'll pop up after about 5 seconds, and let you pair to Find My. After that, if you need to, reset the phone on the device itself, and restore from back up in set up. Sorted :)

DFU mode has been largely successful for most of the Reddit users who have attempted to fix the issue, but it is a huge hassle that shouldn't be necessary for a simple accessory pairing process. Based on the Reddit thread, Apple is aware of the issue, so it's possible that a fix will be coming in a future update.

• How to Enter DFU Mode on iPhone 13 Models

For now, users who want to get their ‌MagSafe‌ Wallets working right away should try the Reset Network Settings option and if that doesn't work, the DFU method to reinstall iOS 15.

iOS 15 adoption has reached an estimated 19.3% since the software update was released September 20, according to mobile analytics company Mixpanel.

Mixpanel measures iOS adoption based on visits to websites and apps that use its mobile analytics SDKs, so the data is not official. Apple has yet to share iOS 15 adoption stats, having last reported an 85% adoption rate for iOS 14 back in June.

iOS 15 adoption appears to remain slower than iOS 14 adoption so far, and there are likely several reasons for that, including Apple providing iOS 14 users with the option to continue receiving important security updates, several iOS 15 features being delayed, and iOS 15 suffering from a handful of early bugs that still need to be fixed.

For example, Apple said an issue preventing some iPhone 13 users from using the Unlock with Apple Watch feature will be fixed in an upcoming software update. The feature is designed to let you unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask, but some users have encountered an "Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch" error message.

There's another iOS 15 bug where performing an iCloud Backup can result in photos saved from an iMessage conversation that is later deleted to disappear from the Photos app, intermittent touchscreen issues on iPhone 13 models, and other problems.

Apple is currently beta testing iOS 15.1, which includes a fix for the Unlock with Apple Watch bug at a minimum, but there is no timeframe for the software update's release. It's quite possible that Apple will opt to release a smaller update such as iOS 15.0.1 to more quickly address some of the bugs and security vulnerabilities that have surfaced.

In celebration of International Podcast Day, Apple today revealed the most popular free and paid Apple Podcasts Subscriptions worldwide from June 15 through September 15.

Apple said Top Subscriptions is ranked in order of total subscribed listeners worldwide over the three-month period and includes both individual shows and channels with multiple shows, while Top Free Channels is ranked in the same way but does not include any fully paid or "freemium" channels with a mix of free and paid content.

Top Subscriptions

1. Wondery+ from Wondery
2. Luminary from Luminary
3. Sword and Scale +PLUS Light from Incongruity
4. TenderfootPlus+ from Tenderfoot TV
5. PushNik from Pushkin Industries
6. QCODE+ from QCODE
7. Imperative Premium Series from Imperative Entertainment
8. Podimo Deutschland from Podimo
9. U Up? from Betches Media
10. The Handoff from CNN

Top Free Channels

1. The New York Times
2. audiochuck
3. iHeartPodcast Network
4. Barstool Sports
5. Dateline NBC
6. ABC News
7. TED Audio Collective
8. ESPN
9. Crooked Media
10. Ramble

Apple Podcasts Subscriptions launched in June and allows users to subscribe to premium podcasts with a variety of benefits, such as ad-free listening, access to additional content, and early or exclusive access to new series.

"Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and channels launched just a few months ago and already listeners around the world are enjoying spectacular new shows and exclusive benefits from a variety of incredible creators such as Wondery, Luminary, and now Marvel Entertainment," said Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music and Beats.

Apple today released a standalone "Device Support Update" for macOS Big Sur. The minor update ensures proper updating and restoring for iOS and iPadOS devices with a Mac, according to Apple, but no further details were provided.

It's likely that the update improves Finder support for newly released devices, including iPhone 13 models, the new iPad mini, and the ninth-generation iPad.

The update can be installed by clicking on the Apple logo in the macOS menu bar in the top-left corner of the screen, clicking on About This Mac, and clicking on Software Update. The update is listed with a file size of 195.6MB.