Apple today announced a new Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch band, watch face, and wallpaper.
The band features a fluorescent design inspired by multiple pride flags with a laser-etched lug that reads "PRIDE 2024." Black, Hispanic, and Latin communities, as well as those impacted by HIV/AIDS, are represented on the band by the black and brown colors, while transgender and non-binary individuals and represented by the pink, light blue, and white colors.
The band is accompanied by a new Pride Radiance watch face and wallpaper for iOS and iPadOS, in which beams of light glow against a dark background and stack on top of each other. On the Apple Watch, the colors trace each numeral of the watch face and react in real time as the wearer moves their wrist based on gyroscope input. On the iPhone and iPad, beams of color spell out "Pride" and dynamically move when the user unlocks the device. For the first time, the Pride watch face and wallpapers can be customized to show specific colors representing LGBTQ+ communities.
The new braided Solo Loop will be available starting May 22. The new Pride Radiance watch face and iPhone and iPad wallpaper will be available "soon" with the release of watchOS 10.5, iOS 17.5, and iPadOS 17.5.
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.
Amazon today has Apple's AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case on sale, with up to $49 in savings on these earbuds. For the AirPods 3, this is the first time we've tracked a discount on the device since February.
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.
The AirPods 2 are on sale for $79.99, down from $129.00, and the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case are on sale for $139.99, down from $169.00. This discount on the AirPods 2 beats the sale we've been tracking over the past few weeks by about $10.
Shipping times have started slipping on the AirPods 3, with estimates currently given for May 17-22 for most residences in the United States. If you're looking for a Pro model, Amazon also has the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C on sale for $179.99, down from $249.00.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
Apple will hold its first media event of 2024 on Tuesday, May 7, at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time through a live stream. Titled "Let Loose," the event is expected to see the unveiling of new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, along with updated Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard accessories.
There are several ways to watch the May 7 event, with details listed below. We've also included a useful guide on when the event will take place in your particular time zone.
Apple Events Website
With the Apple Events website, you can watch the event live on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, PC, or any other device with a web browser. The Apple Events website works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and other main browsers.
Just navigate to www.apple.com/apple-events/ using a web browser at the appropriate time to watch. You can visit the site now to add an event reminder to your calendar.
YouTube
Apple also plans to stream the event live on YouTube, which is perhaps the easiest and most efficient way to watch because the YouTube live stream can be viewed on every platform where YouTube is available, which is pretty much all platforms, from smartphones and tablets to consoles and smart TVs.
Apple has posted a placeholder for the May 7 event on YouTube, and you can visit it now to set an event reminder through YouTube.
Apple TV App
Apple used to have a dedicated Apple Events app on the Apple TV, but ahead of WWDC in June 2020, it folded into the Apple TV app. On event day, there will be a prominent Apple TV app section dedicated to the live stream, which can be watched on any device where the Apple TV app is available.
This includes the Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and some smart TVs. If you have an Apple TV, the Apple TV app is one of the best ways to watch the event live. Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV app with the new event as of yet, but it should be added soon.
Event Time Zones
Apple's "Let Loose" event will take place at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is an earlier start than usual, so keep that in mind if you're used to operating on Apple's more traditional event schedule. Event times in other time zones are listed below.
Honolulu, Hawaii — 4:00 a.m. HST
Anchorage, Alaska — 6:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 7:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 7:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 7:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 8:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 9:00 a.m. CDT
New York, New York — 10:00 a.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 10:00 a.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 11:00 a.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 11:00 a.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 3:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 4:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 4:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 4:00 p.m. SAST
Helsinki, Finland — 5:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 5:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 6:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 7:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 9:00 p.m. WIB
Shanghai, China — 10:00 p.m. CST
Singapore — 10:00 p.m. SGT
Perth, Australia — 10:00 p.m. AWST
Hong Kong — 10:00 p.m. HKT
Seoul, South Korea — 11:00 p.m. KST
Tokyo, Japan — 11:00 p.m. JST
Adelaide, Australia — 11:30 p.m. ACST
Sydney, Australia — 12:00 midnight AEST
Auckland, New Zealand — 2:00 a.m. NZST next day
MacRumors Coverage
If you're not able to watch or just want to follow along with us as we watch the event unfold, visit MacRumors.com for our liveblog or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for our live tweet coverage.
Both the MacRumors site and our X (Twitter) account are excellent ways to discuss the new announcements with other Apple enthusiasts as Apple unveils new products. Later in the day and throughout the week, we'll also have much more in-depth coverage of all of Apple's announcements, so be sure to stay tuned.
It's been a long time since the last one, but an Apple event is finally right around the corner! While it's anticipated to be a fairly short pre-recorded affair, we're expecting to see the first updates to the iPad lineup in over a year and half, so make sure to tune in to see what Apple has in store.
Other news and rumors this week included a couple of product introductions from Apple's Beats brand, a roundup of rumors about updates to Apple's stock apps coming in iOS 18, and more changes to Apple's policies in the EU related to the Digital Markets Act, so read on below for all the details!
What to Expect From the May 7 Apple Event
Apple's first event of 2024 kicks off on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, and we've put together our usual pre-event guide outlining what we're expecting to see on Tuesday. Several new products are expected to be unveiled, including two new iPad Pro models, two new iPad Air models, an updated Apple Pencil, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard for iPads.
One rumor was particularly surprising this week, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said there is a "strong possibility" that the new iPad Pro models will be equipped with Apple's next-generation M4 chip, rather than the M3 chip that debuted in the MacBook Pro and iMac six months ago. Gurman believes the M4 chip will have an upgraded Neural Engine that is able to process artificial intelligence (AI) tasks faster.
While it would be unprecedented for an M-series chip to debut in an iPad before a Mac, there is some evidence to suggest that the rumor might be true, so check out our story for more details about this possibility.
Beats Solo Buds Launching in June for Just $79.99
Apple unveiled two new Beats headphone models this week, including the on-ear Beats Solo 4 and the compact Beats Solo Buds.
Launching in June, the Beats Solo Buds are particularly interesting given their competitive $79.99 price point. Key features include ear tips with four size options, up to 18 hours of battery life, a USB-C carrying case, and Find My support on iOS and Android. However, the Solo Buds lack active noise cancellation, and the carrying case does not have a built-in battery.
In other Beats news, LeBron James and Daniel Ricciardo have been seen in public carrying an unreleased speaker very clearly descended from the discontinued Beats Pill family, so it looks like the popular portable speaker may be making a comeback in the not too distant future.
iOS 18 Rumored to Add New Features to These 16 Apps on Your iPhone
Apple's annual developers conference WWDC is now under six weeks away, and that means the iOS 18 beta is just around the corner.
This news comes after the EU ruled that the iPad is a "gatekeeper" platform. Apple has six months to comply with the Digital Markets Act on the iPad, so alternative app marketplaces, support for web browser engines other than WebKit, and more will likely be available by iPadOS 18.1.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Some Swift Student Challenge winners today began receiving congratulatory certificates from Apple, with one Distinguished Winner sharing a images of the letter he received from Apple.
We're honored to recognize you as a Distinguished Winner of the 2024 Swift Student Challenge. Your app playground stands among the best of the best in this year's challenge, demonstrating your creativity, passion for coding, and commitment to building great apps.
You've truly inspired us and we can't wait to see what you do next!
Apple this year picked a total of 350 winners, including 50 Distinguished Winners. Winners are meant to receive AirPods Max headphones, but Apple appears to be sending that reward in a separate shipment.
While all 350 Swift Student Challenge winners were eligible to apply to attend Apple's June 10 WWDC special event at Apple Park, the Distinguished Winners are being invited to Cupertino for a three-day Apple Park event that also includes time to interface with Apple engineers.
Apple's annual Swift Student Challenge tasks students with creating an innovative coding project using the Swift Playgrounds app. Projects are judged based on technical accomplishment, creativity of ideas, and the content of the written responses that explain the project.
Apple is set to hold its first event of the year next Tuesday, and the focus will be on the iPad. The iPad Pro and iPad Air models are set to be updated, and Apple also plans to refresh some of its iPad accessories.
This guide features details on everything that we're expecting to see at the "Let Loose" event that will take place on May 7.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro models will be the star of Apple's event, featuring the first larger form factor OLED displays. OLED display technology will bring deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency.
Apple is said to be using the "best OLED panels on the market" with higher brightness, extended battery life, 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, and a long lifetime for the OLED technology. OLED displays have pixels that can be controlled individually, so high dynamic range content looks more realistic and true-to-life.
The iPad Pro models will be available in 11.1-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, and both models will be thinner with slimmed down bezels. The 11.1-inch iPad Pro is expected to be 5.1mm thick, down from 5.9mm, while the 12.9-inch model will be 5mm thick, down from 6.4mm. The tablets will be roughly the same size as the current models, with small changes to the length and width.
It's not entirely clear which M-series chip the iPad Pro models will use, and there is a possibility that these will be the first devices equipped with the AI-focused next-generation M4 chip. If that doesn't happen, Apple will use the M3 that's in the iMac and MacBook Air. Either way, it'll mark a massive improvement.
Along with slimmed down bezels, the iPad Pro's front-facing camera is expected to be relocated to the side of the device rather than the top, so the camera will be upright when the iPad is in a landscape orientation. That makes more sense for video calls and filming done when the iPad is used with a keyboard.
There have been rumors of possible MagSafe charging support and up to 4TB of storage, and we could also see prices go up. Multiple sources have said that the OLED technology will make the 2024 iPad Pro models more expensive, but just how much more expensive remains to be seen. Rumors have ranged from $160 more to $700 more.
The iPad Air will get a refresh alongside the iPad Pro, and for the first time, Apple is splitting the Air lineup and introducing two models. The first iPad Air will be a direct successor to the current version, measuring in at 10.9 inches. The second model will come in at 12.9 inches, similar to the iPad Pro.
Offering the iPad Air in two screen sizes will allow customers who want a large screen at a more affordable price than the iPad Pro to have that option. The 10.9 and 12.9-inch iPad Air models will not have the same OLED screen technology Apple is bringing to the iPad Pro, instead using LCD, and that will keep costs lower.
We are not expecting design changes to the iPad Air, except for the new, larger size. Both models will look like the iPad Air 4, featuring an edge-to-edge display with slim bezels and an aluminum chassis with flat, rounded edges. The iPad Air will be thicker than the iPad Pro, and it will have thicker bezels.
Leaked iPad Air images point to a rear camera with a protruding pill-shaped camera bump that's similar to the design we're expecting to see with the iPhone 16. The front camera could be repositioned so that it will be at the top of the iPad Air when it's in landscape mode, allowing it to be in the right orientation for video calls when it's used with a keyboard. The current version has the camera at the top when it is in portrait mode.
While we won't see notable design updates, Apple may introduce new color options. The existing model comes in a range of pastel shades, so Apple could tweak the color selection.
The iPad Pro and iPad Air will be accompanied by an updated version of the Apple Pencil, which Apple might call the Apple Pencil 3. It isn't yet clear if there will be design changes, but it is expected to be the first Apple Pencil that supports haptic feedback.
How that haptic feedback will be used remains to be seen, but code in iOS 17.5 suggested there will be a "squeeze" gesture that could do things like activate different tools and settings in apps.
There were rumors of interchangeable magnetic tips at one point, but we don't know if that's actually a feature that's coming or an inaccurate rumor. Deeper integration with the Vision Pro is a possibility, and it could perhaps work with drawing apps that support visionOS. There's also a chance that we could see the Apple Pencil come in both black and white rather than just white.
Magic Keyboard
Apple plans to overhaul the Magic Keyboard, introducing a sturdier frame made from aluminum rather than the polyurethane material used for the current version. While the frame and area around the keyboard will be made from aluminum, the exterior shell will still be made from silicone.
With the aluminum build, an iPad and Magic Keyboard combo will more closely resemble a MacBook, both in terms of looks and functionality. There will be a larger trackpad that is similar to the trackpad on a MacBook, so the keyboard will offer a MacBook-like typing and navigating experience.
Apple is using more premium materials for the new Magic Keyboard, so it could be more expensive. The current model is priced starting at $299 for the 11-inch version. The new Magic Keyboard is likely to work with both the upcoming iPad Air and iPad Pro models as they are similar in size (11.1 and 12.9 inches for the iPad Pro and 10.9 and 12.9 inches for the iPad Air).
Other Accessories
Apple refreshes its selection of Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, and iPad cases regularly, introducing new color options. We could see new summer colors for many accessories, and Apple will need to update its iPad cases to accommodate the new designs.
Vision Pro Expansion
Rumors suggest that Apple will expand the Vision Pro headset to additional countries before WWDC, and we're getting short on time. We could see Apple bring the Vision Pro to countries like the UK, Canada, China, and more as part of the May 7 event.
How to Watch
The "Let Loose" event is set to take place on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website and on YouTube, plus there is an option to watch it on the Apple TV.
Those unable to watch or those who want to follow along with MacRumors can visit MacRumors.com for the liveblog or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for live tweet coverage.
This week's best deals include great discounts on both Apple products and third-party accessories, ranging from all-time low prices on Apple Pencil and the Studio Display, to steep markdowns on Anker's popular USB-C charging accessories. You'll also find OWC's ongoing discount on its best Thunderbolt docks and hubs.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
OWC
What's the deal? Get $150 off OWC's 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock
OWC is still hosting a big sale on its docks, hubs, and other Mac accessories, highlighted by the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $129.99, down from $279.99. This accessory features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Mini DisplayPort port, one gigabit Ethernet port, one S/PDIF digital audio output port, and one 3.5mm stereo audio input/output port.
Anker and Eufy
What's the deal? Save on Anker and Eufy accessories
This week we also started tracking discounts on Anker and Eufy accessories on Amazon, including savings for Prime members on Eufy's Find My-compatible SmartTrack Bluetooth trackers. You can find the full list of items on sale in our original post.
This week also saw numerous discounts across the AirPods lineup, including the AirPods 2 for $89.00 and AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C for $189.99. The Pro model did briefly hit $179.99 earlier in the week, but that all-time low price has since expired.
Studio Display
What's the deal? Get $299 off Apple Studio Display
Amazon this week introduced the first discount on the Apple Studio Display that we've seen in months, including $299 off both Standard and Nano-texture Glass models.
Amazon has the Apple Pencil 2 for the record low price of $79.00, down from $129.00. The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later).
Amazon has the 1-Pack for $24.99 and the 4-Pack for $79.99. These are both solid second-best prices on each AirTag model, and they're the first time we've seen notable AirTag discounts in a few weeks.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
While Apple's upcoming iPad Pro models have been expected to feature the M3 chip for over a year, recent reports have unexpectedly suggested that the new devices will instead contain the as-yet-unannounced M4 chip and that a key new feature of the processor will be an upgraded Neural Engine optimized for AI tasks. Introducing the M4 chip in an iPad and only six months after the previous chip generation would be unprecedented moves, but there is evidence to suggest that it is a plausible possibility.
Apple's "Let loose" event is expected to focus on the unveiling of redesigned iPad Pro models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, a high-end Magic Keyboard accessory, and a new Apple Pencil. We also talk through the three other announcements that Apple could have in store for the event.
The special event will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the announcement of Apple's "Let loose" event.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Casemaking molds for the iPhone 16 lineup appear to show a thinner design for the attachment ring magnets and for the single alignment magnet, relative to equivalent molds for the iPhone 15 lineup. The report suggests MagSafe accessory manufacturers may need to adapt their products to fit the new system, but this seems very unlikely as any updated MagSafe system will almost certainly be backwards compatible.
Presuming the thinner magnets depicted in these molds are accurate, it's unclear if there are additional changes to MagSafe in the upcoming iPhone lineup that could extend to the charging technology. One rumor has, however, indicated the iPhone 16 lineup could see increased MagSafe charging speeds with support for up to 20 watts compared to the current standard of 15 watts.
Both you and the other person must have an iPhone 15 in order to use Find Your Friends. Similar to an AirTag, the feature supports Precision Finding, which provides an on-screen directional arrow and exact distance to the other person's location.
The iPhone 16 Pro is set to succeed 2023's iPhone 15 Pro, introducing over 25 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones. With many users adopting two-year upgrade cycles, plenty of iPhone 14 Pro owners will be looking to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro later this year, so this guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations based on rumors.
In 2022, Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 Pro as the successor to the popular iPhone 13 Pro, introducing an always-on display, the Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel camera, the A16 Bionic chip, longer battery life, and more. Two years later, the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to offer over 50 upgrades. All of the changes the iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to feature compared to their 2022 predecessor are listed below, using information from reliable sources that we have previously covered. We will update this article as more rumors emerge in the coming months.
Design
The design of the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to be a relatively significant evolution over the iPhone 14 Pro, iterating on the titanium frame and slightly rounded edges introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro models last year.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Surgical-grade stainless steel chassis with squared-off edges
Aerospace-grade titanium chassis with contoured edges
Ring/Silent switch
Action button
Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing
New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing
More repairable design
Lightning port
USB-C port
Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple color options
Black Titanium/Space Black, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Titanium Gray, and potentially Rose Gold color options
Dimensions
To accommodate larger displays, both iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to grow in height and width. In addition to last year's increase in depth, the devices are due to be considerably larger, but with a notable reduction in weight thanks to the adoption of a titanium frame.
Both iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the iPhone 16 Pro Max to be the biggest iPhone ever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store, in addition to last year's slimmer bezels, making for a noticeable overall display upgrade.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
6.1- or 6.7-inch display
6.3- or 6.9-inch display
Slimmer borders around the display
More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology
Performance
The iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, including a 3nm Apple silicon chip and 33% more memory.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
A16 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N4P" 5nm process)
A18 Pro chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process)
16-core Neural Engine
Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support new AI features
Dedicated AV1 decoder
6GB memory
8GB memory
Connectivity
Connectivity is also due to get a significant upgrade on the iPhone 16 Pro, bolstering the device's 5G, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ultra Wideband specifications.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Snapdragon X65 5G modem
Snapdragon X75 5G modem
Wi‑Fi 6 connectivity
Wi‑Fi 7 connectivity
Thread networking technology
First-generation Ultra Wideband chip
Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away)
The iPhone 16 Pro models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
"Capture Button" to trigger photography and videography features
1/1.28-inch main camera sensor
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger)
Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control
7P main camera lens
8P main camera lens
Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization
Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module
77mm maximum focal length
iPhone 16 Pro: 120mm maximum focal length iPhone 16 Pro Max: "Super" telephoto camera with focal length above 300mm
4P telephoto camera lens
5P telephoto camera lens
12-megapixel ultra wide camera
48-megapixel ultra wide camera
5P ultra wide camera lens
6P ultra wide camera lens
Anti-reflective coating on camera lenses
0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom
0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom
13mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 120mm focal length picker
48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos
24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos
Smart HDR 4
Smart HDR 5
Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control
Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
Night mode and Night mode portraits
Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits
Shoot and instantly transfer 48-megapixel ProRAW images to Mac via USB 3
Record video directly to an external drive
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording
The iPhone 16 Pro models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Setting to prevent charging above 80%
Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings
Single-layer battery technology
Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan
iPhone 14 Pro: 3,200 mAh battery iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4,323 mAh battery
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355 mAh mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery
While many of Apple's devices are rumored to receive a series of new AI-based features via software updates later this year, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to take these further with exclusive capabilities and an upgraded microphone.
Upcoming support for new AI features in iOS 18, plus a suite of device-exclusive AI features
Microphone
Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features
Improved audio quality on phone calls
USB 2 transfer speeds (up to 480Mb/s)
USB 3 transfer speeds (up to 10Gb/s, 20x faster)
DisplayPort support for up to 4K HDR video output
Up to 1TB of storage
Up to 2TB of storage
Release Date
The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to launch in the fall. Apple usually hosts an event every September to unveil new iPhone models, with launch following just over a week later. For more information about the iPhone 16 Pro models, see our comprehensive roundup.
Will It Be Worth Upgrading?
The iPhone 15 Pro was a fairly significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 Pro in 2023, introducing a titanium chassis, slimmer bezels, the Action button, and a USB-C port. The iPhone 16 Pro will build on these upgrades, offering larger displays, the Capture button, and improved cameras. With over 50 upgrades likely to be in store, many iPhone 14 Pro users will find upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro model worthwhile.
Apple system features such as Siri and Spotlight Search are set to receive new AI features that work across apps like Messages, Mail, and Safari, AppleInsider reports.
Safari will apparently gain a text summarization tool called Intelligent Browsing that allows users to generate a short summary of any webpage, and Siri could gain a similar feature that works in the Messages app. Apple's AI technology can apparently analyze message content and generate responses. Spotlight search will be enhanced with more intelligent results and improved sorting, working across apps like Contacts and Calendar to generate responses.
Crucially, Apple's AI tools run-on device, with the ability to generate responses without any cloud-based processing, to maximize privacy and minimize delays. More advanced replies and summaries seem to require sever-side processing. Apple is widely expected to unveil the suite of AI features when it previews major updates to its operating systems at WWDC in June.
In a report detailing his expectations for Apple's upcoming event, Gurman noted that there are a total of five things that the company is holding for later in the year:
AI features: While Apple may tease new AI capabilities with the next-generation iPad Pro, Apple will not "formally unveil" the features until WWDC in June where iPadOS 18 will be previewed.
Lower-cost entry-level iPad: Apple is apparently working on a version of the 10th-generation iPad introduced in 2022 with a lower price. The current model is $449, sitting in the lineup above the $329 ninth-generation iPad that remains in the lineup. The company is likely to phase out this older model and bring the price down of the redesigned model, but Gurman says this "isn't expected until the end of the year at the earliest."
Seventh-generation iPad mini: A refreshed iPad mini is said to be in the works featuring improved performance thanks to a faster chip, but it is not due to be announced next week.
New Macs: While the new iPad Pro models may contain the M4 chip, a processor that will later come to the Mac, Apple is not planning to unveil any new Mac models at the "Let loose" event.
Fourth-generation AirPods: Apple is said to be nearing production of the fourth-generation AirPods, but these will not launch until the fall alongside the iPhone 16 lineup.
Apple's "Let loose" event is expected to focus on the unveiling of redesigned iPad Pro models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, a high-end Magic Keyboard accessory, and a new Apple Pencil. It will take place on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual.
Apple is working to introduce a new fourth-generation Apple silicon chip across the Mac lineup, and while the first M4 Macs are coming in 2024, the MacBook Air won't get updated until 2025.
This guide highlights everything that we know about the next-generation MacBook Air so far.
M4 Chips
The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models were just updated with M3 chips in March 2024, so it's no surprise that they're not going to be the first devices to get the M4 chip. Apple plans to wait until 2025, so there will be about a year between the M3 and M4 chip lineups.
Rumors suggest that the M4 chip will have a focus on artificial intelligence to support AI features that are coming with the next round of software updates. Most AI talk has been about iOS 18, but Apple is expected to roll out AI integrations across its platforms. The M4 chip is expected to have a Neural Engine with more cores, with the Neural Engine handling AI and machine learning tasks. The M3 chip has a 16-core Neural Engine.
While Apple is working on M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M4 Ultra chips, the MacBook Air models are expected to get only the standard M4 chip. There will likely be at least two variants of the M4, with the difference being the number of GPU cores. For the current MacBook Air, for example, the base M3 chip has an 8-core GPU, but there is also a 10-core GPU option. The M3 CPU is the same for all versions, and that should be the case with the M4 as well.
The M4 will be built on Apples 3-nanometer process, much like the M3. There won't be as big of a performance improvement between M3 and M4 as there was between M2 and M3 because there's no change in node size, but we can still expect modest GPU and CPU speed boosts.
Design
Apple overhauled the MacBook Air design in 2022, and we're not expecting the design to be tweaked with the 2025 refresh. Apple often waits several years between design changes, and there are no rumors that there will be a refreshed look.
Apple is likely to stick with the 15.3 and 13.6-inch size options, and we can expect to see the same flat, MacBook Pro-style body with Force Touch trackpad, and display with notch. As of now, it looks like the 2025 MacBook Air refresh will be focused on internal updates.
Launch Date
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the MacBook Air will get an update in the spring of 2025. Spring starts on March 20, 2025, and ends on June 20, 2025.
Apple today held its earnings call for the second fiscal quarter of 2024 (first calendar quarter), with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri providing us with some details on Apple's performance, Vision Pro sales, services growth, AI plans, and other topics.
We've highlighted the most interesting takeaways from today's earnings call.
Next Week's Announcements
Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple is prepping for "an exciting product announcement" that the company thinks "customers will love."
Generative AI
Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is making "significant investments" in AI, and that it has some "very exciting things" to share with customers "soon."
Cook also said that he believes Apple has "advantages that will differentiate" the company, including Apple's hardware and software integration, Apple silicon with Neural Engine, and focus on privacy.
There's a "big opportunity" for generative AI across all of Apple's devices, and Cook said he is "extremely optimistic" about future consumer demand.
Digital Markets Act
Cook said that it's too early to determine the security risks and privacy implications of the changes that it has made to the app ecosystem in Europe. Apple is focused on complying while mitigating impacts to user privacy and security.
Vision Pro
Leading enterprise companies have been investing in Vision Pro, and Apple is seeing it used for things like aircraft engine maintenance, real-time collaboration for racing, and immersive kitchen design. Cook said that Apple "couldn't be more excited about the spatial computing opportunity in enterprise."
Services
Apple's services segment set a new all-time revenue record of $23.9 billion, up 14 percent from $20.9 billion in the year-ago quarter. Transacting accounts and paid accounts reached a new all-time high, with paid accounts and subscriptions showing double digit growth.
Apple has more than 1 billion paid subscriptions, more than double the number from four years ago.
Mac Sales
With the launch of new M3 MacBook Air models in March, Mac revenue saw growth, reaching $7.5 billion. Mac sales were at $7.17 billion in the year-ago quarter, for four percent growth.
iPad Sales
iPad revenue continued to drop with no new iPads released in 2024 as of yet. iPad revenue was at $5.6 billion, down 17 percent from $6.7 billion a year ago. iPad sales should see some improvement next quarter as Apple next week is planning to unveil new iPad Air and iPad Pro models.
Wearables
Wearables, Home and Accessories came in at $7.9 billion, down 10 percent compared to last year. Last year, Apple had launched the USB-C version of AirPods Pro, and there was a "difficult compare" this year.
June Quarter
Maestri said that Apple expects June quarter revenue to grow low single digits year-over-year, but Services is expected to grow double digits, as is iPad revenue.
During today's earnings call covering the second fiscal quarter of 2024, Apple CEO Tim Cook again spoke about Apple's work on generative AI. He said that Apple has "advantages" that will "differentiate" the company in the era of AI, and some "very exciting things" will be shared with customers in the near future.
We continue to feel very bullish about our opportunity in generative AI. We are making significant investments and we're looking forward to sharing some very exciting things with our customers soon.
We believe in the transformative power and promise of AI and we believe we have advantages that will differentiate us in this new era, including Apple's unique combination of seamless hardware, software and services integration, groundbreaking Apple silicon with our industry leading neural engines, and our unwavering focus on privacy, which underpins everything we create.
Rumors have suggested that Apple's first AI features are designed to run on-device rather than contacting a cloud service, which would make Apple's AI much more private and secure than an online AI option. Apple's plan to have generative AI available on-device will require significant CPU and GPU power, and Apple is planning to focus on AI with the upcoming M4 chip.
We could see the M4 chip as soon as next week in new iPad Pro models, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurmanindicating last weekend that there is a chance Apple will unveil the chip in the iPad Pro models.
Apple today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2024, which corresponds to the first calendar quarter of the year.
For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $90.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $23.6 billion, or $1.53 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $94.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $24.1 billion, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Apple set an all-time quarterly record for Services revenue at $23.9 billion, but iPhone revenue dropped by over $5 billion compared to the year-ago quarter.
Gross margin for the quarter was 46.6 percent, compared to 44.3 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple's board of directors also authorized an additional $110 billion for share repurchases and declared an increased dividend payment of $0.25 per share, up from $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable May 16 to shareholders of record as of May 13.
"Today Apple is reporting revenue of $90.8 billion for the March quarter, including an all-time revenue record in Services," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "During the quarter, we were thrilled to launch Apple Vision Pro and to show the world the potential that spatial computing unlocks. We're also looking forward to an exciting product announcement next week and an incredible Worldwide Developers Conference next month. As always, we are focused on providing the very best products and services for our customers, and doing so while living up to the core values that drive us."
As has been the case for over four years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in June.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q2 2024 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.