Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including iPhone 17 Air details, iPhone 16 Pro sales, iOS 18’s critical update, MacBook Pro release dates, iPad Mini expectations, the best iPhone 16 cases, and new macOS certification.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.
iPhone 17 Air’s Thin Glue Solution
This year’s iPhone 16 has a new glue holding in the battery, which releases its grip when an electrical current is passed through it. That feature looks set to arrive not only in the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max next year, but also in the iPhone 17 Air. In all the fun of the new battery tech, we shoudln’t lose sight that this is another pointer towards a thinner iPhone coming in 2025:
“Of the four iPhone 17 models Apple will launch next year, the Air will surely benefit the most from the electric glue battery tech. This is the iPhone that will feature the smallest-capacity battery. That’s the only way for Apple to produce a thinner phone. The battery thickness will also take a hit.”
(Maijin Bu via BGR).
Disappointing iPhone 16 Pro Sales
The hoped for super-cycle of adiption through Apple Intelligence has not yet appeared. The iPhone 16 family are keeping pace with last year’s sales figures, but it’s the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus that are showing growth… sales of the Pro line are down significantly. What lies at the heart of this disappointment?
“Early sales point to an overall drop in iPhone orders on the order of 12 percent. While most smartphone manufacturers would love a book of 37 million units, Apple will be concerned with the falling numbers. Notably, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max orders are falling, with sales of the cheaper consumer-focused iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus keeping Cupertino’s numbers up.”
(Forbes).
The Latest iOS 18 Update
While it is not the major update to include the first public release of Apple Intelligence, the latest point update for iOS is a critical one, as it addresses several serious bugs and security issues. iOS 18.0.1 is pretty much an ‘install right now’ update:
“The security issues in this update were serious. One vulnerability was that the VoiceOver feature could read out saved passwords—not what you want if your phone falls into the wrong hands or if there’s simply someone nearby who can overhear this information.”
(Forbes).
New MacBook Pro Release Date Details
Apple’s next launch event will cover several new Macs, MacBooks, and iPads. And there’s not long to wait. Last year’s Halloween event is set to repeat ahead of a November 1st release date in key territories:
“The new MacBook Pro has long been expected to launch in October. That event is now being reported as happening in the last week of the month—possibly as late as Halloween to tie in with the horrible holiday—ahead of a retail release on November 1st.”
(Forbes).
iPad Mini’s AI Boost
What can we expect alongside the new Macs? Tim Hardwick looks forward to the iPad Mini 7 which should also go on sale in early November. Three years after the last iPad Mini, what’s going to change, starting with the choice of the chipset and the need for generative AI support:
“While the iPad Pro and iPad Air now boast M-series chips, the iPad mini 7 is expected to stick with the A-series. It’s likely to feature either the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro or the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16. This upgrade should provide a significant performance boost over the A15 Bionic in the current model, as well as provide support for Apple Intelligence features.”
(MacRumors).
A Case Of The Blues
No matter how well-constructed the new iPhone is, countless millions of users will want to put it in a protective case. It is, after all, a costly piece of kit to leave exposed to the elements, no matter the IP rating. But which case is best? There’s only one way to find out… be guided by David Phelan:
“But no, your old case won’t fit because there’s a new button on the latest models, the Camera Control, and the old mute/ring switch has now become the Action Button which is a different shape. And anyway, do you really want to put your brand-new phone in a year-old case?”
(Forbes).
And Finally…
It’s a small point of OS culture, but the team at El Reg have not only noted the inclusion of macOS Sequia’s POSIX certification, but go into delightful depth on why this is “a pretty neat idea”:
“Sequoia showed up as the newest entry on the Open Group’s Register of UNIX® Certified Products. In fact, it has both the number one and two spots because there are separate entries for the Apple Silicon version and the x86-64 version. There’s no particular significance to the order, but if Apple continues to pay for the certification, at some point the x86-64 version will fall off the list when Apple stops supporting its Intel-powered kit.”
(The Register).
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
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