That is Rumor Replay, a brand new weekly column at 9to5Mac that gives a fast rundown of the newest Apple product rumors, with my evaluation and commentary. In the present day: Apple’s new ‘HomePad’ system, Imaginative and prescient Professional 2 launch date, iPhone 18 digital camera change, and extra rumors.
‘HomePad’ might be a really compelling new system
The largest rumor tale of the week got here from an in depth Mark Gurman piece on a brand new residence product launching this spring, which I’m calling the ‘HomePad.’
The system is a brilliant show that may be mounted or paired with an exterior speaker base. Anticipated options embody:
- heavy Apple Intelligence focus with an upgraded Siri
- StandBy-like widgets, Dwelling app controls, and extra
- slideshows from the Pictures app
- built-in safety digital camera and video/audio intercom plus FaceTime
- runs Apple apps like Safari, Music, and Notes
This feels like the house system I’ve been ready for from Apple.
It takes the important thing performance of HomePods, upgrades it with Apple Intelligence and a better Siri, then provides a lot extra to the bundle: widgets, safety digital camera, slideshows, after which some.
I’m thrilled that we gained’t have to attend quite a lot of months for what appears like Apple’s first compelling mass-market residence system.
On a associated notice, Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple additionally has a wise residence digital camera within the works for 2026. It feels like a extra targeted product that Apple can promote at a cheaper price than the HomePad, however with comparable safety advantages.
What I’m extra interested in is whether or not this implies Apple will begin making much more good residence gadgets like thermostats, lightbulbs, and so forth.
Imaginative and prescient Professional 2 launch date
Apple continues to launch the Imaginative and prescient Professional in new markets, however the anticipated M5 Imaginative and prescient Professional 2 is already on its method. Mark Gurman stories that the Imaginative and prescient Professional’s successor is on observe for launch between fall 2025 and spring 2026.
In desirous about this new mannequin, the Apple Intelligence story is an enormous space of curiosity for me. There have been conflicting stories on whether or not the present Imaginative and prescient Professional has sufficient computational headroom to energy AI or if the brand new M5 mannequin shall be wanted. Even with the Imaginative and prescient Professional 2’s launch a 12 months or extra away, hopefully we’ll get a solution at WWDC in June.
Excessive-end iPhone 18 digital camera
It’s a pair years off, however a minimum of one high-end iPhone 18 mannequin is predicted to get a variable aperture digital camera, per Ming-Chi Kuo. An in-depth rationalization of what this implies for photographers is obtainable from my colleague Ben. In brief, Apple might enhance its Portrait-like depth of subject and doubtlessly low-light efficiency too in some important methods.
AirPods have gotten well being gadgets
The brand new listening to well being options for AirPods Professional 2 are an enormous deal, however they’re apparently solely the beginning. Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple shall be following its Apple Watch playbook by persevering with so as to add extra well being sensors to AirPods sooner or later. I’m all for it, and assume new well being options might make AirPods much more indispensable for customers than they’re in the present day.
iPhone 17 Air expectations reset
A new rumor signifies Apple gained’t been ready to make use of the battery tech it initially meant for the iPhone 17 Air. Because of this, the system will not be as ultra-thin as anticipated.
The iPhone was by no means going to be as skinny because the M4 iPad Professional, however even with the purported 6mm thickness of the brand new battery Apple’s settling for, the corporate can nonetheless make some significant measurement reductions. The iPhone 16 is 7.8mm and the 16 Professional 8.25mm. If Apple can get below 7mm, that’s nonetheless an enormous change—and one that might set the stage for a good thinner mannequin in future years.
Which rumors are you most enthusiastic about? Tell us within the feedback.
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