That is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac providing a fast rundown of the newest Apple product rumors, with evaluation and commentary. Immediately: Apple’s foldable iPad and iPhone are coming, plus a contemporary Magic Mouse strategy, and AirTag 2. Listed here are this week’s Apple rumors.
iPhone 18 Fold and extra inexpensive iPhone 17 Air
This week The Wall Road Journal reported on Apple’s subsequent two years of iPhone updates:
- iPhone 18 Fold
- iPhone 17 Air
Neither of those gadgets carry official names but, however operating with the 2 names above, WSJ says that 2026’s foldable iPhone will ‘unfold to a show dimension that may be bigger than an iPhone 16 Professional Max.’ additionally they state that subsequent yr’s 17 Air ‘is meant to be cheaper than Professional fashions.’
My takeaways
Each time we get a report concerning the foldable iPhone, it makes the machine appear extra actual—particularly as 2026 attracts close to. I’m intrigued to see what Apple can uniquely convey to foldables, however I’m unsure a show bigger than the Professional Max is what I would like. One-handed use is extraordinarily essential to me, which is why I take advantage of an iPhone 16 Professional, not Professional Max. Nevertheless, the market appears to indicate that individuals love big telephones, so Apple’s most likely heading in the right direction.
The iPhone 17 Air’s anticipated pricing is welcome information, particularly as a result of it is smart of the specs we’re getting. Earlier reviews mentioned the machine can be ultra-premium, but with compromises that don’t justify that value. Now, the reported A18 chip, single rear digicam, and ultra-thin design all cohere properly with a reasonable value level.
19-inch foldable iPad Professional
We’ve heard rumblings earlier than of a roughly 19-inch iPad-Mac hybrid foldable machine, and this week Mark Gurman shed extra mild on the undertaking.
Although a few of Gurman’s report is deliberately ambiguous, he appears to imagine that is an iPad we’re speaking about, not a Mac. It’s at all times attainable, although, that it might embrace key capabilities from each merchandise.
My takeaways
There’s rather a lot we don’t know but, however this foldable iPad might be my dream all-in-one product. Apple’s two iPad Professional sizes every have very totally different strengths and weaknesses, and this foldable might doubtlessly mix the most effective of each sizes. Gurman says we’ll have to attend till 2028 for this foldable although, so I’m not getting my hopes up but.
Radically new Magic Mouse coming
Apple’s Magic Mouse has, for a very long time, performed second fiddle to the Magic Trackpad. However in response to Mark Gurman, the corporate isn’t content material to let the accent stay stagnant.
Apple is seemingly engaged on a complete new Magic Mouse design that would radically alter the way in which the machine works. It’s a ‘full overhaul’ of the Magic Mouse that ‘higher suits the trendy period.’
My takeaways
Gurman doesn’t say this, however I ponder if Apple’s motivation, partly, is to create a brand new Magic Mouse that’s optimized for Imaginative and prescient Professional and spatial computing. Present Mac equipment aren’t splendid for spatial environments, even when they technically work. Maybe Apple can create one thing effectively suited each for contemporary platforms just like the Imaginative and prescient Professional and legacy ones just like the Mac.
AirTag 2
AirTag 2 is coming in 2025, and this week Gurman reported that it’s anticipated to boast a extra trendy Extremely Wideband chip.
That chip improve will allow considerably improved Precision Discovering help, so you may get very exact steerage out of your iPhone when monitoring down a misplaced AirTag from, doubtlessly, as much as 90 meters away.
My takeaways
My greatest situation with AirTag is its battery life (one thing a brand new add-on accent simply mounted), so I hope AirTag 2 presents enhancements on that entrance too. That apart, expanded help for Precision Discovering looks like a no brainer enhancement.
Which of this week’s Apple rumors are you most focused on? Tell us within the feedback.
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