Welcome to Rumor Replay, a brand new weekly column at 9to5Mac that gives a fast rundown of the latest Apple product rumors, with my evaluation and commentary. Right now: two future MacBook Professional fashions and an enormous redesign, the Imaginative and prescient roadmap at Apple, 90Hz shows, and extra.
Listed below are this week’s Apple rumors.
Redesign coming for MacBook Professional
The M4 MacBook Professional has barely been unveiled, however already we’re getting rumors about not one, however two future fashions—together with an enormous redesign.
Mark Gurman experiences that subsequent 12 months’s MacBook Professional refresh is predicted to be lots just like the M4 replace: largely a spec bump launch, with the brand new M5, M5 Professional, and M5 Max. There will definitely be another niceties, however the greater change is occurring later.
In 2026, Apple’s M6 mannequin is predicted to boast a ‘complete redesign,’ the likes of which we haven’t seen because the 2021 fashions. Gurman says this new MacBook Professional ought to function a ‘thinner design and a transfer to crisper OLED screens.’
It’s unlucky {that a} full 5 years will cross between MacBook Professional redesigns, however truthfully, after the butterfly keyboard debacle of the final redesign, I’m guessing most professional customers received’t thoughts.
The M-chip period has meant Apple could make merchandise which can be each thinner and quicker. However the final MacBook Professional had a variety of apologies to make for its predecessor’s flaws, so it turned out fairly hefty. With a stronger basis to construct on, this upcoming M6 transform may very well be particularly compelling.
Apple’s Imaginative and prescient roadmap
There was lots taking place with Apple’s Imaginative and prescient platform on this week’s rumors. Ming-Chi Kuo stated the cheaper, non-Professional Imaginative and prescient gadget has been delayed ‘past 2027,’ whereas the M5 Imaginative and prescient Professional continues to be on monitor for 2025.
In the meantime, Mark Gurman stated Apple is critically weighing making a pair of sensible glasses, and even kicked off an inner survey to assemble company-wide enter.
Total, it looks as if there’s a variety of uncertainty inside Apple about the place the Imaginative and prescient Professional goes from right here. Spec-bumping the present gadget makes a variety of sense, however what then?
I perceive why a $2,000 headset might not promote significantly better than a $3,500 mannequin. But when that’s the case, how does Apple continue to grow the platform?
Maybe sensible glasses are the best way ahead, but when so, the nascency of the undertaking means we’re a number of years with nothing however a Imaginative and prescient Professional to construct Imaginative and prescient momentum. And that would spell hassle.
90Hz shows for iPad Air, iMac, Studio Show
A supply on the Improve podcast shared this week that Apple is engaged on 90Hz shows for upcoming fashions of iPad Air, iMac, and a brand new Studio Show.
This one got here out of left discipline, shocking even show analyst Ross Younger. Particulars are few, together with on the timeline for these obvious updates.
I may see 90Hz panning out as a pleasant mid-tier choice for merchandise that Apple needs to improve from 60Hz with out offering the complete 120Hz ProMotion benefit.
What makes me skeptical is that we’re anticipating even the bottom mannequin iPhone 17 to get 120Hz ProMotion. I’d suppose that if Apple had 90Hz shows within the works, sticking one within the base iPhone whereas saving 120Hz for the Professional fashions could be the best way to go.
iOS 18.2 launch date quick approaching
Mark Gurman reported this week that Apple is focusing on the week of December 2 for iOS 18.2’s public launch. This could be every week sooner than Apple’s norm.
Gurman additionally anticipated iOS 18.1 to launch earlier than standard, and that didn’t pan out. iOS 18.2 is a big launch, and its public beta solely simply started. Take note of Thanksgiving developing, and early December looks like a particularly bold timeline for Apple.
I feel the week of December 9 stays most definitely, following earlier years’ sample.
iOS recharge estimates for iPhone
Our personal Filipe Espósito reported that the iOS 18.2 beta comprises references to a brand new function that gives an estimate of how lengthy your iPhone will take to cost.
This function looks as if a no brainer. It might or might not arrive in iOS 18.2, however each time it does land, it ought to show an awesome addition—particularly as a part of an upgraded Batteries widget for Lock Screens.
M4 powering new Apple Intelligence servers
Lastly, Apple is reportedly in talks with Foxconn about constructing new AI servers that might use M4-class chips. Presently Apple makes use of M2 Extremely chips to energy its servers for Apple Intelligence’s Personal Cloud Compute. Upgrading to the M4 (probably Extremely) is a pure subsequent step for brand new servers.
Which rumors are you most enthusiastic about? Tell us within the feedback.
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