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Apple rumors - page 7

Apple’s next budget iPhone may ditch the notch for Dynamic Island

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iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16e laying side by side, showing the difference in the display.
Dynamic Island may trickle down to the iPhone 17e next year.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next budget iPhone — the iPhone 17e — will supposedly feature a Dynamic Island. The iPhone 16e currently sports a notch, the only handset in the company’s lineup to do so. 

Unfortunately, this could be the iPhone 17e’s only display upgrade, as Apple does not plan to update the panel to a 120Hz one.

These 4 pro Mac apps could soon launch on iPad

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These 4 pro Mac apps could soon launch on iPad
Pixelmator Pro is one of the Mac apps that could could hit iPad.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Those clamoring for more professional-grade iPad applications could soon get a quartet of them. An analyst found evidence on Monday that Pixelmator Pro and three more Mac apps for graphics professionals are getting ported to iPadOS.

If true, the move should help quiet the critics who complain that the iPad Pro isn’t very “pro.”

How Apple might give the M6-powered iPad Pro a serious performance boost

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How Apple might give the M6-powered iPad Pro a serious performance boost
Getting max performance out of the next iPad Pro might require more than a faster chip.
Image: ChatGPT

The next-generation iPad Pro will almost certainly get an Apple M6 processor for better performance, but Apple will go beyond a new chip to make its next premium tablet even faster: it’ll build in a vapor chamber cooling system, according to a reliable source of insider information.

The change will especially benefit graphic designers who push the GPU in current iPads to its limits.

Apple Maps could soon be dotted with ads

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Apple Maps Visited Places
Get ready for ads in Apple Maps
Photo: Griffin/CultOfMac

Apple will reportedly bring ads to Apple Maps — much like it did with the App Store. Efforts to show advertisements to Apple Maps users have supposedly picked up pace within the company.

Apple will let businesses pay to feature their sponsored listings more prominently in its Maps app.

M5 Vision Pro’s killer feature is … [The CultCast]

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Photo of Apple Vision Pro Headset on a pinkish background, with The CultCast's logo.
The new Vision Pro is definitely more powerful, but the Dual Knit Band's the real upgrade.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Griffin gets his hands on the new M5 Vision Pro, and he’s all too happy to share his first impressions about the upgraded headset.

Also on The CultCast:

  • The latest iOS beta offers a strange option for people who dislike Liquid Glass.
  • New rumors about Apple’s folding iPhone and iPad make both projects sound a bit shaky. And the prices we might pay when these devices finally arrive? Outrageous!
  • The Mac mini is one smokin’ machine, and it powers some pretty sweet setups.
  • And finally, we field a question from a listener about our Cult of Mac workflows.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.

Apple TV might try to buy massive Warner Bros. Discovery content library

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New Apple TV logo for 2025
Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV with a more colorful logo.
Screenshot: Apple

It seems Apple might buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the media and entertainment company that owns HBO, CNN and other high-profile properties. Apple reportedly expressed interest in acquiring parts of the company, particularly its extensive film and television library, as the media giant explores a potential sale, according to a report Thursday.

Such a deal would be a massive boost for Apple TV, adding depth to the streaming service’s catalog.

Why Apple might kick the iPhone 19 to the curb

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iPhone 20 concept
The iPhone 20 might step on the iPhone 19.
AI concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 20 is reportedly coming sooner than you might think. Apple is so eager to release the 20th anniversary model that it might skip a number and introduce the iPhone 20 months before the usual schedule.

Apple A20 chip could bring a wicked speed boost, but at a cost

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Apple A20 chip
The A20 chip will arrive in 2026 with the iPhone 18 generation.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Apple A20 chip in next year’s iPhone will be made using a new 2nm process that will increase the performance while boosting battery life. But the new chip won’t come cheap, according to a Wednesday report. A considerable jump in price is expected … though perhaps not enough to force Apple to raise the cost of its handsets.

The same goes for the M6 processor headed for future Macs.

Apple dramatically cuts production of iPhone Air due to weak demand

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iPhone Air rear sitting on a speckled gray carpet.
iPhone Air sales figure are as slim as its profile.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Low demand for the super-slim iPhone Air in markets outside China led Apple to drastically cut its production orders, according to a new report. But the company is increasing assembly for other iPhone 17 models due to high demand.

The report comes after the iPhone Air sold out within minutes of preorders opening in China last week. After the initial buzz faded, demand appears to have dropped off

Even Apple realizes a $3,000 foldable iPad is sheer lunacy

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Foldable iPad prototype
A foldable iPad could be more portable than a MacBook with a much larger screen.
AI prototype: ChatGPT

Apple’s effort to push its tablet lineup to the cutting edge has reportedly run into multiple snags. The company continues to work on an 18-inch, all-screen folding iPad, but the proposed $3,000 price is enough to give anyone pause … even Apple.

And that’s not the only roadblock Apple’s engineers supposedly slammed into. The sad result? The long-rumored device might not arrive for years.

When to expect more M5 MacBooks and Mac desktops

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M5 Mac release dates
An M5 MacBook Air, Mac mini and Mac Studio are all on the way.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The Apple M5 chip jumped from rumor to reality Wednesday with the launch of MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models running the new cutting-edge processor. But so far, there’s been no official mention of an M5 Mac mini, M5 MacBook Air, M5 Studio or M5 iMac.

Here’s when the next generations of these Macs are rumored to reach customers, along with the probable launch dates of the M5 Pro and M5 Max versions of the MacBook Pro.

HomePod mini 2 and next-gen Apple TV 4K are coming in hot

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HomePod mini 2, Apple TV 4K
Here’s when to expect HomePod mini 2 and a next-gen Apple TV 4K.
AI Image: ChatGPT

Apple isn’t done launching new products this fall. Rumors point to the much-anticipated HomePod mini 2 finally coming soon, along with a next-gen Apple TV 4K.

Here’s everything we know about these upcoming home-entertainment devices.

New rumor details foldable iPhone screen size — and possible delay

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New rumor details foldable iPhone screen size and possible delay
This AI mockup shows a possible look for the first foldable iPhone.
AI image: chatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s highly anticipated first foldable iPhone could face a delay from 2026 until 2027 because Apple needs more time to finalize design elements like the hinge mechanism, according to a new report. And it also offers some new details on screen size and other specs. 

M5 MacBook Air refresh lands in spring 2026

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M5 MacBook Air render
M5 MacBook Air is just a few months away from launch.
Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

Apple’s M5-powered MacBook Air will launch in spring 2026. The company is also working on refreshed Mac Studio, Mac mini, and new external monitors for next year.

Apple unveiled the first set of M5-powered devices earlier this week, including the 14-inch MacBook Pro, Vision Pro and iPad Pro.

New details leak on first touchscreen MacBook Pro — and it sounds awesome

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touchscreen macbook pro
It could be here in late 2026 or early 2027.
AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac

Apple is finally bringing touchscreens to the Mac, marking a major reversal from the company’s longstanding position against the feature in anything but iPads, according to a Thursday report with tantalizing new details. The first touchscreen MacBook Pro reportedly will arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.

Meta steals top Apple AI exec behind ‘answer engine’ project

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Image representing Apple's AI knowledge
The brain drain from Apple's AI team is real (and likely to accelerate).
Photo: Apple

Meta continues poaching high-profile executives from Apple’s AI team for its Superintelligence group. The latest hire is Ke Yang, who Apple recently appointed to lead its Answers, Knowledge and Information team.

Apple’s team is making an “answer engine” that will crawl the web to answer simple search queries. 

Apple’s smart home hub will cost $350

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AI-generated image of wall-mounted screen for home automation with the words
Apple's first smart display could be pricey.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Apple will build its upcoming smart home products in Vietnam to diversify its manufacturing away from China. This includes indoor security cameras, a smart display and a tabletop robot

A $350 smart display will be the first to launch in spring 2026. 

Pro Display XDR 2 may borrow a fan-favorite iPad feature

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A table of desktop Macs. Going clockwise around the table, starting at the front: the Mac Studio with Studio Display (height-adjustable stand and nano texture glass), the iMac, Mac Pro with Pro Display XDR (with Pro Stand) and Mac mini with Studio Display (tilt stand).
Pro Display XDR 2 with a Center Stage camera? Yes, please!
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next Pro Display XDR monitor could take a cue from MacBooks and iPhones and feature a Center Stage camera. Code strings referencing the monitor with the camera were discovered in the latest macOS 26.1 beta.

The Pro Display XDR is long overdue for a refresh, with the current model debuting in late 2019 for $4,999.

Base model M5 MacBook Pro could launch months before M5 Pro and M5 Max variants

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M5 MacBook Pro rumors
M5 MacBook Pro release date could come both sooner and later.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Some previous rumors point to an upgraded MacBook Pro with Apple’s M5 processor launching very soon, but other reports say it won’t be out until 2026. Turns out both might be correct.

A leak on Friday indicates the MacBook Pro running the base version M5 chip will debut quite soon. However, the variants with the M5 Pro and M5 Max supposedly won‘t launch before 2026.

Apple might launch Health+ with AI doctor, food tracking and more

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AI-generated cartoon of an iPhone in a doctor's uniform with stethoscope, used to illustrate a story about possible Apple Health+ subscription service.
Your iPhone with Health+ could dispense advice to make you healthier.
AI image: ChatGPT

An Apple each day becomes your doctor someday. That’s the rumor anyway: Apple is reportedly prepping a Health+ service for launch in 2026 that will use AI to dispense advice on nutrition, exercise and more.

Whether the service will someday give out medical diagnoses remains a much murkier question.

M5 MacBook Pro and iPad Pro could launch any day now

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MacBook Pro with chip on top
MacBook Pro's M5 refresh might land this month.
Photo: David Snow/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Supplies of iPad Pros and 14-inch MacBook Pros powered by M4 chips are running low across Apple Stores. This indicates the imminent arrival of M5-powered models.

While reports of an M5 iPad Pro refresh surfaced before, this marks the first solid indication that Apple could launch an M5 MacBook Pro this year as well.

What to expect at Apple‘s October product-launch event

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Apple October event rumors
Apple CEO Tim Cook could soon be taking to the stage with more product announcements.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple isn’t done lunching new products this year, even though the iPhone 17 family and Apple Watch Series 11 reached customers in September.  There are so many new products coming out of Cupertino this fall that rumors point to an Apple October event.

For some Apple fans, the best is yet to come: the Apple M5 processor, a new iPad Pro and (hopefully) the next MacBook Pro. And there could be more.

Apple puts cheaper Vision Pro on back burner to focus on smart glasses

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A digitally altered image of a woman wearing an Apple Vision Pro headset in a workplace environment.
The rumored cheaper version of the Vision Pro headset is reportedly on hold.
Photo: Ali Colak/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

That cheaper Vision Pro you were waiting for? Don’t hold your breath. Apple reportedly shelved the project to redirect its focus on creating smart glasses to compete with Meta’s popular products.

Previous rumors indicated Apple would release a stripped-down version of its $3,499 Vision Pro headset by 2027. But Apple execs reportedly told employees last week that it’s putting the lighter, cheaper headset on the back burner.

M5 MacBooks and new Apple monitors inch closer to release

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M5 MacBook Pro render
M5 MacBooks and new Apple monitors are around the corner.
Photo: ChatGPT

Apple’s new external monitors for Mac inch closer to release, with their mass production set to begin soon. They should debut alongside the M5-powered MacBooks within the next six months.

In addition to the above, Apple will also refresh the Vision Pro and iPad Pro with faster chips.

Siri desperately needs the ChatGPT-like chatbot Apple is now testing

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Siri under construction
With a Siri revamp under way, Apple’s voice assistant needs a chatbot.
Graphic: ChatGPT

Apple is reportedly testing an AI-powered chatbot that can perform many tasks that the promised Siri upgrade will be able to handle. The app supposedly gives Apple employees a way to test future Siri capabilities, but also to explore whether Siri needs a chatbot functionality.

ChatGPT, Google Gemini and others made AI chatbots mainstream, so not having one in the long-promised Siri revamp would be a glaring omission. One that would draw considerable criticism.