That is 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. At this time: iOS 19 rumors level to a backloaded launch, plus iPhone 17 Professional and Air come into focus, the way forward for AirPods Max, and extra.
Listed below are this week’s Apple rumors.
iOS 19 will likely be backloaded with upgrades
Imagine it or not, we’re solely about 6 months away from Apple unveiling its subsequent large software program updates, together with iOS 19—time for rumors to start.
Mark Gurman reported this week that “a larger-than-usual variety of options scheduled for iOS 19 (past the brand new Siri) are already postponed till spring 2026 (when iOS 19.4 debuts).”
Past Siri, no different specifics are named. I ponder, although, if different platforms in addition to iOS 19 are getting prioritized for large upgrades this yr—although no rumors have hinted that up to now.
iOS 18 and its subsequent 18.1 and 18.2 updates have been especially huge releases. Maybe subsequent yr we’ll see extra important updates to macOS and/or iPadOS. The previous may lastly lay the groundwork for a touch-based Mac, one thing that could possibly be a giant engineering effort.
iPhone 17 Professional and 17 Air variations come into focus
A report from The Information this week introduced phrase on options coming to the iPhone 17 Professional and 17 Air. The previous will boast a bigger, rectangular digital camera bump and ditch titanium for aluminum. The latter will require several compromises to attain its ultra-thin type issue.
These new particulars assist flesh out what’s going to be a very difficult buying decision subsequent yr.
Whereas scaling again the iPhone 17 Air’s cameras to only one rear lens, Apple appears to be leaning exhausting the wrong way with its Professional line. Assuming each gadgets have the identical essential digital camera—they should—a giant a part of consumers’ determination hinges on two nice-to-haves. You’ll be able to both have the luxurious of a thinner gadget, or that of a extra numerous digital camera system.
LLM Siri muddies the ‘new period’ narrative
Apple is within the midst of a messy transition to its ‘new period for Siri,’ and a Mark Gurman report signifies issues will get even messier within the subsequent 18 months.
Regardless of the Siri upgrades being rolled out as a part of iOS 18, Apple has an excellent larger change coming in iOS 19.4: the primary LLM-based Siri.
The potential for a extra ChatGPT-like Siri is large, particularly as extra voice-first gadgets (e.g., HomePad) begin to roll out. Within the meantime, Apple must show that the present Siri may be ok to really advantage its ‘new period’ billing.
No AirPods Max 2 any time quickly
Lastly, this fall’s disappointing AirPods Max replace is outwardly the final one the gadget will get for the foreseeable future. Gurman says Apple has ‘no concrete plans’ to replace AirPods Max ‘in a significant means.’ Which appears to imply no H2 chip improve or the many features it might deliver.
I feel Apple’s making a mistake by letting AirPods Max languish. Perhaps there’s a great purpose the corporate can’t simply throw the H2 chip right into a successor and name it a day. I’m skeptical, although. It’s a disgrace that the considerably cheaper AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 boast benefits over the premium Max headphones.
Anecdotally, I maintain seeing increasingly AirPods Max out within the wild, so hopefully if gross sales actually are enhancing, Apple will take be aware and present the product just a little love.
Which rumors are most attention-grabbing or thrilling to you? Tell us within the feedback.
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