145: After iPhone 17: What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through how the iPhone lineup is rumored to change after the release of the iPhone 17 lineup later this year, looking at what to expect in 2026, 2027, and beyond. Apple's recently rumored iPhone roadmap beyond the iPhone 17 reveals a significant strategic shift in both release cadence and product positioning. With increasing competition, an expanding lineup, and evolving manufacturing logistics—particularly the move away from China toward production in India—Apple is exploring a staggered release schedule designed to avoid marketing fatigue and maintain focus across the six main iPhone models that are expected to be on sale by the end of next year. In spring 2026, Apple may introduce the "iPhone 17e" as a refresh of the lower-cost model introduced this year. The major wave of change begins in fall 2026, with the launch of the "iPhone 18 Air," "iPhone 18 Pro," and "iPhone 18 Pro Max." The Pro models are expected to introduce under-display Face ID for the first time, reducing the need for a visible sensor array and leaving only a small camera hole at the top-left corner of the display. It remains unclear how this change will affect the presence or function of the Dynamic Island. Camera upgrades are also expected, including a variable aperture 48MP main lens and a likely new Samsung sensor for the ultra-wide camera. Other enhancements include Apple's in-house "C2" modem and an "A20" chip made with TSMC's upcoming 2nm process. Fall 2026 is also expected to mark the debut of Apple's first foldable iPhone. Featuring a book-style design, the device will offer a 5.7-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display. Apple reportedly aims to beat competitors with a superior hinge mechanism crafted from titanium and stainless steel, and a display with a nearly invisible crease. Unlike other flagship iPhones, the foldable model will use Touch ID embedded in the power button instead of Face ID, likely due to internal space constraints. It will also purportedly include just two rear cameras, a high-density battery, and an impressively slim profile: 4.5mm when open, and 9–9.5mm when closed. In spring 2027, the base "iPhone 18" and "iPhone 18e" models will follow. In fall 2027, Apple is expected to introduce the "iPhone 19 Air" with a larger display, exceeding the 6.6 inches of the previous two Air models. The "iPhone 19 Pro" and "iPhone 19 Pro Max"—possibly branded to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone—will feature a "bold" redesign, incorporating more glass and, for the first time, an under-display front camera. The result will likely be a true edge-to-edge screen without notches or cutouts, fulfilling a long-standing vision for a seamless all-display iPhone. The second-generation foldable iPhone is also scheduled for fall 2027, building on the first model with further refinements and enhanced durability. While plans for spring 2028 are less concrete, it's likely that the standard "iPhone 19" and potentially "iPhone 19e" models will arrive then, continuing the new spring/fall rollout rhythm. Looking even further ahead, Apple's ambitions may go beyond smartphones altogether. According to remarks from Apple executive Eddy Cue this week, the iPhone could be obsolete within a decade, replaced by AI-powered wearables and ambient computing experiences
9 Touko 202543min
144: 2025 Apple Watch Lineup Rumors
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we look at what to expect from the 2025 Apple Watch lineup when new models launch in the fall. The Apple Watch Series 11 is anticipated to offer hypertension detection as the device's next major health monitoring advancement, potentially with AI-powered health-coaching features. It is also rumored to offer a new chip and, on cellular models, 5G redcap connectivity. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to receive these new capabilities, as well as features that came to last year's Series 10 model such as a brighter display with a faster refresh rate and a redesigned metal back to facilitate faster charging. However, iPhone-like satellite connectivity features are rumored to be the biggest upgrade for this year's new Apple Watch Ultra. The third-generation Apple Watch SE is rumored to feature a "new look," likely with an all-new plastic casing to bring down the device's cost. It is also likely to feature different size options, either by reducing the bezels around the display or enlarging the screens similar to the Apple Watch Series 7. It should also feature a new chip and a lower price point. We also look at the latest rumors about iPadOS 19, where a macOS-style menu bar is expected to appear on-screen when the iPad is connected to a Magic Keyboard. The iPhone could also be getting a Stage Manager-like feature when connected to an external display. (00:00) - iPadOS 19 Menu Bar & Stage Manager for iPhone? (08:55) - Apple Watch Series 11 Rumors (19:04) - Apple Watch Ultra 3 Rumors (22:56) - Apple Watch SE 3 Rumors
2 Touko 202531min
143: iPadOS 19 Will Be MORE macOS Like & iPhone 17 Air Leaks
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we take a look at the rumored design of the iPhone 17 "Air" and iPadOS 19's major productivity update. We take a closer look at the rumored design of the iPhone 17 "Air," which is expected to introduce a radically thinner design. It is rumored to be as thin as 5.5mm, versus the 8.725mm thickness of the Pro models. It has now emerged that even the buttons will need to be thinner than those used on the other models to simply fit on the device. We also discuss the rumored "Sky Blue" color option for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, which bears a resemblance to the "Sierra Blue" of the iPhone 13 Pro. Sky Blue was first introduced on the M4 MacBook Air earlier this year. Moreover, we talk through the purported "Midnight" colorway for the Apple Vision "Air." Meanwhile, iPadOS 19 is expected to bring a major software upgrade to the iPad. The update is expected to make the iPad more "macOS-like," with improved productivity, multitasking, and window management
25 Huhti 202537min
142: John Gruber Talks Apple Intelligence Controversy and the Future of Apple
Daring Fireball's John Gruber joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to discuss Apple Intelligence and the future of the company. We talk through the reaction to John's influential “Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino" piece on Daring Fireball, which pointed out that Apple's credibility has been "damaged" by the delay in releasing key Apple Intelligence features such as personalized Siri. Subsequent reportsrevealed that Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has taken over the Siri team at Apple, which until recently was led by artificial intelligence chief John Giannandrea. Software chief Craig Federighi is also believed to have taken on more responsibility to turn Apple Intelligence around. The company has altered its marketing strategy away from the "Hello, Apple Intelligence" tagline and the features are finally expected to launch sometime within the next year. With this recent context, we get John's thoughts on how the situation has evolved since he wrote his article, including on the proposed class-action lawsuits against Apple over false advertising. We also look at how Apple may present its suite of AI features at WWDC later this year. Moreover, we reflect on the Vision Pro almost two years after its announcement, and John explains why he believes that the headset avoided the mismanagement that has mired apple Intelligence. We also talk through rumors about the second-generation Vision Pro headset that is expected to launch between fall 2025 and spring 2026 as a minor spec bump, simply upgrading from the M2 to the M5 chip. We also explore the highly anticipated lower-cost Vision headset, dubbed “Vision Air," and how this could be positioned when it launches. We look at the state of Apple's smart home proposition and the HomePod amid rumors that the company's first smart home hub product has been delayed to 2026. The device is believed to be finished and was originally scheduled to launch in March 2025, but due to its reliance on Apple Intelligence its release has reportedly been shelved until next year. Finally, we discuss the long-rumored foldable iPhone, pondering on what Apple is likely to do differently when it launches the device next year. See more of John's work over on Daring Fireball and on his podcast, “The Talk Show." (00:00) - Breaking Down John's Article on Apple Intelligence/Siri Fiasco (20:56) - Apple Vision Pro 2 Expectations (37:18) - The Purpose of Apple's Smart Home Hub (50:44) - Apple Foldable Rumors
18 Huhti 202558min
141: New iOS 19, iPhone 17, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Leaks
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we catch up on the latest iOS 19 and watchOS 12 rumors, upcoming devices, and more. Detailed new renders from leaker Jon Prosser claim to provide the best look yet at the complete redesign rumored to arrive in iOS 19, showing more rounded elements, lighting effects, translucency, and an all-new pill-shaped tab bar with an elongated search bar. This visonOS-style redesign is also now rumored to come to the Apple Watch, and a sketchy report claims that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will tout exclusive AI features for Genmoji, Siri integration with activity information and sleep tracking, health monitoring, and more. We look at the first iPhone 17 Pro cases, which emphasize just how large the new full-width camera bump is set to be, as well as exclusive camera features rumored for the device. We also discuss the report about the second-generation Vision Pro now being in mass production, the delay of Apple's smart home hub product to 2026, and Sir Jony Ive's work on a smartphone without a screen for OpenAI. (00:00) - New iOS 19 Renders & Leaks (11:36) - watchOS and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Rumors (17:54) - iPhone 17 Pro Case Leaks & New Video Feature (25:15) - Vision Pro 2 in Production (27:33) - Smart Home Hub Issues (28:15) - Jony Ive's New Smart Phone with Open AI
11 Huhti 202534min
140: WWDC 2025 Announced and NEW iOS 18.4 Features
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the announcement of WWDC 2025, key iOS 18.4 features, and more. Apple last week officially announced that its 36th annual Worldwide Developers Conference will begin on Monday, June 9, and end on Friday, June 13. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2025 will primarily be an online event that is open to all developers. We discuss how the event artwork appears to allude to the complete redesign rumored for iOS 19 and the recent reportwhich claims Apple is working on an AI health coach feature for the Health app. We look at the key new features debuting in iOS 18.4, including Priority Notifications, Apple News+ Food, Ambient Music, and more. The AirPods Max with USB-C also received a significant update, adding support for lossless audio, ultra-low latency mode, and more. We also talk through a recent report which claims that Apple is still exploring solid-state buttons with haptic feedback for a future iPhone. The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips. 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - WWDC Announced, iOS 19 Rumors 19:49 - iOS 18.4 Released: What's New? 37:28 - iPhone Haptic Buttons Rumored AGAIN
4 Huhti 202542min
139: Mark Gurman Talks Apple Intelligence Fallout and iOS 19 Rumors
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to discuss the controversy surrounding Apple Intelligence, what to expect from iOS 19, and more. With the context of his insider knowledge, Mark gives us his thoughts on Apple's recent announcement that it is further delaying the major Siri Apple Intelligence features that it expected to release as part of iOS 18. He gives us a sense of the scale of the crisis and when to expect the remaining features to arrive. We also discuss his recent report about a significant internal reshuffle to move Siri from artificial intelligence chief John Giannandrea to Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell. We delve into the complete redesign rumored for iOS 19, which is believed to be part of a wider push to bring a visionOS-style design language to all of Apple's major platforms. It is expected to be the biggest redesign of the iPhone's software since iOS 7. Mark tells us what users are likely to make of the update and why Apple is devoting so much energy to the redesign amid the problems with Apple Intelligence. He also tells us about the sort of new Apple Intelligence features to expect in iOS 19 and the plan to progressively improve Siri through to iOS 20. We discuss why the delay in releasing the remaining Apple Intelligence features has delayed the company's long-rumored smart home hub product and the experience it is expected to offer when it launches later this year. We also touch on Apple's problems with allocating developer resources, iPhone 17-exclusive Apple Intelligence features, whether Apple is doing enough to course-correct on AI, Apple TV+ viewing habits, and more. See more of Mark's work on Bloomberg and follow him on X @markgurman.
21 Maalis 202538min
138: Apple Intelligence Comes Under Fire
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk about Apple's recent announcement that several of its most highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features are to be delayed. Last week, Apple quietly announced that it is further delaying some of Siri's Apple Intelligence features that it expected to release in iOS 18. The functionality includes wide-reaching enhancements to Siri that leverage personal context and onscreen awareness to take complex actions in apps. It was unveiled as a key part of Apple Intelligence at WWDC in June last year, but has yet to be seen outside of Apple's pre-recorded demo videos and a series of now-pulled TV ads. Yesterday, Daring Fireball's John Gruber penned a blistering attack on the missing features and Apple's management decisions, triggering a wave of subsequent criticisms and calls for Apple CEO Tim Cook to directly acknowledge the situation. We reflect on the delay and the unusual circumstances surrounding the features, pondering how this happened and what it means for Apple going forward. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code MAC at shopmando.com! #mandopod #ad
14 Maalis 20251h 2min
