That is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac providing a fast rundown of the newest Apple product rumors, with evaluation and commentary. Right this moment: Apple’s foldable iPhone breakthrough, the AirTag 2 launch window narrows, iPhone 17 Professional and 17e reviews, and extra. Listed below are this week’s Apple rumors.
AirTag 2 launch window narrows
This week leaker Kosutami posted on X about when to anticipate the AirTag 2 to launch. We had beforehand heard it ought to arrive by mid-year, however that was a pretty big window.
Based on the brand new report, AirTag 2 will launch in both Could or June.
My takeaways
It’s good to get a greater concept of when to anticipate Apple’s AirTag successor. Amazon retains working huge reductions on the present AirTag, so I had puzzled if AirTag 2 would possibly arrive sooner moderately than later. However it appears Apple nonetheless must clear current stock earlier than launching the brand new AirTag.
Foldable iPhone breakthrough and one other new design
This week introduced two reviews on Apple’s foldable iPhone. One reiterated that 2026 stays the deliberate launch date, whereas the opposite talked about a huge breakthrough for Apple: it has reportedly made the foldable’s crease nearly invisible.
On a associated word, Mark Gurman teased that 2026’s foldable received’t have the one new iPhone design coming. He wrote, “There’s additionally one other new iPhone design within the works for that 12 months, I’m advised.”
My takeaways
There’s nonetheless loads of time for Apple’s plans to alter, however the nearer we get to 2026, the extra probably plainly a foldable iPhone is certainly coming quickly. I’m particularly excited to listen to—although not stunned—that the machine’s crease is basically invisible. Between this and the iPhone 17 Air it will likely be a pair very thrilling years for Apple’s flagship product.
Gurman’s remark about “one other new iPhone design” raises a number of questions. It may very well be so simple as the bottom iPhone 18 getting a refreshed design, since adjustments on this 12 months’s iPhone 17 received’t be very drastic. However the way in which he phrased it, Gurman feels like he’s saying we must always anticipate one other new iPhone type issue—alongside the strains of the foldable. I can’t think about what that could be, however I’m fascinated to study extra.
iPhone 17 Professional upgrades, plus early trace of 17e mannequin
Based on Mark Gurman, Apple is investing closely within the iPhone 17 Professional’s digital camera system with the goal of upgrading its video capabilities. The objective, per Gurman, is to “get the vlogging neighborhood and different video creators to maneuver away from standalone cameras and use the iPhone for much more of their work.” Maybe on a associated word, iPhone 17 Professional fashions are once more mentioned to characteristic 12GB of RAM, a 50% improve from the present 8GB. This little question is tied to AI, however digital camera upgrades could also be a part of the explanation too.
Transferring from the iPhone 17 high-end right down to the low, Weibo leaker Mounted Focus Digital shared that there’s a brand new venture code within the iPhone provide chain that’s suspected to be for an iPhone 17e mannequin.
My takeaways
Apple at all times prioritizes making its iPhone digital camera system higher, so Gurman’s report on video upgrades is smart. It will likely be fascinating to see how most of the enhancements come to the iPhone 17 Air too, or in the event that they’re Professional exclusives.
As for the rumored iPhone 17e, such a mannequin will surely assist clarify Apple abandoning the iPhone SE naming construction. I’d assumed the change was merely associated to the 16e being much less of an ‘SE’ than it’s a 16. However I wouldn’t be stunned to see a brand new 17e mannequin debut subsequent 12 months round this time both—relying on how the 16e performs.
C-class modems constructed into most important chip
The iPhone 16e’s new C1 presents two key benefits over Qualcomm, but it surely’s simply the beginning of Apple’s modem plans. Per Mark Gurman, the corporate goals to combine its 5G modems into the principle M- and A-class chips sooner or later. This variation—not anticipated earlier than 2028—“ought to make the electronics extra energy-efficient and scale back the price.”
My takeaways
I really like the considered Apple’s modem getting built-in into the principle machine processor. As my colleague notes, this transfer may doubtlessly result in a future the place all iPad fashions (and hopefully Macs?) routinely embrace the choice for 5G connectivity. Eliminating the necessity for a paid {hardware} improve to have a mobile modem could be a fantastic change.
What are your takeaways from this week’s Apple rumors? Tell us within the feedback.
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