Top Stories: MacBook With A18 Pro Chip, iPhone 17 Rumors, and More
Apple's Latest News: New MacBook, iPhone 17, iOS 26, and More!
This week brought a flurry of exciting news and rumors from the world of Apple. Following the recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), more details about iOS 26 continue to emerge. But that’s not all; we also got a glimpse into some intriguing hardware updates expected later this year and beyond. From a budget-friendly MacBook to significant iPhone 17 upgrades and exciting advancements in Apple’s vision technology, the buzz around Apple innovation is stronger than ever.
A New Low-Cost MacBook Powered by the A18 Pro Chip
Prepare for an exciting addition to the Apple MacBook lineup! According to both analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (source) and internal Apple code discovered by MacRumors (source), Apple is developing a new, affordable MacBook powered by the A18 Pro chip – the same chip found in iPhones!
Interestingly, the A18 Pro chip's performance is said to be comparable to the M1 chip found in the 2020 MacBook Air (source), currently available at Walmart for around $649. This suggests that Apple might be aiming to offer a budget-friendly alternative to its existing MacBook Air models, potentially appealing to a broader range of customers. This new MacBook could serve as a successor to the M1 MacBook Air, incorporating additional updates and improvements. Apple may sell this new model directly, alongside distribution via other retail channels.
iPhone 17 Pro: A Redesigned MagSafe and a Giant Battery
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are shaping up to be significant upgrades. Rumors suggest a much larger camera bump will necessitate a design change: the Apple logo will be repositioned lower on the back of the devices (source). This shift will impact MagSafe accessory manufacturers, requiring them to adopt a new MagSafe ring layout for optimal functionality (source). However, existing MagSafe accessories should still work with the new iPhone models.
Further fueling the excitement, reports indicate that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will boast a massive approximately 5,000 mAh battery (source)—the largest ever seen in an iPhone. To accommodate this substantial battery, the Pro models are expected to be slightly thicker than their predecessors.
iOS 26: Simplifying Wi-Fi Connections and More
Are you tired of repeatedly entering your Wi-Fi credentials on multiple devices when connecting to captive networks in public places? iOS 26 is here to solve that problem! A new feature in iOS 26 and related updates will seamlessly sync your Wi-Fi login information across your Apple devices (source), making the process significantly more convenient.
Beyond this helpful Wi-Fi improvement, iOS 26 is packed with additional enhancements. Our recent guides delve deeper into notable changes, including updates to the Lock Screen (source) and a range of improvements for Safari (source).
AirPods Pro 3: Five Exciting New Features on the Horizon
Since the transition to USB-C charging in 2023, the AirPods Pro haven’t seen a major update. But that’s about to change! Apple is expected to release a significant AirPods Pro 3 update later this year.
We anticipate several exciting new features (source), including heart rate monitoring (similar to the Powerbeats Pro 2), enhanced Active Noise Cancellation, and refined design elements. These improvements promise to make the AirPods Pro 3 a compelling upgrade for both new and current users.
Apple Music Celebrates 10 Years with a New "Replay All Time" Playlist
Apple Music recently celebrated its 10th anniversary! To mark this milestone, Apple Music 1 featured special shows and countdowns. But the celebration extended beyond just radio; Apple also introduced a brand-new personalized playlist for all Apple Music subscribers: "Replay All Time" (source, source).
Expanding upon the popular annual "Replay" playlists, "Replay All Time" compiles your top 100 most-played songs throughout your entire Apple Music subscription history. This playlist will dynamically update as your listening habits evolve.
Apple's Vision for the Future: A Roadmap of Wearable Innovation
While the Apple Vision Pro headset hasn't yet become a ubiquitous device since its launch, Apple is far from finished with its vision technology. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (source), a comprehensive pipeline of vision-related products is in development.
While we might not see the full fruits of this labor until 2027, expect significant advancements. These include lighter, more affordable Vision Pro headsets, smart glasses comparable to Meta's Ray-Bans, and ultimately, high-performance mixed-reality glasses with integrated displays. A spec bump to the M5 chip for the Vision Pro is also anticipated later this year.
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This article, "Top Stories: MacBook With A18 Pro Chip, iPhone 17 Rumors, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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