Apple

This fall will mark three years since the AirPods Pro launched back in late 2019. While early adopters of the premium wireless headphones are surely suffering from the downsides of aging batteries, a second-gen model of AirPods Pro is expected to debut later this year, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. We take a deep dive into what users can expect from AirPods Pro 2.

According to reports, Apple is looking to bring new versions of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max to market this summer. Reputedly, next-generation AirPods Pro will also come in new colourways, potentially building on the five that Apple offers with the current model.

Apple currently engages a number of companies to supply it with the screens for new units of its iPhone 13 flagship series of mobile devices, BOE included. However, the Chinese display specialist has reportedly been obliged to hit pause on fulfilling its order from the Cupertino giant, as it has taken issue with an unauthorized change made to the components in question.

A new leak has now provided insight into Apple's upcoming flagship smartphone, the iPhone 14 Pro. While the phone will get the new 48 MP camera, it appears buyers will bear the cost of that, with a price bump versus last year's model seemingly on the cards.

New fan-made concept renderings of the expected 2022 Apple iPad Pro have been shared on social media, showing the rumored design changes that could occur with the latest edition of the premium tablet series. Along with some design refinements, it’s believed the next iPad Pro will sport Apple’s M2 SoC.

The latest update to AltStore, the alternative app store for iOS, brings a bevy of new changes, including new trusted sources, just-in-time compilation, and bug fixes. The update is a boon for retro gamers who want an easy way to install emulators on their iDevice.

Former or current owners of an iPhone 4S who live in two certain US states on the East Coast may be eligible to receive a US$15 settlement payment from Apple if they declare that their smartphone noticeably slowed down after the software update to iOS 9.

Apple may finally be bringing high refresh rate displays to its cheaper iPhones. According to a report, the upcoming iPhone 14 Max will feature a 90 Hz panel, plus 6 GB of RAM, both upgrades from the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini.

Apple ships a short Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable together with its new Studio Display that is often not nearly enough for the ambitious workstation setups that the 5K monitor beckons for. It will, however, now sell you a much longer, 10-foot Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable for the princely sum of US$159.

With the US dollar currently strong against many other leading currencies, analysts expect Apple to raise iPhone prices outside its home market this year, starting with the iPhone 14 series. Significant Euro depreciation against the US dollar in the last year could hit Eurozone countries, for example.

As Elon Musk continues to work on his blockbuster US$44 billion acquisition of Twitter, the tech visionary has once again utilized the influential social network to heavily criticize Apple's large cut on App Store purchases by calling it a "30% tax on the internet".

Body temperature measurement, tracking or both are among the most hotly-discussed potential features for next-gen smartwatches. However, according to a respected security analyst, OEMs are having perhaps more trouble perfecting it than they may have imagined, even major players such as Apple. Currently, it is thought that more work is required to incorporate it into its series-8 Watch.

The supposed specs and price tag for the Apple Watch SE 2022 have been leaked. This year’s variant of the Apple Watch SE is shaping up to be a decent and more-affordable alternative to the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8. A price increase over its predecessor has been predicted but there are some hardware upgrades too.

A video review of the new Dell XPS 13 Plus laptop has revealed how much more performance can be expected over the previous-generation XPS 13 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 from 2020. Pitting the Intel Core i7-1280P against the M1 SoC is clearly an unfair fight, but it is interesting to see Dell take notes from Apple’s playbook.

Apple has only just announced its new initiative to facilitate iPhone users who want or need to fix their own devices, touting it as a new, right-to-repair-friendly way to increase access to this option. However, as some detractors point out, some aspects of the service may prove to be inadequate, expensive and even invasive in some respects.

There are hardly any alternatives to the Apple Studio Display that combine a 5K resolution with a built-in webcam. However, Luke Miani has repurposed an old 27-inch iMac as an external monitor, creating a cheaper version of the Studio Display in the process.

The Mac Studio configuration with the Apple M1 Max SoC in particular seems to be plagued by an irritating high-pitched noise, which may be caused by the cooling fan that is built into Apple's latest desktop computer.

Suspected front panels of this year's iPhone 14 series have appeared online. The leak focuses on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max's pill-shaped punch-hole display, which is likely to raise eyebrows. Apple has made other changes too, including a switch to 19.5:9 aspect ratios for this year's Pro models.

Apple had tech enthusiasts turning their heads when it released the new Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable alongside the Mac Studio and Studio Display earlier this year. At a hard-to-swallow US$129 for the 1.8-meter version, and an even heftier US$159 for the as yet unavailable 3-meter version, let’s take a look at why this cord carries such a steep price tag.

Apple has announced its new Self Service Repair program that lets the end users fix their own smartphones. Replacement parts, tools and repair manuals are all available via Apple's website. The program will be expanded to Europe later this year.

Reportedly, Apple is not planning to update its iMac line for a while yet. Instead, a next-generation 24-inch model will not launch for at least 18 months, albeit with an Apple M3 chipset. Meanwhile, the iMac Pro is said to be a way off from being released and will not arrive 'anytime soon'.

According to a South Korean industry blog, Apple has greatly increased its orders for new iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max units. Demand for these higher-end models has escalated, whereas that for the SE 2022, freshly released as the OEM's latest sub-premium alternative, has not. Therefore, the Pros are getting a production spike, whereas that of the new SE is being cut back.

Apple is reportedly working on a satellite network of its very own; furthermore, the Cupertino giant might have it ready in time for its latest mobile devices to launch able to connect with it out of the box. Then again, the combination is not exactly intended for full-blown GSM-independent communications on the part of the upcoming iPhones and smartwatches.

Apple seems to be on track to making M2 silicon available for this year's Mac lineup. According to industry sources, Apple has once again enlisted Samsung Electro-Mechanics for supply of FC-BGA substrates. Samsung is reportedly investing a lot in the critical FC-BGA business given that there are only a handful of players in this niche.

Intel Alder-Lake will soon arrive in many laptops models. The focus of the new platform is the performance of the new CPUs - but the efficiency is worrying. New spec sheets with battery life numbers from Lenovo indicate that laptops with the 2022 Intel platform might have worse battery life than their predecessors.

A well-known leaker claims to have come across new first-party iPhone accessories prior to its launch on the market. The new optional purchases do look more or less like genuine Apple-brand products in their appearance and packaging; however, they are quite different from more verifiable counterparts in that they have a higher power-delivery spec and more ports than usual.

Apple is expected to reveal full details of iOS 16 at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, which is scheduled from June 6 to 10. Ahead of that, a leaker has rounded up all the relevant feature rumors about iOS 16 and has also suggested device compatibility, leaving the Apple iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and first-generation iPhone SE facing end of support.

The vanilla iPhone 14 is slated to be among the smallest and most basic of its upcoming flagship line-up. Nevertheless, it is also thought to do so with an OLED display; however, according to a new report, this panel will be sourced from the Chinese firm BOE rather than LG or Samsung.

An updated model of the popular Apple Mac mini has been tipped to be the mysterious Mac device that is most likely to join the MacBook Air in a reveal at Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which takes place in June. Just like the refreshed MacBook Air, the new Mac mini is expected to sport Apple M2 silicon.

The respected securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has just posted a new prediction as to how the "iPhone 14 series" might improve in terms of selfie cameras compared to the existing 13 series. This new rumor does not so much discuss a notch or lack thereof this time, however, and concerns the actual shooters to be found in the putative iPhones' front panels.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks we will not see iPhone under-display cameras sooner than 2024, as Apple is still working to improve low-light image quality through AI algorithms and more powerful image processors. The 2023 iPhone 15 models could, however, offer a full-view screen by integrating the front camera system in the upper bezel.

Several of the new European TV models from TCL will be compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. This will make them the first Google TVs in the region with these features. As with other devices, AirPlay will enable you to cast content from your iOS or Mac device to your TCL TV. The HomeKit tools will allow you to control your TV using voice commands, such as switching the gadget on or off.

Dummy units of the entire iPhone 14 series have leaked online. The units show what the back of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will look like, plus the new 'Max' model. There is no iPhone 14 mini to be seen, either.

It has been alleged that the Apple iPhone 14 Pro (and by extension the iPhone 14 Pro Max) will come with a Lightning connector that will be able to support USB 3.0 speeds. There had been older rumors that the iPhone 14 Pro models may have come with USB-C ports but one key factor has prevented that from happening.

The Apple iPhone 11’s number is up according to a leaker, with price reductions purportedly heading toward the iPhone 12 series. Cupertino is expected to launch the iPhone 14 range later this year and will need to trim the lineup to help maximize sales and reap in the benefits of all the hype that will be surrounding the latest iPhone iteration.

The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have three main rear cameras, one of which is a telephoto unit with optical image stabilization (or OIS). Now, their 2024 successors are said to have the same spec, although it may be a new module from a different source in this case. The supplier in question also currently makes OIS tech for Samsung's Galaxy S22 flagship smartphone series.

Some smartphone innovations are great ideas and make a lasting impact on the market. Others are also great ideas but either fail to launch completely or somehow go the way of the dodo, never to be seen again. Let's look at some recent would-be home runs that just didn't pan out for some reason.

According to reports, the Apple Car will run on a custom centrally integrated "carOS" that will control all aspects of the vehicle including navigation, sensor data processing, and infotainment. The report also states that Apple will leverage Korean suppliers for the self-driving sensors in the car's domain control unit (DCU).

Apple is preparing a veritable bonanza of new Mac models with the upcoming second generation of its M-series of chipsets. First for release will be a completely redesigned MacBook Air and the basic MacBook Pro 13, while in the fall we may seem an M2 Mac mini. The MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 with their M2 Pro and M2 Max processors may appear at a later date.

A smartphone with top performance for less than 520 Euros (~$566)? The Apple iPhone SE 2022 makes this possible. However, you also have to accept some compromises for this.

Apple may have next to no stock of the M1 Pro or M1 Max in most markets, but the SoCs remain available to order in Certified Refurbished versions of the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16. Seemingly the only way to pick up an M1 Pro or M1 Max machine before the summer without resorting to secondhand marketplaces, it should be hard to tell a Certified Refurbished model from its brand new equivalent.

A new report alleges that a body-temperature sensor is back on for the Watch Series 8, Apple's flagship smartwatch for 2022. The body-temperature sensor will only have limited functionality at launch, but Apple is expected to introduce new health-tracking features and even a new power-saving mode with watchOS 9. Details about why it is taking Apple so long to release an Apple Watch with a blood pressure monitor have also emerged.

It seems that Apple is preparing to release a new power adapter with two USB Type-C ports. While its release date remains unknown, its design, peak wattage and pricing have emerged.

Apple has released three new colours for the Beats Studio Buds, a cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro. The Beats Studio Buds now come in six colours, including Sunset Pink. Simultaneously, the Beats app for Android has received new features, courtesy of 'Locate My Beats' functionality.

Lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in China could lead to future Apple MacBook delays. Some of Cupertino’s main suppliers, such as Pegatron and Quanta, have had to cease production for the time being. While future MacBook Air or MacBook Pro releases may be affected, supplies of the iPhone 14 may not be as deeply impacted.

Though Apple released iOS 15.4.1 just under a couple of weeks ago, many iPhone users still running an earlier version of iOS 15 may be at risk due to a major security flaw that Apple says “may have been actively exploited”. Take a look at what is new in Apple’s latest version of its iPhone operating system.

The launch of the next-generation Mac mini appears to be close, if Apple Studio Display is anything to go by. According to developer Steve Throughton-Smith, the firmware mentions the unreleased mini-PC, which is expected to be considerably more powerful than the existing Apple M1 model.

A new app, WristChat, enables Apple Watch users to respond to messages from the device. You can reply to a message using Scribble, Voice Dictation, or the custom-built WristBoard, a keyboard designed for the smaller screen with swipe typing and autocorrect. There are many other customizable features such as haptic feedback and chat bubble colors.

Reportedly, Apple will unveil major updates for all its operating systems at WWDC 2022 in June. Also, the company could even tease rOS, the OS for its mixed reality headset. Unfortunately, neither rOS nor the headset will be ready in time for WWDC 2022, though.