MacBooks are great computers, but there’s a number of different varieties to think about. Between last gen hardware and all of the current models available now, it can feel like there’s a lot of options. Today, we’ll be breaking down which is right for you, depending on your budget and what you need it for.

more…

The Apple Maps app in iOS 26 includes some useful new features for keeping track of where you've been and getting alerts if there are any delays that will impact your daily commute. In this guide, we've rounded up a list of everything new with Maps.

Visited Places

‌Apple Maps‌ is able to keep track of the places that you've visited, either in your hometown or while traveling. It can track the restaurants, shops, parks, and landmarks that you go to, so you can look back and remember where you've been.


Google has long offered a timeline that automatically saves visits to places, and Apple's new Visited Places option matches the functionality available in the Google Maps Timeline.

After you upgrade to ‌iOS 26‌, the Maps app pops up an alert letting you know about the new feature, so that you can opt in or opt out.

You can see your Visited Places by opening up the Maps app, tapping on your profile picture, tapping on Places, and then tapping into Visited Places. In this interface, the locations that you've visited are listed by month, plus there's a search option.

There are options to change how long visits are kept (three months, one year, and forever), and to clear your current history. You can also remove locations one-by-one by tapping on them, and report incorrect location readings. When you clear your history, ‌Apple Maps‌ pops up an option that lets you clear everything or clear everything and turn off Visited Places entirely.


If you want to turn Visited Places off or enable it at a later date, you can do so by going to Settings > Apps > Maps > Location. From there, toggle off Visited Places. You can also access the toggle by going to Privacy and Security > Location Services > Maps.

Precise Location needs to be toggled on for Visited Places to work, and places that you've been are stored on-device. The information is not uploaded to Apple's servers.

Preferred Routes

Using on-device intelligence, ‌Apple Maps‌ is able to learn the routes that you prefer to take to locations that you visit frequently, such as work, home, and school, and it keeps track of when you typically visit those places.


If there's a road closure or traffic that's going to impact your commute, the Maps app is able to alert you about the issue and offer up an alternative route so you can get there on time.

A Maps Suggestions Home Screen widget shows the same information if there are any route issues. This is an under-the-hood feature that only shows up when it's needed, so if you have a short commute that doesn't involve roads that frequently see traffic, you might not have it pop up.

You can turn it on or off by going to Settings > Maps > Location and toggling off the "Preferred Routes and Predicted Destinations" setting.

Liquid Glass Redesign

The Maps app has adopted Apple's Liquid Glass redesign, and it brings some subtle interface changes. The search bar and navigation menu are translucent so you can see some of the Maps background behind it, and place icons are larger than before.


Icons have the layered glass look, and the various menus, cards, and buttons are more rounded than before. The Share Sheet has a popover design and it too is transparent.

The Library tab that was accessible when you tap your profile picture is now called Places, and it has improved spacing and a new Visited Places section.

Turn-by-turn directions are in a smaller pop-up bar rather than taking up the top of the Maps display, and time of arrival, length of travel, and distance are shown more prominently.

Voice Controls

The Voice Volume section in the Maps app is now Voice Controls, and there are added toggles for Muted, Alerts Only, or Unmuted so adjusting how turn-by-turn directions are communicated is more intuitive.


These controls did exist in iOS 18, but only as toggles that had no explanation on the right side of the display when turn-by-turn directions are in progress.

Place Information

When you tap into or type a location on the Maps app, the Call, Menu, and Website buttons are now more prominently listed at the top of the interface, as are the location's hours and the order option if one is available. There's now a floating button to get directions to a place, and it's always available at the bottom right of the app.

Improved Incident Reports

It's easier to report an incident like a crash with a new incident button that's located on the right side of the iPhone when getting turn-by-turn directions, and more incident types have been added.


You can report a crash, speed check, traffic, roadwork, hazard, or road closure. In ‌iOS 18‌, options are limited to crash, speed check, and hazard.

Read More

We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.
This article, "Apple Maps in iOS 26: Track Your Location History and Get Smarter Route Alerts" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

We saw recently that many Gen Z people have a much more relaxed attitude to location privacy than the rest of us, happily sharing their location 24/7 with entire groups of friends.

But for those of us who prefer a more restrained approach to sharing our location, I’d like to see one basic change, and a couple of intelligent features added to the Find My app …

more…

In a new note to investors, HSBC says that the slow rollout of the AI features Apple introduced at WWDC 2024 has so far “failed to trigger significant improvement in user experience,” and that unless Apple gets back on track, users could end up pushing off their next iPhone upgrade. Here are the details.

more…

Apple’s biggest hit ever, Severance, is far from the only sci-fi success in the Apple TV+ catalog. The dystopian thriller Silo aired its second season last fall, and season 3 is well under way. Here’s everything we know so far about Silo season 3.

more…

Audiobook access on Spotify has always been limited to the account owner, meaning that even for Premium Family or Duo subscriptions, only the person who set up the plan could actually use the included hours each month. That’s about to change, depending on where you live.

more…

ASUS is planning to release its 32-inch 6K ProArt Display PA32QCV in August, with the device set to compete with Apple's Pro Display XDR and Studio Display. The upcoming ProArt Display was first announced at CES in January, but it's finally ready to launch.


The display has a 6016 x 3384 resolution, and ASUS says it offers Delta E>2 color accuracy, 98 percent DCI-P3 gamut, and 218 pixels per inch. Displays are calibrated at the factory for color accuracy, and there is a Mac-specific P3 color preset option for consistent colors on Macs. Macs can use the ASUS DisplayWidget Center for quick adjustments to brightness, contrast, and color temperature, and when a Mac is connected to the display, the display's brightness can be controlled with the built-in Mac brightness button.

Apple's Pro Display XDR features the same resolution and pixel density as the ASUS 6K ProArt Display, and ASUS promises text that's "sharp and easy to read," along with "enhanced visual clarity" for creative professionals. The ProArt Display supports HDR10 and VESA DisplayHDR 600 for bright whites and dark blacks, providing "exceptional contrast."

Multiple sensors ensure the display remains bright and at the right color temperature, with an ambient light sensor adjusting color gamut based on ambient lighting. ASUS added an anti-glare "LuxPixel" technology that minimizes reflections without compromising display quality.

Auto KVM is included for switching between and controlling two connected Macs or PCs with a single keyboard and mouse, and the display includes Thunderbolt 4 support and 96W power delivery for charging connected laptops like the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. There are multiple ports available in addition to dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, two USB-A ports, a passthrough port for headphones, a USB-C port for KVM Switch, and an additional downstream USB-C port.

Compared to the Pro Display XDR, the 6K ProArt Display has lower standard, peak, and sustained brightness, lower contrast, no local dimming, slightly less color accuracy, and no reference modes, but it is much more affordable and offers some of the same tilt and swivel adjustment options. There are also speakers, but no built-in webcam.

ASUS says that the ProArt Display PA32QCV will launch in late August, and it will be priced at $1,299.
This article, "32" 6K ProArt Display From ASUS Launching in Late August" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple has a big fall launch season up ahead, with 15+ new products coming. But per various reports and rumors, there are three particular products launching that we’ve been waiting a long time for.

more…

If you’ve ever tried to get in-app support on WhatsApp, you know the process used to start with filling out a form, possibly attaching a few files, and waiting for a support rep to eventually get in touch.

Now, that form is on its way out, and the screening process is, you guessed it, becoming AI-based. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

more…

If you’re buying a HomeKit door lock in 2025 and it doesn’t support home key, keep moving. The tap to unlock experience with iPhone or Apple Watch is the feature that makes smart locks feel like a major upgrade over a physical key or even unlocking via the Home app. It’s fast, reliable, and once you get used to it, there’s no going back. The checks all the boxes for a great HomeKit lock and brings a few nice surprises for under $150k.

more…

This fall, an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air will join Apple’s product lineup. But unsurprisingly, that radically thin design will likely come with some battery compromises. Here’s what the latest leak says about iPhone 17 Air battery capacity.

more…

Just weeks after announcing its return date, Apple has released the trailer for the new season of Stillwater, the mindfulness-themed animated series based on Jon J Muth’s bestselling Zen book collection. Watch the trailer below.

more…

The battery capacity of Apple's rumored iPhone 17 Air will be below the 3,000 mAh mark, according to a recent post from Instant Digital, an account with more than 1.4 million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo.


Thanks to iOS 26's new Adaptive Power Mode, though, the account said that the iPhone 17 Air should achieve full-day battery life.

A previous rumor pegged the iPhone 17 Air's battery capacity at around 2,800 mAh, which would indeed be below the 3,000 mAh mark.

Some of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models were the last with battery capacities at or below the 3,000 mAh mark. Of course, you can only directly compare mAh values when the batteries have the same voltage, with Wh a preferred unit of measurement. iPhone batteries typically do have the same voltage, allowing for mAh comparisons.

Instant Digital has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, the account does not have a perfect track record.

A few months ago, The Information's Wayne Ma reported that the iPhone 17 Air would have "worse" battery life compared to previous iPhone models, due to the device's rumored ultra-thin 5.5mm design limiting internal space for a battery.

In internal testing, Apple determined that the percentage of users who will be able to use the iPhone 17 Air for a full day without needing to recharge the device throughout the day will be between 60% and 70%, according to that report. For other iPhone models, the report said that metric is apparently between 80% and 90%.

To mitigate this problem, the report said that Apple is planning to release a battery case as an optional accessory for the iPhone 17 Air.

Apple last released battery cases for the iPhone 11 lineup, followed by the since-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 models and newer. A battery case both protects an iPhone and provides additional battery life as necessary.
This article, "iPhone 17 Air's Limited Battery Capacity Leaked" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

If you’re at all interested in Apple’s services, Apple One has long been a great option for bundling them together and saving a little money. And over time, new features have continually been added to Apple’s various services. Here are the most recent ways Apple One has gotten better, and a preview of what’s coming next in iOS 26.

more…

watchOS 26 is coming this fall, with new features like the Notes app, watch face ‘hints,’ Control Center upgrades, and more. But unlike most watchOS releases, there are several tentpole features that will only be available on very recent Apple Watch models.

more…

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we catch up on all of the latest rumors about Apple's first foldable iPhone amid a multitude of reports about the device and its launch firming up for next year.


Apple's foray into foldable smartphones has been rumored for many years, but it looks like the rumors will finally come to fruition next year. Full-scale prototyping of the device reportedly began last month, Samsung has begun production on the OLED displays destined for the foldable, and it is now believed to be on track to reach launch alongside the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026.

The first foldable ‌iPhone‌ is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, a unique hinge system, two rear cameras (wide and ultra wide), one front-facing camera, and a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID.

It is likely to be 4.5mm or so when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded. For comparison, the latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 4.2mm when unfolded, and 8.9mm when folded. It also features three rear cameras, instead of Apple's anticipated two.

However, Apple is apparently seeking to outdo Samsung with a "crease-free" display thanks to an innovative design that uses a metal plate to disperse and control the stress generated by bending the display. This would be an industry first.

It is expected to cost $1,800 to $2,000. Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999.99. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's roadmap for new Vision headsets and smart glasses over the next few years.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: We're Finally Getting a Foldable iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Friday’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are now up for grabs and headlined by the M4 MacBook Pro. After skipping out on the Prime Day event entirely, Apple’s most affordable M4 MacBook Pro has now dropped $200 at Amazon to deliver the lowest price online for the least pricey model in the lineup at $1,399. Those offers join up to $179 off models in the M4 MacBook Air lineup and the return of Prime Day pricing on the 24GB M4 Mac mini, but we also have unlocked iPhone 15 units at up to $449 off the original Apple prices. All of that and more awaits below including a giant 59% price drop on Twelve South’s 15W Butterfly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger. 

more…

This fall, Apple will launch a brand new flagship iPhone model: the iPhone 17 Air. Its ultra-thin, futuristic design will be the main selling point, but the iPhone 17 Air is also expected to come with a brand new 6.6-inch screen size. Here’s what rumors say about the display.

more…

Along with the launch of new Apple Watch models, Apple is releasing watchOS 26 in just under a couple of months, and the software update is bringing several new features that should make all compatible Apple Watch models smarter and more helpful.


Provided you own a model that supports watchOS 26, here are 10 new things you'll be able to do with your Apple Watch when the software rolls around in September.

• Auto-adjust speaker volume: When not in silent mode, your Apple Watch will automatically adjust the volume of incoming notifications, calls, and Siri responses based on the ambient noise around you.



• Wrist flick back to watch face: A wrist flick gesture on newer Apple Watch models allows one-handed notification dismissal. You can turn your wrist over and back to dismiss notifications, silence timers and alarms, or return to the watch face.



• Get seconds in always-on display mode: On Apple Watch Series 10 models, more watch faces that count the seconds between minutes will continue to tick over in real time when always-on display mode is active (i.e. when your wrist isn't raised).



• Translate messages: watchOS 26 supports Live Translation in the Messages app with ‌Apple Intelligence‌, automatically translating incoming texts and responses. The feature works on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 with a supported ‌iPhone‌.



• Smart Stack hints: The Smart Stack will now offer you hints using contextual data, sensor info, and routine patterns for actionable suggestions. These appear as visual prompts on the display, such as Backtrack in remote locations or workout suggestions when arriving at fitness locations.



• Reset Control Center: In watchOS 26, Apple has added a new option that lets you reset your Apple Watch's Control Center if you want to revert back to the default layout.



• Workout music picked for you: As part of the Workout app revamp, there's a new option that allows your watch to automatically play music based on what you listen to and the type of workout (unless media is already playing).



• Get Workout milestone alerts: As part of the new optional Workout Buddy feature, you can receive celebratory alerts for when you hit a new milestone – like running 500 miles and more.



• Create Apple Notes: In ‌watchOS 26‌, the Notes app finally comes to Apple Watch with functionality including pinning, unlocking, and creating notes via ‌Siri‌ or dictation. There's also a handy new Create Note widget to add to your watch's Control Center.



• Read what's being said in Live Listen: When the Live Listen feature is enabled on your iPhone, your Apple Watch will deliver a real-time transcription of any speech that's being picked up on your iPhone's microphone.

Note: watchOS 26 is currently in developer beta testing, with a general release expected this fall alongside the iOS 26 rollout for iPhones.
This article, "watchOS 26: 10 New Things Your Apple Watch Can Do" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

This week's best deals include all-time low prices on AirPods 4 and Apple Watch SE, plus great deals on the M4 MacBook Air and Apple Pencil Pro.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

AirPods 4

• What's the deal? Get $39 off AirPods 4


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has brought back the all-time low Prime Day prices on Apple's AirPods 4, available for $89.99, down from $129.00, and the AirPods 4 with ANC for $119.99, down from $179.00.

MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Get $150 off M4 MacBook Air


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has a few M4 MacBook Air models at solid second-best prices this week, offering $150 off both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes of the computer.

Apple Watch

• What's the deal? Get up to $100 off Apple Watch SE and Series 10


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week introduced a few discounts across the Apple Watch SE and Series 10 models, with up to $100 in savings on these wearables.

Apple Pencil Pro

• What's the deal? Get $30 off Apple Pencil Pro


• Where can I get it? Amazon

The Apple Pencil Pro is still available for $99.00 this week on Amazon, down from $129.00, which remains the best price we've tracked to date.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

---

This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Get AirPods 4 for Just $89.99, Plus Steep Discounts on Apple Watch and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today announced it will be opening a new store at the Touchwood Solihull shopping center in Solihull, a town near Birmingham in England.


Apple's existing store in the mall will be permanently closing on Thursday, July 24, at 6 p.m. local time, according to the company. The new store replacing it will hold its grand opening on Saturday, July 26 at 9 a.m. local time.

Apple first opened a store at Touchwood Solihull in 2007, so it has been serving customers there for nearly 18 years. The new store will have a modern design, with Apple now preferring to use engineered wood as its primary material of choice, rather than stainless steel. The new store is significantly larger than the current one, and it will likely be equipped with an Apple Pickup station for customers to collect online orders.

The new store will be located directly across the hall from Apple's existing location, in the Crescent Arcade section of the mall. Apple is taking over a unit previously occupied by Topshop, next to clothing retailer Superdry.

It has been a fairly busy year for Apple retail in the UK. Earlier this year, Apple opened a redesigned store at the Trafford Centre, near Manchester. And next month, Apple will be permanently closing its store in central Bristol.

Thanks, Filip Chudzinski!
This article, "New Apple Store Opening in the UK Next Week" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Netflix reported its quarterly earnings yesterday, and alongside revealing viewership data from the first half of 2025, Co-CEO Ted Sarandos name-dropped a bunch of the streamer’s biggest TV shows and movies that are coming throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026.

more…

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by 1Password: For a limited time, get $20 off the easiest way to stay secure online with 1Password—featuring a new passkey feature that lets you go passwordless on compatible apps and sites.

more…

Apple is expected to hold its annual iPhone announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely dates. Like the iPhone 16 series, this year's lineup is expected to include four models – but with a twist. The ‌Plus device is being replaced with an all-new ultra-thin model, while the iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max are set to feature new rear camera designs.


To bring you up to speed, we've summarized below the biggest iPhone 17 rumors we've covered so far here on MacRumors. For more details, follow the links, or dive into our dedicated device roundups using the tags at the bottom of this article.

1. All-New iPhone 17 Air

Apple is preparing to shake up the iPhone lineup with an ultra-thin model currently referred to as the iPhone 17 Air. While that name isn't official, what is clear from multiple reports is that it is expected to measure just 5.5mm thick (not including the camera bump), making it the thinnest iPhone Apple has ever made. The device will replace the iPhone 17 Plus in this year's lineup altogether. Apple is positioning this model around its design – sleek, minimal, and unlike anything else in the range. It won't match the iPhone 17 Pro models in horsepower or cutting-edge features, but its standout look could make it the most talked-about iPhone of 2025.

2. Display Size Changes

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup will include four iPhones, and two of those are going to have all-new display sizes. The ‌iPhone 17‌ will feature a larger 6.27-inch display, which will make it the same size as the current iPhone 16 Pro display. The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is rumored to have a 6.6-inch display, which means it will be larger than the iPhone 17 but smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

3. Rear Camera Layout

Viewed from the rear, the standard iPhone 17 will look a lot like the current iPhone 16, with two vertical rear cameras positioned in a pill-shaped camera bump. However, the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to feature a new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, with the bar spanning the back of the iPhone, Google Pixel-style. Despite the change, the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to retain a triangular lens arrangement within the bar.

4. Faster Displays

Apple intends to expand ProMotion to all iPhone 17 models, allowing the devices to ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video. Previously, only "Pro" models in Apple's iPhone lineup have had the feature. Notably, ProMotion would also enable the display on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 "Air" to ramp down to a more power-efficient refresh rate as low as 1Hz, allowing for an always-on display that can show the Lock Screen's clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the device is locked.

5. Chassis Material Changes

Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames. This year, however, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature aluminum frames, with a glass section on the back of the devices to preserve MagSafe and Qi wireless charging support. The base iPhone 17 is also expected to have aluminum, while the all-new iPhone 17 Air is said to be the sole model to feature a titanium chassis.

6. New Wi-Fi 7 Chip

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are said to be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip for the first time. Wi-Fi 7 support would allow the devices to send and receive data over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously with a supported router, resulting in faster Wi-Fi speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity.

7. Rear Camera Enhancements

The iPhone 17 Pro models will have a new 48-megapixel Telephoto lens. The upgraded Telephoto will make the premium devices the first iPhones to have a rear camera system composed entirely of 48-megapixel lenses, allowing them to capture even more photographic detail. The new 48MP sensor should also allow for digital cropping to simulate longer focal lengths, offering less quality loss than normal digital zoom. The all-new iPhone 17 Air will have a single-lens 48-megapixel rear camera. We are not aware of any changes to base iPhone 17's dual-lens camera system with a Wide camera and an Ultra Wide camera.

8. Selfie Camera

All iPhone models coming in 2025 are rumored to have an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, which is an improvement over the 12-megapixel front-facing camera in the iPhone 16 models. The camera will notably improve image quality, and allow for more cropping in without a loss of quality. The camera is also said to have a six-element lens, up from a five-element lens, which should also slightly enhance image quality.

9. Anti-Reflective Display

The iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to feature a new scratch resistant anti-reflective display layer, but the base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air models are expected to miss out. Current iPhone models have a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and a Ceramic Shield, but Apple hasn't focused on anti-reflectivity for the ‌iPhone‌ display like it has for iPad and Mac displays. It's supposedly more scratch resistant than the current Ceramic Shield, so the ‌iPhone 17‌ models that use it may be able to better hold up to wear and tear.

10. Increased RAM

The iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Air are expected to include 12GB RAM, an improvement over the 8GB RAM in the current high-end iPhone 16 models. Rumors suggest the standard iPhone 17 will remain at 8GB RAM like its predecessor. Any increase in RAM should result in improved multitasking on the iPhone, as well as provide additional resources for Apple Intelligence features that require large-language models to be resident in memory.

11. Dynamic Island Changes

One rumor suggests Apple's iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, although the rumor lacks specific details. It was initially rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might have a smaller Dynamic Island area compared to earlier iPhone models, but it was later reported that such a change might not be happening until the iPhone 18 Pro models. Another source has claimed that any reduction in the size of the Dynamic Island will come to all iPhone 17 models. If so, it will be the first change since the feature was introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022.

12. Faster Processors

The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are expected to feature Apple's new A19 chip, while the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will get the A19 Pro chip. Both of those chips are said to be manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P. Compared to earlier versions of 3nm chips, the N3P chips offer increased performance efficiency and increased transistor density.

13. Improved Thermal Performance

The iPhone 17 lineup will feature a vapor chamber heatsink to improve thermal performance, according to one report. Vapor chamber technology is already used in many high-end Android devices. Vapor chambers work by spreading heat evenly across a larger surface area, preventing thermal throttling and maintaining consistent performance, which is particularly beneficial in slim devices. The report claims that every model in the iPhone 17 series will adopt the improved thermal heat spreader.

14. New Video Recording Features

According to one rumor, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will allow users to record video with the front and rear cameras simultaneously, which would be useful for content creators. Some apps on the App Store, such as Snapchat, enable this capability, but this leak suggests it will be a built-in Camera app feature. Apple has also allegedly tested 8K video recording for the iPhone 17 Pro models, which would allow videographers to record using the Ultra Wide camera and then crop in 50% and still achieve 4K resolution.

15. Faster Wireless Charging

Apple's iPhone 17 models are likely to support up to 25W wireless charging using a variety of third-party MagSafe charging accessories, thanks to compatibility with the next-generation Qi 2.2 wireless charging standard. Currently, iPhones featuring MagSafe use Qi 2, the Wireless Power Consortium's (WPC) widely supported second-generation charging standard. With third-party chargers, Qi 2 maxes out at 15W – although iPhone 16 models do support upgraded 25W MagSafe charging using an official 30W Apple charger. That limitation is likely to change with the iPhone 17 models, which are expected to support Qi 2.2.

16. New Colors Lineup

The base iPhone 17 model is rumored to be coming in six colors, comprised of the existing Black and White colors, and four new ones: Steel Gray, Green, Purple, and Light Blue. The all-new iPhone 17 Air is said to be coming in Black, White, Light Blue, and Light Gold. As for the iPhone 17 Pro models, Black, White (or Liquid Glass?), and Gray are said to be accompanied by new Dark Blue and Orange colors.
This article, "iPhone 17 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums