Benchmark testing has indicated that the 256GB variant of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip offers slower SSD performance than its M1 equivalent, and now real-world stress testing by YouTuber Max Yuryev of Max Tech suggests that the 256GB SSD in the 13-inch MacBook Pro is also underperforming in day-to day-usage.
The M2 MacBook Pro with 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM was slower than the M1 MacBook Pro with 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM across multiple usage tests involving Photoshop, Lightroom, Final Cut Pro, multitasking, and file transfers. In a multitasking RAM test, the M1 consistently loads content faster with multiple apps open, and in a 50 image export test in Lightroom with apps open, the M1 was again quicker. It was able to export 50 images in 3 minutes and 36 seconds, while the M2 took 4 minutes and 12 seconds.
In these tests, the built-in 8GB unified memory of the MacBook Pro is being used by various processes, with the machine using the SSD for virtual memory. The virtual memory swapping results in slower system performance overall.
These results were consistent across all of the performance stress tests done by Max Tech, and benchmark tests conducted by Max Tech on Saturday demonstrated the same discrepancy. The M2 MacBook Pro's read speeds appear to be around 50 percent slower, while the write speeds appear to be around 30 percent slower.
13-inch MacBook Pro (M1/256GB) Read Speed: 2,900
13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Read Speed: 1,446
13-inch MacBook Pro (M1/256GB) Write Speed: 2,215
13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Write Speed: 1,463
Max Tech attributes this performance difference to Apple's choice of NAND flash storage. In the M2 MacBook Pro, there is a single 256GB NAND flash storage chip, while the M1 MacBook Pro has two NAND chips that are likely 128GB each. Multiple NAND chips allow for faster speeds in parallel, which could account for the M2's seemingly disappointing performance.
Slower SSD performance appears to be limited to the 256GB version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, as higher capacity machines have not demonstrated the same issue. Potential MacBook Pro buyers should be aware of this performance problem as it could impact purchase choice.
It is not clear why Apple opted for a different NAND chip setup in the M2 MacBook Pro, and further testing is required to determine just what is going on. Apple has not responded to our requests for comment as of yet, but we will update this article if we hear back.
Apple today shared a tutorial video designed to walk users through using the free Keynote app to create an animated mantra collage on the iPad. Apple collaborated with artist Quentin Jones on the six minute video, which is part of a "Creative Projects" series.
The tutorial covers gathering inspiration and photos, writing a mantra, using Split View, cutting out photos with the shapes tool, using Instant Alpha to remove negative space, adding words and embellishments with Apple Pencil, creating a dynamic GIF, and more.
To follow along with the tutorial, users will need an iPad, the Keynote app, and an Apple Pencil, though the Apple Pencil is optional.
With many customers choosing to upgrade their iPhone every two or three years nowadays, there are lots of iPhone 11 Pro users who might be interested in upgrading to the iPhone 14 Pro later this year. Those people are in for a treat, as three years of iPhone generations equals a long list of new features and changes to look forward to.
Below, we've put together a list of new features and changes to expect if you upgrade from an iPhone 11 Pro to an iPhone 14 Pro. The list includes features added to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro over the last few years, as well as features rumored for the iPhone 14 Pro, which Apple is expected to announce in September as usual.
A16 chip vs. A13 chip: The A15 chip in the iPhone 13 Pro is already up to 42% faster than the A13 chip in the 11 Pro, according to Geekbench 5, and performance should improve even more with the A16 chip in the iPhone 14 Pro.
Larger display: iPhone 11 Pro is equipped with a 5.8-inch display, while the 14 Pro is expected to have a 6.1-inch display.
Brighter display: Compared to the iPhone 11 Pro, the 14 Pro's display should have up to 200 nits higher peak brightness.
No more notch: Rumors suggest Apple will replace the notch with a pill-shaped cutout and a hole for the Face ID sensors and front camera on the iPhone 14 Pro.
ProMotion: Introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro, ProMotion allows for a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother appearing content and scrolling.
Always-on display: Rumors suggest the iPhone 14 Pro will feature an always-on display mode that shows the time, date, and iOS 16's new Lock screen widgets.
Ceramic Shield: Introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple said the Ceramic Shield front cover increased drop performance by 4x compared to the 11 Pro.
Longer battery life: Already, the iPhone 13 Pro gets 22 hours of video playback vs. 18 hours for the 11 Pro, and rumors suggest that iPhone 14 Pro models could feature even larger battery capacities.
Numerous camera improvements: iPhone 11 Pro users upgrading to the 14 Pro will get a slew of camera upgrades, including a rumored 48-megapixel Wide lens with support for 8K video recording, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, increased optical zoom, sensor-shift image stabilization, Macro mode, Cinematic mode, ProRAW, ProRes, Night mode portraits and time lapses, and more.
Flat edges: While the iPhone 11 Pro's stainless steel frame has round edges, Apple has switched to flat edges with the 12 Pro and newer.
5G: While the iPhone 11 Pro is limited to LTE, the iPhone 12 and newer support 5G for faster cellular data speeds, where available.
Wi-Fi 6E: iPhone 14 models are rumored to support Wi-Fi 6E, which extends Wi-Fi into the 6 GHz band, in addition to the existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
MagSafe: iPhone 12 and newer models feature MagSafe, a system that lets you magnetically attach accessories to the back of the iPhone, such as Apple's own MagSafe Charger, MagSafe Wallet, and MagSafe Battery Pack.
Increased storage: iPhone 11 Pro started with 64GB of storage, but the 14 Pro should have at least 128GB of base storage.
LiDAR Scanner: Introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro, the LiDAR Scanner is situated next to the rear camera and offers faster augmented reality experiences and improves autofocus by 6x in low-light photos and videos, according to Apple.
Improved water resistance: Apple says the iPhone 11 Pro is water resistant up to a depth of four meters for up to 30 minutes, while the 12 Pro and newer are water resistant up to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes.
Given the vast number of improvements and changes since the iPhone 11 Pro, this list is far from comprehensive, but it does highlight most major features.
Apple suppliers have begun shipping components for iPhone 14 models, which are expected to launch in September as usual, according to Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes. The report likely refers to components being shipped to manufacturers like Foxconn for final assembly of iPhone 14 models over the next few months.
"Component suppliers have kicked off their shipments for the next-generation iPhone series slated for launch in September, according to industry sources," wrote DigiTimes, in a paywalled preview of a report that should be published in full by tomorrow.
The full lineup is expected to consist of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, with the 5.4-inch mini model set to be discontinued. Improvements to the standard iPhone 14 models could include increased RAM, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, and Wi-Fi 6E support.
Last year, all four iPhone 13 models were announced on September 14, became available to pre-order on September 17, and launched on September 24 in the United States and more than 30 other countries. High-end iPhones have been announced in September every year for over a decade now, with the exception of 2020, when the iPhone 12 lineup was unveiled in October of that year, likely due to pandemic-related delays.
TSMC will manufacture Apple's upcoming "M2 Pro" and "M3" chips based on its 3nm process, according to Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes.
"Apple reportedly has booked TSMC capacity for its upcoming 3nm M3 and M2 Pro processors," said DigiTimes, in a report focused on competition between chipmakers like TSMC and Samsung to secure 3nm chip orders. As expected, the report said TSMC will begin volume production of 3nm chips in the second half of 2022.
In his latest newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he expects the M2 Pro to be used in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and a high-end Mac mini. As for the M3, Gurman expects the chip to be used in an updated 13-inch MacBook Air, an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air, a new iMac, and potentially a new 12-inch MacBook.
In all likelihood, the M2 Max would also be manufactured based on a 3nm process in this scenario. That chip would be suitable for the highest-end MacBook Pro configurations, and the Mac Studio if Apple chooses to update that computer within the next year or so.
While it was widely expected that the M3 would be 3nm, it is more notable that the M2 Pro might be as well, given that the standard M2 chip that debuted in the new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro remains built based on TSMC's 5nm process. Both the M1 and M1 Pro chips share the same process, so the M2 and M2 Pro being built on different processes would represent a change of course for Apple silicon in the Mac.
Vadim Yuryev, host of the YouTube channel Max Tech, has adamantly expressed his opinion that the M2 Pro will indeed be 3nm in a series of tweets over the last few weeks. In the past, Yuryev accurately revealed that the M1 Ultra chip in the Mac Studio would effectively be two M1 Max chips connected as a singular chip.
If the 3nm report is accurate, the performance delta between the M2 Pro and M2 could be even greater than between the M1 Pro and M1. However, it's worth tempering expectations until any additional reports corroborate the M2 Pro chip being 3nm.
Polish developer Michał Gapiński has released a new and improved version of his "Tesla Android Project" which brings Apple's CarPlay experience to more Tesla vehicles than ever before.
According to Gapiński, version 2022.25.1 provides "100% functional CarPlay integration for any Tesla," and comes with several new features and bug fixes.
The project now supports DRM video playback so that apps like Netflix function normally, an orientation lock so that apps like Apple Music automatically launch in landscape mode, and the hack now uses Android 12.1 for better stability and performance.
Gapiński's CarPlay workaround involves using a Rasberry Pi with an LTE modem and a Wi-Fi access point, running a custom Android-based firmware, as well as a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable and Ethernet cable.
The in-car browser is used to connect to the Rasberry Pi and display the CarPlay interface on the Tesla's screen, where Apple apps including Maps and Apple Music function as expected. The system works while driving, and can also be controlled with the media buttons on the Tesla's steering wheel.
Despite the preponderance of CarPlay on many electric cars, Tesla does not offer official support. Hints in 2020 that Tesla was planning to support Apple Music never came to fruition, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk doesn't respond to requests on Twitter for the company to bring CarPlay to its vehicles, despite it being one of the most-requested features among Tesla owners.
At the Worldwide Developers Conference 2022, Apple previewed the "next generation" of CarPlay for compatible vehicles. The next-gen CarPlay experience will support multiple displays within a vehicle, offer built-in climate controls for adjusting the temperature of the A/C or heat within the CarPlay interface, and more.
Apple said the first vehicles to support the new CarPlay experience will be announced in late 2023, with committed automakers including Ford, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti, Honda, Acura, Jaguar, Land Rover, Audi, Nissan, Volvo, Porsche, and more.
Apple is likely to release a successor to the original HomePod next year that will feature a new display on top supporting new touch interactions, according to Mark Gurman.
Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, the Bloomberg journalist says the smart speaker will have a similar size and boast comparable audio quality as the original, now discontinued HomePod, and will be powered by the future Apple Watch Series 8 chip, the S8 processor.
The HomePod, code-named B620, will run the same S8 chip coming to the watches and will be closer to the original HomePod in terms of size and audio performance rather than a new HomePod mini. The new HomePod will have an updated display on top and there's even been some talk of multi-touch functionality.
According to Gurman, the S8 chip in the new HomePod will have the same specifications as the S7 chip, which was also the same as the S6 used in 2020's Apple Watch Series 6. For context, the current HomePod mini uses the S5 chip that was introduced with Apple Watch Series 5.
In 2021, Gurman reported that Apple shelved plans for a direct successor to the HomePod that was originally scheduled to launch in 2022. Since then, Gurman has reported that Apple is working on new HomePod models with a display and a camera to compete with the likes of Amazon's Echo Show and Facebook's Portal, although that now sounds like a different device altogether.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently claimed Apple is working on an updated version of the HomePod that could come in the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023. Kuo cautioned that there "may not be much innovation in hardware design" compared to the original HomePod, but that is unlikely to concern fans of the discontinued model.
The original HomePod was announced in 2017, and was Apple's first foray into the competitive smart speaker market. Apple discontinued the HomePod in March 2021 to focus on the HomePod mini and due to lackluster sales.
Gurman's latest newsletter also mentioned Apple's intention to bring always-on display features to this year's iPhone 14 Pro models, as well as launch a new Mac mini with an M2 Pro chip, and a new Apple TV with an A14 chip.
Following the launch of Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, it has been discovered that the $1,299 base model with 256GB of storage has significantly slower SSD read/write speeds compared to the equivalent previous-generation model.
YouTube channels such as Max Tech and Created Tech tested the 256GB model with Blackmagic's Disk Speed Test app and found that the SSD's read and write speeds are both around 1,450 MB/s, which is around 50% slower reading and around 30% slower writing compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 chip and 256GB of storage.
Disk Speed Test app numbers shared by Max Yuryev of Max Tech:
13-inch MacBook Pro (M1/256GB) Read Speed: 2,900
13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Read Speed: 1,446
13-inch MacBook Pro (M1/256GB) Write Speed: 2,215
13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Write Speed: 1,463
Yuryev disassembled the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and discovered that the 256GB model is equipped with only a single NAND flash storage chip, whereas the previous model has two NAND chips that are likely 128GB each. This difference likely explains why the new model has a slower SSD, as multiple NAND chips allows for faster speeds in parallel.
It appears that only the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip has a slower SSD. As noted in the MacRumors forums, Aaron Zollo ran the Disk Speed Test app on the 512GB model and the SSD's read/write speeds were similar to all M1 models, but getting these speeds will require spending at least $1,499. This likely means that the 512GB model remains equipped with two 256GB flash storage chips.
It's unclear why the new base model 13-inch MacBook Pro is only equipped with a single NAND chip, but costs and/or supply constraints are two possible factors. We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story if we hear back.
Slower SSD speeds can impact common tasks such as transferring files to an external drive, and overall performance can also take a slight hit since Macs temporarily use SSD space as virtual memory when physical RAM is fully used. If you are considering the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and faster SSD speeds are important to you, we recommend ordering a model with at least 512GB of storage (or better yet, wait for the new MacBook Air in July).
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro launched on Friday. The base model's slower SSD speeds were not mentioned in many (any?) embargoed reviews of the notebook, as it appears that Apple provided many reviewers with a 1TB configuration for testing.
It remains to be seen if the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip will also have slower SSD speeds when configured with 256GB of storage.
iPhone 14 Pro models are widely expected to feature always-on displays that allow users to view glanceable information without having to tap to wake the screen. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman said the feature will include support for iOS 16's new Lock screen widgets for weather, fitness, and more.
"Like the Apple Watch, the iPhone 14 Pro will be able to show widgets displaying weather, calendars, stocks, activities and other data while the screen remains at a low brightness and frame rate," wrote Gurman. "And there will be a setting—also like the Apple Watch—that keeps sensitive data from appearing on the lock screen for all to see."
The always-on display will also likely be able to show the time, date, and unread notifications indicator. In line with the Apple Watch, which has featured an always-on display mode since the Series 5, it is likely that Apple will give users the option to enable or disable the always-on display on iPhone 14 Pro models via the Settings app.
As mentioned by Gurman, the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display mode should preserve battery life with a combination of lower brightness and a low refresh rate. Introduced on iPhone 13 Pro models, ProMotion allows the display to drop as low as 10Hz when idle, and display industry analyst Ross Young expects that iPhone 14 Pro models will likely be able to drop down to as low as 1Hz like the Apple Watch for further power efficiency.
Apple will likely unveil its iPhone 14 lineup around September as usual, barring any major supply chain disruptions. Only the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to feature always-on displays, but the feature could trickle down to standard models in the future.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman outlined additional M2 Macs on Apple's product roadmap, including new Mac mini models with M2 and M2 Pro chips, new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, and a new Mac Pro tower with M2 Ultra and "M2 Extreme" chips.
Following the M2 series of Macs, Gurman said the first M3 series of Macs will include an updated 13-inch MacBook Air, an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air, a new iMac, and potentially a new 12-inch notebook that is "still in early development."
Gurman said Apple is developing several additional devices that could launch later this year and beyond, including a new Apple TV with an A14 chip and an increased 4GB of RAM, a new HomePod with the same S8 chip coming to the Apple Watch Series 8, an AR/VR headset that may have an M2 chip and 16GB of RAM, iPad Pro models with the M2 chip, a new low-end iPad with an A14 chip and a USB-C port, new AirPods Pro, and more.
Gurman said the new HomePod will be closer to the original in terms of size and feature an updated display on the top of the speaker:
The new Apple TV, code-named J255, is in development with an A14 chip and an additional gigabyte of RAM. That compares with the A12 chip announced as part of the 2021 Apple TV last year and could be useful for additional gaming capabilities rolling out in tvOS 16.
The HomePod, code-named B620, will run the same S8 chip coming to the watches and will be closer to the original HomePod in terms of size and audio performance rather than a new HomePod mini. The new HomePod will have an updated display on top and there's even been some talk of multi-touch functionality.
As for the S8 chip for the Apple Watch Series 8 and new HomePod, Gurman said he was told it will have the same specifications as the S7 and S6 chips in previous models. Gurman said the S8 chip may also be used in the next Apple Watch SE.
Gurman also reiterated that he expects Apple to release a larger iPad with a 14-inch to 15-inch display within the next two years.
Apple this week rolled out its second developer betas of iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and related operating system updates, delivering some initial tweaks compared to the first beta. We should see the first public betas in another couple of weeks around the same time as the third developer betas, offering much wider access to the updates.
This week also saw the launch of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is Apple's first Mac to feature its M2 chip, as well as the annual Back to School promotion for education customers, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!
13-Inch M2 MacBook Pro Reviews: Faster Performance, But Consider Waiting for New MacBook Air
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with a faster M2 chip launched on Friday and is now available in Apple's retail stores. Ahead of time, early reviews of the notebook were shared by some YouTube channels and media outlets, offering a hands-on look at the performance improvements.
While the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is up to 20% faster than the previous model, most reviews suggest waiting for the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip to launch next month.
The MacRumors Show: Ian Zelbo Talks iPhone 14 Pro and Apple Watch Series 8 Design Rumors
Apple concept graphic designer Ian Zelbo joined us on The MacRumors Show podcast this week to discuss what to expect from the design of the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple's long-rumored mixed-reality AR/VR headset.
Apple Launches 2022 Back to School Offer: Up to $150 Gift Card With Mac or iPad
As rumored, Apple on Friday launched its annual Back to School promotion for students in the U.S., Canada, and several Asian countries.
While last year's version of the promotion offered students a free pair of second-generation AirPods with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad model, this year's promotion for customers in the U.S. and Canada includes a $150 gift card with the purchase of any new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac model, or a $100 gift card with the purchase of any new iPad Pro or iPad Air.
New Siri Remote for Apple TV Referenced in iOS 16 Beta
One of the references is for a "SiriRemote4," which does not correspond with any existing Siri Remote, leading to the possibility that it could be a new Siri Remote for a future Apple TV — perhaps the lower-cost model rumored to launch in the second half of 2022?
iOS 16 Will Let iPhone Users Bypass CAPTCHAs in Supported Apps and Websites
In the iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 betas, the useful new feature can be found in the Settings app under Apple ID > Password & Security > Automatic Verification.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple overhauled the Lock Screen in iOS 16, introducing all kinds of customization options that let you make your Lock Screen unique. You can choose widgets, customize the colors, and use emojis, photos, or built-in wallpapers.
This guide walks through all of the changes that Apple made to the iPhone's Lock Screen, and how to use the new Lock Screen features.
Editing Your Lock Screen
If you're familiar with the widget and Home Screen editing interfaces, editing a Lock Screen in iOS 16 is much the same. You can get to all the controls to experiment with by unlocking your iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID, swiping downwards if you're not already on the Lock Screen, and then long pressing on the display.
From there, you can tap on the "+" button to create a new Lock Screen or tap on the "Customize" option to customize the current Lock Screen. You can choose different wallpapers, colors, and widgets, which we'll go over below.
You can also swipe through your Lock Screens if you've already created multiples and want to change it. When you're done with all of your customizations, just swipe up or tap to exit out and get back to your newly individualized Lock Screen.
Tapping on the "+" button when creating a new Lock Screen or customizing an existing one will bring you to the wallpaper interface first, where you can choose the wallpaper that you want to use.
Apple has organized the different wallpapers into categories that you can select from the top of the interface or by scrolling down to see various options. There's even a "Featured" section that shows you some of the more popular wallpaper options that you might want to look into using.
People
As the name suggests, tapping on the "People" category will bring up images of people that you've photographed that will work well with a new depth effect that the Lock Screen supports. On select images, the time will go under the person or object in the photo to create a layered look, similar to how Portrait mode photos look on the Apple Watch.
Once you choose a person to feature on your Lock Screen, you'll see how it will look with the time depth effect. You can opt to leave the photo natural or add Studio, Black and White, or customizable Color Backdrop options, which are available depending on the photo you're using.
If you don't like the depth effect, you can turn it off by tapping on the three dots at the bottom, and there's also an option to turn off the Perspective Zoom.
Photos and Photo Shuffle
The Photos category allows you to use any of your photos as a Lock Screen, with Apple selecting Featured images that will work with the layered time effect or that the iPhone thinks might look particularly good as a wallpaper. Photos can be customized with a black and white option.
If you want to use multiple photos, you can choose the Photo Shuffle feature instead. With Photo Shuffle, you can have your iPhone's Lock Screen swap between photos. Apple lets you pick from Featured photos in categories that include People, Pets, Nature, and Urban, or you can select all of your photos you want to include manually.
With the Featured customization option, you can deselect any of the categories, or with the People category, choose which people you want to include. If you're using the manual option, you can choose as many or as few photos as you want.
Photos can be set to change on tap, on wake, hourly, or daily, and if a photo you don't like comes up, you can long press, choose edit, and then select the "Don't Feature Photo" option.
With the Emoji wallpaper option, you can select up to six of your favorite emoji to create a tiled background with those emoji featured. Some of the emoji will be shown larger, and some smaller, for an artistic looking wallpaper, but this can be changed.
Apple lets you choose a small grid, medium grid, or large grid, with different emoji sizes. You can also opt for rings or spiral as a customization option.
If you tap on the three dots, you can choose the color of the background behind the emoji, using a preselected color or choosing from a color wheel.
The Weather Lock Screen option shows the current weather in your area, similar to what you see in the Weather app itself. It shows live weather, so if it's cloudy, there are clouds. If it's raining, you'll see the rain animation.
There are no adjustments available for the Weather Lock Screen, and it may not be available on older devices that can't support the animation.
Astronomy
The Astronomy Lock Screen is similar to the Weather Lock Screen, in that it changes throughout the day based on the time and your location. There are several options, including the Earth and Earth Detail, which is a closer up view.
You can also select Moon, Moon Detail, or Solar System. The Astronomy Lock Screen is basically identical to the Astronomy Watch Face in watchOS 9. As with the Weather Lock Screen, there are no customization options for the wallpaper itself.
Color
The Color Lock Screen wallpaper lets you select a plain color for your background, though it will use a bit of a gradient, which can look nice depending on which color you've picked for the time.
You can select from one of Apple's preset colors and adjust the hue, or you can choose any color from Grid, Spectrum, and Slider options. Opacity can be adjusted with any color that you select.
Color Lock Screen wallpapers can be adjusted with different gradient options. You can select Vibrant, Tone, Deep, Vapor, Bright, or Solid, all of which change the look. The Solid option is solid, but all of the others offer a slight color blend for a dynamic look.
Collections
Collections are a set of Apple-designed wallpapers that you can choose to use for your Lock Screen. Each Apple-created wallpaper has a unique look that's designed for the iOS 16 Lock Screen, interacting in fun ways with the time.
The Collection wallpapers come in unique colors that match some Apple Watch faces, such as Pride and Unity, but there are also iOS 16-exclusive designs to choose from. Some of the wallpapers can be customized with different color options, such as the rainbow stripe and the bokeh, and several are slightly animated.
The Bokeh face has dots that shift around, and the Pride face animates when swapping between the Lock Screen and the Home Screen.
Time Customization
After you choose a Lock Screen wallpaper, you can customize everything else on the Lock Screen, including the font and color of the time that's displayed. On any Lock Screen wallpaper, you tap on customize and then tap on the box that's around the time to change the design.
You can choose from several different fonts, and depending on the Lock Screen, a selection of colors. Most Lock Screens support any color, but there are a few of the Apple-designed options that are less customizable.
As with most of the color options, you can choose from preselected colors or use the color wheel to pick any color that you like.
After you've selected your preferred design for the time, you can tap on the "x" to finish customizing your Lock Screen.
Tints and Styles
On any Photo background, you can use the customization options to change the tint. After entering the customization interface, swipe left or right through the available options to change the style.
On most photos, you can select from black and white or natural, but on images with people, you can also opt for Studio lighting (emphasizes the person and fades out the background), black and white, or colored backdrop, with the backdrop color customizable.
The wallpaper customization options are nice for a one-of-a-kind look for your Lock Screen, but what really sets iOS 16 apart is the option to add widgets to your Lock Screen.
In the customization interface, whether creating a new Lock Screen or customizing an existing Lock Screen, there are two separate widget boxes that you can edit. You can change the widget above the time, and add up to four different widget boxes below.
The widget interfaces are not as complex as the widgets available in the Today view and the Home Screen, but are instead more subtle versions that blend in with the rest of your Lock Screen setup.
You can add four single block widgets, two larger block widgets, or choose one single block widget and two smaller block widgets. You can also opt to use no widgets if you prefer a cleaner look.
Widgets You Can Add Above the Time
You can add a widget next to the date above the digital clock on the Lock Screen, and many of these widgets display a single data point, using text and symbols, right next to the date. Apple's built-in widget options are outlined below.
Calendar - Day of the week, date, month or next event
Clock - City time zone or next alarm
Fitness - Activity stats (move calories, exercise minutes, stand hours)
Reminders - Due today
Stocks - Single stock with up/down symbol
Weather - Moon events, sun events, conditions, location, rain, air quality, UV index, wind
Widgets You Can Add Below the Time
The widget box below the time holds a greater breadth of widget options that can display more information.
Batteries
The Batteries widget comes in both square and rectangular versions showing the iPhone's battery status. If you connect AirPods, their battery life is shown instead.
If you use two battery widgets, they will display the battery level for the same device, which may be a bug that Apple will address at a later date.
Calendar
The Calendar widget comes in three formats. You can track the current date as a square widget (though the date is already automatically listed above the time). You can also track the next upcoming event's time or use a larger widget to show both the event name and its time.
Clock
Three clock widgets let you view a clock for a city to check the time at that location, and these are available in one rectangular and two square varieties. There's also a world clock to view the time in up to three cities around the world, and two versions that display the next alarm.
Fitness
One Fitness widget displays the Activity rings graphic, while a larger readout shows your Activity ring stats (move, exercise, stand).
Home
For the Home app, two widgets display any indoor climate sensors, one displays any lights and switches, and another informs you of any security issues. You can also monitor a specific security accessory, or view a home summary (security, climate, and lights).
News
A single larger widget provides today's top news story.
Reminders
A single larger widget offers quick access to one of your Reminders lists, and displays the next due reminder.
Stocks
One smaller and one larger widget let you view price quotes and track performance of a symbol throughout the day. There's also a larger widget that displays three stocks.
Weather
Eight optional weather widgets are available for moon events, sun events, conditions, location, rain, air quality, UV index, and wind. Only the current weather conditions and moon events come in the larger widget format.
Additional widgets will be available in the future as there is an API that will allow developers to create widgets.
Subtler Notifications
Because of the new Lock Screen design with widgets, notifications now come in from the bottom of the display, rather than the top. This makes for a more subtle notification that does not interfere with the widgets you have set up.
You can swipe upward from the bottom of the display to see more of your notifications, and then swipe back down to hide them away.
Live Activities
Apple is introducing a new kind of notification called Live Activities, which you can track right from the Lock Screen. With Live Activities, you can do things like track the progress of a food delivery, Uber ride, or sports game.
Live Activities show up at the bottom of the display, and you can keep an eye on the progress of whatever you're tracking without unlocking your iPhone.
Live Activities will not be available when iOS 16 launches, and will instead be coming in an update later this year.
Multiple Lock Screens
Lock Screens in iOS 16 are a lot like Watch Faces on the Apple Watch. You can set up a bunch of them, and swap between them with a swipe.
Just long press on the screen after unlocking to get to the Lock Screen customization interface and swipe left or right to go through the different Lock Screens that you've created.
Each separate Lock Screen that you create can be linked to a different Focus mode in iOS 16. To do this, open up the Lock Screen interface by long pressing on an unlocked iPhone's Lock Screen, scroll to the Lock Screen of your choice, and then tap on "Focus" to choose which Focus mode to associate the Lock Screen with.
After that, the Lock Screen will have a little icon at the bottom that lets you know which Focus it is linked to.
Setting a Separate Lock Screen and Home Screen Wallpaper
When using the new Lock Screen customization options, by default, iOS 16 changes both your Lock Screen and your Home Screen to the wallpaper that you select.
If you want to have different wallpapers for both your Home Screen and Lock Screen, set up the Lock Screen and then follow these steps:
Open up the Settings app.
Scroll down and tap on Wallpaper.
Tap on the Home Screen icon to customize the Home Screen Wallpaper.
You can choose a solid color or pick a photo, allowing the Home Screen to use a different background from the Lock Screen.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about the iOS 16 Lock Screen, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple, Disney, and Amazon all submitted bids for the National Football League's out-of-market Sunday Ticket package "weeks ago" and are waiting to see who wins streaming rights to the package, according to CNBC's Alex Sherman and Jessica Golden.
"The NFL continues to be in discussion with all three bidders as it decides which partner it will choose," the report claims, despite an earlier report claiming that a deal between Apple and the NFL was "done" and "being kept quiet at Apple's request." The NFL is said to be looking for more than $2 billion for the Sunday Ticket streaming rights and a stake in NFL Media, which oversees the NFL Network channel, NFL.com, and more.
Sunday Ticket broadcasts all regional NFL games on Sunday afternoons to out-of-market viewers. In the United States, the package has been exclusively distributed by DirecTV since 1994, but the deal is set to expire ahead of the 2023 NFL season and DirecTV is reportedly not interested in renewing its exclusive rights to the package.
Sunday Ticket would add to Apple's growing portfolio of live sports content available through the Apple TV app. Apple already reached a partnership with Major League Baseball to air a weekly "Friday Night Baseball" doubleheader on Apple TV+ for the 2022 season, and Apple also reached a 10-year agreement with Major League Soccer that will see every game streamed through the Apple TV app without blackouts starting in early 2023.
It's unclear when the NFL will publicly reveal the future home of Sunday Ticket. Given that DirecTV still holds the rights to the package for the upcoming 2022 season, CNBC reports that there is no urgency for an announcement.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new update coming two weeks after the release of the third macOS Monterey 12.5 beta.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
There's no word yet on what new features or changes might be included in macOS Monterey 12.5, and nothing new was found in the first three betas. It's likely this update focuses on bug fixes and other minor improvements to the operating system. This update allows M2 Mac users to download the macOS Monterey 12.5 beta.
macOS Monterey 12.5 could be one of the final updates to macOS Monterey as Apple is now shifting its focus to macOS Ventura, the next-generation Mac operating system coming this fall.
Apple also recently appears to have made Safari 16 available for developers running macOS Monterey and macOS Big Sur, as well as AppleSeed members. Developers can download the browser from Apple's developer website, while AppleSeed members will receive an invitation to download it.
Apple announced a major update for its high-end MacBook Pro models last year, with the new machines featuring a complete redesign, the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, larger mini-LED displays with ProMotion, an HDMI port and SD card slot, full-sized function keys, and more. This month, Apple updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, so how do the machines compare?
Despite both being MacBook Pros, the M2 model and the high-end models are very different machines, so should you consider purchasing the lower-cost MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,299, to save money, or do you need the higher-end 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro, which costs at least $700 more? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two Apple silicon MacBook Pros is best for you.
Comparing the 13-Inch MacBook Pro and 14- and 16-Inch MacBook Pro
The 13-inch MacBook Pro and high-end MacBook Pro share a large number of important features such as an Apple silicon chip, wide stereo sound, and Touch ID. Apple lists these same features of the two devices:
Similarities
Display with P3 wide color and True Tone
Apple silicon System on Chip (SoC)
Media engine with hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, video encode and decode engines, and ProRes encode and decode engines
16-core Neural Engine
16GB unified memory option
512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage options
Ambient light sensor
FaceTime HD camera with advanced image signal processor with computational video
Wide stereo sound
Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming
Touch ID
Backlit Magic Keyboard
Force Touch trackpad
3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
At least two Thunderbolt 4 ports
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
Available in Space Gray and Silver
Apple's breakdown shows that the two MacBooks share a large number of key features. Even so, there are some meaningful differences between the M2 MacBook Pro and the 14- and 16-inch models that are worth highlighting, including design, chip options, battery life, and display brightness.
Differences
13-Inch MacBook Pro
13.3-inch display
LCD Retina display
500 nits brightness
Apple M2 chip
8-core CPU
10-core GPU
8GB, 16GB, or 24GB of unified memory
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage
720p FaceTime HD camera
Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
Support for Dolby Atmos playback
Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
Supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz
Touch Bar
Integrated 58.2-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Up to 20 hours battery life when playing back video
High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers
Support for spatial audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos on built-in speakers
Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, and SDXC card slot
Supports two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz (M1 Pro) or three external displays with up to 6K resolution and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz (M1 Max)
Full-size function keys
Integrated 70 or 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Up to 17 or 21 hours battery life when playing back video
Both the entry-level and high-end MacBook Pro models are available in Silver and Space Gray, but their designs vary. Although the machines are around the same thickness, the 14-inch and 16-inch models do not feature tapered edges, making them appear thicker and bulkier. The keyboard area of the high-end MacBook Pro is also all-black. The dimensions of the three machines are listed below:
The 13-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro are very similar in size, so the dimensions of these two machines should not heavily influence your decision. Instead, you may wish to consider that the 13-inch MacBook Pro features a much older design with a tapered look, compared to the rounder appearance of the high-end models. The high-end MacBook Pro's design has since spread to the M2 MacBook Air and offers a more modern look, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro uses a design from 2016.
Touch Bar
The Touch Bar is an OLED Retina multi-touch display strip built into the keyboard where the function keys traditionally go. It is contextual and can perform a range of different functions on the Mac depending on which app is in use.
The Touch Bar is a matte-style display that blends in with the rest of the keys on the keyboard and it supports True Tone, allowing the white balance to be adjusted to match the ambient lighting conditions. Interacting with the Touch Bar is done through taps, swipes, and other multi-touch gestures, with support for up to 10 fingers at a time.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro features the Touch Bar, while the 14- and 16-inch models simply have full-sized function keys. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is now the only remaining device with the feature, but if you enjoy the experience of the Touch Bar, you may prefer the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Ports and Connectivity
The selection of available ports is an area of major difference between the two machines. The 13-inch MacBook Pro features just two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The 14-inch and 16-inch models have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot.
Both machines feature a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones, but the 13-inch MacBook Pro can support only one external display, while the high-end model can support up to four displays in total with the M1 Max chip. This all makes the high-end models much more versatile in terms of connectivity, and will be of particular value to professionals who use digital cameras or need to connect to external displays.
Display Size
The entry-level MacBook Pro's display is exactly 13.3 inches in size, which is considerably smaller than the 14.2 inches and 16.2 inches of the high-end models. 13.3 inches is still bigger than the largest iPad Pro model, which comes in at 12.9 inches, and will be adequate for most users.
The 16.2-inch display will be a better replacement for a desktop machine and provide much more screen space to arrange multiple windows and use professional applications that benefit from additional display area. The 14.2-inch display is still larger than the 13.3-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models from recent years, but still adds to the overall size of the machine. The larger MacBook Pros also feature slimmer bezels, a notch, and rounded top corners.
While the notch containing the webcam does eat into the display space very slightly, both high-end MacBook Pro displays are larger than previous models, so there is still more display area overall. In addition, the display area below the notch has an aspect ratio of exactly 16:10, just like previous MacBook Pro models, to ensure that the notch does not impede normal display views or watching media.
On this basis, if you are concerned about the notch, you should not necessarily feel obliged to get the larger, 16-inch MacBook Pro. That being said, since the notch is the same size on both models, it may be slightly less noticeable on the 16-inch model. If you strongly dislike the notch, it may simply be easier to opt for the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Display Technology
The display technologies of both machines are also significantly different. Like most MacBooks in recent years, the 13-inch model has an LCD Retina display. The 14- and 16-inch models feature Apple's newer mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR technology for deeper blacks, better dynamic range, and improved color accuracy.
The XDR display can get much brighter, reaching as high as 1,600 nits of brightness at its peak when showing HDR content. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models also have ProMotion displays, allowing them to vary their refresh rate up to 120Hz. The 13-inch model does not have a display with a variable refresh rate.
It will be worth getting the high-end MacBook Pro models for viewing and editing HDR content, as well as watching high-framerate video such as sports. The display of the 13-inch MacBook Pro will still be more than adequate for normal daily use, but the high-end model, offering deeper blacks and smoother on-screen motion, simply offers a better experience.
Chip
The 13-inch MacBook Pro has the M2 chip, while with the 14-inch and 16-inch models, you can choose between the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip. The M1 Pro and M1 Max are scaled-up versions of the M1 chip.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max allow for a CPU with up to two additional CPU cores, 24 additional GPU cores, 56GB more memory, and 6TB more storage, compared to the M2 chip. The M2 chip is much closer to the M1 than it is to the M1 Pro, prioritizing efficiency over performance. The M2 levelled the playing field in some senses by adopting the capabilities of the M1 Pro's dedicated media engine and the chip is more powerful in single-core tasks with its higher 3.49GHz CPU clock speed, but the M1 Pro and M1 Max are considerably better in multi-core and graphics tasks. See our detailed M2 vs. M1 Pro guide for more information:
While the M2 is ostensibly a more modern chip, being fabricated with next-generation 5nm process and offering the latest core technology, the M1 Pro and M1 Max remain more capable due to their scale. With significantly more transistors, performance CPU cores, and GPU cores, not to mention larger quantities of unified memory and higher memory bandwidth, the M1 Pro and M1 Max are powerful chips for professionals with demanding workflows. The M2, on the other hand, is more of a consumer-oriented chip focused on delivering impressive performance for day-to-day tasks and excellent efficiency to keep temperatures down and prolong battery life. For more detailed information about each of Apple's custom silicon chips for the Mac, take a look at our helpful guides:
The high-end MacBook Pro has a considerably better 1080p webcam compared to the 13-inch model's 720p camera. If you frequently use the built-in webcam for video calls, you will have a noticeably better experience with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Speakers
The 13-inch MacBook Pro has high dynamic range stereo speakers. With the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, Apple completely redesigned its speakers with a new six-speaker system that supports spatial audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos.
Both speaker setups are very capable for a laptop, but if you rely heavily on the built-in speakers, you will have a better experience with the high-end MacBook Pro models.
Battery Life
The 13-inch MacBook Pro offers three extra hours of battery life over the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but one hour less than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. According to Apple, the 13-inch MacBook Pro can deliver up to 20 hours of battery life during video playback. One the other hand, the 14-inch MacBook Pro can deliver 17 hours of battery life and the 16-inch model can deliver 21 hours of battery life.
Charging
The high-end MacBook Pros feature MagSafe 3 for easily connecting and disconnecting the charging cable from the machine using magnets. The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros are also capable of fast charging.
Other MacBook Options
If you are looking for a more affordable Apple silicon MacBook, there is the M1 MacBook Air, which sports the same processor as the M1 MacBook Pro, a 13.3-inch display, Touch ID, and ports, as well as most other hardware features, for a price starting at $999. For casual users, this means that the additional $300 to get the M1 MacBook Pro may be difficult to justify. It is a more consumer-oriented and slightly less capable machine compared to the MacBook Pro, but is more than adequate for most users.
M2 MacBook Pro still has a number of improvements over the MacBook Air, offering slightly better performance, a brighter display, the Touch Bar, improved microphone and speaker quality, two extra hours of battery life, and an active cooling system. If you want slightly better performance than the M1 MacBook Air, as well as better battery life, display brightness, and speaker and microphone quality, the MacBook Pro is the better option.
Likewise, users who intend to perform a lot of graphics-based tasks should skip the MacBook Air entirely and buy the M2 MacBook Pro because the eight-core GPU MacBook Air configuration is only $50 less than the MacBook Pro, which offers ten GPU cores, but this is only the case if you don't need more than 256GB of storage, because a storage upgrade would further push up the MacBook Pro's price.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the best option for normal consumers. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is actually more akin to a MacBook Air than its high-end siblings, being more than good enough for the needs of casual users. It is lighter, smaller, and more portable than the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Starting at $1,299, the 13-inch MacBook Pro should be the default choice for the average consumer who is looking for something that is a little more than the MacBook Air.
Professionals who require larger and more accurate displays, additional ports, more memory and storage, hardware acceleration for media, and a very high level of performance should look to the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the $1,999 and $2,499 price points of these machines reflects this. These high-end MacBook Pros are not targeted at everyday consumers, being clearly tailored to creatives and professionals who rely heavily on the capabilities of their machines.
If you want the best possible performance, connectivity, display technology, and speakers, the high-end MacBook Pro is the best option. The 16-inch MacBook Pro in particular is also potentially a good desktop replacement machine due to its large display.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999, which is $700 more than the $1,299 starting price of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. That being said, if you are looking to configure the 13-inch MacBook Pro with 16GB of memory and at least 512GB of storage, which brings it closer to parity with the 14-inch base-level model, it costs $1,699. For the additional $300, it will be worthwhile for these users to get the 14-inch MacBook Pro instead.
Although this week was a slower week for deals in comparison to earlier in the month, there are still solid markdowns on Apple's MacBook Air and AirPods available to grab today. Alongside these sales, this week we tracked a few summertime discounts on iPhone cases and accessories.
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
What's the deal? Take up to $74 off AirPods and AirPods Pro
Apple's AirPods 2 remained at a solid discounted price of $99.99 this week, down from $129.00; this is still the best price we've seen in 2022. You can also get the AirPods Pro with MagSafe for $174.99, down from $249.00, which is another all-time low for 2022.
iPhone Cases & Charging Accessories
What's the deal? Save on iPhone accessories from ZAGG, Nomad, and more.
Where can I get it? See our list of retailers below.
Summer sales on iPhone accessories were popular this week, with quite a few well-known companies introducing solid discounts on cases, battery cases, and more. You can find all of the retailers with sales in the list below.
This includes our exclusive discount partnership with Nomad, where you can get 30 percent off Sport Cases from Nomad by entering the code MACRUMORS30 at the checkout screen.
Early in the week we tracked a deal on the 2020 M1 MacBook Air (256GB), which is still available for $899.00 in Silver on Amazon, down from $999.00. This is the second-best price we've tracked in 2022 on the M1 MacBook Air.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Apple today changed the subscription management interface on the iPhone and iPad, introducing a refreshed look that adds spacing between each subscription and it makes it clearer which subscriptions are active and inactive.
Tapping into a subscription provides details on the price of the subscription and when it is set to renew, plus the interface provides options to resubscribe to an expired subscription. Renewal buttons are more prominent than before, as are cancel buttons and options to change subscription plans for services like Apple One, Apple TV, and Apple Music.
The new subscription interface can be seen on devices running iOS 15.5 and later, including those with the iOS 16 beta. It does not appear to be available on iOS 15.4, so it may be limited to those with newer updates. No software update is required to see the refreshed interface because it loads a webview that Apple revamped.
The updated subscription interface is more in line with the rest of the Settings app changes that Apple made with iOS 15 and earlier updates, providing a simpler, more streamlined management system.
You can access the Subscriptions interface by opening up the Settings app, tapping on your profile picture, and then selecting "Subscriptions."
The next-generation AirPods Pro could come with a long list of new features that include heart rate detection, the ability to function as a hearing aid, and a USB-C port according to a report from 52Audio.
The site claims that it has received new information on the AirPods Pro 2, and it has used that information to provide some renders on what the earbuds might look like. Design wise, there is still a stem, in contrast to some rumors about a stemless look, and overall, the AirPods Pro 2 look a lot like the AirPods Pro and the AirPods 3.
While the AirPods Pro 2 look similar to the AirPods Pro, 52Audio is claiming that there will be a long list of new features. Some of these rumors we've heard before, but today's report gives quite a bit more detail.
Updated H1 chip - The updated H1 chip is expected to feature an upgraded SiP packaging system and self-adaptive noise cancellation capabilities. It will include better performance and improved power consumption as well.
Find My - The AirPods Pro 2 are expected to support Find My functionality, allowing them to be located with the Find My app. Prior rumors have indicated that there will be a speaker on the case, allowing them to play a sound when misplaced.
Heart Rate detection - We've heard prior rumors of health sensors coming to the AirPods Pro, and 52Audio claims they will be able to detect heart rate from within the ear.
Temperature detection - The heart rate sensor may also support temperature detection, but 52Audio says this could not be confirmed.
Sound improvements - The AirPods Pro 2 will apparently share acoustics with the AirPods 3, featuring a "combination of customized high-amplitude drive units and high-dynamic-range amplifiers." Self-adaptive equalization, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and audio sharing will be included.
USB-C - Instead of Lightning, the AirPods Pro 2 could adopt a USB-C port.
Hearing Aid capabilities - 52Audio claims that the AirPods Pro 2 will serve as a hearing aid. Sound can apparently "be collected through the charging case and transmitted to the earphone for sound enhancement and playback," with the aim of helping people with hearing loss better hear sound in the environment. The site believes that what was previously described as a lanyard holder on the side of the AirPods Pro 2 is actually some kind of hearing aid function, which sounds questionable.
We have heard rumors about most of these features in the past, but the hearing aid functionality is new. We have also heard mixed rumors about the design of the AirPods Pro 2, but information is solidifying around an AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro look that continues to feature a stem.
52Audio has in the past provided accurate information about Apple's upcoming audio products, but the site has also shared some questionable rumors, so it has something of a mixed track record. Some of these features sound plausible because we've previously heard hints of them, but others, such as the hearing aid functionality, are more outlandish. For that reason, this information should be viewed with some skepticism.
Apple on May 16 released iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, bringing improvements for Podcasts and Apple Cash, the ability to see Wi-Fi signal of HomePods, dozens of security fixes, and more.
Apple on May 16 released iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, bringing improvements for Podcasts and Apple Cash, the ability to see Wi-Fi signal of HomePods, dozens of security fixes, and more.
