"Thank you, Apple and Apple customers for hitting this incredible milestone and helping provide life-saving healthcare in vulnerable communities," said (RED).
Last month, Apple announced that it would again donate $5 to The Global Fund for every purchase made using Apple Pay on Apple.com, through the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store from November 29 through December 8.
The Global Fund aims to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria throughout the developing world. Apple said its donation to the organization will continue to "help fund critical health programs that save lives."
Apple runs this donation campaign ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1 each year.
Apple has supported The Global Fund for 18 years through its partnership with the (RED) brand, co-founded by U2 singer Bono. Apple offers some products in a (PRODUCT)RED color, and a portion of the proceeds from every one of these products sold by Apple goes to The Global Fund. Apple said it has raised more than $250 million to date.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
iOS 19 is not expected to be announced until June 2025, but information about the software update is already starting to surface.
Below, we recap the biggest iOS 19 rumors so far.
More ChatGPT-Like Siri
iOS 19 will introduce a "more conversational Siri" powered by "more advanced large language models," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said this upgrade will make Siri more like OpenAI's ChatGPT, allowing the assistant to "handle more sophisticated requests."
Apple will likely unveil the revamped Siri when it unveils iOS 19 at WWDC 2025 next June, but Gurman said it will not be available until as early as spring 2026. That suggests the feature will be released as part of an iOS 19.4 update.
In the meantime, iOS 18.2 added ChatGPT integration to Siri, and Gurman expects an integration with Google's Gemini to follow in a later update. And with iOS 18.4, Siri will gain on-screen awareness, deeper per-app controls, and a few other enhancements, but it will still not offer fully-fledged ChatGPT-like conversational abilities directly.
"I'm told that a larger-than-usual number of features scheduled for iOS 19 (beyond the new Siri) are already postponed until spring 2026 (when iOS 19.4 debuts)," he said.
He did not provide any specific details about the features that are pushed back.
Gurman attributed the delay to the gradual rollout of Apple Intelligence features between iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.4, which is preventing some Apple software engineers from moving on to iOS 19 development. In line with this information, an unnamed source within Apple told French website iPhoneSoft.fr that they are still working on iOS 18 development.
The oldest devices in that list are the iPhone XS, iPhone XS, and iPhone XR, all of which were released in September 2018.
Of course, some iOS 19 features will be unavailable on older iPhone models.
If this report is accurate, it would be the second year in a row in which Apple did not drop support for any iPhone models with its major annual iOS release. iOS 18 is compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17 is.
iOS 17 dropped support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
Timing
The first iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 betas should be released during WWDC 2025 next June, and the updates are likely to be released in September.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today outlined mass production timing for the M5 series of chips, which he expects to be used in both future Macs and Apple Intelligence servers. The rollout will likely begin next year.
Kuo expects the standard M5 chip to enter mass production in the first half of 2025, followed by the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips in the second half of the year. Then, he expects the M5 Ultra chip to enter mass production in 2026.
So, nothing too surprising.
The timeframes suggest that M5 Macs will launch in a similar order as M4 Macs. Apple will likely update the MacBook Pro lineup with M5 series chips in October next year, and the MacBook Air should receive the M5 chip in the first half of 2026. Apple is likely to update the Mac Studio and Mac Pro later in 2026, or in 2027. It is unclear if the iMac and Mac mini will be updated next year, as those models are not always updated annually.
M4 Macs have rolled out in a similar manner so far. Apple updated the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini with the M4 series of chips in October, and the MacBook Air is expected to be updated by the end of March next year. Mac Studio and Mac Pro models with M4 Max and/or M4 Ultra chips are expected to launch in mid-to-late 2025.
As previously rumored, Kuo said M5 series chips will be manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P. That will result in the usual year-over-year performance and power efficiency improvements over the M4 series of chips.
Apple Intelligence servers are currently powered by the M2 Ultra chip, and they are expected to start using M4 series chips next year. Beyond that, Kuo said Apple will eventually switch to high-end, server-grade M5 chips that are better suited for artificial intelligence inferencing. He said these chips will also be manufactured with the N3P process, offer improved thermal performance, and have a separated CPU and GPU design.
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still nearly two years away from launching, a new feature has already been rumored for the devices.
In a blog post today, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated that the main rear camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, which would be a first for the iPhone. The main camera refers to the 48-megapixel Fusion camera, which was also known as the Main or Wide camera on older iPhone models.
With variable aperture, users would be able to control the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor. The main camera on iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro models have a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78, and the lens is always fully open and shooting with this widest aperture. With the iPhone 18 Pro models, users would be able to manually change the aperture, according to this rumor.
Variable aperture is typically a capability seen on professional DSLR/mirrorless cameras from the likes of Sony and Canon.
Kuo first made this claim last month. Today, he added that Dutch manufacturer BE Semiconductor will supply assembly equipment for the aperture blades, which is the mechanical part that would control how much light passes through the lens.
A variable aperture on iPhone 18 Pro models should provide users with greater control over depth of field, which refers to how sharp a subject appears in the foreground compared to the background. However, given that smartphones have smaller image sensors due to physical size restraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be.
This rumor will likely evolve over time. Kuo did not say if iPhone 18 Pro models will be getting a larger sensor, but such an upgrade would pave the way for meaningful improvements to depth of field. Apple already offers Portrait mode, which artificially makes the background look more blurry behind a person or other subject in a photo. A larger image sensor would enable that "bokeh" effect more naturally on iPhone 18 Pro models.
X (Twitter) has announced a big jump in pricing for its Premium Plus subscription tier, with monthly rates in the US jumping from $16 to $22, representing a 37.5% increase. The annual subscription cost will also rise from $168 to $229.
The price changes took effect on December 21, 2024, with new subscribers paying the higher rates immediately. Existing Premium Plus subscribers will maintain their current pricing until January 20, 2025, after which the new rates will apply on their next billing cycle.
The price hikes vary significantly by region, with some markets seeing particularly steep increases. In Nigeria, the monthly subscription cost has surged by over 365%, while Turkish users face a 156% increase. European subscribers will see their monthly rates rise from €16 to €21, and Australian users will need to pay $35 AUD, up from $26 AUD. A full list of new pricing by country is available here.
X justified the price increase by highlighting several Premium Plus features, including a completely ad-free experience and enhanced access to the platform's Grok AI capabilities. The company also emphasized that the higher subscription fees will support its creator revenue sharing program, which now focuses on rewarding content quality and engagement rather than ad views.
The basic X subscription tier remains unchanged at $3 per month. It's the largest price increase for US subscribers on Premium Plus since Elon Musk acquired the platform in 2022.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple plans to release an entry-level iPad 11 in the spring and iPadOS 18.3 will be pre-installed on the shipped devices, according to a source with a proven track record for upcoming Apple software updates.
Several reports in the last few months have suggested Apple is developing an 11th-generation iPad that is scheduled to be released around the same time as a new iPhone SE 4 and iPad Air in the spring.
Today's source adds weight to the evidence. Apple is expected to release iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 in late January or early February, which would be time enough for the company to get the latest software on new devices for shipping around March.
Rumors of new features are thin on the ground, but today's source says his information does not support rumors that the low-cost iPad will include Apple's upcoming custom 5G modem, which is also expected to be introduced in the iPhone SE and iPhone 17 Air in 2025. Apple's modem chip will be capable of theoretical 5G download speeds of up to 4Gb/s, which is slower than Qualcomm's modems in current phones. The chip will not support the fastest mmWave 5G, and will instead be limited to sub-6GHz 5G.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that the device will likely support Apple Intelligence, which suggests the iPad 11 will have a newer A-series chip compared to the iPad 10, and at least 8GB of RAM. Apple released the iPad 10 in October 2022 with the A14 Bionic chip. Gurman has also said Apple is working on a new Magic Keyboard accessory for the low-cost iPad and/or the iPad Air which is expected to come out by the middle of 2025.
Apple has seeded the first betas of iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, but there's no word yet on what's included. What we do know is that Apple is still working to roll out Apple Intelligence features. iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 include Image Playground, Genmoji, and Siri ChatGPT integration, but there are still new Siri functions that are slated for release next year.
We could see updates to Siri with iOS 18.3, and the features Apple has in development include personal context, on-screen awareness, and the ability to do more in and between apps.
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr. The report cites a source within Apple.
The report said that iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that is capable of running iOS 18, which would mean the following models:
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
The oldest devices in that list are the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, all of which were released in September 2018.
Of course, some iOS 19 features will be unavailable on older iPhone models.
If this report is accurate, it would be the second year in a row in which Apple did not drop support for any iPhone models with its major annual iOS release. iOS 18 is compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17 is.
iOS 17 dropped support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
There is slightly worse news for iPadOS 19, as the report said that update will drop support for the iPad 7 from 2019. Fortunately, the report said all other iPad models that can run iPadOS 18 will be compatible with iPadOS 19 next year.
The first iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 betas should be released during WWDC 2025 next June, and the updates are likely to be released in September. Not many iOS 19 features have been rumored yet, but Siri is expected to become more conversational like ChatGPT in a later iOS 19.4 update, which is likely to be released around March 2026.
In his Power On newsletter today, the well-connected journalist said that Apple is "not" currently working on new AirPort routers.
Gurman did offer a glimmer of hope. He said that Apple's in-house Wi-Fi chip is "so sophisticated" that it could "theoretically" turn a home device like a future Apple TV or HomePod into a wireless access point. However, he did not confirm if Apple will actually follow through with that idea, so keep your expectations low for the time being.
Apple's in-house Wi-Fi chip could still have other benefits for the next Apple TV and HomePod mini models, including Wi-Fi 6E support.
Apple is working on a variety of health features for future AirPods, including heart rate monitoring and temperature sensing, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the heart rate technology could be ready for the AirPods Pro 3, which are in "early development" within the company.
AirPods getting heart rate monitoring would allow more customers to access this capability for health and fitness purposes, without needing to wear an Apple Watch. In internal testing, Apple has found that heart rate data is "more accurate" on the Apple Watch compared to AirPods, but he said the AirPods "aren't terribly far off."
Apple's upcoming Powerbeats Pro 2 will also offer heart rate monitoring during workouts. Based on our iOS 18 code findings, you will be able to connect the Powerbeats Pro 2 to gym equipment like a treadmill to measure heart rate, and the data will be visible in the Health app and other supported apps on the iPhone.
Apple previously announced that the Powerbeats Pro 2 will be released in 2025, but it is not entirely clear when the AirPods Pro 3 will launch.
As a longer-term goal, Gurman reiterated that Apple plans to add small cameras to future AirPods to enable unspecified AI-powered features. This project is now a "priority" for Apple, but likely still a few years away from completion, he said.
Apple is in the early stages of developing a smart home doorbell and lock system with Face ID, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the doorbell would wirelessly connect to a compatible deadbolt lock, allowing users to automatically unlock a door with Face ID. The doorbell would likely work with third-party HomeKit locks, but Apple could also partner with another brand to offer an all-in-one solution, he said.
Apple's doorbell would compete with Amazon's line of Ring doorbells, but Gurman did not say if Apple's solution would capture video.
Apple would almost certainly tout the privacy and security benefits of its own smart home doorbell. If the product is ever released, Gurman expects that it will be equipped with Apple's rumored Wi-Fi chip, which is said to have a Secure Enclave to protect user data. And if the doorbell does end up offering video capture, Apple already has a HomeKit Secure Video service with end-to-end encryption for storing footage in iCloud.
Gurman believes Apple's doorbell is unlikely to launch until 2026 at the earliest.
Apple seemingly has plans to make a bigger push into the smart home space over the next few years. In addition to this doorbell, the company is expected to launch a smart home hub next year, and it is also rumored to be planning its own HomeKit-enabled indoor security camera that would compete with products like Logitech's Circle View.
As we expected, Apple is now offering free two-hour delivery on eligible, in-stock products ordered through December 24 in select countries. The offer is available for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, and Beats only.
Free two-hour delivery is available in most U.S. and Canadian metro areas for orders placed through Apple's online store, until December 24. The items will be delivered from a local Apple retail store by a courier service such as Uber Eats at a time selected during checkout. Apple normally charges $9 for two-hour delivery.
Apple's extended return policy remains in effect for the holiday shopping season. In the U.S., for example, most products purchased from Apple between November 8 and December 25 this year may be returned through January 8, 2025.
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 18.2.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website's analytic logs this week. The logs have accurately revealed many iOS versions before they were released.
iOS 18.2.1 should be a minor update that fixes bugs and/or addresses security vulnerabilities, but it is unclear which specific issues might be resolved. The update will likely be released in late December or early January.
There could be accompanying updates, such as macOS 15.2.1, but we have not confirmed that.
iOS 18.2.1 will follow iOS 18.2, which was released earlier this month. iOS 18.2 introduced more Apple Intelligence features for iPhone 15 Pro models and all iPhone 16 models, including Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration for Siri, and more. iOS 18.2 also added a useful feature to the Find My app that allows you to share the location of your AirTag-equipped baggage with select airlines, including Delta, United, Air Canada, and others, making it quicker and easier for the airline to find your lost or delayed bags.
Apple is also testing iOS 18.3 with developers and public beta testers. That update is likely to be released in January, and it only includes minor changes so far.
Apple plans to release a new "HomePod" with a 7-inch LCD display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support in 2025, according to DigiTimes.
Google's Nest Hub
It is unclear how much the screen-equipped HomePod would cost, but Apple is seemingly aiming for a reasonable price. In a paywalled report this week, the supply chain publication said Apple has selected China-based manufacturer Tianma to supply the LCD panels for the device, at an "exceptionally competitive" price of $10 per panel. The low cost of this component would likely contribute to the device being more affordable.
A screen-equipped HomePod has been rumored several times over the past few years. Earlier this month, for example, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo similarly said that a HomePod with a 6-to-7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support would enter mass production in the second half of 2025. Kuo said smart home capabilities would be a core aspect of the device, so it sounds like rumors about a screen-equipped HomePod and Apple's rumored smart home hub are referring to the same product coming next year.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last month said Apple's smart home hub looks like a "square iPad," with a roughly 6-inch screen. He said the hub can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall. It will run a new "homeOS" operating system with a customizable widget-focused home screen, and revolve around Siri, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit, he added. The hub could double as a home security system by displaying camera footage, and it is said to have a built-in camera that allows for FaceTime video calls.
Apple's hub would compete with products like Google's Nest Hub and Amazon's Echo Show, which are priced in the $150 to $400 range. Kuo and Gurman both said Apple is also planning a wireless security camera that would work with the hub.
It is unclear if Apple will actually use HomePod branding for the home hub, or if it will opt for all-new naming. It is also unclear if the current HomePod speaker will be updated next year, but a new HomePod mini is expected to launch next year.
If you haven't wrapped up your holiday shopping, Apple is still offering free two-day delivery for many products from its online store. Orders placed for in-stock items before 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight will deliver by December 24. Orders placed after that time may not make it.
iPhone 16 models, new Macs, iPads, HomePods, AirTags, the Apple TV 4K, Apple Watches, AirPods, and many accessories from both Apple and third-party companies are eligible for free two-day delivery in the United States.
Last year, after the two-day delivery window expired, Apple offered a free two-hour courier delivery option for select products, but courier delivery is only available in certain areas, and on a more limited number of products. Courier delivery typically costs $9.
Apple is offering extended holiday returns right now, and devices purchased between November 8, 2024 and December 25, 2024 can be returned through January 8, 2025.
It's the last-minute rush before Christmas, and that means it's getting very difficult to find great deals that also have guaranteed delivery by the 25th. With that in mind, some of the week's best deals that we're recapping below might not arrive in time for the holiday, but you can still find multiple record low prices on products like the 10th generation iPad and AirTag.
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.
Amazon brought back the Black Friday price on Apple's 10th generation iPad this week, and you can still get it for $249.99 in Silver and Blue today, down from $349.00.
Amazon is discounting the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 this weekend, and all models are still available to be delivered by Christmas as of writing. These aren't all-time low prices, but if you need a last-minute holiday gift, they're the best discounts around online for Apple's headphones.
MacBook Air
What's the deal? Take $200 off M2 and M3 MacBook Air
Amazon has both the previous generation M2 and current M3 MacBook Air on sale at solid $200 discounts this weekend.
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.
Deals Newsletter
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2024 is rapidly drawing to a close, but the Apple news and rumor mill remains busy. On the software side, users are still exploring the new features in iOS 18.2 such as expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, while Apple is moving ahead with beta testing of iOS 18.3 and related updates.
On the hardware side, we're hearing lots of rumors about what's coming in 2025 and beyond, including a new design for the iPhone 17 Pro, an all-new "iPhone 17 Air," a second-generation AirTag, a redesigned Magic Mouse, and even a foldable iPad or MacBook, so read on below for all the details!
'iPhone 17 Air' With 'Major' Design Changes and 19-Inch MacBook Detailed in New Report
We've been hearing quite a few rumors about a super-thin "iPhone 17 Air" coming next year and a potential foldable iPad or MacBook for further down the road, and The Wall Street Journal this week published a new report outlining information from its own sources on both devices.
The report comes as analysts at Display Supply Chain Consultants shared their expected roadmap for new Apple products based on OLED displays, including an OLED iPad mini in 2026 plus OLED iPad Air models and an 18.8-inch foldable iPad Pro in 2027.
iOS 18.2: Everything You Can Do With ChatGPT Integration
Following last week's release of iOS 18.2 with expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, we've shared some how-tos and guides taking deeper looks at what's new.
ChatGPT integration is one of the big new features, so be sure to check out our overview of everything you can do with it. Visual intelligence on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models is another one, while the custom emoji characters known as Genmoji open up new possibilities for expression, although they come with some limitations.
Apple Releases First Betas of iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3
With iOS 18.2 out the door, Apple has turned its attention to the next set of operating system updates likely scheduled for a late January release to the general public. Ahead of that release, Apple this week provided the first developer and public betas of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, and more.
Apple 'Working' on Redesigned Magic Mouse With a Long-Awaited 'Fix'
Apple's Magic Mouse has been the butt of jokes for years over the location of its charging port, which prevents the mouse from being used while it's charging.
That issue wasn't fixed with the recent update to shift the Magic Mouse and other Mac accessories from Lightning ports to USB-C, but it appears Apple is indeed going to remedy it at some point. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple is working on a "full overhaul" of the Magic Mouse to address some of the "longstanding complaints" about it, but don't expect the new mouse to debut before 2026.
AirTag 2 Expected to Launch Next Year With 'Considerable' Upgrade to Item Tracking
Rumors have been pointing to a second-generation AirTag arriving some time in 2025, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week provided a few new details about what we can expect with the update.
The biggest improvement will reportedly be improved Ultra Wideband capabilities that will deliver triple the range of the current AirTag, making it much easier to track down items with associated AirTags.
iPhone 17 Pro Rumored to Stick With 'Triangular' Camera Design
There's been a confusing mess of rumors about the iPhone 17 Pro design, including the use of multiple materials on the rear housing and a redesigned camera bump, with some sources claiming the new bump will be "rectangular," leading to suggestions that the three camera lenses could be arranged in a horizontal layout.
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.
It's looking like 2025 is going to be an important year for Apple, with the company planning to revamp the iPhone, push further into smart home products, and improve Apple Intelligence. There are tons of new products rumored for 2025, including new iPhones, M4 Macs, a smart home command center, and much more.
We've highlighted the top five Apple products that will have the biggest impact in 2025.
iPhone 17 "Air"
There's a new, super thin iPhone planned for 2025, and while we don't know what Apple will call it, rumors have taken to referring to it as the iPhone 17 Air. It's a fitting name, because it won't be as powerful or as pricey as the Pro models, but it will be more expensive than the standard iPhone 17.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air will be somewhere around 6mm thick, which will make it the thinnest iPhone to date. For reference, Apple's iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick, so we're looking at a good 2mm difference.
The new iPhone is rumored to have a 6.6-inch display, coming in between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max in size. It will only have a single-lens 48-megapixel rear camera because of space constraints, and it's going to be one of the first devices to feature Apple's new 5G modem.
We're still getting a regular iPhone 17, but there won't be an iPhone 17 Plus this year. Apple also plans to sell the iPhone 17 Air alongside iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, and rumors suggest there are some design changes coming to those models, too. So far, it sounds like we're going to get a half-aluminum half-glass design for the back panel that could improve durability, plus the camera setup could get a redesign.
All four iPhones in 2025 will get A19 chips, and ProMotion 120Hz display technology isn't going to be limited to the Pro models anymore.
You can read more about the features rumored for the iPhone 17 lineup in our iPhone 17 roundup.
AirPods Pro 3
Apple refreshed the AirPods 4 in 2024, and in 2025, we'll get an AirPods Pro update. Apple is rumored to be updating the design, but just what the earbuds will look like remains unclear. The AirPods 4 got a slimmed down case, so that could be what we see for the AirPods Pro 3 too.
Both sound quality and Active Noise Cancellation are expected to improve, mostly due to Apple unveiling a next-generation H series chip. Apple hasn't introduced a new audio chip for some time now, so it will be exciting to see what features an update will bring.
There have been some rumors about heart rate tracking and temperature monitoring coming to the AirPods Pro at some point, so that's a possibility as well. More on what we've heard about the AirPods Pro 3 can be found in our guide.
Apple Command Center
Apple plans to unveil a small, square-shaped home "Command Center" device that will be used for controlling smart home devices, FaceTime calls, watching videos, and more. It essentially sounds like it's going to be Apple's version of the Echo Show.
The six-inch device will be small enough to take from room to room, and you can use it on a tabletop or mount it on the wall. It will hopefully be affordable enough that you can have multiple devices across different rooms, streamlining the increasing number of smart home products many of us have in our homes.
The Command Center will have standard Apple apps like Home, Calendar, Apple Music, Apple News, and Apple Photos, but Apple isn't making a dedicated App Store for it. You'll be able to use it for video calls, and expect deep Apple Intelligence integration.
iPhone SE 4
Apple is finally ready to refresh its low-cost iPhone, and the iPhone SE 4 is going to get a lot of improvements that have the potential to make it an incredible value.
Small screen sizes and Touch ID are a thing of the past, so the iPhone SE will have a 6.1-inch OLED display and Face ID. In fact, rumors suggest that it's modeled after the iPhone 14. There will be a single-lens 48-megapixel rear camera, a notch for Face ID, and a USB-C port for charging.
The larger screen size, OLED display technology, Face ID, and higher megapixel camera will all be new to the SE lineup. The device is also expected to be the first to get Apple's in-house 5G modem, and it is rumored to have the same A18 chip that's in the current iPhone 16.
The A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence, so the iPhone SE will have Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, smarter Siri, and more, plus 8GB RAM is the minimum for Apple Intelligence, so it's also going to get a big memory boost.
When it launches, the iPhone SE's performance will be on par with the iPhone 16, which is impressive for a low-cost iPhone. There's been no word that Apple plans to raise prices, and we're still expecting the iPhone SE to cost less than $500.
Siri Improvements
In spring updates coming to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple plans to add new functionality to Siri, including onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability for Siri to take more actions in and across apps.
Onscreen awareness will let Siri see and understand what's on your display, so you can reference it in voice requests. If you're looking at a photo and want to send it to your friend Eric, for example, you will be able to say "Send this to Eric," and Siri will understand what "this" is.
Personal context will allow Siri to do more with your personal data like emails and messages, learning more about you to be more helpful. Siri will know who you're communicating with, how you use your device, and will keep track of everything you have stored. Personal context will let Siri do things like find a specific message, locate a recent file, find content in emails like flight numbers, or remind you when you took a photo you're looking for.
Siri's ability to do more in and across apps will majorly improve what Siri is capable of. You'll be able to move files from one app to another, edit photos with voice commands, and complete multi-step multi-app processes that Siri isn't currently capable of handling.
In iOS 19, coming in June, Apple plans to unveil LLM Siri, or a version of Siri trained on a large language model. LLM training will make Siri more like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, allowing Siri to understand and generate natural, human-like language, perform complex tasks, and solve problems. While iOS 18 will add helpful new Siri functionality, the real Siri evolution will come with iOS 19 and subsequent updates.
Add Yours
What are you looking forward to seeing from Apple in 2025? Let us know in the comments below.
Amazon today has the USB-C AirPods Max on sale for $499.99 in four colors, down from $549.00. This is a return of the Black Friday price on the headphones, and only a few dollars higher when compared with the previous record low price.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Colors available on sale include Blue, Midnight, Orange, and Purple. Depending on your location, most of the AirPods Max can be delivered in time for Christmas, but you might start seeing some colors slip past the 25th as stock begins to dwindle.
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.
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Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Google's Nest Hub
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