Top Stories: Apple One Launch, iPhone 12 Pro Camera Performance, AirPods and HomePod Rumors

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have been out for a week now, so this week gave us lots of opportunities to learn more about the new devices now that we've been able to get our hands on them and test them out.

A4381082 4D2C 44B4 ACF4 89B5F0142081
There was quite a bit of other news this week as well, including the launch of Apple One subscription bundles, Apple's September quarter earnings release, rumors about future plans for updated AirPods, AirPods Studio, and a potential third HomePod model, and more. Read on for details on our most popular stories from this week on those topics and more!

Apple One is Now Available: Save Money by Bundling Apple Music, iCloud Storage, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and More

Alongside its earnings release on Thursday, Apple announced that its Apple One subscription bundles would be launching the following day, and the bundles are now available in over 100 countries.

Apple One Apps Feature 2
Pricing in the U.S. begins at $14.95 per month for an Individual plan with Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage. A Family plan valid for up to six users offers Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 200GB of iCloud storage for $19.95 per month, while a Premier plan at $29.95 per month takes the Family plan offerings and adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+ and increases iCloud storage to 2TB.

If you need more iCloud storage beyond what's offered in your Apple One tier, you can add up to an additional 2TB, which means users on the Premier plan can have up to 4TB of total iCloud storage.

Camera Comparison: iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 11 Pro

Apple last week released the iPhone 12 Pro, which is being sold alongside the iPhone 12, 12 mini, and 12 Pro Max. The Pro Max has the best camera of the bunch, but since it's not out yet, we thought we'd take a look at the camera improvements introduced in the ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌ and see how the camera quality compares to the iPhone 11 Pro.

iPhone 11 Pro vs 12 Camera feature
We have also continued to learn more details about the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro in the week or so since their launch. Notably, it has been discovered through FCC documents that iPhone 12 models may have a hidden reverse charging feature for future Apple accessories, and this has led to speculation that it may be possible to charge a new MagSafe-enabled AirPods case or perhaps even Apple's rumored AirTags item trackers by simply placing them on the back of the iPhones.

We also learned that Personal Hotspot uses faster 5GHz Wi-Fi by default on iPhone 12 models. The combination of iPhone 12 models supporting higher-speed 5G networks and 5GHz Wi-Fi's higher maximum throughput paves the way for faster Personal Hotspot. There is a new "Maximize Compatibility" toggle to revert to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi like on previous iPhones. Personal Hotspot allows an iPhone's cellular data connection to be shared with other devices like a Mac over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Lightning.

Apple Invites Developers to Get One-on-One Guidance From Engineers Ahead of Apple Silicon Mac Launch

At WWDC in June, Apple announced that it will be transitioning from Intel processors to its own custom Apple Silicon processors in Macs, promising industry-leading performance per watt.

get mac ready apple silicon
Apple has been allowing Mac developers to get their apps ready for ‌Apple Silicon‌ through the Universal App Quick Start Program, and now Apple is emailing developers to invite them to get one-on-one code-level guidance from an Apple engineer. The one-on-one labs are scheduled for November 4-5.

Apple has previously said that it plans to ship its first Mac with Apple Silicon by the end of 2020, and rumors suggest that Apple plans to hold a virtual Mac-focused event on Tuesday, November 17.

Report: New AirPods and AirPods Pro Coming in 2021, AirPods Studio Delayed, Mid-Range HomePod Also Possible

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu this week outlined several upcoming Apple products that are reportedly in development for release as early as 2021, including new AirPods and AirPods Pro, high-end over-ear headphones dubbed AirPods Studio, and potentially even a mid-range HomePod that would be positioned between the HomePod and HomePod mini.

aipods pro 3 studio homepod medium feature
Interestingly, the report claimed that Apple is aiming to remove the stems that drop below the ears on the AirPods Pro. The new version of AirPods Pro would instead have a more circular design, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Buds.

MagSafe: Everything About Apple's New iPhone 12 Charging Technology

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models have a new feature called MagSafe that allows magnetic accessories to be easily attached to the back of the devices. In our latest guide, we go over everything you need to know about Apple's new charging system.

iphone12magsafe
If you keep your iPhone in a leather case while charging with Apple's new MagSafe Charger, the case might show circular imprints from contact with the accessory, according to an Apple support document. Apple also said users should not place credit cards, security badges, passports, or key fobs between the iPhone and MagSafe Charger, because this might damage magnetic strips or RFID chips in those items.

2020 iPad Air vs. iPad Pro: Hands-On Comparison

Apple introduced a new 10.9-inch iPad Air in September, but the device just started shipping out to customers last week. We picked one up to do a hands-on comparison with the iPad Pro, which was last updated in March, given that the tablets share many similarities.

AirvsProThumb2
The new iPad Air features a similar design as the iPad Pro, with an edge-to-edge display and a USB-C port. The device also features Apple's newest A14 Bionic chip, whereas the iPad Pro still has an older A12Z Bionic chip. The new iPad Air is also Apple's first device with Touch ID built into the power button, in place of Face ID.

We also shared a hands-on with the iPhone 12 Pro this week, going over new features like the flat-edge design and 5G. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for new Apple-related videos every week!

iPhone 12 Pro Allows You to Measure Someone's Height Instantly Using LiDAR Scanner

iPhone 12 Pro models feature a new LiDAR Scanner for enhanced augmented reality experiences, but the sensor also enables another unique feature: the ability to measure a person's height instantly.

LiDAR height measure feature
To measure a person's height, open Apple's preinstalled Measure app and position the iPhone so that the person you want to measure appears on the screen from head to toe. After a brief moment, a line will appear on the screen at the top of the person's head with their height measurement.

This feature is limited to devices with a LiDAR Scanner, including 2020 iPad Pro models and the upcoming iPhone 12 Pro Max.

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Popular Stories

Apple Glass

Apple Smart Glasses: Everything We Know So Far

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:21 am PDT by
Google recently made waves by showcasing a set of lightweight smart glasses featuring deep Gemini integration and an optional in-lens display. The demo has reignited interest in Apple's own smart glasses project, which has been the subject of rumors for nearly a decade. Here's a recap of where things stand. Current Development Status Apple is actively working on new chips specifically...
Apple Glasses Purple Feature

Apple Smart Glasses Launching in 2026

Thursday May 22, 2025 12:22 pm PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a set of smart glasses by the end of 2026, reports Bloomberg. The glasses will be comparable to the Meta Ray-Bans and the Android XR glasses that Google showed off earlier this week. Apple's smart glasses are expected to include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities, much like the Meta Ray-Bans. The glasses will be able to take photos, record video, provide...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
maxresdefault

OpenAI Buys Jony Ive's AI Startup to 'Completely Reimagine What It Means to Use a Computer'

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:27 am PDT by
OpenAI is acquiring io, the hardware-based AI startup co-created by Jony Ive, OpenAI announced today. Ive has been working with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on io for two years, and the duo expects to develop a family of AI devices. In a video shared by OpenAI, Altman and Ive outlined their partnership and what they expect to create as a result of the merger. "I have a growing sense that everything ...
iPod shuffle generations

Kuo: Jony Ive's Futuristic OpenAI Device Like a Neck-Worn iPod Shuffle

Thursday May 22, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The big news in the technology world this week is that ChatGPT maker OpenAI is working more closely with Apple's former design chief Jony Ive on a futuristic AI device. The company is remaining tight lipped about the device, but Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some alleged details about its design. In a social media post today, Kuo said the device will be "slightly larger" ...
macOS 16 visionOS Inspired Feature 1

macOS 16: Everything We Know So Far

Tuesday May 20, 2025 7:31 am PDT by
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented event, is less than three weeks away. We haven't heard a great deal about macOS 16 ahead of its announcement this year, so we could be in for some major surprises when June 9 rolls around. Here's what we know so far about the next major update to Apple's Mac operating system. macOS 16 Name? Every year ...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...

Top Rated Comments

johngordon Avatar
60 months ago

A mid-range HomePod? I get that I can simply not buy it, but why is new Apple so intent on selling ten versions of the same product?
Well, that’s two, but who’s counting. ?

Maybe different people have different needs / preferences / budgets?

I think companies offering customers options is a pretty standard thing.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iBreatheApple Avatar
60 months ago

Well, that’s two, but who’s counting. ?

Maybe different people have different needs / preferences / budgets?

I think companies offering customers options is a pretty standard thing.
Just released a second. Talks of a third. Tons of different iPhones. That kind of thought process. It’s just different than it used to be. I liked when a ton of time and attention was devoted to making a product really great. That’s hard to do when you have nearly ten different iPhones on market at the same time. So to see other product lines heading in that direction makes me think.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yellow8 Avatar
60 months ago
Heavy week, many news!
This iPhone 12 will be quite a success, imho.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarpalMac Avatar
60 months ago

Just released a second. Talks of a third. Tons of different iPhones. That kind of thought process. It’s just different than it used to be. I liked when a ton of time and attention was devoted to making a product really great. That’s hard to do when you have nearly ten different iPhones on market at the same time. So to see other product lines heading in that direction makes me think.

So much new Apple stuff going on, services and hardware. For the first time as a long time Apple customer, I’m a bit lost lol
You are not alone.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-12-pro-vs-iphone-12-pro-max-buyers-guide.2261113/page-5?post=29050740#post-29050740


As an example: https://www.johnlewis.com/search?search-term=iphone
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
60 months ago
Can’t wait to see the numbers for the new iPhone Mini. :p
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)