The MacRumors Show: New AirTag, iPad, and Apple Watch Rumors

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors about the next-generation AirTag, iPad Air, iPad mini, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Ultra.


Firstly, we react to the rumor that the second-generation ‌AirTag‌ is set to hit mass production in the fourth quarter of next year, taking a look at how we use AirTags and what a new model could offer. We also discuss the latest reports about the next-generation iPad Air and iPad mini.

We look at the new color options and features reportedly coming to the Apple Watch Series 9 and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, Apple's plan to progressively reduce the bezels of the iPhone and ‌iPad‌, our first smartphones, and our feelings about watchOS 10 as we approach its official release.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up with our discussion on how we would make changes to Apple's product lines in an attempt to make them simpler and more consumer-friendly.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Andru Edwards, Kevin Nether, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Mark Gurman, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, and Rene Ritchie. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro's Biggest Design Mystery is Finally Solved

Friday September 5, 2025 9:33 am PDT by
Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 series in just four days from now, and the biggest design mystery surrounding the Pro models has finally been solved. In a report outlining his expectations for Apple's event next week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPhone 17 Pro models will have "a new cutout area on the bottom two-thirds of the phone that doubles as the wireless charging area."...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Next Week: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...
iPhone 16 Battery Life Feature

iOS 26's New Battery Life Mode is Limited to These iPhone Models

Wednesday September 3, 2025 1:19 pm PDT by
iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode. Apple says Adaptive Power Mode can make "performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness, allowing some activities to "take longer," and automatically turning on Low Power Mode when the iPhone's remaining battery life...
apple event september 2025 interactive logo

Everything Apple Plans to Debut Next Week, According to Bloomberg

Friday September 5, 2025 4:57 am PDT by
Four days out from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event on Tuesday, September 9, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has summarized his expectations for what the company will reveal next week. Aside from a couple of new details and the inclusion of some more recent leaks from other sources, much of the following is a recap of Gurman's reports over the last several months: iPhone 17 Large...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...

Top Rated Comments

tagsaid Avatar
27 months ago
Real question. I have seen snippets of these videos, some good, some great, others just meh (to me).
I don't know how you decide what topics to discuss or guests to invite, but have you ever considered making a poll and dedicating one video a month, or whatever frequency you decide, to macrumors members' popular vote?

I would be much more enticed to watch it if it were a topic I was interested in vs. what seems to be random based on the latest rumors, and when rumors are slow, it's very random.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crawfish963 Avatar
27 months ago
Product line is watered down. Consilidate. iPad mini with promotion, iPad Air, iPad Pro.

MacBook Air in 13”/15”, MacBook Pro in 14” and 16”

And the base watch is a no-buy 2nd year in a row. Might as well get a gen 7 still.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FrietVanPiet Avatar
27 months ago

AirTag live tracking would be great.
That would fundamentally change the nature product, since that would require an active cellular and gps connection. Both cannot function long on a tiny battery.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SoldOnApple Avatar
27 months ago
I always get the cheapest aluminium Apple Watch but am seriously considering the stainless steel after seeing how much better the stainless steel gold looks than the aluminium gold. You only live once, may as well get the nicer looking watch.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
27 months ago

Product line is watered down. Consilidate. iPad mini with promotion, iPad Air, iPad Pro.

MacBook Air in 13”/15”, MacBook Pro in 14” and 16”

And the base watch is a no-buy 2nd year in a row. Might as well get a gen 7 still.
Absolutely right. ProMotion across the board except for maybe a base model iPad to be as cheap as possible for education.

Still happily using an S7 and only tempted by the Ultra but it’s too big.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)