Apple Planning System for Retail Stores to Update iPhone Software With No Need to Open Box - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Planning System for Retail Stores to Update iPhone Software With No Need to Open Box

Apple is planning to implement an innovative new system that allows retail store staff to wirelessly update iPhones inside their sealed boxes, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple Store Vancouver Canada
In the most recent "Power On" newsletter, Gurman outlined how Apple plans to tackle brand new iPhones being sold in retail stores with outdated software. For example, the iPhone 15 lineup shipped with iOS 17, but iOS 17.0.1 was already available upon its launch and the devices required a update to iOS 17.0.2 to fix an issue that prevented the transfer of data directly from another iPhone during the setup process.

Apple wants customers to receive iPhones with the latest version of iOS to avoid users having to update themselves, especially if important updates have been pushed to address high-profile bugs. Before the end of the next year, Apple will apparently provide a new system to retail stores to address this. It features a "proprietary pad-like device" that retail store staff can place a sealed iPhone box on top of. The system then wirelessly turns on the iPhone, updates its software to the latest version, and powers it off, with no need to open the device's packaging.

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

New Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features Revealed

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:54 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today further outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9. While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. ...
airpods 4 new new orange

Beyond iPhone 18 Pro: AirPods 5 in September, iPad Mini With OLED Display in October

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:25 am PDT by
In his newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that AirPods 5 will be released as early as this September, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, a foldable iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 12, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Apple is holding an event on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. He also reiterated that he expects an iPad mini with an OLED display and...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Reportedly Plans to Release These 14 Products by Early Next Year

Friday September 4, 2026 6:55 am PDT by
Apple will be holding its next event on Wednesday, September 9 to unveil its latest iPhones and Apple Watches, but that is not all, according to a new report. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared a long list of products that he expects Apple to unveil between next week and early 2027. Our list below summarizes Gurman's reporting and mixes in some other rumors. iPhones iPhone 18 Pro: A2...

Top Rated Comments

thisisnotmyname Avatar
38 months ago
Sounds like a great new attack vector for high level (state sponsored and such) hacking
Score: 58 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
38 months ago
Bravo apple. Very cool idea.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tenkaykev Avatar
38 months ago

So everytime a new update comes out all the iphone inventory has to be taken out and placed on that pad? Many stores have hundreds if not thousands of iPhones in all models, colours and capacities. How many pads per store are needed for this system to be effective? Seems like a nightmare for employees…
Schrodingers update. Did it update successfully ? 🤔
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Capeto Avatar
38 months ago

Sounds like a great new attack vector for high level (state sponsored and such) hacking
Exactly what I was thinking– having a way to wirelessly change the software on your phone when it's off seems like a huge security risk.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
38 months ago

Sounds like a great new attack vector for high level (state sponsored and such) hacking
Exactly. I'm not for this.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
38 months ago
So everytime a new update comes out all the iphone inventory has to be taken out and placed on that pad? Many stores have hundreds if not thousands of iPhones in all models, colours and capacities. How many pads per store are needed for this system to be effective? Seems like a nightmare for employees…
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)