Apple's first foldable devices will reach mass production in 2025 and 2026, according to Haitong analyst Jeff Pu.
In a note to investors seen by MacRumors, Pu said that foldable devices are increasingly visible in Apple's supply chain with accelerating progress. The company is expected to release a large-screen foldable iPad or MacBook to kick-off its foray into the product category before launching a higher volume foldable iPhone.
One Apple foldable with a 20.3-inch display will apparently start production in late 2025, which is sooner than previously expected. This time frame is said to be supported by information from Korean display makers, as well as American and Taiwanese hinge manufacturers.
Apple's first foldable iPhone will allegedly feature a 7.9-inch or 8.3-inch display. The company may launch two foldables with these two display size options, or it may opt for a single display size option only. The foldable iPhone could form a new ultra-high end smartphone line for Apple. The device is currently scheduled to reach mass production late 2026, a year after the 20.3-inch foldable.
Do you sometimes struggle to maintain focus while you're working, or find it difficult to unwind and relax at the end of the day? Believe it or not, your iPhone could help with that. Keep reading to learn how.
If you are looking to minimize distractions when you focus on something, or just want to zone out after a hard day's work, it's well worth checking out the Background Sounds feature on your iPhone or iPad. Whether you are at home or in a public place, you can play calming sounds with just a few taps on your device to help you concentrate or rest.
In iOS and iPadOS, Apple's Background Sounds include balanced, bright, and dark noise, as well as natural sounds like ocean, rain, and stream. All of the sounds can be set to play in the background to mask unwanted environmental or external noise, and the sounds mix into or duck under other audio and system sounds, so you don't have to drown out what's important to you.
Enable Background Sounds on iPhone and iPad
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Accessibility.
Under "Hearing," tap Audio & Visual.
Tap Background Sounds, then tap the switch to turn on Background Sounds on the next screen.
Tap Sound to choose a sound effect. Choose from Balanced Noise, Bright Noise, Dark Noise, Ocean, Rain, and Stream.
Your device will need to download individual sound effects when you play them for the first time, so make sure you have an internet connection, but after that you can play the background sound wherever you are.
Note that the last screen in the steps optionally lets you set the volume of the sound, and includes an additional option to automatically stop the sound when you lock your device.
Accessibility Shortcut Access
Once you have downloaded the background sounds, you can quickly start and stop the audio via an Accessibility Shortcut. Here's how to set one up.
Set Up the Accessibility Shortcut
Tap through to Settings ➝ Accessibility.
Select Accessibility Shortcut near the bottom of the menu.
Tap Background Sounds to select it. You can also drag the three lines icon at the far right to change the order in which it appears in the shortcuts menu.
You can triple click your iPhone's Side button to access the Accessibility Shortcut at any time. Alternatively, you can add an Accessibility Shortcut button to your device's Control Center in the following way.
Access Accessibility Shortcut
Tap through to Settings ➝ Control Center.
Find Accessibility Shortcuts under the "More Controls" list and then tap the entry to include it in Control Center.
Once that's done, swipe from the top-right corner of your screen to bring up Control Center, then simply tap Accessibility Shortcut button and then tap Background Sounds to turn the audio on or off.
Background sounds are also available on Macs running macOS Ventura or later. Check out our dedicated how-to article for all the details.
Apple's iPhone 17 Plus or "iPhone 17 Slim" will feature a 6.55-inch display, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young.
In a post to subscribers on X (formerly Twitter), Young added to a report first shared yesterday by Haitong International Securities Jeff Pu. Pu claimed that the iPhone 17 Plus, rumored to launch in 2025, could be replaced by an "iPhone 17 Slim."
Pu said that the iPhone 17 Slim will feature a 6.6-inch display, which is a slight reduction on the iPhone 14, 15, and 16 Plus, which feature a 6.69-inch OLED display. Now, Young has clarified that the device will feature a 6.55-inch display. This is a reduction of two percent over the previous, current, and next-generation models.
A smaller display would help differentiate the larger iPhone 17 model from the iPhone 17 Pro Max, while remaining larger than the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, which are expected to feature 6.1- and 6.3-inch displays, respectively.
While the iPhone 16 series is still months away from launching, an early rumor about an all-new iPhone 17 model has now surfaced.
In a research note with investment firm Haitong this week, analyst Jeff Pu said Apple is planning a so-called "iPhone 17 Slim" model that would replace the Plus model in the lineup. Pu said this model will feature around a 6.6-inch display, a slimmer design, an A18 or A19 chip, 8GB of RAM, a 24-megapixel front camera, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera.
More specifically, display industry analyst Ross Young said this iPhone 17 model will have a 6.55-inch display. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch display.
Pu expects the iPhone 17 Slim to have an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium casing like the Pro models. He expects the device to have some external design changes, but he did not share any specific details.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 lineup in September 2025, so some of these reported features could change.
A reference to an unreleased "Apple Pencil Pro" has been spotted in the source code for Apple's homepage in Japan. We have independently confirmed that the code exists, but it would be unsurprising if Apple removes it after it was discovered.
This finding suggests that an Apple Pencil Pro could be announced at the Apple Event tomorrow. However, given the code does not appear on Apple's homepage in the U.S. or other countries, there is a chance that the Japanese website made a translation error.
A computer translation of the source code:
Folded green, yellow, orange and blue paper forms the Apple logo. Inside the logo, you can see the creator's hand holding the Apple Pencil Pro and drawing.
It is likely that the Apple Pencil Pro would replace the second-generation Apple Pencil, released in 2018. Other models available include the Apple Pencil with USB-C, and the original Apple Pencil from 2015, which is expected to be discontinued once Apple stops selling the ninth-generation iPad with a Lightning connector.
Apple today updated Apple.com with a teaser for tomorrow's event, adding an interactive erasing feature that seems to hint at a refreshed version of the Apple Pencil.
Hovering over the Apple logo and moving the mouse allows the current artwork to be erased and replaced with a new logo design. Apple created a total of six logos for the May 7 "Let Loose" event, and the interactive eraser cycles through those options.
The event is expected to focus on new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but rumors suggest the iPads will also be accompanied by an overhauled Apple Pencil and a refreshed version of the Magic Keyboard.
Code in iOS 17.5 mentions an Apple Pencil with a "squeeze" gesture, so it is possible that the new model that's coming will have a hardware-based erase option enabled with a squeeze. The current Apple Pencil models do not have a universal erase feature that works across apps, and adding such an option would likely be popular with users.
Throughout May, there will also be updates to current Apple Arcade games like Hello Kitty Island Adventure, WHAT THE CAR?, and Ridiculous Fishing EX, with further updates to come in June.
Accessible through the App Store, Apple Arcade is a subscription-based service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro, all free of ads and in-app purchases. The service received its first price increase last year, with U.S. pricing rising from $4.99 to $6.99 per month.
Apple today announced that iOS 17.5 will be released to the public "soon," following over a month of beta testing. While the software update is relatively minor, it does have a few new features and changes, as outlined in the list below.
"The new Pride Radiance watch face and iPhone and iPad wallpapers will be available soon with watchOS 10.5, iOS 17.5, and iPadOS 17.5," said Apple, in its press release introducing a new Pride Edition band for the Apple Watch.
Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 betas so far.
Web Distribution
Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU directly on the web, instead of through the App Store or an alternative app marketplace.
"Web Distribution" is limited to larger developers based in the EU. To qualify for this distribution method, Apple says the developer must be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year.
"Web Distribution" builds upon the alternative app marketplaces that Apple already allows on the iPhone in the EU starting with iOS 17.4. Apple has made these app-related changes to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act.
Quartiles
iOS 17.5 includes a fun addition for Apple News+ subscribers: a daily word game called Quartiles.
Quartiles tasks you with combining tiles to form words and earn points. Each puzzle starts with a grid of 20 tiles, and words can be formed with one to four tiles. A quartile is a four-tile word, and if you find all five in each puzzle, you earn a 40-point bonus. The website Gadget Hacks shared a walkthrough of the game with more details.
Quartiles is the third puzzle game included with an Apple News+ subscription, alongside Crossword and Crossword Mini. Starting with the iOS 17.5 beta, all three games integrate with Game Center to display leaderboards.
On an iPhone updated to the iOS 17.5 beta, Quartiles can be found in the Apple News app under the Following tab → Puzzles. The game is also available on the iPad and Mac starting with the iPadOS 17.5 and macOS 14.5 betas.
Apple News+ is available in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., but the puzzle games seem to be limited to the U.S. and Canada for now.
Repair Mode
iOS 17.5 introduces a "Repair State" option that lets an iPhone be sent in for service without deactivating Find My and Activation Lock.
Color-Changing Apple Podcasts Widget
While listening to a podcast on the iOS 17.5 beta, the background color of the Apple Podcasts widget changes to match the podcast's cover art. This feature was first added in the iOS 17.4 beta, but it was removed before that update was released.
As noted by Aaron Perris, MDM solutions can enforce an iOS beta version during Automated Device Enrollment starting with the iOS 17.5 beta.
Code Changes
Battery Health Menu for Future iPads
The first iPadOS 17.5 beta added several new references to a Battery Health menu on the iPad, but the feature is not actually visible yet. The menu is expected to show an iPad battery's maximum remaining capacity and charge cycle count.
A sample of the code strings added in the iPadOS 17.5 beta:
"iPad must be regularly used while not connected to power to show maximum capacity."
"This is the number of times iPad has used your battery's capacity."
"The iPad battery is performing as expected."
"iPad batteries, like all rechargeable batteries, have a limited lifespan and may eventually need to be serviced or replaced."
"The original battery was designed to retain X capacity at X cycles under ideal conditions. Actual battery performance depends on a number of variables, including how iPad is used and charged regularly. The one-year warranty includes service for defective batteries in addition to rights provided under local consumer laws."
A new Apple Pencil is rumored to launch alongside updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models this month. Apple refers to the USB-C version of the Apple Pencil released last year as the third-generation Apple Pencil in iOS code, so the fourth-generation model would be a new version that would likely succeed the second-generation Apple Pencil.
Additional code in the iOS 17.5 beta suggests that the Apple Pencil could gain a "squeeze" gesture for certain actions, and haptic feedback is also expected.
Third-Party Item Tracker Alerts
Apple and Google last year jointly announced a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth item trackers for unwanted tracking of individuals. As part of this initiative, Apple promised to expand AirTag-like "Found Moving With You" alerts to third-party item trackers in a future software update, which turns out to be iOS 17.5.
The first iOS 17.5 beta added references to alerts for third-party item trackers. For example: "You can disable this item and stop it from sharing its location with the owner. To do this, follow the instructions provided on a website by the manufacturer of this item."
Tile, Chipolo, Samsung, Eufy, and Pebblebee all expressed support for the industry specification, according to Apple's announcement last year.
Amazon has new all-time low prices on Apple's 15-inch M3 MacBook Air today, starting at $1,149.99 for the 256GB model. In order to see these discounts you'll need to clip an on-page coupon and then head to the checkout screen.
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.
You can also get the 8GB RAM/512GB model for $1,349.99 and the 16GB RAM/512GB model for $1,549.99, both of which are $149 off their original prices. These computers just debuted in March 2024, featuring faster M3 chips, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina displays, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, six-speaker sound system, two USB-C ports, a MagSafe charging port, and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
There are also a few 13-inch M3 MacBook Air models on sale at Amazon, including the 256GB model for $999.00 and the 512GB model for $1,199.00, which are $100 discounts. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Apple today announced a new Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch band, watch face, and wallpaper.
The band features a fluorescent design inspired by multiple pride flags with a laser-etched lug that reads "PRIDE 2024." Black, Hispanic, and Latin communities, as well as those impacted by HIV/AIDS, are represented on the band by the black and brown colors, while transgender and non-binary individuals and represented by the pink, light blue, and white colors.
The band is accompanied by a new Pride Radiance watch face and wallpaper for iOS and iPadOS, in which beams of light glow against a dark background and stack on top of each other. On the Apple Watch, the colors trace each numeral of the watch face and react in real time as the wearer moves their wrist based on gyroscope input. On the iPhone and iPad, beams of color spell out "Pride" and dynamically move when the user unlocks the device. For the first time, the Pride watch face and wallpapers can be customized to show specific colors representing LGBTQ+ communities.
The new braided Solo Loop will be available starting May 22. The new Pride Radiance watch face and iPhone and iPad wallpaper will be available "soon" with the release of watchOS 10.5, iOS 17.5, and iPadOS 17.5.
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.
Amazon today has Apple's AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case on sale, with up to $49 in savings on these earbuds. For the AirPods 3, this is the first time we've tracked a discount on the device since February.
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.
The AirPods 2 are on sale for $79.99, down from $129.00, and the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case are on sale for $139.99, down from $169.00. This discount on the AirPods 2 beats the sale we've been tracking over the past few weeks by about $10.
Shipping times have started slipping on the AirPods 3, with estimates currently given for May 17-22 for most residences in the United States. If you're looking for a Pro model, Amazon also has the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C on sale for $179.99, down from $249.00.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
Apple will hold its first media event of 2024 on Tuesday, May 7, at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time through a live stream. Titled "Let Loose," the event is expected to see the unveiling of new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, along with updated Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard accessories.
There are several ways to watch the May 7 event, with details listed below. We've also included a useful guide on when the event will take place in your particular time zone.
Apple Events Website
With the Apple Events website, you can watch the event live on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, PC, or any other device with a web browser. The Apple Events website works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and other main browsers.
Just navigate to www.apple.com/apple-events/ using a web browser at the appropriate time to watch. You can visit the site now to add an event reminder to your calendar.
YouTube
Apple also plans to stream the event live on YouTube, which is perhaps the easiest and most efficient way to watch because the YouTube live stream can be viewed on every platform where YouTube is available, which is pretty much all platforms, from smartphones and tablets to consoles and smart TVs.
Apple has posted a placeholder for the May 7 event on YouTube, and you can visit it now to set an event reminder through YouTube.
Apple TV App
Apple used to have a dedicated Apple Events app on the Apple TV, but ahead of WWDC in June 2020, it folded into the Apple TV app. On event day, there will be a prominent Apple TV app section dedicated to the live stream, which can be watched on any device where the Apple TV app is available.
This includes the Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and some smart TVs. If you have an Apple TV, the Apple TV app is one of the best ways to watch the event live. Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV app with the new event as of yet, but it should be added soon.
Event Time Zones
Apple's "Let Loose" event will take place at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is an earlier start than usual, so keep that in mind if you're used to operating on Apple's more traditional event schedule. Event times in other time zones are listed below.
Honolulu, Hawaii — 4:00 a.m. HST
Anchorage, Alaska — 6:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 7:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 7:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 7:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 8:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 9:00 a.m. CDT
New York, New York — 10:00 a.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 10:00 a.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 11:00 a.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 11:00 a.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 3:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 4:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 4:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 4:00 p.m. SAST
Helsinki, Finland — 5:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 5:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 6:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 7:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 9:00 p.m. WIB
Shanghai, China — 10:00 p.m. CST
Singapore — 10:00 p.m. SGT
Perth, Australia — 10:00 p.m. AWST
Hong Kong — 10:00 p.m. HKT
Seoul, South Korea — 11:00 p.m. KST
Tokyo, Japan — 11:00 p.m. JST
Adelaide, Australia — 11:30 p.m. ACST
Sydney, Australia — 12:00 midnight AEST
Auckland, New Zealand — 2:00 a.m. NZST next day
MacRumors Coverage
If you're not able to watch or just want to follow along with us as we watch the event unfold, visit MacRumors.com for our liveblog or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for our live tweet coverage.
Both the MacRumors site and our X (Twitter) account are excellent ways to discuss the new announcements with other Apple enthusiasts as Apple unveils new products. Later in the day and throughout the week, we'll also have much more in-depth coverage of all of Apple's announcements, so be sure to stay tuned.
It's been a long time since the last one, but an Apple event is finally right around the corner! While it's anticipated to be a fairly short pre-recorded affair, we're expecting to see the first updates to the iPad lineup in over a year and half, so make sure to tune in to see what Apple has in store.
Other news and rumors this week included a couple of product introductions from Apple's Beats brand, a roundup of rumors about updates to Apple's stock apps coming in iOS 18, and more changes to Apple's policies in the EU related to the Digital Markets Act, so read on below for all the details!
What to Expect From the May 7 Apple Event
Apple's first event of 2024 kicks off on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, and we've put together our usual pre-event guide outlining what we're expecting to see on Tuesday. Several new products are expected to be unveiled, including two new iPad Pro models, two new iPad Air models, an updated Apple Pencil, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard for iPads.
One rumor was particularly surprising this week, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said there is a "strong possibility" that the new iPad Pro models will be equipped with Apple's next-generation M4 chip, rather than the M3 chip that debuted in the MacBook Pro and iMac six months ago. Gurman believes the M4 chip will have an upgraded Neural Engine that is able to process artificial intelligence (AI) tasks faster.
While it would be unprecedented for an M-series chip to debut in an iPad before a Mac, there is some evidence to suggest that the rumor might be true, so check out our story for more details about this possibility.
Beats Solo Buds Launching in June for Just $79.99
Apple unveiled two new Beats headphone models this week, including the on-ear Beats Solo 4 and the compact Beats Solo Buds.
Launching in June, the Beats Solo Buds are particularly interesting given their competitive $79.99 price point. Key features include ear tips with four size options, up to 18 hours of battery life, a USB-C carrying case, and Find My support on iOS and Android. However, the Solo Buds lack active noise cancellation, and the carrying case does not have a built-in battery.
In other Beats news, LeBron James and Daniel Ricciardo have been seen in public carrying an unreleased speaker very clearly descended from the discontinued Beats Pill family, so it looks like the popular portable speaker may be making a comeback in the not too distant future.
iOS 18 Rumored to Add New Features to These 16 Apps on Your iPhone
Apple's annual developers conference WWDC is now under six weeks away, and that means the iOS 18 beta is just around the corner.
This news comes after the EU ruled that the iPad is a "gatekeeper" platform. Apple has six months to comply with the Digital Markets Act on the iPad, so alternative app marketplaces, support for web browser engines other than WebKit, and more will likely be available by iPadOS 18.1.
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.
Some Swift Student Challenge winners today began receiving congratulatory certificates from Apple, with one Distinguished Winner sharing a images of the letter he received from Apple.
We're honored to recognize you as a Distinguished Winner of the 2024 Swift Student Challenge. Your app playground stands among the best of the best in this year's challenge, demonstrating your creativity, passion for coding, and commitment to building great apps.
You've truly inspired us and we can't wait to see what you do next!
Apple this year picked a total of 350 winners, including 50 Distinguished Winners. Winners are meant to receive AirPods Max headphones, but Apple appears to be sending that reward in a separate shipment.
While all 350 Swift Student Challenge winners were eligible to apply to attend Apple's June 10 WWDC special event at Apple Park, the Distinguished Winners are being invited to Cupertino for a three-day Apple Park event that also includes time to interface with Apple engineers.
Apple's annual Swift Student Challenge tasks students with creating an innovative coding project using the Swift Playgrounds app. Projects are judged based on technical accomplishment, creativity of ideas, and the content of the written responses that explain the project.
Apple is set to hold its first event of the year next Tuesday, and the focus will be on the iPad. The iPad Pro and iPad Air models are set to be updated, and Apple also plans to refresh some of its iPad accessories. The video-based event will last for about 35 minutes.
This guide features details on everything that we're expecting to see at the "Let Loose" event that will take place on May 7.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro models will be the star of Apple's event, featuring the first larger form factor OLED displays. OLED display technology will bring deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency.
Apple is said to be using the "best OLED panels on the market" with higher brightness, extended battery life, 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, and a long lifetime for the OLED technology. OLED displays have pixels that can be controlled individually, so high dynamic range content looks more realistic and true-to-life.
The iPad Pro models will be available in 11.1-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, and both models will be thinner with slimmed down bezels. The 11.1-inch iPad Pro is expected to be 5.1mm thick, down from 5.9mm, while the 12.9-inch model will be 5mm thick, down from 6.4mm. The tablets will be roughly the same size as the current models, with small changes to the length and width.
It's not entirely clear which M-series chip the iPad Pro models will use, and there is a possibility that these will be the first devices equipped with the AI-focused next-generation M4 chip. If that doesn't happen, Apple will use the M3 that's in the iMac and MacBook Air. Either way, it'll mark a massive improvement.
Along with slimmed down bezels, the iPad Pro's front-facing camera is expected to be relocated to the side of the device rather than the top, so the camera will be upright when the iPad is in a landscape orientation. That makes more sense for video calls and filming done when the iPad is used with a keyboard.
There have been rumors of possible MagSafe charging support and up to 4TB of storage, and we could also see prices go up. Multiple sources have said that the OLED technology will make the 2024 iPad Pro models more expensive, but just how much more expensive remains to be seen. Rumors have ranged from $160 more to $700 more.
The iPad Air will get a refresh alongside the iPad Pro, and for the first time, Apple is splitting the Air lineup and introducing two models. The first iPad Air will be a direct successor to the current version, measuring in at 10.9 inches. The second model will come in at 12.9 inches, similar to the iPad Pro.
Offering the iPad Air in two screen sizes will allow customers who want a large screen at a more affordable price than the iPad Pro to have that option. The 10.9 and 12.9-inch iPad Air models will not have the same OLED screen technology Apple is bringing to the iPad Pro, instead using LCD, and that will keep costs lower.
We are not expecting design changes to the iPad Air, except for the new, larger size. Both models will look like the iPad Air 4, featuring an edge-to-edge display with slim bezels and an aluminum chassis with flat, rounded edges. The iPad Air will be thicker than the iPad Pro, and it will have thicker bezels.
Leaked iPad Air images point to a rear camera with a protruding pill-shaped camera bump that's similar to the design we're expecting to see with the iPhone 16. The front camera could be repositioned so that it will be at the top of the iPad Air when it's in landscape mode, allowing it to be in the right orientation for video calls when it's used with a keyboard. The current version has the camera at the top when it is in portrait mode.
While we won't see notable design updates, Apple may introduce new color options. The existing model comes in a range of pastel shades, so Apple could tweak the color selection.
The iPad Pro and iPad Air will be accompanied by an updated version of the Apple Pencil, which Apple might call the Apple Pencil 3. It isn't yet clear if there will be design changes, but it is expected to be the first Apple Pencil that supports haptic feedback.
How that haptic feedback will be used remains to be seen, but code in iOS 17.5 suggested there will be a "squeeze" gesture that could do things like activate different tools and settings in apps.
There were rumors of interchangeable magnetic tips at one point, but we don't know if that's actually a feature that's coming or an inaccurate rumor. Deeper integration with the Vision Pro is a possibility, and it could perhaps work with drawing apps that support visionOS. There's also a chance that we could see the Apple Pencil come in both black and white rather than just white.
There is a reference to an "Apple Pencil Pro" on Apple's homepage in Japan, and as it is related to the event, it suggests that Apple might be planning to give the new Apple Pencil a Pro moniker.
Apple's homepage further hints at some kind of erase feature, with the logo on the site able to be erased to reveal a new logo.
Magic Keyboard
Apple plans to overhaul the Magic Keyboard, introducing a sturdier frame made from aluminum rather than the polyurethane material used for the current version. While the frame and area around the keyboard will be made from aluminum, the exterior shell will still be made from silicone.
With the aluminum build, an iPad and Magic Keyboard combo will more closely resemble a MacBook, both in terms of looks and functionality. There will be a larger trackpad that is similar to the trackpad on a MacBook, so the keyboard will offer a MacBook-like typing and navigating experience.
Apple is using more premium materials for the new Magic Keyboard, so it could be more expensive. The current model is priced starting at $299 for the 11-inch version. The new Magic Keyboard is likely to work with both the upcoming iPad Air and iPad Pro models as they are similar in size (11.1 and 12.9 inches for the iPad Pro and 10.9 and 12.9 inches for the iPad Air).
Other Accessories
Apple refreshes its selection of Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, and iPad cases regularly, introducing new color options. We could see new summer colors for many accessories, and Apple will need to update its iPad cases to accommodate the new designs.
Vision Pro Expansion
Rumors suggest that Apple will expand the Vision Pro headset to additional countries before WWDC, and we're getting short on time. We could see Apple bring the Vision Pro to countries like the UK, Canada, China, and more as part of the May 7 event.
How to Watch
The "Let Loose" event is set to take place on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website and on YouTube, plus there is an option to watch it on the Apple TV. The event will last for approximately 35 minutes.
Those unable to watch or those who want to follow along with MacRumors can visit MacRumors.com for the liveblog or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for live tweet coverage.
This week's best deals include great discounts on both Apple products and third-party accessories, ranging from all-time low prices on Apple Pencil and the Studio Display, to steep markdowns on Anker's popular USB-C charging accessories. You'll also find OWC's ongoing discount on its best Thunderbolt docks and hubs.
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.
OWC
What's the deal? Get $150 off OWC's 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock
OWC is still hosting a big sale on its docks, hubs, and other Mac accessories, highlighted by the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $129.99, down from $279.99. This accessory features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Mini DisplayPort port, one gigabit Ethernet port, one S/PDIF digital audio output port, and one 3.5mm stereo audio input/output port.
Anker and Eufy
What's the deal? Save on Anker and Eufy accessories
This week we also started tracking discounts on Anker and Eufy accessories on Amazon, including savings for Prime members on Eufy's Find My-compatible SmartTrack Bluetooth trackers. You can find the full list of items on sale in our original post.
This week also saw numerous discounts across the AirPods lineup, including the AirPods 2 for $89.00 and AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C for $189.99. The Pro model did briefly hit $179.99 earlier in the week, but that all-time low price has since expired.
Studio Display
What's the deal? Get $299 off Apple Studio Display
Amazon this week introduced the first discount on the Apple Studio Display that we've seen in months, including $299 off both Standard and Nano-texture Glass models.
Amazon has the Apple Pencil 2 for the record low price of $79.00, down from $129.00. The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later).
Amazon has the 1-Pack for $24.99 and the 4-Pack for $79.99. These are both solid second-best prices on each AirTag model, and they're the first time we've seen notable AirTag discounts in a few weeks.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
While Apple's upcoming iPad Pro models have been expected to feature the M3 chip for over a year, recent reports have unexpectedly suggested that the new devices will instead contain the as-yet-unannounced M4 chip and that a key new feature of the processor will be an upgraded Neural Engine optimized for AI tasks. Introducing the M4 chip in an iPad and only six months after the previous chip generation would be unprecedented moves, but there is evidence to suggest that it is a plausible possibility.
Apple's "Let loose" event is expected to focus on the unveiling of redesigned iPad Pro models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, a high-end Magic Keyboard accessory, and a new Apple Pencil. We also talk through the three other announcements that Apple could have in store for the event.
The special event will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the announcement of Apple's "Let loose" event.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
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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.
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.
