MacRumors

Best Buy today announced that it now sells unlocked iPhones in the U.S., but only older models are available, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE. An unlocked iPhone can be used with a wide variety of carriers.

The unlocked iPhones are in brand new condition and are available at all Best Buy stores and on BestBuy.com starting today, a Best Buy spokesperson said in an email.

Best Buy already sold iPhones locked to AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, and availability of unlocked models will give customers more flexibility. Best Buy operates over 1,000 stores across the U.S., including in many communities that lack an Apple Store.

Best Buy is not carrying unlocked iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro models at this time.

Today we're tracking a series of deals on iPads, including the 2022 10.9-inch iPad and the 2021 M1 iPad Pro. These sales can be found on Amazon and Expercom, and every deal has been automatically applied so you don't need any coupon codes.

iPad (2022)

Starting with the 2022 iPad, Amazon has nearly every model on sale for all-time low prices right now. You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00, down from $449.00, and the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $549.00, down from $599.00.

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.

If you want a cellular model, both of these are on sale too. You can get the 64GB cellular iPad for $549.00, down from $599.00, and the 256GB cellular iPad for $699.00, down from $749.00.

Although all of these sales are only $50 markdowns, every one represents a match of an all-time low price on the 2022 iPad.

iPad Pro (2021)

At Expercom, you can save some money on the previous-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro thanks to a few steep discounts. Expercom is one of the only retailers to discount the M1 iPad Pro in 2023, and although they are older tablets, anyone who prioritizes savings over upgraded internals should be interested in these deals.

This sale starts with the 128GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $849.00, down from $1,099.00. Next, Expercom has the 256GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $949.00, down from $1,199.00. In addition to 12.9-inch models, you can also save up to $220 on 11-inch iPad Pro tablets.

The 2021 and 2022 iPad Pro models share an overwhelming majority of their features, so those investing in a 2021/M1 model to save money shouldn't find much that they would be missing out on in the 2022/M2 models. The central advantages on the 2022 tablets come down to the upgraded M2 chip with a 15 percent faster CPU and 35 percent faster GPU, ProRes video recording, and Apple Pencil hover.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

In every copy of macOS that has shipped since 2018, Apple has included the original Bitcoin whitepaper by Satoshi Nakamoto, and no-one seems to know why.

The baffling discovery (or rediscovery - see below) was recently made by developer and waxy.org writer Andy Baio, who stumbled upon the PDF document while trying to fix a problem with his printer.

Anyone with a Mac running macOS Mojave or later can see the PDF for themselves by typing the following command into Terminal:

open /System/Library/Image\ Capture/Devices/VirtualScanner.app/Contents/Resources/simpledoc.pdf

If you're running macOS 10.14 or later, the 184 KB Bitcoin PDF should immediately open in Preview.

The document can also be located via Finder: Navigate to Macintosh HD -> System -> Library -> Image Capture -> Devices, then open the Contents -> Resources folder. The whitepaper titled "simpledoc.pdf" should be in there.

Baio found that in the macOS Image Capture utility, the Bitcoin whitepaper is used as a sample document for a device called "Virtual Scanner II," which may or may not power Apple's Import from iPhone feature, and is either hidden or not installed for everyone by default.

Baio later discovered that he wasn't the first person to find the Bitcoin document or "Virtual Scanner II." An Apple Community post from 2021 queries its existence in macOS, in addition to a photo taken of a sign at San Francisco Bay's Treasure Island, after designer Joshua Dickens unearthed them in 2020.

It's not known why Apple would choose as a sample document Nakamoto's Bitcoin whitepaper. There has been widespread speculation about the identity of the presumed pseudonymous Bitcoin developer, which is only likely to add to the intrigue. What "Virtual Scanner II" refers to also remains unclear.

According to a source who spoke to Baio, someone filed the Bitcoin paper with Apple as an issue nearly a year ago, and assigned it to the same engineer who put the PDF there in the first place, but that person hasn't taken action or commented on the issue since.

The mystery continues.

With the iPhone 14 models, Apple introduced a Crash Detection feature that is designed to contact emergency services automatically should a collision be detected. Crash Detection has already saved lives, but there have also been a number of complaints about the option accidentally triggering at ski resorts, amusement parks, and in other non-emergency high-activity situations.

Apple has introduced Crash Detection optimizations in the last several iOS 16 updates to try to cut down on false calls, and now the company has new recommendations for users that accidentally activate the crash detection feature. In an updated Crash Detection support document, Apple directs users not to hang up if an accidental call is placed, and to instead explain to the emergency responder that help is not required.

If the call has been made, but you don't need emergency services, don't hang up. Wait until a responder answers, then explain that you don't need help.

Apple also removed a line in the support document that suggested users cancel a call during the timer period. "If you don't need to contact emergency services, tap Cancel and confirm that you don't need emergency services," read the sentence that has been pulled from the document.

The Crash Detection support site continues to suggest that users should dismiss an alert if they are able to do so, but Apple appears to want to put a stop to ‌iPhone‌ users canceling or hanging up on an already-started emergency call and leaving emergency responders wondering what happened.

Emergency dispatchers around ski slopes have been particularly unhappy with the number of accidental calls that are being received from Crash Detection. Skiing and snowboarding tumbles are able to trigger Crash Detection, and with the heavy clothing worn with these activities, ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch users sometimes don't notice that an emergency call has been placed.

In Colorado's Summit County, for example, 185 accidental Crash Detection calls were received in a week in January, wasting time and resources needed for actual emergencies. Summit County emergency services director Trina Dummer said in February that the situation threatens to "desensitize dispatchers and divert limited resources from true emergencies."

Apple in response sent four representatives to Summit County to observe the emergency call center, and further optimizations have since been added.

Crash Detection is available on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 models and the latest Apple Watch models. Using sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope, it can detect a severe car crash and automatically call emergency services if a user does not respond to an alert within 20 seconds.

Apple is now sending out emails to let developers know if they've been selected to attend the special WWDC viewing event that will be held on Monday, June 5 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California.

Apple began accepting invites for the viewing event on Wednesday, March 29, the same day that the company announced the official dates for the 34th Worldwide Developers Conference. At the time, Apple said that developers would be informed if they were selected by 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, April 5, following an April 4 submission deadline.

Attendees are selected based on a random lottery system, with Apple Developer Program members, prior-year Swift Student Challenge winners, and Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni eligible to enter. Apple also plans to invite students who win this year's Student Challenge, but that will involve a separate lottery.

Developers and students selected to attend will be able to visit the ‌Apple Park‌ campus on Monday, June 5. There will be a viewing party for the WWDC 2023 keynote event, as well as a viewing of the Platforms State of the Union. Developers will be able to interface with Apple engineers, visit the Developer Center, attend the Apple Design Awards ceremony, and "enjoy activities into the evening."

Those who plan to go to the viewing event will need to RSVP by April 10, and invitations are non-transferable. Apple is not providing travel or accommodations, so developers and students will need to fund their own travel costs, but the event itself is free to attend.

Germany's Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office or FCO) antitrust authority today announced that Apple is subject to "extended abuse control" under the German Competition Act, which means that German regulators can prevent the company from engaging in "anti-competitive practices."

FCO president Andreas Mundt said that Apple's economic position is not adequately controlled by competition, giving German authorities the right to step in.

Apple has an economic position of power across markets which gives rise to a scope of action that is not sufficiently controlled by competition. Based on its mobile end devices such as the iPhone, Apple operates a wide-ranging digital ecosystem which is of great importance to competition not only in Germany, but also throughout Europe and the world. With its proprietary products iOS and the App Store, Apple holds a key position for competition as well as for gaining access to the ecosystem and Apple customers. This decision enables us to specifically take action against and effectively prohibit anti-competitive practices.

In the press release, the FCO says that Apple's two billion device active install base gives it a "strong power" to create rules for third parties, with Apple exerting control over customers and access to customers. Combined with Apple's resources, Apple is in a "position of power" that makes it subject to the aforementioned "special abuse control." This designation is valid for five years.

German regulators are already looking into Apple's ad tracking rules and App Tracking Transparency, a measure that requires apps to get explicit user consent before tracking them. The investigation began in 2022 with the aim of determining whether Apple's anti-tracking technology is anti-competitive.

At the current time, the FCO has not decided whether to initiate further proceedings against Apple. Alphabet/Google, Meta/Facebook, and Amazon have previously been subject to these rules. A 2021 amendment to the German Competition Act provided the FCO with the power to "intervene early and more effectively" to prevent major tech companies from engaging in anti-competitive practices.

In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that it plans to appeal the decision, and that it does not agree with some of the claims used to classify the company as in a position of power.

Apple is proud to be an engine for innovation, job creation, and competition in every market where we operate. The FCO’s designation misrepresents the fierce competition Apple faces in Germany, and it discounts the value of a business model that puts user privacy and security at its core. While we will continue to work with the FCO to understand their concerns, we plan to appeal their decision.

Apple said that the FCO is not presenting an accurate picture of the hardware market in Germany, and that the decision is not based on Apple's true competitive significance. Despite the FCO's claims that Apple's ecosystem limits customer choice, Apple says that iPhone and iPad are not stuck with the Apple ecosystem, but rather choose to use Apple products due to loyalty to the company.

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.

Following a rumor that iOS 16.4.1 is in the works, we can now independently confirm that Apple is testing the software update internally. It's unclear when the update will be released, but it will likely be available within the next week or two.

Like other minor updates, iOS 16.4.1 will likely be focused on bug fixes and/or security patches. Since iOS 16.4 was released last week, some iPhone users have complained about being forced to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords occasionally, and various user interface glitches. Some users continue to complain about Weather app data failing to display too, despite Apple's system status page indicating that issue is now resolved.

iOS 16.4.1 will be a stopgap until iOS 16.5 is released around May. Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 16.5 last week with a few minor changes, including a Sports tab in the Apple News app and the ability to start a screen recording with Siri.

Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, so the iOS 16 software cycle is nearing its completion.

iOS 17 will feature "major" changes to Control Center on the iPhone, according to a MacRumors forum member who leaked accurate details about the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro before the device was announced last year.

In an email, the anonymous source added that iOS 17 will be focused on performance and stability improvements, suggesting that a revamped Control Center could be one of the more prominent changes coming with the software update. Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, and as usual, the first beta version should be made available to developers for testing later that day.

The source did not provide any specific details about changes planned for Control Center, which has looked largely the same since iOS 11 was released in 2017. The menu provides iPhone users with convenient access to controls for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, display brightness, volume, and many other system functions. On the iPhone X and newer, Control Center can be opened by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.

Introduced with iOS 7, Control Center turns 10 this year. On a speculative basis, Apple could make Control Center more customizable and revamp the menu's design after six years of minimal changes, but exact changes if any remain to be seen.

While the forum member has a proven track record, this rumor has yet to be corroborated by other sources, and Apple's plans are subject to change.

Rumors suggest that Apple will use the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference to unveil its long-rumored AR/VR headset, and according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the device's introduction will mark an important milestone in Apple's efforts to persuade investors that it will sell.

"Apple's announcement event is likely the last hope for convincing investors that the AR/MR headset device could have a chance to be the next star product in consumer electronics," Kuo wrote in a Medium article estimating upcoming virtual reality headset sales from Sony and Meta.

With Sony cutting production plans for the PS VR2 and an estimated 300,000 product lifecycle shipments for the Meta Quest Pro, Kuo believes there is "insufficient evidence" to indicate that AR/VR headsets can become the next major thing in consumer electronics.

As the unveiling of the AR/VR approaches, there has been growing skepticism that Apple will introduce a product that people actually want to buy. In late March, The New York Times cited Apple employees who were concerned about the usefulness and the price point of the headset. Some questioned whether the device is a "solution in search of a problem," unlike the iPhone and the iPad. There are also worries that it is not "driven by the same clarity" as other Apple devices.

Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this week said that there have been "loads of skeptics" with everything that the company has done, but that Apple has succeeded anyway. "If you do something that's on edge, it will always have skeptics," he said. Cook said that Apple is "not interested in putting together pieces of somebody else's stuff," and that in markets it enters, the company wants to "control the primary technology."

While Kuo suggested in late March that Apple's AR/VR headset might not make an appearance at WWDC because Apple had pushed back its mass production timeline, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Sunday said that Apple still plans to announce the device during the WWDC 2023 keynote. Kuo has not walked back his delay suggestion, and his note today does not include a timeline for Apple's event.

Rumors indicate that the AR/VR headset will use 4K micro-OLED displays, dozens of cameras for capturing everything from a user's surroundings to their gestures and facial expressions, a lightweight, comfortable fit facilitated by an external battery, and a focus communication software.

A full rundown on what we know about Apple's plans for the AR/VR headset, which could be called the "Reality Pro," can be found in our roundup.

Anker and Eufy today have a few solid deals across each brand's charging and tracking accessories. At Anker you can get up to 25 percent off your order when you buy four or more products, and on Amazon you can save up to $18 on Eufy Security Smart Trackers.

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.

Starting with the Eufy trackers, Amazon has both the Smart Track Link in various bundles and the Smart Track Card on sale with various on-page coupons. In order to see the deal prices, all you need to do is clip the coupons on each accessory's product page (located next to the "Save More" banner) and then head to checkout.

These accessories work similar to Apple's AirTag, letting you track items like your bag or wallet through compatibility with Apple's Find My app. Shoppers should note that due to the steep discount on the Smart Track Link (2-Pack), this accessory has the best deal price and is only $1 more than the 1-Pack option. Because of this sale, it is also cheaper to place two separate orders for the 2-Pack if you want four of the trackers.

Smart Track Link

• Smart Track Link (1-Pack) - $16.99, down from $19.99
• Smart Track Link (2-Pack) - $17.99, down from $35.99
• Smart Track Link (4-Pack) - $59.99, down from $69.99

Smart Track Card

• Smart Track Card (1-Pack) - $19.99, down from $29.99

Over at Anker, you can save up to 25 percent with the purchase of four or more of the company's best power banks, chargers, power strips, cables, and hubs. In total, you can buy two products to get 10 percent off, three products to get 15 percent off, and four or more to get 25 percent off your order.

This offer only applies to the products found on this page, so it is not a sitewide deal. We've collected some of the best products in the list below, but be sure to head to Anker to browse the full sale, and remember that the more you add to your cart, the bigger the discount (up to 25 percent off) will be.

It's also worth noting that some of these accessories have their own individual coupon on Anker's website that can help save you a bit of money if you only want to buy one item. If an accessory has a coupon, you'll find it in an orange box below the product description.

• PowerCore 10,000 mAh - $21.99
• Nano Charger with USB-C to Lightning Cable - $29.99 (20% individual coupon)
• Nano II 30W Charger - $33.99
• MagGo 5,000 mAh - $39.99
• Power Strip (2x USB-A, 1x USB-C) - $65.99
• MagGo Charging Station - $99.99 ($30 individual coupon)

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Now through April 11, iPhone users can get six Chicken McNuggets for free when they make a minimum $1 purchase in the McDonald's app with Apple Pay. The limited-time offer is available at participating McDonald's restaurants in the United States.

The offer can be redeemed via the "Deals" section of the McDonald's app, and opting into MyMcDonald's Rewards is required.

The full terms of the offer:

Offer valid through April 11, 2023, or while supplies last at participating U.S. McDonald's. Must select offer from 'Deals' section of mobile app. Limit one per customer. Excludes tax. Must opt into MyMcDonald's Rewards.

Apple Pay promos like this one are periodically emailed to some iPhone users in the U.S., offering various perks and discounts from popular brands.

Apple's 2023 M2 Mac mini has hit new all-time low prices in both storage configurations today on Amazon. As of writing, only Amazon has these deals and you can get the Mac mini delivered as soon as April 9.

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.

Starting with the 256GB M2 Mac mini, you can get this model for $499.99, down from $599.00. This is now the best price we've ever tracked for this version of the computer, and stock is beginning to dwindle so be sure to lock in the sale price soon if you're interested.

Additionally, the 512GB M2 Mac mini has dropped to $689.99, down from $799.00 on Amazon. This is another best-ever price for the new Mac mini, and delivery dates are available for mid-April as of writing.

We aren't currently tracking any discounts on the M2 Pro Mac mini, besides a small $50 discount on Amazon. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Updated: The 256GB model is now out of stock on Amazon, but the 512GB option is still available.

Apple today announced that over 250 suppliers are committed to using renewable energy for all Apple production by 2030. Apple said its manufacturing partners now support over 13 gigawatts of renewable electricity, a nearly 30% increase in the last year.

Apple remains committed to its goal of being carbon neutral for every product that it makes by 2030, and is allocating $4.7 billion in Green Bonds to help finance the expansion of clean energy solutions and emissions reductions around the world.

"At Apple, we're carbon neutral for our own operations and innovating every day to go even further in the urgent work to address climate change," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "With partners around the world, we're adding even more renewable energy to power our global supply chain and investing in next-generation green technologies. The scale of this challenge is immense — but so is our determination to meet it."

Apple's press release provides more details about the company's clean energy advancements.

Apple plans to ship iPhone 15 models from India upon the device's launch – a first for the launch of a new iPhone lineup, signalling the company's gradual progress in diversifying its supply chain away from China, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

Casings for the ‌iPhone 15‌ have reportedly started to be made in India by local suppliers such as Jabil, which already assembles AirPods enclosures and has plans to expand to the Apple Pencil in the future. The ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max will continue to be made exclusively in China.

Apple has experienced quality control issues with some Indian suppliers, limiting manufacturers to certain models and color options. Earlier this year, the Financial Times reported that only one in two ‌iPhone‌ casings coming off Tata's production line in India "is in good enough shape" to be sent forward to assembly at Foxconn.

In previous years, initial batches of new iPhones have exclusively been made in China, before India comes on stream gradually in the following months. With the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup, Apple apparently expects to ship new devices from both countries simultaneously for the first time. See the full report for more information on Apple's efforts to shift production away from China.

Some Mac and iPad users who updated their devices to Apple's latest software updates are reporting problems with Continuity features like Universal Control and Handoff.

Since last week's release of macOS 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4, many users have taken to the MacRumors Forums, Reddit, Twitter, and Apple's Support Communities to voice their frustration at the lack of functionality after updating.

Users also variously report problems with Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and Auto Unlock and Approve with Apple Watch. Based on online reports, the main Continuity feature to be negatively impacted by the updates appears to be Universal Control.

To recap the feature‌‌, if you have a Mac and an ‌‌iPad‌‌ next to each other and signed into the same Apple ID, you can use the keyboard and cursor on one device across both of them. So a Mac's trackpad can be used over on the ‌‌‌iPad‌‌‌ just by swiping across, and the Mac's keyboard will become the ‌‌iPad‌‌'s input device. The reverse is also true of an ‌‌‌iPad‌‌‌ if you have a keyboard and mouse attached to it.

Barring a restore of the previous OS, suggested solutions that have worked for some users include: Signing out of one's iCloud account on both devices; disabling, restarting, then re-enabling Handoff/Auto Unlock with Apple Watch; turning Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth on and off again; and toggling checkboxes related to Universal Control features.

Apple has not commented on the Continuity bugs, but it is likely aware of them and working on solutions. The company is rumored to be preparing to release iOS 16.4.1 for the iPhone, so it could release iPadOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1 in tandem. Such minor updates are typically focused on bug fixes and security improvements.

Apple has released a teaser image of the barricade of its first official retail store in India, Apple BKC, which is set to open soon.

The store is in the country's financial capital of Mumbai, located in a high-end shopping mall at Bandra Kurla Complex – hence 'BKC' in the title – in the city's main business district.

The barricade's design is said to be inspired by Mumbai's iconic Kaali Peeli (black and yellow) taxis, and the store is set to welcome its customers with the Apple greeting, "Hello Mumbai."

Apple has also created a special Apple Music playlist to celebrate the new store, as well as special decorative wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Apple has not yet provided a date for when its flagship Mumbai store will open, and only states on its website that it is "coming soon." However, local reports suggest it will happen in April. The original plan was for it to open in 2021, but the global health crisis and economic uncertainty reportedly forced Apple to delay it.

Apple is also building a second, smaller store in the capital, New Delhi, with the possibility of further stores popping up in malls and shopping districts across India as Apple makes retail a large part of its presence in the country.

In the past, CEO Tim Cook and other Apple executives have remarked on the importance of India, which is home to the world's second biggest smartphone market. In 2020 Apple opened its online store in India, offering Indian customers a way to purchase products directly from Apple without having to go through an authorized premium reseller.

Apple has also been working to build out a manufacturing supply chain in the country, and in an indication of the country's perceived importance as a production hub, Apple shifted iPhone 14 assembly from China to India in the weeks following its release.

Apple's iOS 17 operating system will be compatible with all iPhones that are capable of running iOS 16, claims a previously reliable source with alleged contacts within Apple, contradicting yesterday's rumor.

On Tuesday, a separate source with a good track record for predicting the general release window of upcoming Apple software updates suggested that iOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, while iPadOS 17 will drop support for the first-generation 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and fifth-generation iPad.

However, in direct response to the claim about iOS 17 dropping support for the above iPhone models, a reputable leaker has asserted otherwise, saying that it is "simply incorrect." According to a post on the MacRumors forum by the anonymous tipster, all iPhones that support iOS 16 will indeed support iOS 17, including all devices powered by A11 chipsets (i.e. the iPhone X and iPhone 8/8 Plus).

This counterclaim comes from the same leaker that last year accurately revealed the presence of the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models ahead of their official launch. More recently they also claimed that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models will use a new ultra-low energy chip allowing the new volume, power, and "Action" solid-state buttons to remain functional when the handset is powered off or out of battery, and that iOS 17 will include a new sensitivity setting for said buttons.

This source is said to have a "man inside" Apple's development team who occasionally reveals hardware details about upcoming iPhone models if the physical features require software development to complement them.

If their latest claim is accurate, it would not be the first time that Apple has maintained the same list of compatible devices between major iOS releases. For example, iOS 15 is compatible with all devices that can run iOS 14, although some iOS 15 features are not available on older iPhones. In contrast, iOS 16 dropped support for some older devices, including the iPhone SE, the iPhone 6s, the ‌iPhone‌ 6s Plus, the iPod touch, and the ‌iPhone‌ 7 and ‌iPhone‌ 7 Plus.

It is also worth noting that yesterday's rumor was not the first time it has been suggested that iOS 17 could drop support for the iPhone X and iPhone 8/8 Plus. The argument does make logical sense because these models are now five years old – an elapsed timeframe previously used by Apple to drop software support for some earlier devices. They are also the only iPhones powered by the A11 chip, which is vulnerable to a bootrom jailbreaking exploit that Apple is unable to patch. However, whether Tuesday's rumor was the result of pure extrapolation along these lines remains unknown.

Unless the latest rumor by our anonymous forum tipster is corroborated by another source within the next two months, we will simply have to wait until June 5 to learn if it is true, as this is the date that Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 at WWDC.