MacRumors

In a few weeks, Apple will release iOS 16.1 for all compatible iPhones, marking the first major update to the iOS 16 operating system since its public release in September.

With iOS 16.1, Apple is bringing several new changes, features, and bug fixes to iPhone users. We've highlighted five noteworthy changes below. iOS 16.1 is currently still in beta testing with developers and public beta testers.

Live Activities

With iOS 16.1, Apple is enabling Live Activities on the redesigned iOS 16 Lock Screen and on the Dynamic Island on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro. Live Activities are a new type of interactive notification that can dynamically display real-time information from apps without needing to open an app directly.

Uber, for example, can display a Live Activities notification on the iOS 16 Lock Screen to show the estimated time of arrival of a car. Sports apps will also be able to utilize Live Activities to showcase game scores in real time.

On the latest ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models, Live Activities are also integrated into the ‌Dynamic Island‌, which allows users to see real-time information from apps as they use their phone. Live Activities are also shown on the Lock Screen in always-on display mode. Once iOS 16.1 is released to the public, apps will begin to adopt support for Live Activities.

Redesigned Battery Indicator

Over the summer, Apple added a battery percentage indicator to the status bar for iPhones with a notch. The initial version of the battery indicator included a battery icon that remained visually full, regardless of the ‌iPhone‌'s actual charge. In iOS 16.1, Apple is changing the behavior of the battery icon to accurately reflect the iPhone's charge level when the percentage is shown. iOS 16.1 also expands the battery indicator to more devices, including the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini.

Apple Fitness+ With Just an iPhone

Starting with iOS 16.1, ‌iPhone‌ users will be able to subscribe and use Apple Fitness+ without needing an Apple Watch. Fitness+ is a subscription from Apple that provides a wide catalog of workout videos and programs with different trainers. At launch, an Apple Watch was needed to use Fitness+ to display real-time metrics on the screen.

Clean Energy Charging Option

In iOS 16.1, Apple has added a new Clean Energy Charging Option that selectively charges the ‌iPhone‌ when lower carbon emission electricity is available in an effort to provide a more green charging method. Apple says the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ will still reach a full charge before it's needed based on a user's daily routine, and the feature can be toggled off if desired.

Pre-Load In-App Content

iOS 16.1 adds a new toggle for apps downloaded from the App Store that can automatically run newly downloaded apps in the background to download content before you first launch them. The new toggle is meant to make it faster for users to begin using an app immediately after downloading without waiting for the in-app content to load.

More

iOS 16.1 is the first major update to iOS 16, so as expected, several smaller but noteworthy changes and bug fixes are included in the update.

• Redesigned Wallpaper section within Settings
• Constant Copy and Paste prompt has been fixed
• Includes the groundwork for the smart home standard Matter and Emergency SOS via Satellite
• Ability to delete the Wallet app

Amazon is hosting another Prime Day event this year, called the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale and offering shoppers the first chance to save on holiday shopping from a major retailer. Similar to the first Prime Day, it will last for two days and you'll find a large selection of deals and offers across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.

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.

For our coverage, we're focusing entirely on Apple and Apple-related discounts that can be purchased during this 48-hour event on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, iPad Air, and MacBook Pro.

As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated throughout the event, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles this week.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Early Access requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime offers a one month free trial, and otherwise costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year.

AirPods

Over the past few years, one of the most popular discounts around the holidays is on Apple's AirPods. Amazon is officially kicking off this trend in 2022 with solid markdowns on AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro 2.

Prices start at $89.99 for the AirPods 2 ($39 off), then increase to $223.24 for the AirPods Pro 2 ($25.86 off). [Update: The $223.24 AirPods Pro 2 price is an additional drop beyond the previous deal from earlier today.]

These are some of the lowest prices of the year, and in the case of the AirPods Pro 2 this is now the lowest price we've ever tracked. Every deal has been applied automatically so you won't need any coupon.

Apple TV 4K

During the summertime Prime Day, Amazon introduced a massive discount on the Apple TV 4K, and now this device is available for $109.99, down from $179.00. This model actually hit an all-time low price of $104.49 earlier today but remains an excellent price. The 64GB model is also available at $128.99 after hitting $123.49, but it remains a very substantial deal compared to the regular price of $199.00 for this model.

[Update: Prices have fluctuated multiple times today, but have remained excellent discounts compared to normal pricing.]

Apple Watch

Another item seeing big discounts during Prime Early Access is the Apple Watch, with the first-ever markdowns on the Apple Watch Series 8 arriving this week.

41mm GPS Series 8

Starting with the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8, this model is on sale for for $349.00, down from $399.00. It's available in (PRODUCT)RED, Midnight, and Silver aluminum color options, with the Midnight version having particularly low stock.

45mm GPS Series 8

Secondly, the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8 is discounted to $379.00, down from $429.00. It's available in (PRODUCT)RED, Silver, and Starlight, and for this model the Silver is the one facing low stock as of writing.

iPad (2021)

Amazon today has the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for $269.00, down from $329.00. This is a brand new all-time low price on the 10.2-inch iPad.

For a cellular option, there's also the 64GB cellular iPad for $399.00, down from $459.00. This deal is a record low price and available in both Silver and Space Gray colors.

iPad Air (2022)

All five of the 2022 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air color options are available for $519.00, down from $599.00. This is another brand new record low price. The 256GB Wi-Fi model four colors on sale at $669.00, down from $749.00, an all-time low price.

More Apple Deals

• M1 MacBook Air - $799.00, down from $999.00
• iPad mini 6 - $399.00, down from $499.00

We will continue to track Prime Early Access deals as the event continues, so be sure to keep an eye on our front page for more news. We'll also be regularly updating this article as prices have been fluctuating and several products have gone in and out of stock throughout the event. Remember that you can sign up for Amazon Prime for free for one month to take advantage of the deals.

Apple will add support for 5G on compatible iPhones for Indian carriers through a software update as soon as December, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to ET News.

According to the publication, Apple and the Indian carrier Airtel will meet this week to discuss why Apple's iPhones are not compatible with India's 5G networks. Apple is reportedly already testing 5G support on iPhones in Mumbai and New Delhi, with an update officially adding support possibly being rolled out in December, the report said, citing a source.

A separate report from Reuters says the Indian government is placing pressure on Apple and Samsung to adopt 5G support for their latest smartphones. Apple first added support for 5G with the iPhone 12 in 2020, and two years later, Indian ‌iPhone‌ customers are still unable to use the newer and faster network. On Wednesday, the Indian government, alongside executives from Apple, Samsung, and leading carriers in the country, will meet "to prioritize" adding support for 5G on the latest smartphones.

Update: In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple has confirmed it will release a software update in December to add support for 5G on compatible iPhones for Indian carriers.

We are working with our carrier partners in India to bring the best 5G experience to iPhone users as soon as network validation and testing for quality and performance are completed. 5G will be enabled via a software update and will start rolling out to iPhone users in December.

Apple could adopt a "hybrid" OLED technology in iPads by 2024 that could allow for slimmer devices while lowering production costs, according to a new report out today (via DigiTimes).

By combining rigid OLED glass substrates with flexible OLED thin-film encapsulation, the hybrid OLED technology is said to make OLED panels thinner than rigid OLED panels. The process also reportedly incurs lower production costs than flexible OLED panels because it doesn't require a backlighting layer.

Reference to the hybrid OLED technology first appeared in an August report from Korean outlet The Elec, which also said Apple could adopt it in iPads by 2024. However, that report claimed Apple preferred hybrid OLED over the flexible OLED panels it uses in its iPhone models because the flexible panels have a tendency to visibly "crumple," especially at larger screen sizes.

The return of the rumor appears in the context of a report claiming Apple has brought another manufacturing partner into its supply chain that will likely be involved in upcoming refreshes to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.

Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology (Taiwan SMT) will undertake SMT process for mini LED backlighting of 12.9-inch iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, becoming an Apple supply chain maker for the first time, according to industry sources.

The report claims that Apple has contributed financially to Taiwan SMT's efforts to expand its production capacity, with some equipment dedicated to the SMT process for mini-LED backlighting, which is more difficult to achieve than standard LED backlighting since the former involves the use of more mini-LED chips.

Currently the only Apple devices that use mini-LED are the 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ and the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌. All three devices are expected to be refreshed with M2 chips before the end of the year.

Apple is expected to continue to use the mini-LED backlighting technology until the hybrid OLED technology has matured and is ready for commercialization, which is unlikely to happen before 2024, according to the report.

Apple plans to release iPadOS 16.1 in the final week of October, barring any new software bugs or issues, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In a tweet today, Gurman said iPadOS 16.1 is on track to be released the week of October 24. Apple will likely release iOS 16.1 at the same time as iPadOS 16.1 given that the latest beta of each update have the same build number.

Given the delay, iPadOS 16 will be released as iPadOS 16.1 instead. The update is compatible with all iPad Pro models, the third-generation iPad Air and later, the fifth-generation iPad mini and later, and the fifth-generation iPad and later.

Apple previously said iPadOS 16 would be released in October, but the company did not provide a specific release date.

iPadOS 16 was initially expected to be released alongside iOS 16 in September, but Apple delayed the update after some users criticized the new Stage Manager feature that allows for multiple apps to be used in overlapping windows.

Apple recently expanded Stage Manager to older iPad Pro models with A12X and A12Z chips released in 2018 and 2020, albeit without external display support, which limits the feature to four apps on the built-in display on these models. Apple also delayed external display support for iPad models with the M1 chip until later this year.

Apple has improved Stage Manager in recent weeks, but some users said the feature still has several issues in the latest iPadOS 16 beta.

macOS Ventura will also be released in October — potentially alongside iPadOS 16.1.

Alongside iOS 16.0.3, Apple today also released watchOS 9.0.2 with several bug fixes for Apple Watch users. The update addresses high-profile bugs related to Spotify streaming issues and microphone interruptions for Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra users, as well as a few other bugs.

This update includes improvements and bug fixes for your Apple Watch.

- Interruptions to streaming audio on Spotify
- Snooze alarm notifications continue after the alarm is deleted for AssistiveTouch users
- Incomplete syncing of Wallet and Fitness data for newly paired Apple Watch
- Audio from microphone interrupted for some Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra users

watchOS ‌9.0.2 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌.

Apple today released iOS 16.0.3, a minor bug fix update that comes a few weeks after the launch of the iOS 16 operating system. The iOS 16.0.3 update follows iOS 16.0.2, software that addressed a number of launch day bugs on the iPhone 14 models.

The iOS 16.0.3 update can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 16.0.3 update addresses a number of bugs that ‌iPhone‌ users have run into over the course of the last few weeks.

This update provides bug fixes and important security updates for your iPhone including the following:

- Incoming call and app notifications may be delayed or not delivered on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Low microphone volume can occur during CarPlay phone calls on iPhone 14 models
- Camera may be slow to launch or switch between modes on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Mail crashes on launch after receiving a malformed email

The CarPlay bug caused ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and Pro Max users to experience low volume levels when attempting to make a hands-free phone call in a vehicle. The issue caused the person making the call to sound quiet or far away when speaking, making them difficult to hear.

The camera issue saw some users reporting delays of up to four or five seconds before the Camera app began working after launch in some cases.

There has also been a persistent display flickering issue, which causes some ‌iPhone‌ owners who upgraded to iOS 16 to see flickering in dark spots on the display when the ‌iPhone‌ is at low brightness, but it's unclear whether that issue is addressed in this update.

iOS 16.0.3 will likely be followed by iOS 16.1, which is set to be released alongside iPadOS 16.1 in the near future.

Today we're tracking a pair of all-time low discounts on the 2021 M1 iPad Pro, including both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions of the tablet. You'll find both of these sales on Amazon.

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.

Starting with the 11-inch iPad Pro, you can get the 512GB Wi-Fi model for $849.00, down from $1,099.00. This one is available in both Silver and Space Gray, and at $250 off it's an all-time low price.

Next, the 256GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro is on sale for $899.00, down from $1,199.00. This one is only available in Silver, and it's another record low price for the 2021 iPad Pro. Both tablets are in stock and ready to ship today on Amazon.

You can expect more discounts on select Apple products over the next few days with Amazon's "Prime Early Access Sale" this Tuesday and Wednesday. If you're not already a Prime member, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial to help get your holiday shopping started early.

In a new interview, two Apple executives have offered a deeper dive into the iPhone 14's new Crash Detection feature, which can detect if a user has been involved in a car accident and automatically contact emergency services and contacts.

During the interview with TechCrunch's Brian Heater, Apple's vice president of worldwide ‌iPhone‌ product marketing, Kaiann Drance, and the company's vice president of sensing and connectivity, Ron Huang, shed some light on the technical aspects of how the latest ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch models actually detect a car crash.

The latest devices include updated sensors that can detect sudden changes in motion and pressure, along with other data types from the ‌iPhone‌, to trigger an alert. The updated accelerometer in the latest ‌iPhone‌ models can measure G-force measurements of up to 256Gs. As Apple was developing the feature, it required a "fundamental understanding of what is experienced during a crash," said Huang in the interview. "In these crashes, you see impact forces over 100Gs. We started around 256Gs. Any time you try to increase that range, there are trade-offs, in terms of precision at the higher range and the power costs. It took the team a lot of work to build the sensors in this way."

Alongside data from the gyroscope and accelerometer, the ‌iPhone‌ uses multiple other variables to understand if a user is moving in a car and if they've been involved in an accident. "There's no silver bullet, in terms of activating crash detection," said Huang, adding that there is no set number of factors that must be present before Crash Detection is triggered and emergency services are contacted.

It's hard to say how many of these things have to trigger, because it's not a straight equation. Depending how fast the traveling speed was earlier, determines what signals we have to see later on, as well. Your speed change, combined with the impact force, combined with the pressure change, combined with the sound level, it's all a pretty dynamic algorithm.

There are some car accidents in which the ‌iPhone‌ 14 or newer Apple Watch models may deliberately not contact emergency services. "I actually had a rear-end fender bender when I was in New York earlier. My crash detection did not go off," Drance said. "It's just one of those minor things where you just get out of your car and keep going. That's part of the sensor fusion and accuracy, because we don't want to be doing a lot of false calls to 9-1-1 when they're not necessary."

Despite Apple's efforts to reduce false calls to emergency services, reports have emerged that ‌iPhone‌ 14 devices are calling emergency services when users are riding a roller coaster. The false alarm calls are likely a result of the ‌iPhone‌ 14's sensors falsely interpreting the sudden braking and movement of the ride as a collision with another vehicle. Other factors the ‌iPhone‌ uses include noise, such as engine or road noise, as well as Wi-Fi routers near an ‌iPhone‌ rapidly changing as a result of being in a moving vehicle.

Huang also touched on how Apple tested Crash Detection, noting the company placed the ‌iPhone‌ in many places around a car, equipped with cameras to analyze the impact. Apple also looked at data from the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to understand what types of accidents are the leading causes of injuries.

We put iPhones in many different places throughout the car — on the dummies and the car itself and mounts and so forth. And then we collect all of the raw sensor data coming from these devices during such a crash. We put cameras inside and outside the cars, as well, so from the footage, you can time the actual impact, what the pressure sensors see when the airbag goes off in slow motion. We're able to look at data in high fidelity. We also look at DATA from the Department of Transportation or the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to understand what kinds of crashes are the leading causes of injuries.

Crash Detection is available on the ‌iPhone‌ 14, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra.

Just weeks after launch, the Apple Watch Series 8 is already seeing its first significant discounts at a major retailer with Amazon taking $50 off many of the cheapest configurations, GPS models in both 41mm and 45mm sizes.

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.

For example, the 41mm GPS aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 in Silver with White Sport Band is now available for $349.00, compared to the regular price of $399.00. Midnight and (PRODUCT)RED versions are also currently available at the discounted $349 price, but some configurations remain at the regular $399.

Customers should be aware that Apple is now requiring users select either a S/M or M/L Sport Band at the time of purchase rather than including band pieces for both sizes, so be sure you are purchasing the proper band size and that the configuration you want is on sale.

Those who prefer the larger Apple Watch size will find similar $50 discounts on select 45mm GPS aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 models such as Starlight with Starlight Sport Band, bringing the price down to $379.00 from $429.00. Silver and (PRODUCT)RED versions with M/L Sport Bands are also currently showing the discounted price.

Expect more discounts on select Apple products over the next few days with Amazon's "Prime Early Access Sale" this Tuesday and Wednesday. If you're not already a Prime member, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial to help get your holiday shopping started early.

The fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature a 6.1-inch LCD display and a "notch" cutout at the top of the display, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young.

Young told MacRumors that he has revised his expectations for the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. In October 2021, Young, who has a very good track record when providing insights into Apple's plans, said that the company is planning to release a new iPhone SE model in 2024 with a 5.7- to 6.1-inch LCD display and a hole-shaped cutout for the front-facing camera.

In retrospect, this information may have hinted that Apple was exploring adding the Dynamic Island to the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE, a change that seemed plausible given that, if the device is released in 2024, the ‌Dynamic Island‌ will be present on all four of the main iPhone models available at the time. However, Young's latest information seems to rule this possibility out.

Now, Young's revised forecast claims that the device will feature a 6.1-inch display with a notch. Whether the ‌iPhone‌ SE's notch will contain a TrueDepth camera array like other ‌iPhone‌ models to facilitate Face ID is not known. Some rumors indicate that the ‌iPhone‌ SE will not gain ‌Face ID‌, instead sticking with Touch ID like previous models to keep costs down.

Moving to an all-screen design, there will no longer be space for a capacitive ‌Touch ID‌ Home button in the device's bottom bezel. Multiple reports, including information from MyDrivers and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest that Apple is planning to add a ‌Touch ID‌ Side button to the ‌iPhone‌ SE, much like the iPad Air and iPad mini.

The size of the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE's notch is not yet known, but it seems plausible that it could be narrower than it was on the ‌iPhone‌ XR if it does not contain components like a dot projector for ‌Face ID‌ because the device features ‌Touch ID‌.

Chinese site MyDrivers and and leaker Jon Prosser believe that the ‌iPhone‌ SE is set to move to an ‌iPhone‌ XR-like design, which would involve eliminating the Home button. The change is likely since Apple's "SE" products so far have always used the designs of older devices.

The ‌iPhone‌ XR featured a 6.1-inch LCD display, and Ming-Chi Kuo has said that Apple was working on an ‌iPhone‌ SE with this display size. Young's latest claim thus seems to corroborate these other reports and helps to cement a clearer image of what to expect from the next-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE's design.

At least one Apple Store in the UK is anticipating an unusually high volume of footfall in the fall and holiday period of next year, a time frame that is expected to include the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup.

Employees at Apple Milton Keynes have been told that they may not take any leave between September 15, 2023 and October 7, 2023, and December 2, 2023 and the start of January 2024. Requests for time off during this "embargo" period will not be authorized by store managers. While increased footfall in retail stores is always expected in the fall around the launch of new Apple devices, especially new iPhone models, and during the holiday period, the latest instruction appears to be an distinct change of protocol in the region.

Apple usually forbids time off immediately before the launch of new devices and the holiday period, and this is often communicated directly to employees at short notice via an internal Apple communications app. The latest change, forbidding time off around a year in advance, has been communicated more covertly via a memo issued on a local basis.

Store managers claim that the instruction comes from "above the store" level, but retail employees are not sure of exactly where the order originates from in Apple's corporate hierarchy. The change has been presented to employees as one made "to make sure we are better equipped for next year" during "high velocity moments."

It is not clear how widespread the new instruction is, but the dates have clearly been selected discriminately, likely in anticipation of new Apple devices launching in the second half of next year and heightened footfall in the holiday period.

It is is highly improbable that there are any firm dates for the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup yet, with the devices themselves still likely needing to undergo production validation tests before a mass production timetable can be confirmed. Nevertheless, it is of note that Apple retail is already blocking out dates that likely relate to the launch of new devices late next year this far ahead of time.

The iPhone 14's Crash Detection feature is accidentally being triggered and therefore calling emergency services when users are riding a roller coaster rather than being involved in a real automotive accident.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, several users of the new ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro at amusement parks across the United States have reported emergency services and contacts being alerted that they've been involved in a car crash as they've ridden roller coasters. The accidental trigger of Apple's latest safety features is likely caused by the sudden braking and movement of roller coasters, triggering the ‌iPhone‌'s sensors to misinterpret the movement as a car crash.

The Wall Street Journal reports at least six incidents of emergency services being called for false alarms. In response to the false alarms, an Apple spokesperson said Apple tested the feature with over a million hours of car crash data and real-world driving analysis. Several tests have already been done to test the accuracy of the ‌iPhone‌ 14's Crash Detection, with varying results.

In response to a test done by The Wall Street Journal in a junkyard where the ‌iPhone‌ failed to notice some car crashes, Apple said the testing condition did not provide the ‌iPhone‌ with enough factors to trigger an alert. Apple said the iPhones were not connected to Bluetooth or CarPlay and may not have traveled enough distance before impact for the device to register the crash. Crash Detection is available on the ‌iPhone‌ 14, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra.

All three AirPods models and Mac accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad are likely to transition to USB-C by 2024, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Earlier this week, the European Parliament approved a new directive to force manufacturers to offer USB-C as a common charging port across a wide range of devices in Europe by the end of 2024. In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple has been preparing to make changes to its devices to meet these new legal requirements.

Gurman believes that Apple will beat the legislation's date of application in late 2024 with most of its products. The iPhone 15, he claims, will beat the EU's mandate by a year, featuring a USB-C port in the fall of 2023. The entry level iPad, the only ‌iPad‌ to still feature a Lightning connector should switch to USB-C by the end of this year.

Gurman speculated that if Apple releases a new iPhone SE model in March 2024 with a Lightning port instead of a USB-C port, it will be in compliance with EU law since it would launch before the end of the year – but any new ‌iPhone‌ SE model released in 2025 or 2026 would need to feature USB-C.

Gurman noted that all AirPods models, as well as the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad will need to make the switch when new versions are released. He anticipates several major Mac updates next year, including a new iMac and a Mac Pro, and said that "one could probably assume that move coincides with accessory updates."

Despite the switch to USB-C across Apple's family of products, Gurman said that he thinks the USB-C era will be far shorter than the tenure of the 30-pin iPod connector or Lightning, "at least for Apple's mobile devices." The iPod connector and Lightning will have been on new Apple devices for around 11 years each before they were phased out, and Gurman still believes that "Apple's future is wireless and that some version of the canceled AirPower dream from 2017 will still eventually come to fruition – well before a decade from now."

He added that "at some point in the next few years," Apple will probably begin transitioning entirely to inductive charging on the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌, a move that largely exempts the devices from EU law mandating a the inclusion of a USB-C port.

Apple plans to mark the iPhone 5c as an obsolete product next month, according to a memo obtained by MacRumors.

Apple marked the ‌iPhone‌ 5c as a vintage product in October 2020, which meant the company and its service providers could only provide certain repairs for the product, subject to part availability. On November 1, Apple will mark the ‌iPhone‌ 5c as an obsolete product, ending all repairs and services, according to a memo sent out today to authorized service providers. Apple also said in the memo it would mark the third-generation iPad mini with Wi-Fi and TD-LTE as obsolete on the same day.

The ‌iPhone‌ 5c was an iconic ‌iPhone‌ released alongside the ‌iPhone‌ 5s in September 2013. The ‌iPhone‌ 5c was the first to be offered in a series of bright and vibrant colors, including blue, green, pink, yellow, and white, in an "unapologetically plastic" design. The ‌iPhone‌ 5c also marked the first time Apple had released a lower-end ‌iPhone‌ model aimed at budget-conscious customers, with pricing for the 16GB model starting at $99 with a two-year contract in the United States.

Apple is rumored to be developing its own 5G chip for future iPhones, but Qualcomm is predicted to remain the supplier of modems for all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, suggesting that Apple's chip will not debut until at least 2025.

In a research note on Friday, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu said he expects iPhone models released in 2024 to use Qualcomm's as-yet-unannounced Snapdragon X75 modem. Like the Snapdragon X70, the X75 is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's 4nm process, contributing to power efficiency improvements.

In June, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicated that Qualcomm would remain the exclusive supplier of 5G modems for new iPhone models in 2023 given that Apple failed to complete development of its own replacement chip. At the time, Kuo said he believed that Apple would continue to develop its own 5G chip, but he did not provide a timeframe for when the chip would be ready for use in iPhones.

All four iPhone 15 models are expected to be equipped with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X70 modem, announced in February. Like the Snapdragon X65 modem in iPhone 14 models, the X70 theoretically supports up to 10 Gbps download speeds, with newly added artificial intelligence capabilities for faster average speeds, improved coverage, better signal quality, lower latency, and up to 60% improved power efficiency.

All in all, while initial reports claimed that Apple's own 5G modem could debut in iPhones as early as 2023, the switchover might take at least a few years longer.

The first week of October has passed, and while we're expecting to see a number of hardware and software launches from Apple in the coming weeks, there's no sign of a media event in the works.

This week also saw the launch of the iPhone 14 Plus, the last member of the iPhone 14 lineup to become available following last month's introduction. We're also looking forward to operating system updates coming soon, with a bug fix iOS update likely imminent and a more substantial iOS 16.1 one coming alongside iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura, so read on for details on these stories and more!

Apple Event Unlikely This October Despite Many New Devices Expected

While new iPad and Mac models are expected to be announced this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple is unlikely to hold a media event in October this year.

Gurman said "the big iPhone 14 unveiling last month was probably it for Apple in 2022 in terms of major presentations," suggesting that any more new products this year would be announced with press releases, media briefings, and updates to Apple's online store.

Updated versions of the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini — all with M2 series chips — are "highly likely to launch" before the end of 2022, according to Gurman. He also said an updated Apple TV with an A14 chip and extra RAM was "getting closer and could potentially launch this year."

Apple Preparing iOS 16.0.3 With More Bug Fixes Following iPhone 14 Launch

iOS 16.0.2 was released last month with several bug fixes for iPhone 14 issues, excessive copy and paste permission prompts, and more. Now, evidence suggests that Apple is planning to release iOS 16.0.3 with additional bug fixes soon.

There are several remaining iOS 16 bugs that iOS 16.0.3 would hopefully address, including an issue with low volume during CarPlay phone calls placed with iPhone 14 Pro models, a string of text that can crash the Mail app, and more.

Apple Rumored to Launch 27" Mini-LED Display in Q1 2023

Apple is planning to launch an external monitor with a 27-inch mini-LED display in the first quarter of 2023, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young.

Apple's upcoming display is said to feature mini-LED technology along with ProMotion support, allowing for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. It's unclear if the monitor would be branded as a Studio Display or have a different name.

iPhone 14 Plus Reviews: Multi-Day Battery Life

The first reviews of the iPhone 14 Plus hit just ahead of its launch on Friday, providing a closer look at the device in action.

Reviews highlighted the iPhone 14 Plus' impressively long battery life, while other new features include car crash detection, upcoming support for emergency texting via satellite starting in the U.S. and Canada, improved front and rear cameras, and more. U.S. pricing starts at $899.

EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

The European Parliament this week voted overwhelmingly in favor of enforcing USB-C as a common charging port across a wide range of devices, including the iPhone and AirPods, by the end of 2024.

Rumors suggest that all iPhone 15 models will be equipped with a USB-C port next year, ahead of the EU's deadline. AirPods cases and MagSafe accessories are also expected to switch to USB-C.

10 New iOS 16 Features Coming Later This Year

iOS 16 was released to the public over three weeks ago with a customizable Lock Screen, the ability to edit recently sent iMessages, and much more. And in the coming months, iPhone and iPad users have even more new features to look forward to.

We've rounded up 10 new features coming to the iPhone and iPad later this year, according to Apple. Many of the features are part of iOS 16.1, which is currently in beta testing, but some of the features are not expected until later in the year.

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!