Xiaomi will introduce a new software update at this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) that will reportedly improve connectivity between its own devices and Apple products.
Alongside the debut of the Xiaomi 17 series, its HyperOS 3.1 update is said to include a new "iOS Bridge" for smoother connectivity between the two platforms. According to GizChina, the features tipped include the following:
iPhone call alerts: Incoming calls on an iPhone that appear on connected Xiaomi tablets and PCs, allowing users to answer or manage calls without having the iPhone in their hand.
Enhanced AirPods integration: AirPods to integrate better with Xiaomi devices, showing battery levels and offering enhanced controls, similar to how they work with Apple devices.
Direct file sharing between iPhone and Xiaomi: A fast, wireless transfer feature enabling file sharing between iPhones and Xiaomi devices without relying on third-party apps.
If the features do drop in Barcelona during MWC, which runs from March 2 to March 5, it'll be another notable win for people who own an iPhone and AirPods as well as a Xiaomi phone, laptop or tablet. In 2025, Xiaomi held a 16% share of the European smartphone market, according to Omdia.
Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, so today would have marked his 71st birthday if he hadn't passed away in 2011 at the age of 56.
In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer Company to market Wozniak's Apple I, a pioneering personal computer. Their collaboration led to the introduction of the Apple II in 1977, which significantly influenced the personal computing industry.
In 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh, notable for its graphical user interface and the iconic "1984" Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott. However, internal conflicts led to Jobs' departure from Apple in 1985. He then founded NeXT Inc., focusing on advanced computer platforms.
In 1997, Apple acquired NeXT, bringing Jobs back to the company as interim CEO. Under his leadership, Apple revitalized its product line and introduced groundbreaking products like the iMac, iPod, and iPhone. Apple Computer Company was renamed Apple Inc. in 2007 as the company expanded its focus from computers to consumer electronics.
Jobs remained at the helm until his death in 2011, during which time Apple transformed into one of the world's leading technology companies.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was among a handful of top tech executives who attended a classified CIA briefing warning that China could attack Taiwan by 2027, according to a sweeping investigative report by The New York Times ($).
The previously unreported briefing was apparently held in a secure room in Silicon Valley in July 2023. The meeting is said to have been arranged at the request of the then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo, who had grown frustrated with the tech industry's reluctance to move chip production away from Taiwan.
CIA director William Burns and director of national intelligence Avril Haines reportedly presented the latest intelligence on China's military plans to Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, AMD CEO Lisa Su, and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.
Cook reportedly told officials afterward that he slept "with one eye open."
A similar classified session was said to have been held at the White House in late 2021, but executives left skeptical because much of the intelligence had already been reported publicly. Earlier that same year, a senior U.S. military official had told Congress that the armed services believed President Xi Jinping of China wanted his army to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027. From the report:
Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden's national security adviser, ranked the U.S. reliance on Taiwan for semiconductors as one of America's greatest vulnerabilities. He wanted the industry to recognize the risk and support construction of U.S. manufacturing plants. Mr. Biden also wanted to provide $50 billion in government subsidies to build semiconductor plants domestically [resulting in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022].
"We were saying: 'This is crazy. We have to do something about it,'" Mr. Sullivan said in an interview.
The investigation reveals Silicon Valley's stubborn dependence on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produces around 90 percent of the world's most advanced chips, including all of Apple's custom silicon for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
A confidential 2022 report commissioned by the Semiconductor Industry Association and reviewed by NYT concluded that losing access to Taiwan's chip supply would trigger the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, with U.S. GDP falling 11 percent. Another report by Bloomberg from January 2024 estimated a conflict would cost the global economy more than $10 trillion.
Despite the warnings, the NYT investigation found that companies including Apple were initially slow to commit to buying more expensive chips from U.S. factories. Chips made domestically cost more than 25 percent above those produced in Taiwan because of higher material, labor and permitting costs, and TSMC's Arizona plants currently run technology a generation behind what's available on the island.
Apple has since taken steps, however. Last summer, Cook visited the Oval Office and committed to investing $100 billion in the United States, with the money being used to support TSMC and other chip manufacturers. Apple has reportedly also begun holding all-day engineering meetings with Intel to evaluate its manufacturing capabilities.
TSMC has now committed to roughly $165 billion in U.S. investment, including land for at least five additional plants in Phoenix. The company's Arizona facility recently produced Nvidia's first U.S.-made AI chip, although the report notes that even those chips still need to be shipped back to Taiwan for advanced packaging.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's government maintains an unofficial policy requiring TSMC to keep its most advanced manufacturing technology on the island. This "silicon shield" is designed to make the country too economically important to attack – yet Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown that economic self-interest does not necessarily prevent military aggression. TSMC's CFO said earlier this year that its most advanced processes will remain in Taiwan for the foreseeable future.
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.
Apple shipped 36.9 million iPhones in Europe in 2025, a 6% year-over-year growth which allowed the company to claim a record 27% share of the region's smartphone market, according to new research from analytics firm Omdia.
The gains came even as the broader European smartphone market declined by 1% to 134.2 million units, which Omdia says was weighed down by softer demand and new regulations around eco-design requirements and mandatory USB-C ports.
Apple's performance was driven by the iPhone 16, the Pro Max versions of both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17, and the more affordable iPhone 16e. The latter device in particular apparently helped Apple capture demand that shifted away from older non-USB-C models, which were being phased out under the new rules.
Samsung held onto the top spot in Europe with 46.6 million units shipped, while Xiaomi came third with 21.8 million units at 16% share. Elsewhere, HONOR broke into Europe's top five for the first time.
Apple's record European performance was clearly a factor in its strong global showing in 2025, when the company became the world's largest smartphone vendor by annual shipments.
WhatsApp developers are working to bring scheduled messages to the Meta-owned platform, reports WABetaInfo.
A scheduled message allows users to type a message and choose a specific date and time for it to be sent automatically. Telegram already has the feature, while Apple has offered a similar Send Later option in its Messages app since iOS 18.
While the feature is yet to be functioning in the latest WhatsApp beta on TestFlight, WABetaInfo shared an image showing a new Scheduled Messages option in a group chat info page. From here, users will apparently be able to view the number of messages they have scheduled and access options to manage them. The feature is expected to work for both individual chats and groups.
The ability to schedule messages is one of the app's most requested features, so this should come as welcome news to users. Currently, the only way to schedule a WhatsApp message is to use a shortcut workaround in Apple's Shortcuts app.
Mac mini units assembled in the U.S. will primarily serve the U.S. market, while production will continue in Asia for orders abroad, according to Khan.
As the report notes, the Mac mini is a niche product for Apple, with research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimating that the desktop computer accounted for only 5% of Apple's global Mac sales last year. In 2024, the Mac mini received its first major redesign since 2010, along with M4 and M4 Pro chips.
In the U.S., the Mac mini starts at just $599, but customers must supply their own display, keyboard, and trackpad or mouse.
Apple began assembling its latest Mac Pro desktop computer in Texas in 2019, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, and the company's plan to begin assembling some Mac mini units in the U.S. comes during Trump's second term.
Apple plans to purchase more than 100 million chips from TSMC's Arizona factory this year, according to the company's global head of procurement David Tom.
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.
We've got just over a week to go until Apple's "Special Experience" on March 4, and we're expecting to see the iPhone 17e announced during the week of the event. The iPhone 17e will be the first update to the new low-cost iPhone 16e that Apple unveiled in February 2025.
Design
The iPhone 17e will look a lot like the iPhone 16e, featuring the same 6.1-inch display size, single-lens rear camera, and black and white color options.
Display
The iPhone 17e is expected to feature the same display panel as the iPhone 16e, which means it will be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. Apple brought 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates to the standard iPhone 17 in 2025, but the same technology is not expected for the more affordable iPhone 17e.
The iPhone 17e will continue to be Apple's only new release iPhone without 120Hz support.
120Hz refresh rates provide video improvements and smoother scrolling when viewing webpages.
The iPhone 16e does not have always-on display technology, and that's not likely to change with the iPhone 17e. To support always-on, the iPhone 17e would need an OLED display with 1-nit minimum brightness, which is limited to Apple's more expensive iPhones. HDR and brightness are also lacking compared to Apple's flagship lineup.
Dynamic Island
The iPhone 16e uses the notch that Apple has eliminated in its newer flagship iPhones, but the iPhone 17e could eliminate it. Some rumors suggest that the iPhone 17e will have a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, giving it an updated look.
The Dynamic Island is a pill-shaped cutout on the iPhone's display that houses the TrueDepth camera system and the front-facing camera. It takes up less display area than the notch, and it is better integrated into the iPhone.
While some rumors indicate we could get a Dynamic Island, other rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will continue to use a notch, so the Dynamic Island upgrade isn't a guarantee.
A19 Chip
The iPhone 17e will use Apple's A19 chip, which is the same chip that's in the iPhone 17. The A19 chip is built on an upgraded N3P 3-nanometer process, offering a 5 to 10 percent performance improvement over the A18 chip.
Apple could be planning to use a downclocked version of the A19 chip in the iPhone 17e, and if that's the case, its performance won't quite match the iPhone 17's performance.
The A18 chip that Apple used in the iPhone 16e had a 4-core GPU instead of a 5-core GPU like the version from the iPhone 16, so the iPhone 17e could get a similar GPU downgrade.
Aside from the improved CPU and GPU, the A19 has an updated display engine, image signal processor, and Neural Engine for improved AI performance. Every GPU core features a Neural Accelerator to boost the performance of local AI models.
We are expecting the iPhone 17e to continue to include 8GB RAM like the iPhone 16e. Apple's other models have 12GB.
MagSafe Compatibility
The iPhone 16e does not have a magnetic ring for MagSafe charging, but the iPhone 17e is expected to get a MagSafe upgrade.
Apple's iPhones have used MagSafe since the iPhone 12, so there are a wide array of MagSafe cases and accessories. The iPhone 16e is not compatible with these accessories, which is a major limitation.
Since it doesn't have MagSafe, the iPhone 16e is limited to 7.5W wireless charging speeds. MagSafe would upgrade that to at least 15W. The current iPhone 17 models can charge at 25W over MagSafe, though the iPhone Air is limited to 20W.
Camera
The iPhone 17e is expected to have a single 48-megapixel Wide Angle camera at the back, with no upgrade rumored. The iPhone 16e doesn't have a Camera Control button, and there's no sign that Apple plans to bring it to the iPhone 17e, either.
The iPhone 17 models got an upgraded 18-megapixel Center Stage front-facing camera, but rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will continue to use the same 12-megapixel front-facing camera as the iPhone 16e.
Modem
The iPhone 17e will adopt Apple's C1X modem, the modem chip that Apple first debuted in the iPhone Air. The C1X modem is faster and more efficient than the C1 modem that Apple used in the iPhone 16e.
Apple says the C1X modem is up to 2x faster than the C1, and it is far more energy efficient than Qualcomm modems.
N1 Chip
Apple could update the iPhone 17 models with Apple's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth "N1" networking chip, bringing speed and efficiency improvements, plus Thread support. Leaked Apple code suggests the chip will not be included in the iPhone 17e in order to keep costs down, but recent rumors indicate Apple plans to include it.
Pricing
The iPhone 16e is priced starting at $599, and no price changes are expected for the iPhone 17e.
Launch Date
Apple is holding a "Special Experience" event on March 4, and we are expecting the iPhone 17e to launch during that same week.
Apple today debuted a new Sales Coach app for the iPhone and the iPad, replacing the former SEED app. Designed for Apple Store and Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) employees, Sales Coach provides training resources and information useful for Apple device sales.
Sales Coach is available for Apple Store and AASP employees worldwide, and Apple has released it as an update to the former SEED app. Those who have the SEED app will see it change to Sales Coach when installing the latest update. Sales Coach is not a publicly available app.
Compared to the SEED app, Sales Coach adopts Apple's updated Liquid Glass design, and it will include a new AI chatbot that will answer product-related questions. The chatbot can be accessed through an upcoming "Ask" tab, and it is similar to the chatbot in the Apple Support app. Employees will be able to get instant information on specific iPhone capabilities, details on how different software features work, and more, across all of Apple's products.
Apple doesn't appear to have rolled out the chatbot just yet, but we learned about it when we we first shared details about the Sales Coach app earlier this month. Sales Coach is also available on the web at salescoach.apple.com.
Testing on the iOS 26.4 update is continuing, and Apple released the second beta today. The main new feature is an expansion of RCS encryption testing, but there are a few other small tweaks.
End-to-End Encryption RCS Testing
With the second beta of iOS 26.4, Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for text messages sent between iPhones and Android devices.
End-to-end encrypted messages can now be sent to an Android user, and if encryption is enabled, there will be a lock icon on the message. Encrypted conversations are not available for all devices or carriers during the texting period. iOS users will need to have iOS 26.4, and Android users need the latest version of Google Messages.
Apple does not plan to implement end-to-end RCS encryption in iOS 26.4, but it will come later this year.
Home Screen
The "Edit" menu on the Home Screen uses more transparent Liquid Glass.
Games App
In the Games app, the search bar has moved from the bottom of the display to the top of the display.
App Store and Apple Music
For the account hub options for the App Store and Apple Music, the "Apple Account" wording is now left aligned and has the same rainbow logo as the Apple Account in the Settings app
Accessibility
Under the Display and Text size section of Accessibility, there's a new "Reduce Highlighting Effects" option.
Software Build Numbers
When you're updating to a new iOS update in iOS 26.4, you can tap on the name to see the build number.
Beta Updates
Apple made a change to how betas work in iOS 26.4. If you are have betas toggled on but don't install any betas for a four month period, Apple will automatically switch you to the public release audience.
No Emoji
There are still no new emoji characters, despite signs of them found in the code in the first beta of iOS 26.4.
Playlist Playground
Playlist Playground is still limited to the U.S. and not available in Europe and other countries.
More New Features
We have a list of all the new features that were found in the first beta in our iOS 26.4 feature guide.
With the second iOS 26.4 beta, Apple and Google have started testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users.
Apple started testing E2EE for RCS in the first beta, but the feature was limited to iPhone-to-iPhone communications with iMessage turned off. In this beta, iPhone users can send encrypted messages to Android users.
iPhone users will need to install the second beta of iOS 26.4 to exchange encrypted messages with Android users, while Google users need to have the latest version of Google Messages.
According to Apple's developer release notes for beta 2, while E2EE is being tested for RCS, it isn't going to ship in iOS 26.4 and will instead come at a later date.
In this beta, RCS end-to-end encryption will become available for testing between Apple and Android devices. This feature is not shipping in this release and will be available to customers in future iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS 26 releases. End-to-end encryption is in beta and is not available for all devices or carriers. Conversations labeled as encrypted are encrypted end-to-end, so messages can't be read while they're sent between devices.
Apple worked with the GSM Association to implement end-to-end encryption. iMessage, which is used for texts between iPhones, has long supported end-to-end encryption. Android's RCS implementation already has E2EE for Android-to-Android texts, but there is no full encryption for iPhone-to-Android and Android-to-iPhone conversations at the current time.
E2EE is not available for all devices or all carriers during the beta testing period.
Amazon this week has big discounts across Apple's Clear, Silicone, and TechWoven Cases for the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air lineup. Items on sale include Clear, Silicone, and TechWoven Cases for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. We're also tracking a few discounts on other accessories like the FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe and Beats cases.
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.
Apple's official cases are reaching up to 30 percent off in this sale, with many priced at $39.99, down from their original $49.00 price tags. In terms of the Beats deals, you'll find steep markdowns on the Beats Woven Charging Cables during this event, as well as Beats Cases for the iPhone 17 lineup as low as $9.99.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Apple today provided the second beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple seeded the first beta.
Developers can download the macOS Tahoe 26.4 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.
macOS Tahoe 26.4 adds a new Charge Limit feature so Mac users can select a maximum charge level that ranges from 80 to 100 percent. Apple also brought back the Compact tab layout in Safari for those who missed the option in earlier versions of macOS Tahoe.
Apple silicon Macs who are running apps that still rely on Rosetta will see warnings about the upcoming end of support for Rosetta. After macOS Tahoe 27, Apple will phase out Rosetta support, and all apps will need to be updated before that time.
macOS Tahoe 26.4 will be released to the public in the spring after several weeks of beta testing.
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple seeded the first betas.
Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.
iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 add multiple new features to the iPhone and the iPad, but the first beta contained no sign of new Siri capabilities.
A Playlist Playground feature in Apple Music lets you generate songs for any idea, mood, emotion, or activity using a text-based prompt. There's also a Concerts Near You feature for finding local shows, and a redesigned look for albums and playlists with full-page artwork.
Apple Podcasts is getting native video podcasting capabilities that will make it easier to create, distribute, and monetize video podcast content through the Podcasts app. Video episodes will integrate with existing Apple podcasts features, like personalized recommendations and editorial suggestions.
Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS, which will eventually bring full encryption to text conversations between Android and iPhone users. Right now, Apple is testing RCS with iPhone-to-iPhone conversations.
The first beta didn't include new emoji, but we saw signs of them in the code so we might get them in the second beta. The new update is also expected to new emoji characters will include trombone, treasure chest, orca, landslide, and Bigfoot.
Stolen Device Protection is enabled by default, there's a new ambient music widget, new average bedtime metrics in the sleep app, and plenty more. All of the features in iOS 26.4 can be found in our iOS 26.4 beta features guide.
Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the first betas.
The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.
watchOS 26.4 adds a new Average Bedtime metric to the sleep features that sync to the health app, so you can better keep an eye on how bedtime impacts overall sleep quality.
tvOS 26.4 eliminates the iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps on the Apple TV. These apps haven't worked for some time and have directed users to the Apple TV app for purchases, but Apple is finally phasing them out entirely. Apple also added a Continuous Audio Connection option for HDMI output.
visionOS 26.4 includes support for foveated streaming for apps and games. Foveated streaming allows video to be streamed to the precise area where a user is looking, and peripheral areas are compressed. It allows for higher visual quality and lower latency.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to resurrect a major feature Samsung's flagship Galaxy smartphones dropped years ago, according to a multitude of rumors.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now widely expected to feature a significantly upgraded main camera with a variable aperture. An aperture is the opening within a camera lens that controls the amount of light reaching the image sensor.
In December 2024, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was first to say that that the main rear camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture. A more recent report from October 2025 said Apple was moving ahead with plans to bring the technology to next-generation iPhones and was discussing components with suppliers.
A variable aperture allows the camera to adjust the amount of light that reaches the sensor with tiny blades. This means that in dark environments, the aperture can be opened to receive more light, while in light environments, it can be closed to prevent over-exposure. It also should provide users with greater control over depth of field, which refers to how sharp a subject appears in the foreground compared to the background.
Apple has never used a variable aperture on an iPhone camera before. The main cameras on all of the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro models have a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78, and the lens is always fully open and shooting with this aperture.
Samsung previously brought a variable aperture camera to its Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S10 models in 2018 and 2019. The feature has appeared on other Android smartphones in recent years, such as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Honor Magic 7 Pro, and Huawei Mate series. Due to the way that the components increased device thickness and raised its cost, Samsung dropped the feature in 2020, even though it was more advanced than the fixed-aperture cameras it moved to.
Interestingly, Samsung is reportedly planning to follow Apple in adding a variable aperture to its smartphone cameras. Samsung apparently sees adding a variable aperture as "necessary to increase camera competitiveness," replacing software correction with physical hardware. The company hopes that in investing in variable aperture camera technology, thickness can be reduced and costs will reduce over time.
Samsung has reportedly asked multiple camera module partners to develop variable apertures and provide samples in light of Apple's plans. The feature is in early development and final installation on future Galaxy devices has not yet been confirmed, but there is said to be a "strong will" to introduce it.
Beyond a variable aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro models are rumored to feature a smaller Dynamic Island, the A20 chip, longer battery life, the C2 modem, a simplified Camera Control button, the N1 wireless chip, and more. They are expected to launch in the fall alongside the first foldable iPhone.
Starting today, the Apple Sports app on the iPhone is available in 36 additional countries across the Caribbean and Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Peru, and others.
Apple Sports first launched in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. in February 2024, and it later expanded to Europe and Mexico. The app shows scores, stats, standings, upcoming games, and more for a variety of leagues and competitions. With the Caribbean and Latin America expansion, the app is now available in 80 countries.
Also as of today, the app now supports the following six Latin men's soccer (fútbol) leagues:
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Categoría Primera A
Liga de Primera
Liga Pro
Liga Profesional de Fútbol
Primera División del Perú
In the "Search" section of Apple Sports, there is a new "Soccer" category that contains all of the soccer leagues that are available in the app.
Finally, Apple says fans can now follow men's and women's NCAA tournaments in real time, with brackets showcasing matchups and results at a glance for each round.
Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across select models of the smartwatch. This time around the deals are more sparse, and we're only tracking these discounts on three models of the smartwatch.
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You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. We're only tracking one model of each of these watches on sale right now.
If you're shopping for cellular models, you can get the 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 on sale for $399.00, down from $499.00. Similar to the GPS models, only one model is being discounted at this time, and it's the Rose Gold Aluminum with Light Blush Sport Band in Small/Medium.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
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Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro has entered production testing ahead of a launch later this year, a Chinese leaker reported today.
In a Weibo post, the leaker account known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said the Pro models had already entered "mass-production testing," likely referring to late-stage manufacturing validation for the devices ahead of a September launch.
February typically aligns with Apple's Design Validation Test (DVT) phase transitioning into early Production Validation Test (PVT). During this period, Apple uses production tooling and activates portions of factory assembly lines to validate manufacturing processes, yields, and quality control, rather than producing units at full scale. Full mass production usually ramps in the summer months ahead of launch.
The leaker also claimed that production testing had begun for the regular iPhone 18 model, but given that we aren't expecting the lower-specced device to be released until early next year, it would likely be in an earlier validation stage at this point, such as mid-to-late Engineering Validation Test (EVT) or early DVT.
Fixed Focus Digital added that, based on their information, there are no major changes to the materials, and that overall, the devices continue to use the existing design specifications for the iPhone 17 lineup. The comment reflects earlier reports that the iPhone 18 Pro models won't be a big update this year, with outward changes potentially only extending to a smaller Dynamic Island.
There will still be several important internal changes, such as a new camera system with a variable aperture, the A20 chip, and the custom C2 modem. However, the new Pro models likely won't be "the star of Apple's iPhone launch this fall," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, with the company's first foldable set to claim the spotlight instead.
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