MacRumors

Apple is set to hold its first event of the year next Tuesday, and the focus will be on the iPad. The iPad Pro and iPad Air models are set to be updated, and Apple also plans to refresh some of its ‌iPad‌ accessories.

This guide features details on everything that we're expecting to see at the "Let Loose" event that will take place on May 7.

iPad Pro

The ‌iPad Pro‌ models will be the star of Apple's event, featuring the first larger form factor OLED displays. OLED display technology will bring deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency.

Apple is said to be using the "best OLED panels on the market" with higher brightness, extended battery life, 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, and a long lifetime for the OLED technology. OLED displays have pixels that can be controlled individually, so high dynamic range content looks more realistic and true-to-life.

The ‌iPad Pro‌ models will be available in 11.1-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, and both models will be thinner with slimmed down bezels. The 11.1-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ is expected to be 5.1mm thick, down from 5.9mm, while the 12.9-inch model will be 5mm thick, down from 6.4mm. The tablets will be roughly the same size as the current models, with small changes to the length and width.

It's not entirely clear which M-series chip the ‌iPad Pro‌ models will use, and there is a possibility that these will be the first devices equipped with the AI-focused next-generation M4 chip. If that doesn't happen, Apple will use the M3 that's in the iMac and MacBook Air. Either way, it'll mark a massive improvement.

Along with slimmed down bezels, the ‌iPad Pro‌'s front-facing camera is expected to be relocated to the side of the device rather than the top, so the camera will be upright when the ‌iPad‌ is in a landscape orientation. That makes more sense for video calls and filming done when the ‌iPad‌ is used with a keyboard.

There have been rumors of possible MagSafe charging support and up to 4TB of storage, and we could also see prices go up. Multiple sources have said that the OLED technology will make the 2024 ‌iPad Pro‌ models more expensive, but just how much more expensive remains to be seen. Rumors have ranged from $160 more to $700 more.

For more on the rumors that we've heard so far about the ‌iPad Pro‌, we have a dedicated 2024 iPad Pro guide.

iPad Air

The ‌iPad Air‌ will get a refresh alongside the ‌iPad Pro‌, and for the first time, Apple is splitting the Air lineup and introducing two models. The first ‌iPad Air‌ will be a direct successor to the current version, measuring in at 10.9 inches. The second model will come in at 12.9 inches, similar to the ‌iPad Pro‌.

Offering the ‌iPad Air‌ in two screen sizes will allow customers who want a large screen at a more affordable price than the ‌iPad Pro‌ to have that option. The 10.9 and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌ models will not have the same OLED screen technology Apple is bringing to the ‌iPad Pro‌, instead using LCD, and that will keep costs lower.

We are not expecting design changes to the ‌iPad Air‌, except for the new, larger size. Both models will look like the ‌iPad Air‌ 4, featuring an edge-to-edge display with slim bezels and an aluminum chassis with flat, rounded edges. The ‌iPad Air‌ will be thicker than the ‌iPad Pro‌, and it will have thicker bezels.

Leaked iPad Air images point to a rear camera with a protruding pill-shaped camera bump that's similar to the design we're expecting to see with the iPhone 16. The front camera could be repositioned so that it will be at the top of the ‌iPad Air‌ when it's in landscape mode, allowing it to be in the right orientation for video calls when it's used with a keyboard. The current version has the camera at the top when it is in portrait mode.

While we won't see notable design updates, Apple may introduce new color options. The existing model comes in a range of pastel shades, so Apple could tweak the color selection.

We have more on what's expected for the ‌iPad Air‌ in our iPad Air guide.

Apple Pencil

The ‌iPad Pro‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ will be accompanied by an updated version of the Apple Pencil, which Apple might call the Apple Pencil 3. It isn't yet clear if there will be design changes, but it is expected to be the first ‌Apple Pencil‌ that supports haptic feedback.

How that haptic feedback will be used remains to be seen, but code in iOS 17.5 suggested there will be a "squeeze" gesture that could do things like activate different tools and settings in apps.

There were rumors of interchangeable magnetic tips at one point, but we don't know if that's actually a feature that's coming or an inaccurate rumor. Deeper integration with the Vision Pro is a possibility, and it could perhaps work with drawing apps that support visionOS. There's also a chance that we could see the ‌Apple Pencil‌ come in both black and white rather than just white.

Magic Keyboard

Apple plans to overhaul the Magic Keyboard, introducing a sturdier frame made from aluminum rather than the polyurethane material used for the current version. While the frame and area around the keyboard will be made from aluminum, the exterior shell will still be made from silicone.

With the aluminum build, an ‌iPad‌ and Magic Keyboard combo will more closely resemble a MacBook, both in terms of looks and functionality. There will be a larger trackpad that is similar to the trackpad on a MacBook, so the keyboard will offer a MacBook-like typing and navigating experience.

Apple is using more premium materials for the new Magic Keyboard, so it could be more expensive. The current model is priced starting at $299 for the 11-inch version. The new Magic Keyboard is likely to work with both the upcoming ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ models as they are similar in size (11.1 and 12.9 inches for the ‌iPad Pro‌ and 10.9 and 12.9 inches for the ‌iPad Air‌).

Other Accessories

Apple refreshes its selection of Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, and ‌iPad‌ cases regularly, introducing new color options. We could see new summer colors for many accessories, and Apple will need to update its ‌iPad‌ cases to accommodate the new designs.

Vision Pro Expansion

Rumors suggest that Apple will expand the Vision Pro headset to additional countries before WWDC, and we're getting short on time. We could see Apple bring the Vision Pro to countries like the UK, Canada, China, and more as part of the May 7 event.

How to Watch

The "Let Loose" event is set to take place on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website and on YouTube, plus there is an option to watch it on the Apple TV.

Those unable to watch or those who want to follow along with MacRumors can visit MacRumors.com for the liveblog or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for live tweet coverage.

This week's best deals include great discounts on both Apple products and third-party accessories, ranging from all-time low prices on Apple Pencil and the Studio Display, to steep markdowns on Anker's popular USB-C charging accessories. You'll also find OWC's ongoing discount on its best Thunderbolt docks and hubs.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

OWC

• What's the deal? Get $150 off OWC's 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock
• Where can I get it? OWC
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

OWC is still hosting a big sale on its docks, hubs, and other Mac accessories, highlighted by the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $129.99, down from $279.99. This accessory features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Mini DisplayPort port, one gigabit Ethernet port, one S/PDIF digital audio output port, and one 3.5mm stereo audio input/output port.

Anker and Eufy

• What's the deal? Save on Anker and Eufy accessories
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week we also started tracking discounts on Anker and Eufy accessories on Amazon, including savings for Prime members on Eufy's Find My-compatible SmartTrack Bluetooth trackers. You can find the full list of items on sale in our original post.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Get up to $59 off AirPods
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week also saw numerous discounts across the AirPods lineup, including the AirPods 2 for $89.00 and AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C for $189.99. The Pro model did briefly hit $179.99 earlier in the week, but that all-time low price has since expired.

Studio Display

• What's the deal? Get $299 off Apple Studio Display
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week introduced the first discount on the Apple Studio Display that we've seen in months, including $299 off both Standard and Nano-texture Glass models.

Apple Pencil

• What's the deal? Get $50 off Apple Pencil
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has the Apple Pencil 2 for the record low price of $79.00, down from $129.00. The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later).

AirTag

• What's the deal? Get up to $19 off AirTag
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has the 1-Pack for $24.99 and the 4-Pack for $79.99. These are both solid second-best prices on each AirTag model, and they're the first time we've seen notable AirTag discounts in a few weeks.

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

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the possibility of the next-generation iPad Pro featuring the M4 chip and what else to expect at Apple's "Let loose" event.

While Apple's upcoming ‌iPad Pro‌ models have been expected to feature the M3 chip for over a year, recent reports have unexpectedly suggested that the new devices will instead contain the as-yet-unannounced M4 chip and that a key new feature of the processor will be an upgraded Neural Engine optimized for AI tasks. Introducing the M4 chip in an iPad and only six months after the previous chip generation would be unprecedented moves, but there is evidence to suggest that it is a plausible possibility.

• Will the New iPad Pro Really Have the M4 Chip?

Apple's "Let loose" event is expected to focus on the unveiling of redesigned ‌iPad Pro‌ models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, a high-end Magic Keyboard accessory, and a new Apple Pencil. We also talk through the three other announcements that Apple could have in store for the event.

The special event will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the announcement of Apple's "Let loose" event.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

This year's iPhone 16 lineup could see a slight change to the MagSafe alignment magnets compared to previous generations, according to images shared by French case company ShopSystem [Google Translate].

Casemaking molds for the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup appear to show a thinner design for the attachment ring magnets and for the single alignment magnet, relative to equivalent molds for the iPhone 15 lineup. The report suggests ‌MagSafe‌ accessory manufacturers may need to adapt their products to fit the new system, but this seems very unlikely as any updated ‌MagSafe‌ system will almost certainly be backwards compatible.

Presuming the thinner magnets depicted in these molds are accurate, it's unclear if there are additional changes to ‌MagSafe‌ in the upcoming iPhone lineup that could extend to the charging technology. One rumor has, however, indicated the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup could see increased MagSafe charging speeds with support for up to 20 watts compared to the current standard of 15 watts.

Apple today released a new video ad promoting the "Find Your Friends" feature available in the Find My app on all iPhone 15 models.

In the ad, a person dressed as a Mandalorian from the Star Wars universe uses the feature to find other Mandalorians in a crowded convention center.

How to use the Find Your Friends feature:

• iPhone 15: How to Locate Friends With Precision Finding

Both you and the other person must have an iPhone 15 in order to use Find Your Friends. Similar to an AirTag, the feature supports Precision Finding, which provides an on-screen directional arrow and exact distance to the other person's location.

The iPhone 16 Pro is set to succeed 2023's iPhone 15 Pro, introducing over 25 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones. With many users adopting two-year upgrade cycles, plenty of iPhone 14 Pro owners will be looking to upgrade to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ later this year, so this guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations based on rumors.

In 2022, Apple unveiled the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro as the successor to the popular iPhone 13 Pro, introducing an always-on display, the Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel camera, the A16 Bionic chip, longer battery life, and more. Two years later, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is expected to offer over 50 upgrades. All of the changes the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to feature compared to their 2022 predecessor are listed below, using information from reliable sources that we have previously covered. We will update this article as more rumors emerge in the coming months.

Design

The design of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is expected to be a relatively significant evolution over the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro, iterating on the titanium frame and slightly rounded edges introduced on the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ models last year.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
Surgical-grade stainless steel chassis with squared-off edges	Aerospace-grade titanium chassis with contoured edges
Ring/Silent switch	Action button
Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing	New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing
	More repairable design
Lightning port	USB-C port
Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple color options	Black Titanium/Space Black, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Titanium Gray, and potentially Rose Gold color options

Dimensions

To accommodate larger displays, both ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to grow in height and width. In addition to last year's increase in depth, the devices are due to be considerably larger, but with a notable reduction in weight thanks to the adoption of a titanium frame.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
7.85mm depth	8.25mm depth (0.4mm thicker)
iPhone 14 Pro: 147.5mm height iPhone 14 Pro Max: 160.7mm height	iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6mm height iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163.0mm height
iPhone 14 Pro: 71.5mm width iPhone 14 Pro Max: 77.6mm width	iPhone 16 Pro: 71.45mm width iPhone 16 Pro Max: 77.58mm width
iPhone 14 Pro: 206g weight iPhone 14 Pro Max: 240g weight	iPhone 16 Pro: 194g weight iPhone 16 Pro Max: 225g weight

Displays

Both ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max to be the biggest iPhone ever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store, in addition to last year's slimmer bezels, making for a noticeable overall display upgrade.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
6.1- or 6.7-inch display	6.3- or 6.9-inch display
	Slimmer borders around the display
	More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology

Performance

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, including a 3nm Apple silicon chip and 33% more memory.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
A16 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N4P" 5nm process)	A18 Pro chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced ‌3nm‌ process)
16-core Neural Engine	Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support new AI features
	Dedicated AV1 decoder
6GB memory	8GB memory

Connectivity

Connectivity is also due to get a significant upgrade on the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, bolstering the device's 5G, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ultra Wideband specifications.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
Snapdragon X65 5G modem	Snapdragon X75 5G modem
Wi‑Fi 6 connectivity	Wi‑Fi 7 connectivity
	Thread networking technology
First-generation Ultra Wideband chip	Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away)
	Precision Finding for Find My friends

Cameras

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
	"Capture Button" to trigger photography and videography features
1/1.28-inch main camera sensor	iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger)
Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor	iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control
7P main camera lens	8P main camera lens
Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization	Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module
77mm maximum focal length	iPhone 16 Pro: 120mm maximum focal length iPhone 16 Pro Max: "Super" telephoto camera with focal length above 300mm
4P telephoto camera lens	5P telephoto camera lens
12-megapixel ultra wide camera	48-megapixel ultra wide camera
5P ultra wide camera lens	6P ultra wide camera lens
	Anti-reflective coating on camera lenses
0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom	0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom
	13mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 120mm focal length picker
48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos	24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos
Smart HDR 4	Smart HDR 5
Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control	Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
Night mode and Night mode portraits	Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits
	Shoot and instantly transfer 48-megapixel ProRAW images to Mac via USB 3
	Record video directly to an external drive
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps	ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording
Action mode	Improved Action mode and low-light video
	Log video recording
	Academy Color Encoding System
	Record spatial video for Apple Vision Pro

Batteries and Charging

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
	Setting to prevent charging above 80%
	Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings
Single-layer battery technology	Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan
iPhone 14 Pro: 3,200 mAh battery iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4,323 mAh battery	iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355 mAh mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery
Up to 27W wired charging	Up to 40W wired charging
15W charging via MagSafe	20W charging via ‌MagSafe‌

Other Features and Changes

While many of Apple's devices are rumored to receive a series of new AI-based features via software updates later this year, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are expected to take these further with exclusive capabilities and an upgraded microphone.

‌iPhone 14‌ Pro	‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
Upcoming support for new AI features in iOS 18	Upcoming support for new AI features in ‌iOS 18‌, plus a suite of device-exclusive AI features
Microphone	Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features
	Improved audio quality on phone calls
USB 2 transfer speeds (up to 480Mb/s)	USB 3 transfer speeds (up to 10Gb/s, 20x faster)
	DisplayPort support for up to 4K HDR video output
Up to 1TB of storage	Up to 2TB of storage

Release Date

The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to launch in the fall. Apple usually hosts an event every September to unveil new ‌iPhone‌ models, with launch following just over a week later. For more information about the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, see our comprehensive roundup.

Will It Be Worth Upgrading?

The ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ was a fairly significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro in 2023, introducing a titanium chassis, slimmer bezels, the Action button, and a USB-C port. The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ will build on these upgrades, offering larger displays, the Capture button, and improved cameras. With over 50 upgrades likely to be in store, many ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro users will find upgrading to an ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ model worthwhile.

Apple system features such as Siri and Spotlight Search are set to receive new AI features that work across apps like Messages, Mail, and Safari, AppleInsider reports.

Safari will apparently gain a text summarization tool called Intelligent Browsing that allows users to generate a short summary of any webpage, and ‌Siri‌ could gain a similar feature that works in the Messages app. Apple's AI technology can apparently analyze message content and generate responses. Spotlight search will be enhanced with more intelligent results and improved sorting, working across apps like Contacts and Calendar to generate responses.

Crucially, Apple's AI tools run-on device, with the ability to generate responses without any cloud-based processing, to maximize privacy and minimize delays. More advanced replies and summaries seem to require sever-side processing. Apple is widely expected to unveil the suite of AI features when it previews major updates to its operating systems at WWDC in June.

Apple is holding at least five announcements for later in the year that will not arrive at the company's "Let loose" special event next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In a report detailing his expectations for Apple's upcoming event, Gurman noted that there are a total of five things that the company is holding for later in the year:

• AI features: While Apple may tease new AI capabilities with the next-generation iPad Pro, Apple will not "formally unveil" the features until WWDC in June where iPadOS 18 will be previewed.
• Lower-cost entry-level iPad: Apple is apparently working on a version of the 10th-generation iPad introduced in 2022 with a lower price. The current model is $449, sitting in the lineup above the $329 ninth-generation ‌iPad‌ that remains in the lineup. The company is likely to phase out this older model and bring the price down of the redesigned model, but Gurman says this "isn't expected until the end of the year at the earliest."
• Seventh-generation iPad mini: A refreshed iPad mini is said to be in the works featuring improved performance thanks to a faster chip, but it is not due to be announced next week.
• New Macs: While the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models may contain the M4 chip, a processor that will later come to the Mac, Apple is not planning to unveil any new Mac models at the "Let loose" event.
• Fourth-generation AirPods: Apple is said to be nearing production of the fourth-generation AirPods, but these will not launch until the fall alongside the iPhone 16 lineup.

Apple's "Let loose" event is expected to focus on the unveiling of redesigned ‌iPad Pro‌ models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, a high-end Magic Keyboard accessory, and a new Apple Pencil. It will take place on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual.

Apple is working to introduce a new fourth-generation Apple silicon chip across the Mac lineup, and while the first M4 Macs are coming in 2024, the MacBook Air won't get updated until 2025.

This guide highlights everything that we know about the next-generation ‌MacBook Air‌ so far.

M4 Chips

The 13-inch and 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ models were just updated with M3 chips in March 2024, so it's no surprise that they're not going to be the first devices to get the M4 chip. Apple plans to wait until 2025, so there will be about a year between the M3 and M4 chip lineups.

Rumors suggest that the M4 chip will have a focus on artificial intelligence to support AI features that are coming with the next round of software updates. Most AI talk has been about iOS 18, but Apple is expected to roll out AI integrations across its platforms. The M4 chip is expected to have a Neural Engine with more cores, with the Neural Engine handling AI and machine learning tasks. The M3 chip has a 16-core Neural Engine.

While Apple is working on M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M4 Ultra chips, the ‌MacBook Air‌ models are expected to get only the standard M4 chip. There will likely be at least two variants of the M4, with the difference being the number of GPU cores. For the current ‌MacBook Air‌, for example, the base M3 chip has an 8-core GPU, but there is also a 10-core GPU option. The M3 CPU is the same for all versions, and that should be the case with the M4 as well.

The M4 will be built on Apples 3-nanometer process, much like the M3. There won't be as big of a performance improvement between M3 and M4 as there was between M2 and M3 because there's no change in node size, but we can still expect modest GPU and CPU speed boosts.

Design

Apple overhauled the ‌MacBook Air‌ design in 2022, and we're not expecting the design to be tweaked with the 2025 refresh. Apple often waits several years between design changes, and there are no rumors that there will be a refreshed look.

Apple is likely to stick with the 15.3 and 13.6-inch size options, and we can expect to see the same flat, MacBook Pro-style body with Force Touch trackpad, and display with notch. As of now, it looks like the 2025 ‌MacBook Air‌ refresh will be focused on internal updates.

Launch Date

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the ‌MacBook Air‌ will get an update in the spring of 2025. Spring starts on March 20, 2025, and ends on June 20, 2025.

Apple today held its earnings call for the second fiscal quarter of 2024 (first calendar quarter), with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri providing us with some details on Apple's performance, Vision Pro sales, services growth, AI plans, and other topics.

We've highlighted the most interesting takeaways from today's earnings call.

Next Week's Announcements

Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ said Apple is prepping for "an exciting product announcement" that the company thinks "customers will love."

Generative AI

Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ said that Apple is making "significant investments" in AI, and that it has some "very exciting things" to share with customers "soon."

Cook also said that he believes Apple has "advantages that will differentiate" the company, including Apple's hardware and software integration, Apple silicon with Neural Engine, and focus on privacy.

There's a "big opportunity" for generative AI across all of Apple's devices, and Cook said he is "extremely optimistic" about future consumer demand.

Digital Markets Act

Cook said that it's too early to determine the security risks and privacy implications of the changes that it has made to the app ecosystem in Europe. Apple is focused on complying while mitigating impacts to user privacy and security.

Vision Pro

Leading enterprise companies have been investing in Vision Pro, and Apple is seeing it used for things like aircraft engine maintenance, real-time collaboration for racing, and immersive kitchen design. Cook said that Apple "couldn't be more excited about the spatial computing opportunity in enterprise."

Services

Apple's services segment set a new all-time revenue record of $23.9 billion, up 14 percent from $20.9 billion in the year-ago quarter. Transacting accounts and paid accounts reached a new all-time high, with paid accounts and subscriptions showing double digit growth.

Apple has more than 1 billion paid subscriptions, more than double the number from four years ago.

Mac Sales

With the launch of new M3 MacBook Air models in March, Mac revenue saw growth, reaching $7.5 billion. Mac sales were at $7.17 billion in the year-ago quarter, for four percent growth.

iPad Sales

iPad revenue continued to drop with no new iPads released in 2024 as of yet. ‌iPad‌ revenue was at $5.6 billion, down 17 percent from $6.7 billion a year ago. ‌iPad‌ sales should see some improvement next quarter as Apple next week is planning to unveil new iPad Air and iPad Pro models.

Wearables

Wearables, Home and Accessories came in at $7.9 billion, down 10 percent compared to last year. Last year, Apple had launched the USB-C version of AirPods Pro, and there was a "difficult compare" this year.

June Quarter

Maestri said that Apple expects June quarter revenue to grow low single digits year-over-year, but Services is expected to grow double digits, as is ‌iPad‌ revenue.

During today's earnings call covering the second fiscal quarter of 2024, Apple CEO Tim Cook again spoke about Apple's work on generative AI. He said that Apple has "advantages" that will "differentiate" the company in the era of AI, and some "very exciting things" will be shared with customers in the near future.

We continue to feel very bullish about our opportunity in generative AI. We are making significant investments and we're looking forward to sharing some very exciting things with our customers soon.

We believe in the transformative power and promise of AI and we believe we have advantages that will differentiate us in this new era, including Apple's unique combination of seamless hardware, software and services integration, groundbreaking Apple silicon with our industry leading neural engines, and our unwavering focus on privacy, which underpins everything we create.

Rumors have suggested that Apple's first AI features are designed to run on-device rather than contacting a cloud service, which would make Apple's AI much more private and secure than an online AI option. Apple's plan to have generative AI available on-device will require significant CPU and GPU power, and Apple is planning to focus on AI with the upcoming M4 chip.

We could see the M4 chip as soon as next week in new iPad Pro models, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman indicating last weekend that there is a chance Apple will unveil the chip in the ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

Apple today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2024, which corresponds to the first calendar quarter of the year.

For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $90.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $23.6 billion, or $1.53 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $94.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $24.1 billion, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Apple set an all-time quarterly record for Services revenue at $23.9 billion, but iPhone revenue dropped by over $5 billion compared to the year-ago quarter.

Gross margin for the quarter was 46.6 percent, compared to 44.3 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple's board of directors also authorized an additional $110 billion for share repurchases and declared an increased dividend payment of $0.25 per share, up from $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable May 16 to shareholders of record as of May 13.

"Today Apple is reporting revenue of $90.8 billion for the March quarter, including an all-time revenue record in Services," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "During the quarter, we were thrilled to launch Apple Vision Pro and to show the world the potential that spatial computing unlocks. We're also looking forward to an exciting product announcement next week and an incredible Worldwide Developers Conference next month. As always, we are focused on providing the very best products and services for our customers, and doing so while living up to the core values that drive us."

As has been the case for over four years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in June.

Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q2 2024 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.

Conference call recap ahead...

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Following this past weekend's sighting of NBA superstar LeBron James carrying an unreleased Beats speaker reminiscent of the former Beats Pill, F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has also been seen teasing the unreleased speaker at this week's Grand Prix stop in Miami.

Details on the unreleased speaker remain unknown, but it features a similar pill-shaped design to the rest of the Pill family and includes a lanyard that has not been present on previous models. The most recent model in the Pill family was discontinued in 2022, and this new one will likely include a USB-C port, updated Bluetooth specs, and other improvements.

Beats has yet to officially announce the upcoming Beats Pill, so a release date similarly remains unknown.

The Beats Pill teases come as part of a busy week for Apple's speaker and headphone brand, as Beats this week introduced the Solo 4 on-ear headphones and announced the all-new Solo Buds earphones that will be launching in June.

At some point in the last 24 hours, Siri on the HomePod and the HomePod mini seems to have forgotten how to relay the time. When asking ‌Siri‌ "what time is it?" ‌Siri‌ is unable to answer and directs users to the iPhone.

"I found some web results, I can show them if you ask again from your ‌iPhone‌," is ‌Siri‌'s full response to the time question. If you ask what time it is in a specific location, ‌Siri‌ is able to respond, and ‌Siri‌ on ‌iPhone‌, iPad, and Mac provides the time as usual when asked.

This is a bug that Apple will be able to fix server side, so it will likely be addressed quickly. In the meantime, to get the time from ‌Siri‌ on the ‌HomePod‌ without having to swap to an ‌iPhone‌, include your location.

‌Siri‌ has long been ridiculed for failing to understand requests and not providing the expected information, and small bugs like this are a bit embarrassing as Apple prepares for a major AI update.

For the last several months, ‌Siri‌ has also been struggling with HomeKit commands, and there have been many complaints from smart home users. Asking ‌Siri‌ to "turn off the lights in the living room," for example, often results in the lights being turned on or turned off in another room entirely. Hopefully some of these issues will be solved with a ‌Siri‌ overhaul in iOS 18 and its sister updates.

Update: Apple seems to have fixed the issue somewhat. Asking "what time is it?" provides the time, but ‌Siri‌ is still not able to give the time if you ask "what's the time?" or "can you tell me the time?"

(Thanks, Ben!)

Apple today confirmed that it will be bringing all of the app ecosystem changes made to iOS in the European Union to iPadOS in the fall. Earlier this week, the European Commission said that iPadOS is also a gatekeeper platform under the Digital Markets Act.

EU developers will be able to distribute iPad apps outside of the App Store using alternative app marketplaces or websites, and all of the same terms will apply. The Core Technology Fee will be charged for apps that are distributed outside of the ‌App Store‌ and have more than one million first annual installs, though there are exceptions for small developers, which Apple also announced today.

With iPadOS being added to the mix, Apple has also confirmed that users who install the same app on both iOS and iPadOS in a 12-month period will only generate one first annual install for that app rather than two, which should help developers keep below the CTF threshold.

As with the changes to iOS, the upcoming changes to iPadOS only apply to developers who distribute apps in the European Union and ‌iPad‌ users in the EU. For the rest of the world, there are no changes and apps will continue to be available only from the ‌App Store‌.

Apple today announced that it is tweaking the terms of the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee (CTF) that apps distributed using the new EU business terms must pay, introducing a solution that would keep small apps that go viral from being charged unreasonable fees.

First, independent and small developers who earn no revenue at all will not have to pay the CTF. Students, hobbyists, and freeware app developers who distribute free apps and earn no money will not be charged the fee. Developers will need to declare their non-commercial status on an annual basis, and to maintain this status, developers must have no revenue in or out of the App Store for their app product.

Second, to address fears of the CTF causing outrageous fees for an app that suddenly goes viral, Apple has implemented a three year on-ramping process for small developers. The three year period begins when a developer agrees to the new ‌App Store‌ business terms, and during this time, if an app goes viral and exceeds the one million annual install threshold that triggers the CTF, the CTF won't be charged if the developer earns less than 10 million euros in global business revenue, and the fee is reduced after that.

• Under 10 million euros: No CTF during the three year period.
• Between 10 million and 50 million euros: CTF must be paid, but it is capped at one million euros per year for the three year period.
• Beyond 50 million euros: Benefit is no longer available, and the full CTF has to be paid.
• After three years: Developers will pay for each first annual install after the initial one million first annual installs per year.

Note that this ramp up period is only available to small developers who have not previously exceeded one million first annual installs, and it is calculated based on global business revenue rather than just ‌App Store‌ revenue.

Apple says that 99 percent of developers will not be subject to the CTF to begin with, but the new ramp up period will go further to make sure that small developers who get a breakout hit will have time to scale their businesses before having to pay fees.

Back in March, developer Riley Testut spoke with Apple officials at a workshop on the Digital Markets Act, and he asked what would happen if a young developer had an app go viral and unwittingly racked up millions in fees. Testut asked the question because when he was a high school student, he released GBA4iOS outside of the ‌App Store‌. It was unexpectedly downloaded more than 10 million times, and that would have bankrupted him had he been subject to the Core Technology Fee.

In response, Apple VP of regulatory law Kyle Andeers said that Apple was working on a solution because the company is not trying to stifle innovation. Apple believes that a free app going viral and being subject to exorbitant fees will be a rare occurrence, but the changes will keep that from happening. The CTF update will also be a welcome change for those who want to release entirely free apps outside of the ‌App Store‌.

The CTF is only applicable to apps that have opted in to the new ‌App Store‌ business terms in the European Union. Apps in the EU are now able to be distributed through alternative app stores and developer websites without having to rely on the ‌App Store‌.

Apple has more information about the new changes to the CTF on its updated CTF support page.

Today we're tracking a few deals offered by Anker, Eufy, and Jackery, including a wide array of wall chargers, Bluetooth trackers, and other USB-C accessories. All of the products in this sale can be found on Amazon, and some will require you to clip an on-page coupon then head to the checkout screen before you see the final sale price.

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.

This week Eufy has a pair of discounts on its Find My-compatible SmartTrack Bluetooth tracker accessories exclusively for Prime members, including the SmartTrack Card for $19.99, down from $29.99. You can also get the SmartTrack Link in multiple pack options if you have Amazon Prime, starting at $15.99 for the 1-Pack, down from $19.99.

Switching to the Anker deals, you can get the 20,000 mAh Prime Power Bank with Smart Digital Display for $89.98, down from $129.99. If you need a bigger battery, you can get the Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light for $109.99 with an on-page coupon, down from $149.99. Additionally, below you'll find more Anker accessories including speakers and USB-C products.

Anker is also hosting a BOGO sale this week on Amazon, allowing you to save 15 percent on select charging accessories when you purchase two at once. You can find the full lineup on this landing page, and it includes the MagGo 10,000 mAh Power Bank with Smart Display, Nano 10,000 mAh Power Bank with Built-in USB-C Cable, and more.

Highlights of Jackery's deals include the Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station, available for just $119.99, down from $149.00. This is a miniature-sized portable power station that can fit in the palm of your hand and weighs just 2.13 lbs, while featuring a 31,000 mAh capacity and 128W output.

Eufy

• SmartTrack Link 1-Pack - $15.99 for Prime members, down from $19.99
• SmartTrack Link 2-Pack - $26.99 for Prime members, down from $35.99
• SmartTrack Link 4-Pack - $48.99 for Prime members, down from $69.99
• SmartTrack Card - $19.99 for Prime members, down from $29.99

Anker

Audio

• Soundcore Motion 300 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - $64.99, down from $79.99

Portable Batteries

• Nano Power Bank with Built-In USB-C Cable - $39.99, down from $49.99
• Prime Power Bank 20,000 mAh with 100W Charging Base - $139.99, down from $184.99

Power Stations

• Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light - $109.99 with on-page coupon, down from $149.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Cube - $129.99, down from $149.99
• SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station - $1,499.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,999.00

Wall Chargers

• 20W USB-C Charger - $9.99, down from $16.99
• 100W 3-Port USB-C Charger - $42.99, down from $74.99
• 6-in-1 Nano Charging Station - $49.49, down from $65.99
• Prime 67W 3-Port Charger - $59.99, down from $65.99

Hubs

• 4-Port USB-C Hub - $15.99, down from $19.99
• 10-in-1 USB-C Hub - $74.99 for Prime members, down from $149.99

Jackery

• Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station - $119.99 with on-page coupon, down from $149.00
• Solar Generator 300 Plus Portable Power Station - $499.00, down from $579.00
• Expansion Battery Pack for 1000 Plus - $599.00, down from $799.00
• Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station - $649.00 with on-page coupon, down from $999.00
• Explorer 2000 Pro Portable Power Station - $1,299.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,899.00
• Expansion Battery Pack for 2000 Plus - $1,259.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,599.00
• Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station - $2,499.00, down from $2,799.00

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.

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models were its most purchased smartphones in the U.S. in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) report.

The ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ and Pro Max accounted for 22% and 23% of all iPhones sold in Q1 2024, for a 45% combined share. The iPhone 15 Plus took a 9% share of all iPhones sold, while the ‌iPhone 15‌ and iPhone 14 were the third most popular, each taking 14% of the share.

The ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ and Pro Max share hardly changed compared to the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro and Pro Max the same quarter a year ago. However, Apple saw sales of the base model ‌iPhone 15‌ decline relative to a year ago. The overall mix of ‌iPhone 15‌ models was lower, accounting for 68% of all iPhone sales.

By contrast, in Q1 2023 the ‌iPhone 14‌ series had a 7% higher share of all iPhones sold, taking 75% combined. The percentages suggest that the ‌iPhone 14‌ and ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus were more popular than the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus over the equivalent quarter the previous year.

Noting the change, CIRP comments:

We see this as a continuation of a trend from the past couple of quarters, as the lower- priced current models give up some share to older models. The once flagship, now base iPhone 15, is no longer the leading-edge choice, as the Pro and Pro Max models take that role.

Last week, CIRP released a report indicating that new ‌iPhone‌ activations are down to a low not seen in the U.S. smartphone market for the last six years.

CIRP said that Apple's installed smartphone base was higher than recorded activations, but Apple's share of new ‌iPhone‌ activations fell from 40% to 33% over the past year, suggesting a shift away from the higher market shares Apple enjoyed in previous years.