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2025 in iPhones: The Good, The Bad, and the Cosmic Orange

#iphone #rumours
  • Solid Base Upgrades: The standard iPhone 17 is a standout win for 2025, finally adopting a 120Hz ProMotion display and slimming down bezels to fit a 6.3-inch screen in a 6.1-inch footprint.
  • Pro Performance Boost: iPhone 17 Pro models introduced the A19 Pro chip and a vapor chamber cooling system, improving sustained performance by shifting heat away from the user’s hands.
  • Camera Convergence: All iPhone 17 models now feature the 48MP Fusion main camera, previously a Pro-exclusive, which uses sensor cropping to offer better zoom range on non-Pro devices.
  • The "Meh" iPhone Air: Despite its svelte design, the iPhone Air has seen weak sales and criticism for offering only a single rear camera despite its high-end A19 Pro chip.
  • Apple Intelligence Struggles: One year after launch, Apple Intelligence is still criticized for being "bottom of the class," with inconsistent notification summaries and Siri remaining overly dependent on ChatGPT.
  • Cosmic Orange Controversy: A polarizing new "Cosmic Orange" color for the Pro models has drawn mixed reviews, with some critics finding it too bold and uncharacteristic for Apple’s usual palette.
  • iOS 26 Niggles: Early adopters report that iOS 26 lacks the usual Apple polish, citing battery drain issues and a "fussy" Liquid Glass design that prioritizes form over function.
  • March 2027 Outlook: Growing evidence suggests the iPhone 18 lineup may be delayed until March 2027, potentially marking a permanent shift in Apple’s release cycle.

Apple's 2025 Strategy: Building a Foundation Beyond the AI Hype

#iphone #mac #rumours
  • Strategic Foundation: While AI dominated tech headlines in 2025, Apple’s most critical moves were focused on long-term infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and hardware vertical integration.
  • Silicon Independence: Apple continued to distance itself from third-party component makers by accelerating the development of its in-house 5G modems and Wi-Fi chips, aiming for total control over its device connectivity.
  • Supply Chain Diversification: The year marked a massive shift in manufacturing, with Apple significantly increasing production capacity in India and Southeast Asia to reduce geopolitical risks associated with China.
  • Services Revenue Growth: Beyond hardware, Apple’s Services sector reached new heights, proving that its ecosystem lock-in remains its strongest financial moat even during global economic fluctuations.
  • The "Wait and See" AI Approach: Rather than rushing half-baked AI features, Apple focused on private, on-device processing power (Private Cloud Compute), setting a standard for security that competitors are now scrambling to match.
  • Future Hardware Tease: Internal restructuring suggests Apple is preparing for a "post-smartphone" era, with increased investment in home robotics and sophisticated wearable technologies expected in 2026 and 2027.

Got a New iPhone 17? How to Use All the New Features

#iphone
  • Advanced Camera Control: The iPhone 17 lineup features a dedicated "Camera Control" button, allowing users to quickly launch the camera, adjust zoom, and toggle between shooting modes with physical gestures.
  • Center Stage Front Camera: New for the iPhone 17, the front-facing camera now supports Center Stage, automatically keeping you in the frame during video calls, even as you move around.
  • Dual Capture Video: Users can now record video from the front and rear cameras simultaneously, a feature perfect for vloggers and creators looking to capture reactions alongside the main action.
  • Action Button Customization: The Action Button remains a key feature, now with expanded options for launching shortcuts, voice memos, and specific camera filters across all models.
  • 8x Optical Zoom (Pro Models): The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max introduce an 8x optical zoom, significantly improving long-distance photography compared to the 5x limit on previous generations.
  • ProRes RAW Video: Professional filmmakers can now shoot video in Apple's new ProRes RAW format on Pro models, providing unprecedented control over color and detail in post-production.
  • Adaptive Power Mode: A new "Adaptive Power Mode" is enabled by default on iPhone 17 models, intelligently managing background tasks and refresh rates to maximize battery life based on your usage patterns.
  • iOS 26 Integration: The guide highlights new lock screen customizations and "Liquid Glass" design elements that allow for deeper aesthetic personalization of your new device.

21 Best Apple Boxing Day Deals: Apple Watch Under $300 and More

#iphone #ipad #mac #applewatches #airpods
  • Apple Watch SE 3 Under $300: The Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS 40mm) is featured as a top deal, currently priced at $299 (down from $329) on Amazon Canada.
  • iPad Discounts: The 11-inch iPad with the A16 chip is seeing significant price cuts, with the 128GB model down to $389 (save $110) and the 256GB model at $549 (save $100).
  • AirPods Sales: Multiple AirPods models are on sale, including the 3rd Gen AirPods with MagSafe for $178 and the premium AirPods Max for $648 (save $131).
  • MacBook Air 2025 Deals: The latest 13-inch MacBook Air is discounted to $1,180, while the 15-inch model is available for $1,689, offering savings of up to $309.
  • iPad Air & Mini Offers: The M3-powered 11-inch iPad Air is down to $799 (save $150), and the iPad mini (A17 Pro) 256GB is priced at $749.
  • Essential Accessories: The Apple AirTag 4-pack is on sale for $99, and the Apple Pencil Pro has been reduced to $139 for Boxing Day.
  • Limited Inventory: Tech writers warn that stock moves quickly during the Boxing Day period, especially for popular items like Apple Watches and entry-level iPads.
  • Ecosystem Savings: Small add-ons like the Magic Keyboard Folio ($280) and Magic Mouse ($85) are also discounted, making it a good time to complete an Apple setup.

Apple's New Sensor Shift Design Is Built for Stable Focus in Handheld Video

#iphone #rumours
  • Mechanical Innovation: A new Apple patent reveals a redesigned sensor-shift system that physically separates the autofocus lens carrier from the stabilization platform, preventing the two systems from interfering with each other during handheld shooting.
  • Flexure-Based Suspension: The design utilizes "flexures"—compliant structures that allow precise movement in specific directions—to eliminate mechanical "play" and ensure the sensor returns to a neutral position predictably.
  • Closed-Loop Control: Unlike older systems that rely on estimated motion from gyroscopes, this new architecture uses real-time position sensors on the circuit board to measure exactly where the sensor is, resulting in smoother pans and less drift.
  • Damping for Calm Footage: The system includes internal damping to prevent the camera from "overshooting" or oscillating during sudden movements, such as footsteps, making handheld video feel more deliberate and cinematic.
  • Filmmaker Focus: While casual users look for sharpness, this update targets "motion feel," aiming to reduce the micro-jitter and "nervous" digital smoothing artifacts that often plague smartphone filmmaking.
  • Future Hardware Target: This modular-style sensor-shift architecture is expected to be a key component of future iPhone camera systems (likely the iPhone 18 series), potentially reducing the need for external gimbals in professional workflows.

Apple Discontinues 25 Products in 2025: Clearing Space for iPhone 18 Pro Max

#iphone #ipad #mac #applewatches #airpods #rumours
  • Strategic Purge: Apple has quietly discontinued up to 25 devices and accessories in 2025 to streamline its lineup and prepare for the 2nm processor era of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
  • End of the Home Button: The discontinuation of the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) officially marks the end of the Home button and Touch ID era, with the iPhone 16e taking its place as the entry-level model.
  • Non-AI Hardware Exit: Older models like the iPhone 14 and 15 are being phased out to ensure the current lineup meets the minimum performance baseline required for advanced Apple Intelligence features.
  • iPad & Mac Refresh: Several M-series devices, including the iPad Pro (M4), iPad Air (M2), and Mac Studio (M2 Max/Ultra), have been retired to make way for newer M3 and M5 successors.
  • Wearables Update: The Apple Watch Ultra 2, Series 10, and SE (2nd Gen) were discontinued as Apple moves toward a more clearly differentiated smartwatch lineup for 2026.
  • Accessory Transition: Apple is retiring legacy standards, including Lightning adapters and older MagSafe chargers, in a final push toward total USB-C and Qi2 charging adoption.
  • Titanium Focus: The product cleanup is seen as a move to highlight the rumored titanium chassis and next-gen hardware of the "iPhone 18" flagship series.
  • Inventory Impact: While discontinued, these products remain software-supported, and users may find significant price drops at third-party retailers while supplies last.

Apple's 2025 Strategy: Building a Foundation Beyond the AI Hype

#iphone #mac #rumours
  • Strategic Foundation: While AI dominated tech headlines in 2025, Apple’s most critical moves were focused on long-term infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and hardware vertical integration.
  • Silicon Independence: Apple continued to distance itself from third-party component makers by accelerating the development of its in-house 5G modems and Wi-Fi chips, aiming for total control over its device connectivity.
  • Supply Chain Diversification: The year marked a massive shift in manufacturing, with Apple significantly increasing production capacity in India and Southeast Asia to reduce geopolitical risks associated with China.
  • Services Revenue Growth: Beyond hardware, Apple’s Services sector reached new heights, proving that its ecosystem lock-in remains its strongest financial moat even during global economic fluctuations.
  • The "Wait and See" AI Approach: Rather than rushing half-baked AI features, Apple focused on private, on-device processing power (Private Cloud Compute), setting a standard for security that competitors are now scrambling to match.
  • Future Hardware Tease: Internal restructuring suggests Apple is preparing for a "post-smartphone" era, with increased investment in home robotics and sophisticated wearable technologies expected in 2026 and 2027.

Apple 2025 Winners and Losers: iPhone 17 Dominates While iPhone Air Flops

#iphone #mac #rumours
  • Winner: iPhone 17 Series: The iPhone 17 is hailed as a major win due to its long-overdue 120Hz ProMotion display, updated selfie camera, and 256GB base storage, all while maintaining its predecessor's price point.
  • Winner: MacBook Pro 14 (M5): The M5 chip is described as a monumental shift, offering 45% better graphics performance and significant memory bandwidth increases without sacrificing battery life.
  • Winner: AirPods Pro 3: Recognized for delivering best-in-class noise cancellation, improved transparency modes, and new health tracking features like Live Translation and IP57 protection.
  • Loser: iPhone Air: Despite high anticipation, the device is considered a flop because consumers weren't willing to trade camera quality, battery life, and audio for a thinner design at a premium price.
  • Loser: iPhone 16e: Criticized for being overpriced at $599, the device lacked modern essentials like MagSafe, 120Hz refresh rate, and Always-On display, relying heavily on recycled parts.
  • Loser: Apple Intelligence & Siri: For the second year in a row, Apple's AI efforts are seen as "half-baked," with the fully overhauled Siri assistant still missing and potentially being outsourced to Google Gemini.
  • Supply Chain Shift: Apple’s move to diversify its supply chain away from China and toward India is noted as a long-term strategic win for operational resilience.
  • Sales Performance: The strong performance of the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to help Apple overtake Samsung as the world's leading smartphone vendor by volume for the first time in a decade.

Apple to Launch 20+ New Products in 2026: The Ultimate Roadmap

#iphone #ipad #mac #applewatches #rumours
  • iPhone 18 Series & Foldable: The fall lineup will feature the iPhone 18 Pro with under-display Face ID and a dedicated "iPhone Fold/Ultra" featuring a book-style crease-free design.
  • Budget MacBook & iPhone 17e: A new low-cost MacBook (starting at $599-$699) and the iPhone 17e with the A19 chip are expected in early 2026 to target the budget market.
  • iPad OLED & Spec Bumps: The iPad mini is rumored to finally receive an OLED display and A20 Pro chip, while the iPad Air moves to the M4 and the base iPad gets Apple Intelligence support.
  • Apple Home Expansion: A new "HomePod Touch" with a 7-inch screen and a first-party Apple security camera with HomeKit Secure Video integration are on the horizon.
  • Next-Gen Mac Displays: Apple is reportedly prepping a Studio Display 2 with 120Hz ProMotion and a possible new Pro Display XDR refresh.
  • M5 & M6 Mac Transitions: The year starts with M5 MacBook Air and Pro models, culminating in a major redesign for the MacBook Pro featuring M6 chips and OLED touch displays in the fall.
  • Apple Watch Series 12 & Ultra 4: Expected updates include new "S-class" chips and the potential introduction of Touch ID or expanded health sensors across both models.
  • AirPods Pro 3 with Cameras: Built-in cameras are rumored for the next AirPods Pro to power advanced AI and visual intelligence features.
  • Apple Glasses Tease: While shipping might not occur until 2027, Apple may officially unveil its AR "Apple Glasses" during 2026.
  • AirTag 2: An updated tracker with a new Ultra Wideband chip for improved range and security is slated for a spring release.

iPhone 18 Production Starts Early for Apple's Unprecedented Split Launch

#iphone #rumours
  • Aggressive Production Timeline: Apple is reportedly beginning trial production for the iPhone 18 series as early as January 2026, with full-scale manufacturing potentially starting before February.
  • New Split-Launch Strategy: Abandoning the traditional simultaneous September release, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and its first foldable in Fall 2026, followed by the standard iPhone 18 in Spring 2027.
  • The "iPhone Fold" Debut: The Fall 2026 window will highlight Apple’s foldable entry, rumored to feature a crease-free 7.6-inch internal display and a price tag between $1,800 and $2,500.
  • Next-Gen 2nm Silicon: All iPhone 18 models are expected to utilize Apple's A20 chip built on TSMC’s advanced 2nm process, delivering significant jumps in AI processing and power efficiency.
  • Major Camera Upgrades: The entire lineup will likely move to a 24-megapixel front camera, while Pro models may debut variable aperture technology and a new three-layer stacked image sensor from Samsung.
  • Base Model Spec Bump: In a major move for mainstream users, the standard iPhone 18 is rumored to receive 12GB of RAM to better handle the growing demands of on-device AI features.
  • Manufacturing Diversification: Trial production for lower-cost models is expected to take place in India as Apple continues to shift its supply chain balance away from a sole reliance on China.
  • Financial Strategy: Spreading launches throughout the year is designed to smooth out Apple's seasonal revenue spikes, creating a more consistent innovation cycle for consumers and investors.
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