Taking a look back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes a potential iPhone 15 delay, a new iPhone 15 Pro battery, stunning iPhone camera zoom, Apple’s massive iMac plan, why Apple Maps needs work, App Store appeal process continues, and this year’s most expensive iPhone.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days (and you can read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes).
iPhone 15 Faces Curious Delay
Will Apple’s iPhone 15 face a delay? It may not feel like it to consumers, but those watching Apple’s quarterly results should be aware.
The suggestion of a delayed launch into October comes from BoA analyst Wamsi Mohan. It’s worth noting that Apple’s September events generally don’t see hardware go on sale until much later in September, so a week’s delay would fit this suggestion; although Mohan points out this would remove a lot of unit sales from Apple’s Q3 figures:
“Mohan shared his prediction in a research note obtained by Barrons after conducting channel checks in Apple’s supply chain. Mohan said the launch looked like it could slip into the fourth quarter, which runs through October to December, and he was concerned that guidance for the third quarter could disappoint Wall Street analysts as a result of the possible delay.”
(MacRumors).
Apple’s New iPhone Battery
Given indications that Samsung will bring “stacked battery technology” to the next Galaxy S handsets, it should be no surprise that Apple is looking at the same principle for the iPhone 15 family. Stacked batteries offer higher capacities, faster charging, and longer overall life in the battery; all features that smartphone developers welcome:
“…it seems the iPhone 15 will benefit from one major technological change. Prolific Android leaker “@RgcloudS” posted a tweet about stacked battery development in Samsung devices, but also passes comment on Apple. While Samsung’s “on track” to introduce a stacked battery for smartphones, the leaker writes “Apple used it on entire iP15 lineup,” referencing the iPhone 15.
(Apple Insider).
Zoom In On The iPhone 16
Apple’s move to use a periscope-styled lens system in the iPhone Pro cameras looks set to offer a massive upgrade for the iPhone 16, with a “super/ultra” branded telephoto lens with a focal length over 300mm being developed. This should offer more optical magnification to be offered, an option many will feel is worth waiting for:
“The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models’ telephoto camera has a focal length of equivalent to 77mm, so a focal length in excess of 300mm on the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be a very large increase.”
(MacRumors).
Apple’s iMac Plans Teased
Apple is preparing to bring a larger iMac to desktops, although this may not happen until 2024. That date suggests it will debut with the next-generation M3 silicon, offering more power than the current models… alongside a massive 32-inch display. Much like the wait for the 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple is taking its time to deliver what its supporters want:
“Apple discontinued the Intel-based 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro over the past few years, and has yet to launch a larger-screen iMac with an Apple silicon chip as a replacement. Instead, Apple offers the 27-inch Studio Display, which can be connected to the Mac Studio or another Mac with Apple silicon, but this is not an all-in-one solution like the iMac. For now, the 24-inch iMac is the only all-in-one computer sold by Apple.”
(MacRumors).
Apple Map Still Needs Work
It stands out as one of the poorest apps Apple launched, but since the embarrassment of the 2012 presentation, Maps has been developed and improved. More than ten years later, the majority of iPhones still have Google Maps installed, although this is not discouraging Apple’s mapping efforts:
“In early 2020, Apple completed a complete overhaul of its maps in the United States, featuring significantly greater detail including updated building massing, parks, sports field, pools, and more. A new Look Around feature in select cities is similar to Google’s Street View, and the updated maps have been rolling out to more countries in the time since. In iOS 17, coming in the fall, users will be able to download maps for offline use in Apple Maps – something Google Maps users have been able to do now for quite some time.”
(The Wall Street Journal, via MacRumors).
App Store Payment Appeal Is Stayed
This week, the legal process around Apple’s “anti-steering rules” which prevents app developers from pointing users to alternative payment paths outside of Apple’s App Store has taken another step. The Appeal Court’s ruling that allowed developers to point to third-party services has been stayed as Apple waits to see if the US Supreme Court will hear the case
“A district court found that Apple had not generally violated antitrust law with its “walled garden” approach to iOS, but it ordered it to drop rules against letting developers include “calls to action” for outside payment methods. Once that petition is filed, it remains stayed until the Supreme Court decides to hear it and, if it does, until the Supreme Court weighs in.”
(The Verge).
And Finally…
Would you pay $190,000 for an iPhone? What if it was from 2007? Someone did just that this week, with an original 4GB iPhone sold at auction by LCG:
“LCG described the phone as a “holy grail” among iPhone collectors due to its extreme scarcity. It is uncommon to find a first-generation iPhone with no damage to its display or broken buttons. The auction website notes that the consignor was part of the original engineering team at Apple when the iPhone first launched.”
(The Guardian).
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
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