Apple rumors

Get the latest rumors and leaks about upcoming Apple products and behind-the-scenes developments. Cult of Mac staffers carefully evaluate Apple rumors in an attempt to discern what you can believe and what you shouldn’t.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Apple rumors:

iPhone SE 4 might avoid Apple’s screen notch

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iPhone SE 4 camera upgrades
Rumors point to the iPhone SE 4 being surprisingly advanced.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The iPhone SE 4, expected soon, makes the Dynamic Island universal on current Apple handsets, according to a generally reliable tipster. If true, it means the iPhone SE 4 will skip the screen notch previously expected.

It’s already virtually certain that Apple’s upcoming lower-cost model will drop another bit of obsolete tech: the Lightning port. And the Home button is on the way out, too.

iPad Air with quicker M3 chip appears imminent

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Woman working on 13-inch M2 iPad Air
A faster iPad Air with the M3 chip could debut soon.
Photo: Apple

An iPad Air with a speed boost is on the way, according to a report posted Friday by a generally reliable source. The tablet won’t have Apple’s latest processor, though.

And a cheaper alternative, the iPad 11th generation, also could launch soon.

Shocker: iPhone 17 Pro’s camera will be even better [The CultCast]

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AI-generated cartoon image of iPhone 17 Pro with a comically long telephoto lens. The CultCast logo, episode 682.
OK, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.
AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors indicate the iPhone 17 Pro camera will get a major upgrade. Shocker!

Also on The CultCast:

  • Just how thin will the iPhone 17 Air be?
  • Three lesser Apple products should get big upgrades in 2025.
  • The next version of CarPlay might be even more awesome..
  • With the Severance season two premiere imminent, the creative Apple TV+ marketing is off the hook.
  • Erfon and Griffin get jazzed about the recently hyped Nintendo Switch 2.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

How the Apple Watch SE 3 could go carbon negative

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Apple Watch SE 3 rumors
Apple Watch SE 3 might actually be good for the environment.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The plastic used to make the casing for the upcoming Apple Watch SE 3 will be taken from the ocean, making it environmentally friendly, according to a tipster.

The next-gen smartwatch will supposedly be more colorful so it’ll appeal more to an important demographic.

3 overlooked Apple products getting updates in 2025

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Apple TV, AirTag and HomePod in 2025
Apple has mostly neglected three of its products, but that’s reportedly about to change.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iPhone and Mac get all the attention — and the annual upgrades — but you can expect a trio of Apple products that haven’t been improved in years to get some love from Cupertino in 2025.

Fans of some of Apple’s secondary devices rejoice: Rumors point to new versions of Apple TV, AirTag and HomePod in the coming months.

Apple Watch SE 3 revamp reportedly coming in second half of 2025

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Apple Watch SE 3 might sport a kid-friendly design.
Apple Watch SE 3 will only arrive later in 2025.
Concept graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Like Apple’s rumored smart home hub, the refreshed Apple Watch SE might not launch as soon as initially expected. A new report says the Apple Watch SE 3 will debut in the second half of 2025.

Apple supposedly will give its cheapest smartwatch a big redesign this year, launching it with a totally new look.

CES 2025’s best and weirdest new gadgets [The CultCast]

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Image of person wearing Nanoleaf's IR therapy mask, plus the CultCast logo (episode 681).
Nanoleaf's new LED therapy face mask: bargain-basement Iron Man or high-tech luchador?
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: First, Erfon recounts his recent, extremely lengthy trip to the Apple Store to check out the latest MacBook Pros. He put the nano-texture screen to the test — and came back with a surprising verdict. Then, we discuss some of the coolest — and some of the weirdest — new gear shown off at CES this week.

Also on The CultCast:

  • The iPhone SE 4 and iPad 11 won’t arrive as soon as some Apple rumormongers suspected.
  • Dell “borrows” Apple’s iPhone naming convention to simplify to its product lineup … and then blows it!
  • Griffin wraps up with a pro tip that you almost need to see to believe.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

iPhone 18 Pro camera in for a big change? [The CultCast]

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AI-generated image of person taking photo with smartphone, plus The CultCast logo (episode 680).
OK, so the iPhone 18's camera is not gonna look like that. But it might be stunning nevertheless!
Image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors indicate the iPhone 18 Pro will pack a variable aperture camera. Erfon and Griffin break down what that could mean — and why it could bring a significant photographic boost to the device.

Also on The CultCast:

  • We’ve got some picks for what to watch during this weekend’s Apple TV+ free binge-o-rama.
  • From the iPhone 17 Air to AirTags 2 (and maybe AirPods Pro 3), it looks like 2025 might be an exciting year for Apple — we discuss the stuff we’re most psyched about.
  • Apple’s Magic Mouse is due for an upgrade. But will it really come with voice controls?
  • We wrap up the show with our final picks for the best stuff of 2024.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Apple in 2025: 5 things that could wow us

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Cartoon image of happy shopper in front of a wall of new Apple products. Copy overlay says,
These five Apple products could make you go wow this year.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Imagine a Siri capable of opening your preferred email client on your iPhone and sending an important email seamlessly. Picture an Apple-branded smart home hub, elegantly wall-mounted in your kitchen, equipped with Apple Intelligence for instant access to smart home controls and a conversational voice assistant. Envision an iPhone just 6mm thin, standing out for its ultra-sleek, stylish design.

All of this could turn into a reality in 2025, with Apple already working on these devices and services for launch next year.

What to expect from HomePod and HomePod mini in 2025

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Product shot of five HomePod minis with a pink background and the words
Apple's planning a big push into smart homes in 2025, and HomePods will be part of it.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple’s significant expansion of its smart home lineup in 2025 should include new HomePod and HomePod mini models. The company plans to introduce both a display-equipped HomePod and a refreshed HomePod mini amid a renewed focus on the smart home market.

As usual, you can expect Apple to emphasize quality audio as well as airtight security. Here’s what to expect from HomePod and HomePod mini in 2025.

What to expect from Apple Watch in 2025

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Product shot of Apple Watch Ultra 2 with blue background and the words
Apple Watch could have an Ultra-good year in 2025.
Image: Cult of Mac

2025 should be an Ultra year for the Apple Watch. In an unusual move, Apple only launched the Apple Watch Series 10 this year. It kept the Ultra 2 around, only releasing a new black titanium colorway.

But next year won’t be all about Apple’s most expensive smartwatch. For more budget-conscious customers, the third-gen Apple Watch SE should arrive in 2025.

What to expect from iPad, iPad Pro and iPad Air in 2025

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iPads in 2025: Product shot of two iPads with yellow tint to illustrate story about iPad 11th generation and other upcoming new models.
The 11th-generation iPad is just a few months away. And new iPad Pro and iPad Air models are on the way, too.
Photo: Cult of Mac

2025 will finally bring the much-anticipated 11th-generation iPad, a version of the budget tablet with a faster processor capable of accessing the latest Apple Intelligence features.

In addition, expect faster iPad Pro and iPad Air models in 2025 — one sooner than might be expected.

iPhone 2025: One of Apple’s biggest design shakeups ever

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New iPhones in 2025
There’s a lot being cooked up for the iPhone next year.

The 2025 iPhone lineup is going to see one of the biggest design shakeups in the product’s history. Not only will there be an entirely new model — the super-slim iPhone 17 Air — the Pro phones are getting the first all-new design in years, with a radical new camera array that’s sure to polarize opinion. Plus, the entry-level models and the iPhone SE are getting lots of worthy trickle-down upgrades.

It’s going to be a very exciting year. Here’s what 2025 has in store for the iPhone.

What to expect from AirPods in 2025

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Product photo of AirPods with text
Big upgrades could be in store for Apple's AirPods lineup in 2025.
Image: Cult of Mac

AirPods Pro 3 keep generating buzz as we approach the launch of Apple’s next-generation premium wireless earbuds. Here’s what to expect from AirPods Pro 3, which probably will arrive in early 2025.

While the current AirPods Pro 2 model dominates the market two years after launch, rumors say its successor will bring substantial improvements and new features. Unfortunately, you probably shouldn’t expect changes to the recently updated AirPods 4 and AirPods Max in 2025. We could see updated earbuds or headphones from Apple subsidiary Beats, though.

Today in Apple history: Apple’s new tablet is called … iSlate?

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Today in Apple history: December 24, 2009: Pre-iPad rumors indicate Apple will call its tablet the
Pre-iPad rumors indicate Apple will call its tablet the "iSlate."
Illustration: Apple/Cult of Mac

December 24: Today in Apple history: Apple's new tablet is called ... iSlate? December 24, 2009: As rumors of a possible Apple tablet reach the boiling point, word spreads online that the new device will be called the iSlate.

The news is based on the fact that Apple quietly acquired the domain name iSlate.com a few years earlier. Since Apple did the same thing for the iPhone back in the late 1990s, years before the iPhone actually debuted, it makes total sense that the company would follow suit with the naming of its tablet.

Of course, that didn’t end up happening.

2026 iPhone 18 Pro may feature a game-changing variable aperture camera

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iPhone 15 Pro Max with no case, held aloft defiantly
The iPhone 18 Pro may introduce a groundbreaking feature inspired by professional-grade cameras.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple could adopt a variable aperture system for the iPhone 18 Pro’s main camera that would enable the device to adjust the aperture size and light intake depending on surroundings.

DLSRs typically use a variable aperture lens system. Samsung and some Chinese Android manufacturers have also used the technology on their phones, albeit on a limited scale.

Apple M5 processor might put in an early appearance

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M5, M5 Pro, M5 Max
Expect the M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max processors in 2025.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

It’s a safe bet that the Apple M5 processor will start replacing the current M4 in 2025, and it might even happen in the first half of the year.

That’s according to a roadmap of when the various versions of the chip will go into production leaked Monday by a reliable source of insider Apple information.

Apple’s next big smart home move could bring Face ID to your doorbell

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Apple security lock logo
A smart home doorbell from Apple with Face ID could become a reality.
Photo: Apple

Apple is reportedly working on a smart doorbell with Face ID-like facial recognition.

The device, still in its early development stages, seems unlikely to reach the market before late 2025 at the earliest. This timeline presumes Apple encounters no significant obstacles during development.

iOS 19 might not cut off any older iPhones

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iOS 19 render logo
iOS 19 will supposedly work with iPhones launched in 2018.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple might not drop support for any of its older iPhones with iOS 19. The next big iOS update reportedly will support the same devices as iOS 18.

However, iPadOS 19 supposedly will not be compatible with the seventh-gen iPad.

Is this really what iPhone 17 Pro will look like? [The CultCast]

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The CultCast episode 678, with iPhone 17 Pro renders based on latest Apple rumors
Is this the iPhone you want?
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Some new iPhone 17 Pro renders make us ponder whether Apple will (or should) create such a device. We discuss the pros, cons and alternative theories.

Also on The CultCast:

  • An update on when we might see the very first folding iPhone.
  • A ridiculous Apple Intelligence screwup lands Apple in hot water.
  • We wrap up with round two of our picks for best and worst of 2024.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Today in Apple history: Apple crushes Think Secret rumors site

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Photo of an iMac with the words
Cupertino's battle with a rumor site splits Apple fans.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

December 19: Today in Apple history: Apple crushes Think Secret Apple rumors site run by Nick Ciarelli, aka Nick de Plume December 19, 2007: Apple settles a lawsuit with reporter Nick Ciarelli, resulting in the shuttering of Think Secret, his masssively popular Apple rumors website. Writing under the screen name Nick de Plume, the Harvard University student broke a number of Apple stories on the site, raising Cupertino’s ire.

The terms of Ciarelli’s settlement with Apple remain secret. In a statement, he says he will “be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”