iPhone rumors

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

iPhone 17 Air may be nearly as slim as M4 iPad Pro

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All 2025 iPhone 17 models might have ProMotion, always-on screens
iPhone 17 Air may rival the iPad Pro's slimness.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air might be slimmer than initially rumored. All reports suggested the phone could have a 6mm thin waistline.

However, a reputed Apple analyst believes the iPhone 17 Air will measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point.

iPhone 17 Pro could go all-in with 48MP rear cameras

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iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro could ditch all its 12MP cameras for good.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple might not make meaningful camera hardware improvements to its Pro iPhones this year. The iPhone 17 Pro will supposedly stick to the same 48MP primary shooter as the current flagship iPhone.

The only notable camera improvement on this year’s iPhone would be the switch to a 48MP sensor for the 5x tetraprism shooter.

Apple’s 2025 Apple TV and HomePod to use in-house Wi-Fi chip

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HomePod mini is one of the devices that can be a Thread 1.3.0 border router.
2025 HomePod mini can use Apple's in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple will switch to its in-house “Proxima” WI-Fi and Bluetooth chip on its devices starting next year. The chip will debut on the Apple TV and HomePod mini next year.

By 2026, Apple will bring its in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module to the iPad and Mac.

iPhone 17 Air’s slim design could prioritize thinness over features

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iPhone 17 Air concept image
iPhone 17 Air could be insanely thin.
Image: Apple Hub/X

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air could be even thinner than initially rumored. A new report on Monday details many of the slim iPhone’s features, revealing several design compromises Apple would make for thinness.

This includes ditching the SIM slot and switching to eSIM, even in units sold outside the US.

Apple could double iPhone production in India within two years

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iPhone 14 Pro in India
Trade war between US and China could force Apple to make more iPhones in India.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple could further expand its iPhone manufacturing efforts in India over the next two years. This shift would likely occur if newly-elected US President Donald Trump implements heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.

India is already the second major iPhone production hub for Apple outside China.

iPhone 17 Air could launch with single 48MP rear camera in 2025

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iPhone 17 leaks, specs and price
Will you buy the iPhone 17 Slim if it packs a single 48MP rear camera?
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air for 2025 could use a new A19 chip and a single rear camera. It would seemingly sport an all-new, slimmer design.

Rumors suggest Apple will shake up its iPhone 17 lineup next year, ditching the Plus model in favor of this “Air” model.

iPhone’s car key could soon work with Audi and Volvo vehicles

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Apple tries to jumpstart virtual Car Key feature
Apple wants to make your iPhone into your car key, if it can get automakers to cooperate.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple will purportedly expand the iPhone’s support for digital car keys in the Wallet app to more brands. The new additions will include select Volvo, Polestar, and Audi vehicles.

Currently, the feature only works with BMW, BYD, Hyundai, RAM and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

All iPhone 16 models could score new Capture button plus camera improvements

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A close-up of a person using an iPhone to take a photograph of a plate of food (rice and pork chop).
The iPhone camera just keeps getting better.
Photo: Randy Tarampi/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

A multifunction button specifically to control the Camera app will be included in all four iPhone 16 version, not only the Pro models, according to an unconfirmed report published Thursday.

The same source details a range of improvements to the cameras built into these iOS handsets expected to launch in September.

This theory makes sense of those crazy iPhone 17 Slim rumors

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AI-generated image of
What will the "iPhone 17 Slim" look like?
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Leaks tell us Apple is prepping a super-slim version of next year’s iPhone 17 without all the features of the Pro models but with a price that’ll make it the most expensive in the lineup. These reports left many of us skeptical. Would anyone pay more for a slim-but-stripped-down iPhone?

But let’s change the rumor slightly — what if Apple is prepping a super-slim iOS handset that folds? If the recent leaks are actually about the iPhone 17 Fold, they make a lot more sense.

Bulked-up iPhone SE 4 could add OLED screen for first time

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bigger iPhone SE with OLED display rumored
If the claim is true, iPhone SE 4 would be the first SE with an OLED display, not to mention a bigger size overall.
Photo: Filipe Alves

The upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE might see a pretty big size increase and become the first SE handset to boast an OLED screen, according to the latest rumors. Other rumored upgrades for the budget iPhone include a powerful 48MP camera and more memory so it can run Apple Intelligence features.

Those are some big changes for an entry-level handset folks thought might be on the chopping block not long ago.

Rumor: iPhone 16 Pro to use iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto camera

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The iPhone 15 Pro Max camera array, pictured in front of a green plant.
I just couldn't resist that 5x telephoto zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will seemingly use the same 5x tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This move will benefit the company’s current prisms supplier, Crystal-Optech.

Apple plans to use a larger tetraprism sensor with 48MP resolution on the iPhone 17 Pro lineup in 2025.

Apple’s new tech could make iPhone battery replacement easier

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iOS update does not deliver promised iPhone battery improvement
A new tech from Apple could make iPhone battery replacement easier.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could use electrically induced adhesive debonding to make battery removal easier on future iPhones. The company reportedly might use this technology in at least one iPhone 16 model this year.

The move could help Apple make iPhones more repair-friendly — and help Apple comply with upcoming EU laws.

iPhone 16 Pro’s display could sport seriously small bezels

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In a break, Apple may use
Apple really wants to slim down the bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 16 Pro could sport the world’s slimmest bezels on a smartphone. Its borders will apparently measure just 1.2mm, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max having even slimmer bezels at 1.15mm.

The slimmer bezels should help offset the size increase due to Apple using larger displays on its 2024 iPhones.

Apple leaker floats iPhone 16 and 16 Pro color predictions

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iPhone 15 Pro color options
iPhone 16 Pro might ditch the blue for a rose shade.
Photo: Sophia Stark/Unsplash

Apple could launch the iPhone 16 Pro in a new rose shade, replacing the iPhone 15 Pro’s blue titanium color. The other color options should remain similar, though they might have a different hue. For the iPhone 16 series, Apple might offer a new white shade, while retaining the iPhone 15‘s four other color options.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro color case predictions come from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He thinks Apple might change the marketing names of certain colors this year. And even if it does not, the analyst thinks they “may look different,” he wrote Sunday on X.

Future iPhone might go super slim

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All 2025 iPhone 17 models might have ProMotion, always-on screens
iPhone 17 Slim might be on Apple's drawing board.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly found ways to “significantly” slim down the iPhone. The result will reportedly be part of the iPhone 17 series when it reaches customers next year.

The news comes hot on the heels of the M4 iPad Pro, the “thinnest Apple product ever,” according to the iPhone-maker.

First folding iPhone could launch in 2026

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Concept folding iPhone
A folding iPhone with a very large display might be moving from concept to reality.
Concept: Ran Avni

The first iPhone with a folding screen will go into production in 2026, according to an analyst. This is the second such report in recent months, and could be a sign that Apple is really ready to move ahead with the product.

A MacBook with a 20-inch folding screen reportedly will launch the year before.

Why iPhone 16 might dump physical buttons for capacitive ones

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Closeup of iPhone 15’s new Action button.
No more traditional buttons like these. iPhone 16 could use capacitive ones instead.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The upcoming iPhone 16 series will have no traditional buttons at all, according to information leaking out of the company that will supply the capacitive buttons that will supposedly replace them.

If true, the change would make the iOS devices more durable and waterproof.

Apple could finally fix iPhone’s longstanding camera flare problem

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iPhone 14 Pro's camera module
Could Apple finally solve the flaring issue on iPhone photos and videos?
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple could finally eliminate lens flare, a longtime problem with the iPhone camera, with a new lens coating technology on the iPhone 16 Pro.

It’s common for lens flares to show up in photos or videos taken with an iPhone’s camera, but Apple has made little improvement in this area over generations.

iOS 18 could introduce more customizable iPhone Home Screen

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iOS 18 concept video
iOS 18 could finally let you create a blank Home Screen row.
Concept: Kevin Kall

Apple will allow for greater iPhone Home Screen customization in iOS 18, including the ability to place app icons anywhere on the screen, according to a new report.

iPhone owners also supposedly will gain the flexibility to create blank rows and columns, though the icons will still snap to a grid.

iPhone 17’s display could get a big anti-reflective upgrade

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iPhone 15 in hand
You might be able to ditch the screen protector with the iPhone 17 in 2025.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple could give the iPhone 17’s display a big anti-reflective update. A new rumor says the 2025 iPhone might feature a “super-hard anti-reflective layer,” which is also more scratch-resistant.

Seemingly, Apple will use a new layer of coating on the glass to reduce the reflection and increase scratch resistance.

Alleged iPhone SE 4 renders show an iPhone 14-like design

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iPhone SE in Red
iPhone SE could get a big design and size upgrade
Photo: Filipe Alves

Apple last refreshed the iPhone SE in 2022. While the model is begging for an update, the company apparently plans to launch one only in 2025.

Despite the iPhone SE 4 a year away from launch, its alleged CAD renders have leaked online. They reveal its iPhone 14-inspired design and the addition of a 6.1-inch display with a notch.