16/10 Update below. This post was originally published on May 14
Leakers have already revealed Apple’s controversial iPhone 14 release strategy, and now Apple itself has accidentally exposed its next big hardware upgrades.
In his popular Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that code in Apple’s second iOS 15.5 beta release refers to the company’s next generation of unannounced Macs. And they are coming a lot sooner than you think.
Apple iPhone 14 range based on multiple leaks
EverythingApplePro
16/10 Update: Gurman has now leaked further details of Apple’s upcoming iOS software. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, he reveals that iOS 16 — Apple’s next generation of iOS, which will launch in conjunction with the company’s iPhone 14 range of smartphones — contains “major changes across the system”.
Gurman states that these include an array of “fresh Apple apps” as well as, intriguingly, “new ways of interacting” with the operating system. The first of these is well overdue with a number of Apple’s core iOS apps starting to look long in the tooth. But it is the latter which excites most.
Gurman offers no details, but with Google recently rolling out its ‘Look and Talk’ feature to its Nest Hub smart devices, I wonder if Apple may be working on something similar. Look to Talk uses facial recognition to see when you are looking at the device and eliminating the need for the clunky “Ok/Hey Google” command. Google warns results may be hit and miss, but iPhones (with their vastly superior Face ID recognition) should be far superior at this task and Siri desperately needs a win after falling far behind Google Assistant and Alexa in recent years.
Gurman states that the spoilers within the iOS 15.5 code are because the update will quietly add compatibility for these next-gen Macs to all supported iPhones (6S and newer). Moreover, iOS 15.5 is expected to be released as soon as next week, showing Apple feels there is no time to lose.
So when and what are these mysterious new Macs? The big date to circle in your calendar is June 6, this is the start of Apple’s annual WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference). Here Apple will provide the first glimpse of iOS 16, watchOS 9 and macOS 13 and it is the latter which is expected to be shown off on new MacBooks based on Apple’s eagerly awaited M2 chipset.
Gurman himself has previously broken down the details of the M2 lineup, with new M2-based MacBook Air, entry-level MacBook Pro and Mac Mini models tipped to debut the chip. Further M2 Pro, M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips will follow for a new 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro and Mac Pro later in the year.
MacBook Air M2 renders based on leaks
FrontPageTech / RendersByIan
Given the acclaim Apple received for stunning M1 chip and the global interest in M2, it is understandable that Apple wanted to update iPhone support ahead of time — even if it came at the risk of leaking the release in its own software.
After all, it’s a gamble Apple has taken before and — with the iPhone 14 range under increasing pressure — is very likely to take again.
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