Gorgeous iPhone 15 Pro Max Details, Apple Watch Secret Weapons, Powerful New Mac Leaks

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Taking a look back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes expected big moves at WWDC, a stunning iPhone 16 leak, a surprise iPhone 15 decision, huge headphone display from Apple, the launch of new Macs in June, Apple Watch secret weapon, tablet sales requiring iPad and No Mans Sky for macOS is finally here.

The Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the tons of discussions that have taken place around Apple over the past seven days (and you can read my weekly Android news roundup here on Forbes).

iPhone 16 becomes Supersize for Super Camera

While the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro continue to look less like updates and more like minor revisions to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 16 family is set to make significant changes, with screen sizes expected to increase by nearly ten percent, at 6.7 inches and 6.9 inches. And the reason why? The camera is getting a significant upgrade in terms of its periscope lens and a much larger sensor for the main camera.

That means a 1/1.14-inch primary camera sensor for Apple’s 2024 iPhone Pro, compared to the 1/1.28-inch sensor in both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max. A larger sensor it means the camera can absorb more light, which is crucial for low-light photography and improved dynamic range.

Where does Apple find space for larger sensors? According to several rumors, both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will increase in size, going from 6.1 and 6.7 inches to 6.3 and 6.9 inches respectively, allowing Apple to fit a periscope lens in both models. Something the iPhone 15 Pro will completely lose.”

(Forbes).

TOPSHOT – The new iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are shown during a new product launch event at Apple… [+] Park in Cupertino, California on September 7, 2022. – Apple unveiled several new products including a new iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, three Apple Watches, and new AirPods Pro at the event. (Photo by Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP) (Photo by BRITTANY HOSEA-SMALL/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Universal means USB in iPhone 15 leaks

Apple has finally given in to the inevitable and moved away from its proprietary Lightning connector on the iPhone. This according to the latest dummy models sent to third-party accessory manufacturers. It’s a slight change, but the unmistakable Lightning port has been replaced by USB-C. The question now is whether Apple will reserve software functions for its own USB-C cables:

“The new port is easily mistaken for Lightning, which it replaces, but the giveaway is that it’s significantly wider, and mockups show USB-C coming to all four iPhone 15 models. The iPhone 15 Pro models they should be faster (possibly blocked) data speeds, which could get the company in trouble with the EU.

(Forbes).

The building blocks of WWDC software

Big ticket items for WWDC are worth nothing. We’ll have more on the Apple headset and new Macs in a moment, but the key thing to remember is the D in WWDC, this is a developer conference, so the hardware is geared toward enterprise, media creation, and to app development. Apple’s annual operating system update debuts in June, so iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13 Ventura, and watchOS 9, at a minimum. These are critical pieces in the ecosystem. They may not be sexy to consumers (that’s the role of the 15-inch MacBook Air) but they’re critical to Apple’s next year of products.

Apple headphones resolution

So close to WWDC are a lot of details about Apple’s upcoming product release, and there’s quite a lot to come around Apple’s upcoming headset. The last little nugget is a hint about the internal displays before the eyes of the users. Supply chain analyst Ross Young suggests Apple’s twin 1.41-inch displays will be packed in 4000 pixels per inch.

“Of course, Apple headphones will include two of these panels to create the virtual reality effect. The headphones should also be at the cutting edge of what a consumer headset can offer. For this reason, Apple headphones are widely expected to be a costing around $3000. That compares to the $349 to $999 price tag Meta puts on its Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets.

(9a5Mac).

Bringing two Macs to the desktop?

Apple is also expected to update Mac hardware at WWDC. The rumored 15-inch MacBook Air has been heavily trailed, but there are strong signs that two desktop Macs are on the way, with the M2 Max and a potential M2 Ultra. WWDC mentions are likely, but not guaranteed after all, Apple will want to focus on the headset as much as possible:

“The company is planning two new Mac models labeled internally as Mac 14,13 and Mac 14,14 that run the M2 Max processor announced in January and a yet-to-be-unveiled M2 Ultra chip. That second processor will replace the M1 model Ultra currently featured in Mac Studio, a high-end desktop announced in March 2022.”

(Bloomberg).

The button that sold a billion straps

What is the secret of personalizing the Apple Watch? Clearly, it’s Apple eschewing the established spring-bar lock system that has stood the test of time for its proprietary release system that forces buyers to pick any band they like, as long as Apple hears or authorizes it. Apart from that, the mechanical structures behind the band are intriguing and illustrate Apple’s attention to detail (as well as the lock-in), something to look out for in the next viewer:

“But how does it get that precise click, that almost foolproof click? Hint: They’re not magnets. My colleague Sean Hollister and I spoke to two former Apple engineers who worked on the manufacturing of the original parts. We quickly figured out that it’s a sort of unsung hero of the Apple Watch despite launching a $1 billion ecosystem of accessories and unchanged since its debut eight years ago.”

(The limit).

iPad boosts tablet sales worldwide

Apps While the market for laptops, desktops and tablets has been quite turbulent and trending downwards, a recent survey indicates that Apple’s iPad family (don’t call it tablets) is contributing a significant share of the tablet market, keeping total sales buoyant how is it possible. With a wave of Android tablets expected in 2023, will it continue?

“Recently, Canalys said that Apple more than doubled iPad sales in China in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Now the same research firm reports that iPad sales in the United States in the same period have been significantly better than any other tablet.

“While noting that US desktop and laptop sales fell 28% over the same period, Canalys says tablet sales avoided a steep decline.” The great performance of the Apple iPad.”

(Apple Insiders).

And finally…

You know how you shouldn’t mention your app launching at WWDC before launch? Hello Games has released a trailer for the MacOS version of its popular survival and exploration game No Mans Sky. Mind you, it launched at WWDC 2022, so it’s only a year late and there’s (yet) no mention of a suitable version for an AR/VR headset…

Apple Loop brings you seven days of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last weeks Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loops’ sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.

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