New iPhone 18 Pro Specs

Apple’s long-discussed split of its annual iPhone release schedule into a six-monthly cycle will see the traditional September launch date for the high-end models, while a late Q1 spot will be used for the consumer-focused models. September should see the expected iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, but there’s one more to come… the iPhone Fold. Forbes’ David Phelan reports on the phones and the new Apple Silicon :

"The A20 Pro chip from the iPhone 18 Pro will surely be used on the iPhone Fold, though it may have a different number of processors, and early reports suggest two external cameras, not three. But its unique extra, a display that folds out to be roughly the same size and shape as the original iPad mini, will surely attract buyers. It’s certainly much talked-about at this point."

The iPhone Air’s Surprising Return

Last year, Apple diversified the iPhone line-up with the launch of the iPhone Air. It followed the trend of an aggressively thin design, sacrificing some capability for a thinner profile. Like other thin phones that debuted in 2025, sales were weak. Yet Apple could continue with the iPhone Air 2 in that Q1 2027 window alongside the vanilla iPhone 18 and the mid-range iPhone 18e. Joe Rossignol looks at the new launch window for the iPhone:

"If so, Apple will likely announce the trio of devices in March or April next year. It is unclear if there will be a live-streamed event. Given the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 17e were unveiled in the first quarter of 2025 and 2026, respectively, it is no surprise that an iPhone 18e will follow around the first quarter of next year. However, it is notable that a new iPhone Air and the standard iPhone 18 will apparently be introduced at the same time."

iOS 26.4.1 Is An Urgent Bufix For All iPhone Users

Apple has released a quick patch for iOS 26, which should be applied by everyone. The question of what is in this point release isn’t covered by Apple’s release notes, which say little more than This update provides bug fixes for your iPhone.” David Phelan has more details on what Apple has brought, and the quiet impact the changes will have.

"First, and importantly, enterprise customers will now see Stolen Device Protection automatically enabled, Apple revealed in a support document for enterprise. This happened for regular users in iOS 26.4, but comes to enterprise users now. Secondly… Apple’s developer forums have indicated that the new release fixes “a significant bug related to iCloud data syncing."

The MacBook Neo’s Supply Problem

The MacBook Neo comes with 5 GPUs, not the 6 found in the iPhone 16 Pro chipset. The binned A18 Pro chipsets with one failed GPU have found their way to the Neo, and that could be a problem. The popularity of the MacBook Neo means that the stock of these lower-specced A18 Pro chipsets, which is both finite and does not come from a separate production run, is running low. What options does Tim Cook have to source new silicon to meet demand? Tim Culpan lays them out:

"If they do proceed with a fresh order, including asking TSMC for 10,000 to 30,000 wafers of A18 Pro yielding around 2.3 million to 7 million dies,1 then it will most likely need to raise prices of the MacBook Neo. And it would need to turn off the extra GPU core (of top-bin dies) so all Neos are created equal (theoretically, it could sell a 6-core GPU Neo — call it Neo Ultra — but I don’t see that happening).:

Latest Mac Mini And Mac Studio Shipping Delays

Those looking to buy a new Mac Mini or Mac Studio model, especially those with higher specifications, are in for a long wait, with extended delivery times showing on the Apple Store website. The finger is being pointed at the increasing cost and demand for memory and storage across the industry. MacRumors looks at the delays facing the deskbound Macs:

"Mac mini with an M4 Pro chip and 64GB of RAM ordered from Apple's online store in the U.S. today is estimated to ship in 16-18 weeks. Even the $599 base model with an M4 chip and 16GB of RAM has a one-month delay. Likewise, a Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra chip and 256GB of RAM is estimated to ship in 4-5 months, with in-store pickup not available until September."

Apple Bucks Trend To Post Mac growth

The latest numbers from analysts IDC show that, contrary to the trend of PC sales, Apple has outpaced the overall market growth of 2.5 percent. Mostly on the back of the MacBook Pro M5, Tim Cook and his macOS team have posted 9.1 percent growth to reach 6.2 million units sold. 2026 promises the same; the MacBook Neo is going to really push those numbers, but the headwinds of supply shortages will define the entire market in 2026:

“As expected, 2026 will be characterized by market share shifts,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research vice-president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “The strength of every PC vendor’s supply chain and ability to access core components, such as memory, will be tested. IDC believes that demand will be met by PC vendors who have best secured access to memory and with a device portfolio capable of addressing all price tiers of the market.”

And Finally...

Which three products defined Apple’s first fifty years? Choosing them can be both a challenge and an obvious task. Laura Cress makes her picks for the BBC’s coverage of Apple’s anniversary. But what about the three misses? Should the butterfly keyboard be up there alongside the iPod?

"The design for devices such as the MacBook Air saw keyboards fitted with a two-sided hinged keyboard switch, which somewhat resembled butterfly wings. But it divided opinion, with some saying the mechanism made keyboards less easy to type on… By 2019, the company unveiled a new16in MacBook Pro - without the butterfly keyboard."

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.