Detail of an Apple Mac Studio desktop computer. (Photo by Future Publishing via Getty Images)
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Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including iPhone 18 Pro release dates, iPhone 17 sales, iPhone 18’s delayed launch, Mac Studio cutbacks, the next MacBook Neo, why AirPods need cameras, iPhone AI class action settled, and Apple’s Pride 2026 collection.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.
Apple’s traditional September launch of the new iPhone family will look a little different this year, as the company will only show some of the Family Eighteen to the press; a second event is being planned for late Q1 / early Q2 in 2027. Three premium iPhones will be on show, the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and the new foldable iPhone Ultra. As for the exact timings, Forbes contributor David Phelan has more on the potential iPhone dates:
"Apple’s biggest keynote of the year always features the iPhone, and usually the Apple Watch plus, sometimes, another product like AirPods. It always falls in roughly the first half of September, mostly on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Very occasionally, it happens on a Monday. And the keynote never falls on Sept. 11… I’m going to stick my neck out and say the keynote will be on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Counterpoint Research’s look at the top-selling phones for Q1 2026 will make for happy reading in Cupertino. The iPhone 17 takes the top spot, with the 17 Pro Max and 17 Pro rounding out the podium. Tim Hardwick asks why the market is reacting so strongly to the 17?
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"Counterpoint senior analyst Harshit Rastogi credited the iPhone 17's success to upgrades that brought the base model closer to the Pro variants, including higher 256GB base storage, improved cameras, and a faster 120Hz display refresh rate. Not only did the iPhone 17 post double-digit year-over-year growth in China and the U.S., it also tripled its sales in South Korea for the quarter."
The delayed launch of the vanilla iPhone 18 is an interesting wrinkle in Apple's annual marketing and upgrade cycle (which will have a knock-on effect on the Android market). One of the biggest may be on the iPhone 17, as David Phelan points out:
“Apple proactively chose to delay its release, extending the market buzz of the previous generation. This reduces production costs and increases market share” [from Fixed Focus Digital]. I see the logic in this, though it’s worth noting that Counterpoint Research said on May 4, 2026 that the iPhone 17 “was the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2026, capturing 6% of global unit sales,” with iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro in second and third positions."
Apple has dropped the 512 GB and 256 GB memory options for the Mac Studio M3 Ultra, released in March 2025, leaving only a single lower option. The assumption is that Apple is reducing the drain on its stock of memory and storage, allowing them to be diverted to other hardware. Zac Hall looks at the new portfolio:
"This leaves the M3 Ultra Mac Studio with a single memory configuration: 96GB. Get it while supplies last. Apple signaled last week that it expects both the Mac mini and Mac Studio to remain supply constrained for several months. Apple also dropped the base storage Mac mini model last week."
MacRumors looks at the other side of the Mac portfolio. Apple is looking to order more MacBook Neo models, but there are some unique concerns. As well as the constrained memory and storage issues, a new batch of MacBook Neos means opening up the A18 Pro assembly line and using new chips for the MacBook Neo mk 2, rather than binned chips from the iPhone 16 Pro assembly line:
“However, meeting the doubled production target requires a fresh batch of A18 Pro chips from TSMC. The Neo uses the same system-on-chip as the iPhone 16 Pro, and Apple quickly exhausted its existing inventory filling early orders. The original run was made on TSMC's N3E process at least two years ago, and it is believed that TSMC has no spare 3nm capacity to allocate, as AI customers are sucking up much of the available output."
Is the world ready for earbuds to have a camera so the built-in AI-powered digital assistant can understand the world around you? The design team for Apple Intelligence AirPods believes so, and the hardware is in the final stages of development. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on the project goals:
"The project has entered a phase where prototypes feature a near-final design and capabilities, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The earbuds, which rely on cameras to see the space surrounding a user and provide information, are in advanced testing, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work is still under wraps.
"Apple is betting that the new device can capitalize on the success of AirPods while also vaulting it into AI-enhanced hardware — an area where it’s facing competition from OpenAI, Meta Platforms Inc. and others."
Apple has settled a Class Action suit around the advertising of AI capabilities in recent iPhone models and not delivering them in a timely manner - indeed, many of the features at WWDC 2024 for Apple Intelligence are still to have a full public release. David Phelan looks at the process for those looking to make a claim against Apple:
"Right now, hang tight. The settlement approval is scheduled for June 17, 2026 and Apple must provide information about affected customers within five days of the approval. There’s then a 45-day period to let customers know they’re eligible.
"There’s no settlement website right now but there will be and eligible customers have to file a claim — as mentioned above, there’s no automatic payout. Payments will begin around September, it’s thought, and claims must be made within 90 days after customers receive their notice.
Apple has launched its 2026 Pride collection, which includes a new Pride Edition Sports Loop, Apple Watch face, device wallpapers, and more. From the press release:
"Today, Apple introduced a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Loop, watch face, and iPhone and iPad wallpaper to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities around the world during Pride Month and beyond. Apple is proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities."
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.
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