iPhone 17 Pro devices might get their own dedicated Pro Camera app and new Camera Control button?

Joe Rossignol via MacRumors who got an anonymous tip from a film company:

The tipster claimed to be familiar with an iPhone 17 Pro commercial that is allegedly being produced by a film company that has publicly listed Apple as one of its clients. MacRumors has not independently confirmed any of the information shared by the tipster, so skepticism is obviously warranted for now.

The tipster revealed three alleged iPhone 17 Pro features that have not been rumored previously:

• An upgraded Telephoto lens with up to 8× optical zoom, compared to up to 5× optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro models. The lens can apparently move, allowing for continuous optical zoom at various focal lengths.

• An all-new pro camera app from Apple for both photos and videos. This app would compete with the likes of Halide, Kino, and Filmic Pro. It is unclear if the app would be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro models.

• An additional Camera Control button on the top edge of the devices, for quickly accessing the camera and related settings. This would complement the Camera Control button on the bottom-right edge of all iPhone 16 models.

For the pro camera app, the tipster warned there is a chance Apple is planning a major update to its existing Final Cut Camera app instead of an all-new app.

The film company’s name was removed per their request, but I did see it earlier (and of course I can’t remember their name). Apple does give professionals a preview of their new iPhones to showcase camera features in their keynotes and videos, so I would think this information is pretty solid.

What surprises me the most is another Camera Control button. I hope this got mistranslated and what actually happens is the current Camera Control button juts out more and mimics the pill-shaped Touch ID button found on the iPad.

The Final Cut Camera app allows you to truly select which lens you want for recording, but we need the same option for photos. I want to take detailed telephoto shots in darker environments without the iPhone selecting the standard 1x lens and digitally destroying my image, like this example here (zoom into the window screen).

Someone I know finally upgraded from their iPhone 5S, to this...

I had a family member do some sleuthing for me when they were away on vacation. There is this legendary guy who is completely antithetical to me (from a tech perspective at least), and he’s been carrying an iPhone 5S for as long as I can remember.

He couldn’t care less about technology, but begrudgingly uses it because he has to. He was rocking a gold iPhone 5S, and yes, it was a 5S because it had the shiny chamfered edges and not the matte ones. Matte chamfered edges were only on the iPhone SE 1st generation.

If you know, you know.

I wanted some photos of that device just out of curiosity to see its condition over the years, but he upgraded (gasp)!

iPhone 5S, a device that came out in September 2013, almost 12 years ago, has finally been retired for a new generation of iPhone, and as Tim Cook said, “I am thrilled to show you the newest iPhones…”

And here it is…

wait for it…

iPhone…

6S Plus!

Talk about a historical upgrade, with one of the biggest performance upgrades (not being sarcastic):

1. Last flagship iPhone with a headphone jack.

2. First iPhone in Rose Gold.

3. Last iPhone with a Home Button that was actually a button.

4. The introduction of 3D Touch, a truly under appreciated feature.

5. New aluminum alloy ended the bendgate controversy.

6. Huge performance upgrade - the first iPhone with a whopping 2GB of RAM, a 100% increase from the previous generation!

Let’s see how long the iPhone 6S can keep chugging. With 2GB of RAM, there are still many years left, but it really comes down to Battery Health limiting performance.

How to properly backup your iPhone before installing iOS 26.

Before you install iOS 26 on your iPhone, follow this procedure to backup your device:

1. Update all your apps to the latest version in the App Store.

2. Force quit all your apps in the app switcher.

3. Restart your iPhone to remove any software gremlins running in the background.

4. On bootup, backup your iPhone to iCloud.

5. Install the most current version of iOS 18 on your device. This is in case iOS 26 becomes a problem for you and you need to revert back to iOS 18.

6. Once the latest version of iOS 18 is installed on your device, repeat steps 1 thru 4, and then finally install the iOS 26 public beta.

There is no 100% failsafe solution, but this method has always worked for me and gave me a reliable backup to go back to, even though I never needed it.

iOS 26 alarm for people who actually want to wake up.

Couldn’t have made it better myself. The current version is not foolproof.

Source: Soren Iverson

The Apple logo on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro might go lower.

Majin Bu:

Apple is planning a significant change in the design of its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, repositioning the Apple logo. Currently located slightly off-center and below the camera module since the iPhone X, the Apple logo will be moved lower, toward the center bottom of the phone. This recent discovery, reported by direct sources among case manufacturers, marks an evolution in Apple’s aesthetic language. An company we collaborate with, specialized in producing cases for the iPhone 17 Pro line, has confirmed they are already working to start production of cases with the updated design. Let’s explore the details of this recent finding, the reasons behind this choice, and the solutions the industry is developing. […]

This move toward the center bottom could alter the traditional symmetry of Apple devices, paving the way for further innovations. Specifically, the MagSafe system, essential for magnetic charging and accessory attachment, requires precise alignment with the back of the device.

Of course this is speculation, but it begs the question if Apple is revamping MagSafe to make it more versatile as I mentioned in a previous post:

The charging coil diameter will probably not change since it is part of the Qi2 standard, but more magnets can be added in the bottom two-thirds of the iPhone to give accessories more stability, using the 6.3 inch iPhone as the new lower limit.

This can lead to a whole slew of new accessories, such as iPad-like folio cases, ultra-sturdy car mounts, and thinner battery packs.

Lowering the MagSafe ring would throw off its overall symmetry, but maybe Apple will compensate with corner magnets top and bottom.

The vivo X Fold5 - tell me you want an iPhone, without telling me you want an iPhone.

Hadlee Simmons from Android Authority about the vivo X Fold5:

For starters, the company says it’s the first Android phone that can connect to the Apple Watch, supporting phone calls, texts, notification mirroring, synchronization of health/fitness data, and more. However, there are a couple of caveats to this integration. Your Apple Watch needs to be paired with an iPhone first. Furthermore, vivo says this functionality will come via a system update.

Let’s look at the fine print translation at the bottom of Vivo’s main landing page referring to the Apple Watch:

The relevant functions may change due to third-party services. vivo will update the description on the function publicity page according to the actual situation. Please refer to the actual use.

Looks like vivo is taking one out of Apple’s own playbook, but at least they’re letting you know in advance they might change the information on the product page website “according to the actual situation,” because these features might not work as intended and won’t ship out of the box.

Sound familiar?

Once again, don’t buy a device with the promise of new features that are not already baked into the device.

Let’s continue.

Seamless AirPods compatibility with - shoddy translation - “full-link native experience?” Let’s read the fine print once again:

All native function experiences of AirPods pairing with iPhone are not supported for the time being. Please refer to actual use.

I wouldn’t bet on getting all the advanced AirPods functions such as Adaptive Audio and Hearing Aid functionality.

Of course, there’s also “full-compatibility” with the iPhone, with chatGPT translating this quote from this image with two alternate translations:

"Perfectly in sync with Apple, Seamlessly across ecosystems."

"Works flawlessly with Apple, Smooth across ecosystems."

"In perfect harmony with Apple, Effortless cross-ecosystem experience."

In order for your iPhone to work properly, you must do the following “effortless” work (from the same landing page):

It means that the phone on the iPhone can be answered on vivo X Fold5, and the information and notifications on the iPhone can be transferred to vivo X Fold5 for viewing. The conditions of use are as follows:

(1) Download the "vivo mutual transmission" application on the iPhone (iOS system needs to be version 15.0 or above; "vivo mutual transmission" on the iOS terminal needs to be version 5.2.30 or above);

(2) vivo X Fold5 You need to log in to the same vivo account as the iPhone, and there are no other devices at both ends;

(3) The dual-end Bluetooth needs to be paired, and the distance requirement is within 10 meters;

(4) The notification flow needs to turn on the three-party application notification permission and the notification flow switch. iOS needs to turn off the [Filter Unknown Contacts] switch to experience the flow of verification codes.

The interface UI is for reference only, please refer to the actual use. This function needs to be implemented with third-party services. The relevant functions may change due to third-party services. vivo will update the description on the function publicity page according to the actual situation. Please refer to the actual use.

I think I now how to solve all these compatibility issues and how to avoid all these hoops and hurdles:

Get an iPhone.

Cure your smartphone addiction with the methaphone.

Arielle Pardes from WIRED (also News+ link):

Eric Antonow was in a coffee shop with his family when he felt the familiar, twitchy urge to reach for his phone. He patted his pockets for relief—the cool, thin slab was still there. He joked to his family that, like an addict jonesing for a hit, he would one day need a medical-grade solution to detox from his phone. Opioid addicts had methadone. iPhone addicts would need … methaphones.

“It was a joke, but I got two laughs from my two teenagers, which is gold,” Antonow says. “I was like, ‘I’m going to commit to the bit.’”

Here’s a description from the product page at Mindless Toys:

For 60 years, heroin addicts have used methadone to help break their addiction. Now you can step down your dependency on your mobile device with this: methaphone.

Leave your phone without the cravings or withdrawal

We carry our phones everywhere. It feels strange and unsettling when we can't feel them. We twitch, worried we've lost something.

methaphone can help you manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It can fill that hole in your back pocket. It can fill that hole in your hand. Opioid addicts have used methadone to help step down from dependency, and now you have this. 

The product does look impressive.

Liquid Glass to the next level.

Although the website is obviously a gag like rentahitman.com, I would say the analogy is more like:

smartphone is to methaphone as an antidepressant is to placebo.

The best water bottle for iPhone users.

Great landing page for the REEVUS Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle. Everything here makes sense and shows its capabilities well. I’ve been using this bottle for over two months now, and I have some points I would like to add for anyone who wants the perfect water bottle:

It really is very minimal with a cap, a bottle, and a Find My tracker. That’s it. Cleaning is simple and the wide mouth swallows even the biggest ice cubes with ease.

The diameter of the bottle is the same as the width of an iPhone 16 Pro Max. It is as tall as a 16 Pro Max and a pair of AirPods Pro vertically stacked on top of each other.

You see, the iPhone also has a measuring tool!

For car cup holders, it should fit most modern vehicles, but your mileage may vary. If your Pro Max device of choice fits your cupholder vertically, so should this bottle.

The landing page shows the phone on the MagSafe lid as a place for both creating and watching content, but it is also usable with the lid detached. This makes more sense since there’s nothing worse than having messy hands while watching content, only to realize you have to remove your phone, and open the lid to get a drink. Just remove the lid before eating, and now you can get your dose of YouTube (and your drink of choice) uninterrupted. The lid is on its side when watching content this way, so it won’t get dirty and contaminate your drink.

Watch content while keeping your lid clean.

The REEVUS tracker doesn’t have a replaceable battery, but it lasts 300 weeks (almost 6 years).

The MagSafe handle also works well for keeping your MagSafe compatible AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 in a safe spot.

Comes with a spare magnetic ring that you can apply to your device or case, with neat little diagrams showing you exactly where to place the magnet depending on what phone you have.

The circular handle is just as sturdy as it was on day one which is assuring for long term durability.

Putting the tracker on and off the lid is my new fidget toy.

It’s taken some serious falls onto concrete but it only gives it more character and fits into that “journey” lifestyle.

Sure, it’s $90, but it is well worth it, especially since Journey is (seemingly) always running some sort of promo to give you 15-20% off. A much greater quality experience with useful features compared to those overhyped Stanleys.

If I were to buy this again, I would get the black bottle with the white and yellow cap. Just fun contrast with a hint of sunny side up eggs.

Can a clear case stain your iPhone?

I thought was just some dust or some sort of residue, but no matter what I tried to do, the stains wouldn’t come off. Even the case branding was faintly embossed onto the iPhone.

The evidence speaks for itself.

You can see the Spigen branding transferred over to the blue anodized aluminum on the iPhone 13 mini…

along with “Air cushion technology.”

Every side of the device has stains that are a direct result of the clear case being on the device for 3 years and 9 months. How do I know the case was on the device for 3 years and 9 months? The seller told me he had this case on since he bought the device brand new, and after looking up the serial number, it was purchased in September 2021.

I believe him.

Over time, the oxidation, UVA light, and heat got to the case giving it a yellow fade, and also transferring some of that tinge via a chemical reaction to the iPhone itself.

Maybe Apple can put these photos in a future version of “Designed by Apple in California,” and my phone could compete with Evans Hankey’s iPhone.

Although this particular case is less than 4 years old, the actual case was probably released alongside the iPhone 12 mini, making the chemical recipe of this case 5 years old. Case makers have gotten better since then, making clear cases that are less prone to turning yellow. Apple’s clear cases also change color after many years, but they haven’t left any stains on my phone nor my wife’s phone. My wife had a 12 Pro Max with an Apple clear case for almost four years, and no stains. Granted, her phone was made of stainless steel instead of aluminum. She does have a clear case on her aluminum iPhone 16 Plus, so we’ll see what happens after a few years.

You can clearly see (pun intended) the exposed parts of the phone were spared from staining.

Could this issue have been avoided with some good-old phone hygiene by taking the phone out of the case and cleaning it once a week? Even once a month? I would say yes. The fact is sweat and hand oils do get inside cases, and prolonged contact with heat and UV light will discolor it.

The irony of the situation is hilarious, since the phone was supposed to be protected by the case, and instead got permanently stained by it.

How I am preparing to test iOS 26 next week.

iOS 26 will be the biggest makeover since iOS 7, and if you remember those days, the first developer betas were brutal if you used them on your primary device. Our phones have become more and more a 3rd arm that we must have, and it isn’t wise to put any developer beta on your primary device.

At least the first few.

For that reason, I have obtained an iPhone 13 mini as my testing device, which I picked for several reasons:

1. I wanted to see how well optimized iOS 26 will be on Apple’s smallest screen.

2. I had an iPhone 12 mini in the past, and this will be a nice flashback to a more comfortable form factor.

3. The iPhone 13 mini supports FaceID in landscape among other improvements and is only a few bucks more expensive than an iPhone 12 mini.

4. I still use a physical SIM card, so I needed an iPhone with a physical SIM in case I decide to change primary devices. I flew to Canada to buy a 16 Pro Max last year to get the SIM slot version, so I can easily swap if needed. This way I have an easy out and won’t be stranded without cellular function no matter how unstable my phone is. There’s nothing worse than unstable beta software and trying to port your eSIM out to another phone.

Just a few more days to go!

How Apple can raise iPhone prices and please consumers and investors at the same time.

Rolfe Winkler and Jang Lie from WSJ (News+ link via DaringFireball):

Apple is weighing price increases for its fall iPhone lineup, a step it is seeking to couple with new features and design changes, according to people familiar with the matter.

The company is determined to avoid any scenario in which it appears to attribute price increases to U.S. tariffs on goods from China, where most Apple devices are assembled, the people said. […]

The people familiar with the supply chain said Apple would have trouble making up for China tariff costs solely by seeking further savings from its suppliers, meaning that a hit to its profit margin was likely unless it could raise prices. […]

These circumstances have led Apple to look at what supply-chain insiders described as the least-bad choice: raising prices on the new iPhones to preserve profit and finding reasons other than tariffs to explain the move. It couldn’t be determined what new features Apple may offer to help justify price increases.

New features alone won’t be enough to justify a higher price. Apple has been improving the iPhone each year and hasn’t raised the $999 ceiling ever since the debut of the iPhone X in 2017. If they add new features and raise the price, it will signal tariffs to most people.

There is one move though, that could please investors, consumers, and even Apple’s marketing team to lower the tariff burden.

What if Apple just bumped the base storage of newer iPhones to 256GB at the same $100 cost? Technically they would be raising prices by eliminating the base storage, but at least you’re getting 256GB in return. The average consumer would also be accepting of this price increase because it is tariff season after all, and everything is supposed to go up in price. Heck, it might even feel like a deal since everyone else is giving you the same product at a higher cost. At least Apple is kind enough to “give you” an extra 128GB of storage.

Paying an extra $100 for something that costs Apple probably a few bucks extra is also going to put a smile on investors’ faces since those memory chips are pennies on the dollar for Apple, helping Apple keep a higher profit margin per iPhone sold. This increased pricing also has some cascading effects on older iPhones which I talk about below, that further quenches Wall Street’s thirst for growth. Remember, these increases will be worldwide, so the effect will be compounded.

The marketing team could easily help with Apple’s keynote, where the presenters (Kaiann and Joz) could market the new pricing, “which also matches last year’s price with this level of storage.”

Here’s how the pricing would look for the 256GB models:

1. iPhone 17 Pro Max - $1,199

2. iPhone 17 Pro - $1,099

3. iPhone 17 Air - $999

4. iPhone 17 - $899

Phones that still start at 128GB:

1. iPhone 16 - $799

2. iPhone 16e - $599

A few notes to consider:

1. The 15 and 16 Pro Max already start at $1,199 with 256GB of storage, so Apple would leave the 17 Pro Max unchanged.

2. The 256GB iPhone 17 Air at $999 is equal to the 256GB 16 Plus in price, so the pricing strategy still works since the 17 Air is the replacement for the Plus model.

3. The iPhone 17’s new base price of $899 allows the iPhone 16 to keep its $799 price for another year, similar to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and not take a $100 discount, keeping it at a higher margin. Dropping the iPhone 16 to $699 will also cannibalize the 16e market.

LiDAR lasers on newer cars can destroy your iPhone camera lens.

Ryan King from Jalopnik via The Verge:

Reddit user u/Jeguetelli posted worrying footage of a brand new Volvo EX90 from his iPhone 16 Pro Max. Nothing was wrong with the crossover SUV. That was the problem. The lidar sensor mounted in a pod above the windshield shot out a laser barrage of near-infrared light into the camera. The damage was immediate and obvious, leaving behind a red, pink and purple constellation of fried pixels. You can tell the permanent damage was to that specific lens because the image returned to normal after zooming out to a different lens. Jeguetelli didn't seem too concerned about the incident because he had Apple Care.

You don’t even have to be directly in front of the LiDAR unit in order to get permanent damage as you can see from the video, so just don’t risk it regardless of whether or not you have AppleCare+. This would technically fall under “Other Accidental Damage,” which is a $99 fee with AppleCare+, and $249 without AppleCare+.

Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16 Pro Max - brief hands-on.

Went to my local Best Buy and I was surprised to see the Galaxy S25 Edge on display. Naturally, I had to pull out my iPhone 16 Pro Max and compare the two. I think the bigger surprise isn’t really the thinness, but the lightness. You notice the lightness right away, and I think that’s the goal for both Samsung and Apple.

They’re not going for thinness, but for lightness.

Thinness just happens to be the by-product.

The screen bezels were about the same as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and I hope the iPhone 17 Air bezels are just as small. The S25 Edge’s screen is slightly smaller at 6.7 inches vs 6.9 inches, and the S25 Edge is slightly narrower, making it even more comfortable to hold when you consider its 5.8mm thinness.

The baseline for finding that perfect balance between weight, size, and functionality is once again being challenged, instead of the old, “Go big or go home” mentality. To get 90% of the iPhone Pro Max experience with roughly a 33% weight reduction might be a fair trade-off for many people.

I think I’m sold.

September can’t come soon enough.

S25 Edge (left), iPhone 16 Pro Max (right)

S25 Edge (left), iPhone 16 Pro Max (right)

S25 Edge (left), iPhone 16 Pro Max (right)

I don’t think the SIM tray is going away on the iPhone 17 Air.

China is a huge market for Apple that still heavily relies on physical SIM cards. Today, all iPhones sold in China, Hong Kong, or Macao have a physical SIM slot that holds two nano-SIM cards.

Yes, two.

It’s a clever system where a nano-SIM card fits on each side of the nano-SIM tray, using up less physical space and making a nano-SIM card sandwich. To go from holding two SIM cards to zero would kill the iPhone 17 Air’s ability to be sold in a market that is already facing stiff competition against local competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi.

Two nano-SIM cards in half the space.

Source: Apple

It wouldn’t surprise me if Apple decides to engineer two distinct versions of the iPhone 17 Air, an eSIM only version and a SIM tray version. These won’t be like past models where Apple just shoves a plastic box in the US iPhones to fill up the SIM card space, but truly shuffling the components around in order to maximize the use of the internal space, and giving the eSIM version a bigger battery.

Apple has made distinct versions of iPhones in the past with the iPhone 4, where there were GSM and CDMA variants that had enough internal and external differences. Let’s not forget the iPhone 12 either that had a window for the mmWave 5G antenna for the US models.

Apple has slowly removed components from the iPhone to advance technology, but they are at a crossroads with the SIM tray. Either get rid of it and risk losing a lot of sales and marketshare in China, or keep it and just bite down hard and make two versions.

Internal space is always the enemy, and with the goal of making the most ambitious iPhone since the iPhone X, it becomes a nemesis.

I thought TDK only made VHS tapes, but they’re making batteries for the iPhone 17 Air?

Tim Hardwick from MacRumors:

The upcoming all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air could become the first Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese supplier TDK preparing to ship its new generation of silicon-anode batteries by the end of June.

According to DigiTimes, TDK CEO Noboru Saito revealed in a recent interview that the Apple supplier has accelerated its production timeline, moving shipments forward from the originally planned September quarter. That may give smartphone makers enough time to use the cells in thinner models launching this year, he suggested.

"We've made good progress, and we're shipping them very soon," Saito said, adding that "some handset makers might be able to use the new battery in their product one generation early."

The timing could be soon enough for Apple's expected September launch of the iPhone 17 Air, which is rumored to measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

TDK's batteries use silicon for anodes instead of the traditional graphite, allowing them to pack 15% more energy into the same space compared to conventional rechargeable battery packs. This advancement could be key to maintaining adequate battery life in such a slim form factor.

Most of TDK’s products are boring industrial products normal people don’t see, but there was a time when they made VHS tapes, the equivalent to today’s memory cards. Still boring technology, and still the same logo.

I didn’t know they still existed until I read this article, but it’s glad to hear a company from my childhood still thriving today.

Quickly disabling biometrics on Android is literally several steps behind iOS.

Imagine if your car required you to slam on the brakes as hard as you can and tap an “anti-lock brakes” button on your infotainment screen in order to activate the anti-lock brakes.

That’s essentially what Android phones require you to do in order to quickly disable biometrics. It is not an intuitive, one-step process on Android like it is on the iPhone.

First, you have to enable Lockdown Mode in Settings by either searching for “Lockdown Mode,” or going through a menu tree depending which Android phone you have.

That is assuming of course, your Android phone even supports it.

Seems like Samsung requires you to enable Lockdown Mode first through this menu tree, but it’s a one-time operation so I’ll let that pass. Once you have done that, you can hold the power button until you get to the power menu screen, and then tap the Lockdown button.

On Pixel phones, if your power button isn’t tied to Google Assistant, you can press and hold the power button to get into the power menu, and then select Lockdown. If your power button activates Google Assistant like an iPhone’s power button activates Siri, then you have to press and hold volume up and the power button and then you enter the power menu and have to select Lockdown.

You don’t get a one-step method like iOS, where a simple press and hold of the Power Button on one side of the device, and any or both volume buttons on the other side of the device (essentially squeezing the phone) automatically disables all biometrics. Just press and hold for a full 2 seconds, and that’s it.

No touchscreen input required.

If you have Haptics turned on, you also get a vibration to confirm your button inputs were successful. Personally, it’s best to enable Haptics to give you more reassurance.

Haptics or not, the point is you don’t have to look at your iPhone’s screen and confirm anything with a touch, which in my opinion defeats the purpose of quickly securing your device. That I won’t let pass.

You also don’t have to think about which volume button to press on an iPhone, since either one (or both together) will work. Just squeeze the damn iPhone and you’re good.

Odds are if you are in a situation where you have to do this, you’re already distraught to some extent, and might not have the time to even touch your screen if someone grabs the phone out of your hands fast enough.

Once again, assuming you even enabled Lockdown Mode.

iPhone 17 Air will be released with a battery case, but there is a better alternative.

Charles Martin from AppleInsider:

Apple will be bringing back a battery-case accessory for its planned iPhone 17 Air to help give the super-slim model all-day battery life.

While the novelty of a super-thin, super-light iPhone is intended to encourage upgrades from older models, the slim design necessitates a smaller battery, and so reduced battery time.

Apple intends to offset this disadvantage by offering an iPhone 17 Air (or iPhone 17 Slim) case that adds its own battery pack, according to a new report from The Information. Adding a thicker battery case would of course undo some of the benefit of a slimmer iPhone, but it's an option that will restore longer battery life.

Battery cases are not new — Apple itself released one for the iPhone 6 and 6s back in 2015. Apple ceased selling a battery case once it released the MagSafe Battery Pack in 2021.

A criticism of both the battery case and its MagSafe successor was that it added bulk to the iPhone. The reported new battery case for the slim model would inevitably do the same, but reportedly Apple believes it's necessary.

That's because Apple's own internal testing of the new model suggests that only between 60% and 70% of users will still get a full day's use of the slimmer, lighter iPhone Air.

That does mean a majority of iPhone 17 Air users will not need to recharge during the day. However, with current iPhone models, it's claimed that this compares poorly to the 80% to even 90% of users who get a full day from a single charge.

People who buy the iPhone 17 Air will be fully aware of its limitations because you can clearly see those limitations, so a battery case would defeat the purpose of the slim device. What makes more sense is a stronger set of magnets and a more robust MagSafe Battery Pack that could be used by all iPhone 17 devices.

The iPhone kept me sober, but not for long…

Juli Clover from MacRumors:

Starting in 2026, Apple plans to change the release cycle for its flagship iPhone lineup, according to The Information. Apple will release the more expensive ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro models in the fall, delaying the release of the standard ‌iPhone‌ 18 until the spring.

The shift may be because Apple plans to debut a foldable ‌iPhone‌ in 2026, which will join the existing ‌iPhone‌ lineup. The fall release will include the ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro, the ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro Max, an ‌iPhone‌ 18 Air, and the new foldable ‌iPhone‌.

Later, in spring 2027, Apple will release the standard ‌iPhone‌ 18 and an updated version of the iPhone 16e. The less expensive ‌iPhone‌ models will undergo manufacturing trials in India as Apple expands efforts to reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing.

One of the reasons I left Android for Apple was because it curbed my tech addiction. There would be a new Android phone every few months, causing me to sell and buy new devices to the point where the AT&T reps at the store knew me by first name, ready to buy the newest Android flagship. It could also be because of my name because really, how many Fahads are there in Kansas?

With Apple, you buy one device (an iPhone 5 at the time), and it’s the flagship for the whole year.

The iPhone made me and kept me “tech sober.”

Looks like this year we will have 3 flagships, and 4 flagships next year. Most people would consider the Pro and Pro Max to be one flagship, but I consider them to be separate because it really is a tough decision to decide which size to buy. The small size feels amazing in the hand, but the large size is just so immersive.

I won’t be swayed by the mid-cycle refreshes for the base models, but to have 4 flagships in the Fall of 2026 is going to be insane. I like the idea of a regular sized iPhone that opens up into the size of an iPad mini, so a foldable isn’t out of the question.

I do have more responsibilities now with a total family count of 6, so I’ll have to make my iPhone decisions wisely.

Apple quietly updates Apple Watch to only work with iPhones on iOS 18 or later.

Update 5/12/25: See the clarification and correction to this article here.

If you have an iPhone X or earlier, don’t unpair your Apple Watch from your device because it will stop working. You must have iOS 18 now in order to pair any Apple Watch with your device. iOS 18 is available on iPhone XS or later, and iPhone SE 2nd generation or later.

This was changed recently and Apple released an updated support document. Apple’s previous compatibility chart was more complicated, but it allowed older versions of iOS to work with older Apple Watches. Their chart was not complete, and I made a modified chart to include the iPhone SE models.

Apple’s compatibility chart was dated Nov. 20, 2024, and Apple’s most recent support document is dated Feb. 28, 2025, a Friday.

So on a Friday, right when the news cycle for the week ends, Apple published a support document quietly making it impossible to pair usable Apple Watches with iOS 17 or older devices. I was in the process today of pairing a Series 5 on watchOS 10 with my iPhone SE 1st gen on iOS 15 which was possible according to Apple’s chart, but I could no longer do that and when I clicked on the “Learn More” option, the support document spelled it out bluntly:

To set up and use an Apple Watch, you need iPhone XS or later with iOS 18 or later.

Both the iPhone SE 1st gen and the Series 5 watch are on their latest software revisions, but even then it is not possible.

iOS 18 is the minimum you need now.

It is a bitter sweet ending, since it was quite perplexing to keep track of which watches on which version of watchOS would work with which iPhones on which versions of iOS. Even for a geek like me it was hard to keep it straight. The backwards compatibility was bound to come to an end, and that time is now.

Keep these 4 points in mind:

1. If you have iOS 18, you can pair any Apple Watch to it.

2. If you don’t have iOS 18, you cannot pair any Apple Watch to it.

3. If your Apple Watch is currently paired to an iOS 17 device, it will continue to work, but you might eventually be forced to upgrade to iOS 18 if you have an iPhone XS or later or an iPhone SE 2nd gen or later.

4. If you have an iPhone X or earlier, unpairing your current Apple Watch will prevent you from re-pairing the device to your iPhone.

This iPhone 17 Pro camera downgrade will actually be an upgrade.

According to Majin Bu, the iPhone 17 Pro will get a 3.5x telephoto zoom instead of a 5x telephoto:

The new iPhone 17 Pro introduces a completely redesigned camera module. Gone is the diagonal lens arrangement: now the lenses are aligned horizontally in a wider layout. This isn’t just an aesthetic change, it’s a functional choice to integrate an enhanced telephoto lens that delivers exceptional performance.

Telephoto Lens: New Optical Zoom 

The telephoto lens of the iPhone 17 Pro is the heart of this revolution. Here’s what makes it special:

– Versatile focal length: It shifts from 120 mm (5x optical zoom) to 85 mm (3.5x), perfect for portraits and everyday shots.

– 48-megapixel sensor: Compared to the previous 12-megapixel sensors, it offers optical zoom up to 7x (160 mm) with top-quality images.

– Advanced optics: Ensures sharp details even at long distances.

With these features, the telephoto lens combines versatility and power, turning every shot into a masterpiece.

Currently the Pro iPhone has a weird gap in its zoom options at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x. By having a 48MP 3.5x lens, they can provide 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3.5x, 5x, and 7x zoom options.

Granted the 2x, 5x, and 7x would be marketing tools for “digital zoom with optical quality,” but they do produce reasonable images considering you’re holding a ultra slim device when compared to a real camera.

The main upgrade for the 3.5x lens would be a lower aperture. The iPhone has been stuck at f2.8 for its telephoto options since the iPhone 13 Pro, and a lot of challenging light situations make the iPhone default back to the 1x Fusion camera leading to worse photos. A lower aperture would mean more low-light 3.5x photos would actually be 3.5x instead of a 3.5x crop from the 1x lens.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+ have an f2.4 3x optical zoom, and the S25 Ultra has an f2 3x optical zoom. Hopefully the camera tech has advanced enough to give us a similar aperture at 3.5x.