iPhone 17 air leaks, major iOS update, best iPhone 16 cases

Take a look back at this week’s Apple news and headlines, including iPhone 17 Air details, iPhone 16 Pro sales, the major iOS 18 update, MacBook Pro release dates, iPad Mini expectations, the best iPhone 16s cases and the new macOS certification.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many discussions surrounding Apple over the last seven days. You can also read my weekly Android news roundup here on Forbes.

The thin adhesive solution for the iPhone 17 Air

This year’s iPhone 16 features a new adhesive in the battery that comes off when an electric current passes through it. This feature is expected to be available next year not only in the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, but also in the iPhone 17 Air. With all the fun about the new battery technology, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that this is another clue a thinner iPhone in 2025 is:

“Of the four iPhone 17 models that Apple will launch next year, the Air will certainly benefit the most from electric adhesive battery technology. This is the iPhone that will have the smallest capacity battery. This is the only way for Apple to produce a thinner battery.” Battery thickness is also affected.

(Maijin Bu via BGR).

Disappointing iPhone 16 Pro sales

The hoped-for supercycle of adoption through Apple Intelligence has not yet occurred. The iPhone 16 family is keeping up with last year’s sales numbers, but it’s the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus that are seeing growth… sales of the Pro range are down significantly. What is at the heart of this disappointment?

“Initial sales figures indicate an overall decline in iPhone orders of around 12 percent. While most smartphone manufacturers would be happy with a circulation of 37 million units, Apple will be concerned about the declining numbers. “Particularly for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.” Orders are falling, with sales of the cheaper, consumer-focused iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus driving numbers up in Cupertino.”

(Forbes).

The latest iOS 18 update

Although it is not the major update with the first public release of Apple Intelligence, the latest point update for iOS is crucial as it fixes several serious bugs and security issues. iOS 18.0.1 is, so to speak, an “Install Now” update:

“The security issues in this update were serious. One vulnerability was that the VoiceOver feature could read out saved passwords – not what you want if your phone falls into the wrong hands or if there is simply someone nearby who can overhear that information.”

(Forbes).

New MacBook Pro release date details

Apple’s next launch event will feature several new Macs, MacBooks and iPads. And it doesn’t take long. Last year’s Halloween event is scheduled to be repeated in key territories ahead of the November 1st release date:

“The new MacBook Pro has long been expected to launch in October. According to reports, this event will now take place in the last week of the month – possibly as late as Halloween to tie in with the terrible holiday – before going on sale on November 1st.”

(Forbes).

AI Boost of the iPad Mini

What can we expect besides the new Macs? Tim Hardwick is looking forward to the iPad Mini 7, which will also go on sale in early November. What will change three years after the last iPad Mini, starting with the choice of chipset and the need for generative AI support:

“While the iPad Pro and iPad Air now have M-series chips, the iPad mini 7 is expected to stick with the A-series. It will likely feature either the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro or the A18 chip from the iPhone 16. This upgrade is said to provide a significant increase in performance over the A15 Bionic in the current model and will also add support for Apple Intelligence features .”

(MacRumors).

A case of the blues

No matter how well-made the new iPhone is, countless millions of users will want to put it in a protective case. It is, after all, an expensive piece of equipment that must be exposed to the elements, regardless of the IP rating. But which case is the best? There’s only one way to find out… let David Phelan be your guide:

“But no, your old case won’t fit because on the latest models there is a new button, the camera control, and the old mute/bell switch has now become the action button, which has a different shape. And anyway, are you really doing that? “Do you want to put your brand new phone in a year-old case?”

(Forbes).

And finally…

It’s a small point of operating system culture, but the team at El Reg not only noted the inclusion of macOS Sequia’s POSIX certification, but also goes into pleasing detail about why it’s “a pretty nice idea”:

“Sequoia appeared as the latest entry in the Open Group’s registry of UNIX® certified products. In fact, it has both first and second place because there are separate entries for the Apple Silicon version and the x86-64 version. There isn’t one.” The order is particularly important, but if Apple continues to pay for certification, the x86-64 version will eventually fall off the list when Apple stops supporting its Intel-based kit.

(The Register).

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 future coverage. You can read last week’s Apple Loop here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column Android Circuit is also available on Forbes.