That is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac providing a fast rundown of the latest Apple product rumors, with evaluation and commentary. At this time: a curious M5 iPad Professional rumor, iOS 27 and the iPhone Fold, HomePod Contact, and extra. Listed here are this week’s Apple rumors.
M5 iPad Professional rumor says two front-facing cameras coming
Final 12 months the M4 iPad Professional moved its front-facing digital camera from the portrait facet of the machine to the panorama facet as an alternative. Nevertheless it appears Apple has one other camera-related change coming to the M5 mannequin.
Per Mark Gurman, this fall’s M5 iPad Professional will include not one, however two front-facing cameras. One digital camera will stay on the panorama facet, whereas the second digital camera is added to the portrait facet. Gurman says that is “presumably so FaceTimers and selfie followers can use the machine equally properly in both orientation.”
My takeaways
I wrote earlier this week about how this rumor could have extra to it than it seems.
It’s all the time attainable that Gurman’s guess is appropriate, and Apple is making this variation solely to offer a constant video calling expertise in any orientation. I’ve a tough time believing that’s the one cause, although.
As a substitute, what I believe is that a few of iPhone 17 Professional’s rumored multi-cam recording options can be obtainable on the M5 iPad Professional too. A very good candidate is one thing just like the Mac’s Desk View function, which has expanded considerably up to now 12 months.
These options would offer extra cause to incorporate an additional digital camera, and be very in step with iPadOS 26’s pattern of including Mac-inspired productiveness options.
iOS 27 will carry particular options designed for iPhone Fold
iOS 26 gained’t launch broadly till this fall, however one of many first rumors for subsequent 12 months’s iOS 27 launch arrived this week.
Mark Gurman reported that for iOS 27, Apple “will prioritize software program options tailor-made particularly” for the upcoming iPhone Fold. That new foldable iPhone mannequin is predicted to launch subsequent fall, across the similar time as iOS 27 will ship.
My takeaways
Gurman’s reporting isn’t shocking in any respect, however it’s good to listen to. Apple’s foldable iPhone could be fantastic operating the present model of iOS, however what might make it really shine is multitasking upgrades.
For the reason that iPhone Fold can be like a barely smaller iPad mini when unfolded, I’d anticipate to see some type of app windowing in iOS 27. Getting the full-blown windowing system from iPadOS 26 could be nice, however at a minimal, Apple ought to present a solution to run a number of apps side-by-side.
HomePod Contact might be the title of Apple’s ‘HomePad’
After iOS 26 beta 4 arrived this week, Aaron Perris found a curious line of textual content associated to the HomePod. It reads:
Your HomePod gained’t be capable of present you the native climate, time, or reply to Siri requests about your space.
No present HomePod fashions embody a display, to allow them to’t “present” something. Thus, it appears Apple’s forthcoming ‘HomePad’ product will use the ‘HomePod’ branding—probably ‘HomePod Contact.’
My takeaways
As a lot as I all the time discovered ‘HomePad’ a enjoyable mixture of HomePod and iPad, the title HomePod Contact makes much more sense as a part of Apple’s broader lineup.
HomePod and HomePod mini are established manufacturers, and whereas neither has been an actual hit for Apple, cohesive branding is a win for shopper consciousness. And if HomePod Contact manages to search out large success, it might have a halo impact on the entire HomePod lineup.
iPhone 17 Air battery capability
Battery is ready to be the iPhone 17 Air’s single largest weak point, and a brand new leak of the machine’s anticipated battery capability has seemingly confirmed that.
Weibo leaker Prompt Digital mentioned the 17 Air’s battery capability “doesn’t exceed 3000mAh.” This corroborates a prior rumor of the capability being round 2800mAh.
My takeaways
Battery capability is much from the one issue that determines a product’s battery life. I’m curious how a lot of a distinction iOS 26’s new Adaptive Energy mode will make in battery, for instance, alongside different OS optimizations.
I’m nonetheless planning to purchase an iPhone 17 Air myself, however the rumored new battery case would possibly show important for me on particularly high-usage days.
What are your takeaways from this week’s Apple rumors? Tell us within the feedback.
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