Apple Loop: iPhone 16 Pro Design Leaks, Goodbye Apple ID, Confusion Over iPhone 16 Launch Date

Updated on August 23 with latest reports on iPhone 16 launch dates.

Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including confusion over the iPhone 16 launch date, iPhone 16 Pro design leaks, iPhone 16 comparison, iOS 18’s European changes, MacOS’ iPhone Superpower, goodbye Apple ID, and Apple Podcasts app arrives on Android.

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.

iPhone Release Date Confusion

This week saw a date for the launch of the iPhone 18 family discussed heavily. Unfortunately, the excitement had to be dampened down as the information this was based on has proven false. Here’s David Phelan on the furore:

“First, I’m certain it will be an in-person event and it will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. And it will start at 10 a.m. Pacific time. But I don’t believe anything else is correct… I think the release date is set in stone for Friday, September 20, but the keynote date could be a day earlier or a couple of days later than the widely predicted September 10. We’ll know soon.”

(Forbes).

Update: Apple To Stick With Expected iPhone Schedule

Writing for Bloomberg and citing sources familiar with the matter, Mark Gurman reports that Apple will launch its new hardware at an event on Tuesday, September 10. Gurman has a very strong record covering Apple’s upcoming hardware and software releases. This weekend’s report backs up the long-suspected date for the official reveal of the new iPhone 16 family. Gurman goes on to pick out September 20 for retail availability to commence:

“Though the timing hasn’t yet been announced, the company is making preparations for that date, which falls on a Tuesday, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. The unveiling will be followed by the phones going on sale Sept. 20, in line with Apple’s typical approach in recent years.”

These dates follow a well-established pattern for iPhone launches, although there may be one reason why Apple could decide to move away from the September 10 date. As Forbes contributor David Phelan points out, the televised debate between the two US Presidential candidates occurrs that night. Tim Cook and his team may be tempted to avoid one of the biggest news moments in September to create their own headlines.

(Bloomberg via Forbes).

iPhone 16 Pro Design Leak

Putting aside the when of the iPhone 18 Pro, the what is coming into sharp focus as the launch window of early September approaches. The latest details cover the all-important colorway that Apple will be selling its new flagship with:

“The current Pro model colors are named Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium and Black Titanium. The most eagle-eyed will have spotted that Apple is keen on promoting the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro has titanium in its build.The new range seems similar, with gray likely to be a new version of Natural Titanium. And the gold? According to the leak, it’s going to be called Desert Titanium.”

(Forbes).

What’s The Difference?

With the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max sitting at the top tier and the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus at the lower tier, you would expect Apple to put as much distance as possible between the specs of the two strands. Yet, with generative AI the big draw this year, they will need to be closer than ever:

“Unlike previous years, when Apple worked hard to create a difference between the vanilla iPhone and the professional iPhone Pro models, 2024 will see far more commonality between the two handsets. Both will ship with the latest Apple Silicon A18 chipset and have more RAM. The increased power and working space these offer is needed to run the generative AI software (backronymed to Apple intelligence).”

(Forbes).

iOS 18 Changes For European Customers

The latest builds of iOS 18 show the extra steps that Apple is taking in Europe to comply with new consumer protection regulations, including the options around default search engines, web browsers, and more:

“For users in the EU, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will also include a new Default Apps section in Settings that lists defaults available to each user. In future software updates, users will get new default settings for dialing phone numbers, sending messages, translating text, navigation, managing passwords, keyboards, and call spam filters. To learn more, view Update on apps distributed in the European Union.”

(Apple Developer).

MacOS Gets Ready

While the focus is on iOS 18 and the first generative AI steps on the iPhone, macOS Sequoia is also slated for a mid-September release. Just as iOS 18 will nod debut the AI features until mid-October, neither will macOS… but it’s needed in September to offer the needed synergy with iOS:

“This year, Apple plans to release ‌macOS Sequoia‌ around the same time as iOS 18 rather than holding it until October. Introducing both updates at the same time will ensure that cross-platform features are functional and working as intended, such as iPhone Mirroring. A key new feature, ‌iPhone‌ Mirroring allows an ‌iPhone‌ running ‌iOS 18‌ to be controlled using a Mac running ‌macOS Sequoia‌.”

(MacRumors).

Apple ID Brand Is Going Away

In a branding exercise that is no doubt driven by some data deep in the heart of Cupertino, Apple ID is going to be renamed Apple Account. Ryan Christoffel warns that, while the change is going on, people will need to be alert to scams capitalising on the process:

“Apple IDs are such an important part of accessing various highly sensitive and secure data related to your digital life. This is why it’s important to be clear on the terminology. Phishing schemes, for example, may seek to capitalize on users’ confusion during this change.”

(9to5Mac).

And Finally…

Apple has opened up Apple Podcasts on its website to act as a player, and you can sign in to get to your own library and the various Top Charts. This also has the fun knock-on effect of allowing Apple Podcasts to run on Android as a web app:

“The website is “accessible to anyone with a web browser on any device”, and Apple say it is available on all major browsers including Safari, Chrome, Edge and Firefox. It’s supported in more than 170 countries and regions in their local language. It doesn’t support transcripts, chapters or downloads.”

(Podnews).

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.