An exclusives titan with an excellent track record, 9to5Mac consistently shares what Apple is working on…and usually in great detail.
Rumor accuracy
Rumor list
- Green = True
- Red = False
- Yellow = Pending
2021
April
- New Apple TV will support 120Hz, link
March
- iOS 15 naming referenced in WebKit code, link
- macOS 12 naming referenced in WebKit code
- Apple A14X processor coming in new iPad Pro, link
- Based off of M1 chip
- 2 new iMac models discovered in macOS code, link
2020
September 17
- First look at magnetic wireless charger, link
September 12
- iOS 14 references “Apple One” name and bundle, link
July 24
- Face ID coming to future Macs, link
May 23
- Apple making catalyst version of Messages app (so iOS features come to Mac), link
- Coming in the next version of macOS
May 11
- AirPods Studio details:
- “Neck detection” automatically plays/pauses music depending on their position, link
- Ear identification will route left/right audio channels to the proper ears, regardless of how you put the headphones on
- Noise cancellation
- Transparency Mode
- Equalizer unlocked after pairing
- “Low, medium and high frequency adjustments available”
iOS 14 code leaks: March 8, 2020-present
- Blood oxygen monitoring found for new Apple Watch, link
- Apple over-ear headphones design revealed in icon, link
- Apple Watch Series 6/watchOS 7 update:
- Share watch faces, link
- No 3rd-party watch faces
- New “Infograph Pro” watch face with tachymeter
New “International” watch face,link- iCloud shared album watch faces
- Parent iPhone can pair multiple child watches
- Kids mode tweaks move ring calories to move time, link
- Rewards for playing sports or going outside
- ‘SchoolTime’ allows parents to manage when apps and complications can be used
- Sleep tracking with goals
- New sleep mode CC toggle
- New Noise detection CC toggle
- Apps are no longer based on extensions of iPhone apps
- iOS 14 update:
- Advanced, system-wide cursor support, link
- Pointer disappears after a few seconds of inactivity
- Two-finger tap = right click
- Tap-to-click toggle
- Next Apple keyboard will feature a trackpad
- Two new models
- Keyboard situated above trackpad
- Gestures to switch between apps, link
- New AR app provides real-world AR experiences, link
- Apple Store and Starbucks integration
- Experiences start by scanning QR code
- HomeKit upgrades:
- Night Shift for lights: “ability to automatically adjust light color temperature throughout the day,” link
- Face recognition for HomeKit Secure Video
- Notifications based on who is recognized
- “New permanent audio output option for Apple TV”
- Home screen list view, link
- Unread notifications sorting
- Recently used sorting
- Siri smart suggestions
- New accessibility features:
- Alarms, sirens, crying babies and more can alert iPhone users with hearing loss, link
- Camera can detect hand gestures
- New audio accommodations for improved EarPods/AirPods tuning
- Run on-device audiogram
- Wallpapers:
- New organizational categories:
- “Earth & Moon”
- “Flowers”
- 3rd party wallpaper integration
- New organizational categories:
- Apple Maps:
- More details about Apple Stores:
- “Hardware repair availability,” link
- Check Genius Bar availability
- Show if store offers trade-in credit
- New highlights for:
- Couples’ seating
- Children discount
- Private rooms
- IMAX movie theaters
- More details about Apple Stores:
- Find My:
- Alert if someone doesn’t arrive somewhere as expected, link
- Also notifications if someone leaves somewhere early
- “Headset mode”
- “AR mode” to find items more easily
- Alert if someone doesn’t arrive somewhere as expected, link
- CarKey:
- Apple working with BMW as partner, link
- Two versions:
- Passive unlock via iPhone in pocket
- Place iPhone near the vehicle
- Podcasts:
- Introduction of “For You” tab, link
- “New user profile should let you follow your friends on Apple Podcasts to see what they’re listening to.”
- Support for bonus content in-app
- Clips allow for instant apps, link
- Access via QR code
- #shotoniphone challenges integrated in Photos app
- Apple Pay to support AliPay
- CarPlay wallpaper support
- Safari getting native translation option, link
- Processed by neural engine
- Works inside other apps like App Store
- Safari in iPadOS 14 gets proper Apple Pencil support with markup
- No call recording feature, link
- Advanced, system-wide cursor support, link
April 7, 2020
- Apple’s Beats brand is here to stay (no plan for a phase-out), link
April 2, 2020
iPhone 9 (SE):
- Launch imminent: as soon as April 3, 2020, link
- “iPhone SE” is official name
- Colors:
- White
- Black
- PRODUCT (Red)
- Cases:
- Black silicone
- White silicone
- Red leather
- Black leather
- Midnight blue leather
- Storage capacities:
- 64GB
- 128GB
- 256GB
March 16, 2020
- iPhone 9 (SE):
- Larger 5.5-inch version in development, link
- A13 chip
- Solid-state home button
- Scan NFC tags in the background
March 10, 2020
- 2020 iPad Pro:
- Triple lens camera array, link
- Wide angle
- Ultra wide angle
- Telephoto
- ToF 3D sensor
- Triple lens camera array, link
- iPhone 9 (SE):
- Touch ID
- Express transit support
- New Apple TV:
- New remote
- New guided workouts app
- AirTags:
- Able to be set up in bulk
- Replaceable battery
- Locate via augmented reality
- Play sound to be located
March 9, 2020
- Powerbeats 4 official video, link
February 26, 2020
- Full over-the-air (OTA) recovery coming to iOS devices, link
February 6, 2020
- tvOS 13.4 beta code suggests new Apple TV 4K inbound, link
February 5, 2020
- New CarKey feature in iOS 13.4 beta allows for “unlocking, driving and sharing NFC car keys,” link
January 13, 2020
- “Pro Mode” for MacBooks: “Apps may run faster, but battery life may decrease and fan noise may increase”, link
2019
December 10, 2019
Powerbeats 4 earbuds:
- In development, link
- ‘Hey Siri’ support
- W1 chip
- Lower-end option
September 2, 2019
Apple Watch Sleep tracking revealed:
- Doesn’t require new hardware, link
- Announced as early as September 2018 event
- “Track movement, heart rate and noises” throughout the night
- Battery reminders to charge Apple Watch before bed
August 19, 2019
Apple Arcade:
- $4.99/month, link
- 1 month free trial
July 23, 2019
2019 iPhone 11:
- 3 new models, link
- Same respective screen resolutions
- A13 chip
- Lightning port
- iPhone XS and XS Max successor OLED
- iPhone XR successor LCD
- New Taptic Engine
- No 3D Touch
- 5.8/6.5-inch models have 3 cameras
- The triple camera setup looks like the mockups
- Third camera lens will be wide-angle
- Smart Frame allows users to gain perspective by adjusting crop in post
- Extra perspective is deleted after a while
- Front-facing camera can record 120fps video
May 28, 2019
iOS 13 leaks:
- Dark mode can be enabled in Settings or via a CC toggle, link
- Only change on home screen is darker dock
- New wallpapers that work better with dark mode
- True black background
- Refreshed screenshot UI on iPhone and iPad
- Expanded, draggable tool tray on iPad
- Redesigned Reminders app uses “SF UI” font
- “Today, Scheduled, Flagged” and “All” boxes
- Find My Friends and Find My iPhone getting combined into new “Find My” app
- Radar icon first look
April 19, 2019
macOS 10.15:
- Siri Shortcuts coming, link
- Shortcuts app also likely coming
- Screen Time
- New panel in system preferences
- New Apple ID management panel in System Preferences
- iMessage effects coming, like “confetti, lasers and fireworks” (added in macOS Big Sur)
April 15, 2019
iOS 13:
- Dark mode, link
- iPad apps can have multiple windows
- Each window can contain detachable cards that can be moved around the display
- These cards can be staked on top of each other with visible depth
- Undo/redo revamped on iPad, with new standard gesture being a 3-finger tap: swipe left for undo and right for redo
- Safari on iPad better at automatically suggesting the desktop versions of sites like YouTube
- Font management debuting profile-free in Settings
- Updated Mail app can sort messages into searchable categories like “marketing, purchases, travel and ‘not important’”
- Read later queue coming
- iCloud collaboration like in iWork suite coming to third party apps
- New table/collection view gestures
- Redesigned Reminders app
- Also coming to Mac
- New volume heads-up display (HUD)
- ‘Hey Siri’ rejects more sounds like a crying baby
- Better multilingual keyboard dictation support
- Additional in-app printing settings
April 10, 2019
New standalone apps in macOS10.15:
- Music, link
- Podcasts
- TV apps
- Major redesign of Books
- iTunes app will remain
March 25, 2019
- iOS 12.2 includes Powerbeats Pro official video, link
January 25, 2019
- Images provide glimpse at Apple News magazine subscription service, link
January 24, 2019
- iOS 12.2 supports ‘Hey Siri’ setup for AirPods, link
2018
December 7, 2018
- iPhone XS Smart Battery Case first look, link
December 6, 2018
- Apple preparing new Smart Battery Case for iPhone XS, link
October 28, 2018
- New icon shows new iPad Pro in most official detail yet, link
October 10, 2018
New 2018 iPad Pro specs:
- A12X processor, link
- Edge-to-edge display with no home button or notch
- Face ID will work in portrait and landscape, but not upside down
- 4KHDR output support for external monitors
- New version of the Apple Pencil coming
- Paired via proximity to the device
- New magnetic connector placed on rear
September 20, 2018
- iOS 12.1 code shows Apple continuing work on AirPower, link
September 18, 2018
August 30, 2018
August 1, 2018
- iOS 12 beta 5 icon reveals iPad with all-screen design and slim bezels, no home button, link
July 30, 2018
- Apple adding native phone call support to HomePod, link
- iOS 12 beta 5 teases dual-SIM support for future iPhones, link
May 29, 2018
- New Apple Watch pride face available at Monday’s WWDC, link