This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: major leaks for iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, a new Air ‘Max’ size, and more spanning 2026 and beyond. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.
iPhone 18 release schedule and Pro design change
This was a big week for new iPhone leaks, with details for launches spanning 2026 and 2027.
Next year’s iPhone 18 lineup will reportedly have at least two big changes:
- The base iPhone 18 won’t launch next fall, but instead will be saved for spring 2027 alongside a new iPhone 18e
- iPhone 18 Pro models will have a small camera hole in the top-left corner and drop the Dynamic Island cutout
The new Pro design is reportedly a precursor to a cutout-free design debuting the following year.
My takeaways
Apple is setting itself up for a very big year ahead of the iPhone’s 20th anniversary.
With redesigned Pro models launching next year, alongside the first iPhone Fold, and a new Air, the fall lineup sounds especially strong.
But then launching two new iPhones—the 18 and 18e—the following spring is impressive too. This release schedule change is a major shift, but it could be a great one for iPhone sales.
iPhone 17 Air battery case coming
Though prior reporting on iPhone 17 Air indicated battery life wouldn’t suffer too much from the ultra-thin design, The Information this week indicated otherwise.
Per their report, internal Apple tests estimate 60-70% of iPhone 17 Air users will be able to go a whole day without charging. This compares to 80-90% for other models.
Apple is reportedly, as a result, preparing a new battery case exclusively for the Air model. It will be sold as an optional accessory.
My takeaways
I’m a little torn on this report, especially regarding the percentage ranges in the battery comparison.
If you compare the low end of the Air estimate to the high end for other models, that gap from 60% to 90% is huge. But if a more realistic comparison is 70% to 80%, I could see the Air being perfectly fine for most users.
My guess? The Air will have decent battery life, nothing especially poor. But the battery case will be a solid option for users who consistently need more juice.
iPhone Air ‘Max’ in the works
Per Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is already working on a larger version of its upcoming iPhone Air model.
Kuo says this year’s iPhone 17 Air will be followed by an 18 Air next year that’s the same size.
But then in 2027, the Air’s 6.6-inch display is expected to increase for the iPhone 19 Air. It’s unknown exactly what size Apple is targeting, but somewhere near the Pro Max’s 6.9-inch screen seems likely.
My takeaways
We had heard previously that iPhone 17 Air was originally prototyped with a larger display. It seems that larger screen is returning in a couple years.
I’m not a fan of huge iPhones personally, since I always prefer having the option of one-handed use. But the market has consistently shown that most people love big phones, so this move is a natural evolution for the Air.
WWDC’s three major themes
Anticipation is growing for WWDC next month and Apple’s big unveiling of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, and more.
This week, Mark Gurman said the conference would have three major themes:
- Redesigned and more cohesive operating systems
- New Apple Intelligence capabilities
- Major enhancements to the iPad’s OS
My takeaways
We’ve known for a while that redesigned OS versions would be a huge highlight of WWDC.
I’m pleased to hear, though, that Gurman believes AI upgrades and iPadOS productivity features will be major tentpoles too.
I’ve always seen last year’s Apple Intelligence rollouts as laying a foundation. They weren’t meant to be Apple’s final say in the area of AI. As a result, I’m hoping for some strong year-over-year improvements as the company seeks to establish its footing in a highly competitive market.
What are your takeaways from this week’s Apple rumors? Let us know in the comments.
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