WWDC 2025 will be a disappointment, Instagram for iPad, Apple's AI integration into Shortcuts, WhatsApp and YouTube discontinuing support for older iPhones, iPhone 16e sales lag behind the SE models despite topping the best-selling list, Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge slimmer test, new features in iOS 26, and other exciting news on the sidelines...
Court rejects Apple's request to delay App Store rule changes
A US appeals court issued a ruling on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, preventing Apple from reversing the changes it ordered in May to the App Store. These changes allow companies like Epic Games, Spotify, and Patreon to direct customers to purchase products online outside of the App Store without Apple collecting fees on those purchases. This means users can now more easily purchase directly from the companies' websites.
Apple asked the court to postpone the implementation of these new rules until it concludes its legal challenge, but the court denied the request. The court stated that Apple had not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that it would be significantly harmed without the postponement, or that the legal challenge would be successful. It also noted that the changes were the result of a long-running legal dispute with Epic Games, in which the court ordered Apple to allow developers to direct customers to online purchases without imposing fees or restrictions on link design, giving developers greater freedom to deal with their customers.
iOS 26 may bring new features to AirPods like sleep detection and camera control.
iOS 26 and macOS 26 are expected to introduce new features for AirPods, such as sleep detection and camera control. These features will be released via software updates for the earphones that coincide with the release of Apple's new operating systems. Potential features include new head gestures, such as adjusting the volume during conversations, and the ability to automatically pause audio when the user falls asleep, based on sleep data from the Apple Watch. The earphones could also allow users to take photos on their iPhone by pressing the stem, with a possible timer to avoid touching the ear while taking photos.
Additionally, AirPods may get a studio-quality microphone mode similar to the iPhone's recording options, along with improvements to how the earbuds pair with shared iPads in classrooms. There's also a real-time translation feature that will help translate live conversations between different languages. However, it's unclear whether these features will support all AirPods models or be limited to the AirPods Pro. Apple is scheduled to reveal these details during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 next Monday, June 9.
iOS 26 will be compatible with these devices
Rumors indicate that Apple's new iOS 26 will only work on iPhone 11 and later, according to a reliable source on the X platform. This means that iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR owners will not be able to update their devices to the new operating system, as iOS 18 will be the last major update they will receive. However, these devices will continue to receive security updates for some time. The new operating system will support all iPhones from the 11th generation to the latest models, including the second-generation iPhone SE and later. As usual, some advanced features will only be available on newer phones such as the iPhone 15 Pro and later.
Limited Markdown support in Notes on iOS 26
According to a report from 9to5Mac, the Notes app is expected to receive limited support for Markdown formatting in the iOS 26 and macOS 26 updates, as users will only be able to export notes in this format, without the ability to type in it within the app. Markdown is a simplified style of writing text that uses simple symbols like **for bold** and # for headings, and is preferred by some writers over rich text formats or HTML.
New features in Messages with iOS 26 like auto-translation and polls.
The Messages app in iOS 26 is expected to receive two very useful new features. The first is automatic translation, which will enable the app to automatically translate sent and received messages when communicating with someone who speaks a different language, facilitating conversations between users of different languages. Currently, messages can be translated manually by long-pressing on them, but the new feature will make the process faster and more seamless.
The second feature is the ability to create polls within group chats, allowing participants to easily vote. This feature may rely on Apple's "intelligence" to suggest poll options.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Slim Test
Samsung has launched the ultra-thin S25 Edge, a rival to the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. MacRumors' Dan Barbera used it for two weeks to test its design. The phone has a 6.7-inch screen, is 5.8mm thick, and weighs 163 grams, making it light and comfortable to hold, but it's best used without a case to enjoy its slimness. The upcoming iPhone 17 Air will be 5.5mm thinner with a 6.6-inch screen.
The Galaxy S25 Edge's battery is small due to its thinness, which reduces its lifespan, and users may need to charge it throughout the day. Apple will address this in the iPhone 17 Air with AI settings and a power-efficient modem. The phone's camera includes a 200MP main lens and a 12MP ultrawide lens without zoom, while the iPhone 17 Air will also have a single camera. The Galaxy S25 Edge is priced at $1100, while the iPhone 17 Air could be priced at $899, with prices subject to change due to taxes.
The iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone 18 will use a redesigned A20 chip.
With the iPhone 17 series launch just three months away, rumors about next year's iPhone 18 models have begun to emerge. According to analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone 18 are expected to use the A20 chip, which will feature significant improvements. The chip will be manufactured using a 2-nanometer process by TSMC, compared to the 3-nanometer process used in the A18 and A19 chips. This means the chip will contain more transistors, making it up to 15% faster and up to 30% more power efficient than previous chips.
Additionally, the A20 chip will use a new packaging technology that integrates RAM directly with the processor, graphics, and AI engine, improving overall performance, extending battery life, and reducing heat. This design will also make the chip smaller, freeing up space inside the phone for other components.
iPhone 16e sales lag behind SE models despite topping the best-selling list
The iPhone 16e, launched by Apple in February 2025, achieved a spot among the top 10 best-selling smartphones in Europe, but it didn't achieve the same success as previous iPhone SE models. The phone ranked ninth in March, representing 8% of total iPhone sales in Europe and 2% of the smartphone market, with slightly better performance in Western Europe, where it ranked seventh.
However, compared to the SE models, the iPhone 16e performed weaker. The 2022 iPhone SE achieved sixth place and 12% of Apple's European sales in its first month, while the 2020 iPhone SE came in third with 19% of sales. iPhone 16e sales declined by 17% compared to the 2022 SE and 20% compared to the 2020 SE, primarily due to its higher price of €699, compared to €519 for the 2022 SE and €479 for the 2020 SE. Consumer interest in refurbished and used phones in Europe also makes the market more price-sensitive, making it difficult for Apple to increase sales of its new mid-range phones.
WhatsApp stops support for some older iPhones
As of June 1, 2025, WhatsApp will stop supporting versions prior to iOS 15.1, meaning iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus will no longer be able to run the app. For those who don't want to or can't upgrade, WhatsApp can be used via the browser at web.whatsapp.com, but the experience won't be the same as the mobile app. Users planning to upgrade can back up their chats to iCloud and then fully restore them to a new device using the app's "Chat Transfer" feature. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is finally available on the iPad, and a dedicated Instagram app is also in development, more than 15 years after WhatsApp's first launch.
YouTube stops supporting its app for older iPhones.
YouTube has also updated its iOS app to version 20.22.1, which now requires iOS 16 or later to run. This means that some older iPhones are no longer compatible with the app. Affected devices include the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone SE (7st generation), and the iPod Touch 16. The YouTube app also no longer works on iPads that don't support iPadOS 2, such as the iPad Air 4 and iPad mini XNUMX. While users can still access YouTube through a browser at m.youtube.com, the experience will be limited compared to the official app.
Miscellaneous news
◉ Apple is facing difficulties launching its AI features in the Chinese market due to trade tensions between the United States and China. Chinese authorities are delaying approval of these services due to political disputes and Trump's tariffs, which have reached 145%. Apple plans to partner with Chinese company Alibaba to offer these services due to local regulations, but this delay puts it at a disadvantage compared to Chinese companies like Huawei and Xiaomi, which already offer AI features. These features were expected to launch with the iOS 18.6 update for iPhones, but the timing is unknown.
◉ Conflicting reports have emerged regarding whether Apple will add ProMotion to the all-new iPhone 17 and 17 Air. This technology, which allows the display's refresh rate to dynamically change up to 120Hz to save battery power, has so far been exclusive to the Pro models since the iPhone 13 Pro. While some sources indicate that Apple will use ProMotion displays across all iPhone 17 models, a Chinese leaker on Weibo claimed that the non-Pro models will only get a fixed 120Hz display, without support for variable refresh rates. This means a smoother viewing experience, but with higher power consumption and the absence of the Always-On Display feature. However, other experts such as Ross Young confirm that Apple is indeed moving towards using energy-efficient LTPO displays across all models, raising hopes that ProMotion will arrive on all iPhone 17 models when they are expected to launch in September.
◉ Apple will kick off its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 on Monday, June 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (7 p.m. Cairo time). The keynote will be streamed live on YouTube, and users can set a reminder to watch. iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and other updates are expected to be announced, along with a sleek glass design, but no new hardware is reported. A "Status of the Systems" session will also be streamed the same day at 1 p.m. to provide additional details for developers. The stream will also be available on Apple's website and the Apple TV app, with the option to watch later.
◉ Apple is developing an alternative to ChatGPT and improving Siri using massive AI models, including a powerful cloud-based model with 150 billion parameters. Despite promising results, issues such as "hallucinations" and internal disagreements are still slowing progress. The company is also testing an intelligent chatbot called "Knowledge" capable of gathering information from the internet. There are no announced plans to launch these technologies, while Apple prepares to add Gemini and possibly Perplexity to Siri and Safari in iOS 26.
◉ Apple is updating the Shortcuts app to incorporate Apple's AI technology. The Shortcuts app allows users to create automated commands to easily perform certain tasks. The new version will enable these commands to be generated using artificial intelligence, such as giving natural-sounding voice instructions, making the app more accessible to regular users. The update was originally scheduled to launch this year, but it may be delayed until 2026 and may not appear with the September release of iOS 26 or macOS 26.
◉ Meta is developing an Instagram app for iPad. The app is currently being tested and is expected to launch in 2025, barring any obstacles. Meta previously released the Facebook app for iPad in 2011 and WhatsApp last week, indicating its intention to support iPad with its core apps. There is no information yet about an iPad app for Threads.
◉ WWDC 2025 is expected to be less grand than the 2023 and 2024 conferences, with no new hardware announcements or major advances in artificial intelligence expected, according to Mark Gurman. Although the design of new operating systems such as iOS 26 and macOS 26 will be more modern, inspired by visionOS, some Apple employees believe the conference may be disappointing in terms of artificial intelligence. However, updates such as Swift Assist and a rich text editor in SwiftUI are expected to be unveiled, as Apple looks to expand its presence in the field of artificial intelligence in 2026.
◉ According to analyst Jeff Pu, the base iPhone 17 model will come with the A18 chip, the same chip used in the iPhone 16, manufactured using a 3nm process. The iPhone 17 Air will get the A19 chip, and the Pro models will get the A19 Pro, also manufactured using a 3nm process. The base model will also have 8GB of RAM, like the iPhone 16, although analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously predicted 12GB for the other models. Improvements include a 120Hz display instead of 60Hz, a 24MP front camera, and a slightly larger 6.3-inch display compared to 6.1 inches. The iPhone 17 series is expected to be unveiled in September 2025.
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