China attacks Taiwan, this is OpenAI and Jony Ive's first device, the foldable iPhone undergoes testing as production begins, Steve Jobs' birthday is commemorated, Mac Minis are being assembled in America, iPhone sales in Europe reach a record high, new AI-powered headphones are announced, and other exciting news on the sidelines…
iPhone 18 Pro enters pilot production phase
A Chinese source on Weibo announced that the iPhone 18 Pro began mass production testing in February, an advanced stage before its September launch to verify manufacturing quality and production lines without full production. Meanwhile, the regular iPhone 18 is in earlier stages for its launch in early 2027. There are no major changes in materials or design compared to the iPhone 17 except for a smaller dynamic island, with internal improvements such as a variable aperture camera system, A20 processor, and custom C2 modem. However, the foldable model will steal the spotlight in the fall announcement, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.
A new version of Apple headphones with artificial intelligence
Rumors are circulating that Apple plans to release a more premium and intelligent version of its current AirPods Pro 3 earbuds before the end of this year. The most impressive feature of these earbuds is their highly sensitive infrared cameras, allowing you to control audio and other features with hand gestures in the air, without touching the earbuds. They will also be powered by Apple's artificial intelligence technologies to understand your surroundings and provide a unique audio experience, especially when used with Apple Glass or your iPhone. This advanced version is expected to be priced higher than the standard AirPods, making it a premium option for those seeking the latest and most powerful technology.
The European Commission revealed a small deal for Apple last year.
In October 2025, Apple informed the European Commission that it had acquired a single employee from invrs.io, along with some of its assets. The Commission published this information this week after a four-month waiting period. This employee appears to be Martin Schubert, who founded the company in 2023 to develop AI-powered designs, particularly in the areas of augmented and virtual reality. His systems help create open-source tools for researching optical technologies and could be useful for Apple's future projects, although the specific tasks are not yet known. Schubert previously worked at Alphabet and Meta. Last month, Apple acquired the Israeli company Q.ai for approximately $2 billion for its AI audio technology, its second-largest acquisition after the $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014, which helped launch Apple Music.
New details emerge about a cheaper MacBook ahead of Apple's event next week.
Apple is expected to unveil five new products next week, including a budget-friendly MacBook launching in March. Mass shipments are slated to begin next month, with production from Quanta Computer and later Foxconn. Large-scale production was previously delayed from late 2025 to the first quarter of 2026 due to rising component costs, such as memory chips. The base price may reach $699 or $799, up from $599, with a $100 discount for students through the Apple Education Store. It will be showcased to the press at Apple Experience events in New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4th, not via live stream, but via a press release. Similar to the MacBook Air but smaller (12.9-inch screen), it will be powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, with 8GB of RAM and standard USB-C ports. It will come in vibrant colors like yellow, green, blue, and pink, and will be Apple's first budget-friendly MacBook with its own custom processors.
Experience the foldable iPhone fold as production begins
Apple has confirmed production line orders for a foldable iPhone, suggesting a launch this year, according to Chinese sources. The fold in the 7.8-inch internal screen is less than 0.15mm thick (a very thin line, imperceptible to the eye or touch), and its angle is less than 2.5 degrees for a smooth transition without sharp edges. This new Samsung-designed foldable iPhone will be the first iPhone with a book-like design (similar to the Z Fold), featuring a 5.5-inch external screen, dual rear cameras, a front-facing camera, Touch ID integrated into the power button, and a thickness of 4.5mm when unfolded and 9-9.5mm when closed. It is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September and represents the biggest design change since the original iPhone in 2007.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max with a smaller dynamic island
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature a smaller "dynamic island" display compared to previous models, according to reliable reports such as Bloomberg. While the island won't disappear entirely, Apple will reportedly place some of the Face ID components under the screen and utilize new technologies to minimize the front-facing camera, resulting in a less noticeable and more aesthetically pleasing black area at the top of the screen. Similar rumors circulated about the iPhone 17, but these didn't materialize. Current rumors about the iPhone 18, expected in the fall of 2026, are consistent across multiple sources, suggesting a move towards a clean, hole-less display, though not yet. This may be the case for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone in 2027.
Tim Cook recalls joining Apple and Steve Jobs
The Steve Jobs Archive today released a letter written by Tim Cook in August 2024, recounting his first meeting with Steve Jobs. Jobs persuaded Cook to join Apple in 1998 to rescue the company from crisis, despite the risks. Cook was captivated by Jobs' passion and vision for technology that would unlock human creativity and connect people. He says this was the greatest decision of his life, as he found in Jobs an inspiring mentor. Tuesday, February 24, marks what would have been Jobs' 71st birthday. The Archive also released letters from figures like Jony Ive and Bob Iger, available for free on their website and the Apple Books app. This project, launched by Jobs' friends and family in 2022, aims to collect his quotes and photos and encourage young people to follow in his footsteps.
Xiaomi plans to offer iOS Bridge for better connectivity with Apple devices.
Xiaomi will present a new HyperOS 3.1 update at the Mobile World Congress from March 2 to 5 with the Xiaomi 17 series, which includes the “iOS Bridge” feature to facilitate communication between its tablets and Apple devices such as iPhones and AirPods. iPhone calls can be displayed on Xiaomi devices to answer without touching the phone, AirPods battery level can be displayed with better volume control, and fast wireless file sharing can be done directly between the two devices without external applications. This makes life easier for those who own products from both companies, especially since Xiaomi had 16% of the European phone market last year.
Intelligence agencies warn Tim Cook of a possible Chinese move toward Taiwan by 2027
Apple CEO Tim Cook, along with a select group of other tech executives, participated in a classified briefing by the US intelligence community in 2023. The briefing warned them of a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan by 2027, which would threaten the supply chains of semiconductor chips relied upon by Apple and companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm. Reports indicate that Washington views the tech industry's dependence on TSMC factories in Taiwan—which produce approximately 90% of the world's most advanced chips, including those used in iPhones, iPads, and Macs—as one of the biggest vulnerabilities of the US economy. Losing this manufacturing capacity could trigger an economic crisis comparable to the Great Depression, with a sharp decline in US GDP and global costs potentially exceeding $10 trillion. Although companies were initially hesitant because the cost of manufacturing chips in the United States was more than 25% higher than in Taiwan, Apple later moved to pledge investments of about $100 billion to support semiconductor factories in America, in cooperation with TSMC and Intel, while TSMC plans huge investments in factories in Arizona while keeping its latest technologies inside Taiwan in what is known as the “silicon shield”, in an attempt to make the island so important to the global economy that it is difficult to target militarily.
Apple achieved record iPhone sales in Europe last year.
Apple shipped 36.9 million iPhones in Europe in 2025, a 6% increase from the previous year, giving it a record-high market share of 27%. This occurred despite a 1% decline in the overall European smartphone market to 134.2 million units due to weak demand, new environmental design regulations, and the mandatory use of USB-C ports. Apple's success was driven by the iPhone 16 and Pro Max models from the 16 and 17 series, as well as the more affordable iPhone 16e, which attracted buyers who had switched from older models that lacked USB-C compatibility. Samsung ranked first with 46.6 million units shipped, followed by Xiaomi in third place with a 16% share. Honor entered the top five for the first time. This performance helped Apple maintain its position as the world's leading smartphone manufacturer last year.
Apple announces Mac Mini assembly in America this year
Apple announced that Foxconn will begin assembling some Mac minis at a factory in Houston, Texas, later this year, as part of its commitment to boosting American manufacturing and investing $600 billion by 2029, according to CEO Tim Cook. Apple will also expand AI server production at the same factory and open a new Advanced Manufacturing Center to train students, employees, and businesses on the new technologies. These machines will be geared toward the US market, while Asian production will continue for export. The Mac mini—which sells for $599 without a screen or keyboard—accounts for only 5% of global Mac sales and is slated for a redesign in 2024 with M4 processors. This announcement comes during President Trump's second term, following the assembly of the Mac Pro in Texas since 2013.
Miscellaneous news
Apple announced on its System Status page that some users are experiencing issues with the App Store, Mac App Store, and iTunes Store. The problem isn't affecting all users, but if you're having trouble opening the stores or downloading apps, this temporary outage may be the cause. The page is expected to be updated as soon as the issue is resolved and services are back to normal.
WhatsApp developers are working on a new feature that will allow users to compose messages and automatically schedule their delivery. This feature already exists in apps like Telegram, and Apple has offered a similar option in its Messages app since iOS 18. It is expected to work in both individual and group chats. Although it is not yet available in the beta version, it is one of the most requested features, as some users currently rely on indirect methods for scheduling messages.
Apple launched the app Sales Coach The new iPhone and iPad app, a successor to the previous SEED app, is designed for Apple Store and Authorized Service Center employees to provide training and information resources to help them sell Apple devices effectively. Featuring a modern Liquid Glass design, the app includes an AI chatbot in the "Ask" tab that instantly answers product-related questions, such as iPhone capabilities or how software features work across all Apple devices. Similar to Apple's support chatbot, it is available to employees globally via the SEED update or at salescoach.apple.com.
Apple's upcoming AI-powered wearable devices, such as smart glasses, clip-on earbuds, and advanced AirPods, are expected to rely heavily on visual intelligence. This feature allows the camera to capture, translate, and search information about places, objects, and text, as Tim Cook recently highlighted as one of Apple's most prominent AI capabilities. The smart glasses will feature high-resolution cameras for photos, video, and Siri integration, while the clip-on earbuds and AirPods will have lower-resolution cameras that are always active for environmental analysis without taking photos. These devices are expected to compete with Ray-Ban's Meta glasses, with a potential launch date of 2027 for the glasses, this year for the AirPods, and possibly 2027 for the clip-on earbuds.
OpenAI is working with former Apple designer Jony Ive on AI devices, the first of which is a smart earbud expected in early 2027, priced at $200-$300. This earbud will feature a built-in camera for facial recognition, similar to Face ID, and will learn about users and their surroundings. It will be able to offer daily suggestions, such as reminders to go to bed early before a meeting, shopping recommendations, and answering questions. The earbud is small and screenless, described by Ive and Sam Altman as "peaceful and joyful." Early-stage studies are also underway for a smart lamp and AI glasses, slated for 2028 or later. Apple is developing a similar home device this year, featuring a camera and earpiece for calls and home control, incorporating the new Siri. OpenAI acquired Ive's io company in May 2025, along with designs from LoveFrom, but there has been some internal tension regarding secrecy and slow progress, and the team includes former Apple designers.
Sources:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15 | 16
Leave a response