Apple cuts iPhone 17 production, leaks emerge regarding the iPhone 18 Pro color and its advanced A20 Pro processor, Apple deletes leaked iPhone 18 Pro videos, the Apple smart ring idea returns, Claude Sonnet 5 is launched, WhatsApp allows reserving a username, Apple acquires the “Play” app and loses a prominent manager to OpenAI, Apple shares record their worst day in over a year, and other exciting news on the sidelines…
Decline in iPhone 17 production
Recent reports indicate that Apple has reduced its production plans for the “iPhone 17” series by 15%, following a long period of high demand and record sales since these phones were launched. This decline is not considered surprising; it is normal in the tech world, as many buyers tend to wait as the release date for new models approaches in September. This trend is not limited to Apple but also includes other smartphone companies that have recently lowered their shipment forecasts, confirming that the market is going through a usual quiet phase before the next generation of phones is unveiled.
Security vulnerability reveals email addresses
Recent reports have revealed a security vulnerability in Apple’s service known as “Hide My Email,” which allows third parties to discover the user’s real email address instead of the dummy address provided by the service. Although this issue was discovered and reported to Apple over a year ago, it still persists. The danger of this vulnerability lies in the fact that many people rely on this service to protect their privacy and avoid spam or tracking, but because of it, strangers may be able to link the email to other personal information of the user. Despite Apple’s repeated promises to work on solving the problem and confirming that it is under investigation, the vulnerability has not yet been definitively closed, leaving users of this service in a position that requires caution until the promised security update is released.
Tim Cook discusses launching new smart iPhone features with the EU
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, held a “constructive” meeting with European Union officials to discuss how to provide new AI features in the “Siri” system to users in Europe, while ensuring compliance with strict digital laws there. The problem is that the EU requires Apple to allow competing smart assistants to access the same system capabilities available to “Siri” to ensure fair competition, while Apple was looking for technical solutions that ensure privacy and security. While Apple hopes to roll out these features with upcoming system updates in September, negotiations are still ongoing to reach a legal formula that satisfies both parties, especially after Apple’s previous proposals faced rejection from European regulators who considered them an attempt to delay compliance with the laws rather than providing practical solutions for competition.
Major design changes for the “Apple Watch” next year
New tech reports indicate that Apple plans to perform a comprehensive update to the “Apple Watch” design in 2027, and among the most prominent of these changes is the innovation of an entirely new system for attaching bands to the watch. It is believed that this change in the way bands are attached will provide additional internal space, allowing for a larger battery, which has led insiders to advise users not to buy too many extra bands currently, in anticipation of them not being compatible with the next version. Although these rumors have been circulating for years and did not materialize in recent versions, current expectations align with Apple’s usual pattern of renewing its watch design approximately every three years, making 2027 the most likely date for this major change that could completely alter the watch’s shape and usage mechanism.
Leaks reveal a new color for the iPhone 18 Pro
The latest leaks indicate that Apple is preparing to add a new and distinctive color to the upcoming “iPhone 18 Pro” series, which is “Dark Cherry,” leaning towards burgundy or purple shades. This color appeared in a leaked photo of the phone’s SIM tray, which reinforces rumors about Apple’s intention to adopt it as a primary option to promote this version, just as it did with distinctive colors in previous models. Circulating information also points to the possibility of the phone being released in other colors such as light blue, dark gray, and silver, with the note that the traditional black color might not be available in the “Pro” category for this year. Apple is expected to officially unveil these new options during its annual event next September.
Apple campaign to delete leaked videos of the “iPhone 18 Pro”
Recent developments indicate that Apple is taking swift action to delete leaked videos on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter) showing drop tests of the upcoming “iPhone 18 Pro”. These leaks come after reports of a cyberattack on “Tata Electronics,” one of Apple’s manufacturers in India, where secret files containing photos and technical details about the device were stolen. While the accounts and clips that published these leaks were deleted, Apple did not officially confirm whether it was the one that requested it, but the speed of the deletion reflects the company’s extreme keenness to protect its secrets before the official launch. Despite the controversy over the authenticity of these clips, the incident highlights how serious Apple is about dealing with the leakage of its sensitive data, especially after confirming the existence of stolen files belonging to its phone components and designs on the internet.
Upcoming updates for “Mac Studio” devices with a focus on performance and cooling
Recent tech reports indicate that Apple plans to update its powerful “Mac Studio” device in phases; a version equipped with an “M5 Ultra” processor is expected to be launched this year, followed by a major leap in 2028 with an entirely new model running on an “M7 Ultra” processor. It seems that Apple has decided to skip the “M6” processor generation in advanced categories, to focus its efforts in the upcoming 2028 model on developing a new internal architecture that includes a more efficient cooling system to handle heavy tasks and advanced AI applications. Although some challenges related to memory component availability have led to a slight delay in release dates, these plans confirm Apple’s commitment to developing its desktop computers to be more capable of processing massive data and meeting the needs of professional users.
Leaked image reveals stunning power of the A20 Pro processor
Leaked images of the motherboard for the upcoming “iPhone 18 Pro” have shown an entirely new manufacturing technology in the “A20 Pro” processor, aimed at significantly enhancing the phone’s performance. Instead of the traditional design that places the memory directly above the processor, the new technology relies on placing the memory beside it, which reduces the device’s heat and increases the efficiency of heavy operations. Leaks also indicate that the new processor will come with faster and more energy-efficient memory, with the AI processing unit (NPU) significantly enlarged to provide a smarter and faster experience. Thanks to the use of advanced 2nm manufacturing technology, the new processor’s performance is expected to jump by 15%, with an increase in energy efficiency of up to 30%, making the “iPhone 18 Pro” one of the most powerful phones expected when it launches next September.
“iPhone 18e” screen with a standard refresh rate
The latest leaks indicate that the upcoming “iPhone 18e,” Apple’s budget version, will retain the same type of screen found in the current model with a refresh rate of 60Hz. This means the phone will not get “ProMotion” technology that provides greater smoothness in motion (120Hz), nor the “Always-On Display” feature, which are features that will be exclusive to the higher categories of the “iPhone 18” series. Reports clarify that Apple may delay introducing advanced and more energy-efficient screen technologies to this model until 2028, as the company seeks to develop a new and more efficient screen technology, while currently preferring to limit advanced features to the more expensive phone categories.
OpenAI launches “GPT-5.6” models
OpenAI has announced the launch of a limited trial version of the new “GPT-5.6” AI model series, which includes three versions: “Sol,” which is the most powerful and advanced; “Terra,” designed for daily work at a lower cost; and “Luna,” which is characterized by speed and an economical price. The “Sol” model comes with superior capabilities in the fields of programming, biology, and cybersecurity, with new security features that make it more capable of helping users fix digital vulnerabilities instead of causing harm. Despite this technical leap, the launch is still limited to a select group of partners due to restrictions imposed by the current US administration regarding protocols for evaluating and reviewing AI models before they are released to the public. The company hopes to cooperate with government agencies to ensure that these powerful tools are available to all users and developers around the world in the next few weeks.
Rumors about Apple developing a smart ring (iRing)
News has returned about Apple’s interest in developing a smart ring called “iRing,” following the great success achieved by competing smart rings such as the “Oura Ring” and “Samsung Galaxy Ring.” After years of patents and intermittent rumors, it seems that Apple is seriously considering offering this new option to users who prefer to track their vital signs, such as heart rate and sleep activity, via a simple and unobtrusive accessory instead of wearing an Apple Watch constantly. Although there are no precise details about the launch date or technical features, Apple’s entry into this field could change the rules of the game, especially with the market’s increasing trend towards wearables that combine elegance with the ability to monitor health accurately.
Apple explains the reason for price increases for 14 of its products
Apple announced today an increase in the prices of a wide range of its products, including “Mac” and “iPad” devices, as well as “Apple TV,” “HomePod,” and “Vision Pro,” with increases ranging from $30 to $1300, while iPhone, watch, and headphone prices have remained stable so far. Apple attributed this decision to the severe global shortage of memory and storage chips, resulting from the massive expansion of AI data centers that consume huge amounts of these components. The company confirmed that it had tried to protect consumers from these costs previously, but it was finally forced to raise prices due to the rising cost of manufacturing to record levels, noting that this situation may continue for a while, and that it is working hard to find solutions to this crisis that has affected most major tech companies globally.
Miscellaneous News
◉ Anthropic announced the launch of the new Claude Sonnet 5 model at a lower price and performance close to the Opus level, making it the default choice in free and paid plans. This version features better planning capabilities and the use of tools such as the browser and Terminal, in addition to improvements in reasoning, programming, and task completion compared to the previous version. It is also safer in rejecting harmful requests and shows lower error rates, as it is now available at a price starting from $2 per million inputs and $10 per million outputs until the end of August.
◉ Apple is seeking to overturn a British court ruling that requires it to pay $502 million to Optis for using patents related to 4G technology in iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches equipped with LTE. The case is no longer about whether Apple infringed on these patents, but about the value of fair compensation, as Optis believes Apple is stalling in paying the dues while Apple asserts that the amount is “arbitrary” and illogical. The British Supreme Court will hear the case this week, at a time when Apple has achieved greater success in American courts that cleared it of infringing on these patents.
◉ WhatsApp launched a new feature that allows users to reserve usernames instead of relying only on a phone number, making it easier to communicate without sharing personal information. A name between 3 and 35 characters can be chosen via settings, and a notification will be sent when the reservation option is available, with the option to use the same Instagram or Facebook name if it is not taken. This feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, and once activated, the phone number will not appear when starting a new conversation with a person or company.
◉ Apple announced its acquisition of assets from Rabbit 3 Times, the developer of the famous design app Play, which won an Apple Design Award in 2025. The app allowed designers to create prototypes for iPhone apps using the SwiftUI framework and sync them with Xcode, but it was removed from the App Store after the deal. Apple is expected to benefit from the app’s technologies to enhance development tools such as Xcode, although its future plans have not yet been revealed.
◉ Paul Meade, the official responsible for developing the Vision Pro device and the smart glasses project at Apple, left his position to join the hardware unit at OpenAI. Meade worked at Apple since 2010 and led teams on the iPad and iPhone before moving to the mixed reality product group in 2017, where he recently oversaw the development of AI-powered smart glasses. Fletcher Rothkopf will succeed him in leading the design teams, while this resignation comes within major administrative changes as John Ternus prepares to take over as CEO.
◉ Apple shares saw a significant decline of 6% after announcing price hikes for Mac, iPad, HomePod, Apple TV, and Vision Pro devices, the largest daily decline since April 2025. The company’s shares closed at $275.15, according to a CNBC report, reflecting investors’ concern about the impact of these increases on sales.
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