iPhone 17’s Missing Feature, Forbes’ Exclusive Tim Cook Interview, iPad Mini Specs

Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including the iPhone 17 Air leak, iPhone SE camera changes, iOS 18.2 and Apple Intelligence, Tim Cook interviewed, Apple’s 5G modem plans, waiting for the iPad Mini, and Apple Vision Pro’s end of year award.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.

What iPhone 17 Air Will Miss

2025 should see two exciting iPhones that break out of the standard three models. Early in the year, we expect the iPhone SE to debut in the mid-range market, but the September launch should see a more fashionable arrival. The presumptively named iPhone Air will see Apple join the trend of super-thin phones. That means a serious trimming of the hardware and Apple’s decide the camera will be the main loss as it moves to a single lens:

“This looks like being the ultimate selling point, a design element that stands out above all other features, not least because it is thought to have a single camera, unlike the dual lenses on the regular iPhone and three on the Pro models.”

(Forbes).

iPhone SE Camera Changes

Chaing up the camera could be the theme for 2025, although in the case of the iPhone SE, Apple is going the other way. While the single lens remains, the specs of that lens are getting a glow up:

“The rear camera will see a significant boost over 2022’s iPhone SE, with a move from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels. Coupled with Apple’s software advances in image processing, capturing more light data through the lens should improve the image quality, low light performance, and digital zoom. The selfie camera will also see a bump up in pixel count from 7 megapixels to 12 megapixels.”

(Forbes).

iOS 18.2 Is More Than Apple Intelligence

This week saw the release of iOS 18.2. This is a critical release as it brings ChatGPT to the awkwardly backronymed Apple Intelligence. It’s not the only addition to iOS, although you would not be criticised if the other features passed you by.

“Beyond Apple Intelligence, and therefore available to all iOS 18-capable iPhones are features including improvements to Photos, Voice Memos that now let you add vocals over existing audio, natural language search in apps like Apple Music and Sudoku puzzles in Apple News for News+ subscribers.”

(Forbes).

Tim Cook Talks Apple Intelligence

Nevertheless, iOS 18.2 is a big moment for Apple Intelligence; it’s the first time the service is available outside of the United States. One of those territories is the UK, and Tim Cook flew into the country to talk about the impact of iOS. Forbes’ contributor was there with an exclusive interview:

“In the future, you’ll see more features being added and it will just keep getting better and better. Artificial intelligence is a horizontal technology in that it will touch everything in your life over time. It will change everything, because it will be like having an assistant to prepare things that it would have taken you longer to do, to free you up to spend more time, pulling that string of curiosity or creating or following your passion.””

(Forbes).

Apple’s Magic Modem

Apple’s 2025 will also have another seismic change, and that’s the first 5G modem designed by Apple. This should cut them loose from Qualcomm’s communications hardware and offer more precise control over its own hardware. The f first consumers who will be testing the hardware in anger, will be those who buy the iPhone SE, but they won’t be the last:

“It’s worth noting that Apple is not committing to use the new technology in its major product lines, instead sticking to the lower-priced and more consumer-friendly hardware for the initial rollout phase. And as Gurman reports, after the iPhone and the iPad, Apple will turn to the Mac platform with its new-found love of its home-grown modems, and the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro should be first in line.”

(Forbes).

Waiting For The iPad Mini

Apple’s refresh rate on the iPad Mini is not as fast as the larger and more expensive tablets, and those looking for a new smaller tablet may have to wait for some time. Yet for those who wait, there is good news coming:

“According to Omdia’s latest long-term OLED display adoption forecast, the iPad mini will get the technology in 2026 or 2027, followed by the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air in 2027-2028. These devices will apparently use single-stack 60Hz OLED panels.”

(MacRumors)

And Finally…

Popular Science has published its annual “…of the year” awards, and Apple will be happy to see the Apple Vision Pro headset included as “Innovation Of The Year”:

“While AR headsets have existed before, this one gets our award because of how much potential it shows. It’s part of Apple’s overall hardware plan. The new iPhone cameras have a specific arrangement to shoot spatial video for consumption in AR. Familiar apps can offer augmented experiences specifically meant for headsets… we’re curious to see what Apple does next, because a consumer-friendly price on an experience like this could be a true game changer.

(Popsci).

Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.