Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Pricing, New iOS 16.4 Beta, Siri vs. ChatGPT, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple's high-end iPhone models have started at $999 in the U.S. since they first launched back in 2017 with the iPhone X, but could this finally be the year that starting price sees an increase?

This week also saw some more rumors about Apple's upcoming headset and the company's explorations in the booming AI industry as well as the release of a new round of beta updates, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!

iPhone 15 Pro Predicted to See First Price Increase Since iPhone X

Apple's next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models could be more expensive than existing models.

In a research note this week, technology analyst Jeff Pu said he believes the iPhone 15 Pro models will see a price increase due to several rumored hardware upgrades, including a titanium frame, solid-state buttons with additional Taptic Engines for haptic feedback, camera improvements, increased RAM, a USB-C port, and more.

The higher-end/Pro tier of the iPhone has started at $999 since the iPhone X was released in 2017.

Report: Apple CEO Tim Cook Ordered Headset Launch Despite Designers Wanting to Wait for AR Glasses

Apple is widely expected to announce its long-rumored AR/VR headset at WWDC this June following several years of development.

Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane​

The Financial Times this week reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook approved the headset's launch despite some of the company's designers preferring to wait for a lightweight pair of AR glasses. The current headset is expected to be a bulkier device with a head strap.

Apple Seeds Fourth Betas of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4

The fourth beta of iOS 16.4 was seeded to developers and public beta testers this week. Apple says the update will be released in the spring.

iOS 16.4 includes a handful of new features and changes, including support for push notifications from websites, Podcasts app improvements, new emoji options, and a new beta software installation method that will make it harder to get the iOS 17 developer beta for free.

Refurbished iPhone 13 Models Now Available From Apple's U.S. Store

Apple this week started selling refurbished iPhone 13 models through its online store in the U.S. for the first time since the devices launched in 2021.

All four models are listed on the refurbished store, including the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max, but availability fluctuates over time. The devices are discounted by over 15% compared to Apple's original brand new pricing.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus in Yellow Launched This Week

Yes, it's just a new color, but the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are now available in a Yellow finish following Apple's announcement earlier this month.

The launch of a new color brings some renewed attention to the iPhone 14 series, which launched in September 2022. There are no other changes to the devices beyond the Yellow finish, so consider waiting for the iPhone 15 later this year if you are interested in new features.

Apple Engineers Reportedly Exploring ChatGPT-Like AI Despite Siri Design Flaws

Amid the rise of AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT, a report this week from The New York Times claims that Apple engineers have been testing language-generation concepts recently.

A separate report from 9to5Mac this week also highlighted Siri-related language-generation code in tvOS for the Apple TV, but it's unclear exactly what Apple's plans are for this quickly-evolving technology.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Article Link: Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Pricing, New iOS 16.4 Beta, Siri vs. ChatGPT, and More

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Stephen Hawking warned about AI. Movies have played devil's advocate of the dangers of AI.

Let's all do AI?

If I had only been able to wait for a refurb Pro Max. It's all in the timing.

 

[oofio2461]

What a "Amazing" Time to be a Apple Fan.

 

[baryon]

I think that a Chat GPT-like AI could be so useful that it deserves to be a main feature in a smartphone. Using it for Siri would make sense, it feels like we've been waiting for something like this to come along, and here it is. Siri has always sucked but now that we can see what's possible, it will soon become a joke if Apple doesn't integrate AI.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

The 15 Pro/Pro Max is looking like a major upgrade even from the 14 Pro/Pro Max. I'm hoping all the rumors are true.

 

[Realityck]

Aside from pitching iPhones/iOS rumors, is anything really happening from Apple? Time for some Mac updates. Mac Pro, iMac, 15" MBA.

 

[haunebu]

This is the most boring time in history to be an Apple fan. Yay, another incremental iPhone update. Wow, iOS 16.4. Can't wait for the revolutionary 16.5 with additional "memoji"

And let's all hold out hope for the augmented reality product that never comes, right?

 

[anthogag]

It is good Tim ordered to release the hounds wearing AR/VR goggles.

iPad OS needs to make it easier and better to switch back&forth between the normal and small keyboard when I am using Apple Pencil. I use Pencil with my M2 iPad Pro and sometimes inputting text is better with the large keyboard using fingers.

 

[Aston441]

$1000 for a personal tracking device HaHaNo. They can pay ME if they want to track me.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

This story about the increased iPhone 15 price without predicting a price is so lame.

 

[krewger]

Things cost more than they use to? Who could come up with that kind of groundbreaking rumor?!

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

In 2023, it's almost certain that Apple will not hold a spring event. The only uncertainty for me is the rumoured 15 inch Macbook Air that was slated for an early April release according to Ross Young?

 

[BugHunter]

Stephen Hawking warned about AI. Movies have played devil's advocate of the dangers of AI.

Let's all do AI?

If I had only been able to wait for a refurb Pro Max. It's all in the timing.

Oh no, fiction warned us about AI?
Thats it people, shut it all down.
Phew close one, it’s just like the disaster that could have been if people kept playing Dungeons and Dragons after the cautionary tale of Mazes and Monsters.

 

[Realityck]

Oh no, fiction warned us about AI?
Thats it people, shut it all down.
Phew close one, it’s just like the disaster that could have been if people kept playing Dungeons and Dragons after the cautionary tale of Mazes and Monsters.

People seem to forget that AI is commonly part of smarter electronic products. Doesn't mean the product thinks on its own, just that when you task it to do specific things its smart enough to determine several aspects of operation automatically to make your device or appliance to run better. But yeah the movies do frighten a lot of people against technology. How many haven't seen terminator.

 

[zombierunner]

The 14 Pro 128GB is £1099 already. The Ultra will be £1499?

 

[Vasilisxd]

Scrap Siri, go buy Perplexity Ai.

 

[acconda81]

Only just upgraded from iPhone 7 Plus to 14 pro, the 14 pro will last me 5 years easy! I look after my hard earned cash

 

[zoozx]

Apple no longer is superior as it was many years ago, many cheaper alternatives that are as good, equal or even better.
Apple needs to focus on cheaper, better options to be innovative and a leader once again.

 

[transphasic]

Apple no longer is superior as it was many years ago, many cheaper alternatives that are as good, equal or even better.
Apple needs to focus on cheaper, better options to be innovative and a leader once again.

This is the issue when a company is led by a bean counter like cookie instead of a visionary like Jobs.

Cookie's sole purpose in life is to live off of Apple's reputation for cool, edgy, innovative products from the past, while selling boatloads of cheaply made, poorly-conceived current product designed to satiate Wall Street's quarterly earnings demands, nothing more.

Cookie has zero creativity and represents a corporate-focused CEO incapable of developing new, innovative and attainable products for the masses the way Jobs wanted to, and frequently did. Cookie probably looks at the stock price 40-50 times per day, dozing off in meetings after stressing for hours how to squeeze another $100 out of already frustrated customers who have endured significant price hikes the last 5 years.

Apple was developing a broad product line years ago, with rationally-priced iPhones at $400 or $500; now the top of the line is exceeding $1,000 - absurd for a phone that cookie hopes customers will replace in 2 years.

They need new leadership, while Warren Buffet might applaud the quarterly earnings reports Apple pumps out showing huge profits, the brand and userbase are suffering as the product quality and design have become afterthoughts.

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

With Language Learning models. Siri isn't falling behind, it's dead last in a race that is now generations of tech beyond Siri.

 

[switz]

The top model MacBook Pro laptop cost around $3,500 just a few years back. Now the top model 16" MacBook Pro is at $6,500. Perhaps the public is uninformed about the terrific drop in the purchasing power of a dollar.

I remember regular gasoline costing $0.08 per gallon and they pumped the gas and wiped the windshield. Now gas is over $4 per gallon and the pump takes the credit card or a sullen sole employee takes the cash and I do all the work.

Like nearly everything for sale now in the US, the majority of the sticker price is paid to a foreign entity that actually made the device and a few dollars profit shows up here. No wonder China has new roads and infra structure and ours is a crumbling mess.

So Americans with their ever decreasing purchasing power que up and seemingly buy everything Apple sells at these high prices. If no one purchased the goods, prices would definitely come down.

The job of a phone was to make and receive a call. I used a lot of Western Electric telephones made in Indianapolis,, Indiana that did that just fine. We could talk to folks all over the world and the monthly cost was reasonable. The phone was provided as part of the service. There were phone booths beside the road if we felt the need to make a call "now".

Apple has convinced the populace that we need the power of a super computer to make a call. And we need to pay lots for the connection service as well as for the phone.

What is wrong with this picture? Folks go into debt to have the latest toy.

 

[Realityck]

The launch of a new color brings some renewed attention to the iPhone 14 series, which launched in September 2022. There are no other changes to the devices beyond the Yellow finish, so consider waiting for the iPhone 15 later this year if you are interested in new features.

Corrected: Some remember the iPhone 11 being very popular in Yellow. iPod Nano 4th gen came out in yellow also.

 

[HVDynamo]

Some remember the iPhone 4 being very popular in Yellow. iPod Nano 4th gen came out in yellow also.

The iPhone 4 was never yellow. It was predominately black, and only got the white option late into its cycle due to challenges in getting the white to look right.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Oh no, fiction warned us about AI?
Thats it people, shut it all down.
Phew close one, it’s just like the disaster that could have been if people kept playing Dungeons and Dragons after the cautionary tale of Mazes and Monsters.

Stephen Hawking did too, as I said...

Yeah, it's not fiction, especially when you look at how many of the 'AI' chat programs/apps have gone full racist/sexist/fascist/obnoxious in fairly short periods of time. They 'learn' from their interactions with others, and if that doesn't frighten you, then what drugs are you taking.

Yes, sci-fi warned us about AI because AI is so very much more powerful once people get used to it, and it gets used to us. That there was a flaw in Asimov's Three Rules Of Robotics that AI drove right through was not a big surprise. Humans can be very erratic and capricious. We often say things we don't mean, and mean things we don't say. We use language as an elastic concept, and that alone would make it hard for a concrete thinking AI entity to handle.

But, yes, I am no luddite, and yet so much of AI scares me. Once it's in place, how can it be ended if it skates a little over a lie, or plunges pell-mell over it, and the next 20? Having AI driven trucks is fine, as long as the truck doesn't run over my car? Not a glittering endorsement of AI...

I think AI is a dangerous path. Human employees are becoming more of an oddity, being replaced by tablets, apps and websites. No software is 100% perfect 100% of the time. Even autopilots in planes are not to be trusted implicitly. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up when I heard there is a Skynet company.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Cookie has zero creativity and represents a corporate-focused CEO incapable of developing new, innovative and attainable products for the masses as way Jobs wanted to, and frequently did. Cookie probably looks at the stock price 40-50 times per day, dozing off in meetings after stressing for hours how to squeeze another $100 out of already frustrated customers who have endured significant price hikes the last 5 years.

In their 'creative time', Jony Ive substituted thin for creativity. Creativity can take many forms. Eventually the ceiling will be reached for 'innovation'. You can only make a cellphone limited number of ways for it to be useful.