Top Stories: Major Apple Devices Leak, $599 MacBook Rumor, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple this week briefly made a file available that contained identifiers for many unreleased devices and chips, including new models of the Studio Display, Apple TV, Apple Watches, Apple Vision Pro, iPad mini, HomePod mini, and more.

In other news this week, it was reported that Apple is planning a wide range of new smart home devices and accessories, and there were more rumors about a lower-cost MacBook powered by an A18 Pro chip. Other top stories this week included another iOS 26 beta release, more discussion surrounding iPhone 17 pricing, and the Blood Oxygen feature finally being re-enabled on newer Apple Watch models sold in the United States.

Editor's Note: Top Stories was published later than usual today due to summer holidays.

Top Stories

Every Apple Device That Leaked This Week

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered references to many unreleased Apple devices that the company left in a file that was publicly accessible.

Here is everything that was discovered:

• A new HomePod mini with an S9 chip or newer
• A new Apple TV with an A17 Pro chip
• A new Studio Display with an A19 Pro chip
• A new iPad mini with an A19 Pro chip
• A new low-cost iPad with an A18 chip
• A new Vision Pro with an M5 chip
• Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 chip details

As always, nothing is official yet and Apple's plans could change.

Apple's Big Plan to Revamp the Smart Home

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discussed Apple's plan to focus on the smart home with a host of new devices and improvements to Siri.

Apple is reportedly planning to release a smart home hub in 2026, a tabletop robot in 2027, a home security camera, a Face ID doorbell, and more. GPT-5 integration is coming to Siri with iOS 26, and a more personalized version of Siri is set to launch next year. Plus, Siri might receive another redesign on the iPhone and iPad as early as next year.

You can listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel.

New $599 MacBook Could Launch This Year

We've been hearing rumors of a new low-cost MacBook powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, and a new report indicates that it could come in at a price point as low as $599. The laptop will reportedly include a 12.9-inch display, slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch screen on the smaller MacBook Air models.

The new MacBook would be a successor to the M1 MacBook Air from 2020, which continues to be an ultra low-cost option available only through Walmart for $599.

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 6

Apple has moved to a one-week interval for iOS 26 beta releases, which means this week saw the release of iOS 26 beta 6.

Apple is continuing to make changes to the upcoming update, such as adding new ringtones, faster and bouncier animations when opening and closing apps, and more tweaks to the Liquid Glass look.

iOS 26 should be released to the general public in September.

Will the iPhone 17 Cost More?

As seems to be the case every year, rumors have been circulating about potential price increases coming with the launch of new flagship iPhones in September. The rumors have been split about whether we might see an across-the-board increase on the order of $50 or whether increases might be targeted at certain models... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: Top Stories: Major Apple Devices Leak, $599 MacBook Rumor, and More

 

[Johnny365]

Highly, highly doubt a new iPad Mini (A19 Pro) is releasing just 1 year after the Mini (A17 Pro). Makes no sense with Apple’s typical Mini release schedule.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Highly, highly doubt a new iPad Mini (A19 Pro) is releasing just 1 year after the Mini (A17 Pro). Makes no sense with Apple’s typical Mini release schedule.

It could be as simple as Apple (or TSMC) not wanting to keep manufacturing the A17 Pro chip from 2023.

There are economies of scale when more products can use a single component. But the only products that use the A17 Pro today are the iPhone 15 Pro/Max and the iPad Mini 7th gen.

While the iPad Mini is less than a year old... the iPhone 15 Pro/Max will soon be two years old and might not be for sale anymore after next month's iPhone announcement. So it kinda seems silly for TSMC to keep making the A17 Pro chip for a relatively low-volume product like the iPad Mini (compared to the iPhone)

Apple might be getting a deal from TSMC if they order more A19 Pro chips now and going forward to use in more of their products.

 

[Avidos1]

With Apple Intelligence it’s no surprise that they are want to get all current devices upto a spec that they can use it

 

[ghanwani]

The laptop will reportedly include a 12.9-inch display, slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch screen on the smaller MacBook Air models.

The new MacBook would be a successor to the M1 MacBook Air from 2020, which continues to be an ultra low-cost option available only through Walmart for $599.

The 12.9" screen is even smaller than the 13.3" screen on the M1 MBA. Really odd size.

 

[tenthousandthings]

Highly, highly doubt a new iPad Mini (A19 Pro) is releasing just 1 year after the Mini (A17 Pro). Makes no sense with Apple’s typical Mini release schedule.

The Mini always skips at least one iPad generation:

J210 = iPad11,1 :: A12 iPad mini WiFi
J211 = iPad11,2 :: A12 iPad mini WiFi + Cellular

J310 = iPad14,1 :: A15 iPad mini WiFi
J311 = iPad14,2 :: A15 iPad mini WiFi + Cellular

J410 = iPad16,1 :: A17 Pro iPad mini WiFi
J411 = iPad16,2 :: A17 Pro iPad mini WiFi + Cellular

So A19 Pro Mini would fit that pattern:

J510 = iPad18,1 :: A19 Pro iPad mini WiFi
J511 = iPad18,2 :: A19 Pro iPad mini WiFi + Cellular

But it would come after the iPad 17 generation launches in October 2025. So early 2026, alongside the new Studio Display(s)…

 

[MAlbi]

“kids laptop”, why not.
For 599$, looking forward to see technical details first.
Moderately used MacBook Pro 13,3 8GB / 512GB / i7 / 2020.

 

[aevan]

iPhone costing 50 dollars more in US will mean it’s, for some reason, 150 euro more in EU and 200 euro more in my country. Where it was more expensive to begin with.

 

[Lyrca]

Seeing a MacBook powered by the A18 pro chip has me dreaming of being able to plug my iPhone 16 Pro to a USB hub and have full fledged MacOS desktop.

 

[Sarafay]

Lost

 

[Hammerd]

Highly, highly doubt a new iPad Mini (A19 Pro) is releasing just 1 year after the Mini (A17 Pro). Makes no sense with Apple’s typical Mini release schedule.

Not unprecedented.
iPad (3rd generation): March 2012
iPad (4th generation): November 2012

7.5 months

 

[AppleTO]

I can see the rumoured cheaper MacBook being identical to the M1 Air, which is still sold at Walmart, just with an A18. There we go, a MacBook SE.

Apple isn’t going to want to spend loads on R&D for something low cost. They’ll re-use as much they can still produce.

Edit: Also, minus Thunderbolt, due to the SoC.

 

[TheOldChevy]

A mini low-cost MacBook will be perfect for traveling.

Updated AppleTV is good even if I will probably not perceive the difference.

 

[TalkieToaster]

I'm really hoping the laptop will have a smaller footprint. The 11" air was absolutely perfect for travel

 

[Kiwamu]

I can see the rumoured cheaper MacBook being identical to the M1 Air, which is still sold at Walmart, just with an A18. There we go, a MacBook SE.

Apple isn’t going to want to spend loads on R&D for something low cost. They’ll re-use as much they can still produce.

Edit: Also, minus Thunderbolt, due to the SoC.

... and I just hope this will be also sould outside of the US and outside specific stores. I really wish this will have a broad release

 

[Schnegg]

Is smart home stuff really that big of a market? Are people eagerly putting electronics all over their homes?

 

[acader]

$599 laptop would cannibalize a part of the iPad market. I highly doubt it. But let's see.

 

[Michael Scrip]

$599 laptop would cannibalize a part of the iPad market. I highly doubt it. But let's see.

Isn't Apple famous for saying they'd rather cannibalize themselves rather than have someone else do it?

See iPod --> iPhone

At least you'd still be buying an Apple product. If someone only has $600 to spend on a laptop... Apple would rather you buy this instead of some Dell or HP laptop.

I think this is a great move. At $600 it'll cost much less than a Macbook Air... and the same the mid-tier iPad Air. It hits the sweet spot for someone who wants to run MacOS computer programs rather than iPad tablet apps.

Apple's never been here before. (well unless you count the Walmart M1 Macbook Air) 😎

I'm curious about the price, though. $600 would be amazing... but I'm wondering how many compromises they'll have to make to get it down to that price compared to the $1,000 Macbook Air. That $400 is quite a drop!

 

[acader]

Isn't Apple famous for saying they'd rather cannibalize themselves rather than have someone else do it?

See iPod --> iPhone

Not necessarily. The iPod functionality was fully integrated into the iPhone. The $600 MacBook Air, could potentially kill the $600 iPad market since MBA will come with a keyboard and lightweight etc. Why pay $600 and get an iPad, spend $300 or more on keyboard+pencil when you can get a similar device for just about $600.

Overall, I highly doubt this rumor-to-reality since Apple already had a low cost, small form factor MBA, which they dropped.