Top Stories: New USB-C Apple Pencil, iPad and iMac Rumors, and More

[MacRumors]

After a flurry of rumors suggesting we might see some new iPad models this week, a new Apple Pencil turned out to actually be what was in the cards. The new Apple Pencil charges via USB-C, launches early next month, and is the cheapest model in a lineup that now includes three different Apple Pencils.

This week saw some additional rumors about future iPad and iMac models, while we're continuing to hear more about next year's iPhone 16 lineup, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

New Apple Pencil Announced With Hidden USB-C Port and More

Apple this week announced a new lower-cost Apple Pencil that will be sold alongside the original Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil 2. It will be available in early November, with U.S. pricing set at $79.

The new Apple Pencil has a similar design as the Apple Pencil 2, but with a USB-C port hidden under a sliding cap for charging and pairing over a USB-C cable. It is compatible with all iPad models equipped with a USB-C port, including the lower-end iPad 10.

• 8 Things to Know About the New Apple Pencil

Read our coverage of the new Apple Pencil announcement, our overview of the updated Apple Pencil lineup, and our Apple Pencil buyer's guide for more details.

Apple Possibly Working on Larger iPad Air With 12.9-Inch Display

A confusing new report from supply chain publication DigiTimes suggests Apple may be planning to release a larger iPad Air with a 12.9-inch display.

A preview of the report earlier this week indicated that a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air would be coming in the next update to the lineup, presumably alongside an updated 10.9-inch model, but the full article is less clear about the prospects for a 12.9-inch consumer model.

The report confusingly also claims that the next 12.9-inch iPad Pro will revert to traditional LCD backlighting rather than using the more advanced mini-LED backlighting found on the current model, while also mentioning upcoming iPad Pro models with OLED displays. Stay tuned for additional rumors that will hopefully clear things up.

New 24-Inch iMac Rumored to Launch in 2024

Apple plans to release a new 24-inch iMac in 2024, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The current model with the M1 chip was announced in April 2021 and is now quite old.

If Kuo is accurate, there will not be a new iMac this year. The all-in-one desktop computer is expected to be updated with a faster M3 chip eventually, but no design changes have been rumored for the next model.

Those hoping for a larger iMac may have to wait a bit longer, as Kuo also claims that a 32-inch model with a higher-end mini-LED display won't be coming until 2025.

iPhone 16 Pro Rumor Recap: Larger Displays, Capture Button, 5G Advanced, and More

While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are still around 11 months away from launching, there are already several rumors about the devices. We recently recapped new features and changes expected for the devices so far, so check out the list to learn more.

Key new features rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models include larger displays, an all-new Capture Button, support for 5G Advanced, and more.

Apple Rumored to Follow ChatGPT With Generative AI Features on iPhone as Soon as iOS 18

Apple plans to start implementing generative AI technology on the iPhone and iPad in late 2024 at the earliest, according to analyst Jeff Pu. This timeframe suggests that generative AI features could be introduced with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

Generative AI surged in popularity last year when the company OpenAI released ChatGPT, a chatbot that can respond to questions and other prompts, and Apple has been ramping up its work on similar 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: New USB-C Apple Pencil, iPad and iMac Rumors, and More

 

[Warped9]

An Apple pencil being the only thing released before the holidays is seriously underwhelming.

 

[Fuzzball84]

There's no need for a buyers guide for the pencil on here.. when you go to buy Apple Pencil on Apple website, you are presented with this

Find the right Apple Pencil for your iPad.​

Get help choosing. Contact us.


They should add... Pease, please contact us... we don't want an avalanche of returns this Christmas! Please read the compatibility lists.. please note that not all features incorporated into Apple Pencil are present on the latest Apple Pencil.

 

[Fuzzball84]

An Apple pencil being the only thing released before the holidays is seriously underwhelming.

For some people who just do basic note taking... it might prove to be an especially nice and not overly expensive gift.

 

[Warped9]

I consider myself fortunate. I want a new computer, but I’m not desperate for a new computer. My current 2011 runs very well for what I use it for. As such I can wait to see what the M3 iMac will be like rather than feeling pressed to buy something thats not my first choice. There’s no question a Mac Studio and display would be more than sufficient for what I need, but that involves spending more than a spec’d M3 iMac will cost me and I prefer the AIO configuration, particularly since my current iMac has given me twelve years (and counting) of exceptional and reliable service.

Before anyone mentions a Mac Mini—yeah, I know it’s capable, but I can‘t get past it looks so…underwhelming. And whether Mini or Studio it means more cables whereas an iMac does away with a lot of that.

There is also the aesthetic element. I was drawn to my first G3 iMac partly because it didn’t look like an ugly conventional desktop. It looked cool and futuristic. Yes, a Mac Mini or Mac Studio is a far cry from the ugly and cheap looking beige or black plastic towers of old (and today), but they’re still nondescript and uninteresting looking little boxes. The current iMac still looks cool and futuristic in addition to suiting my needs.

 

[Gudi]

There is also the aesthetic element. I was drawn to my first G3 iMac partly because it didn’t look like an ugly conventional desktop. It looked cool and futuristic.

So does the M1 iMac and it's neither terribly small nor underpowered (or even expensive when bought used). Now that winter is coming I'd hoped that it would heat up my room a little more. But that's really the only benefit of sticking to a 2011.

 

[Warped9]

So does the M1 iMac and it's neither terribly small nor underpowered (or even expensive when bought used). Now that winter is coming I'd hoped that it would heat up my room a little more. But that's really the only benefit of sticking to a 2011.

Yeah, I like the look of the current iMac design.

My 2011 21.5 is not stock. Over the years I upgraded components to its present state: i7, 500GB SSD and 32GB RAM. The only issue is the OS is stuck at High Sierra and recently a few websites won’t accept my version of Safari. I don’t want to put Google Chrome or some other browser on my iMac and my iPad can go to any website I might wish to visit. Otherwise my computer runs great—indeed way better than new when it came with an i5, 4GB RAM and 500GB hard drive. I did bump the RAM to 8 the very day I bought the computer—the beauty of user upgradable RAM.

I’m likely going to keep my old iMac even when I finally get a new computer. I’ve got the room to store it just in case I run into issues with the new one.


Apple standing pat with its current lineup of Macs and iPads offers no additional fanfare for the holiday season, except for iPhones and there is really nothing exceptional about the 15s over the 14s—the downside of incremental upgrades and tweaking. Mind you the retail landscape is presently soft, including tech, so maybe they figure the best bet is to offer current respectable tech for good deals (although not necessarily from Apple directly).

 

[Fuzzball84]

So does the M1 iMac and it's neither terribly small nor underpowered (or even expensive when bought used). Now that winter is coming I'd hoped that it would heat up my room a little more. But that's really the only benefit of sticking to a 2011.

Long gone are the days you can use a Mac as a space heater... with stock M1 or M2... they are too efficient. My M2 MacBook Air stays so cool.. it only warms up a little while connected to AC and charging.

But you could get an iPhone 15 Pro and use it to heat the entirety of your home this winter. And still have enough left over to fry an egg.

 

[mjs916]

For some people who just do basic note taking... it might prove to be an especially nice and not overly expensive gift.

IMHO I think this price point ($79) is where the Apple Pencil should be in general.

One Apple Pencil to rule them all. Actually, let’s say $89. That’s still a hefty premium over most styluses (styli?) and there would be no confusion about which Apple Pencil works with which device. Bonus: when you replace your tablet, your existing pencil works!

I don’t recall where I’ve heard this before but I feel like Apple could adopt it: “It just works.”

 

[Aston441]

I'm waiting for 4th gen pencil.

 

[Flight Plan]

I'm waiting for 4th gen pencil.

I’m waiting for Pencil OS (POS for short) version 5. And I need to be able to add memory to it.