iPhone 16 Pro design leaks, goodbye Apple ID, confusion over iPhone 16 launch date

Updated August 25 with details on Apple staff briefings ahead of launch.

Take a look at this week’s Apple news and headlines, including iPhone 16 launch date confusion, iPhone 16 Pro design leaks, iPhone 16 comparison, iOS 18 European changes, macOS’s iPhone superpower, goodbye Apple ID, and Apple Podcasts app coming to Android.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many discussions surrounding Apple over the past seven days. You can also read my weekly Android news roundup here on Forbes.

Confusion over iPhone release date

This week, there has been a lot of talk about the iPhone 16 family launch date. Unfortunately, the excitement must have been dampened because the information it was based on turned out to be false. Here’s what David Phelan had to say about it:

“First of all, I’m sure it’ll be an in-person event and it’ll be held at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. And it’ll start at 10 a.m. Pacific time. But I don’t think there’s anything else that’s correct… I think the release date is set in stone for Friday, September 20th, but the keynote date could be a day earlier or a few days later than the widely anticipated September 10th. We’ll know soon enough.”

(Forbes).

Apple to stick to iPhone schedule

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter reports that Apple will launch its new hardware at an event on Tuesday, September 10. Gurman has a very good track record when it comes to Apple’s upcoming hardware and software releases. This weekend’s report confirms the long-suspected date for the official reveal of the new iPhone 16 family. Gurman goes on to pick September 20 as the retail availability start date:

“While the date has not yet been announced, the company is preparing for that date, which falls on a Tuesday, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. The unveiling will be followed by the phones going on sale on September 20, in keeping with Apple’s typical approach in recent years.”

These dates follow a well-established pattern for iPhone launches, though Apple may decide to stray from the September 10 date for a reason. As Forbes contributor David Phelan points out, the televised debate between the two presidential candidates is taking place that night. Tim Cook and his team may be tempted to avoid one of the biggest news moments of September in favor of creating their own headlines.

(Bloomberg via Forbes).

Update: Apple Store staff participate in pre-launch briefings

Before every iPhone launch, retail staff are called in for training on the new products. This year, there’s a slight difference. Rather than the usual weekend appointments, Apple will brief staff this Thursday and Friday. With Apple moving up the private schedule, could this indicate an earlier commercial launch of the iPhone 16? Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes the new dates on X:

Apple has scheduled an unusual, mandatory meeting for employees at all Apple stores on the evening of September 12 or the morning of September 13. This would take place before the iPhone 16 release a week later — but pre-launch meetings typically take place on Sundays, not weekdays.

(Mark Gurman).

iPhone 16 Pro design leaked

Leaving aside the question of when the iPhone 16 Pro will be released, the what is becoming increasingly clear as we approach the early September launch window. The latest details concern the all-important colorway in which Apple will market its new flagship:

“The current Pro model colors are Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. The more perceptive will have noticed that Apple is keen to promote the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro incorporates titanium into its design. The new lineup looks similar, with the gray likely being a new version of Natural Titanium. And the gold? According to the leak, it will be called Desert Titanium.”

(Forbes).

What is the difference?

With the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max at the top of the list and the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus at the bottom, you might expect Apple to put as much distance between the two lineups as possible. However, with generative AI being the big draw this year, they’ll have to come closer than ever:

“Unlike in previous years, where Apple has worked hard to create a difference between the regular iPhone and the professional iPhone Pro models, 2024 will see much more commonality between the two devices. Both will come with the latest Apple Silicon A18 chipset and have more RAM. The increased power and workspace they offer are needed to run the generative AI software (an acronym for Apple intelligence).”

(Forbes).

iOS 18 Changes for European Customers

The latest versions of iOS 18 show the additional steps Apple is taking in Europe to comply with new consumer protection regulations, including options for default search engines, web browsers, and more:

“For EU users, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will also include a new Default Apps section in Settings that lists the default settings available to each user. In future software updates, users will get new defaults for dialing, sending messages, translating text, browsing, managing passwords, keyboards, and spam filters. For more information, see the update on apps distributed in the European Union.”

(Apple Developer).

MacOS is getting ready

While the focus is on iOS 18 and the early stages of generative AI on the iPhone, macOS Sequoia is also expected to be released in mid-September. Just as iOS 18 will debut AI features until mid-October, macOS won’t either… but it needs to launch in September to provide the necessary synergy with iOS:

“This year, Apple plans to release macOS Sequoia around the same time as iOS 18 rather than delaying it until October. Introducing both updates simultaneously will ensure that cross-platform features are functional and work as intended, such as iPhone Mirroring. A key new feature, iPhone Mirroring, lets you control an iPhone running iOS 18 using a Mac running macOS Sequoia.”

(Mac Rumors).

Apple ID brand disappears

In a branding exercise that is no doubt motivated by data buried deep in Cupertino, the Apple ID is being renamed Apple Account. Ryan Christoffel warns that while the change is underway, people will need to be vigilant about scams that take advantage of the process:

“Apple IDs are a critical part of accessing a variety of highly sensitive and secure data related to your digital life. That’s why it’s important to be clear about terminology. Phishing attempts, for example, may seek to take advantage of user confusion during this change.”

(9to5Mac).

And finally…

Apple has opened up Apple Podcasts on its website to act as a player, and you can sign in to access your own library and various charts. This also has the fun domino effect of allowing Apple Podcasts to run on Android as a web app:

“The website is “accessible to anyone with a web browser on any device,” and Apple says it’s available on all major browsers, including Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. It’s supported in more than 170 countries and regions in their local languages. It doesn’t support transcripts, chapters, or downloads.”

(Podnews).

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