Apple originally designed a smaller, hinge-mounted Apple Pencil exclusively for its foldable iPhone Duo, but according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the accessory hit unresolved technical problems before mass production and was scrapped. Apple instead opted to support the existing USB-C Apple Pencil, though that compatibility won't be ready at launch and is expected to arrive later in 2026 after further software development and testing.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-20
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman outlines Apple's near-term product roadmap, saying six devices should ship before year's end, including touchscreen MacBook Pro models, an updated non-touch 14-inch MacBook Pro, a refreshed iMac with an M6 chip, a HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K with Siri AI, and an OLED iPad mini. The long-rumored HomePad smart display remains unconfirmed for this window, with Gurman calling its timing still fluid. He also previews a first-half-2027 wave covering an iPhone Air 2, an OLED iPad Air, and mostly iterative chip upgrades across iPhone, MacBook Air, MacBook Neo and iPad Pro lines.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is considering repositioning Beats as a label for less refined, lifestyle-driven products, with gaming controllers as a starting point. The idea reflects Apple's interest in tapping into gaming culture without attaching its flagship brand to hardware that may not meet its usual design polish.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-13
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has spent over a year developing gaming controllers for iPhone, but plans to release them under its Beats brand rather than the Apple label. Code referencing two devices, codenamed T6502 and T1057, was recently found in a macOS release candidate, showing components like dual thumbsticks, shoulder buttons and D-pads. Beats executives are reportedly leading the design and engineering of these controllers.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is speeding up renovations across its retail stores with three key changes: new dedicated 'Avenue' sections for order pickups and Today at Apple sessions, removal of large video walls at the back of stores, and the return of standalone Genius Bars in place of the Genius Grove format used for over a decade.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-13
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is building two game controllers for the iPhone, likely to be sold under its Beats subsidiary rather than the Apple brand itself. The report follows earlier findings by MacRumors of references to two first-party controller devices buried in macOS 26.7 code, even though the products are apparently intended for iOS.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-13
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed earlier code discoveries suggesting Apple is building its own gamepad accessories for iPhone, identified internally by model numbers T6502 and T1057. The devices reportedly include a D-pad, thumbsticks, haptic motors, and possibly motion-sensing hardware, though their final design remains unknown. Gurman suggests the controllers may ultimately launch under the Beats label, with Beats executives leading the project.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-13
Analyst Mark Gurman says the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will come in four colors: Black, Light Blue, Silver, and Burgundy. This marks a shift from last year's iPhone 17 Pro, which shipped with only three color options and no black variant. Gurman also noted the foldable iPhone Duo is expected in dark blue and white.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-09
Ahead of Apple's 'Surprise and shine' event, leakers and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman detail expected announcements including the foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro with a smaller Dynamic Island supporting three Live Activities, a mechanical aperture on the Pro Max, and faster charging. AirPods 5 are also expected, offering versions with and without wireless charging cases plus improved noise cancellation, while camera-equipped AirPods have reportedly been pushed to next year. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro are expected to open September 12 at the usual 5 a.m. PT time.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-09
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone may be named the iPhone Duo rather than 'Fold' or 'Ultra,' pricing it from $2,000 for 256GB up to nearly $3,000 for 2TB. The device is expected to feature an A20 Pro chip, C2 modem, dual 48MP rear cameras, a 12MP front camera, Apple Pencil support, and a landscape-folding design, launching in October in dark blue and white.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-09
Ahead of Apple's launch event, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will carry a $100 price increase, starting at $1199, while the new foldable iPhone Duo will start at $1999 with higher-storage models near $3000. These figures come in below the steeper increases many analysts had predicted earlier this year.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-09
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple's upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will use the microphone, GPS and other sensors to build daily activity recaps, including summaries of conversations. These recaps will live inside the new Siri app, and users can set the listening feature to run continuously or only in specific locations.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-09