Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including two cancelled iPhones, the iPhone SE pricing decision, iOS 18.2.1 arriving, Apple Vision Pro coming to an end, 2025’s MacBook Air plans, and the Magic Mouse might finally get fixed.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple during the quiet holiday week. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.
Cancelling The iPhone SE Early
This week, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone SE were removed from sale in the European Union. As part of a new directive, a swathe of consumer electronics sold in the EU must now charge over USB-C. Rather than re-engineer the existing older handsets, Apple has decided to withdraw them:
“Apple initially resisted this move, saying that such a requirement could stifle creativity. However, the change went through and Apple moved its iPhones to USB-C with the iPhone 15 onwards. All iPad, AirPods, Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard connectors, for instance, are also now USB-C only.”
(Forbes).
Pricing The iPhone SE
The iPhone SE has always been Apple’s mid-range smartphone, fighting alongside the Galaxy A and Pixel A series. That means keeping the iPhone SE price in the same band as the competition. It looks like Apple is not changing that approach to 2025’s model:
“It’s a Japanese source with Apple’s own chip, etc., 500 dollars or less.”That reference to Apple’s own chip is about how the iPhone SE 4 is rumored to be the first iPhone to use an Apple-designed 5G modem. All 5G iPhones to date have used Qualcomm modems, but Apple has been working to replace the third party’s chipset.”
(Yeux1122 via Apple Insider).
Apple Prepares iOS 18.2.1
While the next big release of iOS is not expected until March—and will bring with it the last of the first wave of Apple’s generative AI tool—a point release is due for release to address several bug fixes and security issues.
“Just before the holidays, rumors swirled about a possible surprise iPhone update, iOS 18.2.1, to fix issues generated in the recent mammoth release of iOS 18.2, which brought Apple Intelligence to millions of users around the world in early December. Now, it looks like that surprise has been confirmed and new reports have commented on what is likely to be in the release. “
(Forbes).
Apple Vision Pro Production Coming To An End
The “brave new world” of augmented reality that was the Apple Vision Pro headset has… not been as embraced as Apple led us to believe it would. Indications from the supply chain point to the manufacturing of the headsets closing down and Apple relying on the current stockpile to serve the niche audience.
“Apple is said to have told Luxshare, a Chinese company that serves as the Vision Pro’s assembler, that it would need to wind down production in November. Luxshare was making around 1,000 Vision Pro headsets per day as of October, which was half that being produced at its peak. Apple will apparently still be able to resume Vision Pro production if sales pick up since the production lines are not yet due to be dismantled.”
(MacRumors)
Apple’s MacBook Plans For 2025
As part of a look at the release schedule for 2025, the team at Apple Insider has highlighted a changing approach to the Mac platform, specifically the MacBook Air. Its potential release has been brought forward to a standalone moment.
“Instead, the M4 MacBook Air will usher in the new year on its own. The timing of this product is unknown other than being first, so given Apple’s previous release patterns, it is expected to be a January or February release. The M4 MacBook Air will be released with a 13-inch and 15-inch model similar to the M3 generation released in March 2024.”
(Apple Insider).
And Finally…
Apple’s legendary power of design never answered the question “So why is the charging point on the Magic Mouse in such an awkward place?”. Will 2025 see a change to make the Magic Mouse look and feel like the aura of Apple promises?
“While the Magic Mouse switched from Lightning to USB-C a few months ago, the charging port is still located on the bottom of the mouse, which prevents it from being used while charging. This is only a minor inconvenience, as charging the mouse is a quick and infrequent process, but it sounds like Apple will finally relocate the port in the accessory’s next incarnation.”
(MacRumors).
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
