This week, could Apple be changing the way they release iPhones in 2026, and will you even need an iPhone 10 years from now!?
More iPhone rumours...
In what’s fast becoming something of a tradition, we’ll start this week’s newsletter with a look at the latest rumours surrounding Apple’s upcoming devices. And this time, it’s the turn of the iPhone 17 Air. At this point, the form factor seems all but set in stone, thanks to a wave of CAD file leaks and even dummy units. Anyone familiar with the phone supply chain knows that WWUI, or Works With User Interface files, are very much a real thing. Apple shares them in advance so that third-party case makers can get a head start on accessories for unreleased products.
So, what do we know about the iPhone 17 Air? It’s going to be impossibly thin, possibly Apple’s thinnest product to date, even thinner than the latest iPad Pro. For a while now, the assumption has been that Apple would only launch a device like this once battery and component tech had advanced enough to maintain all-day battery life inside such a slim shell. That thinking was reinforced when Apple introduced its C1 modem chip in the iPhone 16e, replacing the Qualcomm modems used until now. The C1 is known for offering much better energy efficiency.
That said, recent reports suggest the battery life on the iPhone 17 Air might still fall short of all-day use. It may be good enough for many, but not quite as long-lasting as some had hoped. This fits with the idea that the 17 Air will be a form-over-function product, one that looks stunning but may not be quite as practical as the rest of the iPhone lineup. It’s disappointing to think that a premium device might still need a top-up charge during the day, in addition to the usual overnight plug-in.
One rumour gaining traction is that Apple could reintroduce the MagSafe battery pack, a snap-on charger first launched a few years ago. While plenty of cheaper third-party versions already exist, carrying an extra charger around is not ideal. Attaching it would also bulk up what is meant to be a sleek and slim device, which sort of defeats the point. I’m not sure I believe this one, and even if it's true, I’m not convinced it’s a great move for users.
Hopefully, we’ll get official confirmation in September, when Apple is expected to unveil the full iPhone 17 lineup.
The other big rumour in relation to iPhones specifically is that Apple is moving away from its September launch schedule. Technically, what I mean by that is that we may still see a September launch of iPhones in 2026, but rather than releasing everything all in one go, it's thought that Apple is going to split their line up into the more pro and therefore more expensive models and separate them away from the more consumer-friendly versions. They will then host two events at different times of the year.
And if the iPhone 16e is anything to go by, I would expect that the event for the more budget-friendly phones will be earlier on in the year, with the more premium phones still launching sometime around September or October, giving plenty of opportunity for consumers to spend their cash in the run-up to the holiday season.
Next year, if all rumours come to be correct, we are expecting around six new iPhones to be launched. We should be getting an iPhone 18, although potentially not an iPhone 18+. We should be getting an iPhone 18e. We should be getting an iPhone Air. We should be getting an iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. And it is also thought that we will get the first iPhone fold, potentially called the iPhone Ultra, but we will have to wait and see.
How this plays out, of course, is anyone's guess. It does make a lot of sense. I think Apple events and phone launches typically do well when the company is focussed on the consumer that they are trying to target with that particular launch. And having so many different devices next year covering such a wide range of different consumers, it does make sense that Apple would want to try and find a way to segment the market a little bit more effectively.
iPhone Essentials Plus - MAJOR update
My dedicated training portal, iPhone Essentials Plus, has been out for a few months now, and hundreds of customers have been digging into the training. I’ve been listening to your feedback and taking everything on board, and with that, I’ve started making some major changes to the portal, with more to come over the next couple of weeks.
A common piece of feedback was around the balance of content — with some people feeling that it focused too much on the basics, while others felt there weren’t enough basics included. To address this, I’ve started separating each module into two distinct submodules. From now on, every module will include a Fundamentals section (for all the core basics) and a Next Steps section (for more advanced content).
For the advanced material, I’m currently working through my previous YouTube videos and pulling out relevant tips and tricks to add into the portal. I don’t yet have a firm date for when everything will be in place, but I do expect to make significant progress over the next couple of weeks — so keep an eye out. I’ll also let you know in the newsletter when the next major update goes live. I'm confident we'll be well over the 200 lesson mark in a couple of week's time.
You may also notice that the style of the videos has changed slightly. I’ve been experimenting over the past few months to strike the right balance between maintaining a high production quality and being able to create content quickly enough to keep up with everything. I’m now really happy with the current style, and all new videos will be created using it. I also plan to re-record the older videos in this new format by the end of May.
That timing isn’t a coincidence. As you’ll probably know, Apple is set to announce iOS 19 in early June at WWDC, and I’ll be installing it straight away. Work will begin immediately so that by the time iOS 19 launches publicly in September, the portal is fully updated to match the new operating system.
Thanks so much to everyone who has already joined the portal. I really hope you’re getting value from it, and I hope you’ll stick with me as it evolves. My goal is to have over 200 lessons in the portal by the end of May — making it one of the most complete iPhone training resources available anywhere. And I’ve no plans to stop there. The sky really is the limit in terms of how complete and detailed I want this course to become. If you’re interested in checking it out for yourself, you can access the portal here.
Oh, and if you're more into the Mac — I’m really excited to announce that by the end of this month, I’ll also be releasing Mac Essentials Plus. It will follow the same format as iPhone Essentials Plus, but specifically for the Mac. It’s not available just yet, but it will be in a few weeks. If you’d like to be one of the first to know when it’s live, click here to join the waiting list.
10 years from now, you may not need an iPhone?
Could we be slowly entering the death spiral of the iPhone? Interestingly enough, Eddy Cue, one of Apple’s most senior executives, thinks that we might be. During testimony in the US Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google parent Alphabet this week, Cue made a surprising comment that we may not need an iPhone ten years from now.
What he was referring to is the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, moving from a novelty embraced by tech enthusiasts to a foundational technology that could touch every part of our lives. If AI continues on the trajectory that many tech companies believe it will, it may soon shape how we interact with people, how we work, and how we spend our leisure time, possibly without us even realising it.
Cue’s comments were made specifically in the context of Apple’s long-standing relationship with Google. For years, Google has paid Apple handsomely to be the default search engine in Safari, the browser pre-installed on all iPhones, iPads and Macs. This deal gives Google a steady stream of traffic and Apple a tidy sum in return, reportedly around $20 billion in 2022 alone.
But Apple knows the way we search is changing. The traditional method of opening a browser, typing in a search query and scanning results is becoming less common. Increasingly, people are turning to AI-based tools to ask questions and get instant, summarised answers. In fact, while researching this article, I didn’t search Google. I used Perplexity, and had my answer in seconds.
Cue believes that if search engines fade, hardware devices like the iPhone may follow. But I’m not convinced. The issue with that theory is simple: no matter how powerful AI becomes, we’ll still need a device to carry with us, to display the information, and to interact with the AI itself.
And if the current crop of alternatives are anything to go by, we’re not ready to replace the iPhone just yet. Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban for their smart glasses is a good example. The technology is intriguing, and Apple is reportedly working on similar products, but I’m not sure we want constant information flashing in front of our eyes all day long.
There’s something valuable about the separation that a phone provides. When you take your phone out of your pocket, you're making a clear choice to engage with it, and people around you can see that too. The idea of sitting on a train, staring blankly ahead with your glasses feeding you updates, emails or videos, while others are left guessing what you're doing, just feels a bit unsettling.
Tip of the week
Did you know, if you use Apple News, you can rate the articles that are suggested to you, to have the app suggest more or less content, similar to that content. Just use the thumbs up/down button.
Content I've enjoyed
You (probably) don't need to upgrade your Mac yet...
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These new Windows tabs look amazing
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That's all from me for another issue, speak to you next week!
