In the world of smartphones, Apple is always at the forefront of innovation and technology. This week, there have been several interesting developments in the realm of Apple and its products. Let's dive into the latest news and headlines surrounding Apple, including the upcoming iPhone 16 hardware leaks, problems with the iPhone 15 Pro, an App Store dilemma, Apple Pencil leaks, Apple Vision Pro reviews, and the enchantment of unboxing an Apple product.
The battle for smartphone cameras continues to rage on, and 2024 promises to bring some exciting advancements. One significant change comes in the form of widespread AI integration promoted by various manufacturers. Apple's plans in the AI arena are closely tied to the release of iOS 18, which is expected to be unveiled at WWDC 2024 in June. While specific details on Apple's AI plans remain under wraps, we do have some insight into the hardware upgrades that Apple will introduce in their Pro handsets. According to reports, this year's iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature an advanced sensor in the main camera. Not only will this sensor be more advanced than the current iPhone 15 Pro Max, but it will also be physically larger. This is an essential factor because the race for more megapixels is futile unless accompanied by larger pixels. Bigger pixels can capture more light, resulting in improved image quality. So, a sensor with the same pixel count but larger pixels can outperform a similarly sized sensor with a higher pixel count (Forbes).
However, despite the technological advancements in the iPhone 15 Pro, customer satisfaction seems to have taken a hit. Reports suggest that customer satisfaction with the iPhone 15 Pro is significantly lower compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 15. The Perfect Rec Team believes this may be attributed to the high expectations set by the Apple community for the iPhone 15 Pro, expectations that were not fully met. Early adopters, in particular, may have had higher expectations and felt somewhat disappointed by the incremental upgrades, as opposed to those who purchased the phone later in the cycle, possibly upgrading from older models (Perfect Rec).
Update: On Sunday, February 4, it was revealed that while customer satisfaction with the iPhone 15 Pro may have dropped, the retail performance of this premium handset has pleasantly surprised Apple watchers. Mark Gurman from Power-On reports on Apple's earnings, stating that Apple returned to revenue growth in the last quarter after four consecutive declining quarters. Much of this success can be attributed to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, as most consumers expect new phone releases in September. This boosted Apple's iPhone revenue by six percent in the final quarter of 2023, exceeding Wall Street estimates (Bloomberg).
Unfortunately, Apple's struggles with its iPhone modem persist. The company's attempt to design and produce its own modem fell short of expectations, forcing Apple to continue relying on Qualcomm. Recently, Apple confirmed that its deal with Qualcomm would be extended for another two years, until 2027. The original plan was to have an Apple-designed modem chip ready by 2024, but timeline setbacks have caused delays. Apple now aims to introduce the modem chip in a spring 2025 iPhone SE, although further delays are possible (MacRumors).
In the realm of software, Apple is facing a new challenge regarding its iPhone App Store and payment services. Reluctantly, Apple has started opening up its App Store and payment services to the European public. This move comes with changes allowing rival app marketplaces to exist, altering Apple's commission fees to app developers and even challenging the default web browser setting on iPhones. While many users welcome the increased variety and options, Apple has expressed concerns over the potential security risks posed by these changes. It remains to be seen whether these alterations will spread beyond the EU and affect users worldwide (Forbes).
On the accessories front, Apple's beloved stylus, the Apple Pencil, is set to receive an update. The upcoming version of the Pencil is rumored to include 'Find My' capabilities, making it easier to locate a misplaced stylus. This would be the first time Apple Pencil integrates with Find My, offering users the ability to precisely locate their pen (Forbes).
Apple's highly anticipated Apple Vision Pro headset has been made available to several reviewers, who are now putting it through its paces in the comfort of their own homes. While the technical prowess of the headset is apparent, reviewers are emphasizing the sense of solitude that comes with using the Vision Pro. It is undoubtedly an immersive experience, but one that isolates the user from others. This isolation might be expected in traditional virtual reality headsets, but it poses a unique challenge for a primary computing device (The Verge).
And finally, have you ever wondered what goes into creating the packaging for an Apple product? It turns out that Apple invests countless hours perfecting the unboxing experience. There is even a dedicated 'packaging room' where a design employee spends months opening hundreds of prototypes with different materials and shapes to ensure the best possible experience for consumers (Readtrung).
These are just a few highlights from the world of Apple this week. Stay tuned for more updates and news in the future.
