Apple to Launch Ultra-Thin ‘iPhone 17 Air‘ in 2025, Leaks Suggest Design Compromises
CUPERTINO, CA – June 27, 2025 – Apple is poised to disrupt the smartphone market with the anticipated release of an ultra-thin iPhone model in 2025, tentatively named the ‘iPhone 17 Air’ or ‘iPhone 17 Slim’. Leaked images surfacing today reveal subtle yet potentially significant design shifts, hinting at internal adjustments to accommodate the device’s slim profile.
The leaks, centered around photographs of screen protectors designed for the iPhone 17 lineup, highlight a minor repositioning of the front-facing camera on the ‘iPhone 17 Air’ model.While the standard iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max maintain the traditional front-camera placement to the right of the Dynamic Island, the ‘Air’ variant appears to deviate from this standard. This adjustment suggests Apple may be making internal design compromises to achieve an exceptionally thin form factor.This news falls squarely into
HomeKit Insider Podcast Highlights Smart Home Innovations and Gadgets
The latest episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast dissects the newest smart home features revealed at WWDC 2025. Listeners can catch up on announcements from Apple’s various operating systems, alongside a hands-on review of the Govee lamp post light.
WWDC 2025 Smart Home Rundown
The podcast opens with a deep dive into the smart home advancements coming with iOS 26. This version includes significant enhancements for CarPlay, allowing for widgets designed to control and view smart home devices. Beyond CarPlay, the Home app also receives notable updates.
In addition to iOS 26, tvOS and visionOS get their own tailored updates. The Apple TV gains features like a karaoke mode. Meanwhile, the Vision Pro now has access to widgets.
Podcast Episode Details
The podcast then turns its focus to recent releases. The WWDC news is followed by the only substantial release of the week, the China G100 from Aqara. The episode also features a detailed assessment of the Govee lamp post light.
The Govee lamp post light, tested in the episode, is a full-color outdoor light. It operates over Wi-Fi and supports Matter. The light has integrated sensors.
Additional Information
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Subscribe to the AppleInsider Podcast by saying, “Hey, Siri,” to your HomePod mini to catch their latest episodes. For ad-free listening, consider subscribing for $5 monthly via the Apple Podcasts app or Patreon.
Apple Delays AI-Powered Siri Over Quality Concerns
Tech Giant Prioritizes Reliability Over Rapid Rollout
Apple is postponing the release of its significantly upgraded Siri assistant until 2026, citing the need to ensure the artificial intelligence features meet the company’s stringent quality standards. The move underscores Apple’s cautious approach to AI, contrasting with competitors’ faster, but sometimes flawed, implementations.
Internal Testing Revealed Shortcomings
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, revealed the delay during an interview with YouTuber iJustine. He explained that while the new Siri functionalities were operational internally, their performance didn’t reach the level required for public release. “We’re targeting sometime in 2026, though no firm release date has been shared,” he stated.
Apple software chief Craig Federighi
Originally unveiled at WWDC 2024, the planned Siri enhancements promised more natural conversations, improved contextual awareness, and the ability to handle complex, multi-step requests. Industry analysts initially anticipated these features would launch in 2025.
Apple’s Privacy-Focused AI Strategy
Apple distinguishes itself by prioritizing on-device AI processing, minimizing reliance on cloud-based systems common among rivals like Google and Microsoft. This approach aligns with growing consumer concerns about data privacy; a recent Pew Research Center study found that 79% of Americans are very or somewhat concerned about how companies use their data. (Pew Research Center, 2019)
Developers now have access to Apple’s foundational models through a new API, enabling them to integrate natural language capabilities into their applications without external dependencies. This empowers developers while maintaining Apple’s commitment to user privacy.
A Shift in Apple’s Media Approach?
This year also marked a notable change in Apple’s media strategy. For the first time in a decade, Apple executives did not participate in The Talk Show with John Gruber during WWDC week. Gruber acknowledged the absence, but offered no explanation for the change. This could indicate a move towards more controlled messaging or a focus on broader, mass-market platforms, or simply a disagreement, as Gruber noted he’s been excluded before after critical commentary.
The decision to delay Siri reflects Apple’s philosophy of delivering polished, reliable products, even if it means sacrificing speed to market. The company believes a delayed, high-quality release is preferable to a rushed launch with potentially frustrating user experiences.
New Software Update Will Leave Older MacBook Pro Models Behind
As **Tim Cook** prepares to unveil the latest Apple innovations at the Worldwide Developers Conference next week, a significant shift is underway. While new features are expected across the Apple ecosystem, some older MacBook Pro owners face being left behind as Apple drops support with the upcoming macOS update.
macOS Tahoe: A New Era for Apple Silicon
According to **Mark Gurman** of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, Apple is streamlining its operating system numbering, with the next version of macOS being designated macOS 26, codenamed “Tahoe.” This refresh coincides with a growing focus on artificial intelligence and unifying the user experience across devices.
New MacBook Pro laptops are displayed during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2023. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Apple’s advancements in AI, including generative AI powered by large language models, demand significant processing power. This poses a challenge for older Intel-based Macs, which may struggle to keep pace. Developers are increasingly prioritizing Apple Silicon, potentially leading to apps that simply won’t run on older hardware. In fact, a recent study by Statista shows that Apple Silicon Macs now account for 78% of all Macs in use, up from 45% in 2022, highlighting the rapid shift in the user base. (Statista, June 2025)
Which MacBook Pros Will Be Affected?
The cutoff point for support appears to be the 2019 MacBook Pro. This is significant because it represents the last generation of MacBook Pros powered by Intel processors. The transition to Apple Silicon began in late 2020 with the M1 chip, delivering substantial improvements in performance and efficiency. While Apple typically provides several years of software support, the demands of new features like advanced AI are accelerating the end of life for older models.
The company continues to offer multi-year support for its hardware, but the limitations of older processors are becoming increasingly apparent. **Gurman** notes that Apple’s focus on unifying the user interface has also reduced resources available for maintaining compatibility with legacy systems.
The logo of Apple Inc. is seen at an Apple Store in Chongqing, China (Photo by Cheng Xin/Getty Images)
While security updates will likely continue for a period, access to the latest apps and utilities may be restricted for Intel-based MacBook Pros. Users of these machines are already encountering “unsupported” errors with apps designed exclusively for Apple Silicon. Even demanding applications like Adobe Photoshop are pushing the limits of older hardware.
Although no laptop lasts indefinitely, six years of updates feels relatively short for an Apple product. This transition, while inevitable, marks the end of an era for the Intel-powered MacBook Pro, paving the way for a future dominated by Apple Silicon.
Looking to maximize your Apple Watch experience? This article explores the exciting future of the Apple Watch, revealing upcoming software enhancements adn design changes on the horizon. Discover how the next generation of the Apple Watch might look thanks to innovations in watchOS and hardware.
Apple Watch: Software Enhancements and Design Overhaul on the Horizon
Important changes are anticipated for future Apple Watch models and software updates for existing devices,focusing on user experience and integration with Apple’s ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
Future Apple Watch models may incorporate cameras and additional health sensors.
watchOS 12 will leverage Apple Intelligence from other devices, enhancing functionality.
Design changes inspired by visionOS are expected, bringing a fresh look to the interface.
Potential hardware innovations include an all-glass model and a more affordable plastic Apple Watch SE.
Software Integration and Apple Intelligence
While the Apple Watch may not directly host Apple Intelligence on its hardware, watchOS 12 is poised to display results powered by the technology on a user’s other devices. This integration promises to make the Apple watch even more useful by leveraging the broader Apple ecosystem.
Design Overhaul: A VisionOS-Inspired Aesthetic
Recent and future Apple Watch versions are expected to receive a design refresh, aligning with changes planned across Apple’s hardware lineup. This includes interface and design modifications previously reported for the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
Specifically, watchOS 12 could inherit visionOS-inspired style changes planned for iOS 19 and macOS 16. These changes may include semi-transparent and revamped menus and icons, offering a more modern and cohesive user experience.
Siri and Notification Enhancements
Although the Apple Watch may lack the hardware to run Apple Intelligence fully, certain features, such as notification summaries, are anticipated for watchOS 12.Further improvements, including a long-awaited Siri overhaul, could be relayed to the Apple watch via a user’s iPhone, enhancing its utility and responsiveness.
Potential Hardware Innovations
While major hardware changes are not expected in the immediate future, Apple is reportedly exploring new designs for the Apple Watch. These explorations include concepts such as an all-glass Apple Watch and a less expensive Apple Watch SE potentially made of plastic or similar materials.
Expert Analysis
Industry analysts suggest that these changes reflect Apple’s ongoing commitment to enhancing user experience through seamless integration and innovative design. The focus on software enhancements allows Apple to deliver new features without requiring immediate hardware upgrades, maximizing the value of existing devices.
At the end of October this year, Apple released three Mac computers equipped with new M4 series chips, including Mac mini, MacBook Pro and iMac. Compared to foreign countries, it has been released for a long time, but in Taiwan, we are still waiting for official news from Apple. Recently, these three M4 Mac computers have finally passed the Taiwan NCC certification, and they also said that they will be launched in Taiwan soon! Are you ready?
M4 chip Mac mini, iMac and MacBook have all passed NCC certification, and are now counting down to be released in Taiwan The Smart Keyboard and Smart Mouse, the first who passed the NCC certification from an early stage, passed the final NCC certification for several Apple devices! These new Apple Mac computer products have passed NCC certification on November 21st and 22nd respectively. Let me help you sort out the corresponding models of these devices as follows:
iMac:
Mac mini:
MacBook Pro:
MacBook Pro 14″ (M4): A3112
MacBook Pro 14″ (M4 Pro): A3401
MacBook Pro 14″ (Ｍ4 Max): A3185
MacBook Pro 16″ (M4 Pro): A3403
MacBook Pro 16″ (M4 Max) : A3186
▲ Image source: NCC
M4 iMac is the first Mac computer to be released equipped with M4 chips, giving the new iMac an unprecedented performance upgrade. The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display not only provides an extremely clear visual experience, but also continues the slim design and unibody aluminum body. This time iMac will be launched in up to seven attractive colors, and the colors changed compared to the previous generation will also be home decor.
Whether you’re using it for homework, creative design, or audio-visual entertainment, the M4 iMac has it all. Its stable performance and quiet operation also make it ideal for home users. Especially for users who are looking for personalization, this iMac can be said to have both function and beauty.
M4 Mac mini This time, the Mac mini is not only equipped with a powerful M4 chip, but also has a smaller appearance design, making it look like a small version of Mac Studio. Make it a boon for users with limited space. Even so, Mac mini can still provide amazing performance, and the starting price is as low as NT$19,900, which is very cheap (the educational discount price is even lower).
The M4 Mac mini is equipped with an M4 or M4 Pro chip, with up to a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU. This makes it not only capable for everyday work, but also capable of handling professional video editing and multitasking work. In addition, it supports up to two 6K displays and is equipped with a Thunderbolt 5 port (M4 Pro version), making it the best choice for users who need high transmission -speed or high performance connections.
M4 MacBook Pro The MacBook Pro series has received a standard update, equipped with the new M4 chip, and is available in three versions: M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. The development of the performance of these chips has become the main event of MacBook Pro especially for creators who need complex graphics calculations or video editing, there is no doubt that the appearance of M4 Max is a very attractive option.
14-inch and 16-inch screens can be selected according to user needs. Although the appearance of this update has not changed much, the improvement in internal performance is certainly worth it.
According to past experience, when new Apple products pass the NCC certification, it won’t take too long to wait for the official release. Looking back at the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air in June this year, the distance from NCC certification to official release was less than 3 weeks Now that the M4 series of Mac computers have gone beyond certification, they are expected to go on sale mid-December at the latest Please keep an eye out for news from Apple’s official website when you come down!
restore:
Although Apple has not officially announced the release date, it is suspected that the ads have entered, announcing that it will be released on December 20. But the exact date still has to wait for Apple’s official announcement.
