The way vehicles take advantage of new connectivity standards could be improving in the near future, leading to updates on how smartphones like the [iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone/) control cars.  
  
This month, the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and the FiRa Consortium that oversees the development of the Ultra-wideband (UWB) standard, [announced a partnership](https://carconnectivity.org/car-connectivity-consortium-and-fira-consortium-partner-on-uwb-technology-used-in-the-ccc-digital-key/) for the future development of UWB features used for the CCC Digital Key function.  
  
Apple is a member of both the CCC and FiRa. The CCC's Digital Key specification has been adopted by Apple for its [Car Keys](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/carkey/) feature that allows the ‌iPhone‌ and the Apple Watch to unlock compatible vehicles over NFC. Select BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes, and Genesis vehicles [work with Car Keys](https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/), but Apple undoubtedly wants to expand adoption.  
  
The CCC and FiRa Consortiums will work together to "develop and maintain" the UWB technology specifications used for the Digital Key standard that serves as the basis for ‌Car Keys‌ on Apple devices. Apple engineer Jinjing Jiang will oversee the joint effort.  
  
The partnership is expected to encourage broader adoption of UWB technology use in vehicles. As of now, UWB is used for the Digital Key standard to relay how close a user is to their vehicle, allowing a smartphone or wearable to be used for vehicle access or to start the car when at the appropriate range.  
  
Apple uses UWB for the ‌iPhone‌, Apple Watch, and AirTag. UWB enables more precise location awareness and it powers features like Precision Finding for the AirTag.  
  
Along with Apple, CCC members include most vehicle manufacturers like Ford, BMW, GM, Honda, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and more, while FiRa members include Apple, Google, Qualcomm, Cisco, Samsung, NXP, and more.  

Digital Car Key and Ultra Wideband Groups Team Up for Future Apple Car Keys Improvements

Apple on Tuesday seeded a sixth beta of [visionOS](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/visionos/), the software designed to run on the Vision Pro headset, and it includes two new tutorial videos shown to the user during the setup process.  
  
The first 36-second onboarding video, shared by [@M1Astra](https://x.com/M1Astra/status/1724506943425757367?s=20), is called "Input Training" and demonstrates how the user interacts with vision OS by looking at UI elements and selecting them using a double-tap gesture. The narrator says the following:  

> Your eyes and hands are how you navigate Apple Vision Pro. You browse the system by looking, and it responds to your eyes. Simply look at an element and tap your fingers together to select it. It's like a click on your Mac. To scroll, pinch your fingers together, and gently flick. You can keep your hands where they're comfortable, such as resting on your lap.

> New onboarding video added in visionOS beta 6!  
>   
> "Input Training" [pic.twitter.com/ThKGBL4FbA](https://t.co/ThKGBL4FbA)
> 
> — M1 (@M1Astra) [November 14, 2023](https://twitter.com/M1Astra/status/1724506943425757367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
  
With the [Apple Vision Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/apple-vision-pro/) headset, the built-in cameras create a customized "Persona" that resembles the user, and this Persona is used in video chat apps like [FaceTime](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/facetime/). In a second, 50-second video also shared by [@M1Astra](https://x.com/M1Astra/status/1724539857752519028?s=20), "Persona Enrollment," Apple demonstrates how Personas are set up by using the EyeSight display to guide the user:  

> To set up your Persona, you'll remove Apple Vision Pro to capture your appearance. Take your time getting ready, and ensure nothing is covering your face. To start capturing, hold Apple Vision Pro at eye level. Keep your arms and shoulders relaxed. Then, follow the instructions.  
>   
> Turn your head to the right, to the left, and tilt up, and down. Then you'll capture your facial expressions. Smile with your mouth closed, smile showing your teeth, raise your eyebrows, and close your eyes. When you're done, put Apple Vision Pro back on to see your Persona.

> New video tutorial showing Persona Enrollment for Apple Vision Pro added in visionOS beta 6!  
>   
> The enrollment uses the EyeSight display to guide the user. [pic.twitter.com/cGfsdTuIaY](https://t.co/cGfsdTuIaY)
> 
> — M1 (@M1Astra) [November 14, 2023](https://twitter.com/M1Astra/status/1724539857752519028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

  
As we [previously reported](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/05/apple-vision-pro-persona-glasses/), the 3D capture process requires users to remove anything that covers the face, such as glasses. There does not appear to be any kind of secondary scanning mechanism to separately capture a user's glasses, and instead, Apple will allow users to "Select Eyewear" from a variety of options.  
  
Personas are one aspect of ‌‌visionOS‌‌ that Apple is working on perfecting before the launch of the Vision Pro headset. In September, Apple [began surveying developers](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/14/apple-vision-pro-developer-survey/) who have the Vision Pro about their Personas, soliciting opinions on facial expressions, appearance matching, and more.  
  
The Vision Pro headset is set to launch in early 2024 in the United States, and it will be priced at $3,500. The headset will likely be [released in the UK and Canada later the same year](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/07/apple-vision-pro-launch-uk-canada-end-of-2024/).

Apple Vision Pro Onboarding Videos Unearthed in visionOS Beta 6

Apple internally believes its iOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18 updates next year will be "ambitious and compelling," thanks to major new software features and designs in the works for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac. That's according to the latest information relayed by [_Bloomberg_ reporter Mark Gurman](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-11-12/apple-aapl-plans-ambitious-ios-18-and-macos-15-updates-seeks-to-squash-bugs-lovjlsf6).  
  
While little is known about the specifics, many of the changes are believed to involve [generative AI](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/22/apple-generative-ai-features-and-smarter-siri/), including a smarter version of Siri that takes the virtual assistant's integration with the operating systems to a new level. According to the leaker [@Tech\_Reve](https://x.com/Tech_Reve/status/1722418466647625999?s=20), Apple is relying on large-language models (LLMs) to completely revamp Siri and make it the "ultimate virtual assistant" and "Apple's most powerful killer AI app."  
  
Apple is reportedly working on revamped interaction between ‌Siri‌ and the Messages app, enabling users to field complex questions and auto-complete sentences more effectively, according to Gurman. We may also see auto-generated Apple Music playlists and integration with productivity apps like Pages and Keynote, such as AI-assisted writing and slide deck creation.  
  
Apple is said to be on course to spend $1 billion per year on AI research, with some of the company's biggest executive names overseeing development. Indeed, Gurman says the company is "racing to catch up with Google and OpenAI" in the generative AI space, and with few major iPhone 16 hardware advances on the cards next year, the stakes are even higher. As a result, Gurman believes iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 could be "groundbreaking" relative to updates in the last few years.  
  
With so much riding on the outcome, however, Apple is said to be taking a particularly cautious approach to its software development. Recently we learned that all development on future features was [paused within Apple](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/07/apple-engineers-ios-18-bug-fix-focus/) to allow its engineers to work solely on improving the existing software.  
  
According to Gurman, Apple last month finished the first "M1" versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15, but the software engineering management team found too many bugs that were missed in internal testing, so a week was set aside to address the issues. Development has since resumed, but Apple is still said to be debating whether to deploy its new generative AI technology via the cloud, as an on-device experience, or a mixture of both.  
  
Apple is expected to reveal its LLM-powered version of Siri at WWDC 2024 during its iOS 18 developer preview, although other generative AI features it is working on could be [exclusive to iPhone 16 models](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/09/iphone-16-exclusive-ai-features-ios-18/) and therefore may not be revealed until Apple launches its next-generation flagship smartphones in September 2024.

AI-Infused iOS 18 Lauded as 'Ambitious and Compelling' by Apple Execs

Apple will add a new larger 12.9-inch [iPad Air](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-air/) to an entirely refreshed [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/) lineup coming next year, with two ‌iPad Air‌ models taking priority in Apple's launch roadmap, according to Apple analyst [Ming-Chi Kuo](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ming-chi-kuo/).  
  
In his [latest outlook](https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/2024年新款ipad機型與量產時程預測-predictions-for-new-ipad-models-and-production-timeline-in-2024-650a5fc9bbee), Kuo predicts that Apple will compensate for this year's lack of movement in its ‌iPad‌ lineup by updating all existing models, starting with 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad‌ Airs with new chips scheduled for mass production in the first quarter of 2024.  
  
Kuo says the [previously rumored](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/19/apple-working-on-larger-ipad-air/) all-new 12.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌ will have a new LCD screen that lacks the mini-LED technology of Apple's current [iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/) models, but will benefit from the same oxide backplane. This will offer better display performance than the current 10.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌ that uses an a-Si backplane.  
  
Next in line for release are the [OLED iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/oled-ipad-pro/) models that have been rumored for some time. Apple will launch a new 11-inch and 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ with a redesigned chassis and new M3 chip in the second quarter.  
  
Kuo believes that last on Apple's 2024 production roadmap are a new [iPad mini](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-mini/) and an 11th-generation ‌iPad‌, Apple's most affordable tablet. This will see the discontinuation of Apple's 9th-generation ‌iPad‌ currently still offered alongside the 10th-generation model in Apple's lineup.  
  
Kuo believes these changes will see only modest gains in ‌iPad‌ shipments compared to this year, and predicts around 52-54 million units in 2024 compared to 2023. Such an increase remains way off Apple's peak of 63 million iPads shipped during 2022 during the pandemic.  
  
_Bloomberg_'s [Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/) recently also [suggested](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/05/all-ipads-expected-to-be-updated-in-2024/) Apple will update its entire ‌iPad‌ lineup throughout 2024, but his timeline prediction is slightly different to Kuo and does not mention a new larger ‌iPad Air‌.  
  
Gurman [previously reported](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/22/gurman-new-ipads-scheduled-for-march-2024-launch/) that the low-end to mid-range iPads could be updated as early as March 2024, while he expects new 11-inch and 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models with the M3 chip and OLED displays to launch in the first half of 2024. The next ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad mini‌ are likely to be equipped with [M2](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m2/) and A16 Bionic chips, respectively.

Apple to Launch a Larger 12.9-inch iPad Air in Early 2024 But Will Lack The Key Feature of The 12.9-Inch iPad Pro

Kuo: New Larger 12.9-inch iPad Air Coming in Early 2024

Apple has [confirmed to _The Verge_](https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/6/23947196/apple-no-27-inch-apple-silicon-imac) and some other publications that it has no plans to release a new 27-inch iMac with Apple silicon.  
  
Apple discontinued the Intel-based 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro over the past few years, and it has yet to launch a larger-screen iMac with an Apple silicon chip as a replacement. Instead, Apple offers the 27-inch Studio Display, which can be connected to the Mac Studio or another Mac with Apple silicon, but this is not an all-in-one solution like the iMac.  
  
From the report:

> Apple PR representative Starlayne Meza confirmed the company's plans to The Verge. The company encourages those who have been holding out hope for a larger iMac to consider the Studio Display and Mac Studio or Mac mini.

Apple has only ruled out a new 27-inch iMac, so a larger-screened iMac is still possible. Last month, _Bloomberg_'s Mark Gurman said Apple was still [developing an iMac Pro with a 32-inch display](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/23/new-32-inch-imac-pro-expected-2024-or-2025/) for release in late 2024 or in 2025.  
  
More details to follow…


Apple Says There Won't Be a 27-Inch iMac With Apple Silicon

Apple has explored using its Vision Pro headset to diagnose and treat mental health problems, among other health monitoring capabilities, [_The Information_](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-has-discussed-using-vision-pro-for-mental-health-diagnosis-treatment)'s Wayne Ma reports.  
  
Citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Ma explains that Apple has experimented with using the Vision Pro to track a user's facial expressions to detect depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health issues. Specifically, eye-tracking, pupil dilation, and external cameras can measure a person's "affect," a psychological term that refers to how an individual expresses emotions.  
  
A so-called "flat affect," otherwise known as an emotionless expression, can be a sign of specific mental health difficulties. Upon detection of such a problem, the Vision Pro would then display relevant images and play sounds that could improve the wearer's mental state. Virtual reality headsets have already been used by researchers to diagnose and treat phobias and PTSD, such as by safely exposing patients to their fears.  
  
Apple has also apparently discussed using the Vision Pro's infrared eye tracking-cameras to detect swelling in the blood vessels of the eyes to spot an early sign of heart failure. The company explored using the headset to detect weight changes and evaluate a user's movement over time, using this data to screen for health issues such as Parkinson's disease, but the feature had a major setback when Apple removed the full body-tracking capabilities from the Vision Pro due to unreliability.  
  
Features that claim to diagnose or treat health issues would need to undergo clinical studies and receive approval from health regulators before being released to the public, but some Apple employees are apparently concerned about the legal liability of making more health-related claims, which could limit the scope of the features. Other employees are said to be skeptical that the Vision Pro will be as effective as other methods of treatment, such as medicine.  
  
Teams and significant individuals inside Apple are said to have extensively discussed or explored health, wellness, and fitness features for the Vision Pro, including Mike Rockwell, the head of Apple's Vision Products Group. The company has reportedly hired health experts to explore features for the device. _The Information_ was unable to learn whether mental health features will arrive on the first-generation Vision Pro headset, or if it will be reserved for future models. The sources added that such features may never launch at all, but the company continues to brainstorm health-related uses for the headset.  
  
Ma added that Apple has also explored the mental health detection capabilities of other devices such as the [iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone/), using the front-facing camera to track a user's mood, as well as monitor app usage and typed words to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Apple may use Vision Pro for mental health diagnosis and treatment

Report: Apple Continues to Explore Health Capabilities of Vision Pro

Apple is expected to spend several billion on hardware to support its artificial intelligence development in 2024, according to speculation from [Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo](https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/how-much-does-apple-need-to-invest-annually-in-generative-ai-to-catch-up-with-the-competition-56e237ea3feb). Kuo expects Apple to spend "at least" $620 million on servers in 2023 and $4.75 billion on servers in 2024.  
  
Apple could purchase between 2,000 and 3,000 servers this year, and up to 20,000 next year. Kuo thinks that Apple is purchasing servers equipped with Nvidia's HGX H100 8-GPU for generative AI training, with the company planning to upgrade to B100 next year. Nvidia calls its H100 an AI supercomputing platform, and each one is priced at around $250,000.  
  
Kuo appears to be guessing at Apple's purchasing plans here, and he says that he expects Apple will use AI servers it is purchasing and installing itself to train large language models rather than virtual hosting from other cloud service providers for improved security and privacy. He does say that Apple could develop its own server chips to save on server costs, but he has seen no evidence that Apple is doing that at this time.  
  
While Apple appears to be making a major investment into AI, Apple's server purchasing will fall behind other companies like Meta and Microsoft. Apple will also need to invest in labor costs, infrastructure, and more, and Kuo suggests that Apple will need to spend several billion dollars annually to have a chance of catching up with competitors. Kuo claims that he is "genuinely concerned" about the future of Apple's generative AI business if Apple spends just a billion dollars a year as suggested by [_Bloomberg_'s Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/22/apple-generative-ai-features-and-smarter-siri/).  
  
Over the weekend, Gurman said that Apple is on track to spend $1 billion per year on its AI efforts. Gurman says that [Apple is working on](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/22/apple-generative-ai-features-and-smarter-siri/) a new, smarter version of [Siri](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/siri/) and is aiming to integrate AI into many Apple apps.

Apple could spend $5B on servers to catch up in AI race

Apple reportedly spending $1 billion a year on AI — here’s what it could bring your iPhone and more

Apple expected to spend $4.75 billion on generative AI in 2024 alone

Kuo: Apple Could Spend $4.75 Billion on AI Servers in 2024

Apple is rumored to be launching a new seventh-generation iPad mini soon, but the new model will not feature a 120Hz ProMotion display, claims a leaker with alleged supply chain sources.  
  
According to the Twitter account [@Tech\_Reve](https://x.com/Tech_Reve/status/1711700735073890720?s=20), the iPad mini 7 "still doesn't have 120Hz," with only the A-series processor expected to receive an upgrade.  
  
Suggestions that Apple could conceivably adopt ProMotion for a next-generation ‌iPad mini‌ began to receive attention shortly after the "[jelly scrolling](https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/27/ipad-mini-6-jelly-scroll-issue-vertical/)" phenomenon was identified.  
  
"Jelly scrolling" refers to screen tearing, which can cause text or images on one side of the screen to appear to be tilted downwards because of a mismatch in refresh rates. It can cause one side of the display to look as if it's responding faster than the other side, a visual disturbance that's hard to miss once you notice it.  
  
Apple says the phenomenon is [normal behavior](https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/28/apple-jelly-scrolling-normal-behavior/) for LCD iPads. Since LCD screens refresh line by line, there is a tiny delay between when the lines at the top and lines at the bottom are refreshed. But while this may be normal behavior for LCD screens, it can appear more obvious when observed on the ‌‌iPad mini's smaller screen‌‌.  
  
Late last year, a rumor on Korean forums suggested Apple was testing a Samsung-supplied display for a future ‌‌iPad mini‌‌ that would allow for up to 120Hz refresh rates, but no such model has been forthcoming, and Apple's plans for the iPad mini are still unclear. Apple launched the sixth-generation iPad mini in September 2021, but rumors of an update have only gathered pace recently.  
  
_Bloomberg_'s Mark Gurman earlier this year [reported](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/08/airpods-apple-watch-ipad-apple-tv-2023/) that an iPad mini update with a minor "spec bump" is not out of the question in 2024. More recently in August, the leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro" [suggested](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/01/ipad-mini-7-could-be-coming-later-this-year/) a seventh-generation iPad mini was in the works at Apple, and said that they had seen evidence that at least one new iPad model is coming this year. A _DigiTimes_ report last month [said](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/25/apple-ipad-mini-7-release-late-2023/) Apple plans to release a "small-sized iPad" in the fourth quarter, while _9to5Mac_ just last week [said](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/05/apple-two-ipad-air-models/) that its sources believe the ‌iPad mini‌ 7 is coming "soon."  
  
If anything happens before the holidays, a chip upgrade may be the most likely feature of a new ‌iPad mini‌. The ‌sixth-generation iPad mini‌ currently contains the A15 Bionic chip, while the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro use the A16 and A17 Pro chip, respectively. A minor spec bump could also include upgrades to the front and rear cameras, potentially bringing features like Photonic Engine to the ‌iPad‌ for the first time.


Upcoming iPad Mini 7 Still Rumored to Lack 120Hz ProMotion Display

Apple's [microLED Apple Watch](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/microled-apple-watch/) is on track to launch in late 2025, according to Jeff Pu, a tech analyst at Hong Kong investment firm Haitong International Securities.  
  
In a note to investors seen by _MacRumors_, Pu said that the first Apple Watch with a microLED display will launch in late 2025. The advanced display technology offers improved brightness, color reproduction, and viewing angles, making images look more like they are "painted" atop the glass.  
  
Yesterday, a Weibo leaker reported that the [next worthwhile upgrade](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/02/next-major-apple-watch-upgrade-to-be-microled/) for the Apple Watch Ultra users will be Apple's custom microLED display technology. Apple's plan to bring a microLED display to the Apple Watch Ultra is very widely corroborated, starting with a [report](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/10/microled-apple-watch-2025/) from display analyst Ross Young in January.  
  
After initially placing the device's launch in 2024, Young moved his forecast to the [second-half of 2025](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/27/apple-watch-ultra-second-half-2025/). _Bloomberg_, on the other hand, reported a [2024 time frame](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/10/apple-custom-displays-microled-apple-watch/) earlier this year. TrendForce [claims](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/04/apple-watch-ultra-microled-delayed-early-2026/) that Apple's first microLED display will launch on a new Apple Watch Ultra model in 2026, due to supply chain adjustments. With Young and Pu, as well as leaks on Weibo, now pointing to a launch in 2025, the ‌microLED Apple Watch‌ Ultra may launch sooner than previously expected.  
  
The microLED display is expected to be 2.12-inches in size, a 10% increase over the display of the current Apple Watch Ultra. _Bloomberg_'s [Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/) [reported](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/15/apple-custom-displays-heading-to-iphone-ipad-and-mac-after-apple-watch/) Apple is likely planning to bring custom microLED displays to the [iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone/), [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/), and Mac after the technology debuts in a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra. He believes Apple's long-term plan is to bring microLED displays to all of its key products. Other reports from [_DigiTimes_](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/10/microled-iphone-report/), [_Nikkei Asia_](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/18/apple-mass-produce-microled-iphone/), and [_The Information_](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/06/apple-microled-struggle-led-to-reliance-on-samsung/) have indicated similar plans for Apple to transition to custom microLED displays across multiple product lines in an effort to become less [reliant on Samsung](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/06/apple-microled-struggle-led-to-reliance-on-samsung/).


MicroLED Apple Watch Still on Track for Late 2025 Launch

Former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have been discussing building a new AI hardware device, according to a new report by _[The Information](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/designer-jony-ive-and-open-ais-sam-altman-discuss-ai-hardware-project)_.  
  

Both men have spoken to SoftBank CEO and investor Masayoshi Son about the idea, according to people familiar with the conversations, but it's not clear if Ive will remain involved. The former Apple designer runs his own British design company, LoveFrom.  
  
The report does not reveal anything about what such a device could be, but Ive and Altman are said to be friends and have been discussing "what new hardware for the age of AI could look like."  
  
Altman is one of the biggest investors in consumer hardware startup Humane, with was founded by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, both former Apple employees. The startup plans to develop a screenless wearable device that can be directed using voice prompts and gestures, and projects information onto surfaces in front of it. Humane plans to integrate OpenAI's technology into the device.  
  
OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot has made waves in the tech world since it was launched to the public less than a year ago. The company's annual revenue pace has exceeded $1 billion thanks to ChatGPT subscriptions and access to the chatbot's latest and most advanced incarnation, GPT-4. In May 2023, OpenAI released an [official ChatGPT app](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/18/openai-chatgpt-ios-app/) for the iPhone and iPad.  
  
Apple has significantly ramped up its spending on artificial intelligence, according to a [previous report](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/06/apple-conversational-ai-spending/) by _The Information_. Apple's "Foundational Models" team that works on conversational AI includes just 16 people, but Apple is said to be spending millions of dollars per day training its language models.

Jony Ive Could Develop AI Hardware Device With OpenAI's Sam Altman

During Apple's ["Wonderlust" event](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/12/everything-apple-announced-fall-2023-event/) earlier this week, Apple claimed that the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ camera system "pushes the limits of what you can capture with a smartphone." It was a reference to the device's support for "spatial computing video," but the mention was brief and lacking detail.  
  
For those who missed it, spatial video is Apple's name for what is essentially 3D video. The iPhone 15 Pro is able to record spatial videos natively by combining video captured by the sensors of the Main and Ultra Wide cameras, which results in stereoscopic video.  
  
This 3D video can then be played back using Apple's "spatial computing" Vision Pro headset when it's released early next year, allowing users to relive these memories in a fully immersive way. Apple didn't say, but presumably the iPhone 15 Pro can also capture spatial photo stills using similar camera processing.  
  
Other questions remain that Apple's senior VP of worldwide marketing Greg "Joz" Joswiak didn't answer during his whirlwind tour of the iPhone 15 Pro's new camera capabilities, which include the ability to record 4K ProRes video at 60 frames per second, as well as 5x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2023/09/spatial-video-apple-visioin-pro.jpg)  
It's not clear for example what kind of unique file formant these spatial videos will use, nor did Apple mention how large they will be. Presumably, iPhone 15 Pro users will need to select a hitherto inaccessible special new mode in the Camera app to capture spatial video. How these videos will be saved in the Photos app, and whether they will be playable on the iPhone in any way, is also unknown.  
  
Apple will undoubtedly reveal the answers to these questions soon enough. The ability to shoot spatial video using an iPhone 15 Pro isn't available yet, but it's "coming later this year," according to the company.


iPhone 15 Pro Cameras to Support Spatial Video Later This Year, But Key Questions Remain

Apple today added 2017 models of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar to its [vintage products list](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624) worldwide.  
  
Apple classifies a device as vintage five years after it was last distributed for sale. Vintage products are no longer guaranteed to be eligible for repairs at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers, with service subject to parts availability.  
  
Apple also added the Mid 2015 model of the 15-inch MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar to the vintage products list. This model remained sold until 2018.  
  
The upcoming macOS Sonoma update is compatible with 2018 and newer MacBook Pro models.  
  
Apple first introduced the Touch Bar in 2016. Nowadays, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the only model that remains available with the Touch Bar. Apple reverted to physical function keys with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021.


2017 MacBook Pro Models With Touch Bar Added to Apple's Vintage Products List

Apple is expected to hold its annual fall event this year on [Tuesday, September 12](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/08/iphone-15-september-12-event/), when it will announce its new flagship iPhone 15 lineup, but there are a few more products expected to be unveiled as well.  
  

  
Keep reading to learn everything we know about what else Apple is expected to announce at the event beyond the iPhone 15.  
  

Apple Watch Series 9
--------------------

  
This year, Apple is expected to release the Apple Watch Series 9, an iterative update on the current Series 8. The refresh is expected to focus on updating the cores within the device's S-series chip, delivering a notable performance improvement, but the rest of the device is likely to be effectively the same as the Apple Watch Series 8.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2022/09/Apple-Watch-Solo-Loops.jpeg)  
According to _Bloomberg_'s Mark Gurman, the [S9 chip will be based on the A15 Bionic chip](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/08/apple-watch-series-9-updated-chip/) used in the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and other devices. The new chip could bring significantly improved performance and efficiency, boosting app launch speeds and potentially improving battery life. Apple reportedly plans to introduce a [new pink color option](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/01/apple-watch-series-9-pink-color/) for the ‌Apple Watch Series 9‌.  
  

Apple Watch Ultra 2
-------------------

  
The Apple Watch Ultra is Apple's top-of-the-line Apple Watch, priced at $800. At 49mm, it is also the largest, designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need more durability and a wider range of niche features than those who wear the standard Apple Watch.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2022/09/apple-watch-ultra-3.jpg)  
A [refreshed version](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/06/26/apple-roadmap-2023-24-15-new-devices/) of the Apple Watch Ultra will come out this fall, and it is expected to get the same S9 processor upgrade that is coming to the Apple Watch Series 9, along with [new 3D printed components](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/14/2023-apple-watch-ultra-with-3d-printed-parts/).  
  
The second-generation version of the Apple Watch Ultra could potentially be [lighter than the first-generation model](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/24/apple-planning-to-reduce-apple-watch-ultra-weight/). A rumor from Weibo user Setsuna Digital claims that the new Apple Watch Ultra will have a reduced weight, which could be due to the 3D printed parts Apple is rumored to be using.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2023/08/Apple-Watch-Ultra-Black-Feature.jpg)  
The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra could also potentially come in a [new darker color option](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/31/2023-apple-watch-ultra-new-dark-color/), such as a black titanium shade.  
  

New iPhone Cases and Apple Watch Bands
--------------------------------------

  
As is typical of September Apple events, it's likely that new iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands will be released in a variety of fresh colors. The new cases and bands sometimes become available to order on Apple's online store just minutes after the event ends.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2023/08/Apple-Watch-Woven-Magnet-Strap-Mock-Feature.jpg)  
[According to one rumor](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/09/new-apple-watch-magnetic-band/), Apple is planning to release a new band for the Apple Watch Series 9 that will be made out of a woven fabric material and feature a magnetic buckle, similar to the existing Modern Buckle band.  
  
Meanwhile, several sources have [claimed](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/17/apple-may-not-offer-leather-cases-for-iphone-15/) that Apple will not offer leather iPhone 15 cases this year, as it has done for annual iPhone releases since 2013. Instead, it has been suggested the company will offer [leather-like cases](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/28/apple-non-leather-iphone-15-cases/) that use more eco-friendly materials.  
  

USB-C AirPods Pro Case
----------------------

  
Apple is likely to release a USB-C charging case for AirPods Pro alongside the launch of the iPhone 15, according to [_Bloomberg_'s Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/03/apple-airpods-pro-usb-c-case/) and Apple analyst [Ming-Chi Kuo](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/24/airpods-pro-2-usb-c-later-this-year/).  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2019/10/airpods-pro-magsafe-case-design.jpg)  
The shift is in line with the [same switch from Lightning to USB-C](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/05/13/usb-c-iphone-2023/) that is expected to happen across the iPhone 15 series this year.  
  

iPhone 15 Color-Matching USB-C Cables
-------------------------------------

  
This year, Apple is expected to ship iPhone 15 models with a [color-matched braided USB-C to USB-C cable](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/21/iphone-15-could-come-with-color-matched-cables/) in the box rather than a plain white cable. Rumors suggest that each cable would be available in a color that would match with the shade of the iPhone 15 model.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2023/08/usbc-colored-iphone-15-cables.jpg)  
Rumors suggest that it will measure in at [1.5 meters instead of one meter](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/22/iphone-15-braided-usb-c-cable-could-be-longer/). With the braided design, it is also expected to be more durable. If the rumors are accurate, as we believe they are, expect Apple to sell additional color-matching USB-C cables as accessories to [match the colors of its new smartphone lineup](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/25/iphone-15-colors/).  

*   [When Will the iPhone 15 Be Released?](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/07/when-will-iphone-15-be-released/)

  

iPhone 15 Pro Thunderbolt Cable Accessory
-----------------------------------------

  
Apple may offer a USB-C data transfer accessory cable for iPhone 15 Pro models that is capable of Thunderbolt or USB4 speeds of up to 40Gbps, according to leakers. The length of the cable is said to be 0.8 meters, which is shorter than Apple's [existing Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable (1.8m)](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MN713AM/A/thunderbolt-4-pro-cable-18-m). Apple will allegedly sell the cable separately.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2023/08/thunderbolt-usb-c-cable.jpg)  
[According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/11/16/iphone-15-high-speed-data-transfer/), the iPhone 15 Pro models will support "at least" USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. However, the leaked USB4 cable is based on the Thunderbolt 4 protocol, allowing it to offer equivalent speeds of 40Gbps, or twice the preceding USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard.  

Apple's September Event: 6 New Products to Expect Beyond the iPhone 15

Alleged images of iPhone 15 USB-C connector ports have today been leaked online, in yet another indication that Apple is this year preparing to make the switch from Lightning to the USB-C charging standard.  
  
The image below, shared by leakers [@lipilipsi](https://twitter.com/lipilipsi/status/1688760010522914816?s=20) and [@John011235](https://twitter.com/John011235/status/1688780047207878656?s=20) on X (formerly Twitter), purportedly show the USB-C connector ports attached to the flexible PCB component parts that will be used in the standard iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.  
  
All 2023 iPhone 15 models are expected to feature USB-C instead of Lightning. Reliable sources that include [_Bloomberg_'s Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/05/11/iphone-15-ditch-lightning-for-usb-c/), [Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/05/13/usb-c-iphone-2023/), and others, have said that Apple is going to make the change.  
  
The switch will allow Apple to comply with new regulations implemented in Europe. These regulations require Apple to produce iPhones with USB-C ports in Europe, so Apple had to either make a worldwide design swap or develop special iPhones for sale in Europe.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2023/08/iphone-15-series-usb-c.jpeg)  
The iPhone 15 Pro models with USB-C ports are expected to [support higher-speed data transfers](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/11/16/iphone-15-high-speed-data-transfer/), while the standard iPhone 15 models will continue to feature USB 2.0 speeds – the same as Lightning – giving the Pro models an edge.  
  
Leaker ShrimpApplePro [has said](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/28/iphone-15-usb-c-accessories-limited-without-mfi/) that iPhone 15 models will only officially support USB-C accessories certified by the Apple Made for iPhone (MFi) program. Apple supplier Foxconn is allegedly producing accessories like EarPods and cables with USB-C connectors that are MFi certified.  
  
The MFi USB-C certification could be used to limit features like fast charging and high-speed data transfers to Apple-approved accessories. ShrimpApplePro says that cables with no MFi certification will be limited in data and charging speed. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also suggested that Apple will require Made for iPhone certification for USB-C chargers that are able to [fast charge the iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/21/kuo-iphone-usb-c-faster-charging-speeds/).  
  
Apple's annual iPhone event is expected to take place on either Tuesday, September 12, or Wednesday, September 13, this year, [according to Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/06/iphone-15-event-september-12-or-13/).


USB-C Connector Parts of iPhone 15 Pro Surface Online Ahead of Launch Next Month, Corroborating Earlier Rumors

Is this the iPhone 15's USB-C port ahead of next month's unveiling?

Images of Alleged iPhone 15 USB-C Connector Parts Leak Online

Apple is [shrinking the bezels](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/05/iphone-15-pro-front-glass-leak/) on its upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models using a special manufacturing process, and the company also plans to use the same technology to reduce screen borders on future iPads, according to _Bloomberg_ reporter Mark Gurman.  
  
Writing in his latest [Power On newsletter](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-07-30/apple-iphone-15-pro-features-usb-c-port-new-design-thinner-bezels-lkpemg29), Gurman says Apple is using low-injection pressure over-molding, or LIPO, to shrink the display border size on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to 1.5 millimeters (versus around 2.2 millimeters on current iPhones).  
  
Provided that Apple can avoid [reported manufacturing issues](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/28/iphone-15-pros-thinner-bezels-issue/), this could mean the iPhone 15 Pro models will have the [thinnest bezels of any smartphone](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/17/iphone-15-pro-max-thinnest-bezels-ever/) currently on the market, and Apple is apparently keen to replicate an equivalent achievement with its iPads, too.  
  
As noted by Gurman, Apple first used LIPO on the Apple Watch Series 7 to make the device's borders thinner and increase the size of the display. If Gurman's source is accurate, LIPO is set to follow the same product trajectory as OLED display technology, which went from Apple Watch to iPhone, with OLED iPads expected to launch [next year](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/06/16/oled-13-inch-macbook-rumor-ross-young/). However, which iPad model will be first to benefit from the LIPO process, and when it will arrive, remains unclear.  
  
According to iPhone rumors, the bezels on all four iPhone 15 models are expected to be slightly curved around the edges, similar to the iPhone 11 series. Most rumors have claimed only the Pro models will have a bezel reduction this year, but a previously-accurate leaker has [shared an image](https://twitter.com/UniverseIce/status/1680196595231645697) showing that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might have slightly thinner bezels as well.  
  
Apple is expected to announce its next iPhone lineup in September as usual. For all the latest rumors, be sure to read our dedicated [iPhone 15](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-15/) and [iPhone 15 Pro roundups](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-15-pro/).
