It seems there'll be no 5x zoom upgrade for the iPhone 17
The iPhone 18 is tipped to get a LTPO+ display upgrade
A major chip improvement could land with the iPhone 18 too
We've just seen a flurry of leaks around the iPhone 17 (due September 2025) and the iPhone 18 (due September 2026) – and if the information in them is accurate, you might want to wait until the latter handset is out for your next iPhone upgrade.
First up, a report in respected South Korea outlet The Elec (via 9to5Mac) says that Apple's camera module suppliers are upgrading their production facilities ready to start pushing out cameras ready for the iPhone 17 Pro.
However, there won't be any periscope lenses for the standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air (or iPhone 17 Slim), according to the report. That apparently means no 5x optical zoom upgrade to match the Pro and Pro Max next year.
Have a read of our iPhone 16 review and you'll see it comes with a dual-lens 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide camera on the back, like the iPhone 16 Plus, with no optical zoom capabilities. There might be camera upgrades next year, but it doesn't seem as though a 5x optical zoom will be among them.
Displays and chips
Exclusive: Apple is reportedly planning to use upgraded LTPO+ panels for the iPhone 18 Pro series, replacing the current LTPO panels.LTPO+ is a display technology that has not yet been introduced to the market. It is expected to enhance speed and power efficiency compared to…November 20, 2024
Our second little tidbit of information comes from established tipster @Jukanlosreve, who says that an LTPO+ display tech upgrade is in the offing for the iPhone 18 series. LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) is the tech that enables dynamic refresh rates and always-on displays that don't destroy battery life.
Although we don't get any information about what the 'plus' variant of LTPO involves, we're assuming it means further performance increases and power efficiency improvements, in order to reduce the demands on the battery even further.
Last but not least, Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital (via @Jukanlosreve) says that there won't be major improvements in the A19 chips manufactured for the iPhone 17, but there will be in the A20 chips for the iPhone 18 – which may be made with the help of Intel.
Apple currently partners with TSMC (the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) for its iPhone processors, so a switch to Intel would be significant – and might make the iPhone 18 a more appealing upgrade than next year's iPhone 17.
It could show up in March, three years after its predecessor
Internal upgrades could include a 5G Apple modem
All the signs are pointing towards a March 2025 arrival for the iPhone SE 4, the latest in Apple's more affordable line of handsets – and another well-respected analyst has weighed in to back up previous predictions about the phone's launch date.
As per MacRumors, Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues have been speaking to supply chain sources in Asia. In the resulting report, it was "confirmed" that the iPhone SE 4 would be making an appearance near the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Add in previous rumors and the launch date of the iPhone SE 3 – which was revealed to the world in March 2022 – and it looks increasingly likely that we can put a big circle around March 2025 on our calendars.
It probably won't be the only product we see then either: the 11th-gen iPad and 7th-gen iPad Air are also rumored to be showing up around the same time. They'll all come rocking Apple Intelligence features too, of course.
Spec rumors
The iPhone SE 3 launched in 2022 (Image credit: Future)
The analyst report had more to say about the iPhone SE 4 too, mentioning that it'll be the first iPhone with an Apple-designed 5G modem (which will presumably speed up data transfer rates a little). Again, that's something we've heard before.
Based on leaks up to this point, the iPhone SE 4 is going to be quite the upgrade – as you would expect after a three-year gap. It's apparently going to be the first iPhone SE to ditch the Touch ID home button and go with the more modern Face ID design.
In fact, it's reportedly going to borrow several components from the iPhone 14. At the same time, the rumors are that the CPU and RAM will match the iPhone 16 – which would be necessary for Apple Intelligence support.
This might all add up to a small price hike as well, but we'll have to wait and see. When it launched in 2022, you could pick up the iPhone SE 3 for $429 / £419 / AU$719, which was slightly more expensive than the iPhone SE that came before it.
The iPhone XS Max and iPhone 6s Plus are now 'vintage'
Apple also labels the Apple Watch 2 as obsolete
These statuses affect whether or not you can get repairs
Apple has just done some reorganizing of its vintage and obsolete products list, and the iPhone XS Max (launched in 2018) and iPhone 6s Plus (launched in 2015) are now both officially labeled as 'vintage' gadgets.
The changes were spotted by MacRumors, and are a normal part of the lifecycle of an Apple product. A device becomes vintage when more than five years have passed since it was last sold as new by Apple.
Before that five years passes, you can always get repairs and replacement parts from Apple and authorized repair stores. Once a product is vintage though, you may or may not be able to get repairs or parts – it depends on stock levels and what the issue is.
Exact timings on vintage status can vary, and it's worth noting that the iPhone 6s Plus with 32GB of storage is already categorized as obsolete (the next stage past vintage). Once Apple updates its lists though, it's official as far as product status goes.
Not just vintage – obsolete
The Apple Watch Series 2
Another update to Apple's list is that the aluminum and stainless steel Apple Watch 2 models are now obsolete. A gadget becomes obsolete when it's been more than seven years since it was last sold as new by Apple.
Past that point, you can't get repairs from Apple or its authorized partners, and new parts can't be ordered. The only exception to the rule is some MacBooks, which are eligible for battery replacements for up to 10 years in certain cases.
You can certainly try and get an obsolete product repaired, but you'll have to go somewhere other than Apple – and once you hit the seven-year mark, it's probably worth thinking about investing in an upgrade anyway.
For now, the Apple Watch 2 with the ceramic casing clings on to its vintage status, so it's not yet obsolete – but if you're still wearing the smartwatch, which launched in 2016, you'd be best getting any necessary repairs sorted sooner rather than later.
Satellite features were originally only free for two years
Another 12 free months were added last November
Questions remain about long-term access to these features
We've just hit the two-year anniversary of the debut of Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14 – and although Apple originally said the service would only be free for two years, it remains free to access, with a year's extension added last November.
The milestone was noted by MacRumors and others, and it's worth highlighting because it raises the question of what Apple plans to do with this in the long term. The official support page for the feature still states that "Emergency SOS via Satellite is free for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later".
Although Apple has apparently always planned to get users to cover the cost of satellite connectivity, the problem with starting to charge money to access it is that it can quite literally save someone's life – so it's not quite the same as forgetting to renew your Netflix or Spotify subscription.
With the Google Pixel 9 series now offering a similar feature and Samsung expected to follow suit next year, it's something all the major phone makers are having to weigh up. Either they absorb the cost themselves, or charge users money for it.
Extra features
The Pixel 9 phones offer satellite connectivity too (Image credit: Future)
The satellite connectivity launched alongside the iPhone 14 in 2022 have been expanded upon since then. The feature has rolled out in more countries, and now includes the option to get roadside assistance via satellite (in addition to contacting the emergency services).
With the introduction of iOS 18, Apple added the ability to message anyone you like via a satellite connection, if you don't have a cell or Wi-Fi signal. Again, the feature was advertised for being free for two years, though Apple has never given any indication of the pricing structure that might eventually be introduced.
It's possible that some of those extra features, such as roadside assistance and satellite messaging, will eventually need a subscription – while the emergency SOS capabilities, which might just save your life one day, remain free. For now though, Apple hasn't gone on the record about what might happen.
In November 2025, the free period for both iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners will be coming to an end, so we'll see what happens then – and whether or not satellite options get bundled together with an Apple One subscription.
Improvements are rolling out now for Chrome for iOS
Google Lens gets improved searches
Tighter integrations with other Google apps
If you're using Google Chrome on your iPhone, you'll be interested in the four upgrades that have just been announced. They're improving Google Lens search, online shopping, and integrations with Google Drive, Google Photos, and Google Maps.
First, as outlined in the official Google blog post, we've got an upgrade for Google Lens. You can already run Google Lens searches inside Chrome for iOS using a photo from the camera or your gallery – just tap the search box, then the Google Lens icon – and the new update lets you refine those searches with extra text.
So you could, for example, type out a color to narrow down the search results if you're looking at a photo of a sweatshirt. Or maybe you have a photo of a place on the screen and want to add some text asking where in the world it is.
Second, there's a new feature called Shopping Insights, which is only for US users now. If you're looking at a product in Chrome that Google knows is available online at a discount, you'll see a "good deal now" notification in the address bar – a little blue and white icon. Tap the icon to see the product's price history over time.
Keeping it Google
Your Google Lens searches can have text added (Image credit: Google)
The other changes here improve the integration between Chrome for iOS and other Google services. You can now save files and photos to Google Drive or Google Photos, so they don't have to take up space on your iPhone – just tap the Google Drive option when saving a file, or long-press an image and pick Google Photos on the pop-up.
Then there's Google Maps: Chrome for iOS could already bring up a map pop-up without actually opening Google Maps, but the process has now been streamlined and only needs a single tap. Chrome will automatically spot and underline addresses on the web.
Like Shopping Insights, the Google Maps update will not be available everywhere right away. Google says both of these features will expand to more regions over time, so keep an eye out for them. Make sure you update Chrome for iOS to the latest version to get everything as soon as possible.
It's worth bearing in mind that all these features, or very similar features, are already available in Chrome for Android – so if you're on a phone running Google's mobile operating system, you're not missing out.
This unreleased design has haptic volume and power buttons
The unified volume button design is reminiscent of a rumored iPhone 17 Pro feature
Apple seems to have developed an obsession with buttons during the last couple of iPhone generations, specifically with changing buttons (consider the move from a mute switch to an Action button) and adding them (see the new Camera Control button).
YouTuber Apple Demo (via 9to5Mac) has shown off a prototype iPhone 14 Pro, complete with a haptic volume button. Rather than the two volume keys on current iPhones, the model in question just has a single button, and it’s a solid-state button rather than a mechanical one – meaning it won’t move when pressed, but is designed to provide haptic feedback, so you know the press has been registered.
That, then, would be different to what we see here, but with this prototype, Apple has already replaced two volume keys with a single button, so it’s partway to what this leak suggests.
Possibly still planned
Now, this iPhone 17 Pro leak doesn’t say whether a solid-state button will be used, but this is an idea Apple has seemingly spent a while exploring, with Apple Insider previously sharing images of an iPhone 15 Pro Max prototype that also had a unified, haptic volume button. On top of which, some leaks even suggested Apple might equip the iPhone 16 series with solid-state buttons.
That of course didn’t happen, and leaks suggest Apple eventually gave up on the idea due to its complexity. But given the company’s current obsession with changing up the buttons on its phones, and the aforementioned leak about a new combined button on the iPhone 17 Pro, it’s possible that Apple is still working on some version of this concept.
Of course, that doesn’t mean an iPhone 17 Pro with unified volume buttons – let alone solid-state ones – will actually launch, but it’s a possibility. And if not, then this iPhone 14 Pro prototype is still an interesting look at what could have been.
This is according to South Korean site AjuNews (via @Jukanlosreve), which claims that LG Innotek will start mass-producing the camera modules for the iPhone SE 4 in December.
The site adds that LG Innotek usually begins mass production of iPhone camera modules around three months before the launch of the phone they’re destined for, which would mean we’re likely to see the iPhone SE 4 in or around March.
Exclusive: Apple’s camera partner, LG Innotek, has decided to start mass production of the camera module for the iPhone SE4 in December. They are currently conducting tests ahead of mass production.LG Innotek typically supplies camera modules about three months before a…November 11, 2024
While we’d take these claims with a pinch of salt, this does line up with previous leaks, the most recent of which comes from Mark Gurman (a leaker with a great track record), who claimed in October that we’d see the iPhone SE 4 sometime between March and June.
A new design and plenty of power
So, there’s a good chance the iPhone SE 4 will be with us soon, and based on other leaks, we have a decent idea of what to expect from it, too.
Leaks suggest the iPhone SE 4 will have a larger 6.1-inch display than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2022), though there’s some disagreement over whether it will have a notch or a Dynamic Island. Either way, though, that should be an upgrade on the dated design of the current model.
It also looks likely to have a single-lens camera, and it may support Apple Intelligence, which would mean at least an A17 Pro chipset and 8GB of RAM. That would make for a significant power upgrade on the iPhone SE (2022).
Android emoji reactions now show up properly on iPhones
The change may have been made by Apple or Google
While messaging between Android phones and iPhones still isn't perfect, it's a lot better than it used to be – and users have now noticed that emoji reactions from Android devices are now showing up correctly in the iPhone Messages app.
As spotted by The Verge, Android Central, and others, if RCS (Rich Communication Services) is enabled on both Android and iOS, then emoji reactions sent from Android will now actually be stuck to the message they're responding to – rather than appearing on a separate line, which was rather confusing.
It's not clear what has changed on Apple's end or Google's end to make this happen, but the iOS 18.1 update seems to have something to do with it. Make sure you're running the latest iPhone software, and check RCS is enabled, and it should work.
The RCS option on the iPhone can be found in Settings: tap Apps, Messages, and then RCS Messaging. Your carrier needs to support RCS for the option to be visible though – you can check this from Settings by tapping General, About, then Carrier.
An improving situation
RCS is also supported in Google Messages on Android (Image credit: Google)
You may remember Apple announcing that it would support RCS messages back in November 2023, though we had to wait for the iOS 18 software to roll out in September before the functionality actually became available.
RCS is the successor to plain old SMS, adding modern features such as read receipts, group chats, and higher resolutions for photo and video sharing. It's used by default in the Google Messages app on Android.
While this doesn't solve the green bubble problem, and has a few security issues that need to be ironed out, it brings iPhone-and-Android chats closer to the level of iPhone-to-iPhone chats using Apple's own iMessage.
Of course, for a lot of users outside the US, WhatsApp is the primary messaging tool – it offers end-to-end encryption, a whole pile of messaging features, and works more or less the same on both Android and iOS.
Apple's Self Service Repair scheme launched in 2021
Parts for the iPhone 16 models are now available
Only attempt repairs if you're sure you can carry them out
For a few years now, Apple has offered a Self Service Repair scheme, which means you can source official parts direct from the company and save some money by carrying out repairs yourself – and the iPhone 16 series is now supported.
You can order both the parts and the tools needed to fit them in the US, the UK, and numerous European countries. The Apple Self Service Repair scheme isn't currently available in Australia, however.
The parts available include displays, cameras, batteries, and speakers, and these are all genuine Apple products. The tools on offer, like nylon probes and adhesive cutters, will be familiar to anyone who's ever seen a phone teardown.
To self repair, or not to self repair
Apple announced the service in 2021 (Image credit: Apple)
Apple's move to make its devices repairable by users themselves, with official Apple parts, has definitely been a positive step: it's usually cheaper than a professional repair, and means phones and laptops can be used for longer too.
However, these repairs can be quite complex – you need to be sure you know what you're doing, otherwise you run the risk of causing further damage. Have a look at the repair manuals on the Apple website (like the one for the iPhone 16) for full instructions.
Many people are going to find it more convenient, if a little bit more expensive, to get Apple or an authorized repair service to do the job instead. However, it's definitely good to have the option of carrying out a self repair.
Since the launch of the self repair service, Apple has continued to expand the number of devices covered, and you can go all the way back to the iPhone 12 series which was launched back in October 2020.
Apple, like most phone makers, puts a lot of focus on improving the cameras from one model to the next, and we now have an idea of what the next two generations of camera updates might look like.
Numerous leaks have already pointed to 48MP telephoto cameras for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the whole iPhone 17 line possibly getting 24MP front-facing cameras. But with the iPhone 18 line, Apple might focus on the aperture rather than megapixels.
This is according to reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in his latest post on Medium (via @Jukanlosreve) claimed that Apple will be equipping the main camera on the “high-end” iPhone 18 models with a variable aperture.
By high-end he presumably means the iPhone 18 Pro Max and likely also the iPhone 18 Pro, but he doesn’t mention the phones by name.
What Kuo does say is that this variable aperture would "significantly" enhance the photography experience. The aperture – the size of the lens opening – on most cameras is fixed, and having a variable aperture means you can control how much light reaches the sensor. This in turn gives you more control over exposure – you can open the aperture to its widest setting for better low-light shots, for example – and it also enables you to create optical depth-of-field effects to blur backgrounds, rather than relying on software processing.
So this sounds like it would be a worthwhile upgrade, and while we’d take Kuo's reporting with a pinch of salt for now – especially as this is a very early leak – he does have a great track record for Apple information.
Not the first variable-aperture phone
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a variable aperture (Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
If this claim does prove to be accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max wouldn't be the first smartphones with a variable-aperture lens. Samsung equipped the Galaxy S9 series with variable-aperture cameras way back in 2018, and also used variable aperture-cameras in the Samsung Galaxy S10 line.
We were quite taken with the tech in our Samsung Galaxy S9 review, noting that it particularly aided low-light shots, but it wasn’t something Samsung stuck with beyond the S10 series, so it presumably didn’t lead to increased sales.
More recently, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra also has a variable aperture camera, which coupled with a 1-inch sensor resulted in “fantastic low-light performance and unrivaled image quality” according to our Xiaomi 14 Ultra review.
With iOS 18.1 now available to everyone, iOS 18.2 is at the developer beta stage – and as that testing continues we're discovering more new features that are on the way, on top of the ones already spotted in the next release.
First up, there's an interesting upgrade coming to the Find My service: the option to share the location of lost items with anyone you like (via 9to5Mac). At the moment, you can only share an AirTag location with trusted friends or family.
The example Apple gives is being able to share your lost luggage location with an airline, but there are a variety of other ways this could come in handy. There's the option to stop sharing at any time, and at most the sharing link will only be live for several hours.
Another feature is a little more behind-the-scenes, with Apple giving app developers the opportunity to share what's on screen with Siri (via MacRumors). That means you'll be able to give Siri (and possibly ChatGPT) commands related to what you're looking at inside an app, whether it's documents or photos, if the developer adds this kind of support.
More camera control
iOS 18.2 beta 2 adds a new AE/AF Lock option for Camera Control pic.twitter.com/OTSYZjvJeQNovember 4, 2024
The third upgrade is to the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series. As spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, a new auto-exposure and auto-focus lock option is on the way for the button – so the current exposure and focus settings would be fixed once the button is pushed.
On top of that, we've got a new double-click speed setting for Camera Control, so you'll be able to change how rapidly your iPhone expects a double click. The new options listed in the iOS 18.2 developer beta are Default, Slow, and Slower.
All this adds to the current functionality of the Camera Control, including zoom and exposure settings. As this is a beta release though, we can't be fully sure that any of these features are going to be kept once the software is pushed out for everyone.
The iPhone 17 Pro probably won’t land until September 2025, but this being a high-profile handset we’re already hearing leaks and rumors about it – along with the rest of the iPhone 17 series.
The Pro will likely slot in just below the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and just above the iPhone 17 and perhaps the rumored iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim.
And while we don’t know loads about it yet, early rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new button, new cameras, and a new chipset, making this a potentially major and exciting upgrade. Below, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about the iPhone 17 Pro so far.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next smaller Pro iPhone
When is it out? Probably September 2025
How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $999 / £999 / AU$1,849
Expect it in September
The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Likely to land in September of 2025
Will probably cost at least $999 / £999 / AU$1,849
We haven’t heard any iPhone 17 Pro release date leaks yet, but based on Apple’s usual patterns we can say that it will probably be announced in the first or second week of September.
More specifically, it will probably be announced on the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of that week. Apple more often goes for the second week of September, leaving the most likely announcement dates as September 8, September 9, or September 10.
Pre-orders then typically open on the Friday of the announcement week, which would mean September 12, and the iPhone 17 Pro will most likely ship the following Friday, which would be September 19.
But it’s possible the various stages of the launch will happen a week earlier, or that Apple will break with its usual patterns.
There aren’t yet any iPhone 17 Pro price leaks either, but the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,849, so you can expect to pay at least that much for the next model.
Can you trust these rumors?
So far there aren't any release date or price leaks, but based on past form we're almost certain that the iPhone 17 Pro will be announced in September.
A new button and a new color
The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Might include a new button
Expect the same screen size but possibly upgrades to the tech
A Teal Titanium shade is possible
The biggest iPhone 17 Pro design leak we’ve heard so far is that the volume buttons and the Action button might all be replaced by a single new key that can do the job of all those things. Exactly how it would do all those things is uncertain, but it may well have a similar design to the Camera Control button, meaning it can register different strength presses as well as swipes, and respond in different ways to each.
The iPhone 17 Pro will probably also be available in at least one new shade, with one leak suggesting Apple is considering using one of the three colors pictured below. From left to right these are Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium, and Green Titanium, and the source says Teal Titanium is the most likely to get used.
We fully expect the iPhone 17 Pro to have a 6.3-inch screen, since Apple only recently upped the display size with the iPhone 16 Pro. The other design and display leaks so far are worth taking with a pinch of salt though, as not many sources have weighed in.
Two upgraded cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
So many sources have talked about a 48MP telephoto camera that this upgrade seems likely. We haven't heard as much about the other cameras though, including the rumored 24MP selfie snapper upgrade, so we're less sure of those specs. We also wouldn't count on the phone having a mechanical aperture, as that seems a bit niche for how much work it might involve.
The most powerful iPhone chipset yet
The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Not only is an A19 Pro chipset an obvious upgrade, but it has also been mentioned by multiple sources.
Beyond that, there’s a chance that the iPhone 17 Pro will get 12GB of RAM, which would be an increase on the 8GB in the iPhone 16 Pro. However most current leaks suggest that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get this upgrade.
One of the few things we're almost certain of is that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new chipset, since that's a standard yearly upgrade for Apple's phones. We hope it will also get a RAM upgrade, but so far it looks more likely to stick at 8GB.
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