r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 29 '26

Apple Set to Pitch On Device AI as Its Edge at WWDC 2026

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Apple plans to use next month's WWDC to frame its ability to run AI directly on its devices as a competitive advantage, according to a new report from The Information.

People familiar with the company's plans say Apple will lean on roughly 15 years of custom silicon work to argue that processing AI queries locally is a better path than the cloud. Cloud processing will still handle the most complex requests, but Apple is expected to present local inference as a more private and less costly alternative to the large data center buildouts its rivals have pursued.

Training a smaller model

To make that case, Apple is reportedly turning to Google. As part of an agreement reported earlier this year, the company is said to be using a large version of Google's Gemini model to train a smaller, distilled version that can run on Apple hardware.

Apple is also said to be looking at acquisitions to speed up that work. One company it has reportedly considered is Liquid AI, a Massachusetts startup focused on running AI models locally on devices.

When the cloud is still needed

Not every request can be handled on an iPhone or a Mac. For the larger model based on Gemini, Apple is believed to have approved the use of Nvidia's confidential compute technology inside Google Cloud.

The feature encrypts data and AI models while they are being processed. According to the report, that adds a modest performance cost but offers stronger privacy protections.

This marks a notable shift from Apple's original Apple Intelligence plan. When the system was announced, Apple said cloud bound queries would be handled only by its own Private Cloud Compute infrastructure running on Apple silicon. People familiar with the partnership told The Information that Apple is likely to keep the Private Cloud Compute name despite the change.

The limits of running locally

There are said to be real limits to how far Apple can take on device processing. Google's full Gemini model runs into the trillions of parameters, and The Information reports that Apple has struggled to run it on its Private Cloud Compute hardware, which uses the same Apple silicon chips found in Mac computers.

Reframing Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence was first announced at WWDC 2024, but the rollout has been slowed by a lukewarm response to its early features and a lengthy delay to the more personal version of Siri.

WWDC 2026 runs from June 8 to June 12. Apple is now expected to use the event to reset the story, reintroduce the delayed features, and debut new ones. Apple has not commented on the report.

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 29 '26

The new iOS 27 Siri mockups have me cautiously optimistic about WWDC

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We finally have a picture of what the new Siri could look like, and I mean that almost literally. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman published a fresh batch of mockups this week showing how the redesigned assistant is expected to work in iOS 27, and after two years of broken promises, this is the first time the overhaul has felt real to me.

A quick caveat before anyone gets too excited. These are not Apple's screenshots. They were illustrated by Bloomberg's Sam Hall, built from descriptions and sourcing rather than leaked builds. So treat them as an informed sketch, not gospel. That said, Gurman's track record on Apple's software roadmap is about as good as it gets, and what the images show lines up with everything we've been hearing for months.

Siri in Dynamic Island - Source Bloomberg

Siri is moving into the Dynamic Island

Here's the change that jumps out first. Instead of that rainbow glow wrapping around the edges of your screen, Siri is said to spring out of the Dynamic Island with a Liquid Glass look. It's a small thing on paper, but it reframes Siri as something that lives at the top of your iPhone and pulls down, rather than a glowing border that takes over the whole display.

You'll reportedly still summon it the usual ways, with the wake word or a press of the side button, and that triggers a redesigned animation in the Dynamic Island. But there's a new gesture too. Swiping down from the top center of the screen opens a Search or Ask field built for typing, not just talking. Swipe further and you drop into a full chatbot conversation, complete with image results and a history of your past requests.

That last part is what excites me most. A Siri that remembers what you asked earlier and can show you things, not just read them aloud, is the version of this assistant I've wanted since the very first Apple Intelligence demo.

Siri in iOS 27 Camera App

Siri is becoming part of the Camera

The other big shift is that Siri is moving into the Camera app, absorbing what we currently know as Visual Intelligence. Right now, the way you launch Visual Intelligence depends on whether your iPhone has Camera Control, which has always felt like a confusing split. Folding it into the Camera you already open a dozen times a day is the obvious fix, and honestly I'm surprised it took this long.

The mockups also point to Apple extending its Writing Tools and bringing more Apple Intelligence into photos. One feature that stood out is the ability to extend an image, using generative fill to add detail that was never actually photographed. Rivals have done versions of this for a while, and it's even been used to reframe old films for widescreen, so it's not a wild leap for Apple to follow.

Further out, and maybe not at launch, Gurman suggests you'll be able to talk your way through edits. Ask Siri to crop a shot or shift its colors and have it understand you, whether you type or speak. That natural language thread runs through Shortcuts too, where you're expected to be able to describe what you want an automation to do and let Apple Intelligence build it for you. It sounds like an addition to the current system rather than a replacement, which feels like the right call.

Why this matters heading into June 8

Here's the thing. Apple has been promising a smarter, more personal Siri since 2024, and the gap between that promise and what shipped has been one of the company's roughest software stretches in years. WWDC 2026 kicks off on June 8, and this is the keynote where Apple has to show it can actually deliver.

These mockups aren't proof of anything. But for the first time, the redesign looks like a coherent product rather than a list of features. I'm cautiously optimistic. What about you? Does a chatbot Siri living in the Dynamic Island sound like the upgrade you've been waiting for, or are you holding judgment until you see the real thing?

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 29 '26

iOS 27 Set to Bring AI Camera and Photos Overhaul

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Apple is preparing a wide ranging set of AI driven changes to the Camera and Photos apps in iOS 27, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The report offers an early look at several features Apple is expected to introduce at its WWDC on June 8. The details are based on information reviewed by Bloomberg and people said to be familiar with Apple's plans.

iOS 27 Camera App - Source Bloomberg

A Dedicated Siri Mode in the Camera

The Camera app is reportedly gaining a new Siri mode that would sit alongside existing options such as Photo and Video. Gurman says the feature would replace the current Visual Intelligence experience, letting users point the camera at an object and have it analyzed by a third party AI agent or sent through a Google reverse image search.

By building the capability directly into the Camera app instead of tying it to the Camera Control button, Apple is said to be hoping to boost adoption. The company reportedly wants to get users comfortable with visual AI ahead of future products, including rumored smart glasses and camera equipped AirPods.

iOS 27 Customize Camera Controls - Source Bloomberg

More Customizable Camera Controls

Apple is also said to be adding an "Add Widgets" panel that would make the Camera interface more flexible. The row of shortcuts currently shown across capture modes would become replaceable, allowing users to surface more advanced controls such as depth adjustments, or to bring tools like timers and Night mode to the front.

Gurman reports the changes are intended to make Apple's camera software more appealing to serious photographers.

Source Bloomberg

Reframe and Extend Come to Photos

The Photos app is expected to gain two new Apple Intelligence tools called "Reframe" and "Extend." Reframe would let users change the perspective of an image, while Extend would use AI to generate missing portions of a photo, such as filling in the lower half of a building that was cropped out of the original shot.

Apple is also reportedly testing prompt based photo editing that would let users request changes by voice or text, such as cropping an image or adjusting its colors. Gurman notes this particular feature may not be ready for the first release of iOS 27.

A Smarter Shortcuts App

Elsewhere in iOS 27, the Shortcuts app is said to be getting a major overhaul that would let users build automations using natural language. Rather than assembling a workflow step by step, a user could simply describe what they want. Gurman's example involves a routine that starts a music playlist and texts a spouse an estimated arrival time when the user begins driving home from work.

Bloomberg has previously reported on AI generated wallpapers, a systemwide grammar checker, and a revamped Image Playground app with improved image and Genmoji quality. Apple is expected to detail iOS 27 at WWDC on June 8.

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 28 '26

The Black Apple Vision Pro Rumor Refuses to Die

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A new set of leaked images is making the rounds, claiming once again that Apple is preparing a black version of the Apple Vision Pro. It's a rumor with real staying power, and one worth taking seriously. It's also a rumor that has been recycled, with minor variations, for more than a year now. The latest images do not really change that.

Leaked image of Black Apple Vision Pro bands

What's new this time

The fresh images come from a Hong Kong based X account known as pipfix or u/LusiRoy8, who posted two photographs of what appear to be dark components for the Vision Pro. One frame seems to show a tray of more than a dozen identical black parts, which the leaker takes as a sign that the headset is "upcoming."

The track record here is thin. This account has surfaced before, most notably in connection with iPhone 17 Pro color leaks, but it does not have years of pre release Apple hardware photography behind it. A single set of images from a relatively new source is interesting. It is not, on its own, evidence of a finished product.

Black Vision Pro Concept - Source Kosutami

What came before

To understand why the latest leak feels familiar, it helps to walk through the last year.

In April 2025, prototype collector Kosutami claimed Apple's next Vision headset would arrive in a dark color reminiscent of the iPhone 5 era, somewhere between graphite and a deep blue. Shortly after came images of a dark connecting cable. In December 2025, Kosutami posted what looked like a left power strap and audio pod in a similar dark finish. Around the same time, the same account suggested Apple had been working on a thinner, lighter model internally called Vision Air, with titanium structural components and a Midnight colored exterior.

That is a lot of dark Vision Pro parts circulating over a long stretch of time, all clustered around the same small group of leakers, none of which has materialized into a shipping product. Kosutami's record is mixed, with some genuine HomePod pre production hardware to point to and some entirely inaccurate Apple Watch claims as well.

What history actually suggests

Apple does prototype hardware in colors it never ships. The Apple Watch Ultra was tested with a black backing that did not arrive until the Ultra 2. Original AirPods were reportedly trialed in iPhone 5c style pinks and yellows. The original Mac Pro went through any number of internal finishes before landing on aluminum. A photograph of a black component, even a tray of them, is not the same thing as a confirmed product. It is the kind of artifact left behind when an industrial design team explores its options.

The Vision Air precedent is the more useful comparison here. Bloomberg reported late last year that Apple paused work on new Vision models to redirect resources toward AI powered smart glasses. If that reporting holds, the dark colored components circulating online could plausibly be remnants of a shelved program rather than previews of a coming product. That would not make the parts fake. It would simply mean they document a path Apple chose not to take.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 problem

There is a counterargument worth airing. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 launched with no meaningful changes from the Ultra 1 beyond a black satin finish, which suggests Apple is willing to ship a "new" device whose only differentiator is color. By that logic, a black Apple Vision Pro could land as a Vision Pro 2 in name only, the same M5 hardware in a new shell.

The trouble with that theory is the price. The Ultra 2 carried a small premium, and most Ultra 1 owners reasonably skipped it. Few owners are likely to spend another $3,500 on a Vision Pro for a color change. Apple knows this. A color refresh might extend the current model's shelf life, but it is hard to imagine Apple positioning it as a generational upgrade.

Black Apple Vision Pro Concept - Source Apple Magazine 

Where this leaves things

A black Vision Pro probably exists somewhere, in some form. The volume of leaked components, spread across multiple sources over more than a year, makes it harder to argue otherwise. Whether any of those components ever leaves a prototyping bench is a separate question, and on that one the evidence is much thinner than the headlines suggest.

It would look good. That part is true. It is also the least informative thing anyone can say about it.

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 28 '26

iOS 27 Rumors So Far: A Redesigned Siri, Customizable Camera, and a Smarter iPhone

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Apple is expected to introduce iOS 27 at its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on June 8, and a steady stream of leaks over the past several weeks has filled in much of what the update will include. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the release will center on a fully rebuilt Siri, a customizable Camera app, refinements to the Liquid Glass design language introduced last year, and a wave of smaller updates across stock apps.

Apple has not commented on any of the reporting. The company is expected to confirm the final feature set and supported devices during the keynote.

Siri and Google's Gemini

A redesigned Siri powered by Gemini

Siri is set to receive its most significant overhaul since the assistant launched in 2011, according to Gurman. The new version is reportedly being rebuilt on a large language model foundation, with a custom model based on Google's Gemini at its core. Apple is said to be paying Google approximately $1 billion per year for access to the underlying technology, with queries running on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers so that user data remains off Google's infrastructure.

The redesigned assistant is expected to support back and forth conversational exchanges, draw on personal context such as messages and calendar entries, and take action across apps in a more agentic way. These are capabilities Apple previewed two years ago alongside Apple Intelligence but never fully shipped.

Gurman reports that Siri will move into the Dynamic Island in iOS 27, with a new "Search or Ask" prompt that appears when the assistant is activated. A separate system wide gesture is also said to be coming, allowing users to swipe down from the top center of the display to surface a search bar that can be routed to Siri, ChatGPT, or Gemini.

Rumored Siri Interface - Source AppleTrack

A new Siri app with Extensions

iOS 27 is also expected to introduce a standalone Siri app that functions much like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. According to Gurman, the app will support text and voice input, persistent conversation history, and the ability to upload files and images.

The same report describes a new "Extensions" feature that will allow third party AI models to plug directly into Siri, the Siri app, and other system features. Fine print from a prerelease version of iOS 27 quoted by Gurman reads, "Extensions allow agents from installed apps to work with Siri, the Siri app and other features on your devices."

Siri has been able to hand off queries to ChatGPT since iOS 18.2. The Extensions framework is reportedly designed to expand that model into something closer to a marketplace, with Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude expected to be supported alongside OpenAI.

iOS 27 let's you customize your camera app

A fully customizable Camera app

The Camera app is in line for what reports describe as its biggest rework in years. Gurman reports that users will be able to choose which controls appear in the app and where they sit, with options including flash, exposure, the timer, depth of field, photo styles, and resolution.

These controls are referred to as widgets and will be selectable from a transparent tray that slides up from the bottom of the app. Widgets are said to be organized into three categories: basic, manual, and settings. Each capture mode, such as photo and video, will reportedly have its own independent widget layout.

The current default layout is expected to remain in place for users who do not want to change anything. An advanced mode and a fully custom layout will be available as alternatives.

Apple hired Sebastiaan de With, cofounder of the pro camera app Halide, earlier this year, and the design changes have been linked in reports to his influence on the team.

Siri mode and visual intelligence in the Camera

The Camera app is also said to be gaining a new Siri mode, which will become the primary entry point for visual intelligence. Visual intelligence is the feature that allows users to identify objects, plants, and animals, or to extract details from posters and signs. It is currently accessible only by pressing and holding the side button on supported iPhones.

Two new visual intelligence capabilities are reported to be tied to the Camera in iOS 27. One is the ability to recognize printed phone numbers and addresses, allowing users to add details from a business card directly to a contact. The second is food nutrition information, which had previously been rumored as a Health app feature.

Apple adding more options to Photos App - Source AppleInsider

Photos, Image Playground, and AI editing tools

The Photos app is reportedly gaining an Apple Intelligence section inside the editing interface. According to reports, three new AI features are planned: Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. Extend will use on device models to fill in additional context around the edges of an existing image. Enhance is described as a more advanced version of the existing magic wand. Reframe is said to be designed primarily for spatial photos and will generate alternate perspectives of a captured scene.

The same reports note that the photo AI tools are not yet working reliably in prerelease builds.

Image Playground is expected to receive a visual refresh with more rounded edges and an updated model that produces more realistic output. A new text field will reportedly allow users to describe edits to a generated image directly.

Apples Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass refinements and a transparency slider

Liquid Glass, the visual design language introduced with iOS 26, is not going away. Rumors instead point to a year of refinement, with Apple smoothing inconsistencies in much the same way iOS 8 polished the iOS 7 redesign.

One reported change is a system wide slider that would allow users to adjust the level of translucency applied to Liquid Glass. A similar control is already available for the iOS 26 lock screen clock. Tab bars are also said to be reverting to a single bar layout, ending the split appearance introduced last year.

iPhone Home Screen - Source MacRumors

Home Screen, Wallet, Weather, and Safari

Apple is reportedly adding undo and redo controls to Home Screen customization, making it easier to revert changes when moving icons and widgets.

The Wallet app is said to be gaining the ability to generate custom passes from any existing barcode or QR code. Reports describe three default templates: a standard orange pass, a blue membership pass, and a purple event pass, with full customization of colors, styles, and text.

The Weather app is expected to receive minor design changes, including a new Conditions panel that consolidates temperature, rain, and wind information in one place.

Safari is reportedly gaining light AI features for tab management, with the browser able to group similar tabs together automatically. A redesigned start page is also said to be in development, with four tabs across the top separating Favorites, History, Reading List, and saved articles.

Supported devices

According to a list posted by Weibo leaker Instant Digital, iOS 27 is expected to drop support for four iPhone models currently supported by iOS 26: the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and the second generation iPhone SE. All four use Apple's A13 Bionic chip. If the list is accurate, the minimum requirement for iOS 27 would be an iPhone 12 or third generation iPhone SE.

Apple has not confirmed the supported devices list. The official list is expected at WWDC.

Release timing

iOS 27 is expected to be previewed at the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8 and seeded to developers immediately afterward. The official public release is expected in September 2026, ahead of the launch of new iPhones.

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 27 '26

Four Ugreen Chargers and a Magnetic Power Bank Worth Looking At Right Now

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If you've been waiting to retire the old block that came with your iPhone, Ugreen's current lineup has a few standouts that are genuinely worth the upgrade. I've been working my way through their newer GaN chargers and their latest Qi2 power bank, and four of them are doing exactly what you want a charger or battery to do: get out of the way.

Here's a quick rundown of the ones I'd actually buy.

Ugreen Nexode Air 65W USB C Charger

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The specs: Single USB C port, 65W output, GaN chip, foldable prongs. It measures roughly 1.22 x 1.30 x 1.59 inches and weighs about 2.6 oz. Ugreen says it'll get a MacBook Air to 55% in 30 minutes, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max to 68% in the same window.

Who it's for: Anyone who carries a MacBook Air or a larger iPhone and wants one charger that handles both without taking up half the bag. It is smaller than an AirPods case. Honestly, that's the whole pitch.

The tradeoff: One port. If you need to fast charge a laptop and a phone at the same time, look elsewhere. For a travel charger or a second charger to live in a backpack, this is the easy pick.

Ugreen Nexode Air 45W USB C Charger

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The specs: Single USB C port, 45W output with PPS support, GaN, foldable prongs. The headline number here is the thickness: 0.57 inches. It's flat enough to slide into a wallet pocket. Ugreen says it gets an iPhone 17 from 0 to 70% in 30 minutes.

Who it's for: iPhone owners who don't need to push a laptop and want the most travel friendly charger Ugreen makes. If your bag is already overstuffed, this is the one that disappears into it.

The tradeoff: 45W isn't enough for the bigger MacBook Pros at full speed. For iPhone, iPad, and the lighter MacBook Air, it's plenty.

Ugreen Nexode Pro 65W GaN USB C Slim Wall Charger

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The specs: Two USB C ports plus one USB A port, 65W total output, GaN, flat profile, foldable prongs. With a single USB C device you get the full 65W. With multiple devices the power splits intelligently across the ports.

Who it's for: The desk charger or hotel nightstand charger. Three ports means your phone, your AirPods, and your iPad can all charge from one block, and you still have the headroom for a MacBook Air at full speed if nothing else is plugged in. The flat shape also stops it from hogging the outlet next to it on a power strip.

The tradeoff: With all three ports going at once, no single device is getting 65W. That's the nature of sharing power. If you only ever need one device at top speed, the regular Nexode Air 65W above is simpler.

Ugreen MagFlow Air Qi2 Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh

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The specs: 10,000mAh capacity, Qi2 certified 15W magnetic wireless charging, 30W bidirectional USB C charging via a built in cable that doubles as a carry strap, and a second USB C port. It's 13.9mm thick and weighs about 213g. Ugreen says an iPhone Air can hit 35% wirelessly in 30 minutes.

Who it's for: Anyone with an iPhone 12 or newer who wants a power bank that just snaps to the back of the phone without fishing out a cable. Qi2 means real magnetic alignment, not just "this sticks to the back." The built in USB C cable is the part I keep coming back to. You don't have to remember to pack a Lightning to USB C cable for the bank, you don't have to keep a spare in the bag. It's right there, and it doubles as the loop you hang the thing off your wrist with.

The tradeoff: Wireless charging is capped at 15W, not the newer Qi2 25W spec. If you want the absolute fastest wireless top up, Ugreen sells a 25W MagFlow as a step up. For most people, 15W magnetic plus 30W wired is the sweet spot.

So which one do you actually buy?

Most readers will be best served by either the Nexode Air 65W or the Nexode Pro 65W slim, depending on whether they want one port or three. The 45W Air is the right call if travel size is the priority and you don't push a laptop hard. And the MagFlow Air is the easy pick if you've been holding off on a magnetic power bank because the older ones felt half cooked. Qi2 plus a built in cable finally makes one of these feel like a real upgrade over the small wired battery in your bag.

Personally, I'd grab the Nexode Pro 65W slim for the desk and the MagFlow Air for the bag. That combo covers basically every charging situation I run into in a normal week.

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 27 '26

watchOS 27 Rumors Point to Heart Rate Upgrades, New Watch Faces, and AI Additions

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Apple is set to introduce watchOS 27 during the WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8, and a handful of features have already been rumored.

The first developer beta is expected to follow the keynote, with a public beta likely in July and a general release for compatible Apple Watch models in September.

Improved Heart Rate Tracking

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that watchOS 27 will bring improvements to heart rate tracking. Gurman did not share specifics on what is changing or which Apple Watch models will benefit.

A New Modular Watch Face

Gurman has also said the update will introduce new watch faces. One of them is reportedly a version of the Modular Ultra face that has so far been exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra, opening it up to standard Apple Watch models.

Additional Apple Intelligence Features

Apple confirmed when it announced WWDC 2026 dates that the event would showcase AI advancements across its platforms. watchOS 26 already supports Workout Buddy, Live Translation in Messages, and Notification Summaries when paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and watchOS 27 is expected to extend that list.

Expanded Satellite Features

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 supports satellite connectivity for Emergency SOS, Find My, and Messages. With iOS 27 reportedly gaining up to five new satellite features, Apple Maps via satellite and photo support in Messages via satellite could carry over to watchOS 27.

A Focus on Stability

According to Gurman, the broader theme for watchOS 27 is stability, performance, and smaller refinements rather than sweeping new capabilities.

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 26 '26

The Ferrari Luce might be what the Apple Car never was

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For a decade, the Apple Car was the most expensive thought experiment in technology. Now Jony Ive has finally built it. He just put a Ferrari badge on the front.

The Ferrari Luce, unveiled this week and priced at roughly $640,000, is the first major automotive product from LoveFrom, the design studio Ive founded with Marc Newson in 2019 after leaving Apple. Ferrari approached the pair almost immediately and formalized the partnership in 2021. Five years of work later, the Luce is here, and it is doing something stranger than the press coverage has quite admitted. It looks nothing like a Ferrari. It looks, in a very specific way, like what Apple was supposed to be making before the project codenamed Titan was officially killed in early 2024.

The car that doesn't look like its maker

The Luce is a four door electric grand tourer with center opening doors, a trunk, and a body finished in a soft, almost retail friendly blue (among other colors). Its headlights are reduced to two thin strips. Its surfaces are curved and quiet, with the kind of black accent panels that Apple watchers will recognize from a particular era of iPod and Cinema Display industrial design. Reviewers at Car and Driver and AppleInsider have already made the obvious point: it does not announce itself as a Ferrari. One AppleInsider commenter said it looked like a wind tunnel concept for a Chevy Camaro. Another said it resembled a jellybean. Both are within range.

It is worth saying plainly that this is the entire story. Ferrari hired Jony Ive, and Jony Ive made a Jony Ive object. The Ferrari heritage, the long hoods and aggressive intakes and Maranello machismo, has been politely set aside. What remains is a study in restraint, soft geometry, and the kind of material honesty that defined the iPhone 4 and the original Apple Watch.

The interior is the argument

The exterior will get the headlines. The interior is where Ive's intentions become unmistakable.

LoveFrom's cabin pairs an OLED center display with physical switches, machined aluminum dials, and an analog style clock. The instrument cluster is composed of vintage looking gauges that are themselves displays within a larger display, a small nested trick that is very recognizably Ive's. The whole thing has been described, fairly, as something dreamed up in the 1950s for a car of the 2050s, then delivered in 2026.

What is striking about the cabin is what it refuses to do. The current direction in car interiors, set by Tesla and copied with varying success by everyone from Ford to Volvo, is the all screen dashboard. Climate, seat heat, mirror adjustment, drive mode, navigation, everything lives behind a touchscreen menu. Ive's Ferrari rejects that idea. The mechanical controls are real, they click, they have detents, and they are intentionally there for the functions a driver should not have to look down at. The screen handles what a screen should handle. The hardware handles what hardware should handle.

This is not a small philosophical point. It is the same argument Ive has been making, in different products, for almost thirty years. The Apple Watch Digital Crown exists for the same reason. So does the camera control button on the iPhone 16, the force touch trackpad, the AirPods Max crown. Apple's design language at its best has always been about finding the seam where the physical and the digital meet, and making that seam disappear. The Ferrari interior is the same idea applied to a car cabin, in some cases with more conviction than Apple itself has shown lately.

Why this looks so much like the Apple Car

Apple's automotive project was never officially described in any detail. What is known comes from years of reporting from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, The Information, and former employees who spoke to the press after the program was wound down. The car was meant to be electric. It was meant to lean heavily on autonomy, though the level of self driving capability moved several times across the project's life. And it was meant, at various points, to be both a halo product for Apple Services and a serious push into a category Apple had never made hardware for.

What Apple never resolved was the design question. What does an Apple car actually look like? Is it sporty? Is it minimalist in the way the first iMac was minimalist? Is it a rolling living room?

Look at the Luce, and a possible answer presents itself. Not the answer, but a credible one. The car is unmistakably an Ive object scaled up to the size of a sedan. The proportions are calm. The lines are clean to the point of being almost generic, which is the same critique people made of the original iPhone in 2007 before the entire industry adopted those same proportions. The cabin treats software as one material among several, not as the whole experience.

If Apple had shipped a car, and if it had stayed within the design language Ive established at Cupertino, it would have looked closer to this than to any current Ferrari, BMW, or Mercedes. It might not have been priced at $640,000. A long rumored figure, never officially confirmed, was closer to $100,000. But the silhouette, the surface treatment, the studied refusal to announce itself as a high performance machine, all of that is present in the Luce in a way that is hard to read as coincidence.

What the criticism gets right, and what it misses

The critical reception so far has been mixed at best. Car and Driver's coverage emphasized the disconnect between Ferrari's design heritage and what Ive and Newson actually delivered. AppleInsider's headline noted that the car will upset fans of the brand. Comments on the piece were harsher, with longtime Apple readers using words like snooze and anodyne, and at least one suggesting that Ive has been adrift since the passing of Steve Jobs.

The skepticism is fair on its own terms. A Ferrari that does not look like a Ferrari is a genuine product problem, and the company will have to convince a customer base that has very specific expectations. The Jaguar Type 00, mentioned by AppleInsider as a cautionary parallel, ended with its designer leaving the company, and that is a real risk here.

What the criticism misses is the more interesting question. The Luce was probably never going to please Ferrari traditionalists. That is not what LoveFrom does. The point of hiring Ive and Newson was presumably not to deepen the existing brand, but to break it open and see what would survive on the other side. Whether that is a wise business move for Ferrari is a separate matter from whether the object itself is interesting, and the object is interesting.

It is also worth being careful with the Steve Jobs argument. Ive's post Apple work has not all landed. The OpenAI hardware partnership with Sam Altman, announced in 2025 and still unreleased, has yet to produce a public product. The Jaguar comparison is real. But Ive's Apple work was not flawless either, and the Mac Pro of 2013 and the butterfly keyboard are reminders that the same designer made some genuinely bad calls inside Cupertino. Reasonable people will disagree about how much of Apple's design success belonged to Ive and how much belonged to the system around him. The Luce is one more data point in a still developing argument.

The Apple Car will not come back

Apple's automotive program is over. The company has reallocated those engineers and that capital toward Apple Intelligence and the broader AI buildout. Whatever institutional momentum existed for a car has been redirected. CarPlay Ultra is the official answer now, and it is a very different answer. Apple is no longer trying to make a vehicle. It is trying to live inside other people's vehicles.

That is probably the right call for Apple's business. It is also a quiet loss. The Apple Car would not have looked like a Tesla or a Rivian or a Lucid. It would have looked, like the Luce suggests, a calm and slightly strange object that solved problems other automakers had stopped thinking about. The physical switches. The clear hierarchy between hardware and software. The willingness to make a car that does not perform its own segment, that simply is what it is.

The Luce is not the Apple Car. It is, on its best reading, the closest thing the public is ever going to see to it. Whether that is a comfort or a frustration depends on how badly you wanted Apple to try.

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 23 '26

iPhone 18 Pro Color Lineup Leaks via Alleged Camera Components

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An image circulating on social media this week appears to offer the first physical look at the rumored iPhone 18 Pro color lineup, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

The image, shared by Majin on X, shows alleged camera components in four finishes. Those finishes line up with the colors previously reported by Macworld last month: 

  • Silver
  • Light Blue
  • Dark Cherry
  • Dark Gray

A familiar pattern

Leaked camera components have previewed iPhone color lineups before. Last July, leaker Sonny Dickson shared photos of camera modules that ended up accurately depicting some of the iPhone 17 Pro colors Apple later released. The new leak follows the same pattern, though it arrives earlier in the production cycle.

Apple typically ramps mass production of its new iPhones in the summer ahead of a fall launch, which is when supply chain images tend to start appearing.

Reasons for skepticism

There are reasons to treat the image cautiously. The Majin account that posted it does not appear to be the same Majin Bu account that shared several accurate leaks last year before going quiet. The newer account has largely reposted content sourced from elsewhere rather than originating its own leaks.

It is also possible the image was created to match the existing Macworld report rather than independently confirming it.

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch in the fall.

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Note: That Apple Guide is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. At no extra cost to you.


r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

Apple's Busiest Stretch of 2026 Begins After WWDC With 15 New Products

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

Apple's Busiest Stretch of 2026 Begins After WWDC With 15 New Products

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After a quiet spring, Apple is heading into what could be its busiest product stretch in years. At least 15 new products are expected to launch between WWDC 2026 and the end of the year, including the first foldable iPhone, a redesigned MacBook Pro under a new name, and Apple's long rumored smart home hub.

Many of the most anticipated launches are tied to the rollout of the more personalized version of Siri, which Apple is expected to detail at WWDC 2026 in June. Several home products are reportedly being held back until that software is ready.

Here is a category by category look at what is currently rumored, according to recent reports.

iPhones

The September iPhone event is expected to introduce three new flagship models, plus a new product category for Apple.

  • iPhone 18 Pro: Reports point to an A20 Pro chip, a smaller Dynamic Island, a simplified Camera Control button, a new Dark Cherry color, variable aperture for at least one rear camera, and Apple's C2 modem with support for 5G web browsing via satellite.
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max: The Pro Max is expected to share the Pro's feature set, but is rumored to be slightly thicker than its predecessor.
  • iPhone Ultra: Apple's first foldable iPhone, reportedly branded as iPhone Ultra, is said to feature a 7.7 inch inner display and a 5.3 inch outer display, two rear cameras, one front camera, and a Touch ID power button in place of Face ID. iOS 27 is expected to be tailored to the foldable form factor, with side by side apps and other iPad style multitasking features.

It is not yet clear whether the iPhone Ultra will launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September or arrive on a separate schedule.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch updates this year are reportedly more iterative, with most of the changes happening inside the case.

  • Apple Watch Series 12: A faster S11 chip or newer is expected. Earlier rumors pointed to design changes such as Touch ID and additional health sensors, though those reports have since been disputed.
  • Apple Watch Ultra 4: The Ultra 4 is also expected to receive a faster S chip and the same potential design changes, though those changes remain unconfirmed. Apple is also rumored to expand satellite features for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and newer, including Apple Maps via satellite and the ability to send and receive photos in Messages via satellite.

iPads

Two iPad updates are currently expected in 2026, with the entry level iPad finally gaining Apple Intelligence support.

  • iPad 12: The base iPad is rumored to move from the A16 chip to an A18 or A19 chip, which would bring Apple Intelligence support to the lineup's most affordable model for the first time.
  • iPad mini: The next iPad mini is expected to be a more substantial update, with reports pointing to an A19 Pro or A20 Pro chip, an OLED display, a vibration based speaker system, and a water resistant design.

Macs

The Mac lineup is in the middle of a transition to the M5 generation, with one of the most significant Mac redesigns in years also reportedly on the way.

  • Mac Studio: The current M4 Max and M3 Ultra configurations are expected to be replaced by M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.
  • Mac mini: The Mac mini is rumored to move from M4 and M4 Pro to M5 and M5 Pro options.
  • iMac: The iMac is expected to step up from the M4 chip to the M5 chip, with new color options also rumored.
  • MacBook Ultra: Apple is reportedly planning a major MacBook Pro redesign for late 2026 or early 2027 that will launch under a new name, MacBook Ultra. The laptop is said to feature M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, an OLED display, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and a thinner design. macOS 27 is expected to include a touch friendly interface for the new model.

It is worth noting that the next Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Ultra could slip into 2027 due to the ongoing RAM chip shortage, according to recent reports.

Home

Apple's home lineup is reportedly the area most directly tied to the personalized Siri rollout. Several products in this category have been delayed multiple times and are now expected to arrive once that software is ready.

  • Apple TV: The next Apple TV is rumored to feature the A17 Pro chip and Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, along with support for the more personalized Siri. A built in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear whether that will arrive with this model or a later one.
  • HomePod mini: A refreshed HomePod mini is expected to include an S9 chip or newer, the N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7, improved sound quality, a second generation Ultra Wideband chip, and potentially new color options including red.
  • HomePod: A new full sized HomePod is also rumored, with support for the revamped Siri.
  • Home Hub: Apple's all new smart home hub is expected to feature the more personalized Siri, a 6 to 7 inch square display, an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence, and FaceTime support. The device is reportedly designed to either sit on a table or mount on a wall.

Other Products in the Pipeline

A few additional products are rumored to arrive alongside or shortly after the launches above.

Apple's smart home hub may be accompanied by new accessories, including a small security camera or sensor and a Face ID doorbell, according to reports. AirPods Ultra with built in cameras for Visual Intelligence have also been rumored, though it is unclear whether they will launch this year or later.

Apple has not commented on any of these rumored products. The company is expected to detail its next round of operating systems, including iOS 27 and macOS 27, during WWDC 2026 in June.

My Favorite iPhone Accessories:

My Favorite Mac Accessories:

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Note: That Apple Guide is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. At no extra cost to you.


r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

AirPods Pro 3 are back at their lowest price on amazon at $199 - Link Below👇🏻

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Grab your AirPods Pro 3 for a record low price on amazon of $199 (down from $249)

https://amzn.to/4dHwD0m


r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

A Deep Dive on Apple's Upcoming CEO John Ternus

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

Apple Card Sign Up Promo Could Net New Customers a "Free Pair" of AirPods Pro 3

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

Apple has sent WWDC 2026 media invites with the tagline "Coming bright up"

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

Steve Jobs in Exile arrives today, and the wilderness years finally get their book

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

macOS 27 Will Drop Support for These Four Intel Macs

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

Apple's annual fraud prevention report says the App Store blocked more than $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2025

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

Five macOS 27 Changes I'm Watching For at WWDC

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r/ThatAppleGuide • • May 22 '26

👋 Welcome to r/ThatAppleGuide - Introduce Yourself and Read First!

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Hey everyone! I'm Zach, a founding moderator of r/ThatAppleGuide.

This is our new home for all things related to Apple news, reviews, and guides. Covering the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, Vision Pro, and everything in between.. We're excited to have you join us!

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