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Close up of the hands of a person unboxing a brand new iPhone 16e. (Photo by: Nano Calvo\/VW Pics\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
VW Pics\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Taking a look back at this week\u2019s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including Apple\u2019s big week of launches, the iPhone 17e\u2019s power, iPhone 18 Pro battery specs, iPhone Fold display details, Mac Mini to USA, Apple\u2019s 2026 report card, and letters to Steve Jobs.<\/p>\n
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s Big Week Of Launches<\/p>\n Writing on X (n\u00e9e Twitter), Apple CEO Tim Cook teased<\/a> the upcoming Apple launch event on March 4th. This is not going to be a single day of products, but the culmination of three key products, each getting its own day in the sun. David Phelan reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n “The fact that the first announcement will be on Monday confirms what several commentators, including me, have been saying: that there will be daily product reveals on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the third one timed to coincide with the Apple \u201cSpecial Experience\u201d scheduled for 9 a.m. Eastern (6 a.m. Pacific) on Wednesday, March 4.”<\/p>\n iPhone 17e Turns On The Power<\/p>\n The key launch is going to be a mid-range iPhone, the presumptive iPhone 17e, and Apple is not compromising on performance. Google’s recently announced Pixel 10a retains the older Tensor chipset from the Pixel 9a, but the iPhone 17e is set to step up from the 16e and use the next-generation A19 chipset<\/a>:<\/p>\n “By giving its budget model the A19, Apple is making the iPhone 17e future-proof for users who don\u2019t upgrade very often. The power and efficiency of A19, combined with its Neural Engine for AI tasks, will make iPhone 17e stack up nicely against more expensive models.”<\/p>\n iPhone 18 Pro Battery Changes<\/p>\n Looking further ahead, Apple is expected to increase the iPhone 18 Pro\u2019s battery capacity to 5,200 mAh, up from 4,352 mAh on the iPhone 17 Pro. There\u2019s no indication yet that Apple is moving to a silicon-carbon battery. Reports from the supply chain<\/a> suggest that it is down to a physically larger battery and that it will be paired with hardware efficiencies to increase battery life.<\/p>\n “…new leaks suggesting the iPhone 18 Pro series will combine a record-breaking 5,200 mAh battery 2-nanometer A20 Pro silicon and a custom-designed C2 modem. It could make for unprecedented battery life. And, whatever the changes, it looks like the die is now cast: a new report says the phone has entered production testing.”<\/p>\n Screen Details For The iPhone Fold<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s plans to launch the iPhone Fold are pointing to a late 2026 launch, if the latest supply chain news<\/a> is true. If Apple has placed production orders for the new folding screen technology that promises a \u201ccrease-free experience\u201d, then the traditional September iPhone launch date is looking promising:<\/p>\n “The crease depth is said to have been controlled to under 0.15 mm. Crease depth refers to how deep the groove or indentation at the fold is. A smaller number means the crease is shallower and less noticeable to the eye and to the touch. The crease angle is said to be under 2.5 degrees. Crease angle describes how sharp the fold line appears when the display is unfolded, which is measured as the angle formed at the crease area.”<\/p>\n A US Mac Mini Plant<\/p>\n Apple has confirmed that it is bringing more manufacturing to the United States<\/a>, with the Mac Mini set to be manufactured in Houston, contributing to inventory.<\/p>\n “Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we\u2019re proud to significantly expand our footprint in Houston with the production of Mac mini starting later this year,\u201d said Tim Cook, Apple\u2019s CEO. \u201cWe began shipping advanced AI servers from Houston ahead of schedule, and we\u2019re excited to accelerate that work even further.\u201d<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s 2026 Report Card<\/p>\n Jason Snell has conducted his annual Apple survey<\/a> across a wide range of writers, analysts, commentators, and podcasters in the space to gauge public opinion of Apple in the ecosystem. One of the biggest issues called out was macOS Taho, with John Gruber\u2019s opinion highlighted<\/p>\n \u201cTahoe is the worst regression in the entire history of MacOS. There are many reasons to prefer MacOS to any of its competition, but the one that has been the most consistent since System 1 in 1984 is the superiority of its user interface. There is nothing about Tahoe\u2019s new UI that is better than its predecessor\u2026. Fundamental principles of computer-human interaction \u2014 principles that Apple itself forged over decades \u2014 have been completely ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n And Finally…<\/p>\n This week, The Steve Jobs Archive published several letters from friends and colleagues of Steve Jobs<\/a> on what would have been his 71st birthday. Tim Cook\u2019s letter regarding Jobs’ recruiting him for Apple is particularly illuminating:<\/p>\n \u201cI was warned that accepting a job there would come with risks. But when Steve spoke, any trepidation I harbored instantly dissolved. I had never met someone with so much passion and vision. He spoke with charisma and clarity\u2014about a future where technology could unlock a wellspring of human creativity and potential, connecting us and uplifting us in ways even he had yet to imagine.”<\/p>\n Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don\u2019t forget to follow me so you don\u2019t miss any coverage in the future. Last week\u2019s Apple Loop can be read here<\/a>, or this week\u2019s edition of Loop\u2019s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Close up of the hands of a person unboxing a brand new iPhone 16e. 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