iOS 19, iPhone 17 Pro, Air Upgrades, and Upcoming AirPods Max

Welcome to Rumor Replay—a new weekly segment at DMN delivering a quick overview of the latest Apple product speculations, alongside my insights and commentary. In this edition: iOS 19 updates suggest a delayed rollout, the spotlight on iPhone 17 Pro and Air, the outlook for AirPods Max, and more!

Here’s what this week’s Apple rumors include.

iOS 19 Will Feature a Delayed Launch of Upgrades

Believe it or not, we’re just around six months away from Apple revealing its next major software updates, including iOS 19, which means it’s time for rumors to start emerging.

Mark Gurman mentioned this week that “an unusually high number of features originally planned for iOS 19 (beyond the new Siri) have been postponed until spring 2026 (when iOS 19.4 will be released).”

No other specific features were identified, but I can’t help but wonder if other platforms besides iOS 19 are being prioritized for significant enhancements this year—though no rumors have confirmed this yet.

iOS 18, along with its subsequent updates 18.1 and 18.2, has been a monumental release. Perhaps next year will bring more substantial updates to macOS and/or iPadOS. The latter may finally establish a foundation for a touch-enabled Mac, which could represent a significant engineering feat.

Key Differences Between iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Air Emerge

A report from The Information this week revealed details about features coming to the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Air. The Pro model will feature a more prominent rectangular camera bump and switch from titanium to aluminum construction. In contrast, the Air model will need to make several trade-offs to maintain its ultra-slim profile.

These insights provide clarity on what is bound to be a challenging purchasing decision next year.

While the iPhone 17 Air scales back its camera to a single rear lens, Apple appears to be going in the opposite direction with the Pro line. Assuming both models share the same main camera—which is likely—consumer choices will be influenced by two appealing factors: the sleekness of a thinner device versus the versatility of a more robust camera system.

LLM Siri Complicates the ‘New Era’ Narrative

Apple is navigating a challenging transition into what it calls a ‘new era for Siri,’ and according to a Mark Gurman report, the complexities are expected to escalate over the next 18 months.

In addition to the Siri refinements currently being implemented as part of iOS 18, a significant transformation awaits in iOS 19.4: the debut of the first LLM-based Siri.

The potential for a more advanced, ChatGPT-like Siri is substantial, especially with the launch of more voice-activated devices (e.g., HomePod). In the meantime, Apple must demonstrate that the existing Siri can sufficiently justify its ‘new era’ claim.

AirPods Max 2 Will Not Arrive Soon

In conclusion, this fall’s underwhelming update for the AirPods Max appears to be the last significant change for the headset for the foreseeable future. Gurman notes that Apple currently has ‘no definitive plans’ for any major updates to the AirPods Max, suggesting we won’t see the introduction of the H2 chip or any associated enhancements.

I believe that allowing the AirPods Max to stagnate could be a misstep for Apple. While there might be valid reasons for not simply upgrading to the H2 chip, I remain skeptical. It’s unfortunate that the more affordable AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 possess merits that outshine those of the premium Max headphones.

Interestingly, I continue to notice an increasing presence of AirPods Max in everyday use, which raises hopes that if sales are indeed on the upswing, Apple might reconsider and give this product some much-needed attention.

What rumors catch your interest the most? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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