Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including iPhone 18 Pro launch date, iPhone stock warning, Apple explores Chinese memory, iOS 27 reveals new iPhones, iCloud+ subscriptions for more AI, MacBook Air memory issues, and Dave The Diver is coming to iPhone.
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.
iPhone 18 Pro Launch Date Details
As September approaches, so does the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro family. Apple’s traditional approach has always been to look at the second week of the month, with circumstances deciding on the actual day. With Labour Day falling on Monday, Sept. 7, Apple is expected to tacitly acknowledge Tuesday as a travel day ahead of a launch on Wednesday, Sept. 9. David Phelan investigates:
It’s not just the attendees who don’t want to travel on a public holiday. Apple is reluctant to have its staff work on the holiday as well (although, again, I’m sure they will be taking part in plenty of meetings and other preparations on Tuesday, Sept. 8).
Stock Warning On iPhone 18 Pro Sales
Apple may not have enough supply to meet the early demand for the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra. Analysts are highlighting a DRAM shortage that is delaying TSMC’s production of the integrated processor-memory A20 Pro chipset. The working assumption online is that Apple will be able to fulfil initial demands, but the retail inventory will be constrained due to slower production:
“Apple’s new A20 Pro chips are built on TSMC’s 2nm process and use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging to integrate the processor and DRAM at the wafer level. Unfortunately, that means TSMC needs to have the DRAM on hand for assembly, and it can’t be added at a later step. Apple is not able to stockpile finished dies and then add DRAM when it becomes available.”
Chinese Memory Could Secure A Future
With the squeeze on memory and RAM due to the rapacious demands of AI server farms, Apple is looking further afield to meet its own needs. One potential source is China’s CXMT, which could support Apple’s hardware destined for the Chinese market. If this were to go ahead, Apple would need to either comply with US regulations or seek an exemption. The WSJ’s Raffaele Huang and Rolfe Winkler explain:
“Federal rules prevent U.S. companies from transferring technology to CXMT, including any communication about technical details and product specifications, a routine part of creating the specialized chips that Apple typically uses. The restriction effectively stops Apple from ordering custom chips from CXMT. The rules permit Apple to use off-the-shelf CXMT components and to negotiate prices with the Chinese company, according to Kevin Wolf, a lawyer at Akin Gump who advises companies on export controls.”
iOS 27 Roadmap Reveals New iPhones
The latest beta release of iOS 27 includes details of the iPhones it is expected to connect with. That includes models that are still to be released. Not only does this confirm the models set for the September launch event, but it also covers the models destined for the Spring 2027 launch window. MacWorld looks over the information:
“Macworld has found references to six unreleased iPhone models in the latest iOS 27 beta, including the entire iPhone 18 family, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone Ultra. While none of these products have been officially announced by Apple, the references provide perhaps the clearest evidence yet of what the company has planned for the next generation of iPhone.
More AI? More Money, Please!
Code in the latest iOS 27 beta shows an interesting ‘throttle’ on iCloud+ subscriptions. Those using camera-equipped hardware for Apple Home can use AI features on them, but the number of cameras you can use is limited by the iCloud+ subscription level. If you want more AI, you’ll need to pay more. It’s an interesting data point for Siri AI and advanced AI features on the iPhone 18 Pro family. Ryan Christoffel looks at the code and its impact.
“From what I’ve seen in the beta so far, it seems that a 2TB iCloud+ plan provides AI summaries for five cameras and the 12TB plan gets you 15. It’s unclear what every other plan offers. But the language of this new upgrade page in the beta strongly suggests that each higher iCloud+ tier includes not only AI summaries for more cameras, but higher usage for other AI features too.”
MacBook Air’s Memory Issues
The lack of RAM and memory appears to be affecting the current MacBook Air. Delivery estimates through the Apple Store are ballooning to five weeks for higher-memory models, such as the 24GB and 32GB models. Isiah Williams reports:
“It’s increasingly clear that RAM shortages are causing supply issues for Apple, and the extended delivery estimates come shortly after Apple’s recent slate of price hikes on Macs and iPads. Notably, the MacBook Air M5 saw a $200 price increase earlier in June, and despite that, shortages remain.
“Supply is so bad that 9to5Mac notes that Apple retail employees state that the MacBook Air shipments are “more constrained than they can ever recall”, and that’s a fitting statement since the PC hardware market is possibly at its worst state ever.”
And Finally…
Popular indie game Dave The Diver is preparing its first mobile release. The aquatic adventurer arrives on iOS and Android on Sept. 17 …a date that is suspiciously close to the retail release of the iPhone 18 Pro:
“Mintrocket has also introduced several features designed specifically for mobile devices. One of the additions is a gyro-based control for pouring tea at Bancho Sushi. Players can tilt their phones to control the pouring motion, recreating the action of using a real teapot.
“The mobile version will also include three selectable view-distance settings. Players exploring the Sea People’s Village as Dave will additionally be able to fast travel directly to different NPCs, making it quicker to move around the area and progress.”
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.