Top Stories: Apple Leaks, Siri AI Settlement, and More

The Apple rumor mill never stops, and this week MacRumors was able to break the news of details on several upcoming products.

We’re also still learning more about the just-released iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max plus the upcoming iPhone Duo, while this week saw the debut of new Beats 360 headphones and the start of claim acceptance for the class action lawsuit over Siri AI delays, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories

iPad Mini With A20 Pro, New HomePod Mini Colors, and New Apple TV 4K All Just Leaked

MacRumors this week leaked the next iPad mini, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K models, all of which are likely to be announced this October as part of another wave of product launches including an all-new operating system to accompany some of the new hardware.

The most notable iPad mini details revealed in the leaks include an A20 Pro chip, a new speaker design, and a landscape front camera, while images have revealed that the next HomePod mini will be available in new colors like green and pink. There is also evidence of an upcoming « Apple TV 4K (4th generation) » model, so it appears that a new Apple TV is finally coming soon after a four-year wait.

A separate Apple code leak has confirmed some rumored details for the 12th-generation iPad, although we’re not expecting that to launch until early next year.

Siri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone Owners

In May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI’s delayed launch, and the settlement website is now live.

Apple will pay an estimated $25 per eligible iPhone to eligible customers, who can submit a claim via the settlement website between September 21 and December 21 of this year. The exact payment may be higher or lower than $25 depending on the total number of valid claims submitted and other factors, with the maximum amount set at $95.

Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit, but agreed to the settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial.

iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires ‘Prepare to Ship’ Battery Drain Before Shipping

The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a single-cell battery capacity over 20 watt-hours, which means there are additional shipping requirements. If an ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max needs to be shipped somewhere, its maximum battery capacity has to be limited through firmware.

According to Apple, the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max uses an « innovative battery-firmware solution » that limits battery capacity to below 20Wh between when the iPhone is manufactured and its delivery to a customer. Activating the iPhone removes the limit to make the battery’s full charging capacity available.

Customers who need to ship the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max for repair, trade-in, or other purposes have to use a new Prepare to Ship feature. Prepare to Ship discharges the battery to below 20Wh and sets a charge limit so the iPhone stays below the threshold during the shipping process.

Apple Exec Says ‘Hold Us Accountable’ on iPhone Duo Crease

Apple hardware engineering VP Tom Marieb recently spoke with TechRadar and shared some candid thoughts about Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo.

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ uses a matte nano-texture display, which is meant to cut down on glare and minimize the visibility of the crease. When asked if the ‌iPhone Duo‌’s crease would be more visible over time, as that’s what tends to happen on other foldables, Marieb said the nano-texture display would help. He asked people to hold the company « accountable » on crease visibility.

Marieb also discussed the Duo’s innovative hinge, the use of Ceramic Shield 2 on the front display, and more.

Beats 360 Deliver Customizability and a Revamped Over-Ear Headphone Design

After months of teases and leaks, Apple’s Beats brand officially announced its new Beats 360 headphone this week. Priced at $349.99, Beats 360 represents a rethinking of the Beats over-ear headphone design, with an emphasis on sound quality, comfort, and customizability.

Beats 360 is not a replacement for the brand’s Studio Pro over-ear headphone, as the Studio Pro will remain part of the Beats lineup at a reduced price point of $299.99, down from the previous $349.99. Compared to Studio Pro, Beats 360 features a completely new acoustic architecture that delivers up to 1.75× more active noise cancellation and a 12dB increase in output while maintaining clarity across all frequencies with low distortion.

Swappable ear and headband cushions let you customize your look by mixing and matching colors and materials, with Beats offering extra cushion kits at heavily discounted prices as part of a launch promo.

iPhone 20 Pro Display Sizes Leak Ahead of 2027 Launch

Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone lineup coming next year could feature slightly larger displays than the iPhone 18 Pro models, if a recent leak shared on Weibo is accurate.

Prolific Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station claims that early iPhone 20 Pro display specifications include a 6.41-inch screen with a resolution of approximately 2,686 × 1,236 pixels, while the iPhone 20 Pro Max is said to have a 6.96-inch display with a resolution of around 2,912 × 1,340 pixels.

For comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max feature 6.27 inches (rounded to 6.3 inches) and 6.86 inches (rounded to 6.9 inches) respectively. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max resolutions are 2,622 × 1,206 pixels and 2,868 × 1,320 pixels, respectively.

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This article, "Top Stories: Apple Leaks, Siri AI Settlement, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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