Welcome to Rumor Replay, a weekly segment on DMN which provides a concise overview of the latest Apple product rumors, complete with insights and analysis. Today, we’ll discuss the M5 and M6 iPad Pro models, a potential Apple Health+ service, the iPhone Fold, and more. Here’s a look at this week’s Apple rumors.
M5 iPad Pro set for this fall (including M6 timing)
Mark Gurman shared insights over the weekend regarding two upcoming iPad Pro models.
The M5 iPad Pro is expected to launch this fall as one of the first devices to feature the M5 chip, entering advanced testing phases, with mass production planned for late this year.
Moreover, Gurman indicated that an M6 iPad Pro may be on track for 2027, which would introduce an in-house cellular modem—potentially the C2 model.
My insights
Although Kuo had previously mentioned a likely 2025 launch for the M5 iPad Pro, Gurman has shown a more optimistic change in tone, which is reassuring.
However, it’s a bit disappointing that we might not see a C-class modem until 2027 at the earliest. It would have been a great enhancement for the M5 model, which could just be a minor upgrade in specs. Apple may be reserving its new cellular modems exclusively for iPhone until the C2 is ready.
New ‘Health+’ service in development
Previously, Gurman hinted at an AI-driven health and coaching service Apple was developing. He has provided an exciting update.
Initially thought to be a separate app, ‘Project Mullberry’ is now reported to be integrated into the Health app as a new service called ‘Health+’. This service will focus on food tracking while providing personalized suggestions to enhance users’ overall health.
Health+ is projected to launch next spring with the release of iOS 19.4, although we might get a preview at WWDC in June or during the fall release of new Apple Watch models.
My thoughts
As Apple continues to grow its services revenue, I’ve been anticipating a new offering that could be included in Apple One. Health+ appears to fit this bill.
Amid concerns about Apple’s AI capabilities, the AI component of Health+ may not seem enticing. Nonetheless, transforming the Health app into a more interactive platform that assists users in making significant lifestyle changes seems like an excellent development.
Revamped telephoto zoom for iPhone 17 Pro
Various rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro is set to feature an upgraded 48MP telephoto lens. However, recent insights from Majin Bu reveal an unexpected alteration in the zoom capabilities.
While the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max currently offer a 5x optical zoom, Bu notes that the upcoming lens may reduce this to 3.5x. Despite the decrease in zoom magnification, the image quality is anticipated to improve.
My reflections
Users have generally praised the 5x optical zoom feature since its introduction, with only a few suggesting it might be excessive. Consequently, I find it hard to believe Apple would significantly reduce the zoom standard.
While a new 3.5x option could be introduced, I suspect that the iPhone 17 Pro line will still feature a minimum of a 5x zoom that maintains, if not enhances, its image quality.
iPhone Fold embracing an iPad aesthetic
Digital Chat Station recently disclosed details regarding the upcoming iPhone Fold’s display for next year. They pointed out that the inner display is designed to resemble the iPad’s aspect ratio—“almost 4:3”—to ensure a seamless experience between the foldable and iPad products.
My insights
As mentioned previously, I believe that optimizing the iPhone Fold to mimic an iPad mini-like functionality is a smart decision.
I’m particularly interested to see if this design leads to an increase in iPadOS-like features on iOS in the upcoming year—possibly with the rollout of iOS 20. For instance, more robust multitasking capabilities like Split View and Slide Over would be advantageous on the large iPhone Fold display.
What are your thoughts on this week’s Apple rumors? Feel free to share in the comments.
