Apple rumors were false

For many who follow tech news closely, Apple’s Tuesday event had some big surprises – not because there were completely unexpected announcements, but because we didn’t see things. that we really thought we would get. Rumors that had enough smoke to be nearly infallible in previous years ended up falling flat.

For example:

The Apple Watch is rumored to be getting a complete overhaul, with flat edges and a flat screen. We saw this design in renderings, reportedly leaked CAD files (which serve as a 3D model for products), and even heard that it would happen from famous Apple journalist Mark Gurman two days before the event. While the Apple Watch that took to the stage has a few design changes, it looks nothing like what we expected.

Image: Apple

Another notable analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, also announced days before the event that Apple would be launching a new set of AirPods, redesigned to include shorter stems. The redesign of the wireless headphones has also been rumored for months by Gurman, we’ve even seen alleged photos of them, and some notorious posts have written that Apple is about to start production on the headphones. in August. With this rumor, however, it’s possible that the timing isn’t right and Apple will release them to one (of course!) already widespread future event.

Gurman also suggested that the iPhone 13 might feature an always-on display, thanks to the (precisely prevalent) LTPO display that could theoretically allow the low refresh rate needed for always-on operation not to destroy the phone’s battery. The still-running rumor was also backed up by famous leaker Max Weinbach earlier this year. Sadly, Apple hasn’t announced this display feature which has been a staple of Android phones for years.

Image: Apple

There was also just a general oddity with rumors this time around. Just weeks before the iPhone 13’s announcement, Kuo wrote that it might have the ability to communicate with satellites, allowing you to make calls or texts without cellular service. The next day, Bloomberg offered their own interpretation, saying Apple was working on a satellite communications feature for emergency use and the iPhone 13 might include hardware, but probably not software. However, when the iPhone 13’s spec page posted on Apple’s website, it made no mention of the cell bands that sparked the star-eyed rumors.

Of course, rumors have always had to be taken with a grain of salt, as anyone who trades them will almost certainly work with incomplete information. Still, some of the big names like Kuo and Gurman are right so often – the rumors of the iPad Mini redesign, the high refresh rate iPhone display, and the smaller notch have all come true, and we even saw the rumored cinematic camera mode. Such success and the accuracy of rumors over the years can make it easier to forget the fragility of rumors, no matter how many times. people like Marques Brownlee remind us.

This is not to laugh at those who believed the rumors, or to say that there is no room for rumors in the accumulation of events – it can be exciting to feel like ” get a glimpse of what’s to come next and start thinking about if we’re going to take the new device and how we’re going to use it.

PS Remember that moment if Apple announces something that looks suspiciously like a Mac event later this fall. That’s not to say the redesigned 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with all the ports and processing power you’ve always dreamed of. are not come, but treating them as a sure thing could lead to real heartache.