Apple Loop: iPhone 18 Pro Release Date, Lego iMac G3, New EU AirPods Rule

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Apple iMac G3 (Bondi Blue) Hardware Shoot

Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including iPhone 18 Pro Max specs, iPhone 18 Pro release date, iPad Mini updates, iPad Pro financing, new EU regulations for AirPods and Apple Watch, Apple Maps ad tweaks, and a Lego iMac G3.

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.

New iPhone 18 Pro Max Details

Regulatory filings have noted the increased battery capacity of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Apple appears to be staying with lithium-ion batteries, rather than following the competition’s move to silicon-carbon. Lifting the capacity to 5,500 mAh with the existing tech comes with a trade-off… weight. David Phelan asks if this will be noticeable:

"To be clear, the iPhone 17 Pro Max weighs 233 grams. So, you may be asking, will anyone really notice a 7-gram difference? Perhaps not, but many commented on how much lighter the iPhone 15 Pro Max was when it launched in 2023 and weighed 221g. That was when Apple switched from stainless steel to titanium for the phone. The current model has an aluminum build."

The Impact Of The Later iPhone 18 Pro Release Date

The expected release date of the iPhone 18 Pro family is September 12. Samsung and Google may appear to have a head start over Apple, but the later release date offers Apple some significant advantages. I picked out a few earlier in the week, including how the iPhone launch cuts short the exclusive retail window of the Android-powered competition:

"As the contract renewal window builds throughout September and October, this is prime territory for networks to launch aggressive marketing campaigns alongside the launch of new iPhone models. It’s why Android manufacturers run aggressive trade-in promotions and offers out of the gate. Apple’s iPhone will smother the consumer market within 60 days."

A Brighter iPad Mini

Apple is preparing an update for its smallest iPad in October. Crucially, this new iPad Mini design may come with an OLED display, which should offer deeper blacks and more vibrant colors while using less power than an equivalent LCD display. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports:

“The updated model, code-named J510, will feature an OLED screen for the first time, according to people with knowledge of the matter. That technology — short for organic light-emitting diode — provides the kind of higher-quality visuals found on the iPhone since 2017 and the iPad Pro since 2024."

Another Way To Buy An iPad

Meanwhile, Apple has added a 3-year financing option for consumers buying the cellular-equipped iPads. Consumers should note that these iPads are bought at full price, and other offers through retailers and carriers may offer better value depending on circumstances. Andrew Orr reports:

"The new 36-month option appears at checkout when someone buys a Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad from Apple, alongside paying in full or using Apple Card Monthly Installments. It's available for the iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro, subject to carrier approval. Apple's own interest-free financing still runs for 12 months through Apple Card. Apple Card Monthly Installments includes 3% Daily Cash up front and isn't tied to a carrier installment plan."

AirPods and Apple Watches Included In Tweaked EU Regulations

The European Commission has exempted six categories of devices from its Battery Regulations, specifically parts that require batteries to be removable or repairable. This now includes smartwatches, fitness trackers, and headphones. This now goes to the Council of EU and the European Parliament for ratification. Hartley Charlton notes the impact on Apple products:

"The new categories effectively cover the Apple Watch and AirPods, both of which rely on the kind of small, sealed designs the Commission is now carving out, along with Meta's smart glasses. The change follows months of pressure from U.S. officials over rules that had reportedly complicated Meta 's plans to bring its newest display-equipped smart glasses to Europe."

And Finally...

A community-proposed model of the Apple iMac G3 has passed The Lego Group’s first stage of qualifying from its Ideas portal to a physical product. Designed by Teramua, the model is "Built with a total of about 700 parts. made extensive use of the characteristic clear parts and built the building to be a little smaller than it actually is. Inside, the cathode ray tube and board are reproduced, and a keyboard and USB mouse are also included."

Does it have a chance to make it to the next stage of judging?

"Lego’s review board will now evaluate the proposal. According to Lego, “Any Product Idea that needs additional time after a review round, for whatever reason, will be placed into the Parking Lot until we can make a final decision.” In this case, the review will likely include discussions with Apple, who would need to grant Lego permission to do the project."

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.

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