Apple itself revealed this week what it's working on: its own code contains two iPads, a HomePod, and an Apple TV that no one can buy yet. In addition, there were reboots of two new devices, a figure from the Epic Games case that speaks volumes more than any legal document, and a court filing in which OpenAI soberly assesses its partnership with Apple.
Last week was dominated by Siri AI, which launched without EU iPhones. This week, the focus shifted back to hardware – both newly released and upcoming models. The Mac mini and Mac Studio have been available in stores since Tuesday, and initial reviews confirm the pre-launch benchmarks with less than a one percent deviation.
More interesting was what Apple hasn't sold yet. On Friday, four new devices appeared in Apple's own software, and the HomePod software is already more advanced than the hardware it's eventually supposed to run on.
🔥 Story of the Week: Four new devices in the Apple code
The findings from September 25th did not originate from the supply chain, but from Apple's own code. This proves that Apple is internally managing these devices. The code does not reveal when they will be released or what their final name will be.
According to the code, the iPad mini 8 will use the A20 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. For months, the A19 Pro was considered the likely candidate. The front camera will move to the long side, there will be a notch at the edge of the display, and the buttons will be located at the top. The iPad 12 is expected to come with the A19, 8 GB of RAM, N1 and C1X chipsets – thus bringing Apple Intelligence to the entry-level iPad for the first time.
The same code reveals that Apple is preparing the HomePod mini 2 and a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. The speaker retains its form factor, but the color palette changes: in addition to white and black, green, pink, and a lighter blue appear, while yellow and orange are absent. The Apple TV retains its familiar casing in the code.
| Device | What the code shows |
|---|---|
| iPad mini 8 | A20 Pro, front camera on the long side, cutout at the edge of the display |
| iPad 12 | A19, 8 GB RAM, N1, C1X, Apple Intelligence |
| HomePod mini 2 | Design unchanged, five colors including green, pink and lighter blue |
| Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | familiar case |
We don't expect the iPad 12 to launch before spring 2027. The current iPad was released in March 2025, the iPad Air with M4 in March 2026 – so the entry-level model is more likely to be released in spring than autumn.
The software is more advanced than the hardware.
The HomePod software update 27, released on September 14th, already includes the system behind Siri AI, a new light ring in white, blue, and orange, and a new chime. None of these features are currently active, and the release notes don't mention them. We expect Siri AI to launch on the HomePod only with new hardware.
In parallel, the Apple TV 4K, in beta 2 of tvOS 27.2, connects four HomePods to a surround sound system for the first time. There's no front/rear speaker assignment yet; all four play the same audio. Dolby Atmos from movies plays through all speakers, while menu and game audio is only played through the front speakers. Together, this paints a clear picture: Apple is redesigning the living room in software before the devices are even available in stores.
📰 What Else Mattered
Replacing the battery in the iPhone 18 Pro is risky. In a teardown, the display frame cracked on three out of four devices, and the variable aperture with six blades is considered virtually unrepairable. Apple's EU data sheet lists a repairability index of 3.14, which corresponds to class C.
Texture and grain remain exclusive to the new models. Apple has updated the footnote in the press release: The two new Photographic Styles sliders are only available on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, not on older devices.
The anti-theft feature is taking shape in the code. iOS 27.2 Beta 2 shows when the iPhone should lock itself: five signals such as rapid acceleration, prolonged network loss, or a lost connection to the Apple Watch, plus three counter-indications such as a familiar location. The feature is not yet active, and we don't expect it to be in the final version of 27.2.
Apple and Qualcomm are extending their patent license. The old agreement expires on March 31, 2027; the extension specifies neither a duration nor conditions. Germany has experienced how costly a dispute can be: Following a ruling by the Munich I Regional Court, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 disappeared from German Apple Stores in early 2019.
Apple TV is filling the calendar with content right up to February. Hugh Laurie stars in The Wanted Man from January 6th, 2027, with eight episodes airing until February 17th. The Peanuts classics are back for free, with the Christmas special on December 12th and 13th. And the German series Where's Wanda? starts its second season on October 21st.
💡 Rumor of the week: Camera pendant on hold, tracker without display being tested
A single Bloomberg report from September 22nd contains two conflicting pieces of information. Apple is testing prototypes of a fitness tracker without a display: a thin fabric wristband with a sensor module; the data is processed via the iPhone. The project is currently undergoing technology review, and no decision has been made regarding a market launch.
At the same time, the AI-powered tracker with a camera is on hold. The AirTag-sized prototype was last slated for 2027, but no new release date has been given. Bloomberg has a good track record with Apple's hardware plans, but both of these are explicitly prototypes without a release date.
The only wearable that actually hit the market this week was the Beats 360: €349.95, for the first time with replaceable ear and headband cushions. The cushion sets normally cost €59.95, but are available for €9.95 at launch.
📊 Number of the week: 34
So many of the roughly 136,000 developers in the US App Store had registered for external purchase links within four months. This figure serves as evidence in the legal proceedings between Apple and Epic Games to demonstrate how few developers actually use this method – statistically, one in 4,000.
This week, the US government addressed the Supreme Court, only partially supporting Apple. The disregard for the 27 percent commission is to be overturned, while the commission due to the button requirements remains in place. Epic has until November 13th to respond.
👎 Flop of the week: New releases at market launch
Two new devices experienced crashes in their first week. On the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, the Neural Engine froze for about two seconds, after which the system forced a restart. Resetting the watch didn't help everyone, and for some, even a replacement device didn't work.
On the iPhone 18 Pro, Face ID and a covered sensor in banking and photo apps triggered restarts. We were unable to reproduce the error on our two iPhone 18 Pro Max devices, but other users were able to successfully reproduce it.
The causes differed, but the fixes came quickly in both cases. watchOS 27.0.1 was released for the Apple Watch on September 23rd, and Apple has confirmed an update for the iPhone for early next week. In contrast, with the iPhone 16 in 2024, there were still over five weeks between its release and a comparable fix.
🔭 What's Coming Next Week
First, the announced iPhone update to address Face ID restarts. Starting Thursday, October 1st, the new App Store terms and conditions will apply in the EU, with tiered commissions and the elimination of the two additional fees. These changes do not apply in Switzerland.
Following Beta 1 on September 16th and Beta 2 on September 21st, we expect the third beta of iOS 27.2 to be released sometime this week. And Apple TV kicks off October: On October 2nd, the K2 documentary and the second season of The Sisters Grimm will be released, followed two weeks later by Tenzing.
💬 My Take
Two court filings this week together reveal more about Apple and OpenAI than any stage presentation. In Texas, OpenAI explains that the ChatGPT integration in Apple Intelligence fell far short of expectations: no spillover effect, hardly any additional subscriptions. The integration was disabled by default, and Siri always prompted for confirmation before sending a request to ChatGPT.
In California, Apple is simultaneously embroiled in a dispute with OpenAI over allegedly stolen hardware information. OpenAI is seeking to have two of five new Apple reports struck from the books; the hearing is scheduled for October 14th. In the same proceedings, OpenAI itself points to more than 400 former Apple employees within its own ranks and cites the end of February 2027 as the earliest possible delivery date for its first device.
The partner of 2024 has become a competitor, building its own hardware with Apple's former employees. The complaint about weak usage shouldn't be taken too literally: In Texas, it helps OpenAI to downplay the partnership because of accusations of market foreclosure.
For Apple, the low usage is not a defeat, but rather the result of a decision. ChatGPT remained an optional extra that had to be consciously enabled, while the foundation of Siri AI is Apple's own models, trained using Gemini. The real question, therefore, is no longer who is behind Siri, but whether OpenAI's first device can lure people away from their iPhones. This is precisely why Apple is fighting so hard for every single document in California.
📚 From Our Archive
Anyone wondering whether waiting for the next iPad is worthwhile after the discovery of the codes can find the current models and Apple prices in ouriPad buying guide. And until the new anti-theft protection is available, protecting stolen devices remains the most important setting against thieves who know the code.
A week in which Apple's code revealed more than any announcement and the courts more about partnerships than any press release.
Would you wait for the next generation for an iPad mini with an A20 Pro chip or an entry-level iPad with Apple Intelligence – or is a current model sufficient for you? Let us know in the comments which of the four devices is on your shortlist.
Until next Sunday, Apfelpatient wishes you a relaxing read and a good start to the week.
