Rumor Replay: Apple Television, AirTag 2 upgrades, iPhone 17 tidbits

This is Rumor Replay, a new weekly column at 9to5Mac that provides a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with my analysis and commentary. Today: Apple Television, AirTag 2 upgrades, iPhone 17 tidbits, and a new Pro Display XDR.

Here are this week’s Apple rumors.

Apple Television

Rumors of an Apple TV set have been rife for years, and they’re back again after Mark Gurman said Apple is ‘evaluating’ building a device as part of its renewed home products initiative.

I absolutely believe Apple should make a TV set, and it could even call it simply Apple Television to avoid confusion with the Apple TV app, Apple TV 4K box, and Apple TV+ service.

But will it? I think the answer depends entirely on the upcoming ‘HomePad’ I wrote about last week. If the HomePad helps turn home products into a meaningful business for Apple, then a TV set is a natural next step. But if it becomes the next HomePod or Apple TV 4K—a niche device overshadowed by the rest of Apple’s lineup—then an Apple Television would likely stay buried a while longer.

AirTag 2 brings three upgrades

Apple is reportedly planning to launch its AirTag 2 in mid-2025, four years after the original debuted. It will come with three key upgrades that, per Mark Gurman, provide “better range, bolster the onboard wireless chip and improve privacy.”

I wrote yesterday about how the privacy piece will provide especially key. Launching an AirTag successor brings to the forefront all the baggage of stalking issues the company’s still grappling with.

That said, outside of new privacy protections, I’m unsure how Apple can make AirTag 2 anything but an iterative, nice-to-have update. The improved range and wireless chip feels like no-brainers, and should enable better precision finding. But for the most part, despite years in the making, AirTag isn’t the kind of product that’s meant to wow. It’s a simple utility, and any small tweaks will be appreciated but likely nothing revolutionary.

iPhone 17 tidbits

Analyst Jeff Pu has shared a variety of expectations for next year’s iPhone 17 lineup. Notably, he highlights the iPhone 17 lineup having a:

• more complex aluminum design than the iPhone 16 line
• new manufacturing process for the A19 and A19 Pro
• narrower Dynamic Island for the 17 Pro Max

He also reiterates expectations for the ultra-thin 17 Air being around 6mm thick.

There are a lot of unanswered questions his report raises. What does a ‘more complex’ aluminum design mean, for example? Why would the smaller Dynamic Island be exclusive to the Pro Max rather than coming to the 17 Pro too? Especially when both are expected to have the same TrueDepth Camera.

With another 10 months until the iPhone 17 lineup launches, there’s plenty of time ahead for answers and clarity later.

Pro Display XDR 2

Finally, display analyst Ross Young reports that the quantum dot technology found in the M4 MacBook Pro is expected to come to the next Pro Display XDR too.

It’s been almost two years since the last report about a new Pro Display XDR, so despite being light on details, Young’s mention is noteworthy.

If ever Apple were going to launch a successor to 2019’s Pro Display XDR, 2025 would be a great year to do so. That’s because a new M4 Mac Studio and Mac Pro are both launching the same year, making the perfect match for a new Apple display.

Which rumors are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.

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