This Week's Top Stories: iPhone Fold Specs, MacBook Pro Rumors, and More

Welcome to 9to5Mac's top stories of the week, where we recap the biggest news in the Apple world every Saturday. This week, we have new iPhone Fold rumors, CarPlay expectations, and an Apple all-hands meeting. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and much more.

The iPhone Fold Takes Center Stage

The most credible iPhone Fold report yet has surfaced this week, with leaker eyes claiming the device will feature the largest battery Apple has ever put in an iPhone. This makes sense given the power demands of foldable displays and the need to justify the premium price point such a device would command.

What makes this report particularly believable is the source's track record with Apple supply chain information. The leaker suggests Apple is "exploring" the clamshell foldable as a potential follow-up model, indicating this isn't just a one-off experiment but part of a broader foldable strategy.

Beyond battery specs, there's discussion about how Apple might protect the foldable display. Given Apple's obsession with durability, expect innovative hinge mechanisms and possibly self-healing display technology. The company has been working on this for years, and recent supply chain chatter suggests we might see a foldable iPhone as early as late 2026.

MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max on the Horizon

New Mac configurator leaks suggest Apple is preparing to offer separate CPU and GPU options for the upcoming M5 MacBook Pros. This would mark a significant shift from Apple's unified chip approach, potentially allowing for more customization but also complicating the product lineup.

The latest macOS 26.3 beta adds to signs that new M5 MacBook Pros are imminent. Development builds often include hardware support for unreleased devices, and the patterns we're seeing align with Apple's typical release cadence.

Apple has reportedly set a new MacBook Pro design to launch in the final quarter of this year. While details are scarce, the "all-new" designation suggests we might see design changes beyond just the M5 chip upgrade. Could this be the return of MagSafe in a modern form, or perhaps a thinner and lighter chassis?

Software Strategy and Subscription Push

Apple's latest iOS 27 pivot is good news for the subscription-weary. The company appears to be backing away from some of its more aggressive AI subscription plans, likely in response to user feedback and competitive pressure.

However, Apple will need to walk a tightrope if it keeps pushing subscriptions. The company's services revenue is crucial for growth, but there's a fine line between offering valuable services and nickel-and-diming customers. Recent reports suggest Apple is exploring third-party AI chatbots for CarPlay, which could be a way to enhance the platform without directly competing with established players like ChatGPT.

Market Performance and Manufacturing

Three ways Apple achieved the best iPhone sales in history in China: aggressive pricing strategies, localized features, and strong carrier partnerships. Despite economic headwinds, Apple's market share in China grew significantly in Q4 2025.

Apple boosts Indian manufacturing investment with new supplier Education Hub. This move strengthens Apple's supply chain diversification away from China while building local technical expertise. The company has cleared a major manufacturing hurdle in India amid regulatory tension, suggesting progress on its India strategy.

CarPlay Evolution

CarPlay could make a splash in an unexpected vehicle segment. While details are scarce, rumors suggest Apple is working on deeper integration with automotive systems beyond just the dashboard display.

CarPlay Ultra coming to at least one new car later this year, per report. This premium tier would likely offer higher resolution, faster refresh rates, and deeper integration with vehicle systems. Tesla is still working on CarPlay support, but progress has been slow given Elon Musk's preference for Tesla's own infotainment system.

Entertainment and Services

Apple TV users get $2/month Peacock, including Super Bowl and Olympics. This aggressive bundling strategy shows how Apple is using its platform to drive subscriptions to partner services.

Eddy Cue and Formula 1 CEO tease 'F1: The Movie' sequel at Apple TV press day event. The original F1 film was a massive success for Apple TV+, demonstrating the platform's ability to produce high-quality theatrical releases.

Apple TV unveils Anya Taylor-Joy's first big series since The Queen's Gambit. The platform continues to attract A-list talent, with Spielberg and Scorsese also attached to upcoming thriller projects.

Developer Tools and Ecosystem

Apple announces agentic coding in Xcode with Claude Agent and Codex integration. This represents a significant upgrade to Apple's development tools, potentially making iOS and macOS app development more accessible to newcomers while providing powerful automation for experienced developers.

The new Mac configurator may point to separate CPU and GPU options, suggesting Apple is preparing for more granular hardware choices. This could be particularly relevant for professional users who need specific performance characteristics.

Health and AI

Apple reportedly scales back plans for AI-powered health coach. The company had ambitious plans for personalized health guidance, but technical and regulatory challenges appear to have forced a more conservative approach.

Google execs suggest Gemini-powered Siri will, in fact, run on Google's own servers. This arrangement would allow Apple to offer advanced AI features without the massive infrastructure investment required to run large language models at scale.

What's Coming Next

Based on the patterns we're seeing, here's what to expect in the coming months:

• March: New iPad announcements with Apple Intelligence support
• April: Potential iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max refurbished sales continue
• June: WWDC with iOS 27, macOS Tahoe 26.3, and watchOS 26 announcements
• September: iPhone 18 series launch
• October: New MacBook Pros with M5 chips
• Late 2026: Potential iPhone Fold announcement

The Apple ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly, with hardware innovations, software enhancements, and strategic shifts in services all playing crucial roles. Stay tuned for more updates as these stories develop.