Welcome to this week's edition of Rumor Replay, where we delve into the most recent Apple product rumors and provide analysis and commentary. This week, we focus on the highly anticipated iPhone 17 lineup and the upcoming iOS 26. Let's explore the latest leaks and what they might mean for Apple enthusiasts.
This week saw an influx of rumors regarding the colors of the iPhone 17 Pro. Renowned leaker Sonny Dickson kicked things off by sharing images of camera protectors showcasing five potential colors: Black, Dark Blue, Gray, Orange, and Silver. Following this, Filipe Esposito from Macworld confirmed these five color options.
However, a new claim from leaker Majin Bu suggests that only four colors will be available, omitting the Gray option. Perhaps the most exciting revelation comes from Instant Digital, who reports that one of the colors will feature a special effect to align with the Liquid Glass design philosophy of iOS 26. This color is said to exhibit different effects under varying lighting conditions.
Personally, I am not particularly drawn to the color orange; instead, I hope for a vibrant copper-gold shade. After last year's muted gold, dubbed Desert Titanium, a lively gold option could be a refreshing change. Nevertheless, if orange does make the cut, I suspect it might surpass initial renders in appeal. The rumored Liquid Glass effect, tailored to complement iOS 26, has piqued my interest significantly. However, I remain cautiously optimistic about this particular rumor.
In a noteworthy update, analyst Jeff Pu has corroborated a previous report by Ming-Chi Kuo, indicating that the iPhone 17 Air will feature a titanium design, distinguishing it as the only new model to do so. Interestingly, the Pro models are expected to transition to aluminum, raising questions about Apple's design strategy.
Additionally, Pu has revised his earlier expectations regarding the base model. Initially anticipating that the iPhone 17 would come equipped with the same A18 chip found in the iPhone 16, he now confirms that the base model will feature a new A19 chip. Furthermore, MacRumors reports that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max may debut with a new scratch-resistant, anti-glare display, enhancing the visual experience for users.
While material changes in the iPhone may not usually catch my attention, the switch from titanium to aluminum in the iPhone 17 Pro models is particularly intriguing. This could hint at Apple's environmental goals as part of its Apple 2030 initiative. However, it raises questions about why the Pro models are abandoning titanium, a feature heavily marketed as a premium offering. I'm eager to see how Apple reconciles this shift in its upcoming lineup.
In terms of software, there were expectations that Apple would release the iOS 26 public beta this week, particularly as it typically follows the launch of beta 3 by mid-July. Instead, the only release this week was iOS 18.6. According to Mark Gurman, the public beta for iOS 26 is anticipated to launch next week, around Wednesday, the 23rd.
Given the timeline, Gurman's prediction makes sense; however, a pressing question looms: will iOS 26 beta 4 be made available to developers before the public launch? Typically, Apple waits about a week after the developer release of the public beta candidate before rolling it out more widely. If beta 4 drops on Monday, we might see the public beta released in the same week. Alternatively, it could be postponed until the following Monday, July 28, to allow for additional testing.
What are your thoughts on this week's iPhone 17 rumors? Are you excited about the potential colors or the new features in iOS 26? Share your takeaways in the comments below!
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