The MacRumors Show
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PodcastThe MacRumors Show
Publisher/creatorThe MacRumors Show
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About this episode
We discuss the upcoming iPhone 17e and iPad models, as well as Apple's apparent issues finalizing the revamped version of Siri , on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show . The announcement of the iPhone 17e is said to be “ imminent ," with stock of the iPhone 16e now dwindling . The new device is rumored to come with four main new features, including the A19 chip from the iPhone 17 , MagSafe connectivity, the C1X cellular modem, and the N1 chip for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread connectivity. New iPads are also on the horizon for the near future. The eighth-generation iPad Air is expected to move to the M4 chip, while the 12th-generation iPad is expected to jump a chip generation up to the A18, which will also enable Apple Intelligence support for the first time on the device. This week's biggest story was the news that Apple has again “ run into snags " testing the personalized, smarter version of Siri originally planned for iOS 26.4. Due to the issues, the upcoming Siri features will likely be partially delayed and spread across several upcoming iOS releases. Apple could postpone some or all of the new Siri features until iOS 26.5, an update planned for May, and iOS 27, which will launch this September. Apple announced a significantly upgraded version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence at its 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference, and they were originally supposed to be part of iOS 18. The following spring, Apple announced that the new Siri would take longer than expected , with the functionality delayed for a year. Since then, Apple has ostensibly been targeting iOS 26.4 , which the company will begin beta testing later this month, but there have apparently been unforeseen problems: Siri sometimes doesn't properly process queries and can take too long to respond to requests. Apple engineers have been told to use iOS 26.5 for further internal testing, suggesting the new Siri features will be delayed until that update. Employees that are testing iOS 26.5 say the update includes all of the features Apple promised, including personalization, onscreen awareness, and the ability for Siri to do more in and between apps, but not all of the features are working reliably and there are problems with accuracy. Siri also apparently sometimes falls back on using ChatGPT for information instead of relying on the Gemini-powered technology that Apple has partnered with Google to use, even when the new version of Siri is capable of handling a user's request. Apple also planned to include features that haven't yet been announced, such as options to generate images with Image Playground or search the web. Image generation and web search were tested as part of iOS 26.4, and it's possible they will still be included in the update, so Apple might still be able to release some of the new Siri functionality. Bloomberg says the situation is "fluid," though, so Apple's plans could change, and executives are reluctant to further delay the Siri functionality beyond spring 2026. There are still major changes planned for Siri as part of iOS 27, with Apple aiming to add chatbot functionality to better compete with the likes of like Gemini and ChatGPT. This new version of Siri will also reportedly have deeper integration with apps and Apple's operating systems. Start your business with Shopify and get everything you need to sell online and in person. Start today at https://www.shopify.com/mac
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Episode summary
Welcome back. Rumor season’s heating up, and beyond the M5 MacBook Pros we talked about last week, we’re hearing an iPhone 17e refresh is close. What’s actually new here?
Recent reporting points to a modest update, with MagSafe finally coming to the e-model while the dynamic island rumors fade. It’s a small step, but it fixes a glaring omission from the 16e.
MagSafe was my biggest gripe, and it’ll be a real quality-of-life win without clunky adhesive rings or special cases. Toss in the A19 and that custom modem with about thirty percent better power efficiency, and you’re looking at long battery life and steady connectivity.
That lines up with Apple’s pitch around battery gains on the 16e, and this should push it further. It’s aimed at people who value longevity over flash.
If you already own a 16e, don’t upgrade; but for kids or parents who just want a solid phone, this hits the mark. I wish it were four ninety-nine, but it likely stays five ninety-nine.
Apple seems set on more-for-the-same-price, which may still be a hard sell when the full iPhone sits only about a hundred dollars higher with a bigger screen, better cameras, and promotion. Carrier deals narrow the gap even more.
Exactly; with subsidies, many will just jump to the regular model. I even wondered if a true mini at a smaller size would spark interest, but Apple clearly prioritizes big screens at lower prices.
There’s a niche for small phones, but the large-display budget market is bigger, and that’s where Apple’s aiming.
We may also get a press-release wave soon: the 17e plus iPad updates and those MacBooks. The iPads sound like light refreshes—what’s changing?
iPad Air looks like a straight move to M4 with no major external changes, which is frustrating given how little has evolved since its 2020 redesign. An OLED Air is expected later, but not this year.
For most people wondering if they need a Pro, the Air is the right pick; it’s nearly the same experience for a lot less money. And the entry iPad remains the family workhorse for streaming and everyday use.
The base iPad’s update is actually more interesting: it should jump from A16 to A18, skipping A17, which finally brings Apple Intelligence support to the entire lineup. Most users won’t miss the laminated display if they never had it.
Speaking of Apple Intelligence, here’s the bad news: the revamped Siri looks delayed again. We thought 26.4 was close—what happened?
It sounds like the schedule was always strained, and internal builds point to 26.5 with features not working reliably yet. This doesn’t look like a simple rollback; it looks unfinished.
If it slides to 26.5 and beyond, why not wait for iOS 27 and ship it all with real fanfare?
Market pressure is intense, so Apple may dribble out features across 26.5, then 26.6 and 26.7, with the full chatbot-style Siri in iOS 27. Even the delay report nudged Apple’s stock, which shows how closely investors are watching this.
Drips and drabs won’t land with regular users who barely remember WWDC promises. A single big moment would be clearer.
First out the door could be two smaller wins: asking Siri to generate images via Image Playground and better web answers without the old here’s-what-I-found handoff. Under the hood, they’re also battling issues like Siri deferring to ChatGPT on tasks it should now do itself.
Wouldn’t be shocked if Apple times any drops around Samsung’s late-February event. As for Image Playground, I barely touch it, and I’d rather see practical tools than more novelty images.
Image Playground lags competitors on realism, but it’s useful inside apps for quick invites or sketches. If Apple turned it into a true model hub with on-device options and access to leading services, it could actually feel like a playground.
Maybe June brings better news, but I’m not getting my hopes up. If WWDC is mostly polish, that’s fine, just pair it with a strong Siri debut when it’s truly ready.
That’s likely the plan—reports call WWDC muted beyond personalized Siri and the chatbot, with a focus on bug fixes, performance, and liquid glass refinements. macOS Tahoe in particular needs visual cleanup, so a quieter year tracks.
Tell us what you actually use and want more of—especially if Image Playground is part of your routine. Email podcast at macramers.com, be kind, and we’ll see you next week.
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