Rumor Replay: Apples foldable iPad and iPhone are coming, AirTag 2 and more
This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: Apples foldable iPad and iPhone are coming, plus a fresh Magic Mouse approach, and AirTag 2. Here are this weeks Apple rumors.iPhone 18 Fold and more affordable iPhone 17 AirThis week The Wall Street Journal reported on Apples next two years of iPhone updates:iPhone 18 FoldiPhone 17 AirNeither of these devices carry official names yet, but running with the two names above, WSJ says that 2026s foldable iPhone will unfold to a display size that would be larger than an iPhone 16 Pro Max. they also state that next years 17 Air is intended to be cheaper than Pro models.My takeawaysEvery time we get a report about the foldable iPhone, it makes the device seem more realespecially as 2026 draws near. Im intrigued to see what Apple can uniquely bring to foldables, but Im not sure a display larger than the Pro Max is what I want. One-handed use is extremely important to me, which is why I use an iPhone 16 Pro, not Pro Max. However, the market seems to show that people love huge phones, so Apples probably on the right track.The iPhone 17 Airs expected pricing is welcome news, especially because it makes sense of the specs were getting. Previous reports said the device would be ultra-premium, yet with compromises that dont justify that price. Now, the reported A18 chip, single rear camera, and ultra-thin design all cohere nicely with a moderate price point.Weve heard rumblings before of a roughly 19-inch iPad-Mac hybrid foldable device, and this week Mark Gurman shed more light on the project.Though some of Gurmans report is intentionally ambiguous, he seems to believe this is an iPad were talking about, not a Mac. Its always possible, though, that it could include key capabilities from both products.My takeawaysTheres a lot we dont know yet, but this foldable iPad could be my dream all-in-one product. Apples two iPad Pro sizes each have very different strengths and weaknesses, and this foldable could potentially combine the best of both sizes. Gurman says well have to wait until 2028 for this foldable though, so Im not getting my hopes up yet.Radically new Magic Mouse comingApples Magic Mouse has, for a long time, played second fiddle to the Magic Trackpad. But according to Mark Gurman, the company isnt content to let the accessory remain stagnant.Apple is apparently working on a whole new Magic Mouse design that could radically alter the way the device works. Its a full overhaul of the Magic Mouse that better fits the modern era.My takeawaysGurman doesnt say this, but I wonder if Apples motivation, in part, is to create a new Magic Mouse thats optimized for Vision Pro and spatial computing. Current Mac accessories arent ideal for spatial environments, even if they technically work. Perhaps Apple can create something well suited both for fresh platforms like the Vision Pro and legacy ones like the Mac.AirTag 2AirTag 2 is coming in 2025, and this week Gurman reported that its expected to boast a more modern Ultra Wideband chip.That chip upgrade will enable significantly improved Precision Finding support, so you can get very precise guidance from your iPhone when tracking down a lost AirTag from, potentially, up to 90 meters away.My takeawaysMy biggest issue with AirTag is its battery life (something a new add-on accessory just fixed), so I hope AirTag 2 offers improvements on that front too. That aside, expanded support for Precision Finding seems like a no-brainer enhancement.Which of this weeks Apple rumors are you most interested in? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel