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Facilities in Apple's supply chain have finished renovations ahead of "iPhone 20" production, according to a Weibo leaker who says Apple's 20th-anniversary iPhone will move to an all-glass design. In a new post on Weibo, the leaker known as " Fixed Focus Digital " said the "preferred approach" for the iPhone 20 is a return to glass, with manufacturing quality expected to land somewhere around that of the first-generation iPhone Air . The leaker said the relevant manufacturing facility has "already been renovated" and is now waiting for machining to begin, but didn't name the supplier involved. Lens Technology produces iPhone cover glass and previously took over metal-frame and glass-back assembly plants from fellow supplier Catcher Technology. Apple's iPhone production typically doesn't reach full-scale manufacturing until a matter of weeks before launch; for the iPhone 17 , trial production began in June with full-volume output targeted for August, about a month ahead of the device's September release. The information likely refers to an early step in retooling a production line, which is the kind of groundwork Bloomberg said Apple is already "ramping up" as it develops the 20th-anniversary redesign. The claim adds fresh supply chain detail to a redesign that has been rumored for well over a year . Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is aiming for a "mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts in the display" to mark the iPhone's 20th anniversary, with curved glass wrapping around all sides of the device and a launch expected in September 2027 . In May, Fixed Focus Digital pushed back on an earlier report from fellow leaker Instant Digital claiming Apple was exploring liquid metal or an improved titanium alloy to replace aluminum on future Pro models, arguing that aluminum remains the only practical choice for now given the heat generated by on-device AI processing. At the time, Fixed Focus Digital said any material change was unlikely before 2027, in line with the iPhone 18 Pro 's expected retention of the same aluminum unibody design introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro . Earlier this month, the leaker reiterated that aluminum mid-frames are "going to be used in straight-edge phones for a long time to come," a distinction that leaves room for a different approach on the curved-edge iPhone 20. The 20th anniversary iPhone models are expected to launch in the fall of 2027, following the iPhone 18 , iPhone 18e, and ‌iPhone Air‌ 2 in the spring. Tags: 20th-Anniversary iPhone , Fixed Focus Digital This article, " Factories Now Ready for iPhone 20's Glass Redesign, Leaker Claims " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple is allegedly using a 60Hz 8.4-inch display panel in the upcoming OLED iPad mini, which is expected to be released later this year. The information comes courtesy of a hit-and-miss tipster running the account " yeux1122 " on the Korean Naver blog. The leaker claims to have been told by a source in Apple's supply chain that the unreleased iPad mini is equipped with a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) backplane hybrid OLED panel clocked at 60Hz. Apple's iPad Pro models feature two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels, which makes the display capable of dynamically adjusting its refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz (aka ProMotion). In contrast, LTPS OLED panels are usually paired with fixed refresh rates – such as 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz – and are typically dimmer than LTPO panels. If the leak is true, it's likely to disappoint iPad mini fans. Previous reports have not been clear on whether the iPad mini 8 will feature a higher refresh rate than the 60Hz LCD display used in the existing iPad mini 7. Given that the base iPhone 17 uses a 120Hz ProMotion panel, some would have believed it was reasonable to expect the same on the first OLED iPad mini. That said, the iPhone 17e goes to show that Apple is still in the 60Hz OLED business, so it might not consider the iPad mini to be a big enough market to justify the more advanced panel technology. There's still hope of course that the rumor is off the mark. The leaker also said that the smaller form factor iPad is currently in mass production at Samsung Display's A2 Generation 5.5 OLED production line, which is located at its Asan campus in South Korea. Samsung has used the A2 line to manufacture LTPO panels as well as comparatively inferior LTPS panels, so if that piece of information is true, it doesn't mean the new iPad mini will definitely use the latter panel. OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect Late last month, a report from Korean outlet ETNews claimed that mass production of the iPad mini 8 was underway at a Samsung factory. There are no rumors suggesting exactly when the next iPad mini will be released, but a late 2026 launch is widely expected. Aside from refresh rates, OLED offers several advantages over the LCD technology used in the iPad mini 7, such as higher contrast, deeper blacks, and improved power efficiency. Related Roundup: iPad mini Tags: Naver , OLED Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Don't Buy) Related Forum: iPad This article, " Upcoming OLED iPad Mini Allegedly Uses 60Hz 8.4-Inch Display Panel " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
WhatsApp is developing a first-party cloud storage option for chat backups on iPhone, providing users with an alternative to iCloud for the first time, according to app tinkerer WABetaInfo . Code found in the WhatsApp beta for iOS (version 26.28.10.16), available through TestFlight, suggests that users will eventually be able to pick their preferred backup destination directly from the app's chat backup settings. iCloud however will remain the default. The feature harks back to one that WABetaInfo spotted in development for Android back in April , which is set to give users on Google's platform a way to store backups off Google Drive. Under the plan, WhatsApp will reportedly include 2GB of free storage on its own servers, and there will be a 50GB tier priced at around $0.99 per month, similar to Apple's entry-level iCloud+ plan. There is also said to be a 1TB option in the works, although the tiers and pricing could always change before the backup feature goes live. Image: WABetaInfo Notably, backups kept on WhatsApp's servers will be protected by end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default, with no way to switch encryption off. That's firmer protection than what is offered by iCloud backups, whose users must turn on encryption manually by enabling Advanced Data Protection (ADP). WhatsApp will reportedly recommend securing backups with a passkey, but a password or 64-digit key will also work. WABetaInfo says the feature is still in development and not yet working for beta testers, and WhatsApp hasn't yet stated when it plans to officially launch the backup alternative. Tag: WhatsApp This article, " WhatsApp Beta Reveals iCloud Backup Alternative for iPhone " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Music's Playlist Playground feature is a prompt-driven playlist builder that's fast and surprisingly useful, even if it won't replace a carefully curated mix. Here's how to start playing, and how well it works. Apple Music's new Playlist Playground Apple added Playlist Playground to Apple Music on March 24 with iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 . It lets users build playlists by describing what they want instead of adding songs one by one. Building playlists in Apple Music takes time, especially when you're chasing a specific mood. Playlist Playground cuts that down to a few seconds, making it useful as a starting point. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
