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: iOS 27’s ‘Snow Leopard’ update, iPhone Fold pricing, 2026 product launches, and more Apple rumors.
iOS 27 might be Snow Leopard-like release
Mark Gurman at Bloomberg reported this week that Apple’s forthcoming iOS 27, macOS 27, and other software updates could be Snow Leopard-like releases.
That means Apple is prioritizing performance and bug fixes to a greater degree than normal. He writes:
Aiming to improve the software, engineering teams are now combing through Apple’s operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality. Like Snow Leopard set the groundwork for future overhauls and new types of Macs, iOS 27 will lay the foundation for foldable iPhones and other new hardware.
The report mentions that some major AI features are still coming in iOS 27, but otherwise it could be a much lighter update for new features.
My takeaways
I’m all for this kind of move, and I think the timing is right.
iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass design was a major step forward in building for the future of Apple devices. But it also, for some users at least, introduced plenty of bugs and performance issues that could use some extra attention.
While I do think Apple needs to keep pushing hard with AI features, other than that the iPhone would very much benefit from making “it just works” more true than ever.
iPhone Fold might cost $2,399
Fubon Research shared its pricing expectation for next fall’s foldable iPhone. And it’s a big number.
Per Fubon, the iPhone Fold could cost around $2,399. That’s double the price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Their estimate is based on supply chain information and Apple’s typical margins.
My takeaways
As I wrote earlier this week, this kind of price tag makes me suspect Apple plans to dub its foldable the ‘iPhone Ultra.’
I have a hard time seeing an ‘iPhone Fold’ meriting a 2x increase over the current most expensive iPhone. But if Apple uses the ‘Ultra’ branding, it’s an easier sell.
iPhone 17e camera upgrade
This week Jeff Pu shared a research note that mentioned a big upgrade coming to the iPhone 17e in early 2026.
The new Center Stage front facing 18MP camera from the iPhone 17 is, per Pu, coming to the budget iPhone 17e as well.
My takeaways
I’m pretty surprised that the brand new Center Stage front camera, which was a big highlight of the iPhone 17 line, is coming to the lower-cost ‘e’ line so soon.
Now that Apple is expanding its iPhone lineup from four annual models to five or six, I imagine making the right feature differentiations will be a challenge. But I could see the new camera being a big draw.
12.9-inch MacBook and OLED iPad mini launch timing
This week we got launch timing updates on two highly anticipated new 2026 products.
Apple’s rumored 12.9-inch MacBook with an A19 chip will reportedly launch fairly soon. Analyst Jeff Pu says it’s planned for a mid-Q1 2026 release.
Meanwhile, Weibo leaker Instant Digital says the forthcoming OLED iPad mini update won’t arrive until at least Q3 2026, and possibly slightly later. This tracks with the October and September launch dates of the prior two iPad mini models.
My takeaways
I don’t have much to add other than being very fascinated by what the final details of the 12.9-inch MacBook will be.
Apple has historically ceded the low-cost laptop market to Chromebook and PC competitors. If the company is able to ship a compelling low-cost new MacBook, I could see that driving a big wave of iPhone users to buy their first Mac in the coming years.
What are your takeaways from this week’s Apple rumors for 2026 products, iOS 27, and more? Let us know in the comments.
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