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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: iPhone 17e design changes, Intel producing M-class chips, and ChatGPT integrating with Apple Health. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.
iPhone 17e’s two design changes
Rumors around Apple’s next iPhone have been coming more frequently lately. And this week, we received word that not one, but two iPhone 17e design changes may be coming.
iPhone 17e was already expected to ditch the notch for a Dynamic Island, but now per The Elec, the new model will also have thinner bezels than its predecessor. Thus, from the front it should look nearly identical to a base iPhone 17.
My takeawaysApple seems set on expanding its lineup of new iPhones launched every year. And I’m especially interested in the balance it seeks to strike with giving or withholding features from each model.
The base iPhone 17 has reportedly been selling extremely well, so the iPhone 17e probably won’t cannibalize sales much. But with a practically identical front design, and the new Center Stage front camera, I imagine it will tempt a lot of budget-conscious buyers.
Intel might start producing Apple’s M-class chips
Before the debut of Apple silicon in 2020, Intel produced all of the chips powering the Mac. Now, it sounds like Apple may be turning to Intel as a partner again—but in a different capacity.
Ming Chi-Kuo reported last week that Intel might start producing M-class chips for Apple as soon as 2027. This would be limited to the low-end chip (e.g., M7 but not M7 Pro).
Apple silicon wouldn’t be replaced at all. Rather, Intel would simply serve as the production partner, thus making Apple less reliant on current partner TSMC.
My takeawaysApple and TSMC’s partnership has been tremendously profitable for both companies. But diversification is undoubtedly a good move for Apple.
The more Apple relies on TSMC to produce its chips, the less leverage it will have in negotiations to get favorable rates. So if Intel can produce new chips at the quality Apple needs, that seems like a no-brainer move for the company.
ChatGPT app getting Apple Health integration
An image leak in the code of ChatGPT’s app for iPhone revealed that OpenAI is working to add Apple Health integration soon.
Aaron Perris made the discovery, which is expected to be part of ChatGPT’s ‘Apps & connectors’ feature. It’s likely to debut right around the start of the new year, when many users will rely on ChatGPT for health and fitness-related assistance.
My takeawaysI understand why some might be concerned by the privacy ramifications of granting ChatGPT access to Apple Health data. But personally, I think it’s best for Apple to at least provide the option. Since the integration will surely be strictly opt-in, users will be able to choose whether to sacrifice some privacy for the benefit of letting ChatGPT offer more informed health advice.
Apple is reportedly working on its own AI-driven ‘Health+’ service, but in the interim, giving ChatGPT users the option of Health integration makes a lot of sense—especially since Apple’s competitors will likely do the same.
What are your takeaways from this week’s Apple rumors? Let us know in the comments.
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