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This week’s top stories: iPhone SE 2 rumors, iOS 13.2 beta, in-ear AirPods, and more

Chance Miller | Oct 6 2019 - 5:00 am PT

In this week’s top stories: New in-ear AirPods on the way, expectations for Apple in October, iOS 13.1.2 release, Deep Fusion for iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, and more. Read on for all of this week’s biggest news.

Following the release of iOS 13.1.1 last week, Apple on Monday released iOS 13.1.2 to the public with additional bug fixes for backups, the Camera app, and more. watchOS 6.0.1 is also now available with watch face improvements and complication bug fixes.

Apple this week also released the first developer beta of iOS 13.2. The update is the first to include the new Deep Fusion image processing technology. This should result in much better image quality for iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro users. You can learn more about how it works here.

Under the hood, iOS 13.2 also includes new assets that offer our first look at a new pair of AirPods. These AirPods feature an in-ear design, similar to Apple’s old wired in-ear earbuds. There are also new references to noise cancellation in iOS as well as something called “Focus Mode.”

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week published a new investor note saying that Apple will release the iPhone SE 2 in the first quarter of 2020. The new device is said to be cheaper than the rest of the current iPhone lineup, while also packing an A13 processor and 3GB of RAM. Read more about the rumored iPhone SE 2 – which is more like the iPhone 8 – here.

Lastly, Kuo also shared a new report this week focused on Apple’s switch to mini-LED technology. According to Kuo, Apple is working on new high-end iPad and MacBook models that use mini-LED displays. Kuo predicts that a mini-LED iPad could come as soon as the first quarter of 2021, while a mini-LED MacBook could come in the Q2 of 2021.

These and the rest of this week’s top stories below.

iOS | tvOS |

iPhone |

Mac + iPad |

Apple Watch |

Tech Industry |

Apps |

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This week’s top videos |

9to5Mac Daily |

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bear: Try the beautiful and flexible Bear writing app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad now.

9to5Mac Watch Time episode 7 |

MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci has just published his mega iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 review, and this week he joins Zac to discuss the project and how it affects his Apple Watch routine. The conversation ranges from sleep tracking with Apple Watch apps to managing physical and mental health through major career projects and much more.

9to5Mac Watch Time is a seasonal podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how the Apple Watch is affecting their lives.

9to5Mac Watch Time is now available on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and your favorite podcast player through RSS. Subscribe now to enjoy our teaser trailer and hear new episodes as soon as they drop — starting next week.

Happy Hour Podcast 245 |

Zac has spent some time with Apple Watch Series 5, Benjamin has observations from afar, and iOS 13.2 beta brings new features to the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro.

9to5Mac Happy Hour is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Stacktrace Podcast #56 |

John and Rambo dive into iOS and iPadOS 13 — what’s new, what’s missing, and what’s the overall state of Apple’s operating systems? Also, credit card scanning, and Apple Arcade first impressions.

Stacktrace by 9to5Mac is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Apple @ Work |

Apple @ Work is a weekly series from Bradley Chambers covering Apple in education. Bradley has been managing Apple devices in an education environment since 2009. Through his experience deploying and managing hundreds of Macs and hundreds of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple’s products work at scale, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for students.