Apple's next entry-level iPad models, codenamed J581 and J582, will not arrive until early 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

He added that Apple plans a major iPad Air refresh to add an OLED display and a new iPad Pro in 2027. The latter could gain a vapor chamber to improve thermals and performance. A new iPad mini is still expected to arrive at the end of October this year.
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Apple is preparing new displays and large numbers of demo units for the iPhone Duo's October 23 launch, but supply will be limited, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Ahead of the October 23 launch, Apple plans to set aside a section of its Fifth Avenue flagship store for the ‌iPhone Duo‌. Most locations will add an extra spotlight table for the device, using Apple's white display tables with central posts. Gurman said a new fixture will show how the phone folds and unfolds.

The number of demonstration devices will vary considerably between locations. Fifth Avenue in New York is expected to receive more than 150 units for customers to try and for other displays, compared with nearly 100 at the Apple Park Visitor Center. Non-flagship stores will receive approximately 20 units each on average.

Three other prominent stores will fall between those allocations: Chicago's Michigan Avenue, The Grove in Los Angeles, and Manhattan's Upper West Side. Each is expected to have approximately 30 to 40 devices.

Visitors will be able to explore StandBy on untethered phones in the Avenue display areas along the sides of stores. For comparisons on store tables, Apple has designed a MagSafe stand that accommodates an open ‌iPhone Duo‌ and two conventional iPhones.

The retail preparations come as Apple faces tighter supply than it had anticipated. According to Gurman, around two months ago the company believed production constraints could prevent sales from starting until later in November. It has since assembled sufficient inventory to proceed with this month's release, although stock is expected to remain limited.

Apple is also equipping stores with "Presto" machines adapted for the ‌iPhone Duo‌. Apple's wireless system can install software updates without opening an iPhone's packaging, and will also add the buyer's name to the greeting displayed during the device's first startup. Gurman previously said the personalized greeting will be offered in U.S. Apple Stores in English and Spanish.

‌iPhone Duo‌ pre-orders open October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, with sales starting on October 23. The 256GB model starts at $1,999 in the United States.
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Apple offers two versions of the AirPods 5: a $129 model with a USB-C Charging Case and a $149 model with a Wireless Charging Case. The extra $20 also buys longer battery life, swipe volume controls, and additional Find My features, so there are differences between the earbuds themselves as well as their cases.


Both models include Active Noise Cancellation as standard, the H2 chip, the same open-ear design, and the same redesigned acoustic architecture with updated Adaptive EQ. They also share Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio, Voice Isolation, studio-quality audio recording, and IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance. Both support Live Translation when paired with a compatible iPhone with Apple Intelligence enabled, in supported languages and regions.

The earbuds have identical dimensions and weight. The cases are also the same size, although the Wireless Charging Case is slightly heavier. There are still some notable differences to justify the price difference. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you.

AirPods 5	AirPods 5 With Wireless Charging Case
Force sensor	Force sensor with swipe volume controls
Up to four hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled (up to six hours with noise control off)	Up to five hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled (up to seven hours with noise control off)
Up to 20 hours of listening time with the charging case with Active Noise Cancellation enabled	Up to 22 hours of listening time with the charging case with Active Noise Cancellation enabled
Charging Case (USB-C)	Wireless Charging Case (USB-C) with support for the Apple Watch charger and Qi-certified chargers
	Case speaker for Find My and charging and battery status sounds
Find My with last-connected location and sound playback on the earbuds	Find My network tracking, sound playback on the earbuds, separate locations for each earbud and the case, and individual Lost Mode support
Charging case weighs 32.3 grams (1.14 ounces)	Charging case weighs 34.7 grams (1.22 ounces)
$129	$149

For most people, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are clearly the better buy. The extra $20 is a very small premium for conveniences you are likely to appreciate if you use your AirPods regularly. Longer listening time is useful for travel and extended sessions, while swipe volume controls let you make adjustments without reaching for your iPhone or asking Siri.

The higher-end model is worth considering even if you plan to charge exclusively over USB-C. Wireless charging becomes more useful if you already have a Qi charger or Apple Watch charger. Its additional Find My features are valuable if you tend to misplace your AirPods, allowing you to locate the earbuds and case separately and use the Find My network when they are beyond your device's range. The case speaker also helps when it slips between cushions or gets buried in a bag.

The standard AirPods 5 make more sense if you are on a very strict budget, want a secondary pair, or mostly listen for short periods. You still get the same audio technology and noise cancellation, so saving $20 does not mean compromising on those core features. You simply need to be comfortable with USB-C charging, shorter battery life, fewer controls, and more limited Find My functionality.

The charging cases are not interchangeable between the two models. If you buy the standard AirPods 5, you cannot add wireless charging later by purchasing the other model's case, making it worth deciding which features you want before buying.

Before buying, compare prices using our Deals roundup, since discounts can change the price gap between the two models.

If you're considering an upgrade from AirPods 4 or want to see what changed between generations, our AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5 Buyer's Guide compares the improvements and explains whether upgrading is worthwhile.
This article, "AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 5 With Wireless Charging Case Buyer's Guide" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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