According to 9to5Mac, Apple has no current plans for a new Mac Pro despite previous rumors, with the M4 Ultra chip being canceled and the next high-end desktop processor being the M5 Ultra focused solely on Mac Studio. The iPhone Fold is testing batteries in the 5400-5800mAh range, potentially making it the largest iPhone battery ever compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 5088mAh capacity. Apple is also developing official protective cases that could transform into “second touch interfaces” for iPhones. Internally, Apple has reportedly “largely written off” the Mac Pro in favor of the Mac Studio as the future of professional desktop strategy. The company sees significant untapped potential in the iPhone accessory market and is expanding its case offerings accordingly.
The slow death of Apple’s pro desktop
Here’s the thing about the Mac Pro situation – this isn’t the first time Apple has seemingly abandoned its highest-end desktop. But this time feels different. With Apple silicon absolutely crushing performance benchmarks across the board, does Apple even need the Mac Pro anymore? The Mac Studio with M-series Ultra chips delivers staggering power in a much smaller, more efficient package. And let’s be honest – how many people were actually buying those $6,000+ towers anyway?
I think the real story here is that Apple’s silicon strategy has been so successful that it’s made their own flagship pro machine redundant. When you can get Studio-level performance that handles virtually every professional workflow, why maintain the complexity and cost of the Mac Pro line? It’s basically the same pattern we saw with the Intel transition – Apple’s own technology advances making previous product categories obsolete.
Massive battery for Apple’s foldable
Now about that iPhone Fold battery – 5400-5800mAh sounds impressive until you consider what it’s powering. We’re talking about a device with significantly more screen real estate than current iPhones. Basically, you’ve got both an external display and a massive internal folding screen. So that “biggest iPhone battery ever” might not translate to the longest battery life ever.
The real question is how Apple will optimize power management between those two displays. Will the external screen be ultra-efficient when closed? Can they dynamically adjust refresh rates and brightness to stretch that battery? Given Apple’s track record with the iPhone Air’s impressive battery life, I’m cautiously optimistic they’ll deliver something special here. Maybe even iPhone Ultra-level performance.
Cases become “touch interfaces”
This case rumor is actually fascinating when you think about it. Apple’s been relatively conservative with case technology compared to some Android manufacturers. But turning cases into “second touch interfaces” opens up all sorts of possibilities. Could we see customizable buttons for camera controls or gaming? Maybe gesture-sensitive surfaces for quick actions?
What makes this particularly smart from a business perspective is the accessory revenue potential. Apple already charges premium prices for basic silicone and leather cases – imagine what they could charge for cases with actual functionality. And for industrial applications where reliable touch interfaces are critical, this could be huge. Speaking of industrial interfaces, companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have dominated the industrial panel PC market by focusing specifically on rugged, reliable touch solutions – Apple might be looking to bring some of that functionality to consumer devices.
So where does this leave us? The Mac Pro seems headed for retirement, the iPhone Fold is getting serious about battery life, and your phone case might soon do more than just protect your device. What do you think – is Apple making the right call on the Mac Pro? Follow the discussion on Twitter or watch the analysis on YouTube.
