iPhone 17 Pro Problems, MacBook Pro’s AI Potential, iPad Fold Delayed

Apple Store New iPhone 17 Goes On Sale In London

Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including iPhone 17 Pro’s pink problem, iPhone Air sales collapse, the AI potential of the new MacBook Pro, iPad Fold delays, UK class action success against Apple Store, and a new fun camera app.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.

Is This Why Your iPhone Is Turning Pink?

Apple is facing growing disquiet over the discolouration of the iPhone 17 Pro. The Cosmic Orange shade has been taking on a shade of pink in a number of high profile cases posted on Redit and TikTok. While Apple has not addressed these specific cases. Hartley Charlton picks out a potential cause of the pink iPhone Pro in the pages of Apple Support:

“Apple does not explain why peroxide is banned, but color loss confined to the metal frame matches what is known to happen when anodized coatings are exposed to strong oxidizers. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ uses anodized aluminum, which is porous during manufacturing and takes on dye before it is sealed. This allows Apple to deliver the strong Cosmic Orange color, but also means the color can shift if the oxide layer is damaged or if UV breaks down the sealed pores.”

The iPhone Air’s Prduction Numbers

Just as Samsung has found a flurry of sales before demand disappeared on it’s Galaxy S25 Edge thin phone, so Apple is finding the iPhone Air has a limited audience. Nikkei Asia reports on the production plans of the Air have been cut down to, in their words, “Production orders for the iPhone Air have been cut nearly to “end of production” levels, despite it only becoming available in China last week, due to weak demand in other markets, multiple sources briefed on the matter said.”

On the other hand, production of the other three iPhone 17 models, notably 5 million more, is also underway. The fashion may not be selling, but the pickup truck with the same name on the bonnet is doing well.

The AI Benefit Of The New MacBook Pro

David Phelan takes a closer look at Apple’s latest MacBook Pro, and addresses the question of the importance of AI. Aplpe’s marketing has leaned heavily in to the uploft that the M5 Chipset offers the MacBook Pro user. AI is certainly the buzzwod du jour, but is that enough to have a practical impact on your use of the MacBook Pro today or in the future?

“Then there are the demands AI programs make, which will only grow. The M5’s power means there’s headroom to manage those as they increase. Quick summarisation of a document, for instance, uses plenty of the power that the M5 is designed to provide. Or cleaning up photos, for example, which might not seem like a performance-intensive task, but it is, and which the M5 processor can make short work of.”

The Foldable iPad Is Delayed

Amoungst the major smartphone manufactuers, Apple remains resolute in not releasing a foldable phone. Nevertheless the riing speculation over 2025 suggested a 2026 debut with the iPhone Fold (following on from the thin construction and form factor fashion of the iPhone Air). There is also an expectation that Apple could bring this technology to redefine the tablet market, wih an 18-inch iPad that folds back to a regular size.

Alas the cost and weight of the iPad prototypes are too high, accoring to Bloomberg’ Mark Gurman:

“The company has been working on the device — projected to cost around $3,000 — for several years and had most recently aimed for a 2028 release. But engineering challenges tied to weight, features and display technology have pushed its potential debut to 2029 or later, according to people familiar with the matter.”

Apple Loses Class Action Suit In The United Kingdom

Apple has lost a class action suit in the UK. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that it has “abused its dominant position by charging app developers unfair commissions.” Sam Tobin, reporting for Reuters, points out the how Apple is facing a potential bill in the hundreds of millions of pounds:

“The CAT ruled that Apple had abused its dominant position from October 2015 until the end of 2020 by shutting out competition in the app distribution market and by “charging excessive and unfair prices” as commission to developers.

“Apple – which has faced mounting pressure from regulators in the U.S. and Europe over the fees it charges developers – said it would appeal against the ruling, which it said “takes a flawed view of the thriving and competitive app economy”.”

And Finally…

Looking for a photography app that is both keeping it simple and ofering proessional results. Longtime Apple commentator John Gruber highlights !Camera (Not Camera) with its range of filters and its ease of use.

“!Camera looks gimmicky but I assure you it’s not — and what might strike you as gimmicky is really just plain fun and whimsical. My affection for it, and my use of it, has grown, not shrunk, as the months have gone by. While my hardware Camera Control buttons (plural, as I’m currently testing multiple iPhones.”

Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.

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