Leaked iOS 14 code reveals upcoming Apple hardware refreshes to the new iPad Pro, iPhone 9, AirTags, and a new Apple TV remote
Leaked iOS 14 code obtained by 9to5Mac corroborates many details about what to expect from Apple's upcoming hardware refreshes, including the new iPad Pro, iPhone 9, and AirTags.
9to5Mac Chance Miller
Context & Ripple Effects
This is at least the second time Apple's own mobile OS code has front-run a hardware launch: iOS 12.1 beta snippets did the same for the Face ID iPad Pro in fall 2018. The difference here is breadth — one leak covering four product lines at once.
The most consequential item is AirTags, because it is a new category rather than a refresh, and the iPhone 9 detail was corroborated within a week by follow-up reporting on an iPhone 9 and iPhone 9 Plus running the A13 Bionic. The iPad Pro line itself keeps iterating on the same cadence, with Bloomberg later reporting a far larger OLED-screen revamp for 2024.
First-order effects
- Apple's unannounced roadmap for four products — iPad Pro, iPhone 9, AirTags, and a new Apple TV remote — is public before any launch event, collapsing the company's usual secrecy window.
- Case and accessory manufacturers get early signal on dimensions and features, letting them have inventory ready at day one instead of weeks after.
Second-order effects
- Incumbent Bluetooth-tracker vendors such as Tile now face Apple entering their category with default Find My integration on every iPhone, forcing a response on price or platform partnerships.
- An iPhone 9 reusing the A13 Bionic from the iPhone 11 puts near-flagship silicon at a lower price point, pressuring mid-range Android vendors on the spec-per-dollar comparison.
Third-order effects
- If every iOS beta cycle leaks the next hardware wave, Apple's launch events become confirmation rather than revelation, shifting competitive preparation and supply-chain positioning to happen months earlier around code drops.
- A recurring leak pattern also pressures Apple to tighten internal builds or accept that software development is now a standing disclosure channel — either way, the information asymmetry between Apple and its ecosystem narrows structurally.
The trend: Apple's own operating-system code has become the primary early channel for its hardware roadmap, with each annual iOS cycle pre-revealing the next device generation.
Related: Apple · AirTags · iPad Pro · iOS 14 code shows iPhone 9 and iPhone 9 Plus with A13 Bionic · iOS 12.1 beta code suggested a Face ID iPad Pro
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Discussion
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@agusdelavilla
@agusdelavilla
on x
Native sleep tracking is coming with #watchOS 7. I'm very happy with @AutoSleepApp but I'm looking forward to what Apple can do to make the tracking even more accurate. Hopefully it will learn based on each person's sleep patterns. https://9to5mac.com/...
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@stroughtonsmith
Steve Troughton-Smith
on x
Wow, after all these years, iOS is getting handwriting support for text fields? And shape drawing a la Newton 😃 https://twitter.com/...
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@grahambower
Graham Bower
on x
No more Watch Extensions?! Could this be like watchOS 2 and native-only apps, all over again? It's tough being a watch app developer! https://9to5mac.com/...
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@natisho
@natisho
on x
I can definitely see myself using Schooltime for managing work related apps. Like Slack or mail for example. https://9to5mac.com/...
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@elidourado
Eli Dourado
on x
Update: Apple will release blood oxygen measurement capability for Apple Watch in iOS 14. https://9to5mac.com/... https://twitter.com/...
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@viticci
Federico Viticci
on x
“Sophisticated mouse support” coming to iPadOS, you say? And a new Smart Keyboard with a trackpad? https://9to5mac.com/... https://twitter.com/...
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@stroughtonsmith
Steve Troughton-Smith
on x
Multitouch trackpad multitasking gestures? 😍 https://twitter.com/...
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@tothur
@tothur
on x
this is an admission of total failure by Apple, more than anything. just get a Surface Pro. - Sophisticated mouse cursor support coming to iOS 14, new iPad Smart Keyboard models with trackpad - 9to5Mac https://9to5mac.com/...
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@notpatrick
Patrick Beja
on x
9to5Mac reports full mouse support coming to iOS 14. Not sure how I feel about this... With a file system and mouse support, isn't an iPad just another computer?...📱💻 🤔 There are still a lot of differences but... I don't know, this requires more thought. https://9to5mac.com/...
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@penllawen
Richard Gaywood
on x
Then: “Surface? lol / toasterfridge / what a stupid idea to mix touch and pointer metaphors in one form factor.” Now: “According to code seen by 9to5Mac, Apple is set to roll out rich system-wide support for mouse cursors with iOS 14.” https://9to5mac.com/...
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@jbenton
Joshua Benton
on x
It looks like the mouse/trackpad is about to become a first-class iPad citizen https://9to5mac.com/...
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@bzamayo
Benjamin Mayo
on x
Sounds like Mac trackpad but iPad https://9to5mac.com/...
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@samsheffer
Sam Sheffer
on x
would mark a paradigm shift in mobile computing traditional inputs blending with “modern” (touch) - is this what we've been waiting for? https://twitter.com/...
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@apollozac
Zac Hall
on x
Another fun tidbit: this is based on iOS 14 code we obtained, suggesting watchOS 7 or Apple Watch Series 6 based https://twitter.com/...
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@zacbowden
Zac Bowden
on x
Apple discovers “all apps list” https://twitter.com/...