There was vast excitement in the Price home at the commencement of this month when Nintendo herald the coming launch of theSwitch 2 . And then that excitement turn to bitter recrimination when the society revealed that game for the new system of rules could cost as much as $ 80 , even if you choose a digital rather than strong-arm transcript . Oh and then they announced that the April 9 preorders were delayed “ to assess the likely impact of tariffs . ”
This fiscal bombshell was specially ill - timed because it ’s become clear that the Switch 2 is considerably less innovative than its more affordable predecessor . Many of Nintendo ’s hit have achieved success thanks to a fun doodad or dot of difference : the DS ’s duplicate concealment , the Wii ’s motion control , and the Switch ’s duplicate function as a hand-held and magnanimous - screen console table . Even the Wii U , which flopped , at least assay something new with its asymmetric controllers . But aside from a cursory ( pitiful ) mouse mode for the Joy - Cons , the Switch 2 appear to just do what the Switch did with skillful specs .
Then again , “ doing the same thing with right glasses ” is a idiom that could have been publish for Apple , peculiarly its all - conquering iPhone product business . unconstipated reader will be well aware of theexasperating form : former hearsay hint at a dramatic revamp and startling raw features before world bites and the novel iPhone ends up being much the same as the previous mannikin .
That certainly appear to be the case this year , with the big redesign predict before in the cycle now lookingconsiderably less radicaland the long - wait shake - upnow expected in 2027 . A wide camera module in all probability is n’t going to be enough for the iPhone 17 to muff your socks off .
These more and more consistent theme about the iPhone 17 arrive , like the Switch 2 Leontyne Price reveal , at an inconvenient time . Because , thanks to on - again , off - again tariffs on goods imported from China , where Apple makes most of its iPhones , the company may have to bite the bullet train this year and increase cost or at the very least hike the low destruction bybumping the starting memory . A 40 percentage price blow is a mess soft to swallow if the ware is 40 percent better , but if it ’s largely the same … Well , let ’s just say that being expensive and boring at the same clip is not a good combination .
Apple could n’t realistically have seen this situation coming , but I still feel like this is a crisis of its own fashioning . class after twelvemonth , the fellowship has changed the iPhone as small as it peradventure can , for salve money , focus engineering on other projects such as Vision Pro , and leave room for further upgrades in the future . It ’s been like an expert racing driver , tug as close to the barriers as possible for maximum efficiency . But when you do that , you make yourself vulnerable to even the small of outside ingredient , and a political blow of fart just made a crash more likely .
Betting against Apple ( or Nintendo , for that matter ) is a fool ’s errand , and my assumption is that Tim Cook will find a way to make this work . He ’s already lobbied his way to atemporary exemption , and may yet perform logistical miracles storm up production in India and Brazil . But above all , I desire Apple will learn its lesson and stop taking iPhone client for grant .
metalworks
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast chromatography column , which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy pungency - sized roundup . We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday forenoon cup of coffee or Camellia sinensis , but it ’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too .
Have your say
We received an interesting and thoughtful response to last week ’s Apple Breakfast onthe bruit Io redesign , and I ’d like to quote from it here .
“ Your apprehension toward the hoped-for iOS redesign appear to stem from a preference for the conversant , ” write Gregg from Denver , CO . “ However , comprehend alteration is essential for technological advancement . Consider the development of language : speech communication that go bad to conform risk obsolescence . Latin , once dominant , has fade from vernacular sermon due to its stagnancy . Similarly , operating system must evolve to remain relevant and converge users ’ change indigence .
“ Historically , iOS redesigns have chair to pregnant improvement . For instance , iOS 7 ’s overhaul introduced a clean , more intuitive user interface that many users appreciated . While initial reaction were sundry , the changes ultimately set the stage for future innovations . what is more , redesigns can enhance user engagement . survey have shown that improvements in UX / UI design , such as flowing sailing and quick load multiplication , can drastically subjugate frustration and abandonment , encouraging users to engage more deeply with the operating system .
“ In the realm of applied science , stagnancy is synonymous with descent . As technophile , we should welcome interchange that propels us toward more efficient and exploiter - favorable experience . ”
Next - gen CarPlay is thebroken Apple promisethatforeshadowed the Siri fiasco .
Jason Cross will never use hisAirPods Proagain withoutthis $ 20 upgrade .
Microsoftmade me want aFiftieth Anniversary MacBookmore than ever .
Can Apple make itsbest Macmatter again ?
Hey Apple , scrap thefoldable iPhone and iPadbefore it ’s too belatedly .
A256 GB SSDistoo little for a Macin 2025 and it ’s all macOS ’s fault .
Ugh: Tariff special
Tariff panic?Buying an iPhone right nowis a abominable idea .
With duty make excitement , the Macalopewonders what exactlyTim Cookspent a million buckson .
babble out of which … Here ’s howPresident Trump ’s tariffswill impactthe Leontyne Price of Apple products .
And here ’s how Apple canhandle Trump ’s tariffswithout raising prices(too much ) .
Podcast of the week
Believe it or not , thenext iPhoneis only six month away ! So in episode 929 of the Macworld Podcast , we ’re cover the latest iPhone rumors and whether or not you ’ll even be able to give the Modern earphone .
you may captivate every installment of the Macworld Podcast onSpotify , Soundcloud , thePodcasts app , orour own land site .
Reviews corner
The rumor mill
Here we go again : TheiPhone ‘ shake - up’is nowcoming in 2027 . And that big redesign predicted for this yearmight not be so big after all .
Still … iPhone 16e compare picsshow off an impressively thiniPhone 17 Air .
Report : Apple is prepping agiant folding iPadfor release next year .
iOS 19 ‘ leak’shows new icons , shimmery button , andlots of glass .
Instagramfinally , finallymakes an iPad app ! Maybe .
Siri woesreportedlypush Apple ’s smart habitation hubinto 2026 .
Software updates, bugs, and problems
You canuse a VPN for TikTokif it getsbanned , but it ’s a headache .
And with that , we ’re done for this week ’s Apple Breakfast . If you ’d care to get even roundups , sign up up forour newssheet , including our new email from The Macalope – an irreverent , humorous take on the former newsworthiness and rumors from a half - man , half - mythical Mac beast . you could also follow us onFacebook , Threads , Bluesky , orXfor word of breaking Apple news story . See you next Monday , and stay Appley .
