In the news: Apple Smart Home launch on October 13, iPhone Duo production problems, etc.

Things are getting crazy in the world of Apple rumors, because even though the iPhone 18 Pro and several other products have only just launched and the iPhone Duo is just around the corner, there’s still more to come imminently.

October 13 appears to be the reveal date for Apple’s new smart home portfolio, including the home hub device we’ve been hearing about for ages. This week also saw news that Apple’s supply chain was struggling to meet production yield targets for the iPhone Duo ahead of its launch, while iPhone 18 Pro owners now have the chance to put the devices through their paces, so read on below for all the details!

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Three new Apple Smart Home products available October 13

A few of the products leaked above might be arriving very soon, as BloombergMark Gurman of , says Apple will introduce a trio of new smart home products on Tuesday, October 13.

Apple has reportedly launched its long-rumored smart home hub product as well as the new HomePod mini and Apple TV models, and while it hasn’t specified how Apple will introduce them, signs point to some sort of event.

Apple stores have also reportedly received confidential boxes marked “Do not open until October 8” and may contain merchandising materials. It’s unclear, however, whether they relate to the upcoming iPhone Duo launch or something related to the smart home product’s introduction.

Apple Smart Home Hub will feature an iMac G4-style design

Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub will have an iMac G4-style design and a host of unique features, Bloomberg» reports Mark Gurman.

The smart home hub would feature a 6-inch square screen, with variants that could be placed on a counter or mounted on a wall. It has a single FaceTime camera on the front, with microphones and speakers in its connected base.

Leaks suggest that the hub could come in Silver, Space Gray, Starlight, and Pink Rose colors, and that it will be able to display user-customizable photo faces pulled from your Photo Library, Memories, and Shared Albums, a feature that appears similar to what will be available for Sleep Mode on the iPhone Duo.

iPhone Duo Reportedly Facing Production Issues Before Launch

The iPhone Duo is reportedly facing production challenges ahead of its October launch, with initial production expected to be limited.

A person close to Foxconn’s supply chain told China’s Jiemian News that final assembly yields for Apple’s first foldable iPhone were only slightly above 60% as of September 17. The source said that based on Apple’s current quality standards, it could take another six months to a year for the assembly line to reach mature output.

According to the source, Foxconn is repeatedly adjusting equipment, assembly processes and production parameters to manufacture iPhone Duo on a large scale. The source also said suppliers were waiting to see if Apple would relax quality requirements to speed up production.

iPhone 18 Pro: First impressions: What do you think of it so far?

It’s been almost two weeks since the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro models, and we want to hear some news Woozad readers. What do you think of Apple’s latest iPhones? If you upgraded from an old phone, was it worth it? What about upgrading from an iPhone 17 Pro? What problems are you encountering? Anything you like so far?

Woozad readers have already shared their first opinions on the Woozad forums, and there are some interesting threads to read. For first reviews and hands-on images, be sure to check out the First Impressions and Photos thread.

Not everything was perfect, however, as some users experienced issues like crackling or popping speakers, while some iPhone 18 Pro Max users on AT&T in the US experienced issues with cellular connectivity or eSIM provisioning.

Apple plans to release products faster and more often

John Ternus is celebrating his first month as Apple CEO and is apparently undertaking efforts to restructure the company to speed up product development and introduce new products more frequently, according to BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman.

Ternus apparently wants Apple to “expand its device lineup and create a leaner, more engineering-focused organization.” One proposal under consideration is to rely less on Apple’s traditional spring and fall product release cycles, and introduce new devices more quickly and throughout the year. Ternus also reportedly said Apple needed to become “more experimental” to remain competitive in the age of artificial intelligence.

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