Apple has been very consistent in recent years with its annual releases of hardware and software, but it appears the company is moving away from this approach, perhaps in an effort to be more stable and error-free. Prominent analysts detail in a new report that the company may move towards gradual releases of hardware and software, and Apple Intelligence suggests that the company may move towards non-routine releases. This is a good example of this.
Analysts speculate that Apple may move away from annual software and hardware releases and adopt a more unpredictable approach.
As Mark Garman points out in his latest book: power on newsletter Apple can be expected to have unpredictable hardware and software release cycles. The analyst claims the release of Apple Intelligence is evidence that the company is moving “slightly further than ever” from its big fall launches of hardware and software. Apple Intelligence is the company’s newest service, touted for the latest iPhone 16 and upcoming MacBook Pro models.
The new AI features are a highlight of Apple’s iOS 18 and other updates, and are currently in beta stage, available only to developers for testing purposes. The company plans to release the first wave of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1, scheduled for release on October 28th. However, some of the additional features that make up Apple Intelligence will be spread out across the various updates in iOS 18. This means: All new AI features that Apple announced at the WWDC event are expected to be announced in the second half of 2025.
In the future, Apple may take the same approach of announcing products and services in advance and releasing them over time. While this approach is not wrong per se, it eliminates the hype surrounding the product or service. Some software features are tied to hardware releases and may also impact product sales. Let’s take the iPhone 16 as an example. These devices were announced as Apple Intelligence enabled, but the service is still unavailable a month after release.
The company’s approach also makes sense, as timely deployment would increase pressure and deliver an unfinished product. The company pulled three updates: iPadOS 18, watchOS 11.1, and HomePod 18.1 due to various software issues. It should be noted that only some products may be affected by a company’s potential approach. The annual iPhone release cycle will continue, but some products, such as the Mac and iPad, may take longer to release finished products.
The Apple Watch SE is another example of an unstable release, as the wearable hasn’t been upgraded this year and it’s been three years since the current version was announced. Instead, the company announced a new Apple Watch Ultra, which was previously not on the schedule. It remains to be seen what the company’s plans will be, and the final decision rests with Apple. Please note that these are just speculations and the company may take a completely different approach.
