by MacRumors Staff
Apple recently released the first iPadOS 17.5 beta, and it includes some hidden code changes that hint at new iPad and Apple Pencil features.
iPadOS 17.5 will likely be released in May. Given that the update is still in beta, there is no guarantee that the features will end up launching, but code changes like these are typically a good indicator of upcoming software additions.
Battery Health Menu for Future iPads
The first iPadOS 17.5 beta includes several new references to a Battery Health menu on the iPad, but the feature is not actually visible yet. The menu is expected to show an iPad battery's maximum remaining capacity and cycle count.
A sample of the code strings added in the iPadOS 17.5 beta:
- "iPad must be regularly used while not connected to power to show maximum capacity."
- "This is the number of times iPad has used your battery's capacity."
- "The iPad battery is performing as expected."
- "iPad batteries, like all rechargeable batteries, have a limited lifespan and may eventually need to be serviced or replaced."
- "The original battery was designed to retain X capacity at X cycles under ideal conditions. Actual battery performance depends on a number of variables, including how iPad is used and charged regularly. The one-year warranty includes service for defective batteries in addition to rights provided under local consumer laws."
There is no visible Battery Health menu on any existing iPad models on the first iPadOS 17.5 beta, leading us to believe that the menu may be limited to the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models that are rumored to launch in May, and likely other new iPads released in the future. Apple has shown battery capacity information on iPhones for many years, but cycle count information is currently limited to the latest iPhone 15 series.
New Apple Pencil
The first beta of iOS 17.5 potentially references a new fourth-generation Apple Pencil, amid rumors that the accessory will be updated soon.
The beta includes a hidden code reference to a "V4" version of the Apple Pencil:
NumberOfApplePencilV1ConnectionsCount
NumberOfApplePencilV2ConnectionsCount
NumberOfApplePencilV3ConnectionsCount
NumberOfApplePencilV4ConnectionsCount
A new Apple Pencil is rumored to launch alongside updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models in May. Apple refers to the USB-C version of the Apple Pencil released last year as the third-generation Apple Pencil in iOS code, so the fourth-generation model would be a new version that would likely succeed the second-generation Apple Pencil.
Additional code in the iOS 17.5 beta suggests that the Apple Pencil could gain a "squeeze" gesture for certain actions, but details are slim.
Popular Stories
iPhone 16 Plus Rumored to Come in These 7 Colors
Wednesday April 10, 2024 3:52 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's iPhone 16 Plus may come in seven colors that either build upon the existing five colors in the standard iPhone 15 lineup or recast them in a new finish, based on a new rumor out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed focus digital, Apple's upcoming larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus model will come in the following colors, compared to the colors currently available for the...
Read Full Article • 73 comments
When to Expect a New Apple TV to Launch
Tuesday April 9, 2024 8:30 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
It has been nearly a year and a half since the current Apple TV was released, so the device is becoming due for a hardware upgrade. Below, we recap rumors about the next Apple TV, including potential features and launch timing. The current model is the third-generation Apple TV 4K, announced in October 2022. Key new features compared to the previous model from 2021 include a faster A15...
Read Full Article • 136 comments
Macs to Get AI-Focused M4 Chips Starting in Late 2024
Thursday April 11, 2024 10:10 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple will begin updating its Mac lineup with M4 chips in late 2024, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The M4 chip will be focused on improving performance for artificial intelligence capabilities. Last year, Apple introduced the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips all at once in October, so it's possible we could see the M4 lineup come during the same time frame. Gurman says that the entire...
Read Full Article • 386 comments
iOS 18 May Feature All-New 'Safari Browsing Assistant'
Wednesday April 10, 2024 6:11 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 18 will apparently feature a new Safari browsing assistant, according to backend code on Apple's servers discovered by Nicolás Álvarez. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris confirmed that the code exists, but not many details are known at this time. Álvarez said it seems like the browsing assistant will use iCloud Private Relay's infrastructure to send relevant data to Apple in a...
Read Full Article • 92 comments
Review: Six Months With the iPhone 15 Pro
Wednesday April 10, 2024 10:53 am PDT by Juli Clover
It's been a bit over six months since the iPhone 15 lineup came out in September, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using an iPhone 15 Pro Max sans case since launch. Over on our YouTube channel, Dan did a long term review to demo how his phone has held up and his thoughts on the Action button, battery life, and camera features. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
Read Full Article • 142 comments
'); }
Next Article
Apple Watch Series 9 Drops to New Low Price of $295 on Amazon
