Apple Plans New Pencils, Expands iPhone Tap-to-Pay in Stores
▼ Summary
– Apple plans to launch new iPad Pro models, a redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro, and updated Apple Pencil styluses in the first half of 2025.
– Two new Apple Pencil variants are in development: an updated entry-level model (B582) and a refreshed Apple Pencil Pro (B632).
– The new styluses will feature more easily replaceable batteries to comply with EU repairability requirements.
– Apple is phasing out dedicated Isaac payment terminals in stores, replacing them with iPhones using Tap to Pay.
– The transition was slowed by iPhone 14’s issues with metal credit cards, but iPhone 16 has resolved these, enabling direct card tap payments.
Beyond the highly anticipated iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra, expected in September, Apple has a packed product roadmap for the first half of next year. According to the latest report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is gearing up to refresh its Apple Pencil lineup alongside new iPad Pro models.
Gurman’s newsletter reveals that a redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro and updated iPad Pro models are slated for a spring launch. To accompany the new iPads, Apple is developing two distinct Pencil variants. The first, codenamed B582, will serve as an updated version of the standard Apple Pencil. The second, B632, is a refresh of the Apple Pencil Pro, which debuted with the M4 iPad Pro in 2024.
A key driving force behind this redesign is compliance with the European Union’s repairability requirements. The new styluses are expected to feature easily replaceable batteries, a significant upgrade from current models that are glued shut and notoriously difficult to service.
Apple Stores are also undergoing a quiet transformation. The company has been phasing out its custom Isaac payment terminals in favor of standard iPhones equipped with the Tap to Pay feature. While many customers have noticed employees using iPhone 14 models for transactions, the transition has been slow. The report attributes this delay to performance issues with the iPhone 14’s Tap to Pay system, which occasionally struggled to read certain metal credit cards, including premium offerings from American Express and Chase.
Apple has now resolved these issues with the iPhone 16, paving the way for a full rollout. In the coming weeks, more Apple Store employees will receive iPhone 16 devices, allowing customers to complete purchases simply by tapping their card directly on the phone, eliminating the need for any external reader.
(Source: Firstpost)
