The MacRumors Show: Ian Zelbo Talks iPhone 14 Pro and Apple Watch Series 8 Design Rumors

Apple concept graphic designer Ian Zelbo joins us on The MacRumors Show podcast this week to discuss what to expect from the design of the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple's long-rumored mixed-reality headset.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos

Ian works closely with leaker Jon Prosser and is behind many of the detailed, photo-realistic Apple renders that have captivated the rumor community in recent years. He is responsible for using leaked information to create accurate renders of the sixth-generation iPad mini, the Mac Studio and Apple Studio Display, green iPhone 13, purple fifth-generation iPad Air, and much more ahead of Apple's official announcements.

In this episode, we take a look at the creative process behind Ian's renders before taking a deeper dive into the design of the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple's long-rumored mixed-reality headset – three upcoming devices that Ian has painstakingly depicted. See some of Ian's renders below:

ipad mini 6 bottomSixth-generation iPad mini render based on leaked information, published over three months before the device's launch.

Green iPhone 13 Purple iPad AirGreen iPhone 13 and Purple fifth-generation iPad Air renders, shared the day before they were officially announced.

studio display and mac studioMac Studio and Apple Studio Display renders, shared the day before the "Peek Performance" Apple event where they were unveiled.

iPhone 14 Pro Purple Front and Back MacRumors ExclusiveiPhone 14 Pro renders based on a wide range of leaked information.

Prosser Series 8 5Redesigned Apple Watch Series 8 render based on rumors.

Listen to The MacRumors Show via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or subscribe by copying our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. You can also watch a video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. If you haven't already listened to the last episode of The MacRumors Show, be sure to catch up for an in-depth discussion about macOS Ventura and the M2 MacBook Air.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Andru Edwards, Rene Ritchie, and Jon Rettinger. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover going forward.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 'Slim': Everything We Know So Far

Friday July 5, 2024 5:13 am PDT by
In 2025, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Slim" – although it may not actually be called this when it debuts in the fall of next year. Even though the iPhone 16 series launch is still over two months away, when you consider that we learned about larger displays on the iPhone 16 Pro models way back in May 2023, rumors...
HomePod G4 Feature

Leak Confirms Apple's Work On 'Home Accessory'

Thursday July 4, 2024 9:15 am PDT by
Code discovered on Apple's backend by MacRumors confirms Apple is indeed working on a long-rumored home accessory in addition to the HomePod and Apple TV. The code references a device with the identifier "HomeAccessory17,1," which is a new identifier category. The name is similar to the HomePod's "AudioAccessory" identifier. Interestingly, the 17,1 in the identifier name suggests that...
iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2

Apple Leak Confirms Four iPhone 16 Models With Same A18 Chip

Tuesday July 2, 2024 9:48 am PDT by
Code discovered in Apple's backend by Nicolás Alvarez and shared with MacRumors confirms Apple's plans to release four iPhone 16 models this year, and it indicates that the devices will all have the same A-series chip. There are mentions of new model numbers that are not associated with existing iPhones, and that have the numbering scheme Apple uses for its flagship devices. The code...

Top Rated Comments

topdrawer Avatar
27 months ago
wow, a whole hour.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IllinoisCorn Avatar
27 months ago
The faces in the thumbnail look strange--is that smoothing from webcams?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
27 months ago
Much of the time these renders look cooler that what we actually get.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jav6454 Avatar
27 months ago

But in addition, there really have been only a few drastic new designs in Apple’s recent past.

The iPod models had changed so much over the time of their active development.

MacBooks, Mac Pro and the iMac underwent a journey from plastic to aluminum. But then all got stale.

But yes the few tiny changes we see these days are revealed and ruined by leaks.
Well, Apple is stuck to a specific design o the iPhone now. Due to wireless charging all future iPhones will be glass sandwiches. Overall, you can only do so much.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
27 months ago

I am not sure if I like the mock up render for the Apple Watch 8. I would really love to see the Apple Watch 8 have glucose monitoring. Would be really interested in a feature like that.
I actually welcome more of the flat design based off the render for the new Apple Watch, if it actually does happen. I mean, it’s not like it’s drastically different, but based off that photo, it almost gives it like a thinner profile appeal. I would welcome any physical changes for the Apple Watch, given we’ve seen the same design year after year for the most part.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iBreatheApple Avatar
27 months ago

Why do so many people care about the “notch” (didn’t care about it then) or the potential “pill” shape (don’t care about it now). It impacts me in no way. Once it is gone you guys will complain about something else. Enough about this issue. It’s meaningless. Next you’ll complain why the screen doesn’t go beyond the screen. But I guess you guys need a podcast or social media account to complain

I can watch a movie. I can email. I can do anything and my eyes don’t even see it.

I’m a seed beta tester and the software that runs on these devices is 1000% more important.
The vast majority of those who complain about the notch have never owned an iPhone that had one. The few left over are a small minority group. I stopped noticing it in about 12 hours and haven’t ever thought about it again. It has never been in the way, and I am unaware of its presence while view full/maximized video. Do I PREFER it? No. But I don’t care about it in the least. Nor do most.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)