This week in Apple: 5G iPhones early launch, iPad Air release, App Store revenue

This week in Apple news we heard a rumor related to the possibility of Apple launching some of its 5G iPhones early in one country. Now, this is just a rumor and seems pretty far-fetched, but this is 2020 so anything is possible.

In other Apple news, we have a better idea about when the iPad Air could land in stores, some rumors related to yet another item removed from the iPhone 12 boxes, some stats on App Store revenue, and more!

See the Apple news roundup below for all the latest.

The top Apple news stories of the past week:

• 5G iPhones could land in South Korea early: According to industry insiders speaking with The Korea Herald, South Koreans could see 5G iPhones before the rest of the world. Allegedly, Apple could launch the 5G models of the iPhone 12 in that country early due to the country’s widespread 5G access. However, this rumor is shaky, as Apple has always released iPhones in SK long after they launch in the US.
• There might not be EarPods in iPhone 12 boxes: According to some new wording in iOS 14.2, there might not be wired EarPods in the box with new iPhone 12 devices. If this ends up being true, that would suggest the iPhone 12 boxes would probably just have the phone and a Lightning cable.
• iPad Air release could be quite soon: Apple officially launched an update to the iPad Air at its hardware event a few weeks ago, but it didn’t commit to an actual release date. Now, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, retailers are receiving iPad Air marketing material, which suggests a launch could happen very soon.
• Rokus will finally get AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support: Early this week, Roku revealed that some of its streamers and partner televisions would see HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support before the end of 2020. This would allow iPhones, iPads, and Macs to send videos, music, and other media straight to Roku devices. This is similar to Google Cast, but specifically for Apple products. Roku fans will be happy about this as it will allow the streamers to better compete with Apple TV boxes.
• Apple’s next big earnings call date revealed: Apple’s next quarterly earnings call will take place on Thursday, October 29, as officially confirmed by Apple. This call will be a lot different from previous years since the iPhones will either have just launched or possibly even not hit stores yet. Usually, by the end of October, iPhones have been on shelves for a few weeks.
• Once again, App Store revenue owns Play Store revenue: Every quarter and every year we are reminded again and again that the Apple App Store earns more money than the Google Play Store, even though the Play Store is much. much bigger. Once again, the numbers are in and the App Store reportedly earned twice as much revenue as the Play Store in Q3 2020. Yawn.
• First film from “Endgame” directors coming to Apple TV Plus: Late last week, Apple paid over $40 million for a film called “Cherry,” directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. This will be the first full-length feature film from the directing duo since they helmed “Avengers: Endgame.” The film is a crime drama based on a novel by Nico Walker.

Thinking about making the switch?

If you are reading this Apple news article on an iOS device and thinking about making the switch to Android, we have multiple articles and guides that can help you with that process. Despite how it might seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.

The best place to start would be our guide on how to switch from iPhone to Android, which goes over all the basics. We also have more specific guides, such as how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples, such as our list of best alternatives to FaceTime on Android.

If you’re looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, consult our list of the best Android smartphones available now.