Aaron Perris: The Analyst Who Uncovers Apple’s Secrets in Code

Who is Aaron Perris?

When most people think about Apple leaks, they picture reports from the supply chain in Asia or leaked cases hinting at an upcoming iPhone design. But another, less obvious source of information exists: Apple’s own software.

That’s where Aaron Perris, better known on X as @aaronp613, has made his mark. As a researcher and analyst at MacRumors, he has built a reputation for spotting unreleased products and hidden features months before Apple announces them.

Perris is also part of AppleDB, a community-driven catalog of Apple devices and firmware. On top of that, his work has been acknowledged by Apple itself through the Bug Bounty Program, which rewards researchers for reporting vulnerabilities.

The Origins of an Apple Code Analyst

Context: Every insider has a different story of how it all began. For Aaron, it started with curiosity—digging into places most people ignored.

Aaron, how did you first become interested in exploring Apple’s code, and when did you realize it could define your role within the Apple community?

It all started with r/Jailbreak actually. I was maintaining a spreadsheet that showed what devices were jailbreakable on what iOS versions, but I wanted it to be precise and granular, so we ended up making AppleDB to help with that. I wanted to get a list of model numbers so I started going through Apple’s software updates to find it. I would compare each beta’s update looking for new devices and then it eventually lead to what I do now, which is essentially go through the whole update looking for all sorts of changes. There were a few others doing this at the time already but I figured if I persisted and posted content that people found interesting, I could build up a following.

Researcher, Analyst, Enthusiast

Context: On his personal site, Aaron describes himself with three words: researcher, analyst, enthusiast.

Of those three, which one do you think best represents what you do today?

I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t an enthusiast. I would never want a job if I didn’t love what I was doing. Being paid to participate in your hobby is such an amazing feeling and honestly just fuels me even more. While I don’t write my own stories, I take a lot of pride in when some of my amazing coworkers at MacRumors write an article based on my tips or findings and then that story takes off and gets covered by other publications. One thing that never fails to amuse me is when someone comments on a post of mine saying “how did you even find this??” I often search through some of the most niche places and while most of the time it yields no results, you can strike gold once in a while.

MacRumors, AppleDB, and Recognition from Apple

Context: Perris’s work goes far beyond MacRumors. He has contributed to AppleDB and has been officially recognized by Apple for reporting security issues.

What do these projects and acknowledgments mean to you in your career?

The work I do at AppleDB is all voluntary, no pay at all, just doing it for the love of the game. But it’s rewarding work. I know myself and everyone on the AppleDB enjoys documenting Apple’s past, current, and future devices because we know that someone out there will find this information helpful in the future. Just last week I had someone DM me on X thanking me for AppleDB as it helped him with his research and there’s quite a few companies using our free API to provide a better experience for their users. As for the bug bounty program, I feel like at this point, Apple has a love-hate relationship with me. I’m sure they are not pleased when I leak their upcoming products but I’m also sure they appreciate it when I submit a security report to them. At the time of writing this, I have 1 CVE, 3 acknowledgements, and 2 more under review. I am always exciting when I find something to report, I jokingly say it’s like my way of saying “sorry for leaking your products, don’t be mad, please invite me to more iPhone launches.”

Recent Discoveries: Apple Watch, AirPods, and the HomeAccessory

Context: Over the past year, Perris has uncovered references to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, spotted hints of the AirPods Pro 3, and revealed the mysterious “HomeAccessory17,1” powered by the A18 chip.

Of these discoveries, which one would you say has been the most significant for you this year?

While it wasn’t this year, one of my favorite leaks was the M4 Mac mini. I found a string that said “Apple silicon Mac mini (5 Port).” Oftentimes, I will find vague references to upcoming products or codenames but to find something just straight up saying the new product is rare. Other times, anything “major” I may find is just confirmation to what might have already been revealed by Mark Gurman. While he gets his information from sources inside Apple, it’s always nice to have code confirmation as that is indisputable.

Ahead of Apple’s September Event

Context: September is always a key month for Apple. While no official date has been confirmed yet, expectations are high for the iPhone 17 lineup and more.

Beyond the iPhone, what do you expect to see at Apple’s September keynote?

I expect: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple Watch S11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3

I personally will be buying the iPhone 17 Pro, AirPods Pro 3, and maybe the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Looking to the Future of Apple

Context: Apple’s next big challenge isn’t only about the next device—it’s about the direction of the company itself.

Looking forward, which trend do you think will shape Apple the most over the coming years—hardware, software, or artificial intelligence?

I might be in the small minority here but I think Apple has a lot up their sleeve when it comes to Apple Intelligence. Once the new v2 architecture is out, it’s going to be a whole new ballgame for our devices. I think we have only scratched the surface for what Apple has in store for us. If you look at hardware, sure it’s amazing but most of the time each year’s updates feel like slight bumps from the previous year. That being said though, I think software is where it’s at.

With iOS 26, we get a brand new redesign called Liquid Glass and I am loving it. It feels like iOS 7 all over again in every best way possible. Apple is rare to be the first to introduce a new feature but Apple doesn’t need to be first, they need to be the best and I think they usually are. The attention to detail that goes into these software updates is unmatched by all their competitors. The animations are buttery smooth and the way that all my devices seamlessly work together is simply too good to overlook. So that is why I think software is what will define Apple in the years to come.

Conclusion

Aaron Perris shows that not all Apple leaks come from the usual suspects in the supply chain. Sometimes, the biggest clues are hidden in plain sight, buried inside Apple’s own code.

His recent discoveries not only hint at what’s coming next—like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the possible AirPods Pro 3—but also highlight his growing role as one of the most trusted figures in the Apple community.

At AppleX4, one thing is clear: Apple’s future isn’t only being designed in Cupertino—it’s already there in the code, waiting for someone like Perris to uncover it.