MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:58:31 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com Everything New in the iOS 27.3 Beta https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-3-beta-features/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/everything-new-in-the-ios-27-3-beta.2493607/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:52:02 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-3-beta-features?post_date=1793764310/ Juli Clover Featured iOS 27 iOS 27 since it launched in September. iOS 27.3 includes some features Apple showed off earlier this year, and it adds all-new capabilities.

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Safari


Safari has a Vertical Tabs layout option that can be activated in Safari settings, along with an Adaptive Dark Mode for websites that don't have a dark mode design option.


Siri AI


Siri AI can do more in and across apps, with Apple adding a long list of new actions.


In Mail, ‌Siri‌ can unsubscribe you from mailing lists and undo recently sent messages. In Weather, ‌Siri‌ can add locations to your weather list, or control weather notifications. In Safari, ‌Siri‌ can clear browsing history, manage tabs and windows, save articles to a Reading List, and close duplicate tabs. In Files, ‌Siri‌ can organize content, delete files you haven't accessed for a set period of time, and more.

There are new ‌Siri‌ actions across Calendar, Files, Journal, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Notes, Photos, Preview, Reminders, Safari, Shortcuts, and Weather. You can find out what's new by asking ‌Siri‌ what it can do in each app.

Apple is also expanding ‌Siri‌ AI to Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, and Norwegian, and adding a Developer Preview that lets any developer integrate their app with ‌Siri‌ AI.

Any app can now bring its content and actions directly into ‌Siri‌ AI using App Intents. ‌Siri‌ AI can complete any custom actions developers implement, and there are skills available for teaching ‌Siri‌ AI to combine several actions into a single experience.

New Health App


The redesigned Health app is back in iOS 27.3. It has new Insights and Longevity tabs that show more information about your health and fitness metrics.


The Insights tab includes your most recent health data, like Activity Rings, heart rate, sleep score, and vitals. Apple Intelligence will use that information to offer Personal Guidance. The Health app will be able to make suggestions based on your goals and what kinds of activities you do.

The Health app's Longevity tab looks at health data over time. It assesses you across seven categories: heart health, sleep, mental wellbeing, movement health, metabolic health, hearing, and nutrition. It also has a Health Age feature that uses info like resting heart rate, VO2 max, HRV, sleep, and biomarkers from blood work to calculate how your health metrics compare to your actual age. Health Age relies on health data collected from the Apple Watch, plus it incorporates fitness assessments you can take at home with tracking via the iPhone's camera.

iPhone Duo Reachability


Reachability is now available on the iPhone Duo. You can swipe left from the left edge or right from the right edge of the device's outer display to bring content closer to where your thumb is for one-handed use.



Reachability can be turned on in the Settings app by going to Accessibility, selecting Touch, and toggling on the option.

iPhone Duo Keyboard


The keyboard on the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s front display has been tweaked. The emoji and number keys have been swapped, as have the microphone and return keys.


Keys are slightly taller and thinner, the space bar is wider, and the letters on each key are smaller and not as bold.

StandBy


Apple is making the StandBy features introduced with the ‌iPhone Duo‌ available on all iPhone models that can run ‌iOS 27‌. There are updated versions of the Analog and Digital Clock faces with more customization options for color and complications, an updated ‌Photos‌ face, new Calendar and Weather faces, and the option to create multiple versions of each face type and swipe between them.

Live Rewind and Siri Recap


Live Rewind and Siri Recap are available in watchOS 27.3, but iOS 27.3 is also required. The features can be enabled in the Watch app on the iPhone.


Apple Intelligence for China


‌Apple Intelligence‌ is now live in China. It includes initial ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features like Live Translation, Writing Tools, Visual Intelligence, email and notification summaries, ‌Photos‌ Clean Up, and Genmoji.



‌Siri‌ AI is not available, nor are the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features added in ‌iOS 27‌.

China Earthquake Alerts


iOS 27.3 appears to add support for safety alerts. Apple has been working with the China Earthquake Networks Center to add early warning earthquake alerts for users in China.

Selfie Sing


Apple Music has a new "Selfie Sing" option that lets users capture a video of themselves singing karaoke. The feature can be found by searching for the ‌Apple Music‌ Sing playlist in ‌Apple Music‌, selecting a song, and then tapping on the camera icon to start a recording.



Karaoke videos can be adjusted wit voice modification options and shared with friends or on social media.

Freeform


In the Freeform app, there are new tools for generating custom shapes and adding images. Apple says users can create custom, editable shapes with text descriptions. It's a feature limited to Apple Creator Studio subscribers.

There are also new styles for formatting text, and an option to choose a color for the background of a board.

Control Center


The VPN toggle in Control Center now lets you quickly switch between VPNs. Before now, the toggle just turned the last used VPN on or off.

App Library


The "Cancel" button in the App Library search interface is now an X button.

Apple Fitness+


iOS 27.3 includes a new Gym Strength workout in Apple Fitness+. Gym Strength is a custom fitness option that generates a four-week plan based on a user's goals, experience, schedule, and equipment.



Safari Settings


In the Advanced section of Safari settings, there's an option to "Use Global Privacy Control."



Weather


The tiny slider that lets you swap between Condition views in the Weather app now uses Liquid Glass. Apple has also updated how next-hour precipitation looks.


Australia


RCS support is available for Australian carrier Telstra in iOS 27.3.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> Apple Music's New Selfie Sing Feature Lets You Record Karaoke Videos https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-music-selfie-sing/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-musics-new-selfie-sing-feature-lets-you-record-karaoke-videos.2493604/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:05:45 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-music-selfie-sing/ Juli Clover Apple Music Apple Music that lets users record themselves while singing a song.


There's a dedicated Selfie Sing playlist and a selfie camera view that shows lyrics on the screen while also recording a video. Apple has a description of the feature:
There are some songs everyone knows by heart, the ones that come on and suddenly the whole room's singing along. This playlist is loaded with them, each one ready to become your next Selfie Sing. Pick your favorite, record a Selfie Sing, add mic effects to your voice, then save or share your video selfie with anyone you like. No pitch-perfect anything required–just you, the song, and the moment. Oh, and make sure you've updated to the latest iOS before getting started.

After selecting a song, you can tap on the camera icon to start a Selfie Sing. Tapping the red button begins a recording, and the lyrics start to scroll by. When a song is finished, there are options to change the volume of your voice or add an effect. Options include Megaphone, Echo, Concert Hall, and Studio. Videos can then be saved to the Photos library or shared.



Songs on the Selfie Sing playlist include "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper, "Like a Virgin" by Madonna, "Wonderwall" by Oasis, "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran, and "Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears.

There isn't an option to take a Selfie Sing recording on every ‌Apple Music‌ song, but that could be something coming in the future. Selfie Sing appears to be an extension of the ‌Apple Music‌ Sing karaoke feature that came out in iOS 16.2.

The Selfie Sing playlist shows up on iPhones running iOS 27.2, but the option to activate the front-facing camera is only available on devices running the iOS 27.3 beta.
Tag: Apple Music

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]]> iPhone Jailbreak Gets Past Lockdown Mode and Survives an Update https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/iphone-jailbreak-lockdown-mode/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-jailbreak-gets-past-lockdown-mode-and-survives-an-update.2493595/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 22:20:33 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/iphone-jailbreak-lockdown-mode/ Juli Clover Apple Rumors Mac iOS iPhone iPad jailbreaking an iPhone Duo on launch day, hacker team Calif is back with another jailbreak demonstration. This time, the group has jailbroken an iPhone in Lockdown Mode, and the jailbreak appears to persist across an iOS update.


Calif shared a video of a jailbroken iPhone 18 Pro with Lockdown Mode on. From there, iOS 27.2 is installed, and the jailbreak remains in place after the update. It isn't clear whether the jailbreak could be installed on a device already running iOS 27.2.

Apple describes Lockdown Mode as "extreme protection" for individuals who might be targeted by sophisticated mercenary spyware. Lockdown Mode disables a long list of features, blocking most message attachment types, limiting web technologies, blocking FaceTime calls from unfamiliar callers, disabling invites for Apple services, and removing location information from photos.



The video shows a malicious PDF sent to the target iPhone using AirDrop to initiate the jailbreak, with the file accepted by the user. Calif hasn't shared additional information, and the exact jailbreak steps are unknown.

Earlier this year, Apple told TechCrunch that it was not aware of any successful mercenary spyware attacks against an iPhone in Lockdown Mode.

Calif previously said it was disclosing vulnerabilities to Apple and did not plan to release a jailbreak tool for end users.
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]]> iPadOS 27.3 Expands Siri Mode to Camera App https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ipados-27-3-siri-mode-in-camera-app/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipados-27-3-expands-siri-mode-to-camera-app.2493588/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 21:07:21 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ipados-27-3-siri-mode-in-camera-app/ Joe Rossignol iOS 27 Apple Intelligence Siri Visual Intelligence on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer for convenient access to Visual Intelligence. Starting with iPadOS 27.3, which is in beta starting today, that feature has expanded to iPad Pro and iPad Air models with the M1 chip and newer, as well as the iPad mini models with the A17 Pro and A20 Pro chips.


When you switch to Siri mode in the Camera app on supported iPhone or iPad models, you can get information about things around you. On the iPad, the feature works with the Apple Pencil, meaning you can take a photo and then circle an object with the Apple Pencil and use Visual Intelligence to receive information about the object.

Visual Intelligence was already available on the iPad, so the addition of a Siri tab in the Camera app mainly provides a new way of accessing it.

iPadOS 27.3 is expected to be released in December.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Tags: Apple Intelligence, Siri, Visual Intelligence
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> iOS 27.3 Adding New StandBy Mode Features to iPhone 11 and Newer https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-new-standby-features-on-more-iphones/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-27-3-adding-new-standby-mode-features-to-iphone-11-and-newer.2493579/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 20:32:45 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-new-standby-features-on-more-iphones/ Joe Rossignol iOS 27 StandBy Mode StandBy features first introduced on the iPhone Duo to all iPhone models compatible with the update, according to Apple.


StandBy mode makes it easier to view information at a glance while your iPhone is placed on a charger and in a landscape position. It effectively turns an iPhone into a bedside clock with some extra details. On the iPhone Duo, StandBy also works when the device is folded like a book or a tent, even when it is not charging.

The new StandBy features coming to the iPhone 11 and newer:
  • Updated versions of the Analog and Digital Clock faces with more options to customize the color and complications on them

  • An updated Photos face that lets users pick Shared Albums

  • New faces, including Calendar and Weather

  • The ability to create multiple versions of each type of face and swipe between them
iOS 27.3 also introduces vertical tabs in Safari, reintroduces Apple's redesigned Health app, enables some Apple Intelligence features in China, and more.



The first iOS 27.3 developer beta was released earlier today, and Apple said the update will be released to the public in December.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Tag: StandBy Mode
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> Veterans Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launches November 11 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-watch-veterans-day-challenge-2026/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/veterans-day-apple-watch-activity-challenge-launches-november-11.2493586/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 20:18:29 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-watch-veterans-day-challenge-2026/ Juli Clover Apple Watch Activity Challenge

Apple Watch owners who complete the challenge will win an Apple Watch activity award in the Fitness app.
Earn this award on November 11 by doing any workout for 11 minutes or more. Record your time with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.

Like all of Apple's Activity Challenges, the Veterans Day challenge will reward users with animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app.








Apple does a Veterans Day Activity Challenge each year, and also often offers Veterans Day-themed content in the App Store, Apple TV app, Books app, and more.
Related Roundup: Apple Watch 12
Tag: Activity Challenge
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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]]> iOS 27.3 Adds Vertical Tabs and Adaptive Dark Mode to Safari https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-safari/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-27-3-adds-vertical-tabs-and-adaptive-dark-mode-to-safari.2493572/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:47:50 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-safari/ Juli Clover Featured iOS 27 Dark Mode macOS Golden Gate 27.3, Apple is making major updates to Safari. The browser is getting a Vertical Tabs layout, which can be used instead of the standard horizontal tab bar. It's a change that pairs well with the iPhone Duo's larger display, but it is available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.


Vertical Tabs are located on the left side of the display and use icons by default to save space, but there is an option to make the tab bar wider to show website titles as well. Vertical Tabs work with both Topics and Tab Groups to keep things organized. Topics are created when automatic Apple Intelligence tab sorting is turned on in iOS 27. Pinning tabs by dragging, quickly swapping between Tab Groups, and other features also continue to work.

The option to turn on Vertical Tabs is located in the Safari settings or in the View menu on Mac and ‌iPad‌.

Apple is adding Adaptive Dark Mode for websites that don't have a dark mode design option by default. If you use ‌Dark Mode‌ and then browse to a website with a bright background color, Safari will offer an option to "Try" Adaptive ‌Dark Mode‌.

After tapping Try, Safari renders a ‌Dark Mode‌ version of the page that makes the background darker, changes text contrast, inverts logos and graphics, recolors vector artwork, lifts raised surfaces, and rebalances layered shadows. Each website will be adapted based on what's needed to make it readable, so not every tweak is applied to every site. You can opt to turn Adaptive ‌Dark Mode‌ on for all sites or on a site-by-site basis after using it.

If a site has a native dark mode or has a dark design already, Adaptive ‌Dark Mode‌ won't activate. Developers can also add a tag that causes Safari to ignore Adaptive ‌Dark Mode‌ and show the website as the developer intended.

Along with these visual changes, Apple is adding new Siri AI actions. ‌Siri‌ can take action on tabs and windows, sorting, moving, closing, and arranging in Tab Groups. ‌Siri‌ also has control over web history, and you can ask it to clear your history for a particular site and for a set time period, such as the last 10 days.

‌Siri‌ can already see what's on your screen, but soon, ‌Siri‌ will also be able to understand the full content of webpages, including non-active tabs and content not in view. You will be able to ask questions about information across websites, so if you have multiple tabs open when shopping for an item, ‌Siri‌ will be able to sort them by price or give you information on the product that you're looking at. Apple says the ‌Siri‌ awareness feature is coming, but it's not in the first beta.

The changes to Safari are available for developers starting today in the latest betas. An Apple Intelligence-capable device is required for the ‌Siri‌ features.

iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.3 will launch this December after several rounds of beta testing to refine the new features.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Tag: Dark Mode
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals: Save Hundreds on MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/best-early-black-friday-mac-2026/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/best-early-black-friday-mac-deals-save-hundreds-on-macbook-air-mac-mini-and-more.2493547/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:40:00 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/best-early-black-friday-mac-2026/ Mitchel Broussard Black Friday Deals Featured closer to Black Friday, which lands on Friday, November 27 this year. In the lead-up to the shopping holiday, we're tracking a few lowest-ever prices on Apple's most popular Macs, including the M5 MacBook Air, MacBook Neo, and the new Mac mini and Mac Studio.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

If you're looking for something other than Macs, be sure to visit our Black Friday Roundup for all of the best deals and discounts happening this season. For more Apple-specific devices currently on sale, our main post on the best current Apple Black Friday deals is the best place to look.

MacBook Air




Amazon is taking $199 off nearly every model of the M5 MacBook Air this week, with matches of the best post-hike prices we've ever seen on the computer. Prices now start at $1,099.99 for the 512GB 13-inch model and $1,299.99 for the 512GB 15-inch model.

$200 OFF
13-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB) for $1,099.00

$199 OFF
13-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/1TB) for $1,399.99

$199 OFF
13-inch M5 MacBook Air (24GB/1TB) for $1,599.99


For the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air models, prices start with the 16GB/512GB model for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. You can also get the 16GB/1TB model for $1,599.00, down from $1,799.00, all $199 off and the best prices we've seen in months.

$199 OFF
15-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB) for $1,299.99

$199 OFF
15-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/1TB) for $1,599.99


Mac Mini




Apple's new Mac mini has had one of the most consistent discounts over the past few weeks, and these $120-$150 markdowns have continued into Black Friday season. Prices start at $779.00 for the entry-level model, and currently include every M6 model, plus the M5 Pro model.

$120 OFF
M6 Mac mini 16GB/256GB for $779.00

$150 OFF
M6 Mac mini 16GB/512GB for $949.00

$150 OFF
M6 Mac mini 24GB/512GB for $1,149.00

$149 OFF
M5 Pro Mac mini 24GB/512GB for $1,549.99


Mac Studio




Additionally, one of the best early Black Friday deals is on the M5 Max Mac Studio with 36GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00.

$200 OFF
M5 Max Mac Studio 36GB/512GB for $2,299.00


MacBook Neo




Amazon has introduced a rare discount on the MacBook Neo, discounting three of the entry-level 256GB models down to $669.22, from $699.00. This sale is available in Silver, Citrus, and Blush, with an estimated delivery date of November 6 for most models.

$30 OFF
MacBook Neo for $669.22


This is nearly a $30 discount on the MacBook Neo, and it's now the best price we've seen on the computer since Apple's price increases over the summer. As of writing, we're only tracking discounts on the 256GB model, but if markdowns arrive for the 512GB model with Touch ID we'll update this article.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.



Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find during the holidays? You can sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundups: Apple Black Friday, Apple Deals
Related Forum: Community Discussion

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]]> Apple Fitness+ Gets Gym Strength Plans in iOS 27.3 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-fitness-plus-gym-strength/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-fitness-gets-gym-strength-plans-in-ios-27-3.2493580/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:35:33 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-fitness-plus-gym-strength/ Juli Clover iOS 27 Apple Fitness Plus

People of all experience levels can use the feature, selecting workout days, areas of the body to focus on, and session length. Workouts have recommendations for exercises, reps, sets, and load, plus short video demonstrations from Apple Fitness+ trainers.

Workouts each week are adapted based on progress from the prior week. Gym Strength is available on iPhone and iPad, and Apple Watch wearers will be able to see and log exercises, reps, and load, plus track workout metrics.

Gym Strength is currently available in the iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and watchOS 27.3 updates for Apple Fitness+ subscribers.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Tag: Apple Fitness Plus
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/airpods-beta-firmware-9b5045a/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-new-airpods-beta-firmware.2493578/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:29:37 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/airpods-beta-firmware-9b5045a/ Juli Clover AirPods AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware has a build number of 9B5045a and is rolling out for developers and public beta testers.


There's no word on what's included in the firmware update because Apple doesn't offer notes for AirPods beta releases.

When the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 or later, there is a beta firmware option that can be accessed in the AirPods settings interface. Toggling on beta updates allows users to install the beta firmware.

Firmware updates can then be downloaded by connecting the AirPods to an Apple device and connecting them to power. It can take a few hours for new firmware to be installed because there is no software update option like there is for other Apple devices.
Related Roundup: AirPods 5
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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]]> iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Apple Intelligence to China https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-apple-intelligence-china-2/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-27-3-beta-brings-apple-intelligence-to-china.2493576/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:25:00 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-apple-intelligence-china-2/ Juli Clover iOS 27 Apple Intelligence China Apple Intelligence features are now available in China, with Apple testing the functionality in the iOS 27.3 beta. Developers in China can turn on ‌Apple Intelligence‌ after updating to the new software.


‌Apple Intelligence‌ first launched in the United States with iOS 18.1, but Apple was not able to bring it to China until it partnered with Alibaba and won approval from Chinese regulators.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ features like Siri, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence integrate Alibaba's Qwen model. Here's what's live:

  • Live Translation for Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app. Live Translation also works with AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2, and later models.

  • Writing Tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text. With Qwen integration, users can also generate text.

  • ‌Visual Intelligence‌ for identifying objects, places, and more.

  • Clean Up in Photos for removing unwanted objects from images.

  • Genmoji for creating custom emoji.

  • Natural language search and memory movie creation in ‌Photos‌.

  • Email summaries, suggested smart replies, and priority emails in the Mail app.

  • Notification summaries, urgent notifications, and the Reduce Interruptions Focus mode.

  • Summaries for audio recordings in the Notes app.

  • Call transcripts in the Phone app, which are saved to the Notes app.

  • Type to ‌Siri‌ and more natural ‌Siri‌ responses.

  • ‌Siri‌ can relay requests to Qwen to give more in-depth answers.


‌Apple Intelligence‌ in China does not include ‌Siri‌ AI, the ‌Siri‌ app, or the newer ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in iOS 27.

Apple will likely release a public beta soon, allowing users in China with a compatible device to try the new features. We're expecting iOS 27.3 to launch in December.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Tags: Apple Intelligence, China
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> watchOS 27.3 Brings Live Rewind and Siri Recap to Apple Watch https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/watchos-27-3-audio-intelligence/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/watchos-27-3-brings-live-rewind-and-siri-recap-to-apple-watch.2493571/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:22:24 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/watchos-27-3-audio-intelligence/ Juli Clover Apple Watch Apple Watch Ultra Featured watchOS Siri Siri Recap, Sound Recognition, and Shazam Music Recognition.


Sound Recognition and Shazam are already on the watch, but Live Rewind and ‌Siri‌ Recap are now available in the beta. Live Rewind can show you a transcript of the last 15 seconds of a conversation. If you miss something like a waiter giving you the daily specials at a restaurant, you can press twice on the Digital Crown to see what was said without having to ask the person to repeat themselves.

Unlike Live Rewind, ‌Siri‌ Recap works in the background. The Apple Watch listens to conversations throughout the day and generates a high-level summary that includes a title and key points. Apple says you can use ‌Siri‌ Recap to jog your memory later, allowing you to stay present in the moment. If ‌Siri‌ Recap is turned on, summaries are created automatically and auto-deleted after seven days unless they're saved. It does not include a full transcript of conversations.

Audio Intelligence features are all opt-in. Apple says Live Rewind only activates when the Digital Crown is pressed. Transcription doesn't continue beyond the 15-second snippet, and text is not saved unless you ask ‌Siri‌ about it or save it to the ‌Siri‌ app.

‌Siri‌ Recap can be scheduled to run based on time, location, or both. You can set it to listen just while you're at work, or add a rule to keep it from activating at night. It can also be turned on and off manually through Control Center, and ‌Siri‌ Recap summaries can be viewed and deleted in the ‌Siri‌ app.

Apple has a long privacy explainer for Audio Intelligence. Audio recordings aren't created or stored, and no audio can be accessed by apps, the operating system, or Apple. Raw audio is never available because it goes into the Secure Exclave on the S11 chip. Apple describes the Secure Exclave as a hardware-isolated compartment that processes sensor data separately from the rest of the system.

No Audio Intelligence features identify or attribute speakers, so text won't say "Eric said..." or label speakers as "Speaker A" and "Speaker B." ‌Siri‌ Recaps filter potentially harmful content and sensitive information.

When using Live Rewind, there is an audible chime that plays from the Apple Watch speaker, even if it's in silent mode. A full-display animation plays on the watch when Live Rewind is used, and a microphone indicator alerts those nearby that it's been turned on.

Live Rewind and Sound Recognition are processed on-device unless a Live Rewind snippet is sent to ‌Siri‌ for a request or saved. ‌Siri‌ Recap summaries are created through Private Cloud Compute.

Along with an Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4, ‌Siri‌ Recap and Live Rewind require an iPhone 16 or later with Apple Intelligence and ‌Siri‌ AI. The new features are in English only to begin with, and they're not available to users under 13. Parental approval is required for Child Accounts under 18.

We're expecting watchOS 27.3 to launch in December alongside iOS 27.3.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, watchOS 26, watchOS 27
Tag: Siri
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now), Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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]]> iPhone Duo Gets Reachability in iOS 27.3 Beta https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/iphone-duo-reachability-ios-27-3/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-duo-gets-reachability-in-ios-27-3-beta.2493575/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:19:02 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/iphone-duo-reachability-ios-27-3/ Juli Clover Featured iOS 27 iPhone Duo iPhone Duo. Reachability lets ‌iPhone Duo‌ users shift the content on the left or right side of the outer screen to make it easier to reach with a thumb.


Reachability can be turned on or off by going to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Reachability. It is on by default after updating to the new software.

When the ‌iPhone Duo‌ is closed, a short swipe left on the left edge or a short swipe right on the right edge will shift the outer display's content left or right.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27, iPhone Duo
Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Buy Now)
Related Forums: iOS 27, iPhone

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]]> Siri AI Gets More Capable in iOS 27.3 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-siri-ai/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/siri-ai-gets-more-capable-in-ios-27-3.2493574/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:06:26 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-siri-ai/ Juli Clover Featured iOS 27 Siri Siri AI can do in and across apps in iOS 27.3, which is available to developers as of today.


‌Siri‌ can complete more complex tasks across Calendar, Files, Finder, Journal, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Notes, Photos, Preview, Reminders, Safari, Shortcuts, and Weather. You can ask ‌Siri‌ AI what you can do with each app to get more information on what's possible.

In Mail, for example, ‌Siri‌ can unsubscribe you from mailing lists and undo recently sent messages. In Weather, ‌Siri‌ can add locations to your weather list, or control weather notifications. In Safari, ‌Siri‌ can clear browsing history, manage tabs and windows, save articles to a Reading List, and close duplicate tabs. In Files, ‌Siri‌ can organize content, delete files you haven't accessed for a set period of time, and more.

Apple is also expanding ‌Siri‌ AI to Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, and Norwegian, and adding a Developer Preview that lets any developer integrate their app with ‌Siri‌ AI.

Apple says any app can bring its content and actions directly into ‌Siri‌ AI using App Intents. ‌Siri‌ AI can complete any custom actions developers implement, and there are now skills available for teaching ‌Siri‌ AI to combine several actions into a single experience.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Tag: Siri
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Back Apple's Redesigned Health App https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-health-app/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-27-3-beta-brings-back-apples-redesigned-health-app.2493570/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:03:23 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ios-27-3-health-app/ Juli Clover Featured iOS 27 reintroduces the redesigned Health app previewed in September. Apple tested the new Health app in the iOS 27.2 beta, but it was removed before the update launched.


The Health app has been updated, and there are new Insights and Longevity tabs that show more information about your health and fitness metrics.

The Insights tab includes your most recent health data, like Activity Rings, heart rate, sleep score, and vitals. Apple Intelligence will use that information to offer Personal Guidance. The Health app will be able to make suggestions based on your goals and what kinds of activities you do.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 wearers will see their readiness score in the Insights tab as well as on the watch. The readiness score is meant to help you decide whether to push yourself harder, take a recovery day, or work out as usual.


A redesigned Vitals section has overnight and daytime views, and HRV has been added as a metric. There are readings for both overall HRV and recovery HRV.

The Health app's Longevity tab looks at health data over time. It assesses you across seven categories: heart health, sleep, mental wellbeing, movement health, metabolic health, hearing, and nutrition. It also has a Health Age feature that uses info like resting heart rate, VO2 max, HRV, sleep, and biomarkers from blood work to calculate how your health metrics compare to your actual age. Health Age relies on health data collected from the Apple Watch, plus it incorporates fitness assessments you can take at home with tracking via the iPhone's camera.

Apple will offer a $119 laboratory panel from Quest Diagnostics, and that information will contribute to Health Age. You can also upload recent lab results or sync medical records.

The Health app will expand language support to global English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

Apple said the new Health app would come in late 2026, which lines up with the expected December release of iOS 27.3. The redesigned app requires an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> iPad Mini 8 Reviewer Dissatisfied With Apple's Excuse for Lack of 120Hz Display https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ipad-mini-8-review-highlights-lack-of-120hz/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-mini-8-reviewer-dissatisfied-with-apples-excuse-for-lack-of-120hz-display.2493562/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:42:36 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ipad-mini-8-review-highlights-lack-of-120hz/ Joe Rossignol iPad mini significantly faster pixel response times compared to LCDs, resulting in reduced motion blur, but The Verge's David Pierce is not entirely satisfied.


From his iPad mini 8 review:
Apple's answer, to Chris Lawley and others, has been something to the effect of "120Hz is irrelevant, OLED's faster pixel response solves the problems." I don't agree. I don't think the lack of ProMotion is an immediate and total dealbreaker, but refresh rates matter! To games and high-touch creative apps, of course, but you notice the difference even with basic swiping and zooming. The Apple Pencil feels more juddery moving across my screen. On a 120Hz screen, I can scroll a browser page and still clearly read the text as it's moving. With 60Hz, it gets blurry. In all these cases, even if you don't explicitly see the difference, you really do feel it.
Of course, an OLED display is still a big upgrade overall.

OLED technology allows for higher contrast and more vivid colors, as there is no backlight and individual pixels turn off completely to display true black. Apple also says the new iPad mini can achieve a maximum brightness of 600 nits for standard content, up from 500 nits for the previous model, and up to 1,200 nits for HDR content.

Apple's tech specs indicate the new iPad mini has a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

The new iPad mini is available to pre-order now, with U.S. pricing starting at $699 for a model with 128GB of storage. The device launches Friday.
Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

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]]> iPad Mini 8 Review Claims Battery Life is Way Better Than Apple Says https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ipad-mini-8-review-finds-longer-battery-life/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-mini-8-review-claims-battery-life-is-way-better-than-apple-says.2493559/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:30:05 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/ipad-mini-8-review-finds-longer-battery-life/ Joe Rossignol iPad mini Tom's Guide ran the new iPad mini through its standard battery test, which involves continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi with the display set to 150 nits of brightness, and the device achieved much better battery life than Apple advertises.


According to the review, the iPad mini 8 lasted for 14 hours and 24 minutes in this test, up from 10 hours and 36 minutes for the iPad mini 7.

Tom's Guide said it typically performs the battery test three times to get an average time, but it only had time for a single run for this review. However, their review said they suspect the final results will be similar to the first run.

This is an interesting finding, as Apple does not advertise longer battery life for the new iPad mini, with its tech specs showing "up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi" for both the iPad mini 7 and iPad mini 8. The new model does have Apple's more power efficient C2 modem for cellular connectivity, but Tom's Guide's test used Wi-Fi.

We will have to see if further tests support this finding, but longer battery life may be an unadvertised benefit of the new iPad mini. The new model actually has a slightly smaller battery compared to the previous model, but power efficiency gains could come from the A20 Pro chip and the OLED display when showing darker content.

The new iPad mini launches on Friday, with U.S. pricing starting at $699. Earlier today, we shared our own hands-on look at the device.
Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

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]]> Apple Releases First macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Beta https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-releases-first-macos-golden-gate-27-3-beta/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-first-macos-golden-gate-27-3-beta.2493568/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:10:20 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-releases-first-macos-golden-gate-27-3-beta/ Juli Clover Featured macOS Golden Gate macOS Golden Gate update, and developers can now download the first beta of ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.3. The beta comes a week after Apple launched ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2.



Registered developers can download ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.3 by opening up the System Settings app, clicking on General, selecting Software Update, and opting into ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ betas.

Rumors suggest Apple will expand Apple Intelligence to China with its .3 updates, but it's not yet known what else might be included in the new software.
Related Roundup: macOS Golden Gate
Related Forum: macOS Golden Gate

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]]> Apple Seeds First iOS 27.3 Beta https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-seeds-first-ios-27-3-beta/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-seeds-first-ios-27-3-beta.2493564/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:09:10 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-seeds-first-ios-27-3-beta/ Juli Clover Featured iOS 27 iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2 were released.


Registered developers can download the betas by going to Settings > General > Software Update and opting in to the developer beta.

We're still waiting on iOS 27 features Apple previously announced, such as the redesigned Health app that adds Apple Intelligence insights and guidance and reachability on the iPhone Duo. Apple also hasn't reintroduced the feature that lets Safari fix weak or compromised passwords using ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

Apple is planning to expand Apple Intelligence to China with the iOS 27.3 update, and it could also bring RCS support to Australian carrier Telstra.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Related Forum: iOS 27

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]]> Apple Releases First watchOS 27.3, tvOS 27.3 and visionOS 27.3 Betas https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-watchos-27-3-beta-1/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-first-watchos-27-3-tvos-27-3-and-visionos-27-3-betas.2493569/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:07:00 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/03/apple-watchos-27-3-beta-1/ Juli Clover Apple TV Vision Pro watchOS macOS Golden Gate 27.3, Apple has released the first betas of watchOS 27.3, tvOS 27.3, and visionOS 27.3. The betas come a week after the 27.2 software updates were released.


Registered developers can download the betas through the Settings app on each device.

Two new Apple Intelligence features are coming to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 in late 2026, and Apple could add them in watchOS 27.3. Live Rewind will allow users to double-press the Digital Crown to get a transcription of what was said in the last 15 seconds, while Siri Recap will turn conversations users have had during the day into high-level notes.

There's no word on what might be added in visionOS 27.3 and tvOS 27.3.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, watchOS 26, watchOS 27
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now), Vision Pro (Neutral)
Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch

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