MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping

Juli Clover — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:03:14 +0000

Some iPhone 18 Pro owners have noticed an unusual crackling sound coming from the speaker of the device, leading to complaints on the MacRumors forums and Reddit.

Users have called it a crackle, a faint tick or pop, or random clicking. Many say the problem is with the earpiece speaker, and both the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max appear to be affected.

Some people hear the sound consistently, while others hear it during app use, scrolling websites, when receiving notifications, when the keyboard pops up, or when making a call using a cellular connection. On affected units, reports suggest toggling Airplane Mode on and off triggers the sound, as does adjusting screen brightness quickly.

Apple released iOS 27.0.1 yesterday to fix a bug that could cause ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models to restart when Face ID authentication fails. The release notes didn't mention a speaker fix, and early feedback says the update did not help.

There are reports from people who returned their ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models only to get a second iPhone with the same issue. It's not clear what's causing the problem, but if it is a bug, a future software update may address it.

Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro

Buyer's Guide: iPhone 18 Pro (Buy Now)

Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12

Juli Clover — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:44:06 +0000

People who plan to purchase an iPhone Duo can go through the "Get Ready" process starting on Monday, October 12. The new detail was added to the iPhone Duo product page yesterday, according to Reddit.

Get Ready lets users select a preferred color and capacity, confirm their carrier status, choose accessories, choose an AppleCare+ plan, select a trade-in, add a payment method, and set a shipping and billing address.

When pre-orders go live, Get Ready is helpful because it allows for one-tap ordering. It will be especially beneficial for the ‌iPhone Duo‌ because supplies are expected to be limited.

Pre-orders could sell out within minutes given reports of production issues leading to supply constraints, and users who have Get Ready will be able to submit orders faster.

‌iPhone Duo‌ pre-orders will begin on Friday, October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time or 8 a.m. Eastern Time. The device will launch on Friday, October 23. Pricing starts at $1,999.

Related Roundup: iPhone Duo

Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon)

Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today

Joe Rossignol — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:52:35 +0000

Apple Pay is set to launch in India later today (Wednesday local time), starting with Axis Bank credit cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks, according to TechCrunch.

India already has a popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system for digital payments, so the initial rollout of Apple Pay in the country is expected to be limited. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI Bank/SBI Card are not expected to support Apple Pay at launch, the report said.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Tags: India, TechCrunch

This article, "Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware

Juli Clover — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:38:03 +0000

Apple today released new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware has a build number of 9B5042a 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

This article, "Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls

Juli Clover — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:28:50 +0000

Apple today shared a guide meant to help parents use the child safety tools in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. Apple says "Building Healthy Digital Habits: A Guide for Families" was developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The six-step guide covers balancing screen time with sleep, exercise, schoolwork, and time with friends and family. It has advice on getting kids on board with screen time limits and using the different parental control features. From Apple's announcement:

Start a conversation about screen time, with tips for parents to approach the topic and establish expectations in a way that helps kids feel included in the plan.

Create a Child Account, which enables age-based safeguards and gives parents access to parental controls to manage their child's experience.

Set safety settings for websites and apps, including Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse, so families can review new apps and websites together.

Make a schedule for device use, using Time Allowances and Schedules to balance time online with sleep, schoolwork, physical activity, and time with family and friends.

Manage communications, with parents deciding who their child can communicate with and Communication Safety, on by default for all users under 18, helping protect kids from viewing or sharing sensitive content.

Continue the conversation as kids grow, with guidance on adjusting the family's plan over time.

The guide includes the AAP's recommendations on screen time by age group, from infants to teens, along with strategies to help children develop healthy screen time habits.

Apple added new parental control options and an overhauled version of Screen Time in ‌iOS 27‌. Parents can choose which apps children can access, monitor and control website access, keep tabs on approved contacts, and set different screen time schedules based on time of day. Using the new version of Screen Time requires all devices in a Family Sharing group to be running ‌iOS 27‌, ‌iPadOS 27‌, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27.

The guide comes as Apple deals with regulatory pressure over child safety in countries like the UK, U.S., and Australia.

Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27

Related Forum: iOS 27

This article, "Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features

Juli Clover — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:57:56 +0000

Apple today updated Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera for iOS to add new features.

Final Cut Camera, Apple's professional iPhone filming app, now supports the variable aperture feature on the iPhone 18 Pro. Users can tweak aperture and select between aperture priority and shutter priority modes, plus there's support for Cinematic mode effects for video. Apple says the app was also redesigned from the ground up to give creators easy access to pro settings like shutter angle, ISO, and white balance.

There are customizable overlays with false color and clipping indicators for exposure and improved focus peaking with sensitivity control. A tally light activates when recording is happening, and there's a two-finger tap gesture for clearing the viewfinder to focus on the shot. Other new features include support for professional video scopes, clean SDI out, and genlock offset.

Pages, Numbers, and Keynote all have new templates and themes to choose from, along with better tools for collaboration. Keynote supports intelligent slide generation and Numbers has trigonometry, statistics, and logic functions for solving complex problems in a spreadsheet. Pages for Mac has a Screen View that optimizes content for reading and writing.

Pixelmator Pro for iPad has new template collections on Mac and ‌iPad‌ for launching ideas, businesses, or products. There's a Podcasts category with cover artwork options. The ‌iPad‌ app also adopts Select and Mask from the Mac app for precise mask and selection refinements.

Final Cut Pro and Motion on Mac have a new option to add Cinematic mode effects to video captured on the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, so users can adjust focus points and depth of field in the Final Cut Pro timeline. Compressor supports converting video with Cinematic mode effects back into the previous Cinematic mode format, and it has new HEVC and MPEG–4 export presets.

Freeform includes automatic Dark Mode support for boards, folders for better organization, and support for Writing Tools. With Writing Tools, Apple Intelligence is able to rewrite, proofread, and summarize handwritten notes. In visionOS 27, the Vision Pro version of Freeform lets users pull multiple items from a board into their space, with multiple users able to view 3D models together as a group.

All of the updates are available today. Apple Creator Studio is priced at $12.99 per month and it gives access to all of Apple's creative apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro. In free apps like Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, it adds premium features that are not available in the free apps.

Tags: Apple Creator Studio, Final Cut Camera

This article, "Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year

Joe Rossignol — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:33:49 +0000

In a July 2026 letter addressed to U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Apple said its decision to remove ICEBlock and similar apps that crowdsourced the real-time locations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from the App Store was "prompted by concerns" about "agent safety," according to CNN's Clare Duffy.

The report said the app removals were "prompted by concerns — including those raised by the Trump administration — about agent safety following a fatal shooting that left two detainees dead at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement office."

Apple removed ICEBlock from the App Store in October 2025, leading Raskin to launch an investigation into the U.S. Justice Department's apparent role in the removal of the apps from the App Store and Google's Play Store, the report said. Apple's letter responding to Raskin had not previously been reported, according to CNN.

When it removed ICEBlock from the ‌App Store‌, Apple said that the app violated guideline 1.1.1 of its App Review Guidelines:

Information provided to Apple by law enforcement shows that your app violates Guideline 1.1.1 because its purpose is to provide location information about law enforcement officers that can be used to harm such officers individually or as a group. For this reason, your app will be removed from the App Store.

ICEBlock has not returned to the App Store.

Tag: CNN

This article, "Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models

Mitchel Broussard — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:13:30 +0000

The new Apple Watch Ultra 4 just launched this month, and Amazon is offering the first cash discounts on select models. You can get the Apple Watch Ultra 4 for $779.99, down from $799.00.

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.

There are three Ultra 4 models that are on sale at this price, including the Natural model with Sand Trail Loop (M/L), the Black model with Black Ocean Band, and the Black model with Burgundy Trail Loop (M/L). These are the lowest prices we've tracked on the brand new Apple Watch Ultra 4.

$19 OFF

Apple Watch Ultra 4 for $779.99

If you're shopping for the new Apple Watch Series 12, Amazon also has a few markdowns on these devices. You can get the 42mm GPS Series 12 for $389.99 and the 46mm GPS Series 12 for $439.99, both of which are $9 discounts and the best prices we've seen yet.

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 in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac

Tim Hardwick — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:08:53 +0000

In macOS 27 Golden Gate, Siri AI is a lot smarter than before, so it doesn't always flail and attempt to hand your questions over to ChatGPT. However, if you still prefer OpenAI's chatbot for certain queries, you can still ask for it explicitly.

In macOS Tahoe, Siri would suggest passing a request to ChatGPT when it thought the chatbot could help. In macOS 27 though, ChatGPT only answers when you specifically ask it. There's also no setting that makes ChatGPT your default assistant – as things stand, you need to choose it for each query. Here's how it's done.

Turn On the ChatGPT Extension

Open System Settings.

Click Siri in the sidebar.

Click ChatGPT under "Extension."
Turn on Use Extension.

Choose whether to sign in with a ChatGPT account.

If you sign in, your requests are saved to your ChatGPT chat history (OpenAI's privacy policies apply). If you skip sign-in, OpenAI receives nothing tied to your Apple Account and it can't store your requests.

Ask ChatGPT in Search or Ask

Press Command-Space to open the Search or Ask bar (formerly Spotlight Search).

Right-click (or Control-click) the field.

Choose Ask ➝ Use ChatGPT.

Type your question, then press Enter.

When an answer comes back, unless there are follow-up questions, the field will switch back to Siri AI for the next query. So if you want to use ChatGPT again, you'll need to manually choose it next time around.

Another way to query ChatGPT directly is to start your spoken Siri request with "ask ChatGPT." The same phrasing works if you type it into the Search or Ask field.

ChatGPT is the only option for now in Golden Gate. Code in macOS 27 suggests that Claude can appear in the same Ask menu, but Apple has yet to make AI provider selection available.

Tags: ChatGPT, Siri

This article, "Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Says Emergency SOS via Satellite Now Available in Norway

Joe Rossignol — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:57:05 +0000

Emergency SOS via satellite is now available in Norway, according to an Apple support document updated today.

Available on the iPhone 14 and newer and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and newer, Emergency SOS via satellite lets you text emergency services when you are in a supported area without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. In Norway, the feature requires iOS 26.4 and watchOS 26.4 or later. Apple warns that satellite connectivity might not work in places above 62° latitude.

Tags: Emergency SOS via Satellite, iPhone Satellite Features

This article, "Apple Says Emergency SOS via Satellite Now Available in Norway" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

AppleCare Guide: Is it Worth Paying For?

Hartley Charlton — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:29:33 +0000

Most Apple products come with a one-year limited warranty that covers hardware failures and manufacturing defects, and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support. To extend your coverage further, Apple offers AppleCare+ and AppleCare One, with theft and loss coverage available for eligible devices. With the added cost, service fees, and varying prices across the Apple product lineup, is AppleCare worth paying for?

Apple uses several similar names for different types of coverage:

Standard warranty: Included with most Apple products at no extra cost. It generally covers manufacturing defects for one year. It is not an AppleCare plan.

AppleCare: Apple's umbrella name for its paid service and support plans, rather than one specific level of coverage. The older AppleCare Protection Plan is a distinct product that still appears in some markets.

AppleCare+: A paid plan for one eligible product that extends hardware service and support and adds accidental damage coverage. Service fees apply to accidental damage claims.

AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss: Includes AppleCare+ benefits and adds theft and loss protection for eligible iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, subject to claim limits and deductibles.

AppleCare One: A monthly plan for multiple eligible products. Its Individual tier includes AppleCare+ benefits and theft and loss coverage for enrolled iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.

AppleCare One Family: Covers eligible products belonging to the subscriber and up to five other people in a Family Sharing group. It can also cover one person's devices without a Family Sharing group.

In the U.S., customers generally have 60 days after purchasing a new eligible device to add AppleCare+, including an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, or Apple TV. AppleCare One can also cover eligible devices you already own that are in good condition and within four years of their manufacture, purchase, or activation date, depending on the information Apple has. AirPods and Beats devices have a one-year limit.

For many devices, coverage can be added through AppleCare & Warranty settings on an iPhone, ‌iPad‌, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro, or purchased online. Monthly and annual plans renew while active until canceled. Fixed-term plans have a stated end date, after which further coverage may be available if the device qualifies.

AppleCare coverage varies by country and region. Theft and loss protection is now available well beyond the initial markets of the United States and Japan, but eligible devices, prices, service fees, and claim rules differ by market. Before purchasing a plan, check the exact terms for your device where you live.

Standard Warranty

The standard warranty that comes free with your device is simply a limited warranty, which is very common for consumer devices. This warranty guarantees that the product will work as expected for up to a year. If something materially breaks within that timeframe, and it is through no fault of the user, Apple will fix it free of charge. This warranty is also automatically applied no matter where you buy the product.

The warranty does not cover accidental damage, cosmetic wear, or a battery that has worn down through normal use. Apple may ask for proof of purchase when arranging service. To transfer the warranty, you simply need to provide the buyer with your proof of purchase. Some limitations apply and the length of the standard warranty may vary based on your country. The warranty and AppleCare plans are in addition to rights provided by consumer law in your country.

AppleCare+

AppleCare+ provides paid coverage for one eligible product. Its principal benefits are:

Hardware service and priority technical support for the term of the plan.

Unlimited eligible accidental damage incidents, each subject to a service fee.

Battery service at no extra charge for devices with rechargeable batteries when capacity falls below 80%.

Express Replacement Service for eligible products, subject to its terms and availability.

Theft and loss protection on eligible "AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss" plans, subject to claim limits and deductibles.

Drops, spills, and broken screens are common examples of accidental damage. The damage must affect the device's function; ordinary wear and cosmetic damage are generally excluded. Eligible hardware faults arising after the limited warranty expires do not carry an additional repair fee.

If you sell or give away a device, a fixed-term AppleCare+ plan may be transferable through Apple Support. A monthly or annual plan linked to your Apple Account cannot be transferred to a new owner.

AppleCare+ With Theft and Loss

AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss adds replacement coverage if an eligible iPhone, ‌iPad‌, or Apple Watch is lost or stolen. Other products, such as Macs, displays, headphones, ‌Apple TV‌, and HomePod, are only available with AppleCare+.

A single-device Theft and Loss plan allows up to two theft or loss claims every 12 months. Find My must be enabled when the device is lost or stolen and remain enabled throughout the claim. A deductible applies to each approved replacement.

AppleCare One

AppleCare One combines coverage for multiple eligible products under one monthly subscription. In the U.S., Individual costs $19.99 per month for up to three devices, plus $5.99 per month for each additional device. The base price remains $19.99 even if you enroll fewer than three devices.

AppleCare One Family costs $49.99 per month and covers eligible devices for the subscriber and up to five other Family Sharing members without a per-device charge. It can also cover only the subscriber's devices. Eligible devices are generally added automatically, although some need a check before they can be covered.

Both tiers include theft and loss protection for enrolled iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Individual permits three theft or loss claims in total across the plan every 12 months; Family permits six. Adding devices does not give each one a separate claim allowance.

Apple may require a diagnostic test or inspection before an already-owned device can be enrolled. The device must also be associated with the relevant Apple Account. You can add, remove, or swap eligible devices as your needs change.

AppleCare One Individual is available in Australia, France, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. Family is currently available only in the U.S.; prices elsewhere differ.

Plan Prices and Service Fees

Apple offers AppleCare plans for a range of products, but the available plans and prices vary by device and country. AppleCare One Individual is available in Australia, France, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. AppleCare One Family is currently available only in the U.S.

The price of single-device AppleCare+ depends on the product, location, payment term, and coverage offered. There is a one-time purchase option when buying a new device, but Apple also offers AppleCare+ through a monthly recurring payment plan.

AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss for the iPhone 18 Pro costs $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year. That premium is paid whether or not you make a claim. Accidental damage service fees are additional to the plan price. These are Apple's current U.S. fees; taxes may apply:

iPhone: $29 for eligible screen-only or back-glass-only damage; $99 for other accidental damage.

Apple Watch: $69 for accidental damage, or $79 for Ultra and Hermès models.

iPad: $29 for screen damage and $99 for other accidental damage.

AirPods and Beats: $29 for accidental damage.

Apple TV: $15 for accidental damage.

HomePod: $39 for accidental damage, or $15 for HomePod mini.

Apple Vision Pro: $29 for damage to an included accessory, or $299 for other accidental damage.

MacBook Neo: $49 for screen or enclosure damage; $149 for other accidental damage.

Other Macs and Apple displays: $99 for screen or enclosure damage; $299 for other accidental damage.

For theft or loss, the U.S. deductible is $149 for an iPhone, $129 for an ‌iPad‌, or $119 for an Apple Watch. These deductibles apply under eligible single-device and AppleCare One coverage.

For some products, Express Replacement lets Apple send a replacement before you return the damaged device. It involves a temporary card hold. An iPhone or ‌iPad‌ screen-only claim handled this way is charged at the other accidental damage rate, rather than the $29 screen repair rate.

To judge the cost, compare the total premiums over the time you expect to keep the device, plus a possible service fee, with the price of an uncovered repair or replacement. Apple's repair estimator can provide a model-specific iPhone screen repair estimate.

Other Coverage Options

If you are considering AppleCare, it may be worth exploring insurance plans offered by other companies for your device. Many banks, cell phone service providers, and renter's and homeowner's insurance policies cover devices. Some third-party Apple retailers may also offer an extended service plan with your purchase.

Other third-party warranty providers and insurance companies may offer device insurance policies that offer equivalent or better coverage than AppleCare, so it is worth exploring what policies are available for your Apple device in your jurisdiction. Many of these are also available via a monthly subscription and may beat the cost of AppleCare. Coverage for accidents, theft, and loss can vary substantially.

Is AppleCare Worth It?

Whether or not you should purchase AppleCare depends on how you use your Apple device, and how much risk and expense you are willing to take.

If you are prone to dropping or damaging your device, the argument moves towards adding AppleCare+. Similarly, additional loss and theft coverage will be dependent on how likely you believe you are to lose your device or have it stolen. Ultimately, some users are simply more careless with their devices, and for those people, AppleCare+ is worth it. If you have more than one device you want to protect, AppleCare One is worth considering.

In general, the editors at MacRumors feel that AppleCare is worth getting for Apple laptops that you plan on keeping for longer than one year, and iPhone, iPads, AirPods, and Apple Watches due to the accidental damage coverage. For Apple TVs and HomePods, we generally don't see the need, and for desktop Macs and displays it becomes more of a personal judgement call.

Overall, AppleCare significantly reduces the stress and cost of accidental damage repairs or replacement devices, and eliminates the cost of repairing hardware failures, but it is a notable extra expense for coverage that still has some deductibles and limitations on claims. AppleCare is certainly not essential, but it can be worth the additional peace of mind.
This article, "AppleCare Guide: Is it Worth Paying For?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI

Joe Rossignol — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:11:17 +0000

Apple recently considered laying off about 5,000 support employees, but it has put those plans on hold indefinitely, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The report said that Apple believed that AI-powered phone and web agents could take over some of the responsibilities performed by the employees who would have been let go, but Apple is no longer "currently looking to take such a step."

Last month, we reported that customers who call the AppleCare phone number (1-800-APL-CARE) from the U.S. or Canada are now routed to an AI-powered support assistant. While many of Apple's phone systems already had a basic automated operator, the Apple Support phone line is now using a bot powered by generative AI.

The virtual assistant can answer questions and provide step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting issues with your Apple products. It can still transfer you to a human advisor if it cannot answer a specific question, or if you ask to speak to a real person.

It remains to be seen if Apple eventually revisits layoffs and/or reduces hiring for AppleCare roles.

The report said Apple has laid off some other employees in middle management roles in recent weeks, including roughly half a dozen directors.

Tags: Apple Support, AppleCare, Mark Gurman

This article, "Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often

Hartley Charlton — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:55:40 +0000

Apple CEO John Ternus is undertaking efforts to restructure the company to accelerate product development and introduce new products more frequently, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Ternus apparently wants Apple to "broaden its range of devices and create a leaner organization with a greater focus on engineering." One proposal under consideration is to rely less on Apple's traditional spring and fall product release cycles, and introduce new devices more quickly and throughout the year. Ternus has also purportedly indicated that Apple must become "more experimental" to remain competitive in the era of artificial intelligence.

Other plans include eliminating some middle-management positions to reduce corporate hierarchy that separates engineers from senior executives. Ternus believes "Apple should hire fewer people, ask more of its existing engineers, and reduce organizational bloat." During a presentation, he reportedly showed a slide detailing annual headcount growth and argued that the "company should be accomplishing more with fewer employees."

Ternus is also seeking new ways to generate more revenue from existing products amid slowing growth in the company's services business. The launch of new services has also been discussed. To cut costs, early planning meetings for 2027 have seen reductions in planned budget increases, flat staffing levels, and reduced marketing spending.

Gurman cautioned that the changes to Apple's long-standing practices will be challenging and could take years to achieve. There are already indications of changes taking place, with dismissals of directors and engineering program managers taking place in the past two weeks.

Those employees were given just weeks to find other positions within the company, and those who do not will be laid off. Other recent cutbacks have focused on the teams responsible for Siri, Vision Pro, AI-related software engineering, and Fitness+. Some employees believe that further layoffs are possible later this year and early next year.

Managers within Apple told Gurman that there is a sense of pressure to move faster, with more "hectic" and demanding "hands-on" work. Product development groups are "being pushed to deliver more products, more frequently and on shorter timelines."

Tags: Bloomberg, John Ternus, Mark Gurman

This article, "Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon Discounting New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Alongside Early Prime Day Deals on Monitors

Mitchel Broussard — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:42:23 +0000

Amazon has brought back a few discounts on Apple's brand new Mac mini and Mac Studio, with up to $50 off select models. These deals are returning alongside early Prime Big Deal Days discounts on Samsung monitors that make nice pairings with a new Mac.

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

Macs

One of the best deals is on the M5 Max Mac Studio with 36GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, on sale for $2,449.00, down from $2,499.00. Regarding the Mac mini, you can get the 16GB RAM/256GB SSD Mac mini for $879.99, down from $899.00, and the 16GB RAM/512GB SSD model for $1,069.00, down from $1,099.00.

$50 OFF

M5 Max Mac Studio 36GB/512GB for $2,449.00

$19 OFF

M6 Mac mini 16GB/256GB for $879.99

$30 OFF

M6 Mac mini 16GB/512GB for $1,069.00

$30 OFF

M5 Pro Mac mini 24GB/512GB for $1,669.00

Samsung Monitors

Yesterday we started tracking early Prime Big Deal Days discounts on portable power stations, and today Samsung has joined in with big monitor savings on Amazon. You can find up to 42% off select monitors this week, plus deals on storage, tablets, and more on this sale page.

UP TO 42% OFF

Samsung Early Prime Day Deals

27-inch Essential Monitor - $99.99, down from $149.99

27-inch Essential Monitor S4 - $129.99, down from $179.99

32-inch Flat Essential Monitor - $142.49, down from $199.99

27-inch ViewFinity S6 Monitor - $143.99, down from $229.99

32-inch S3 Curved Monitor - $169.99, down from $232.17

32-inch Odyssey Curved Gaming Monitor - $189.99, down from $329.99

34-inch ViewFinity Monitor - $209.99, down from $329.99

34-inch ViewFinity Curved Monitor - $349.99, down from $589.99

32-inch Movingstyle Essential Smart Monitor - $499.99, down from $699.99

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 in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Amazon Discounting New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Alongside Early Prime Day Deals on Monitors" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

New Apple TV 4K Hinted at in Support Document

Joe Rossignol — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:49:32 +0000

Last week, MacRumors uncovered evidence of an Apple TV 4K (4th generation), and now an Apple support document has further hinted at a new model.

Apple on Monday updated a support document related to lossless audio in Apple Music with the following fine print below the Apple TV 4K section:

Hi-Res Lossless is available only on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation or later).

Given the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) is the current model, the "or later" wording is noteworthy, as it could mean that a new model is imminent. However, Apple could simply be future-proofing the document or have made a mistake.

In any case, the support document adds to growing anticipation for a new Apple TV 4K, which is expected to be announced this October.

The next Apple TV is rumored to have an A19 or A19 Pro chip, an increased 8GB to 12GB of RAM, Apple Intelligence and Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and a revised Siri Remote. The image of the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) that we obtained last week did not reveal any design changes compared to the current model.

The current Apple TV is nearly four years old, having been announced in October 2022. It is equipped with an A15 Bionic chip and 4GB of RAM.

In June, the Apple TV received a price increase amid surging memory chip costs. In the U.S., for example, the device now starts at $199, up from $129.

Related Roundup: Apple TV

Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

This article, "New Apple TV 4K Hinted at in Support Document" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone Duo Reportedly Facing Production Problems Ahead of Launch

Hartley Charlton — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:16:04 +0000

The iPhone Duo is reportedly facing production difficulties ahead of its October launch, with early output expected to be limited.

A person said to be close to Foxconn's supply chain told China's Jiemian News that final assembly yields for Apple's first foldable iPhone were only slightly above 60% as of September 17. The source said that, under Apple's current quality standards, it could take another six months to a year for the assembly line to reach a mature yield.

According to the source, Foxconn is repeatedly adjusting equipment, assembly processes, and production settings as it makes the ‌iPhone Duo‌ at scale. The source also said suppliers were waiting to see whether Apple would ease any quality requirements to accelerate production.

The problems apparently extend beyond final assembly. Jiemian News said Samsung Display's foldable OLED panels and hinge components had experienced low yields, delayed deliveries, and design changes. Delays in those parts leave the assembler less time to tune its production line.

The publication added that Apple tested Liquid Metal for some hinge parts before reassessing the approach ahead of mass production. Apple says its hinge contains more than 100 components and has a 3D-printed cover.

A supply chain source also told Jiemian News that Apple's global stocking target for the ‌iPhone Duo‌ in 2026 is approximately six million to eight million units. The publication compared that figure with typical shipments of 20 million to 30 million units over a full product cycle for an individual iPhone Pro or Pro Max model. A separate retail source said Apple's sales guidance exceeds five million units.

In another report, MyDrivers claims that one of the device's contract manufacturers asked Apple to choose between prioritizing yield and increasing output. The site suggested that running the production line harder could produce more saleable phones, but with the side-effect of more defective units and higher scrap costs.

Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9. Pre-orders are scheduled to begin October 16, with availability following on October 23. The ‌iPhone Duo‌ starts at $1,999 in the United States.

Related Roundup: iPhone Duo

Tags: Liquid Glass, MyDrivers

Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon)

Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone Duo Reportedly Facing Production Problems Ahead of Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Here's Why iPhone Apps Were Crashing

Joe Rossignol — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:11:14 +0000

iPhone apps with Google Analytics for Firebase integration were briefly crashing on Monday due to an issue with the analytics platform that has since been resolved. Affected apps should no longer be crashing, with no action required from developers.

While the issue began shortly after Apple released iOS 27.0.1, the timing was coincidental, as apps were crashing on other iOS versions too.
This article, "Here's Why iPhone Apps Were Crashing" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone Duo Gets a Virtual Walkman App Ahead of Launch

Tim Hardwick — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:57:10 +0000

An indie developer has built an app that turns Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo into a virtual Sony Walkman by using the foldable's hinge to mimic the classic cassette player's flip-open door.

Creator Vidit Bhargava is calling the app Duo-Man, which was designed in BitRig's new iPhone Duo development environment. Bhargava's app lets users open the device to pick their music and "insert" a cassette on the 7.6-inch inner display, then snap it shut to start playback, 80s-style.

Bhargava told TechCrunch he wanted to make the experience feel authentic, so he went so far as to record button clicks and static from a real Walkman for use in the app.

Duo-Man won second place at the recent Bitrig hackathon in San Francisco, and his post about the app on X (Twitter) has gained more than 2.1 million views.

Duo-Man offers the complete walkman experience on the iPhone Duo. Open the Duo to pick and 'insert' the cassette, Close the Duo to start listening.

Yes, I actually recorded the button clicks and static noise from a real Walkman!

It was fun making this at @bitrig hacks today. pic.twitter.com/juSrLhofrH
— Vidit Bhargava (@viditb) September 27, 2026

The enthusiastic response has led Bhargava to turn the project into a proper release, and the finished app will support Apple Music and local files, as well as an Apple Pencil feature for "rolling" the cassette loop (a common battery-saving Walkman hack). Depending on its popularity, Spotify support may also be on the cards.

No release date has been announced for the app, but we know when the iPhone Duo is coming: Pre-orders begin Friday, October 16, with availability starting October 23.

Related Roundup: iPhone Duo

Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon)

Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone Duo Gets a Virtual Walkman App Ahead of Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone Duo StandBy Leak Reveals Five Unannounced Faces

Juli Clover — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:04:54 +0000

We've seen previews of iOS 27 running on the iPhone Duo, including a new StandBy mode that activates even when the iPhone isn't charging. Apple showed the mode in press materials, but leaker pdfu today shared a more in-depth look at some of the options.

There are multiple StandBy faces available on the ‌iPhone Duo‌, five of which we weren't aware of.

A Home Camera view will show a single camera feed or a grid of up to nine camera feeds. There's a Home Modular option that likely shows smart home controls, and a Snoopy-themed face.

Here's a deep dive into StandBy mode on iPhone Duo.

Rushmore, the app meant to host the redesigned faces, is missing from the iOS 27.1 simulator.

But its localization strings reveal unreported faces, and I got some new faces running in the current renderer. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/lDQHOy5R0e
— pdfu (@itspdfu) September 28, 2026

Apple also appears to be adding a face called Flow that could have animations, and there's a face named Fade with no details available. Faces we've seen in marketing materials include Analog, Digital, Classic Calendar, Weather, Photos, Memories, Shared Albums, and Modular.

A face editor will let users adjust the StandBy mode interface, choosing different styles and colors, similar to the existing iPhone StandBy customization screens. Swipe gestures are available for quick visual adjustments.

There are five widget layouts to choose from for clock faces that support widgets. The layouts include StandBy, Stacked, Top, Middle, and Bottom.

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ will be available for pre-order on October 16 ahead of an October 23 launch, and we'll likely see more details come out as we approach the release date.

Related Roundup: iPhone Duo

Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon)

Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone Duo StandBy Leak Reveals Five Unannounced Faces" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Releases watchOS 27.0.1 for Additional Models

Eric Slivka — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:08:51 +0000

After releasing watchOS 27.0.1 for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 last week to address a bug that was causing devices to restart unexpectedly, Apple has now released the update for all eligible watches, which includes Series 9 and later.

Apple's release notes say only that the update "provides bug fixes for your Apple Watch" and the company does not list any security fixes, so it's unclear what exactly is addressed with the update.

Related Roundups: watchOS 26, watchOS 27

Related Forum: Apple Watch

This article, "Apple Releases watchOS 27.0.1 for Additional Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums