MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:25:23 PDT en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com Fitbit Data Can Finally Sync to Apple Health https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/fitbit-apple-health-syncing/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/fitbit-data-can-finally-sync-to-apple-health.2486373/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:00:08 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/fitbit-apple-health-syncing/ Juli Clover Apple Health Fitbit Google

Sync to Apple Health. Share your data like your exercise records, sleep, vitals, steps, and more from Google Health to Apple Health.

Google Health (previously the Fitbit app) collects fitness, sleep, and wellness data from a connected wearable device. Steps, distance traveled, heart rate, sleep, and more can now be added to Apple Health. As noted on Reddit, some data such as HRV doesn't transfer over.

Syncing can be enabled after downloading the update by selecting Connections, choosing Apps and services, and then adding Apple Health.

Apple Health data already synced to Google Health, so the new update adds two-way sync between the platforms. Fitbit devices have never had native sync to Apple Health, and users previously had to use a third-party syncing utility or a workaround to transfer data.

Version 5.05 of the Google Health app is available from the App Store for free. The update also adds Smart Health Links for sharing medical records with providers or family members.
Tags: Apple Health, Fitbit, Google

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]]> Apple Pay Launches in the Philippines https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-pay-philippines/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-pay-launches-in-the-philippines.2486371/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:14:49 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-pay-philippines/ Juli Clover Apple Pay Apple Pay expanded to the Philippines today, which means iPhone and Apple Watch owners in the country can add supported debit and credit cards to the Wallet app for contactless payments.


Credit and debit cards can be added by opening the Wallet app and tapping on the "+" button. According to users on Reddit, supported banks include UnionBank, GoTyme, Metrobank, and Chinabank. Cards are verified using SMS or phone call.

Once an eligible card is added to the Wallet app, it can be used at retail locations that support ‌Apple Pay‌. Reddit users have been able to add their cards to Apple Wallet and make ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases at stores like Starbucks and 7-Eleven.

‌Apple Pay‌ is available in a long list of countries around the world, with details on supported banks. The Philippines hasn't been added to Apple's site yet, but Apple should soon have a full list of participating banks.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

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]]> Apple's iCloud File Sharing Left Ex-Employees With Access to Secret Documents https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-icloud-sharing-ex-employees/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-icloud-file-sharing-left-ex-employees-with-access-to-secret-documents.2486367/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:48:41 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-icloud-sharing-ex-employees/ Juli Clover Apple Lawsuits iCloud accounts left some employees able to access confidential documents after departing the company, reports The Information. The site spoke to more than half a dozen former Apple employees who were unknowingly left with access to sensitive content.


The former employees said many Apple files they had been shared on over their careers at the company—including planning documents for product launch events—continued to sync to their personal devices through the iCloud storage service after they left Apple. In some cases, they even received notifications about fresh updates to the documents. Some former employees said they were petrified to delete the files for fear that doing so would attract Apple's attention.

Apple files get mixed in with employees' accounts because the company encourages them to use their personal Apple Accounts with their work ‌iCloud‌ account. Employees are given a 2TB ‌iCloud‌ plan and are able to merge the storage with their existing Apple Account or create a new account. Since only one primary account can be signed in at a time, most opt to use their existing account to avoid having to carry two iPhones.

Apple has a managed folder for workplace files that it revokes access to when an employee leaves, but some internal documents aren't saved there automatically and shared files end up mixed in with personal content. Employees can also retain access to iMessage chats and files shared via the Messages app.

Lingering access to Apple systems is central to Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI. In its filing, Apple alleged that former employee Chang Liu breached Apple's systems using a "rare, previously unknown authentication bug" to download files while he was working at OpenAI.

Apple told The Information that the OpenAI lawsuit is unrelated to any files left available on ‌iCloud‌ and that it does not pursue legal claims against former employees who accidentally have Apple documents in their personal ‌iCloud‌ accounts.
This case is about OpenAI employees wrongfully taking Apple's secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products. Nothing in the filing relates to documents shared by, or stored in, iCloud.

Former employees say Apple does not do a thorough enough job going through personal devices to remove sensitive files that have been stored in ‌iCloud‌. In a now-settled legal dispute, chip company Rivos claimed Apple intentionally lets former employees retain access to files "as part of a planned effort to generate a pretextual basis to sue the employees and their new employer for 'stealing' Apple material." In the Rivos case, an employee was targeted for keeping work files in his personal ‌iCloud‌ account.

Another former Apple employee sued by Apple, Gerard Williams, countersued and accused the company of using intimidation tactics to scare people thinking of leaving. Apple sued Williams for breach of contract after he started processor company Nuvia, presenting extensive phone and text records of his communications. The court rejected Williams' claim, and Apple dropped the case in 2023.

In 2025, Apple also accused former Vision Pro engineer Di Liu of downloading thousands of corporate documents to his personal cloud storage shortly before leaving the company for Snap.

The Information does not outright suggest Apple is purposefully allowing former employees to retain access to ‌iCloud‌ files, but points out that Apple's use of ‌iCloud‌ for file sharing and its incomplete wiping of employee accounts are at odds with its heavy focus on privacy and security.
Tag: Apple Lawsuits

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]]> India Moves to Extend Tax Break Apple Lobbied For https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/india-moves-to-extend-apple-tax-break/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/india-moves-to-extend-tax-break-apple-lobbied-for.2486359/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:59:57 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/india-moves-to-extend-apple-tax-break/ Hartley Charlton India India has proposed extending tax breaks until 2041 for foreign companies that supply machinery to their contract manufacturers, handing a win to Apple as it expands iPhone production in the country, Reuters reports.

Introduced in February, the exemption previously ran only until 2031, and Apple had long since lobbied against being taxed on the high-end iPhone machinery it owns in India. The draft bill still has to be passed by both houses of parliament.
Tag: India

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]]> Apple Launches New Legal Challenge Against UK Backdoor Demand https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-legal-challenge-against-uk-demand/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-launches-new-legal-challenge-against-uk-backdoor-demand.2486356/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:34:16 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-legal-challenge-against-uk-demand/ Hartley Charlton Financial Times United Kingdom iCloud backups belonging to UK users, according to an order issued by the court and reported by the Financial Times.


The Home Office previously agreed to drop its original demand for a backdoor covering UK and U.S. customers alike, after a diplomatic row with Washington. The British government subsequently issued a new technical capability notice (TCN) to Apple last year, limited to users in the UK.

Technical capability notices are issued under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act, which the government says is necessary to investigate terrorism and child sexual abuse. They can force companies to hand UK security services access to customer data, even when that data is encrypted.

The court notified Privacy International of Apple's new complaint. The group, along with Liberty, had already brought a separate complaint against such notices at the IPT, with that case due to be heard in December.

Apple has long argued that any such backdoor would weaken security for all its customers. Apple and the Home Office are both legally barred from discussing TCNs.
Tags: Financial Times, United Kingdom

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]]> Leagues Cup 2026 Kicking Off on Apple TV https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/leagues-cup-2026-apple-tv/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/leagues-cup-2026-kicking-off-on-apple-tv.2486354/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:27:58 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/leagues-cup-2026-apple-tv/ Eric Slivka Apple TV Service highlighted tomorrow's start for the Leagues Cup, an annual competition among teams from Major League Soccer and Liga MX, with all 62 matches available for Apple TV subscribers to watch at no additional charge in over 100 countries and regions.


The tournament features 18 of the 30 MLS teams and all 18 Liga MX teams, with the top three finishing teams receiving spots in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The Leagues Cup champion will receive a direct berth into the Round of 16 at the Champions Cup as teams vie for qualification to the FIFA Club World Cup and other international tournaments.

Phase One of the Leagues Cup runs from tomorrow through August 13, with the Quarterfinals scheduled for August 25–27 and the Semifinals to be played September 1–2. The final and third-place matches are scheduled for September 6.

In addition to ‌Apple TV‌ coverage, Apple is featuring the Leagues Cup across a number of its other services, including real-time scores and stats in the Apple Sports app, curated warm-up playlists on Apple Music, Maps Guides to every MLS stadium in Apple Maps, and a dedicated Leagues Cup hub in Apple News.
Tag: Apple TV Service

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]]> Apple's Smart Glasses Could Become Its Next Health Device https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-smart-glasses-could-become-health-device/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-smart-glasses-could-become-its-next-health-device.2486351/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:54:19 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-smart-glasses-could-become-health-device/ Hartley Charlton Apple Glasses Bloomberg Mark Gurman Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.


In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said the ambition traces back to Vision Pro's early development, when Apple weighed a number of ambitious health and fitness features for the headset. Among the ideas Apple explored was a Vision Pro-native take on Fitness+, designed to have wearers work out and follow along with classes while the headset's body-tracking sensors monitored their form. That project stalled and was ultimately scrapped, according to Gurman, both because of technical limitations and because the headset was simply too heavy to wear comfortably during a workout.

Apple has apparently carried that ambition into its smart glasses project once the company shifted its spatial computing focus away from Vision Pro. He draws a parallel to AirPods, which Apple transformed from simple earbuds into a functioning hearing aid system. Sensors embedded in the glasses, he suggested, could eventually let Apple capture movement data in a similar way, opening the door to fitness-tracking functionality later down the line.

Gurman noted that this won't be part of the glasses when they debut next year; he expects the health capabilities to arrive gradually, over a period of years rather than at launch.

He pointed out that the Vision Products Group, Apple's team responsible for glasses and future headsets, is looking to hire a "strategic product design leader" tasked with helping "define the future of health, well-being and fitness experiences across vision products." Whoever fills the role will need to "translate ambiguous opportunities at the intersection of spatial computing, wearables, consumer health and human behavior" into an actual product direction.

The listing also calls for a candidate with "experience developing and validating digital health or fitness products" and "familiarity with sensor-driven experiences." Put together, Gurman argues, the posting confirms Apple's intent to eventually place its glasses alongside AirPods and Apple Watch as health platforms.

Apple's first smart glasses are expected to launch late next year, following a potential unveiling at WWDC.
Tags: Apple Glasses, Bloomberg, Mark Gurman

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]]> AirPods With Cameras Could Arrive Sooner Than Expected https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/airpods-with-cameras-could-arrive-sooner/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-with-cameras-could-arrive-sooner-than-expected.2486349/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:14:09 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/airpods-with-cameras-could-arrive-sooner/ Hartley Charlton AirPods AirPods Pro Bloomberg Mark Gurman Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Apple has reportedly spent years working on camera-equipped AirPods under the code name "B798," as part of a broader AI wearables push that also encompasses smart glasses and a wearable AI pendant. That model had been on track for a 2026 release before slipping to 2027.

In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that a separate camera AirPods project, code named "B790," has been progressing alongside B798. He noted this isn't unusual for Apple, saying the company "famously creates competing versions of the same product internally." He added that the B790 hardware is closer to production. Pieces of it have turned up in iOS 27's code, and it is reportedly listed internally as a candidate to ship before the year is out.

It is not the first sign of B790's existence. Developer Sam Henri Gold found traces of the same codename buried in the second iOS 27 developer beta last month. Gurman did not mention what separates the B790 hardware from the more advanced B798 model, and it's still an open question whether Apple will ultimately ship both.

Rather than taking photos or video, the sensors in Apple's camera AirPods are expected to hand Siri a live view of a wearer's surroundings, tying into existing Visual Intelligence tools. Because a camera-equipped model is expected to cost more than the current $249 AirPods Pro 3, Gurman previously said Apple is weighing "AirPods Ultra" branding rather than calling them "AirPods Pro 4."

If the B790 model does arrive this year, a September debut alongside new iPhones is the most likely scenario, while the fuller featured B798 version remains slated for late 2027.
Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3
Tags: Bloomberg, Mark Gurman
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution), AirPods Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

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]]> Amazon Doubles Down on 2026 MacBook Pro Discounts, Some Prices Now Lower Than July https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/amazon-2026-macbook-pro/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/amazon-doubles-down-on-2026-macbook-pro-discounts-some-prices-now-lower-than-july.2486347/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:57:46 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/amazon-2026-macbook-pro/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured
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.

14-Inch MacBook Pro


Prices start at $2,259.99 for the 24GB/1TB 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro, down from $2,499.00. Amazon is also providing $500 off both the 15-Core/24GB/2TB model, as well as the M5 Max 26GB/2TB model, both of which are new low prices in the wake of the price hikes.

$239 OFF
14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,259.99

$500 OFF
14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (15-Core/24GB/2TB) for $2,499.00

$300 OFF
14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (18-Core/24GB/2TB) for $2,899.00

$500 OFF
14-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/2TB) for $3,599.00

16-Inch MacBook Pro


In terms of the larger display models, we're tracking discounts on all four models on Amazon. These start at $2,759.99 for the 24GB/1TB M5 Pro configuration ($239 off), and reach up to $4,499.00 for the 48GB/2TB M5 Max device ($500 off).

$239 OFF
16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,759.99

$239 OFF
16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB) for $3,359.99

$300 OFF
16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/2TB) for $3,999.00

$500 OFF
16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/2TB) for $4,499.00


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


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Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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]]> Apple Acquiring Materials Science Company PlasmaSolve https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-acquiring-plasmasolve/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-acquiring-materials-science-company-plasmasolve.2486346/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:47:31 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-acquiring-plasmasolve/ Eric Slivka Apple Acquisition PlasmaSolve, according to a notice published today on the European Commission's website.

Apple Inc. ("Apple"), through a subsidiary, will acquire the entire issued share capital of PlasmaSolve s.r.o. ("PlasmaSolve") and offer employment to and hire certain PlasmaSolve employees. PlasmaSolve develops solutions, including a plasma simulation software, to design and optimize plasma-based manufacturing processes.
PlasmaSolve is a Czech materials science firm founded in 2016 that has focused on creating simulation software to assist manufacturers with various plasma-related technologies. The company's website remains active, and it outlines some of the grant funding it has received over the years related to its work.

PlasmaSolve's primary product was MatSight, a suite of apps intended to help manufacturers simulate the results of various vapor deposition processes for metals. Apple has used the technology for many years on a number of products, including on various iPhone models to create a durable thin film on the casing to minimize scratching and other damage.
Tag: Apple Acquisition

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]]> MacBook Air Experiencing 'Major' Shortage Despite $200 Price Increase https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/02/macbook-air-shortage-report/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-air-experiencing-major-shortage-despite-200-price-increase.2486325/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 19:12:10 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/02/macbook-air-shortage-report/ Joe Rossignol MacBook Air Mark Gurman price increase in June, the MacBook Air is currently experiencing a "major" shortage, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


"Retail store sources say Apple is struggling to keep the laptop in stock and that shipments of new units are more constrained than they can ever recall," he said.

In the U.S., the MacBook Air is facing a 2-6 week delivery estimate on Apple's online store, with configurations with higher amounts of RAM delayed the longest.

MacBook Air supply is constrained due to the ongoing memory chip shortage, resulting from companies building out data centers with powerful AI servers. This has led to skyrocketing prices for RAM and SSD storage chips used in a wide range of Apple products, and the MacBook Air is now affected alongside the Mac Studio and Mac mini.

In June, Apple raised prices on 14 products, including the MacBook Air. In the U.S., the laptop now starts at $1,299, up from $1,099. Despite this price increase, it appears that Apple is unable to keep up with demand right now.
Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Tag: Mark Gurman
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Air (Neutral)
Related Forum: MacBook Air

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]]> AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2 Discounted in Latest Amazon Deals https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/02/airpods-weekend-deals-6/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-pro-3-airpods-4-and-airpods-max-2-discounted-in-latest-amazon-deals.2486299/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 07:20:39 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/02/airpods-weekend-deals-6/ Mitchel Broussard Deals $199.99, down from $249.00. This is the best price we've seen on the AirPods Pro 3 since Prime Day in June, coming in around $20 higher when compared to that all-time low price, and it's accompanied by a solid deal on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2.

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.

This model of the AirPods Pro launched in September 2025 and has 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.

$49 OFF
AirPods Pro 3 for $199.99


The AirPods Max 2 is available for $449.00 in all colors this week, down from $549.00. This one is a solid second-best price, and Amazon provides an estimated delivery date of August 7 for free shipping, with faster delivery options for Prime members.

$100 OFF
AirPods Max 2 for $449.00


You can also get the AirPods 4 for $99.00, down from $129.00. This is a second-best price on the AirPods 4, which is the base model without Active Noise Cancellation.

$30 OFF
AirPods 4 for $99.00


Additionally, you can get the AirPods 4 with ANC on sale for $144.99 right now on Amazon, down from $179.00. Similar to the base model, we haven't tracked a record low price on the AirPods 4 with ANC in months, making today's deal a solid second-best option for anyone shopping for AirPods this summer.

$34 OFF
AirPods 4 (ANC) for $144.99



Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.



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]]> 6 Things We Already Know About the 2028 iPhone https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/01/things-we-know-about-2028-iphone/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/6-things-we-already-know-about-the-2028-iphone.2486284/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 18:00:10 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/01/things-we-know-about-2028-iphone/ Hartley Charlton Featured

The 2028 device will follow the 20th anniversary iPhone, which is set to introduce a display that curves down around all four edges for a near borderless effect. Reports suggest the first version of that design will launch with some visible compromises, and that the 2028 model is where Apple intends to resolve them. As with all rumors this far out, the details remain subject to change.

Because the 2028 iPhone is expected to refine the anniversary design rather than replace it, it should carry over much of what defines the 2027 model. That includes the curved all-glass body with a display that wraps around all four edges, a crater-shaped light diffusion layer that keeps brightness uniform across the curved screen, and a potential shift to solid-state haptic buttons integrated into the frame.

Apple's goal of moving the Face ID system and front camera beneath the display for a front free of cutouts remains, and the 2028 model may stand a better chance of achieving an uninterrupted display if the technology is not ready in time for 2027. Here are the six key rumors about the 2028 iPhone:


  • Refined curved-glass display: The 2028 iPhone is expected to use a more advanced version of the four-edge curved display debuting on the 2027 model. Where the anniversary iPhone is said to use a magnesium-silver alloy in its cathode layer, which can introduce image distortion and brightness loss in the curved areas, the 2028 model is reported to switch to more transparent indium zinc oxide cathodes. According to Korea's ETNews, the change should deliver less distortion, more even brightness, and fewer heat issues at the curved edges.

  • Hole-Punch Dynamic Island: DSCC's Ross Young has said under-display ‌Face ID‌ is unlikely to be ready in time for 2027, meaning the 20th anniversary model may retain a Dynamic Island similar to the one on the iPhone 18 Pro. That would leave the 2028 iPhone as the more likely candidate to take the next step toward a cutout-free front, whether through an even smaller hole-punch or a move to place the ‌Face ID‌ system and front camera under the display.

  • Narrower bezels: The move to indium zinc oxide cathodes is also expected to let Apple narrow the bezel further than on the 2027 anniversary model, bringing the design closer to a true all-screen front. It is one of several improvements ETNews attributes to the more transparent cathode material.

  • Tandem OLED: Apple is reported to be weighing tandem OLED technology for the iPhone as early as 2028, having already adopted it on the M4 iPad Pro. The structure stacks two organic light-emitting layers for improved brightness, a longer lifespan, and better power efficiency than the single-layer panels used in current iPhones. LG Display is said to be promoting a "simplified tandem" approach that stacks two layers for the blue sub-pixel only, though the final decision rests with Apple.

  • 'A22 Pro' chip: The high-end 2028 models are expected to move from the 2-nanometer process used in 2027 to a 1.4-nanometer "A22 Pro" chip. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the chip will be built on TSMC's A14 node, which is said to offer up to 15% better performance than a 2nm chip, or the same performance with 30% lower power draw. TSMC is expected to make the majority of the chips, though Apple is also apparently considering Intel for some of them.

  • 200-megapixel telephoto camera: Apple is reported to have tested a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto sensor in prototypes, but the technology is unlikely to reach the iPhone before 2028, according to the leaker known as "Digital Chat Station." Morgan Stanley similarly reported that Apple is working to bring a 200-megapixel camera to the iPhone as soon as 2028. The higher resolution would capture greater detail and allow photos to be cropped further or reproduced at larger sizes without a loss of quality.



With the 2028 iPhone still around 26 months away, none of this is settled, and the further out a rumor sits, the more room there is for Apple's plans to change before the device reaches production. Still, rumors about the device are more relevant than they might first appear.

Anyone buying an iPhone 18 Pro this September on a common two-year upgrade cycle will be due their next iPhone in 2028, meaning this is the model many of this year's buyers will actually upgrade to. The picture forming now is an early look at what that upgrade could hold, and part of a longer redesign arc that begins with the 2027 anniversary model before reaching its more polished form the following year.
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]]> Apple Watch Series 11 GPS Models Available From $299.99 on Amazon https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/01/apple-watch-series-11-299-2/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-series-11-gps-models-available-from-299-99-on-amazon.2486274/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 07:39:53 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/01/apple-watch-series-11-299-2/ Mitchel Broussard Deals low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $99 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. This sale includes a handful of 42mm and 46mm GPS aluminum models, but cellular devices are a bit more rare this time around.

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.

You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.99, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.99, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find three of the 42mm GPS models and two of the 46mm GPS models on sale at these all-time low prices.

$99 OFF
Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.99

$99 OFF
Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.99


Compared to past sales, these are both solid second-best prices on the Apple Watch Series 11 and come within $20-$30 of those previous all-time low prices. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.



Deals Newsletter


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]]> Top Stories: 'Apple Upgrade' Launches, iOS 26.6 Released, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/01/top-stories-apple-upgrade-launches/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/top-stories-apple-upgrade-launches-ios-26-6-released-and-more.2486272/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 06:00:11 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/01/top-stories-apple-upgrade-launches/ MacRumors Staff Featured Top Stories

This week also saw the release of iOS 26.6 and other updates, fresh rumors about Apple's upcoming home hub and new Apple TV and HomePod mini models, and a MacRumors interview with Ed Zitron to discuss the state of the AI industry and where Apple may end up if it turns out there's an AI bubble which bursts at some point, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories


Apple Upgrade: Apple Retires iPhone Upgrade Program for Klarna-Backed Leases


As rumored, Apple this week launched Apple Upgrade, a new U.S. leasing program for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Apple partnered with Klarna for Apple Upgrade, and it replaces the current iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments.


Apple Upgrade lets you lease a variety of Apple devices, with iPhone and Apple Watch available in 12-month and 24-month term options and iPad and Mac offered in 24-month and 36-month term options. At the conclusion of the lease period, you can simply return the device, start a new lease, or convert the lease to an outright purchase by making a final payment covering the difference between the total lease payments made and the original retail price.

Be sure to check out our list of 20 things to know about the program before you take the plunge, and see our comparison example to help you decide whether Apple Upgrade is worth it to you.

Apple Will 'Watch Everything Burn' When AI Bubble Bursts - Ed Zitron


Memory prices have doubled, Macs and iPads have gone up, and iPhones are expected to follow. Ed Zitron – who writes the Where's Your Ed At newsletter, hosts the Better Offline podcast, and has been described by Politico as the AI boom's most "acerbic gadfly" – has spent years arguing the buildout driving those costs will never pay for itself.


We asked him what happens to Apple if he's right.

Apple Releases iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 With iOS 27 Optimizations


Apple this week released iOS 26.6 and related updates to the public, marking what should be one of the final updates before iOS 27 sees its official launch in September.


The updates patch hundreds of security flaws across Apple's operating systems, and Apple says they also prepare the Spotlight search index for the upcoming cycle of OS 27 releases.

All-New Apple Home Hub Reportedly Launching as Soon as October


Apple plans to release an all-new smart home hub at some point between October and early next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple Home Hub (Concept)

Siri AI is expected to be a core feature of the hub, which is designed to be placed in rooms throughout your house, such as a kitchen, living room, or bedroom. The report said the device will be available in tabletop and wall-mounted versions, with Apple apparently believing that many customers will buy more than one.

Apple has also had updated Apple TV and HomePod mini models ready to go for quite some time, but they too have been waiting for Siri AI to be ready and thus should be launching in the fall once Siri AI is available to everyone.

iOS 27: All the New iCloud Features


Over the course of the iOS 27 beta testing cycle, we've been highlighting various changes and additions across apps and services, and this week we took a look at changes to iCloud and the Phone and FaceTime apps.


iCloud includes a number of improvements to syncing and sharing features, as well as new premium benefits for iCloud+ subscribers, while the Phone app gets a Call Context feature to show you relevant information from across your apps while you're on a phone call and FaceTime gets a number of improvements including a Dual Capture feature to let you stream video from both front and rear cameras simultaneously.

Apple Planning to Unveil Privacy-Focused Smart Glasses at WWDC 2027


Apple currently plans to unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC 2027 next June, and privacy will be a focus, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


For the glasses, Apple is prototyping "a slew of new hardware and software-related privacy features" that are not available on current products, he said. He did not mention any specific features, but he noted that Apple's marketing will likely emphasize the privacy measures of its glasses compared to rival products like the Meta Ray-Bans.

MacRumors Newsletter


Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
Tag: Top Stories

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]]> iPad Air Could Finally Be Redesigned Next Year https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/ipad-air-could-be-redesigned-next-year/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-air-could-finally-be-redesigned-next-year.2486256/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 18:00:11 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/ipad-air-could-be-redesigned-next-year/ Hartley Charlton iPad Air iPad Air has looked the same since 2020, making it the longest-running design in Apple's tablet lineup. There is a reasonable case that 2027 could be when that comes to an end.


Apple last gave the ‌iPad Air‌ a new enclosure in 2020, when the fourth-generation model introduced flat sides, an all-screen front, and Touch ID in the top button. The subsequent M1, M2, M3, and M4 updates were all internal with no design changes.

That could change next year. Apple is expected to move the iPad Air to OLED in early 2027, with Samsung Display supplying single-stack LTPS panels that sit below the tandem OLED in the iPad Pro on cost and brightness. The M5 chip is also rumored. That will form the largest change the product has had in years, and it comes as part of a wider OLED rollout that will eventually reach products like the iMac and MacBook Air.

The substantial upgrade would be a suitable candidate for a complete redesign. When the ‌iPad Pro‌ moved to ‌OLED‌ in 2024, Apple completely redesigned the device for the first time since 2018, introducing a substantially thinner chassis.

More strikingly, the iPad mini 8 is expected by October with a new design, an OLED display, a vibration-based speaker system that eliminates speaker holes, and a water-resistant casing that would be an iPad first.

The ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad mini‌ have shared their design language since their introduction, with the mini most recently adopting the Air's look in 2021 and holding it through to the iPad mini 7. If the mini receives a new enclosure this year, the Air is the obvious candidate to bring over the same one next. It could be much like how the original ‌iPad mini‌ from 2012 set the design standard for the ‌iPad Air‌ just a year later.

There have been no specific rumors about an ‌iPad Air‌ redesign for next year, but if it does mirror the ‌iPad mini‌, the device could gain the same vibration-based speaker system, water-resistance, and more.
Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

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]]> How Apple Changed Under Tim Cook: 15 Years in Numbers https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/tim-cook-apple-15-years/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-apple-changed-under-tim-cook-15-years-in-numbers.2486248/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:29:26 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/tim-cook-apple-15-years/ Juli Clover Featured Tim Cook Tim Cook participated in his final Apple earnings call yesterday, with incoming CEO John Ternus set to take over on September 1. With Cook's tenure coming to an end, we thought we'd take a look at how Apple has changed over the last 15 years.


Cook took over as CEO on August 24, 2011, after Steve Jobs resigned.

Apple's Revenue


During yesterday's earnings call, Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan shared an interesting observation about Apple's quarterly earnings. When Cook took over as CEO, Apple's revenue for all of 2011 was $108 billion.

Apple reported $109.4 billion for Q3 2026, earning its 2011 revenue in a single quarter. We don't have the numbers for fiscal 2026 yet, but in fiscal 2025, revenue was $416 billion.

iPhone revenue in 2011 was $47 billion, and just this quarter, it was $54.3 billion.

Valuation


Apple stock is down today after Cook said he expects supply constraints and memory shortages to affect revenue in the current quarter, but last week, Apple briefly hit a market cap above $5 trillion. Apple's market cap is now around the $4.5 trillion mark, and it once again trails Nvidia for world's most valuable publicly traded company.

Apple was the first company to reach a $1 trillion valuation in August 2018, the first to reach $2 trillion in August 2020, and the first to reach $3 trillion in January 2022. It was the third company to hit a $4 trillion valuation in October 2025, and then the second to reach $5 trillion.

A day after Cook took over in August 2011, Apple's stock price was $13.35 (split-adjusted). Today, it opened at $304.81, a roughly 23x increase. There was a 7-for–1 split in 2014 and 4-for–1 split in 2020 during Cook's tenure.

Installed Base


Apple said it has over 2.5 billion active devices. Apple didn't share installed base numbers until 2016, when it hit a billion active devices.

Services


Apple's services category revenue has seen the most growth. It was $9.4 billion in all of 2011, but in Q3 2026, it was $30.7 billion. In fiscal 2025, services brought in $109 billion.

Apple said during the earnings call that it now has 1.5 billion subscriptions. A huge number of services launched under Cook, including:

Back in 2011, Apple's services were limited to AppleCare, iTunes, and the ‌App Store‌.

Product Launches


Under Cook, Apple launched everything from the AirPods to the Apple Watch.

Capital Returns


Cook initiated quarterly dividends in 2012, and also executed an ongoing share repurchase program. Since then, Apple has returned more than $1 trillion to shareholders.

Transition to John Ternus


Cook said yesterday that the transition to Ternus is "going seamlessly." Ternus will become CEO on September 1, ahead of when Apple announces new iPhone models. Cook will remain at Apple as executive chairman, where he will engage with policymakers and help Apple navigate regulatory pressure.

In April, Cook said he planned to remain at Apple for years to come. "I am healthy. My energy is high, and I plan to be in this role for a long time," said Cook. He said he will support current hardware engineering chief John Ternus in any way necessary when Ternus takes over as CEO, and he plans to continue to offer knowledge and experience whenever it's needed. "Apple will be my top priority," he said. "It's who I am at my core, and I can't imagine it any other way."

Cook on Ternus


Cook yesterday said Ternus is the best choice to take over Apple.
The transition is going seamlessly, and I am beyond excited for John to step into his new role and lead Apple into its next era. He is truly one of a kind and there is no better person to take the helm of the company.

As I've said, I couldn't be more confident in his leadership, in our executive team, and in the extraordinary people at Apple who are determined to enrich the lives of our users all over the world. We have a bright future ahead, and I truly have never been more optimistic.

Ternus has been at Apple since 2001, when he joined the product design team. He became vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and focused on the AirPods, Mac, and iPad. In 2020, he also took on the iPhone, and he became senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021.
Tag: Tim Cook

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]]> The MacRumors Show: Revisiting iOS 27 Ahead of iPhone 18 Pro https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/the-macrumors-show-revisiting-ios-27/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-macrumors-show-revisiting-ios-27-ahead-of-iphone-18-pro.2486237/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:10:59 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/the-macrumors-show-revisiting-ios-27/ Hartley Charlton Featured iOS 27 iPhone 18 Pro The MacRumors Show iOS 27, on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show we circle back to the beta and talk through our experiences with Siri AI, Liquid Glass refinements, and more.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos


‌iOS 27‌ is expected to launch this fall, bringing sweeping performance work across the system. Apple has cited more than 80 speed and efficiency improvements, with app launches up to 30 percent faster and AirDrop transfers up to 80 percent faster than on iOS 26. Animations, keyboard responsiveness, Home Screen page swapping, and App Library loading have all been sped up, and Apple says the improvements extend even to older iPhones like the iPhone 11.

The centerpiece of ‌iOS 27‌ is Siri AI, a substantially overhauled version of the assistant positioned as a rival to chatbots like Claude and ChatGPT. ‌Siri‌ AI can hold back-and-forth conversations, draw on personal context from Mail, Messages, Photos, and Files, and see what's on screen to answer follow-up questions. A new standalone Siri app houses ongoing conversations, while a "Search or Ask" interface, accessed via the Dynamic Island, has effectively replaced Spotlight as the default way to search the device and launch apps.

Liquid Glass, the translucent design language introduced in ‌iOS 26‌, has also been reworked. ‌iOS 27‌ adds a system-wide transparency slider in place of the binary "Clear" and "Tinted" toggle from iOS 26.1, letting users dial the effect anywhere between fully opaque and completely clear. Apple also improved how the material diffuses busy content behind it, addressing readability complaints that dogged the original rollout, and refreshed first-party app icons with additional Liquid Glass layering.

Elsewhere, Apple has leaned into contextual, on-device intelligence. For example, Call Context, a new Phone app feature, automatically surfaces relevant information, such as a flight confirmation number or order code pulled from Mail, when a user calls a business they've recently corresponded with. Apple says the feature works entirely on-device and looks only at who is being called, not at call audio, and it also appears on the Apple Watch during a call.

Calendar and Reminders now support natural language entry, letting users type something like "meeting at 2pm with Eric on July 14" and have the app suggest the date, time, and attendees automatically. Apple says ‌Siri‌ can handle more complex natural-language scheduling requests directly, including edits to recurring events.

The ‌Photos‌ app gains three generative editing tools grouped under an Apple Intelligence Tools section: an upgraded Clean Up, a new Extend tool, and Spatial Reframing. Clean Up now offers Fast, High Quality, and Auto modes for object removal and can reconstruct more complex backgrounds than before. Extend uses generative AI to fill in new content when a photo's borders are expanded, and is capped at a maximum of 25% per side. Spatial Reframing, which draws on the same spatial data used for Portrait mode, lets users shift a photo's apparent camera angle after it was taken.

The Shortcuts app has been rebuilt around a "Describe a Shortcut" interface, where ‌Apple Intelligence‌ assembles an entire automation from a plain-language description rather than requiring users to build workflows action by action manually. Safari picks up a similar natural-language approach with a new Create an Extension option for building custom browser extensions on the fly, automatic AI-driven tab organization by topic, and a "Notify Me" tool that monitors a webpage and alerts users when it changes, which is useful, Apple says, for tracking ticket sales or restocked products.

Image Playground has also been overhauled for ‌iOS 27‌, adding support for photorealistic image generation, edits to existing images via text descriptions, and additional aspect ratio options for wallpapers and Contact Posters.

‌iOS 27‌ is available now to developers and public beta testers, and Apple plans to release the software officially in September. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!


You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about OpenAI's move into hardware and the trade secret lawsuit Apple filed against the company earlier this month.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27, iPhone 18 Pro
Tag: The MacRumors Show

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]]> Set a Custom EQ for Your AirPods in iOS 27 https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/set-custom-eq-airpods-ios/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/set-a-custom-eq-for-your-airpods-in-ios-27.2486236/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:05:28 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/set-custom-eq-airpods-ios&post_date=1785524717/ Tim Hardwick AirPods Featured iOS 27

It's worth noting that iOS has had an EQ setting for years – it's buried in Settings ➝ Apps ➝ Music, but it applies only to Apple Music playback, and works on any pair of headphones. In iOS 27, the new EQ is specifically tied to your AirPods, so it applies to everything you listen to. Your custom EQ profile also carries over to iPad and Mac when you pair your AirPods with them.

What You Need


Custom EQ requires Apple's H2 chip, so it supports AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2. Earlier models, including the original AirPods Max, aren't compatible with the feature.

You'll also need current AirPods beta firmware. If the Equalizer option described below doesn't appear, pair your AirPods with your iPhone, tap your AirPods in Settings, then tap AirPods Beta Updates and toggle on the beta updates option. Afterwards, put your AirPods in the case, connect the case to power, and leave it near your unlocked iPhone to let the latest beta firmware install quietly in the background. It shouldn't take more than half an hour.

How to Adjust Your AirPods EQ



  1. With your AirPods connected, open Settings on your iPhone.

  2. Tap your AirPods at the top of the screen.

  3. Tap Audio & Routing.

  4. Tap Equalizer.

  5. Tap Custom, then drag the low, mid, and high points up or down.

settings
You should see a media playback control above the EQ showing the last thing you listened to, allowing you to hear how your adjustments sound in real time. Lows cover bass weight, mids carry vocals and most instruments, and highs handle treble detail and sibilance.

To undo your changes, simply tap Reset, or choose Recommended at the top to restore Apple's default profile. You'll find all the same options in iPadOS 27, as well as in macOS 27 Golden Gate (in System Settings).

iOS 27 and Apple's other upcoming software updates remain in public beta for now, with a general release expected sometime this September.
Related Roundups: AirPods 4, iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

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]]> iPhone 18e Rumored to Feature Increased RAM https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/iphone-18e-increased-ram-rumor/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-18e-rumored-to-feature-increased-ram.2486235/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:55:27 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/iphone-18e-increased-ram-rumor/ Joe Rossignol iPhone 18e Jeff Pu The lower-end iPhone 18e that Apple is expected to release by March 2027 will be equipped with 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the iPhone 17e, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

9GB of RAM for the iPhone 18e was already rumored by another analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last month.
Tags: iPhone 18e, Jeff Pu

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