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Dark Cherry and More: Every iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra Color Rumor

Juli Clover — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:33:41 PDT

We're likely about a month away from when Apple will launch new iPhone models, and color has been a major topic of discussion. There's going to be a dramatic new color for the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, but Apple plans to play it safe with the foldable iPhone.

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max

With the iPhone 17 Pro line, Apple introduced a bold new Cosmic Orange color. This year, Cosmic Orange is being retired for a shade that's darker and moodier.

Dark Cherry is the color Apple is rumored to be using, and it looks like a cross between red and purple.

Apple's colors always look different when lighting conditions change, which can lead to some confusion. At first, rumors described the color as a deep red.

We also heard rumors about the possibility of burgundy, purple, and brown color options, with Apple set to choose one.

In April, Macworld shared the exact Pantone colors Apple allegedly plans to use, describing the color as Dark Cherry for the first time. The site said the other three colors would include Silver, Dark Gray, and Light Blue. We used the Pantone shades to make a mockup.

Light Blue (Pantone 2121), resembling the current iPhone 17's Mist Blue

Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), the headline new color

Dark Gray (Pantone 426C)

Silver (Pantone 427C), similar to the current generation

Dummy models soon surfaced showing similar colors, though with a bit more of a pink tone for the Dark Cherry shade.

The color Apple goes with will likely be close to the Pantone shade, with purple or red tones depending on the lighting. It's not quite burgundy because it trends closer to purple. It's redder than a true purple, but more violet than a dark red or maroon. It's more of a wine or a plum color, so if Dark Cherry is indeed the name of the color, it's a fitting one.

An alleged ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ SIM tray in Dark Cherry

We've had iPhones in Lavender, Pink, Deep Purple, (Product)RED, and Purple, but nothing like what Apple is planning for 2026.

There were only three color options for the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, but it looks like there will be four for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models. Along with Silver and Dark Gray, there's a blue color.

Blue is a shade Apple has used for iPhone models multiple times in the past. The rumored blue is probably closest to the Sierra Blue color Apple used for the iPhone 13 Pro, but it's more saturated with less red and green to tone it down. Most of the blues Apple used in the past have been lighter or much darker, but this shade still won't feel as unique as the Dark Cherry color.

Uniform Back

The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models have a two-tone design where the glass on the back is a noticeably lighter shade than the color of the aluminum frame. With the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models, the color difference between the frame and the glass panel at the back could be less pronounced.

Rumors suggest Apple will minimize the color difference between the two components for a more unified appearance.

iPhone Ultra

While the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max will have two colors that offer options beyond the standard silver or gray, Apple doesn't plan to experiment with the foldable iPhone (which might be called the iPhone Ultra).

The expensive new device is apparently only going to be available with a limited color palette. White has been mentioned multiple times, which probably means a white/silver type of shade, while rumors have been a little mixed on the second color (if there is one).

Macworld said in April that Apple would use silver and indigo, with the latter shade being similar to the Deep Blue color used for the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌. In May, Weibo leaker Instant Digital said white was the only confirmed color, and in June, dummy models leaked alongside a rumor that the foldable iPhone might only be available in white.

Camera accessories that leaked in August suggest the foldable iPhone will come in silver/white and a dark blue shade that's almost black. Since the foldable iPhone is going to cost upwards of $2,000, it's not surprising Apple didn't want to make it in colors that might have narrower appeal.

Color Caveats

We're working with rumors and dummy models at this point. The colors that leak ahead of when a new iPhone launches are typically accurate, but lighting and material affect how color appears. Apple's devices often look far better than the dummy models and renderings.

With the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, mockups and dummy models featuring the Cosmic Orange color were a duller shade than we actually got, plus nothing quite captured the two-tone look of the glass back and the frame. Ahead of the iPhone 16 Pro launch, there were rumors of a desert titanium shade. The mockups and dummy models were a darker, uglier brown than the soft, almost pink-toned gold shade Apple used.

It's unusual for the color rumors to be wrong, but it happens. Last year, rumors suggested there would be a black ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, but it was a color Apple apparently dropped.

What About the iPhone 18?

The iPhone 18 isn't going to launch in the fall alongside the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models and the foldable iPhone. Apple's holding it until spring 2027, and since it's still months away, we haven't heard what its color options might be. With standard iPhones, Apple often debuts a range of colors.

There are five ‌iPhone 17‌ colors, including black, white, and three pastel shades in blue, lavender, and green. Apple tends to go back and forth between pastels and more saturated shades for the standard iPhone, so the 2027 ‌iPhone 18‌ could have brighter colors than the ones Apple used for the ‌iPhone 17‌ line.

The ‌iPhone 18‌ is rumored to be launching alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, and we also don't know what colors Apple will use for those devices.

Launch Timing

Apple is expected to introduce the foldable iPhone and the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models at an iPhone event held the week of September 9. Pre-orders could start at the end of that same week, with a launch on September 18.

Related Roundups: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Fold

Tag: iPhone Ultra

Related Forum: iPhone

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Apple Music to Label AI-Generated Songs

Juli Clover — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:41:33 PDT

Apple sent emails to its music industry partners about the upcoming launch of a Made With AI label that Apple will apply to AI-generated content (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Content tagged as being "materially generated using AI" will have a label visible to all Apple Music users.

In March, Apple announced Transparency Tags, a system that lets music creators disclose when AI has been used. Transparency Tags are available for artwork, track, composition (lyrics), and music video. Apple said at the time that the tags were optional, and it would defer to content providers to determine what qualifies as AI-generated.

In today's email, Apple says AI Transparency Tags are required in "any instance where AI was used to create a material portion of the content, including tracks that are AI platform generated." Apple said AI-platform-generated content is defined as "anything that is primarily derived from a generative AI service."

Back in April, ‌Apple Music‌ VP Oliver Schusser told Billboard that more than a third of monthly uploads to ‌Apple Music‌ are 100% AI-generated, but AI music accounted for less than 0.5% of actual listening. Schusser said Apple has an in-house system for detecting AI, but is still relying on content makers to disclose AI use.

Apple's email did not give a specific timeline for the launch of the AI labels in ‌Apple Music‌, but said they will show up "later this year."

Tag: Apple Music

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ChatGPT Can Now Read and Send iMessages on Mac

Juli Clover — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:12:55 PDT

OpenAI today said there's a new Apple Messages plugin for ChatGPT, allowing ChatGPT on Mac to search messages, draft messages, analyze conversations, and send replies to people.

The Apple Messages plugin can be installed from the ChatGPT Plugins interface, and it is listed under Public. OpenAI suggests users try these prompts:

Check my calendar and reply to [name] with a few times I'm free for dinner next week

Suggest follow ups from yesterday in messages

Find birthdays in @messages and add them to my calendar

Find potential spam messages I can delete

ChatGPT can access iMessages, SMS messages, and RCS messages. Sending a message requires user approval by default, and OpenAI warns against granting persistent approval. For the Messages integration to work, ChatGPT needs Full Disk Access in System Settings, as well as access to contact names and automation tools.

Apple's involvement in the plugin's development is unknown, but it uses AppleScript and Accessibility settings to function on a Mac. Apple and OpenAI are currently facing off in court after Apple sued OpenAI over theft of trade secrets.

Messages integration is available in ChatGPT Work and Codex in the desktop version of ChatGPT, but it does not work in regular ChatGPT chats. It is available for all ChatGPT users who have an Apple silicon Mac.

Tags: ChatGPT, OpenAI

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Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware With iOS 27 Features

Juli Clover — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:10:34 PDT

Apple today released a fifth version of the beta firmware it is testing for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware is available for developers and public beta testers. It has a build number of 9A5347a.

In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, Apple is adding a new AirPods interface, a slider for Adaptive mode, and support for custom EQ, so the firmware adds support for those features. AirPods are also compatible with the new Siri AI.

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 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 Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3, iOS 27, iPadOS 27

Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution), AirPods Pro (Neutral)

Related Forum: AirPods

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Apple, Where is CarPlay Ultra?

Joe Rossignol — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:25:12 PDT

In May 2025, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of CarPlay that it first previewed in 2022. More than a year later, however, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to select Aston Martin vehicles with six-figure price tags.

In a press release last year, Apple said "many" other vehicle brands around the world planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Yet, more than 15 months have passed since that announcement, and the software has still not expanded beyond Aston Martin. Apple has not provided any further updates on CarPlay Ultra availability.

CarPlay Ultra features deeper integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in apps for radio and climate controls, rear-view camera feed support, and more. The connected iPhone provides app-related data, while the vehicle provides information like the current speed, fuel level, tire pressure, engine temperature, and more.

The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can choose from various preset design options.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he was told that CarPlay Ultra would come to at least one major new Hyundai or Kia vehicle model "in the second half of this year," so hopefully the software finally expands beyond Aston Martin over the final four months of 2026. We have reached out to Apple for comment.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Tag: CarPlay Ultra

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Apple Card Turns Seven With Big Change Ahead

Joe Rossignol — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:19:07 PDT

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the Apple Card becoming widely available in the U.S., following a more limited preview period.

Apple's credit card can be managed in the iPhone's Wallet app, with key benefits including color-coded spending summaries, no fees, and Daily Cash cash back paid out daily. Apple Card holders can also open a high-yield savings account.

The anniversary comes ahead of a big change planned for the Apple Card.

In January, Apple announced that Chase will become the new Apple Card issuer by early 2028.

Currently, the Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs, but the investment banking firm is winding down its consumer lending business following significant financial losses and other issues over the years. Apple reportedly let Goldman Sachs out of the Apple Card contract that was supposed to run until 2030, and it has now turned to Chase, a large U.S. banking chain owned by the massive financial institution J.P. Morgan.

In a FAQ, Apple said cardholders can continue to use the Apple Card as they normally do.

Once the transition is complete, Apple Card balances for open accounts will be with Chase, and this will be reflected on each cardholder's credit report.

Goldman Sachs will continue to provide customer service to Apple Card users in the interim.

Mastercard will remain the Apple Card's payment network.

Apple said additional details regarding the transition will be shared with all Apple Card users as the transition date approaches, so there is no other specific information yet. It sounds like the Apple Card experience will remain the same until early 2028, but there could be some changes beyond that to be announced later.

Unfortunately, the Apple Card remains available in the U.S. only, and there is no indication that will change in the near future.

Tag: Apple Card

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Apple Watch Alerted Runner to Serious Heart Problem

Joe Rossignol — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:58:20 PDT

In a new ad shared on its YouTube channel today, Apple highlighted how the Apple Watch alerted an athlete named Connor to signs of atrial fibrillation. Apple said doctors later uncovered that Connor had a congenital heart condition, which resulted in him having open-heart surgery, so the Apple Watch potentially saved his life.

After noticing he had a very fast heart rate while training for a triathlon, Connor used the ECG app on his Apple Watch, which detected signs of atrial fibrillation.

The ECG app comes preinstalled on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer and all Apple Watch Ultra models, but it is not available on any Apple Watch SE models.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11

Tag: Apple Ads

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

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Apple's New Beats 360 Headphones Keep Leaking

Joe Rossignol — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:01:29 PDT

Apple's upcoming Beats 360 headphones appeared in Brazil's ANATEL regulatory database today, according to a new filing spotted by MacRumors.

The filing merely mentions an unnamed product with a model number of A3577, but we know that it is for the Beats 360. The headphones already appeared in the U.S.'s FCC database with the same model number back in May, before soccer stars like Lamine Yamal and Antonee Robinson were spotted wearing them around the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

MacRumors was first to report on the Beats 360 name this week after the headphones appeared in various retail listings on Amazon and other reseller websites, some of which have since been removed. The listings revealed that the headphones will be available in Black, Cloud, Sky, and Pink, at a minimum. There will also be interchangeable Performance Knit and UltraPlush ear cushions and headbands that come in those same four colors, plus extra options like Volt and Navy, allowing you to create your own personalized look.

Beats 360 have a unique design with some similarities to the AirPods Max, including telescoping headband arms that smoothly extend and stay in place to maintain the desired fit. One of the product listings said the over-ear headphones offer up to 1.75× more noise cancellation than the Beats Studio Pro that came out in 2023.

The listing also said that the Beats 360 are Apple's first-ever sweat-resistant and water-resistant over-ear headphones, with an IPX4 rating.

Other features and specs mentioned in the listing included all-day battery life, a fold-flat design, and a high-fidelity acoustic platform.

Beats 360 will come with a set of interchangeable Performance Knit cushions and a woven ripstop fabric carrying case, but customers will need to supply their own USB-C charging cable and power adapter. One listing said the headphones will be priced at $299.99 in the U.S., but we cannot confirm if that information is accurate.

Beats Studio Pro are regularly priced at $349.99.

It is unclear when Apple plans to officially announce the Beats 360, but with all of these leaks across regulatory databases, athlete teasers, and early retail listings, it seems like the headphones will be released in the near future.

Tags: Beats, Beats 360

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iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Joe Rossignol — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:00:42 PDT

Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern.

As usual, the iPhone event is expected to take place in the first half of September.

Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The last time the holiday was on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time Labor Day was on September 7 in a normal year was in 2015, and the iPhone event was held on Wednesday, September 9 that year.

Accordingly, the most likely date for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra event this year is Wednesday, September 9 until proven otherwise.

Back when the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus event fell on Wednesday, September 9 in 2015, pre-orders began on Saturday, September 12, rather than Friday, September 11. Friday is a much more common day for iPhone pre-orders to begin, but Apple may have been respectfully avoiding September 11 in 2015 due to the 9/11 anniversary.

So, it is possible that iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra pre-orders will begin on Saturday, September 12 this year, unless Apple changes things up. In that case, the release date for the devices would likely be Friday, September 18.

Another possibility is that Apple waits until Tuesday, September 15 to hold the event, in which case pre-orders would likely begin on Friday, September 18. Then, the devices would likely be released on Friday, September 25.

Apple has yet to announce any official dates, so all we can do is make these educated guesses for now. Soon enough, we will find out the actual dates.

Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro

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Apple Watch Series 11 Discounted by $100 at Best Buy and Amazon

Mitchel Broussard — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:52:45 PDT

Best Buy this week has low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. This sale includes a handful of 42mm and 46mm GPS aluminum models, as well as similar discounts on cellular devices.

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 $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find matching prices in both the 42mm GPS and 46mm GPS sizes, but stock is dwindling at both retailers so act fast if you're interested.

$100 OFF

Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00

$100 OFF

Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00

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

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

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5 Apple Products to Get OLED Displays

Joe Rossignol — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:50:27 PDT

Apple plans to upgrade several iPads and Macs with OLED displays over the next three years, according to a new DigiTimes report.

The following five devices will receive OLED displays between 2026 and 2029, according to the Taiwanese publication's industry sources:

iPad mini: 2026

MacBook Pro: Late 2026 or early 2027

iPad Air: 2027

iMac: 2028 or 2029

MacBook Air: 2028 or 2029

OLED displays have better overall image quality compared to LCD displays, thanks to richer colors and higher contrast ratio with true blacks.

All current iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro models already have OLED displays.

While the iPad Pro features so-called "Tandem OLED" technology that uses two OLED panels for increased brightness, and ProMotion support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, the report said the iPad Air will have a single-stack OLED display and an LTPS backplane, meaning it will have lower brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. These limitations would make sense given that the iPad Air is priced hundreds of dollars less than the iPad Pro.

It is unclear if Apple ever plans to release a Studio Display XDR with an OLED display. The monitor currently has mini-LED backlighting.

The entry-level iPad and MacBook Neo are expected to stick with LCD displays.

Tags: DigiTimes, OLED

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Ceramic Apple Watch Rumored to Return With Series 12

Hartley Charlton — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:17:31 PDT

Apple plans to resurrect its ceramic Apple Watch casing with this year's Series 12 model, according to the leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami."

In a new post on X, Kosutami said that the casing will return with the Series 12. Apple first introduced a ceramic Apple Watch Edition with the Series 2 in September 2016, replacing the original gold Edition model and bringing the line's price down from thousands of dollars to a comparatively modest $1,249.

The white ceramic finish, made from a compressed zirconia and alumina powder polished with a diamond slurry, was marketed as being four times as hard as stainless steel. Apple expanded the material a year later with a gray ceramic option alongside the Series 3, but the Edition line disappeared entirely for the Series 4 in 2018, with Apple dropping ceramic and offering no high-end case option at all that year.

The white ceramic finish returned for the Series 5 in 2019 alongside an all-new titanium option, before Apple discontinued it for good when the Series 6 launched in 2020. The material has been absent from the Apple Watch lineup for six years since. It has since become one of the more sought after finishes among collectors on the resale market.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the ceramic case option is expected to return either this year or in 2027. Kosutami's latest post suggests that the feature will indeed arrive this year.

The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to feature a new chip for improved performance, alongside a selection of other small upgrades. The device is expected to be introduced alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 4, iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and first foldable iPhone next month.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11

Tag: Kosutami

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

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iOS 27 Shared Albums Go Full Res at the Cost of Your iCloud Storage

Tim Hardwick — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 05:48:20 PDT

In iOS 27, new Shared Albums you create in the Photos app retain full-resolution quality for the first time, but they now eat into your iCloud storage – and that includes any items added by other people invited to contribute.

Currently, photos in a Shared Album are automatically reduced to 2,048 pixels on the long edge (except for panoramic photos, which can be up to 5,400 pixels wide). In iOS 27 though, both retain their full resolution. But there comes the major trade-off.

For years now, Apple has allowed you to store up to 5,000 photos and videos in Shared Albums without impacting your iCloud storage limit. That's no longer the case in iOS 27. Perhaps more significantly, if you invite someone to a Shared Album and they add their own photos and videos to it, as the owner, this too will count against your iCloud storage limit.

Apple has also made it easier to invite people to Shared Albums. The company says friends and family can now join and collaborate on the web, even without an Apple Account or Apple device. That means Android and Windows users can contribute via iCloud.com, so the inclination for participants to add photos and videos is only likely to increase. Be careful who you invite...

On the plus side, iOS 27 introduces a free alternative – you can create temporary Shared Albums that allow users to collaborate on short-term projects without eating into your iCloud storage. But after 30 days, any photos and videos not saved to your library are deleted.

Fortunately, existing Shared Albums by default are unaffected by the changes, but the Photos app does include an "Upgrade Shared Album" option for those who want to improve the quality of its contents – albeit at the cost of iCloud storage.

Apple has yet to update its support documentation to reflect the upcoming changes.

iOS 27 is currently in public beta and is expected to be released in September when Apple launches new iPhone models with 5GB of free iCloud storage included.

Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27

Tag: Photos

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Fake Cases Hint at New Clear and TechWoven Colors for iPhone 18 Pro

Hartley Charlton — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:59:35 PDT

The leaker known as "DuanRui" today shared video and images of cases designed for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, potentially offering an early look at some of the new color options for Apple's official accessories.

The cases themselves are fake, featuring the same model number used for existing iPhone 17 Pro accessories, but they could still be based on the genuine cases Apple is expected to release alongside the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max next month.

Ahead of every major new iPhone announcement, dupe accessories like these tend to circulate in China well before Apple's official unveiling. Case makers frequently work from leaked dimensions and CAD files to get their molds ready in time for launch day, and while some manufacturers take creative liberties and expand their lineups beyond what Apple ends up shipping, such as continuing to offer leather cases, the fakes can still offer an early indication of some of the genuine accessories to come.

One clip shows an Apple-style clear case tinted light blue. It retains the opaque square in the center of the case that conceals the MagSafe magnets, a design first introduced last year on the iPhone 17 Pro's clear case due to the relocated Apple logo on the device. It was criticized by some for its appearance, particularly with Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue. The light blue tint is notable given that the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ is rumored to come in a Light Blue finish, which this case would complement.

pic.twitter.com/8DygztVAaM
— DuanRui段锐 (@duanrui1205) August 20, 2026

The TechWoven cases shown in the images appear in a wider range of colors than what Apple currently offers, featuring black, cherry red, brown, green, blue, and taupe. Apple's existing iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven cases come in just five colors: blue, purple, black, sienna, and green.

pic.twitter.com/oce8Drze6N
— DuanRui段锐 (@duanrui1205) August 20, 2026

The cherry red option stands out in particular, as it would match the eye-catching "flagship" "Dark Cherry" finish widely rumored for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models.

The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to launch alongside the first foldable iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone Ultra," in September.

Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro

Tag: DuanRui

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Strong iPhone Sales Are Giving Samsung Display a Big OLED Boost

Tim Hardwick — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:10:55 PDT

Strong iPhone sales have helped boost flexible OLED display shipments from Samsung Display so far this year, according to a report from The Elec. Samsung shipped approximately 120 million flexible OLED smartphone panels in the first half of the year, up 35 percent year-over-year. That accounted for about 65 percent of the overall increase in global flexible OLED panel shipments.

Market research firm Sigmaintell expects demand to remain strong into the second half of the year, partly thanks to the expected launch of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone models in September.

Tags: OLED, Samsung, The Elec

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Apple Fires Back at OpenAI's Bid to Toss Trade Secrets Suit

Tim Hardwick — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 03:40:54 PDT

Apple has urged a federal judge to reject OpenAI's recent motion to dismiss its trade secrets lawsuit, arguing in a new filing that the company's defense depends on "distortion, speculation, and improper extrinsic evidence."

Apple sued OpenAI in July, accusing the company of running a scheme to pull confidential product information out of former Apple employees who became job candidates and new hires. Apple's suit claims more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI.

Earlier this month, OpenAI's motion argued that Apple in its filing never properly identified what information actually counts as a protectable trade secret. The company said it has no interest in Apple's confidential material because it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple."

But in a 32-page opposition brief filed Wednesday, seen by MacRumors, Apple restates several of its main allegations against former engineer Chang Liu and OpenAI hardware chief Tan Yew Tan, and argues that OpenAI's defenses are fact disputes that should be resolved after discovery, rather than used for dismissal.

Apple says Liu exploited a "rare authentication bug" to access Apple's network storage weeks after joining OpenAI, and downloaded dozens of confidential engineering files, including a presentation on how to manufacture and test main logic boards.

As for Tan, Apple repeats its allegation that he used internal project codenames to question interview candidates about unreleased Apple products. The company also claims that Tan asked one Apple employee to bring components she had worked on to OpenAI for a "show and tell" session. The components are said to have included batteries, system-on-chips (SoCs), logic boards, and shields.

Apple also counters OpenAI's argument for dismissal that Apple has not identified a protectable trade secret that the company allegedly stole. Citing the Ninth Circuit's 2025 Quintara decision, Apple contends that this information does not need to be disclosed yet because it is a "fact dispute" that should be resolved later when evidence has been presented, either at summary judgement or trial.

Apple also points out that forcing it to describe its trade secrets in specific detail in a public filing would amount to publishing the very secrets it's trying to protect.

The rest of the brief argues OpenAI is relying on material the judge isn't allowed to consider at this stage. OpenAI included text messages, a website listing Apple's codenames, and a copy of its interview guide to support its motion. Apple argues that none of it belongs there because a dismiss is based on the complaint alone.

Apple also uses one of OpenAI's own lines against it. OpenAI's motion called its innocent explanation for Tan's conduct "at least equally plausible" as Apple's. Indeed, Apple argues that under Ninth Circuit precedent, the case moves forward rather than being thrown out where two plausible explanations compete.

Judge Edward J. Davila is set to hear the company's arguments on October 1.

Tags: Apple Lawsuits, OpenAI

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EU Welcomes Apple's App Store Changes, Epic Slams 'Junk Fees'

Juli Clover — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:16:25 PDT

Apple yesterday updated its App Store fees in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act and to put an end to its ongoing conflict with the European Commission. Apple cut the Core Technology Fee and simplified its pricing structure, so apps distributed through alternative marketplaces or through the web will pay less than before.

When announcing the changes, Apple said it worked in "close collaboration" with the EC, and that the updates would "resolve Apple's disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution."

The European Commission has since confirmed that it approves of Apple's changes to its App Store policies, giving a statement to the Irish Independent:

The Commission welcomes Apple's changes to their business terms, which follow a close dialogue between the Commission and Apple after the Commission issued a non-compliance decision related to Apple's steering terms as well as preliminary findings related to alternative app distribution, both in April 2025.

Following today's announcement, the Commission will monitor Apple's effective implementation of the new terms. Under the DMA, users in the EU have a right to full and effective choice of alternative app distribution channels.

The EC says it will continue to monitor how Apple implements the new terms, which will go into effect on October 1.

While the EC approved Apple's planned changes, Apple legal opponent Epic Games was not happy with the new fee structure, denouncing the "new junk fees." ‌Epic Games‌ said Apple's new terms do not comply with the Digital Markets Act and claimed if the EC accepts the terms, the DMA "will become meaningless."

Apple announced new junk fees in the EU that do nothing to open up the mobile app ecosystem to competition, as required by Digital Market Act.

Apple will now charge:
• 20% fee on alternative in-app payment options
• 15% fee on links to make purchases outside apps
• 5% Core Technology Commission on payments made in apps downloaded from alternative stores or the web

The law makes it clear that Apple must allow developers to offer link outs to the web for purchases "free of charge" and has to allow "effective use" of competing stores. Apple's terms deliberately violate the Digital Markets Act. If the Commission accepts the terms and drops their ongoing enforcement actions, the law will become meaningless and consumers and developers will not experience the benefits it was designed to provide.

Under the new terms, ‌Epic Games‌ will need to pay a five percent Core Technology Commission on digital purchases made through its ‌Epic Games‌ Store on the iPhone and iPad in the EU. For an app distributed through the ‌App Store‌ with a link to purchase options, Epic would need to pay 15 percent.

Apple is implementing lower rates for Small Business Program, Video Partner Program, and Mini Apps Partner Program participants, plus it waives the Core Technology Commission for small marketplaces. ‌Epic Games‌ does not qualify for reduced fees.

Tags: App Store, Epic Games, Epic Games vs. Apple, European Commission, European Union

This article, "EU Welcomes Apple's App Store Changes, Epic Slams 'Junk Fees'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's Camera AirPods Not Launching Until 2027 Despite Leaked Video

Juli Clover — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:42:46 PDT

Apple's camera-equipped AirPods will not launch until 2027 despite the demo video MacRumors found earlier this week, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

On Monday, MacRumors shared a demo video featuring the camera-equipped AirPods in action. The video was hidden in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, suggesting Apple was preparing for a launch. That's apparently not the case, and people familiar with the product told Gurman the AirPods with cameras aren't going to launch anytime soon.

The AirPods are not on Apple's 2026 release schedule because the company is still working to resolve supply chain and software challenges.

Gurman's own reporting on the camera AirPods timing has been confusing. In May, he said the AirPods were in an "advanced" testing stage with mass production to begin soon, and then in June, he said the AirPods had been delayed until late 2027.

In early August, he reversed course and said the camera-equipped AirPods could launch as soon as September. In that report, he clarified that there were two variants of the camera-equipped AirPods in the works, one with a B790 codename and one with a B798 codename. "Apple famously creates competing versions of the same product internally," he wrote.

In today's report, Gurman says the B790 product is a version of the AirPods Pro 3 with cameras, while the B798 model is a new generation of AirPods Pro with cameras. The B790 AirPods were shown off in the video, which featured a man holding a book up to the AirPods so Siri could read the title and save it for later.

The B790 model was apparently "on the 2026 road map until recently," but Apple no longer plans to release it.

The AirPods planned for 2027 will include low-resolution cameras that feed information to ‌Siri‌ AI for Visual Intelligence features as demonstrated in the video. The AirPods cameras will not be able to capture photos and videos.

Apple could launch the new AirPods in fall 2027 alongside the 20th-anniversary iPhone.

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3

Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution), AirPods Pro (Neutral)

Related Forum: AirPods

This article, "Apple's Camera AirPods Not Launching Until 2027 Despite Leaked Video" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Meta AI Launches Mac App With Screen Sharing and Dictation

Juli Clover — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:35:26 PDT

Meta today launched a new ‌Meta‌ AI app for the Mac, which is available in a beta capacity.

The app is primarily meant for businesses and content creators, and it integrates with Facebook and Instagram. It incorporates analytics tools so it can answer questions about performance, and connects with Google Workspace for document access. Google Workspace access requires a professional Facebook or Instagram account.

‌Meta‌ says there's an option to share a window during a session using screen capture to get advice based on what's being worked on. It also includes built-in dictation that works across all apps on the Mac.

‌Meta‌ is adding new ‌Meta‌ AI features for business users across its platforms, so the assistant can complete recurring tasks and reminders and generate decks, docs, and spreadsheets.

Creators and businesses may want to use caution when opting in to ‌Meta‌ AI, because ‌Meta‌'s privacy policy makes it clear that "interactions with features that are part of AI at ‌Meta‌" are used to train its models.

‌Meta‌ AI is free to use, but there are ‌Meta‌ One plans that increase rate limits.

Tag: Meta

This article, "Meta AI Launches Mac App With Screen Sharing and Dictation" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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New Apple Store Reportedly Opening in Idaho

Joe Rossignol — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:46:44 PDT

Apple plans to open a new 10,000-square-foot store at The Village at Meridian, an outdoor shopping complex near Boise, Idaho, according to building permits reviewed by BoiseDev.

Apple is aiming to open the store in time for the iPhone 18 Pro launch this September, a tipster claimed. The company's only other store in Idaho is located at the Boise Towne Square shopping mall.

Tag: Apple Store

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