MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:03:11 PDT en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com The MacRumors Show: Michael Fisher Talks iPhone Ultra https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/the-macrumors-show-michael-fisher-iphone-ultra/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-macrumors-show-michael-fisher-talks-iphone-ultra.2487703/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:48:57 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/the-macrumors-show-michael-fisher-iphone-ultra/ Hartley Charlton Featured iPhone Ultra The MacRumors Show MrMobile," joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to talk through key rumors about the "iPhone Ultra" and how the device could compare to rivals.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos

Michael has covered the foldable phone category since 2019 and personally owned or reviewed nearly every major device in it, from the original Galaxy Fold to Samsung's newly redesigned Galaxy Z Fold8. He still carries a Motorola Razr Ultra as his personal phone alongside a rotating stack of review units.

Apple's foldable iPhone, rumored to be called the "‌iPhone Ultra‌," is widely expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro this fall, featuring a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, the A20 chip, and a starting price above $2,000.

Much of the design speculation centers on Apple adopting a shorter, wider form factor similar to the Z Fold8 and older Pixel devices, rather than the taller, narrower shape most foldables have used for years. To minimize the crease that has plagued the category since the original Galaxy Fold, Apple is reportedly pursuing a layered glass display structure paired with a liquid metal hinge.

The foldable is reportedly expected to ship with just two rear lenses and no telephoto camera, despite engineering compromises made elsewhere to fit in a Camera Control button, while Samsung's competing Z Fold8 Ultra ships with a three-lens system that includes a telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The foldable iPhone is also expected to use Touch ID built into the side button rather than Face ID, since there is reportedly no room for the TrueDepth sensor array in such a thin chassis.

Pricing has been a recurring point of speculation, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman saying the foldable will "cross the $2,000 threshold" in the U.S., which would make it Apple's most expensive iPhone ever. Durability is also likely to face scrutiny, given the hinge failures that plagued the original Galaxy Fold and the fact that Samsung's current foldables still lack a full dust resistance rating years into the category's existence.

Code strings found in the iOS 27 beta reference a hinge angle, which could hint at foldable-specific software features, and Apple has already introduced new app adaptation protocols, likely as preparation for the device.

See more of Michael's work over on his YouTube channel. Fisher is also a co-founder of Clicks, which makes physical keyboard accessories for smartphones. 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 how the Apple Watch is seemingly heading into one of its least eventful new generations, yet the rumors stacking up behind it describe the most radical rethink in the product's history coming later.

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.
Tags: iPhone Ultra, The MacRumors Show

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]]> Apple Pay Supporting U.S. National Park Foundation Over the Next Week https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/apple-pay-supports-national-park-foundation/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-pay-supporting-u-s-national-park-foundation-over-the-next-week.2487689/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:52:21 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/apple-pay-supports-national-park-foundation/ Joe Rossignol Apple Pay No Linkback Now through August 28, Apple will donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for every purchase made in the U.S. using Apple Pay on Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store, up to a maximum of $1 million.

In addition, the annual U.S. national parks Apple Watch Activity Challenge returns on Sunday, August 23 this year.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

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]]> MG Could Be Next Automaker to Get Apple Car Key Support https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/mg-apple-car-key-support/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mg-could-be-next-automaker-to-get-apple-car-key-support.2487682/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:04:24 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/mg-apple-car-key-support/ Hartley Charlton iPhone Car Keys

The discovery indicates Apple has begun preparing car key support for SAIC Motor's MG brand. With an Apple Car Key, drivers can use their iPhone or Apple Watch to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle instead of relying on a traditional key fob, with support for Express Mode that works without authentication.

MG began as a British sports car marque in 1924 before China's SAIC Motor acquired the brand in 2007, and it has since become one of the fastest-growing car brands in Europe. The company recently delivered its one millionth car to a European customer, with roughly 386,000 of those sales coming from the UK alone, where MG now holds more than four percent of the market and ranks among the country's 10 largest car makers by volume. That growth has been driven in large part by MG's electric lineup, including the MG4 and MG Cyberster.

As with other backend references to expanded Apple Car Key support, the code does not indicate which MG models will be compatible or provide a timeframe for rollout, and MG has not yet announced support for the feature. Its addition to Apple's backend code does suggest, however, that its release could soon be on the way.
Tag: iPhone Car Keys

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]]> Apple's Biggest Summer Deals Drop: AirPods Max 2 Plummet to $429, M4 iPad Air $100 Off https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/best-apple-deals-of-the-week-8-21-26/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-biggest-summer-deals-drop-airpods-max-2-plummet-to-429-m4-ipad-air-100-off.2487677/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:23:42 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/best-apple-deals-of-the-week-8-21-26/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured
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.

Best Buy Anniversary



  • What's the deal? Save sitewide during Best Buy's 60th Anniversary Sale

  • Where can I get it? Best Buy

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

SITEWIDE SALE
Best Buy 60th Anniversary Sale


Best Buy is hosting its big 60th Anniversary sale this week, with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones, monitors, and much more. This event is set to last for the rest of this week, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member to see most of the deals.

Portable Power Stations



  • What's the deal? Take up to $1,500 off Anker and Jackery portable power stations

  • Where can I get it? Amazon and Jackery

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

UP TO 46% OFF
Anker SOLIX Sale

UP TO $1,500 OFF
Jackery Home Backup Sale


Anker and Jackery have introduced big discounts across their most popular portable power stations this week, including up to $1,500 off select models from each company. We're tracking Anker's best deals over at Amazon, while Jackery's discounts can be found on the retailer's own website.

AirPods



  • What's the deal? Take $120 off AirPods Max 2, $59 off AirPods Pro 3, and more

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

$59 OFF
AirPods Pro 3 for $189.99

$120 OFF
AirPods Max 2 for $429.00


Amazon this week had a big collection of discounts across the AirPods lineup, highlighted by the AirPods Max 2 for $429.00, down from $549.00. This is now the best price we've seen on the AirPods Max 2 since Prime Day, and one of the overall best prices we've tracked so far in 2026, and it's accompanied by a solid deal on the AirPods Pro 3.

iPad Air



  • What's the deal? Take $100 off M4 iPad Air

  • Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

$100 OFF
11-inch M4 iPad Air for $649.00

$100 OFF
13-inch M4 iPad Air for $849.00


Amazon and Best Buy this week have multiple discounts on the M4 iPad Air, providing $100 off these 2026 models. These are the best prices we've seen in the wake of Apple's summer price hikes.

AirTag



  • What's the deal? Take up to $10 off AirTag 2

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

$5 OFF
AirTag 2 (1-Pack) for $24.00

$10 OFF
AirTag 2 (4-Pack) for $89.00


Apple's AirTag 2 is on sale for $89.00 this week on Amazon, down from $99.00. This deal is on the 4-Pack of the AirTag 2, and it's a match of the record low price first seen during Prime Day.

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

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]]> Walmart to Begin Accepting Apple Pay in U.S. Stores https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/walmart-to-begin-accepting-apple-pay-in-us/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/walmart-to-begin-accepting-apple-pay-in-u-s-stores.2487676/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:12:47 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/walmart-to-begin-accepting-apple-pay-in-us/ Joe Rossignol Apple Pay Featured Walmart announced that it will finally begin accepting tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay in some of its Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the U.S. starting Monday, August 24. The retailer plans to roll out tap-to-pay support to all of its U.S. stores by the end of 2026 and to its gas stations by mid-2027.


"We want customers and members to have choice in how they pay, so they can check out in the way that works best for them," said Walmart, in a press release.

Other major U.S. retailers like The Home Depot, Lowe's, Kroger, and Texas-based grocery store chain H-E-B already reversed course and rolled out tap-to-pay support in recent years, leaving Walmart as one of the most notable remaining holdouts until now.

Before this, Walmart prioritized its own Walmart Pay system that involves scanning a QR code at checkout, but it has finally listened to customer feedback and decided to accept NFC-based tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay at its U.S. stores. Tap-to-pay support extends to physical credit and debit cards.

With Apple Pay, launched in 2014, you can simply hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the payment terminal to pay with a digital version of an eligible credit or debit card stored in the Apple Wallet app. Apple Pay has a lot of privacy protections, including hiding a customer's actual credit card number during the payment process.

Existing payment options like Walmart Pay will remain available.

Walmart has already accepted Apple Pay in its Canadian stores since 2020. It is unclear if the retailer will begin accepting tap-to-pay options in Mexico too.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: Walmart
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

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]]> Apple Paid $17 Billion in Taxes to Ireland Last Year https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/apple-paid-17-billion-in-taxes-to-ireland/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-paid-17-billion-in-taxes-to-ireland-last-year.2487670/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:45:55 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/apple-paid-17-billion-in-taxes-to-ireland/ Hartley Charlton No Linkback Apple paid $17 billion in taxes to Ireland last year, which is 40% of its $43 billion worldwide total (via the Financial Times). The figures were disclosed for the first time under new EU rules requiring large companies to break down their finances by country.

The payment was significantly boosted by the EU's top court ordering Apple in 2024 to pay €13 billion in back taxes, after ruling that Ireland had granted the company unlawful state aid resulting in a tax rate of less than 1%.
This article, "Apple Paid $17 Billion in Taxes to Ireland Last Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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]]> Smartphone Sales Are Falling Worldwide, But Apple Keeps Growing https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/smartphone-sales-falling-but-apple-grows/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/smartphone-sales-are-falling-worldwide-but-apple-keeps-growing.2487669/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:38:47 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/smartphone-sales-falling-but-apple-grows/ Hartley Charlton China Counterpoint Europe India Latin America Counterpoint Research reports.


Between late March and the beginning of August, Indian smartphone sales ran 14% behind the equivalent stretch of 2025, and the market slipped for three straight weeks once major promotions in July had finished. Apple outperformed every rival with a 15% rise, which Counterpoint attributes to strong iPhone 17 demand holding up alongside continued affordability offers. Samsung and OPPO each grew just 4% in the country.

The research firm added that promotions are borrowing demand from the weeks either side of them, rather than growing the market. Amid broad price rises, Counterpoint expects the Indian smartphone market to finish 2026 down around 13%.

Latin American smartphone shipments fell 10% in the second quarter, which is the region's steepest annual drop since the third quarter of 2023. Apple and Samsung were the only brands to grow, by 5% and 6% respectively, while Motorola, HONOR, and Xiaomi all receded in the market. Apple's gains apparently came from absorbing component cost increases rather than passing them on to customers, and the company now accounts for roughly 51% of everything sold above $600 in the region.

European shipments dropped 10% to 35 million units, which is the weakest second quarter in three years. Apple added nine percentage points of market share to achieve parity with Samsung, with each now on 34%, and Xiaomi on 15%. No other brands sit above 4%. Counterpoint expects further declines as inventory dries up, but forecasts that Apple will continue outperforming the wider market.

The smartphone market in China was down 8.6% across the first 30 weeks of the year, with the rate of decline widening back into double digits once the popular 618 shopping festival had concluded. Apple's sales have slowed since July, with discounts pulled back across retail channels and much of the summer's demand already spent during promotions. Counterpoint expects that lull to last until the new iPhone lineup arrives. Huawei, meanwhile, led the market throughout in the region, holding more than a fifth of weekly sales since April.

Counterpoint expects constrained memory supply and elevated prices to run through the remainder of 2026, with a recovery unlikely before 2028. Apple is expected to introduce its next iPhone lineup in September, featuring the iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra."
Tags: China, Counterpoint, Europe, India, Latin America

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]]> Apple Reportedly Lays Off 60 Vision Products Group Employees https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/apple-lays-off-vision-products-employees/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-reportedly-lays-off-60-vision-products-group-employees.2487517/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:28:45 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/apple-lays-off-vision-products-employees/ Tim Hardwick Vision Pro AppleInsider, citing its own source. Apple is said to have laid off at least 60 employees from its Apple Vision Group.


Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the Vision Pro team was disbanded and its members redistributed across other projects, following the October 2025 refresh of the Vision Pro and the headset's weak reception.

Incoming Apple CEO John Ternus also reportedly signed off on canceling both a second Vision Pro and a cheaper, slimmer "Vision Air," with Apple's focus now shifted to smart glasses.

Last month, The Elec reported that Apple had suspended development of the display for a cheaper, lighter version of the Vision Pro that it originally planned to launch in the next few years. Gurman doesn't expect Apple to launch another headset before late 2028 at the earliest.
Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

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]]> Camera AirPods Code Reveals Image Capture Resolution, Status Light, Person Detection, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/camera-airpods-code-reveals-hardware-details/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/camera-airpods-code-reveals-image-capture-resolution-status-light-person-detection-and-more.2487489/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 02:32:05 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/21/camera-airpods-code-reveals-hardware-details/ Tim Hardwick AirPods Featured demo video of them in action discovered earlier this week. The video was found by MacRumors in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, but it turns out there are even more details in the code.


MacRumors forum member mactracker has discovered a hidden macOS framework called "AccessorySensorManager" that manages sensor data from the AirPods when they are connected to a Mac. That's turned up the following information:


  • AirPods designed to capture paired color images: Code indicates the left and right earbuds have individual camera sensors that return synchronised RGB still images of up to 1 megapixel with matching frame IDs, giving Visual Intelligence the same scene from two angles. This doesn't rule out other sensors like infrared cameras, but they aren't mentioned in the code.


  • AirPods support periodic image capture but not video: The cameras take internal still frames for Visual Intelligence to process, rather than "taking pictures" or recording video. In "active" mode, the framework can request a synced pair of images, or it can receive a capture rate, where pairs of stills are continually sent at the specified rate.


  • Active and passive capture modes use different resolutions: In "active" mode, likely triggered by the user via Siri, the AirPods capture a 640x640 image and return a processed 1024x1024 image. "That's about 0.4 megapixels of sampled image data, and a little over 1 megapixel for the output frame," mactracker explains. In "passive" mode, they capture a 320x320 image that can return a 320×320 or 512×512 output. "These are capture-specific resolutions, and the physical sensor's native resolution may be larger," adds mactracker.


  • Passive mode appears intended for background environmental awareness: The framework mentions contextual conditions like nearby speech, changes in the surrounding audio, posture changes, head rotation, and movement outside a defined area. It's not clear from the code whether every condition triggers a camera capture.


  • AirPods account for continual head movement: The framework includes lens distortion correction, dual-camera calibration, and camera-to-motion sensor calibration. It can also reject images affected by excessive movement or an occluded view.


  • Some processing happens directly on AirPods: The code mentions "peripheral inference," or on-device detection of whether a person is in view.


  • Each AirPod likely has a capture indicator light: The framework contains code that allows it to remotely control a hardware indicator and its brightness, suggesting the AirPods have a light to let other people know when they are capturing still images.


It's worth noting that the AirPods that were shown in the demo video were a version of the AirPods Pro 3 with cameras, which have a B790 codename. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that Apple no longer plans to release this model, and instead is working on a new generation of AirPods with cameras, codenamed B798. This makes it likely that the discovered framework is related to the canceled model. It also underlines that the findings show how Apple's camera-equipped AirPods could work, rather than a guarantee of the final product's features.

Gurman says the AirPods are planned for 2027, and could potentially launch alongside the 20th-anniversary iPhone.
Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

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]]> Dark Cherry and More: Every iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra Color Rumor https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone-18-pro-ultra-colors/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/dark-cherry-and-more-every-iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-ultra-color-rumor.2487476/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:33:41 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone-18-pro-ultra-colors&post_date=1787283120/ Juli Clover Featured iPhone 18 iPhone 18 Pro iPhone Fold iPhone Ultra 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 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-music-to-label-ai-generated-songs/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-music-to-label-ai-generated-songs.2487475/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:41:33 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-music-to-label-ai-generated-songs/ Juli Clover Apple Music 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 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/chatgpt-imessages-mac/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/chatgpt-can-now-read-and-send-imessages-on-mac.2487473/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:12:55 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/chatgpt-imessages-mac/ Juli Clover ChatGPT 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 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/airpods-beta-firmware-9a5347a/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-new-airpods-beta-firmware-with-ios-27-features.2487464/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:10:34 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/airpods-beta-firmware-9a5347a/ Juli Clover AirPods AirPods Pro Featured iOS 27 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? https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-where-is-carplay-ultra/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-where-is-carplay-ultra.2487461/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:25:12 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-where-is-carplay-ultra/ Joe Rossignol CarPlay CarPlay Ultra 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
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology

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]]> Apple Card Turns Seven With Big Change Ahead https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-card-turns-seven-with-big-change-ahead/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-card-turns-seven-with-big-change-ahead.2487453/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:19:07 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-card-turns-seven-with-big-change-ahead/ Joe Rossignol 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 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-watch-alerted-runner-to-heart-problem/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-alerted-runner-to-serious-heart-problem.2487451/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:58:09 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-watch-alerted-runner-to-heart-problem/ Joe Rossignol Apple Watch Apple Ads 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 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-beats-360-headphones-leak/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-beats-360-headphones-keep-leaking.2487449/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:01:29 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-beats-360-headphones-leak/ Joe Rossignol Featured Beats Beats 360 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 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/iphone-18-pro-preorders-release-date-when/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-18-pro-pre-orders-and-release-date.2487448/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:00:42 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/iphone-18-pro-preorders-release-date-when/ Joe Rossignol iPhone 18 Pro

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 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-watch-series-11-discount-2/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-series-11-discounted-by-100-at-best-buy-and-amazon.2487441/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:52:45 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-watch-series-11-discount-2/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured 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.



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Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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]]> 5 Apple Products to Get OLED Displays https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/five-apple-products-to-get-oled-displays/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/5-apple-products-to-get-oled-displays.2487440/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:50:27 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/five-apple-products-to-get-oled-displays/ Joe Rossignol DigiTimes OLED 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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