MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:31:02 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com Singapore Saved Apple $2.7 Billion in Taxes This Year https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/singapore-saved-apple-2-7-billion-in-tax/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/singapore-saved-apple-2-7-billion-in-taxes-this-year.2494013/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:27:30 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/singapore-saved-apple-2-7-billion-in-tax/ Hartley Charlton Corporate Tax Singapore Tax


Apple's annual report shows that the company paid $4.96 billion in cash income taxes in Ireland and $3.25 billion in Singapore. Against the 21% U.S. federal corporate tax rate, Singapore lowered Apple's tax expense by $2.67 billion, about $100 million more than Ireland did.

Singapore's lower tax rate and incentives would have saved Apple $5.49 billion before other taxes and adjustments. A $2.51 billion top-up tax erased nearly half of that initial saving. Singapore introduced the tax to bring the effective tax rate for qualifying large multinationals up to 15%.

Fiscal 2026 was the first year Apple disclosed these figures by country in its annual report under new U.S. accounting rules. Apple reported a combined figure for its foreign subsidiaries in fiscal 2025 and 2024, so those years offer no direct comparison between Singapore and Ireland.

The Financial Times estimated that Apple booked up to $50 billion in pretax profit in Singapore in 2026. Apple's Singapore subsidiaries reported nearly $40 billion a year earlier.

Apple can earn a profit in one country even when the customer is in another. Its Singapore business sells products and services to other Apple companies overseas, so it can earn part of the profit before a product reaches the customer. In Ireland, an Apple subsidiary handles sales in several markets. Profits those businesses earn can qualify for lower taxes under local rules.
Tags: Corporate Tax, Singapore, Tax

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]]> Apple Music's 2026 Artist of the Year is Olivia Dean https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/olivia-dean-apple-music-artist-of-the-year/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-musics-2026-artist-of-the-year-is-olivia-dean.2494011/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:07:00 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/olivia-dean-apple-music-artist-of-the-year/ Joe Rossignol No Linkback Apple Music Apple today announced that Olivia Dean is Apple Music's Artist of the Year in recognition of "her undeniable leap to stardom in what's been the defining feel-good music story of 2026." Dean is the first music artist from the UK to receive this honor, and she will receive a physical Apple Music Award featuring a custom silicon wafer.

Apple Music has highlighted Dean's music and released a video in which she shared her thoughts on being named the service's Artist of the Year.
Tag: Apple Music

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]]> This Could Be Your Last Chance to Pre-Order the HomeView at a Discount https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/last-chance-pre-order-homeview-discount/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/this-could-be-your-last-chance-to-pre-order-the-homeview-at-a-discount.2494010/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 15:48:49 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/last-chance-pre-order-homeview-discount/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured Amazon's pre-order discount is still live and could disappear at any time ahead of launch day.

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.

You can pre-order the Space Gray HomeView for $289.99, down from $299.00. Although only a $9 discount, this is still biggest deal we've seen on the HomeView, and as of writing only Amazon is offering any sort of discount on the device.

$9 OFF
HomeView for $289.99


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]]> MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display: Details You Might Have Missed https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/macbook-pro-proled-xdr-tidbits/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-pro-with-proled-xdr-display-details-you-might-have-missed.2494007/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 15:44:48 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/macbook-pro-proled-xdr-tidbits/ Joe Rossignol MacBook Pro began arriving to customers on Friday, and various details about the laptops continue to surface.


Given these models are available with the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips that power the models with mini-LED displays, performance was expected to be virtually identical across the board, and benchmark results confirm that is the case.

Average scores for multi-core CPU performance in the Geekbench 7 database:
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro (Mini-LED, M5 Max): 34,988

  • 16-inch MacBook Pro (PROLED XDR, M5 Max): 34,904
The chip has an 18-core CPU in both models.

YouTube channel Max Tech noted that the bottom cover on the new MacBook Pro models has slightly recessed feet, and there are now only four pentalobe screws holding it in place, compared to eight on previous models.

Under the bottom cover sit larger speakers, which provide 50% deeper bass according to Apple.

16-inch/Mini-LED on left, 16-inch/PROLED on right

While the MacBook Neo's keyboard can be replaced individually, this is not the case for the new MacBook Pro models, as Apple's repair manuals show the laptops continue to have an all-in-one "Top Case with Battery and Keyboard" part.

In case you missed it, the bottom corners of the display are now rounded on the new models, whereas only the top corners are rounded on the mini-LED displays. This small change results in a much more uniform design.


As we noted over the weekend, Daring Fireball's John Gruber confirmed that the illuminated Apple logo on the new MacBook Pro lids uses a custom light source — seemingly a white LED. On older MacBooks released in 2015 and earlier, the Apple logo was illuminated by the LCD's backlight, but OLED displays do not have a backlight.

Why did Apple bring back the illuminated logo? Gruber shared Apple's answer. "Because it's awesome," he heard an Apple representative say.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

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]]> Some HomePod Mini 2 Buyers Returning Units Over Mac Speaker Issues https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/homepod-mini-2-mac-speaker-issues/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/some-homepod-mini-2-buyers-returning-units-over-mac-speaker-issues.2494009/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 15:34:25 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/homepod-mini-2-mac-speaker-issues/ Tim Hardwick HomePod mini MacRumors forum reports.

OG HomePod minis in a stereo pair on a Mac (don't try this at home)

The new HomePod mini 2 can be used as a default speaker on all Mac models with Wi-Fi 6E or later, according to Apple. A single HomePod can be used alone, or a pair can be twinned for stereo sound. The same setup never reliably worked with the first-generation HomePod mini, with latency and dropout issues common.

Apple introduced the stated new feature with ‌HomePod‌ Software 27.2, and it's meant to work over "a responsive and persistent AirPlay connection," or a wireless point-to-point link that's designed to survive restarts and sleep. (That's different to ordinary AirPlay, which the previous-generation HomePod uses.) For the HomePod mini 2, the feature requires macOS 27.2. It's also supposed to work with the second-generation HomePod using the same software and the aforementioned Wi-Fi 6E requirement.

So far, new HomePod mini 2 owners are reporting two separate problems. For some, the option to enable the persistent connection never appears at all – even on hardware that meets Apple's stated requirements. For others, the connection works at first, but the Mac then falls back to its built-in or monitor speakers after sleep, a restart, or sometimes even after a single notification sound.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy ran into the first problem in her review for The Verge. On a Mac mini M4 – meeting Apple's Wi-Fi 6E requirement – the persistent-output option never showed up, and the speakers behaved like ordinary AirPlay devices, along with audio artifacts, dropouts, and output switching after a restart or whenever Siri was activated on a HomePod. Tuohy said that the feature "feels unfinished," and Apple had not responded to her request for comment at the time of writing.

The second problem, though, seems more prevalent, based on MacRumors forum reports. DanJoeWhitaker said they bought a stereo pair solely to use as Mac speakers, but found that the "Play sound effects through" option reverted to their Studio Display speakers within a minute, and that a single notification sound could make their Mac "forget" the HomePods entirely.

Another forum member, Nismo73, tested a pair on a Mac Studio and was greeted by an error message and sound through the machine's internal speaker after the first wake from sleep. Five owners on the forums describe similar failures, and at least two forum members say they're returning the speakers. DanJoeWhitaker said they were told at an Apple Store that they weren't the first to have the problem – Apple Support's senior team reportedly offered no fix, suggesting the issue was "maybe just an early teething bug."

As for the cause, that's still an open question. The most detailed account we've found so far was from a Redditor with an M3 Max MacBook Pro on a UniFi network. Their Mac's logs showed the point-to-point connection failing while the HomePods were on a 6GHz network, with audio falling back to standard AirPlay at around half a second of latency. Moving the speakers to a 5GHz-only network apparently restored the low-latency persistent mode in that setup. But whether the other failures correlate with 6GHz networks or specific router configurations remains unclear.

Let us know in the comments below if you've had a similar experience with your HomePod mini 2.
Related Roundup: HomePod mini 2
Buyer's Guide: HomePod Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeView, CarPlay – Home & Auto Tech

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]]> Satechi Offers MacRumors Readers 30% Off Select Accessories in Early Black Friday Sale https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/satechi-early-black-friday-sale/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/satechi-offers-macrumors-readers-30-off-select-accessories-in-early-black-friday-sale.2494002/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 15:16:47 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/satechi-early-black-friday-sale/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured Satechi and MacRumors have partnered up to offer our readers 30 percent off a collection of Satechi's best charging and travel accessories. This sale will run through this Sunday, November 15, so you have the rest of this week to shop all of the discounts.

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

Our exclusive sale covers six of Satechi's accessories, including five charging accessories, plus a MagSafe-compatible iPhone wallet. In order to see the sale prices, add one of the devices to your cart on Satechi's website, then enter the code 30MR2026 at checkout to get 30 percent off.

Note: Use code 30MR2026 to see final sale prices.

$50 OFF
Satechi + MacRumors Exclusive Sale


Our code only works on the accessories listed below, and you can buy multiple at once if you're interested in more than one of the deals. Remember to make your purchases before November 15, when the sale will end.



We're recapping all of the best early Black Friday accessories in our main post, including great discounts on TVs, smart home products, and much more. 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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]]> Leaker Envisions a Shorter iPhone With a New iOS Layout https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/leaker-envisions-shorter-iphone/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/leaker-envisions-a-shorter-iphone-with-a-new-ios-layout.2493999/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 14:34:16 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/leaker-envisions-shorter-iphone/ Hartley Charlton 20th-Anniversary iPhone Instant Digital Instant Digital."


Instant Digital imagines Apple shortening a non-folding iPhone once its display has only a single camera cutout or the front-facing camera moves entirely beneath the screen. Taking roughly a status bar's worth of height off the display would bring its aspect ratio from around 19.5:9 to closer to 18:9, apparently making the phone easier to hold and use with one hand.

Controls that currently sit below the status bar could share a row with the time and system indicators. Instant Digital's idea is that combining the two rows would let the shorter display show the same amount of information. The leaker described the layout and proportions as personal speculation.

Apple has already changed how iOS uses the space at the top of the screen with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌'s smaller Dynamic Island supports up to three simultaneous Live Activities, up from two on earlier models. On the ‌iPhone Duo‌, iOS fits a compact status bar into the corner and positions the Dynamic Island vertically along the side of the outer display.

The timing of a cutout-free display on the iPhone remains uncertain. The leaker "Digital Chat Station" has said Apple is testing under-display camera technology and has described an intermediate design with a visible hole for the front-facing camera, similar to the ‌iPhone Duo‌.

In a follow-up post on Weibo, another user said they expect iPhones to retain a camera cutout and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio in both 2027 and 2028. Instant Digital replied that some sources say the cutout could disappear in 2028. Display analyst Ross Young has separately said he expects the 2028 iPhone Pro models to retain a centered camera cutout.

In a separate post, Instant Digital said they had a growing hunch that iOS would change substantially after the 20th-anniversary iPhone launches in 2027. They expect changes to how users interact with the software as well as how it looks.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the anniversary iPhone will have curved glass and thinner bezels in the biggest overhaul to the Pro line since the iPhone X. Digital Chat Station has also said Apple was testing a roughly 7-inch display for the largest anniversary model with the same aspect ratio as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone X offers a precedent for a hardware redesign changing how people use iOS. When Apple removed the Home button in 2017, iOS 11 introduced swipe-up navigation on the iPhone X.
Tags: 20th-Anniversary iPhone, Instant Digital

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]]> Apple to Give You More Control Over When Your Mac Passwords Lock https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/apple-mac-passwords-app-lock-options/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-to-give-you-more-control-over-when-your-mac-passwords-lock.2493996/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 13:42:09 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/apple-mac-passwords-app-lock-options/ Tim Hardwick pdfu pdfu, a new menu in macOS 27.3 beta offers one, three, or 10 minutes of inactivity, alongside options to lock when the Mac itself locks or sleeps, or for it to never automatically lock.


In the current macOS 27.2 general release and in earlier versions of Apple's Mac operating system, the Passwords app uses a fixed three-minute inactivity timeout. So when the update arrives in December, you'll have more control over how long the app stays unlocked, rather than have to rely on the default timeout.

Apple added a dedicated Passwords app for managing your iCloud passwords and logins with the release of macOS Sequoia in September 2024.
Tag: pdfu

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]]> Siri Is Getting a Better Memory https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/siri-could-get-better-remembering-your-life/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/siri-is-getting-a-better-memory.2493989/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 13:15:41 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/siri-could-get-better-remembering-your-life/ Tim Hardwick pdfu Siri Siri AI code findings shared by code explorer pdfu.


In Apple's iOS 27.3 beta release, the system includes a "memory graph" that's designed to organize information about relationships, places, routines, health, workouts, and what motivates users or holds them back, according to the findings. It also identifies "memory atoms" for facts, opinions, intentions, and events, including details about the people, places, times, and topics involved.

According to pdfu, the graph uses two kinds of processes to gather info. One turns structured data into insights – like reading the name fields in a user's own contact card. The other uses an on-device AI model or Private Cloud Compute to extract insights by querying sources including Siri conversations, messages, photos, and health data.

Apparently, only one of these AI-driven processes is present so far: pdfu believes it's designed to identify motivations, barriers, and resources using a set of 60 built-in questions, including questions about routines that might interfere with adequate sleep.

From what's been uncovered so far, it's still an unfinished system – pdfu says there's no process that creates memory atoms yet, for example. In a follow-up explanation, the code sleuth also distinguished the graph from a separate store for explicit memories. The latter store has space for records in Apple's search system, but nothing writes the records yet.

Both systems reportedly use Apple's version of the Kuzu graph database. Apple acquired Kuzu in 2025, but its plans for the technology were unclear when the acquisition emerged earlier this year.

Siri already offers personal context understanding, allowing the assistant to find information about the user's life in apps like Mail, Messages, and Photos. Nothing that's been uncovered so far tells us when the unfinished memory system will become available or how users will have control over their data.
Tags: pdfu, Siri, Siri AI

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]]> iPhone 18e Could Feature Bigger Display and Battery https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/iphone-18e-bigger-display-and-battery/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-18e-could-feature-bigger-display-and-battery.2493987/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 12:45:29 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/iphone-18e-bigger-display-and-battery/ Hartley Charlton Featured iPhone 17e iPhone 18 Fixed Focus Digital iPhone 18 and the lower-cost iPhone 18e will both feature 6.3-inch displays and use the same battery, according to the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital."


In a new post on Weibo, the leaker shared an annotated, side-by-side diagram of the phones' purported internals, labeled "Taycan" for the ‌iPhone 18‌ and "Nevera" for the iPhone 18e. Fixed Focus Digital said the diagram was already circulating online and broadly matched what their sources had told them. They pointed to the battery as an example of the interchangeable parts they had previously described.

The diagram's annotations list a 4,430 mAh battery for both models. That would be an increase of about 21% from 3,671 mAh for the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ and about 11% from 4,005 mAh for the iPhone 18e. The notes attribute the extra room in the standard model to changes to the bottom speaker and haptic engine. The diagram also shows two rear cameras on the standard ‌iPhone 18‌, including an Ultra Wide camera, and a single rear camera on the iPhone 18e, just like previous models.

A 6.3-inch display would be a noticeable step up from the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 17e. Fellow Weibo leaker "Digital Chat Station" previously claimed the iPhone 18e would retain a 6.12-inch OLED display at 60Hz, along with a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a potential upgrade to the front-facing camera. The same source expects the standard iPhone 18 to retain its 6.3-inch display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, along with a larger battery.

In an earlier post, Fixed Focus Digital said a new chip was the only iPhone 18e upgrade they could confirm at the time and suggested the two models would share some manufacturing processes.

Digital Chat Station expects the iPhone 18e to contain Apple's 2nm A20 chip, up from the 3nm A19 in the ‌iPhone 17e‌. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said Apple's lower-end spring 2027 iPhones will pair the A20 chip with 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB. Both models are also rumored to get Apple's C2 modem, which would replace the Snapdragon X80 in the iPhone 17 and the C1X in the ‌iPhone 17e‌.

The iPhone 18e is expected to launch in spring 2027 alongside the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ and second-generation iPhone Air. The ‌iPhone 17e‌ launched at $599 with 256GB of storage, and it is unclear if it will get a price increase like other iPhone models.
Related Roundups: iPhone 17e, iPhone 18
Tag: Fixed Focus Digital
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17e (Caution)
Related Forum: iPhone

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]]> Apple's Siri Boss May Leave - Here's Who Could Take Over https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/apple-siri-boss-may-leave/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-siri-boss-may-leave-heres-who-could-take-over.2493986/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 12:31:24 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/apple-siri-boss-may-leave/ Tim Hardwick Mark Gurman Siri Siri AI Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman described the potential move as a major blow to Apple.


If Rockwell departs or moves to another role, responsibility for Siri would likely fall to one of two people. Amar Subramanya is a Google veteran hired last year to shore up Apple's AI efforts, and Sebastien Marineau, a deputy to software chief Craig Federighi, leads the teams integrating AI into iOS. Marineau is said to be seen by some inside Apple as a possible eventual successor to Federighi himself, and as someone "more all-in on the AI revolution."

As for Rockwell, he created the Vision Pro, before being put in charge of Siri's turnaround, but only after "an embarrassing two-year delay," as Gurman puts it. Reports of him weighing an exit from Apple first surfaced in April.

Hair Force One, however, isn't going anywhere, it seems. A succession to Federighi remains "a distant prospect," reckons Gurman. Federighi "maintains a firm grip" on Apple's software engineering organization and "has done little to prioritize succession planning or establish a clear path for a successor," according to his sources. Gurman adds that Federighi, who has led the organization for more than a decade, has given no indication that he is among Apple's senior leaders considering an exit in the coming years.
Tags: Mark Gurman, Siri, Siri AI

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]]> Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/apple-launching-two-new-products-on-november-13/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-launching-two-more-new-products-this-friday.2493990/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 12:22:00 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/09/apple-launching-two-new-products-on-november-13/ Tim Hardwick Apple Rumors Mac iOS iPhone iPad Friday, November 13: the all-new Apple HomeView and the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, both of which have been available to pre-order since mid-October.

  • Apple HomeView: Apple's new smart home display, powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI, for entertainment and managing the home. Available in tabletop and wall-mounted models, it can recognize up to six users by face, each with a personalized Home Screen. The HomeView is priced at $299.

  • Apple TV 4K: adds Siri AI, the A19 chip, an updated Siri Remote with Find My, and support for four-speaker surround sound with HomePod mini 2. The Apple TV 4K comes with 128GB of storage and is priced at $299.
Both products were announced on October 13 alongside the HomePod mini 2, which launched October 30.

As things stand, HomeView will not be sold in the European Union because Siri AI is currently unavailable on iOS in the region due to regulatory constraints. Apple has said it is "working constructively with the EU in an attempt to find a path forward," but has provided no timeline for EU availability.
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]]> Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/08/apple-store-subscription-controversy/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-store-subscription-sign-up-controversy-exposed.2493976/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 03:28:09 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/08/apple-store-subscription-controversy/ Joe Rossignol Featured Apple Store series of YouTube videos shared over the past two weeks, electronics technician and consumer rights advocate Louis Rossmann has exposed a controversy in which some Apple Store employees have allegedly signed up customers for auto-renewing subscription trials for Apple One and other services without their informed consent.


Here is how the process works at Apple Stores in the United States:
  • A customer visits an Apple Store.

  • An employee at the store asks if the customer would like to scan a QR code for a personalized shopping experience ("Connect and Personalize").

  • If the customer agrees, the employee can view some of the customer's information on their company-issued device, including which Apple devices they own, which Apple services they are subscribed to, and which Apple subscription offers are available to them based on their recent purchases.

  • The employee can proceed to show the customer their available subscription offers, presented with "Agree" and "Decline" buttons on the employee's device. The default payment method associated with the customer's Apple Account is automatically available for subscription sign-ups, so long as it has not expired.
The problem is that some employees allegedly activated these trials without adequately explaining to the customers that they would be automatically charged at a later date, according to tipsters who contacted Rossmann. For example, some employees would allegedly rush through the process or were even told to position the trials as "gifts."

Until early last week, Apple was tracking a metric known as the "services attach rate," with a target of 40% for each retail employee at at least some U.S. stores. In other words, employees were encouraged to get at least four out of every 10 customers they assisted with a device purchase to also sign up for at least one subscription.

In some cases, employees allegedly even tapped the "Agree" button themselves without receiving the customer's informed consent, seemingly in an attempt to ensure that their "services attach rate" was as high as possible.

"Top performers in my store and market just include them and don't show the customer the accept/decline screen during checkout," one anonymous person alleged. "I've confirmed with others that this happens at other stores, and I've had many employees admit to me that they do this. It is unfortunate that this is our culture now."

Apple does email customers when a new trial has been activated on their accounts, but unsuspecting customers might not pay attention or realize that the email pertains to a subscription that will automatically renew later.

Metric Removed, Reminder Issued


MacRumors has confirmed that Apple removed the services metric for employees early last week, just days after Rossmann's videos were published. However, the official explanation we were given for the metric's removal is that it is less relevant during the holiday season, when customers are often purchasing Apple products as gifts for others.

Later in the week, Apple issued an internal memo to retail employees reminding them of the importance of respecting customer privacy and obtaining consent, including when offering subscription trials and using the "Connect and Personalize" system, but also for things such as Apple Upgrade sign-ups and Genius Bar work authorizations.

The memo was issued ahead of the first weekend of Apple's holiday shopping season, which kicked off on Friday. During the holidays, Apple hires additional employees to help assist with an influx of customers, so the reminder was timely for new staff.

Whether these actions were timed solely around the holiday shopping season or were also influenced by Rossmann's videos, we cannot say for sure. In any case, the actions conveniently address some of the concerns highlighted by Rossmann.

How to Check Your Subscriptions


On an iPhone, open the Settings app and tap on your name at the top of the screen. Next, tap on "Subscriptions" and you will see a list of any subscriptions that are active on your Apple Account, including trials. You can tap on any individual subscription and tap on the "Cancel Subscription" or "Cancel All Services" button to cancel.

If you wish to dispute a transaction with Apple, go to reportaproblem.apple.com, select the "Request a refund" option, and follow the steps.

As always, regularly review your credit card or bank statements to ensure that you have not been charged for any subscriptions unexpectedly.
Tag: Apple Store

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]]> Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/08/siri-ai-rumored-to-become-more-agentic/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/siri-ai-rumored-to-become-more-like-an-agent-as-early-as-next-year.2493944/ Sun, 08 Nov 2026 17:24:45 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/08/siri-ai-rumored-to-become-more-agentic/ Joe Rossignol Craig Federighi John Ternus Mark Gurman Siri Siri AI

In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he was told that Apple could make Siri function "more like an agent" as early as next year. However, if this plan moves forward, the exact implementation remains to be seen.

"Dots, Muse and Grok can keep track of goals, determine what needs to happen next and continue pursuing objectives without the user initiating every individual step," said Gurman. "Apple ultimately wants to go in this direction, I'm told, and I believe the company could make Siri more like an agent as early as next year."

Apple's AI ambitions could go beyond making Siri more agentic. In a closed-door meeting in recent weeks, Gurman said that Apple CEO John Ternus told Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi that Apple needs to "accelerate" its software roadmap and "move quickly beyond merely making necessary improvements to Siri."
Tags: Craig Federighi, John Ternus, Mark Gurman, Siri, Siri AI

This article, "Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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]]> Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/08/apple-tweaks-ios-28-development-process/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-taking-new-approach-to-developing-ios-28-and-macos-28.2493939/ Sun, 08 Nov 2026 15:42:38 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/08/apple-tweaks-ios-28-development-process/ Joe Rossignol iOS 28 Mark Gurman Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In his Power On newsletter today, he said Apple separates development of each year's new operating systems into three major stages. Typically, he said each stage consists of four weeks of coding followed by a four-week "convergence" period where new features are integrated into the operating systems. This time around, Apple has made a change.

The first stage of development for iOS 28 and the other updates apparently consisted of six weeks of coding and two weeks of feature convergence. This change gives Apple's software engineers more time to come up with new features.

"Instead of the normal split between two four-week efforts, Apple engineers were tasked with six weeks of coding, exploration and feature development, and then only two weeks of convergence," he said. "Employees say they like the change, indicating that it creates more time for coming up with ideas and exploring them before needing to lock things in."

Gurman did not reveal any specific features planned for iOS 28. The update should be available in beta in June and released in September next year.
Tags: iOS 28, Mark Gurman

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]]> Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/07/early-apple-black-friday-deals/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/early-apple-black-friday-deals-on-apple-watch-macbook-air-and-more.2493872/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:50:00 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/07/early-apple-black-friday-deals/ Mitchel Broussard Black Friday Deals Featured Black Friday is now just a few weeks away, taking place on Friday, November 27 in 2026. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more.

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.

Specifically, in this article we're sharing all of the Apple products that currently have all-time low prices, or discounts that are at least close to their record-low prices. Of course, these are early Black Friday deals, so even better discounts could emerge later in the month, but if you're shopping right now these are all the best prices around.

Table of Contents


You can use the links below to jump directly to the section you're shopping for today.


Our Top Picks




Apple Watch Ultra




The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has dropped to $699.99 on Amazon in one of the most notable early Black Friday discounts, down from $799.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the new Ultra 4, which just launched in September.

If you're shopping for a Milanese Loop model, Amazon also has a $99 discount on one of these devices. There are five regular models on sale and two Milanese Loop models, and most have delivery dates of early November on Amazon.

$99 OFF
Apple Watch Ultra 4 for $699.99

$99 OFF
Apple Watch Ultra 4 (Milanese Loop) for $799.99


Regarding the previous-generation models, Best Buy this week has a big collection of Apple Watch Ultra 3 models for $549.00, down from $799.00. This is a massive $250 discount on the previous-generation device, and it represents a new all-time low price on these models. You can find similar $250 discounts on the Milanese Loop models at Amazon.

$250 OFF
Apple Watch Ultra 3 for $549.00

$250 OFF
Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Milanese Loop) for $649.00


AirTag 2




Apple's AirTag 2 has hit $23.00 this week on Amazon, down from $29.00. This deal is on the 1-Pack of the AirTag 2, and it's an all-time low price.

$6 OFF
AirTag 2 (1-Pack) for $23.00


Mac Mini and Mac Studio




Apple's new Mac mini has had one of the most consistent discounts over the past few weeks, and these $119-$150 markdowns have continued into Black Friday season. Prices start at $779.00 for the entry-level model, and currently include every M6 model, plus the M5 Pro model.

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

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

$149 OFF
M6 Mac mini 24GB/512GB for $1,149.99

$150 OFF
M5 Pro Mac mini 24GB/512GB for $1,549.00


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

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


MacBook Air




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

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

$250 OFF
13-inch MacBook Air (16GB/1TB) for $1,349.00

$200 OFF
13-inch M5 MacBook Air (24GB/1TB) for $1,599.00


For the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air models, prices start with the 16GB/512GB model for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00. You can also get the 16GB/1TB model for $1,549.00, down from $1,799.00, which is a $250 markdown and another all-time low price for Black Friday.

$200 OFF
15-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB) for $1,299.00

$250 OFF
15-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/1TB) for $1,549.00


AirPods




Notable AirPods deals this month include solid second-best prices on the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2, with up to $100 off these models.

$50 OFF
AirPods Pro 3 for $199.00

$100 OFF
AirPods Max 2 for $449.00


iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo




Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2026 sales have kicked off at AT&T and T-Mobile, as well as Best Buy. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season.

T-Mobile


  • iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: Up to $1,200 off with eligible trade-in

  • iPhone Duo: Up to $1,200 off with eligible trade-in

  • Apple Watch SE 3: No cost (up to $300) when adding a watch line on a qualifying plan, or get $250 off any Apple Watch when picking up another Apple Watch



T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max for up to $1,200 off when you trade in an old device (in any condition) and purchase the new device on an eligible unlimited plan. You can also get this offer if you switch a line to Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond, or Go5G Next.

UP TO $1,200 OFF
iPhone 18 Pro at T-Mobile

UP TO $1,200 OFF
iPhone Duo at T-Mobile


For anyone shopping for the iPhone Duo, you can get up to $1,200 off the iPhone Duo with any condition trade-in on an Experience Beyond plan. This discount will appear in the form of bill credits over the course of 36 months.

Similarly, if you're on the Experience More or Experience Beyond plan, you can get up to $830 off with a trade-in, and up to $730 off with a new line on most other plans. All of these offers have the same payout schedule over the course of 36 months.

AT&T




Over at AT&T, you can get the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max for up to $1,200 off with an iPhone trade-in in any condition. You'll need to upgrade with AT&T Next Up Anytime or switch to get this offer.

UP TO $1,200 OFF
iPhone 18 Pro at AT&T

UP TO $1,200 OFF
iPhone Duo at AT&T


Additionally, new and existing customers can get up to $1,200 off the iPhone Duo with an eligible trade-in. If you're switching to AT&T, the carrier will give you up to $800 to pay off your current device balance, and you can save $200 per line when ordering the smartphone online.

In regards to the main offer of up to $1,200 off the iPhone Duo, AT&T says this requires an eligible trade-in of $230 or more, alongside activation of a new line or upgrading an existing line. You'll get this credit over the course of 36 months on your AT&T bill.

You can find the breakdown of each plan tier from AT&T below, and remember that they each require a trade-in as well.

  • Up to $1,200 off iPhone Duo: requires AT&T Premium 2.0 plan or higher / trade-in value of $230 or more

  • Up to $930 off iPhone Duo: requires AT&T Extra 2.0 plan or higher / trade-in value of $130 or more

  • Up to $500 off iPhone Duo: requires Value 2.0 plan / trade-in value of $130 or more

  • Up to $350 off iPhone Duo: requires any eligible unlimited plan / trade-in value of $35-$129


If you switch to AT&T from a different carrier, AT&T will pay off your phone balance at up to $800 off per line. With the $1,200 offer, AT&T is offering the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro at no cost.

Best Buy




Carriers aren't the only place you can save on iPhones this year, with Best Buy offering the same discounts as AT&T and T-Mobile with activation through these carriers at the time of purchase. This is a great option for anyone who shops at Best Buy a lot and likes to rack up member reward points.

UP TO $1,200 OFF
iPhone 18 Pro at Best Buy

UP TO $1,200 OFF
iPhone Duo at Best Buy


Similar to the carriers, you can get the iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Duo for up to $1,200 off with qualified activation on cellular plans and a trade-in of an older device. Best Buy supports activation through AT&T and Verizon.

iPhone Cases




Amazon this week has big discounts across Apple's Clear, Silicone, and TechWoven Cases for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Across the board these are the best prices we've tracked to date on the new cases for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. This time around the deals do not require any coupon codes to see the final sale prices.

UP TO 40% OFF
iPhone 18 Pro Cases at Amazon


Below we're also tracking a few ongoing discounts on iPhone Duo cases from Amazon, ZAGG, and other retailers.

iPhone 18 Pro



iPhone 18 Pro Max



Other Accessories



iPhone Duo


If you're on the hunt for protection for your new iPhone Duo, we've also been keeping track of all the best cases and screen protectors for the new device. The catch with these accessories is that many of them are not on sale given how new the Duo is, but there are overall cheap options you can find on Amazon, plus a great buy two get 20% off deal at ZAGG.

BUY 2 GET 20% OFF
iPhone Duo Accessories at ZAGG


Amazon has some notable TechWoven dupe cases on sale, available for $29.99, which is $50 cheaper than any of Apple's official iPhone Duo cases. Otherwise, you'll find the full list of retailers offering accessories for the iPhone Duo below.

  • Amazon - iPhone Duo cases from Spigen, Speck, ZAGG, and more

  • AT&T - Discounts on iPhone Duo cases and screen protectors from Speck, Spigen, and more

  • Best Buy - iPhone Duo cases from Dbrand, OtterBox, Spigen, Kate Spade, and more

  • Burton Goods - Save on leather cases for iPhone Duo

  • ESR - iPhone Duo Silicone Leather case with Flex Stand

  • Nomad - Leather Folio cases for iPhone Duo

  • OtterBox - Defender cases for iPhone Duo

  • Speck - Presidio Cases for iPhone Duo

  • Target - iPhone Duo cases from ZAGG, Case-Mate, and Kate Spade

  • ZAGG - Save 20% when you buy 2 items from ZAGG, including iPhone Duo cases and screen protectors


More Black Friday Sales






Deals Newsletter


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




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

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]]> 'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/07/backglow-customize-macbook-pro-apple-logo/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/backglow-lets-you-customize-new-macbook-pros-glowing-apple-logo.2493893/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:44:15 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/07/backglow-customize-macbook-pro-apple-logo/ Joe Rossignol Featured MacBook Pro "Backglow" app created by designer Juan Buis lets you customize the illuminated Apple logo on the lid of the new MacBook Pro models.


The free version of the app allows you to manually adjust the brightness level of the Apple logo, independent of the MacBook Pro's display brightness level. You can also turn it off entirely with a single click, rather than having to use Terminal.

Another free option is a "Breathe" mode that makes the logo's light gently pulse similarly to the sleep indicator light on older MacBooks.

A one-time payment unlocks the Pro version of the app: $9 for a limited time or $15 later. This gives you two additional modes: "Music" mode makes the logo's light move to the beat of the music you play on your Mac, while "Agents" mode makes the light pulse while Claude Code is working and blinks when your attention is needed.



Apple began phasing out the glowing logo on MacBooks in 2015, but it brought back the feature with the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with PROLED XDR displays released on Friday. On older MacBooks, the logo was illuminated by the display's backlight, but OLED displays do not have a backlight, so a new method was required.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber was told that Apple engineered a "custom light source just to enable the logo to glow once again, without adding any additional thickness to the lid." Why? "Because it's awesome," he heard an Apple representative say.

By default, Apple says the logo is illuminated whenever the Mac is awake. It automatically brightens or dims based on the screen's brightness level and your environment's lighting conditions detected by the computer's ambient light sensor.

Buis said the logo is lit by a white LED that does not change colors.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

This article, "'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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]]> Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/07/top-stories-apple-product-launches/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/top-stories-apple-product-launches-ios-27-3-beta-and-more.2493869/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 14:00:12 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/07/top-stories-apple-product-launches/ MacRumors Staff Featured Top Stories

Things are also moving forward on the software side with Apple releasing the first betas of iOS 27.3 and related updates, bringing a number of tweaks and new features. We're also looking ahead to new products coming in the first half of 2027, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories


Apple Launched Five New Products This Week


Apple released five new products on Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models.


The following new products are now available:

  • iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip

  • iMac with M6 chip

  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip

  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen

  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen


Apple's HomeView smart home hub and updated Apple TV 4K box will follow next week on Friday, November 13.

Everything New in the iOS 27.3 Beta


Apple this week started testing iOS 27.3, the biggest update to iOS 27 since it launched in September. iOS 27.3 includes some features Apple showed off earlier this year, and it adds all-new capabilities.


Among the changes in the update are Safari tweaks with a new Vertical Tabs layout option plus an Adaptive Dark Mode feature for websites that don't offer their own dark mode option, Siri AI improvements, an expansion of new iPhone Duo StandBy features to other iPhone models, and more.

The revamped Health app that was in the 27.2 beta for testing but removed prior to the public release has returned in 27.3 and will be seeing a public launch before the end of the year.

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue


In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers last week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue.


If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures. While the instructions themselves are straightforward, the fact that Apple issued an internal memo suggests the issue is widespread enough to warrant official guidance.

Meanwhile, Apple CEO John Ternus this week said Apple is not able to predict when it will be able to meet demand for the foldable iPhone, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman saying that Apple's change from its original plan to launch the device in November in just two countries has contributed to the difficulties in meeting demand.

Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027


The revamped iPad mini launching this week is one piece of Apple's tablet lineup, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the rest of the lineup should be receiving updates in the first half of next year. The iPad Air will reportedly be getting an upgrade to OLED displays, while iPad Pro and base iPad updates should be more modest.


Before those 2027 updates, there's still some time left in 2026, and while we're not expecting any more major product announcements before the end of the year, plenty of previously announced hardware and software updates are still on their way.

Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software


App developer Steve Troughton-Smith over the weekend shared a tour of the software on Apple's upcoming HomeView smart home hub. Apple has already demoed the HomeView to selected tech reporters and content creators, but Troughton-Smith offered a closer look at several features, interfaces, and apps.


CarPlay-enabled audio and video apps from third-party developers will also be supported on HomeView, and Troughton-Smith shared a look at what Spotify will look like on the HomeView as well.

We've known for quite some time that HomeView was ready to be released for quite some time while Apple waited for Siri AI to be launched as the primary interaction mechanism for it. That certainly appears to be the case as it seems the units will initially ship with six-month-old software version 26.5 and will have to be updated to HomeView software version 27.2 during setup.

Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'


The Wall Street Journal's Rolfe Winkler last week reported that flash storage suppliers once "bullied" by Apple have been "getting their revenge" on the company over the past year due to a severe memory chip shortage, which stems from AI companies building out massive data centers that utilize significant amounts of flash storage and RAM.


As the iPhone took off, Apple became the world's largest buyer of flash storage, and naturally that gave the company a lot of leverage in negotiations. The report goes into detail about some of the hardball tactics that were employed by Apple and its former head of procurement, Tony Blevins.

Flash suppliers now have the upper hand, however, and high demand for their chips has resulted in shortages that are expected to persist through 2030 with high prices continuing as a result.

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

This article, "Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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]]> Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/06/oled-macbook-pro-hands-on/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hands-on-with-apples-new-oled-touchscreen-macbook-pro.2493842/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 23:46:57 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/06/oled-macbook-pro-hands-on/ Juli Clover Featured MacBook Pro OLED MacBook Pro is now in the hands of customers. We picked up one of the new machines to get our greasy fingerprints all over that pristine OLED display.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

It's been five years since Apple last redesigned the ‌MacBook Pro‌, so it was due for an update. The PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ looks a lot like the mini-LED model, but it's thinner and lighter. The 14-inch model is about half a millimeter thinner and weighs just over three pounds, while the 16-inch model is almost a millimeter thinner and weighs four pounds. Apple shaved off about half a pound for the 14-inch model and 0.7 pounds for the 16-inch model, and while that doesn't sound like much, it makes a big difference. You can feel how much lighter it is the second you take it out of the box. Apple brought back the glowing logo for the PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌, so everyone around you will know you have the fancy new ‌OLED‌ model.

The ‌OLED‌ display is the major new feature, and it looks as good as you would expect from a display in a laptop starting at $2,899. Blacks are true black, and since each pixel lights up individually, there's none of the bloom you get with mini-LED when viewing bright objects on a dark background. The PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ can get super bright too, and that brightness paired with the deep blacks, HDR content looks great. ‌OLED‌ sometimes isn't bright enough outdoors, but that's not the case here.

The display bezels are thinner, and the 16-inch machine is actually 16.3 inches instead of 16.2. There's also an iPhone-like Dynamic Island that replaces the notch and houses Siri AI, Live Activities, and more. The ‌Dynamic Island‌ makes sense because you can now touch the ‌MacBook Pro‌'s display. It works like touching an iPhone or iPad, so you can swipe through webpages, tap buttons, drag and drop, and pinch to zoom.

Touch isn't meant to replace the trackpad and keyboard, but it's there if you want it. Apple made some tweaks to macOS, so menu options expand a little more when you touch them than when you click them, and tiny window resizing buttons get larger. Apple put a sturdier hinge in the PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ so the display won't move as much when you tap it, but it's not perfect. It does still jiggle depending on where you tap.

The touch feature is fine, but it's probably not a reason to go out and get the PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌. It has the potential to be useful in some situations, but it's not going to dramatically change the way most people use a laptop.

New chips weren't ready in time for the PROLED machines, so they use the same M5 Pro and M5 Max as the mini-LED models. That's a disappointment in a laptop that starts at almost $3,000. Since Apple is still selling the mini-LED models, you're basically paying a $400 premium for the higher-end ‌OLED‌ display, the thinner and lighter design, and the touch functionality.

The better display and the lighter weight are going to be worth the price for some people, and the touch is just a bonus.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: OLED
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

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]]> More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/06/iphone-duo-app-suggestions/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/more-fun-iphone-duo-apps-30-new-picks-to-try.2493846/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 23:27:45 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/06/iphone-duo-app-suggestions/ Juli Clover Featured iPhone Duo iPhone Duo launched, we shared a list of some of the fun apps developers created for the new form factor. Two weeks out, developers are continuing to come up with fresh ideas, so we thought we'd share some of our favorites.


Games



  • Marbles Unhinged ($2.99) - Marbles Unhinged is a marble maze designed for the Duo. When you fold it, the floor turns into a ramp. If you stand the top half up, you can bank a marble off of it. When you snap the hinge, the marble launches up.

  • Midnight Fridge ($2.99) - Midnight Fridge turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a tiny refrigerator. It's a memory game where the idea is to look at the magnets on the fridge and then find the items inside.

  • Greens: Mini Golf ($2.99) - Greens is a mini-golf app made for the ‌iPhone Duo‌, and it's playable in any orientation. When folded like a laptop, you can putt on the half on the table, with the upright half serving as a caddie camera.

  • Chirpfold (Free) - Chirpfold is a Flappy Bird-style app where you fold the phone to cause your bird to flap its wings.

  • Valley Run ($0.99) - Valley Run is a neon-themed racing game where you fold the ‌iPhone Duo‌ to direct a marble down a series of challenging tracks.

  • PianoFold ($4.99) - PianoFold is a rhythm game you can play with the ‌iPhone Duo‌ positioned like a laptop. Press and hold on the keys to match the song that's playing. It's free to download, but the full unlock is $4.99.

  • Load Bearing ($5.00) - Load Bearing is a roguelite Tetris-style game that's meant to be played with the Duo half open. The controls are on the bottom, and the blocks fall at the top. It also has deck building elements, so you can put together a set of your preferred block pieces to beat each level.

  • Who's at the Door? (Free) - Who's at the Door? is an app that turns your ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a door. Open it up to see who is on the other side, and if it's something scary, make sure to slam the Duo shut quickly before it gets you.

  • Fold Match ($2.99) - Fold Match is a game where you're given a shape on one side of the Duo and a blank spot where the shape needs to go on the other side. The idea is to position the shape to get to that empty space, but you won't know how close you were until you close the iPhone.

  • Battlefleet Duo (Free) - Battlefleet Duo takes advantage of the Duo's design for a Battleship-style game. In laptop mode, you can see your fleet on the lower screen and the enemy's waters in front of you.


Simple But Clever





  • Duo Aquarium ($1.00) - As the name suggests, this app turns your ‌iPhone Duo‌ into an aquarium. When in tent mode, it serves as a virtual fish tank and clock. You can choose your fish and your add-ins, then feed them.

  • AltoPaint ($5.99) - AltoPaint is an app that turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a tiny canvas with a paint palette. There are watercolor, oil, and gouache paints with mixable colors.

  • Post Club ($4.99) - Post Club is a cute app where you can pick a typewriter, fold the Duo like a laptop and type up a letter. There are 10 typewriters and 14 paper styles to choose from.

  • Halfpage ($2.99) - Halfpage is another app that turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a typewriter when it's used in a MacBook-like orientation. The keys are at the bottom, and what you type is at the top. It has a simpler design than Post Club.

  • Callsign ($1.49+) - Callsign turns your ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a sign that lets people know if you're free or busy on a call. Just set it up, put it in tent mode, and people can know at a glance not to bother you. It's free to download, and there are different visual packs to unlock with one-off $1.49 purchases.

  • AskZine ($1.99) - AskZine is a Magic 8 Ball-like app where you ask a question, unfold the screen, and see your answer.

  • Lullabox (Free) - Lullabox turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a music box where you can wind the key, lift the lid, and watch a porcelain ballerina spin while soft music plays. The music gets louder as the ‌iPhone Duo‌ is opened further.

  • DuoBook (Free) - DuoBook turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a tiny Mac with a keyboard and trackpad that work like the Mac equivalent. You can also use it to send photos and files to the Mac.


Special Duo Features




  • Wakeout ($59.99/year) - Fitness app Wakeout was Apple's App of the Year back in 2020. It offers up workout games you can do in just minutes a day. You can put your Duo in tent or laptop mode to follow along with workout moves, playing games with your body.

  • Faro (Free) - Faro is an app that helps you find movies to watch so you don't waste time browsing through Netflix without ever making a choice. On ‌iPhone Duo‌, you can see two films side by side to choose between them, or see your list of picks on one half of the display with details on each movie on the other half.

  • CalibReader (Free) - CalibReader is an EPUB and PDF reader that turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a book. The outer screen shows the title's cover, and when you open it, there's a two-page spread with page-turning animations.

  • Retrocade (Apple Arcade) - Retrocade turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a mini arcade machine and works on the Duo in multiple fold positions.

  • Blankie (Free) - Soundscape app Blankie has a dual view with Now Playing on one side and Sound Mixer on the other. When folded in tent mode, it shows a view of what's playing.


Camera Apps





  • IncrediBooth (Free) - IncrediBooth turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a little photo booth. Press the red button to capture an image, and your photo strip appears on the outer display. It's free to download, with five strips available per day.

  • VNTG (Free) - VNTG is an instant camera app where you close the ‌iPhone Duo‌ to take a shot and then open it up to develop it. It's free to download, with in-app purchases to unlock camera lenses.

  • Flipcorder ($4.99) - Flipcorder is a video recording app that turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a retro camcorder. It's designed to be used for daily video diaries, and each tape is displayed on a shelf in the app. To film, just unfold the Duo. Recordings have classic VHS-style effects.


Less Fun, More Serious





  • Widen ($3.99) - Widen is another extension that expands Safari to take up the width of the outer display. It also hides cookie banners and works in Split View. There are multiple settings, so you can set just pictures to take up the full screen, or opt to have pictures and text expand.

  • SPAN (Free) - SPAN is an app that turns the ‌iPhone Duo‌ into a project tracker and timer. It has different views for each ‌iPhone Duo‌ orientation. SPAN is free to use for the current week, with a $4.99/month pro subscription available for unlimited projects and full monthly and yearly reports.

  • BrainDrain (Free) - BrainDrain is a 60-second brain dump app that helps you sort your thoughts. On the ‌iPhone Duo‌, different Duo orientations have different purposes. You can use it like a laptop in a half fold, type thoughts with the Duo closed, or put it in tent mode to use voice capture.


More Apps


Know of some fun ‌iPhone Duo‌ apps not on our list? Let us know in the comments. Be sure to check out our first iPhone Duo app article too.
Related Roundup: iPhone Duo
Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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