MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:12:33 PDT en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable iPhone Could Sell Out Fast Due to Memory Shortage https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/iphone-18-pro-possible-shortages/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-18-pro-and-foldable-iphone-could-sell-out-fast-due-to-memory-shortage.2486534/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:10:27 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/iphone-18-pro-possible-shortages/ Juli Clover Featured iPhone 18 Pro iPhone Fold Foldable iPhone iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra" could be in short supply this year, leading to long wait times and an initial sellout during preorders.


Semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan says Apple is having trouble getting enough DRAM to finish production of the new iPhone models, and chip supplier TSMC has $1 billion worth of unpackaged processors waiting on memory chips.

Apple's new A20 Pro chips are built on TSMC's 2nm process and use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging to integrate the processor and DRAM at the wafer level. Unfortunately, that means TSMC needs to have the DRAM on hand for assembly, and it can't be added at a later step. Apple is not able to stockpile finished dies and then add DRAM when it becomes available.

Apple and its assemblers think they can meet initial demand, but retail inventory could sell quickly, leading to prolonged delivery estimates. The chip backlog will delay main logic board assembly and final device assembly, which could impact production at Foxconn and other assemblers.

DRAM has been in short supply for months and has led to long wait times for the Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. Companies that make memory are prioritizing chips for AI data centers because those chips are more profitable, leaving little capacity available for manufacturing chips for consumer devices.

We've had ongoing rumors about manufacturing issues with the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ due to the complexity of the design, and supplies of the new foldable could be the most limited of the three iPhone models. Some reports suggest the foldable iPhone could be introduced in September and then launch later, in October or November, but others say it will be available at the same time as the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and Pro Max.

The ‌iPhone Ultra‌ is going to cost as much as $2,500, but the novel form factor and Apple's new Apple Upgrade pricing option could lead to more people being willing to shell out for the device. Apple is also expected to raise prices for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and analysts believe the devices could be up to $300 more expensive because Apple is paying more for RAM.

Last year, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max sold out during the preorder period, and shipping times extended into October. Along with potential production delays impacting supply, there will be no lower-cost iPhone 18 for people to choose this year, putting more pressure on ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ supplies. Apple is not planning to launch the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ until early 2027.

If you're looking to get one of the new iPhone models in September, it's a good idea to preorder right when the devices become available for purchase to have the best chance of getting one on launch day.
Related Roundups: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Fold
Tag: Foldable iPhone

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]]> Original iPhone Loses Its Last Cellular Network as T-Mobile Kills 2G https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/t-mobile-2g-network-disabled/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/original-iphone-loses-its-last-cellular-network-as-t-mobile-kills-2g.2486532/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:19:09 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/t-mobile-2g-network-disabled/ Juli Clover T-Mobile its 2G GSM network on Monday, August 3, which means all three major carriers in the United States have now ended 2G service.


T-Mobile kept its 2G network active because it still had some legacy customers who were using it. Some customers visiting the United States and using international roaming carrier agreements for connectivity also needed 2G for voice calling, but T-Mobile worked with carriers globally to prepare for the end of its 2G network.

Customers who were still on T-Mobile's 2G network were warned well ahead of time about the shutdown and given time to transition. Smartphones, alarm panels, payment terminals, and other IoT accessories that used 2G will no longer function.

AT&T ended support for 2G almost a decade ago in 2017, and Verizon stopped supporting 2G in 2020. Now that no carriers in the U.S. support 2G, legacy devices like the original iPhone will not be able to connect to any cellular network. The iPhone technically lost cellular support in 2017 when AT&T sunset its 2G network, and now the last workaround is gone.

All three carriers also ended support for 3G back in 2022, and have also abandoned early LTE iPhones without VoLTE support.
Tag: T-Mobile

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]]> Google Maps Can Now Order Your Dinner and Track Your Train Delays https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/google-maps-ask-maps-update/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/google-maps-can-now-order-your-dinner-and-track-your-train-delays.2486531/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:59:19 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/google-maps-ask-maps-update/ Juli Clover Google Google Maps today added new agentic capabilities to the Gemini-powered "Ask Maps" assistant in the Google Maps app.


Ask Maps can complete multi-step tasks, such as ordering a meal for you on your way home. Google says you can simply say something like "order spicy pad kee mao with seafood for me to pick up on my way home," and Maps will find open restaurants along your route, let you pick one, and add the dish you asked for to your cart so you can review it and check out.

Food ordering is rolling out today with partners like Square and Toast, with Uber Eats integration coming soon.

Ask Maps can also look up information about hotels and events when you're traveling, comparing prices in real time and checking availability for a hotel, then offering up ideas on things to do nearby.

Google says its live updates are coming to transit. A transit widget in Ask Maps offers up-to-the-minute information about delays for bus, train, subway, and ferry rides.

A new Personal Intelligence option in Ask Maps allows the feature to connect to Gmail to factor in upcoming plans without needing specific instruction. Connecting to Gmail is opt-in and off by default. Ask Maps can also remember prior conversations for context if history settings are turned on.

There's a conversational edits option for suggesting new details for the Ask Maps feature. You can tell Maps about an insider tip and Ask Maps will offer the information to others in the community.

Ask Maps is also expanding to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and Mexico, along with over 150 countries and territories in English.

The live transit widget, personalized responses, and conversation memory are rolling out everywhere Ask Maps is available. Food ordering, discovering hotels and events, and conversational contributions are rolling out in the U.S., with more countries set to be added later.

Ask Maps is available on the web and in the Google Maps app for iOS.
Tags: Google, Google Maps

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]]> Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition Now Available on Apple Arcade https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/madden-nfl-27-apple-arcade/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/madden-nfl-27-arcade-edition-now-available-on-apple-arcade.2486529/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:26:48 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/madden-nfl-27-apple-arcade/ Juli Clover Apple Arcade available on Apple Arcade starting today. It's a full Madden NFL game that does not include ads or in-app purchases, and it is available exclusively on Apple devices.


Users can lead and coach teams through every stage of the NFL season, controlling games, making strategic decisions, and aiming for the championship.

Apple says the game has controls designed for mobile devices, authentic football gameplay, and guided tutorials. It includes Franchise and Quick Play modes, with updates for current NFL teams and dynamic player ratings built on real-world performances.

Retro Bowl College+, Everyday Puzzles: Mini Games+, and Water Sort Puzzle: Get Color+ are also new on Apple Arcade this week. ‌Apple Arcade‌ is Apple's gaming service, priced at $6.99 per month in the U.S. ‌Apple Arcade‌ titles can be played on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro.

Separately, Big Walk, a new game from the makers of Untitled Goose Game, launched for the Mac. Big Walk is a cooperative multiplayer adventure game that supports 2 to 12 players. Players are tasked with working together to complete challenges and puzzles. Big Walk is priced at $14.99 and is available from the Mac App Store.
Tag: Apple Arcade

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]]> BMW Owners Angry Over Spider-Man Ads Appearing on Dashboard Screens https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/bmw-spider-man-ads/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/bmw-owners-angry-over-spider-man-ads-appearing-on-dashboard-screens.2486525/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:25:39 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/bmw-spider-man-ads/ Juli Clover Apple Rumors Mac iOS iPhone iPad Spider-Man: Brand New Day directly to in-car infotainment systems. An ad appears as a notification when starting the car, and when tapped, it plays a full-screen 19-second animation with music and a light show.


The ad started going out on July 27, and it is set to continue through August 10. Cars built after July 2020 with BMW Operating System 7 or newer are displaying the Spider-Man promo in more than 70 markets.

BMW owners on Reddit are understandably unhappy with the unsolicited ad showing up in their vehicles. One user said it's "classless and tacky" for a car that costs over $100,000, and another said it was "disgusting." Others asked for an opt-out button, and predicted more ads would be shown in the future.

Some users compared it to the U2 album "Songs of Innocence" that Apple pushed out to all iTunes users back in 2014. Apple did not allow users to decline or delete the album, leading to widespread backlash. Apple ultimately did add a tool for deleting the album.

BMW sent out a press release highlighting the ad campaign in late July, claiming it was an "exclusive Spider-Man animation" that was a "special surprise" for BMW owners.
To celebrate the partnership with Spider-ManTM: Brand New Day, BMW has a special surprise for its drivers. [...] Starting the car brings up a special banner in the Control Display. Clicking on it then activates the Spider-ManTM animation, comprising a full-screen festive animation in the Control Display with aptly chosen backing music and an accompanying light show courtesy of the ambient lighting system.

The notification for the Spider-Man ad is going out to compatible vehicles automatically, but owners can avoid the ad by not tapping to play it after receiving the notification. It's also been added to the Festive app on the in-car system.

In response to complaints, BMW told The Autopian the Spider-Man animation is not an ad and is "part of a broader brand partnership with the film." BMW vehicles also appear in the Spider-Man movie.

BMW has pushed similar animated videos for holidays in the past, but car owners found the Spider-Man video to be too close to a commercial. As Daring Fireball points out, BMW said in late 2023 that it would not sell advertising on its in-car displays.

BMW was one of the first companies to adopt Apple's CarPlay system, and it has long been an Apple partner. The BMW notification is part of the default in-car operating system, and it does not appear as part of ‌CarPlay‌.
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]]> OpenAI's ChatGPT Speaker Will Be Hockey Puck-Sized and Cost Over $300 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/openai-chatgpt-speaker/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/openais-chatgpt-speaker-will-be-hockey-puck-sized-and-cost-over-300.2486524/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:00:57 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/openai-chatgpt-speaker/ Juli Clover ChatGPT OpenAI Bloomberg. The product is meant to be easy to carry around with one hand, and it will have "moving parts that help give it personality," along with a price tag around $300 to $400.


Bloomberg describes it as an AI-centric device that will stand out from current smart speakers. There are speaker grilles and microphones for voice-based chats with ChatGPT, and the AI model used will have human-like responses and will learn more about the user over time.

Moving components will help show when the speaker is responding, and lights will show that it is listening. A camera system and sensors will feed the product information about the user's environment. It is battery-powered so it can be moved from room to room, and it will reportedly use a premium metal material. In its theft of trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, Apple claimed the company misled an Apple supplier into developing a metal finishing technique similar to what Apple uses.

Former Apple design chief Jony Ive is designing the device for OpenAI. OpenAI acquired Ive's io device startup last year, adding multiple former Apple design team members to its hardware teams.

Bloomberg says the portable speaker "is not something Apple has come close to launching," which supports OpenAI's claim that it has no interest in Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI said today that it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." Apple maintains OpenAI has developed its hardware using information sourced from Apple.

Apple is working on a home hub that's supposed to come out as soon as this year, but it has a display and square form factor. Apple also has the HomePod mini speaker, but it is corded and not easily moved. Apple is also developing a tabletop robot that may share more similarities with OpenAI's device. It's said to have a display and a motorized arm for movement, but the robot isn't going to launch until 2027 at the earliest.

OpenAI has not stopped development on its new hardware product, and hopes to introduce it later this year ahead of a 2027 launch.
Tags: ChatGPT, OpenAI

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]]> Free ChatGPT Users Get Unlimited Text Chats and GPT-5.6 Luna https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/chatgpt-free-unlimited-text-chats/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/free-chatgpt-users-get-unlimited-text-chats-and-gpt-5-6-luna.2486516/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:27:11 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/chatgpt-free-unlimited-text-chats/ Juli Clover ChatGPT OpenAI today said it is making GPT–5.6 Luna the default model for Free and Go ChatGPT users, giving them access to a newer, more capable model to replace GPT–5.5 Instant. The company is letting Free and Go users access unlimited text chats, with no text-based rate limits. Limits will still apply for file uploads, images, and other ChatGPT tools. There's also a new Think button coming that turns on higher reasoning.


For Plus and Pro users, GPT–5.6 Sol is more reliable with facts and gives more focused answers. OpenAI added a slider to let users select how much thought ChatGPT puts into a response, plus the company tweaked the detail the model offers for each question to prevent it from giving extra information when it's not needed.

OpenAI says GPT–5.6 Sol will avoid unnecessary formatting and will offer a "helpful correction when simply agreeing wouldn't be useful." It is also supposed to make fewer mistakes, especially when answers depend on dates, numbers, sources, rules, or assumptions. The Sol update is only for Chat, and the version for Work and Codex is unchanged.

ChatGPT's Instant and Thinking experiences have a more consistent tone and behavior so it doesn't feel like switching to a model with a different tone or style.

Plus and Pro users have access to the updated GPT–5.6 Sol and the slider in ChatGPT starting today. GPT–5.6 Luna is becoming the default model for Free and Go users this week, with unlimited text chats and the Think button coming next week.

The changes apply to the ChatGPT app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Tags: ChatGPT, OpenAI

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]]> Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.6.1 With Security Fixes https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-releases-macos-tahoe-26-6-1/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-macos-tahoe-26-6-1-with-security-fixes.2486514/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:34:39 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-releases-macos-tahoe-26-6-1/ Juli Clover Featured macOS Tahoe macOS Tahoe 26.6.1, an update to the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ operating system that came out last year. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6.1 comes a little over a week after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.6.


Mac owners can download the software by opening the System Settings app and then navigating to the Software Updates section.

According to Apple's security support document, ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6.1 fixes a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to authenticate to Screen Sharing without valid credentials. Apple fixed the issue with improved state management.

Apple also released updates for macOS Sonoma 14.8.9 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.9 with the same fix.
Related Roundup: macOS Tahoe
Related Forum: macOS Tahoe

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]]> Last Day for Up to $350 Amazon Gift Card With Samsung Galaxy Pre-Orders https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/last-day-samsung-galaxy-pre-orders/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/last-day-for-up-to-350-amazon-gift-card-with-samsung-galaxy-pre-orders.2486506/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:50:48 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/last-day-samsung-galaxy-pre-orders/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured some offers on Samsung's website, we're tracking better savings on Amazon this week.

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.

If you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 or the Fold8 Ultra you can get a $350 Amazon gift card. The new Galaxy Z Flip8 comes with a $200 Amazon gift card. These offers are for unlocked models of each smartphone and don't require trade-ins, although you can deepen your savings if you do trade in an older phone.

$200 GIFT CARD
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 on Amazon

$350 GIFT CARD
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra on Amazon


On Samsung.com, you'll get a $200 Samsung gift card with the pre-order of the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra, and a $150 gift card for the Galaxy Z Flip8. You can also increase savings with the addition of a smartphone trade-in.

Amazon is also offering straight cash discounts on pre-orders for the new Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2. The 40mm Galaxy Watch9 is available for $379.99 with a $50 Amazon gift card, and the 44m model is available for $409.99 with a $50 gift card.

$50 GIFT CARD
Samsung Galaxy Watch9 on Amazon

$100 GIFT CARD
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 on Amazon


For the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, Amazon has this model for $699.99 with a $100 Amazon gift card for pre-orders. Over on Samsung, you'll find the same smartwatch prices and Samsung gift card credits if you prefer shopping directly from the retailer.

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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]]> Apple Raises Trade-In Values for iPhone, Mac, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-raises-trade-in-values/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-raises-trade-in-values-for-iphone-mac-and-more.2486504/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:17:59 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-raises-trade-in-values/ Hartley Charlton Apple Trade-In trade-in estimates, raising values for most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models and adding several Android phones to the list for the first time.



As first noted by 9to5Mac, some devices gained nearly 30% in estimated value compared to the last update in May.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max now tops Apple's iPhone estimates at up to $720, up from $695, and increases run all the way down the lineup to some of Apple's oldest supported models:


  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: $695 to $720

  • iPhone 16 Pro: $560 to $630

  • iPhone 16 Plus: $465 to $485

  • iPhone 16: $460 to $480

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max: $490 to $530

  • iPhone 15 Pro: $410 to $420

  • iPhone 15 Plus: $325 to $340

  • iPhone 15: $320 to $335

  • iPhone 14 Pro Max: $375 to $405

  • iPhone 14 Pro: $320 to $335

  • iPhone 14: $225 to $235

  • iPhone SE (3rd generation): $80 to $85

  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: $320 to $340

  • iPhone 13 Pro: $260 to $285

  • iPhone 13: $195 to $205

  • iPhone 13 mini: $150 to $155

  • iPhone 12 Pro Max: $220 to $240

  • iPhone 12 Pro: $180 to $195

  • iPhone 12: $125 to $135

  • iPhone 12 mini: $85 to $90

  • iPhone 11 Pro Max: $150 to $160

  • iPhone 11 Pro: $135 to $145

  • iPhone 11: $100 to $110

  • iPhone XS Max: $90 to $95

  • iPhone XS: $65 to $70

  • iPhone XR: $80 to $90

  • iPhone 8: $35 to $40



Unchanged models include the iPhone 16e, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone X, and iPhone 8 Plus. Every current ‌iPad‌ also gained value:


  • iPad Pro: $690 to $720

  • iPad Air: $460 to $490

  • iPad mini: $265 to $300

  • iPad: $235 to $260



The Mac saw some of the largest percentage increases in today's update, led by the Mac mini's roughly 28% jump:


  • MacBook Pro: $690 to $855

  • MacBook Air: $520 to $580

  • Mac mini: $375 to $480

  • iMac: $355 to $380

  • Mac Studio: $1,045 to $1,305

  • Mac Pro: $2,045 to $2,195



The iMac Pro remains unchanged. Apple Watch estimates rose across most of the lineup:


  • Apple Watch Series 10: $150 to $165

  • Apple Watch Series 9: $130 to $135

  • Apple Watch Series 8: $90 to $95

  • Apple Watch Series 7: $65 to $70



Unchanged models include the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch Series 6, and Apple Watch SE (1st generation).

Android trade-in values were more mixed. Apple added several newer Samsung, Google, and OnePlus phones to the list for the first time, while some existing estimates fell:


  • Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: $130 to $125

  • Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G: $80 to $85

  • Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: $80 to $85

  • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: $95 (new)

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: $315 (new)

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro: $305 (new)

  • Google Pixel 9: $210 (new)

  • Google Pixel 8 Pro: $165 to $155

  • Google Pixel 7 Pro: $95 to $90

  • Google Pixel 7: $65 to $60

  • OnePlus 13: $250 (new)

  • OnePlus 13R: $165 (new)



Unchanged models include the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, Google Pixel 8, Google Pixel 8a, OnePlus 12, and OnePlus 12R.

As always, Apple's listed values are estimates, with the company noting that final offers can vary based on a device's condition and configuration, and that not all devices are eligible for trade-in credit.
Tag: Apple Trade-In

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]]> iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Month With These 12 New Features https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/iphone-18-pro-next-month-12-features/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-18-pro-launching-next-month-with-these-12-new-features.2486502/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:03:48 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/iphone-18-pro-next-month-12-features/ Joe Rossignol iPhone 18 Pro

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable "iPhone Ultra" in the first half of September, and the devices should be released in the second half of the month. The regular iPhone 18, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air will reportedly be announced around March 2027.

It has been estimated that the U.S. starting prices of the iPhone 18 Pro models could be $200 to $300 more compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of August:
  • Smaller Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that Face ID's flood illuminator will be moved under the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro models, paving the way for a smaller Dynamic Island on the devices.

  • LTPO+ Displays: The next Pro models are expected to have the same overall design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, including 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras. However, the displays will reportedly use so-called LTPO+ display technology, which should contribute to longer battery life.

  • Variable Aperture: The main 48-megapixel Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models is rumored to have a variable aperture, which would allow users to control the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor. This would provide greater control over depth of field. However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to smartphone size constraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be.

  • A20 Pro Chip: Apple's next-generation A20 Pro chip is expected to use TSMC's first-generation 2nm process, whereas the A19 Pro chip is 3nm. With a 2nm architecture and a new packaging design, the A20 Pro chip should deliver solid year-over-year performance and power efficiency gains.

  • C2 Modem: Apple's custom C1 cellular modem for 5G and LTE debuted in the iPhone 16e last year, and that was followed by a C1X chip in the iPhone Air. Apple says the C1X modem is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem, and the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone ever. The improvements should continue with Apple's third-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models.

  • 5G via Satellite: With the C2 modem, the iPhone 18 Pro models will reportedly support 5G via satellite for web browsing without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity.

  • N2 Chip: Most of the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air are equipped with an Apple-designed N1 chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says the N1 chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to have Apple's next-generation N2 chip, but it is not yet known what improvements would come with this upgrade.

  • Dark Cherry: The special color for the iPhone 18 Pro models will reportedly be Dark Cherry, alongside Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. The existing Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue colors are expected to be discontinued.

  • Simplified Camera Control: Apple is expected to simplify the Camera Control button on the iPhone 18 Pro models, by removing touch sensitivity and haptic feedback. The redesigned button will only have pressure sensitivity.

  • Redesigned Rear Ceramic Shield: The rear Ceramic Shield area for MagSafe is rumored to feature a more frosted and seamless appearance on the iPhone 18 Pro models compared to the current two-tone design.

  • Larger Battery (iPhone 18 Pro Max): According to alleged Chinese regulatory database filings, the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have nearly a 10% larger battery compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

  • Thicker Design (iPhone 18 Pro Max): It has been rumored that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be thicker than both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 18 Pro.
Bookmark our iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro roundups to stay up to date with more rumors.
Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro

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]]> Apple Scrambling to Secure Memory Ahead of iPhone 18 Pro Launch https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-scrambling-to-secure-memory/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-scrambling-to-secure-memory-ahead-of-iphone-18-pro-launch.2486500/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:23:02 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-scrambling-to-secure-memory/ Hartley Charlton iPhone 18 Pro iPhone Fold Tim Culpan iPhone 18 Pro and its first foldable iPhone, with around $1 billion worth of unpackaged processors reportedly sitting idle as they wait on memory chips, according to semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan.


With less than six weeks until the expected debut of the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and the first foldable iPhone, widely rumored to be called the "iPhone Ultra," assemblers are working with Apple to hurry DRAM shipments, Culpan reports. Apple leans heavily on Micron for the memory but also buys from SK Hynix and Samsung. Apple and its assemblers are said to remain confident they can meet initial demand, though sources are concerned that online order wait times could stretch out while retail inventory dries up quickly.

This year's iPhone lineup is set to introduce the "A20 Pro" chip, Apple's first chip built on TSMC's N2 process, which started shipping in volume earlier this year. Production is reportedly progressing well, with good volume and yields, but completed wafers are piling up because the DRAM needed to package them has not arrived. Because packaging cannot be completed without the corresponding DRAM, Culpan estimates that TSMC is currently sitting on roughly $1 billion worth of Apple processors that cannot move to the next stage of production.

The bottleneck apparently threatens to ripple into the final stages of iPhone production. Main logic board assembly and final assembly are handled primarily by Foxconn and BYD in China, and delays in packaged processor deliveries could compress their production schedules even if Apple ultimately secures enough memory for launch.

The squeeze reflects a broader memory shortage as AI infrastructure spending eats into global DRAM supply. Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the pressure during the company's July 30 earnings call, saying Apple was "seeing some very significant constraints currently, with limited flexibility in the supply chain."

The crunch already forced Apple to raise prices and shift production priorities, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reporting this week that Apple is steering buyers toward the MacBook Pro and away from the MacBook Air.

Assemblers have reportedly been told that Apple plans to build around 200 million units combined across the iPhone 18, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, and ‌iPhone Ultra‌ over their lifetimes, with the Ultra accounting for less than 10% of that total. The rest is expected to be split evenly between the Pro and standard models. The foldable iPhone will likely cost more than $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold.
Related Roundups: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Fold
Tag: Tim Culpan

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]]> Amazon Takes Up to $190 Off M5 MacBook Air With Best Deals Since Price Hike https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/190-off-m5-macbook-air/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/amazon-takes-up-to-190-off-m5-macbook-air-with-best-deals-since-price-hike.2486499/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:04:16 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/190-off-m5-macbook-air/ Mitchel Broussard Deals up to $190 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air on Amazon this week, with deals focused mainly on 13-inch models this time around. These are the lowest prices we've seen on the notebooks in the wake of Apple's price hikes in June.

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.

In terms of 13-inch models, Amazon has the 16GB/1TB 13-inch MacBook Air for $1,419.00, down from $1,599.00. This one is available in two colors on Amazon, and it's accompanied by a discount on the 24GB/1TB model.

$180 OFF
13-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/1TB) for $1,419.00

$190 OFF
13-inch M5 MacBook Air (24GB/1TB) for $1,609.00


We aren't currently tracking any discounts on the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air models this week. 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.



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Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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]]> Apple Account Card in Wallet Now Available in Four More Countries https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-account-card-in-wallet-now-available-in-more-countries/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-account-card-in-wallet-now-available-in-four-more-countries.2486497/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:01:11 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apple-account-card-in-wallet-now-available-in-more-countries/ Hartley Charlton Apple Rumors Mac iOS iPhone iPad Apple has expanded support for the Apple Account Card in the Wallet app to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta.

The Apple Account Card option for Wallet started rolling out in 2022, and Apple has been gradually expanding to more countries since then.

The card displays the balance associated with a user's Apple Account and can be used to make purchases in the Apple Store, online, or for apps, subscriptions, and other Apple services.
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]]> AirPods Pro 3 Drop to One of the Best Prices of the Year So Far at $189.99 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/airpods-pro-3-189/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-pro-3-drop-to-one-of-the-best-prices-of-the-year-so-far-at-189-99.2486496/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:44:26 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/airpods-pro-3-189/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured $189.99, down from $249.00. This is now the best price we've seen on the AirPods Pro 3 since Prime Day, and one of the overall best prices we've tracked so far in 2026.

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

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

$59 OFF
AirPods Pro 3 for $189.99


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



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]]> Apple's Bid to Use Chinese Chipmaker as Leverage Backfires https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apples-bid-to-use-chinese-chipmaker-backfires/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-bid-to-use-chinese-chipmaker-as-leverage-backfires.2486494/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:53:43 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/apples-bid-to-use-chinese-chipmaker-backfires/ Hartley Charlton China DigiTimes DigiTimes reports, citing South Korean and Chinese trade press.


This year, Apple has explored CXMT and fellow Chinese chipmaker YMTC as potential DRAM suppliers, and had progressed to testing CXMT's chips as memory shortages pushed up the cost of almost all Apple devices. Apple hoped a credible Chinese alternative would pressure Samsung and SK Hynix into cutting their own prices, a tactic it has used before with OLED suppliers and contract manufacturers.

CXMT is barred from EUV lithography tools under U.S. export controls, so it has to rely on older DUV equipment that, per a cost analysis cited by TechTimes, requires around 30% more wafer starts to produce the same output. That extra cost means matching Samsung and SK Hynix's prices is CXMT's floor, not a discount it's able to offer, so when Apple pushed for a lower LPDDR5X quote, CXMT turned it down and held pricing at or above the Korean suppliers' own rates.

With that threat neutralized, Apple seemingly lost its main point of leverage. Digital Daily reports that Chinese device makers Huawei and Xiaomi have already locked up most of CXMT's output through long-term, high-price contracts, so the company doesn't need Apple's business badly enough to negotiate.

The result is the opposite of what Apple wanted; without a credible cheaper alternative to point to, Samsung and SK Hynix face less pressure to lower their own prices, at the same time they're shifting production toward high-bandwidth memory for AI servers and tightening the broader DRAM supply. The setback comes after Apple's CXMT plans drew pushback, with politicians demanding Apple commit to not buying Chinese memory chips at all.
Tags: China, DigiTimes

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]]> OpenAI Asks Judge to Dismiss Apple's Trade Secrets Lawsuit https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/openai-asks-judge-to-dismiss-apple-lawsuit/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/openai-asks-judge-to-dismiss-apples-trade-secrets-lawsuit.2486493/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 03:46:33 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/06/openai-asks-judge-to-dismiss-apple-lawsuit/ Hartley Charlton Apple Lawsuits OpenAI

Lawyers for OpenAI said Apple's suit twists the actions of its employees. Bloomberg reports that the filing defends Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan, who spent 24 years at Apple as VP of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch before leaving to co-found io Products with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. io merged with OpenAI in July 2025. OpenAI said Tan followed normal industry recruiting practices when interviewing Apple staff.

OpenAI also defended senior systems engineer Chang Liu, one of two former Apple employees named in the suit. Apple claims Liu accessed confidential hardware files over several weeks after finding an authentication bug. OpenAI said Liu was simply helping a former Apple colleague find information for their own work, and published excerpts of text messages it says back up that account. "Apple should not be permitted to use a baseless and pretextual lawsuit," OpenAI's lawyers wrote.

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

Axios reported that OpenAI's filing also disputes how Apple built its case. According to OpenAI, Apple's own security practices, including letting staff use personal iCloud accounts for work and later reviewing personal messages left on company devices, are what gave former employees leftover system access in the first place, not evidence of a coordinated theft. The 31 page filing repeatedly frames the case as Apple trying to cover for its own struggles, with variations of the word "fail" appearing nearly 50 times.

OpenAI's filing also revisited an earlier dispute over how the two sides first fell out of contact. Apple's suit had claimed OpenAI never responded to its outreach in February, and that the two sides discussed the matter with OpenAI's general counsel. OpenAI says neither is true, and that the breakdown traced back to Apple's own outside counsel confusing two OpenAI employees with similar surnames and sending a message to the wrong person.

This week's motion follows the suit Apple filed against OpenAI in July, which accuses the company of running a scheme to pull confidential product information out of job candidates and new hires. Apple and OpenAI had spent about two years partnering to build ChatGPT integration into Siri, but the relationship soured as OpenAI moved into hardware, a shift accelerated by its acquisition of Ive's startup. Apple's suit claims more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI.

Apple escalated the case further this week, asking the same judge for a preliminary injunction to stop OpenAI from using any alleged trade secrets while the case continues, along with expedited discovery targeting Liu, Tan, OpenAI and its foundation, and io. Apple said its investigation has since turned up 11 more former employees who may have been witnesses or otherwise involved, beyond Liu, Tan, and previously named OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng.

Apple claims one former employee met with Liu and Peng before Peng's OpenAI interview and discussed proprietary information about unannounced products, and that another took screenshots of confidential documents relating to an unannounced Apple product before their own interview. Apple also said that after it filed its complaint, several former staffers now at OpenAI reached out about returning Apple issued devices they had kept.

OpenAI called that injunction request "based on false information and completely unnecessary" in a public blog post responding to Apple's filing. OpenAI has a court ordered deadline of August 17 to formally respond to Apple's preliminary injunction request. The judge is set to hear arguments on October 1.
Tags: Apple Lawsuits, OpenAI

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]]> Meta's New Mac Coding Agent Costs Up to 20x Less If You Let Meta Train on Your Data https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/05/meta-muse-code-for-mac/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/metas-new-mac-coding-agent-costs-up-to-20x-less-if-you-let-meta-train-on-your-data.2486480/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:10:28 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/05/meta-muse-code-for-mac/ Juli Clover Meta Meta today launched Muse Code, a terminal coding agent available for macOS and Linux. Muse Code is in beta, and it is powered by Muse Spark 1.2, ‌Meta‌'s newest model.


‌Meta‌ CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Muse Code can accomplish complete software engineering tasks across large repos. It can plan out changes, write code, and validate results using multiple persistent subagents.

Muse Code is ‌Meta‌'s equivalent of OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Code, and it is ‌Meta‌'s first major push into agentic coding.

There are several default skills available, such as /plan for turning a task into an approval-gated plan, /grill for stress testing a plan, and /goal for working toward the successful completion of an objective. Muse Code maintains an append-only local event log of every model call, tool run, approval, and edit, so it can resume where it stopped if it crashes.

Muse Code can be used through the Mac's terminal after a one-command install, and there is no dedicated app available. The model is priced at $1.25 for 1 million input tokens and $4.25 for 1 million output tokens, but ‌Meta‌ is offering a discount for users who give the company permission to use their prompts and completions to train future AI models.

With the Contributor tier enabled for ‌Meta‌ model training, Muse Spark 1.2 is priced at $0.10 for 1 million input tokens and $0.20 for 1 million output tokens. The Standard tier costs more and does not let ‌Meta‌ use prompts to train its models.

The more affordable Contributor tier is rate limited at 60 requests per minute and 2,100,000 tokens per minute, while the Standard tier allows for 3,000 requests per minute and 4,000,000 tokens per minute.
Tag: Meta

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]]> Disney+ Could Get a Free Ad-Supported Tier https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/05/disney-plus-free-tier/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/disney-could-get-a-free-ad-supported-tier.2486477/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:34:16 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/05/disney-plus-free-tier/ Juli Clover Disney Plus The Wrap).


D'Amaro said Disney is considering a free tier that could allow it to reach people unwilling to pay for a subscription, but no launch plans were shared.
First, we see it as a way to expand our reach to a customer segment that's more price-sensitive. Expanding our reach is, as we've talked about before, one of our strategic priorities. Second, unlike a lot of our AVOD competitors, we're fairly well sold, meaning more inventory would actually help us accelerate our ad revenue growth. And then finally, as you mentioned in your question, a free offering could help us drive top-of-funnel Disney+ subscriber growth. So nothing specific to announce today, but definitely something that we're considering.

Disney+ competitors like Apple TV and Netflix don't have a completely free tier, but services like Tubi and The Roku Channel offer free content, as does YouTube. Disney+ has approximately 130 million global subscribers and is one of the most-watched streaming services in the United States.

Disney also signed a deal with TikTok, which will see TikTok creators use characters and scenes from Disney movies and shows for short-form videos. The videos will be available on TikTok and on the Disney+ Verts section for vertical video.
Tag: Disney Plus

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]]> SpaceX Plans Starlink Mobile Service to Compete With Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/05/starlink-mobile-service/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/spacex-plans-starlink-mobile-service-to-compete-with-verizon-at-t-and-t-mobile.2486476/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:27:18 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/05/starlink-mobile-service/ Juli Clover Starlink Reuters. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said the company will "build out terrestrial" with the spectrum that it acquired from EchoStar.


She added that SpaceX intends to make Starlink a "true mobile service" that will win "quite a few" customers from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Shotwell declined to discuss the costs involved in the endeavor and said SpaceX had "great and new ideas" on how to build a mobile service, such as a large number of lower-cost base stations paired with Starlink dishes instead of cell towers.

SpaceX agreed to pay $19.6 billion to acquire 65 MHz of wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar in 2025. The spectrum will allow SpaceX to expand its direct-to-cell Starlink satellite service to include ground-based infrastructure.

Analysts told Reuters that without an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) agreement with a major carrier, it would be extremely difficult for Starlink to compete with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. 65 MHz is tiny compared to the spectrum owned by the big U.S. mobile operators, and they're unlikely to lease capacity to a competitor.

SpaceX plans to launch its next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027, and upgraded service that's "100 times better" than current direct-to-cell service is targeted for the end of that year. Shares of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon fell 2 to 4 percent following the SpaceX earnings call.

SpaceX already has a partnership with T-Mobile to power T-Mobile's T-Satellite feature that offers direct-to-cell satellite connectivity to customers.
Tag: Starlink

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