MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Wed, 11 Nov 2026 13:38:56 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Approves $1 Billion AI Investment https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/11/tsmc-approves-ai-investment/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-chip-supplier-tsmc-approves-1-billion-ai-investment.2494156/ Wed, 11 Nov 2026 11:44:03 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/11/tsmc-approves-ai-investment/ Hartley Charlton No Linkback Anthropic OpenAI TSMC Apple chip supplier TSMC has announced board approval to invest up to $1 billion in AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic. The decision allows TSMC to buy up to $500 million of shares in each company. The board also authorized up to $500 million to create a company that will invest in semiconductor businesses and the wider industry.

TSMC manufactures Apple's custom chips, while OpenAI and Anthropic are developing processors of their own. The investments deepen TSMC's ties with companies that compete with Apple for its most advanced manufacturing capacity, as well as in the AI space more broadly. OpenAI is rumored to be working on hardware to rival Apple directly.
Tags: Anthropic, OpenAI, TSMC

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]]> Make Apple Watch Listen for Sounds Like the Doorbell https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/enable-sound-recognition-apple-watch-listen/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/make-apple-watch-listen-for-sounds-like-the-doorbell.2494152/ Wed, 11 Nov 2026 10:03:54 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/enable-sound-recognition-apple-watch-listen?post_date=1794402224/ Tim Hardwick Apple Watch Apple Watch Ultra Featured

It's especially useful for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but it has everyday uses too. If you wear noise-cancelling headphones while working and don't want to miss the doorbell – if you're expecting a delivery, for example – your Apple Watch can alert you.

Sounds Your Apple Watch Can Detect


Sound Recognition can detect the following 15 sounds. Any you switch on in the iPhone's Sounds list are also detected by your Apple Watch when "Detect using Apple Watch" is enabled:

  • Fire Alarm

  • Siren

  • Smoke Alarm

  • Cat

  • Dog

  • Appliances

  • Car Horn

  • Doorbell

  • Door Knock

  • Glass Breaking

  • Kettle

  • Water Running

  • Baby Crying

  • Coughing

  • Shouting

If a sound isn't recognized automatically, you can also teach your iPhone a Custom Alarm or Custom Appliance or Doorbell from the same Sounds list.

What You'll Need


You'll need an Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 paired with an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27. If you already use Sound Recognition on your iPhone, it turns on automatically for your Apple Watch, so you may not need to do anything. Either way, here's how to set it up:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Accessibility.

  2. In the "Hearing" section, tap Sound & Name Recognition.
    settings
  3. Tap Sound Recognition and turn on the Sound Recognition toggle, then turn on Detect using Apple Watch.
  4. Tap Sounds and turn on the sounds you want to hear about, such as Doorbell. You can also choose a specific alert tone for each sound.
    settings
Apple says Sound Recognition is processed on your Apple Watch and iPhone and doesn't record or store audio. It shouldn't be treated as a safety system, though. You shouldn't rely on it in situations where you may be harmed or injured, in high-risk or emergency situations, or for navigation, per Apple's guidelines.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now), Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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]]> 'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-support-community-closing-november-20/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-support-community-permanently-closing-on-november-20.2494142/ Wed, 11 Nov 2026 03:50:59 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-support-community-closing-november-20/ Joe Rossignol Featured Apple Support Community discussion forums will be permanently closing on Friday, November 20.


Effectively immediately, the Apple Support Community forums are in a read-only state, with new posts no longer being accepted. The final message posted to the site appears to have been submitted at 5:49 p.m. Pacific Time today.

There is still a sign-in button, but it leads to an internal portal for Apple's corporate employees.

Apple's full notice added to the site:
The Apple Support Community will permanently close on November 20, 2026. Starting today, the site will no longer accept new posts and is available in a read-only state.

You can continue to find trusted guidance and support on the official Apple Support site.

We want to thank the community members who have contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products.
It is the end of an era. Apple offered an online discussion forum for user-to-user technical support since 1998, when it launched the Apple Tech Exchange. The forums were renamed to Apple Discussions in 2000, and then to the Apple Support Communities in 2011, before taking on their current Apple Support Community name in 2022.

Apple informed MacRumors that it decided to sunset the Apple Support Community after a careful evaluation of strategy and customer needs.

Alternatives to the Apple Support Community include the MacRumors Forums and Reddit, and customers can continue to contact Apple Support.

Editor's Note: Did you participate in the Apple Support Community in the past or present? Send me an email (joe@macrumors.com) with your stories, memories, and/or thoughts on the forums shutting down for a future MacRumors article.
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]]> Apple's Holiday Gift Guide Highlights iPhone Duo and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-hoilday-gift-guide/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-holiday-gift-guide-highlights-iphone-duo-and-more.2494138/ Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:57:36 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-hoilday-gift-guide/ Juli Clover iPhone Duo

The website has colorful, festive imagery featuring Apple devices, along with suggestions on what you can buy for your loved ones and friends.

Apple's top highlighted products are its newest devices:

Apple also suggests personalized gifts that can be engraved, like the AirPods Pro 3, AirTags, and iPad. The company suggests you can pick out an Apple Watch and band to match their style, or customize a Mac by choosing the chip, memory, storage, and color.

There are new holiday accessories Apple is promoting in pink, navy, gray, purple, light blue, and yellow (though Apple calls it green). The blues, yellow, and pink match the low-cost MacBook Neo. Accessories are from frequent Apple collaborators like Tech21, Herschel, Mophie, and Belkin.


If you want to gift someone an Apple device or accessory, it might be best to wait. Apple is expected to hold its annual Black Friday shopping event, and in past years, it's offered gift cards up to $250 with device purchases. Retailers are also offering discounts on Apple products, including some of the newest releases. You can see all the discounts in our Black Friday roundup, which we'll keep up to date as the big shopping event approaches.

Apple's extended return policy started last Friday, so you can buy gifts now and the recipient will still be eligible to return them in January. Most products sold in Apple Stores and the online Apple Store are eligible for the extended return period.
Related Roundup: iPhone Duo
Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

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]]> Three Workers Die at Tata iPhone Parts Plant in India https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/india-tata-electronics-gas-incident/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/three-workers-die-at-tata-iphone-parts-plant-in-india.2494137/ Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:46:21 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/india-tata-electronics-gas-incident/ Juli Clover India Reuters. The facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, manufactures components for the iPhone.


The workers were performing maintenance at a wastewater treatment plant at the Tata facility when they inhaled gas while inspecting a nano-filtration tank. The plant was operated by Nalco Water, and the workers were employed by a subcontractor.

Apple, Tata Electronics, and state officials will look into the incident, with Apple sending a "team" to assist in the investigation.

The incident did not affect iPhone production because the facility was closed for Diwali.

Back in 2024, the same facility had a fire in a chemical storage area, with production disrupted for several days. Tata Electronics was also the target of a cyberattack earlier this year, with hackers stealing confidential Apple files.
Tag: India

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]]> iCloud Mail, Calendar, Contacts and More Experiencing Outage [Updated] https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-icloud-calendar-outage/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/icloud-mail-calendar-contacts-and-more-experiencing-outage-updated.2494134/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:53:31 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-icloud-calendar-outage/ Juli Clover system iCloud services are experiencing an outage, according to Apple's System Status page. ‌iCloud‌ Calendar, ‌iCloud‌ Contacts, ‌iCloud‌ Mail, iWork for ‌iCloud‌, and Game Center are affected.


Apple says some users are experiencing issues with the services. The outage began at 5:49 p.m. Eastern Time.

Find My is also having problems and Apple says it may be slow or unavailable.

We'll update this article when the services are back online.

Update: As of 7:22 p.m. ET, the ‌iCloud‌ Mail, ‌iCloud‌ Calendar, and ‌iCloud‌ Contacts outages are listed as resolved. Photos and ‌iCloud‌ sign-in are now experiencing issues.
Tag: system

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]]> Apple's Claris Testing 'Harbor' App for Local AI on Macs https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-claris-harbor-app/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-claris-testing-harbor-app-for-local-ai-on-macs.2494131/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:34:51 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-claris-harbor-app/ Juli Clover Apple Rumors Mac iOS iPhone iPad testing an app called Harbor, which turns Apple silicon Macs into a private AI server.


Harbor works with a single Apple silicon Mac, but it also supports connecting multiple Mac computers over Thunderbolt 5 to pool unified memory for larger models. Apple added RDMA over Thunderbolt 5 with macOS Tahoe 26.2, making clustering faster.

Harbor detects devices connected over Thunderbolt 5 and lets users browse for, download, and load open-weight models. It's described as an easy-to-use app with no manual configuration required.
Harbor turns your Mac into a private AI inference server. Run open-weight models locally on Apple silicon—your data never leaves your hardware, and nothing reaches the cloud. Connect multiple Mac computers over Thunderbolt 5 to pool unified memory, enabling large models and higher concurrency than a single computer can handle alone.

Set up in minutes, not hours. Harbor automatically detects your devices over Thunderbolt 5 to form a cluster. Plug in, start, and you're running—no manual configuration, no command line, no infrastructure expertise required.


Download and run models directly. Browse, download, and load open-weight models from within the app. Harbor handles model management so you can focus on the work, not the setup.

Cluster for scale. Connect two or more Thunderbolt 5-capable Mac computers and Harbor pools their unified memory into a single inference resource. Run models that exceed any single computer's capacity, or serve more concurrent requests across your cluster.

Harbor is in early access and is not publicly available. There was an App Store listing, but it has now been removed.

Claris is known for its database platform FileMaker, which is aimed at businesses, so it isn't clear how Apple will market the Harbor app or whether it will be free. The sign-up page for Harbor asks for a company name, which suggests more of a business focus.

There are already well-known, free alternatives for Mac users who want to run a local AI server. Exo is an open-source tool for clustering Macs, and LM Studio is available for single-Mac use, but Apple's Harbor app appears to combine LM Studio's simple interface with clustering.
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]]> iFixit's PROLED MacBook Pro Teardown Reveals Logo LEDs https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/ifixit-proled-macbook-pro-teardown/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ifixits-proled-macbook-pro-teardown-reveals-logo-leds.2494126/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 22:02:34 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/ifixit-proled-macbook-pro-teardown/ Juli Clover MacBook Pro iFixit MacBook Pro to see how Apple shed weight, what powers the logo, and how it compares to the 14-inch M6 ‌MacBook Pro‌.


Apple added a glowing logo on the back of the PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌, but since there's no backlight to illuminate it, Apple used four LEDs, a reflective layer, and a diffuser to create an even glow. When the light is off, the logo's two-way mirror coating gives it a shiny finish.

Getting to the logo for repairs isn't easy because it's behind the display, so if it breaks, the only repair option is removing the screen. iFixit ended up breaking the panel because the glass separated from the layers underneath, destroying the OLED.

Apple says the PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ has a hinge designed for touch, but iFixit said it's basically identical to the M6 ‌MacBook Pro‌'s hinge, just stiffer, so it better holds its angle when the display is tapped at the top.

The Thunderbolt/USB-C ports and fans are replaceable, but the logic board has to come out. The HDMI port and SDXC card slot are soldered to the logic board, so they're not as easily replaced. The SSD and memory are also soldered.

iFixit swapped logic boards between two PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, and after running Repair Assistant, all of the components worked, including the touchscreen and Touch ID. iFixit said the touchscreen didn't add any new parts pairing problems.

The PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌'s trackpad is a little bit smaller than the M6 model's, and weight was shed by removing some aluminum from the lower chassis. The lower case weighs 364 grams vs. 456 grams for the M6 model. The display assembly is 101 grams lighter despite the touchscreen and the glowing Apple logo, and the battery is two grams lighter too.

The PROLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ earned a repairability score of 5 out of 10, which is a point higher than the M5 ‌MacBook Pro‌ and a point below the MacBook Neo.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: iFixit
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

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]]> 10 Free iPhone Duo Apps Worth Downloading https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/free-iphone-duo-apps/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/10-free-iphone-duo-apps-worth-downloading.2494124/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:27:07 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/free-iphone-duo-apps/ Juli Clover Featured iPhone Duo iPhone Duo app picks so far, and now we're back with an overview of some of the best Duo apps you can get for free. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera demos his suggestions for apps worth checking out.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

Dan's list includes Delta Game Emulator, Bear, Fantastical, MD Vinyl, and several more. The apps are free or have a free component, though some do offer paid upgrades.

We have a list of fun iPhone Duo apps and a second list featuring even more titles. Have an ‌iPhone Duo‌ app you think we should check out? Let us know in the comments below.
Related Roundup: iPhone Duo
Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

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]]> Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-releases-airpods-firmware-9b47/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-new-airpods-firmware.2494123/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:11:26 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-releases-airpods-firmware-9b47/ Juli Clover AirPods AirPods Max AirPods Pro Featured AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware has a build number of 9B47, up from 9A348/9A350.


Apple has been beta testing the new firmware for the last several weeks, but hasn't yet offered details on what's included in the software. Apple has an AirPods support document that it will update with information soon.

Firmware updates can be downloaded by connecting the AirPods to an Apple device and connecting them to power. It can take a few hours for new firmware to be installed because there is no software update option like there is for other Apple devices.
Related Roundups: AirPods 5, AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now), AirPods Max (Buy Now), AirPods Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

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]]> Next iPad Air Likely to Have These 10 New Features https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/next-ipad-air-10-likely-new-features/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/next-ipad-air-likely-to-have-these-10-new-features.2494116/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:53:26 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/next-ipad-air-10-likely-new-features/ Joe Rossignol iPad Air will be equipped with an OLED display, albeit with a 60Hz refresh rate. That is not all, of course, with the new iPad mini announced last month likely providing us with a preview of some other upgrades coming to the iPad Air in the first half of 2027.


Below, we have outlined 10 new features that are likely for the next iPad Air:
  • OLED display with more vivid colors and increased contrast ratio, but likely 60Hz still

  • Thinner bezels around the display

  • Nano-texture display option for reduced glare

  • M5 chip: up to 20% faster performance compared to the M4 chip in the current model

  • Approximately 15% thinner and 15% lighter design compared to the current model

  • Acoustic Display: screen vibrations produce sound, no speaker holes

  • IP67-rated water and dust resistance

  • Apple's C2 modem in cellular models with "meaningfully faster uploads" compared to Apple's previous C1X modem

  • Adaptive True Tone flash for improved photos and document scanning

  • Fast-charging support: up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 35W or higher adapter
A specific timeframe for the next iPad Air has yet to be rumored, but an announcement in March or April next year is a reasonable guess.
Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

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]]> Amazon Begins Early Black Friday Sale, Featuring Sitewide Discounts on Tech and Decor https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/amazon-early-black-friday/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/amazon-begins-early-black-friday-sale-featuring-sitewide-discounts-on-tech-and-decor.2494099/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:50:00 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/amazon-early-black-friday/ Mitchel Broussard Black Friday Deals Featured early Black Friday deals this week, with sitewide savings across TVs, headphones, Amazon devices, Apple products, and much more. Another retailer offering a major early Black Friday sale right now is Best Buy.

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.

Amazon's official Black Friday sale is set to kick off next Thursday, November 19, but ahead of that time it's offering big early discounts for the season. The official Black Friday event will run through Cyber Monday on November 30, with major deal drops happening at both midnight and 8 a.m. Pacific Time during both events.

SITEWIDE DEALS
Amazon Early Black Friday

Amazon Early Black Friday



Apple




TVs and Monitors


$452 OFF
65-inch Hisense 4K TV for $547.99


Audio


$82 OFF
Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones for $378.00


Home


$549 OFF
Anker SOLIX C2000 Portable Power Station for $949.99



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 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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]]> Apple Announces Swift Student Challenge Ahead of WWDC 2027 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-2027-swift-student-challenge/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-announces-swift-student-challenge-ahead-of-wwdc-2027.2494117/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:28:19 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-2027-swift-student-challenge/ Juli Clover Featured WWDC Swift Student Challenge Swift Student Challenge for 2027, with submissions set to be accepted from February 8 to February 28, 2027.


The Swift Student Challenge is an annual contest that gives young developers worldwide a chance to show off their creativity and app development skills by creating an app. Apple says students should submit an app built in Xcode or Swift Playground that can be experienced within three minutes.

Students can submit an app for any platform this year, which is new. In prior years, apps were designed for iOS devices.

Ahead of the contest, Apple is offering students tutorials and Meet with Apple online sessions to learn new coding intelligence features and get inspiration for their projects. There are also Develop in Swift tutorials covering Swift UI, AI and machine learning, and spatial computing.

Apple will select winners who "demonstrate excellence in innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity." A group of Distinguished Winners will be invited to Apple Park in Cupertino, California to attend Apple's WWDC 2027 event. Rules and eligibility details can be found on the Swift Student Challenge website.

Apple hasn't announced dates for WWDC 2027, but the event is typically held in June. In 2027, Apple will announce iOS 28, iPadOS 28, macOS 28, and other '28 software updates.
Tag: Swift Student Challenge
Related Forum: Apple, Inc and Tech Industry

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]]> iPad Mini 2021 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading? https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ipad-mini-2021-vs-2026/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-mini-2021-vs-2026-buyers-guide-is-it-worth-upgrading.2494113/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:11:48 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ipad-mini-2021-vs-2026?post_date=1794341501/ Hartley Charlton Buyer's Guide Featured iPad mini iPad mini went on sale earlier this month with a larger OLED display, a thinner and lighter design, the A20 Pro chip, and water and dust resistance. If you still use the sixth-generation ‌iPad mini‌ from 2021, the upgrade also brings changes that debuted on the 2024 model, including Apple Intelligence, Apple Pencil Pro support, and twice the USB-C transfer speed.


The new ‌iPad mini‌ starts at $699 for 128GB with Wi-Fi or $849 with cellular in the United States. The discontinued 2021 model started at $499 and $649, respectively, with 64GB of storage. Both support iPadOS 27.2, have Touch ID in the top button, and are rated for up to 10 hours of web browsing over Wi-Fi or watching video. Both displays also run at 60Hz.

Display, Design, and Accessories
























































‌iPad mini‌ (sixth generation, 2021) ‌iPad mini‌ (eighth generation, 2026)
8.3-inch display 8.5-inch display
Liquid Retina display with LED backlighting and IPS technology Super Retina XDR ‌OLED‌ display with 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
2266-by-1488 resolution at 326 ppi 2316-by-1512 resolution at 326 ppi
Wider display borders 24% thinner display borders
500 nits maximum brightness 600 nits maximum SDR and full-screen HDR brightness, with up to 1,200 nits peak HDR brightness and 1-nit minimum brightness
Standard antireflective glass Standard antireflective glass or optional nano-texture glass on 256GB and 512GB models for $100, with a polishing cloth included
IP67 water and dust resistance, rated for a maximum depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
Available in Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, and Purple Available in Midnight and Starlight
Supports ‌Apple Pencil‌ (second generation) and ‌Apple Pencil‌ (USB-C) Supports ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro and ‌Apple Pencil‌ (USB-C)
‌Apple Pencil‌ hover and ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro features including squeeze, barrel roll, haptic feedback, and Find My
Polyurethane Smart Folio, also compatible with the 2024 ‌iPad mini‌ Two-panel TechWoven Smart Folio with adjustable viewing angles, available separately in Navy Blue and Taupe for $79
94% fiber-based packaging 100% fiber-based packaging and 35% recycled content overall



Dimensions and Weight


































‌iPad mini‌ (2021) ‌iPad mini‌ (2026)
Height 7.69 inches (195.4 mm) 7.69 inches (195.3 mm)
Width 5.3 inches (134.8 mm) 5.22 inches (132.6 mm)
Thickness 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) 0.21 inch (5.4 mm)
Weight (Wi-Fi) 0.65 pound (293 grams) 0.56 pound (255 grams)
Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular) 0.66 pound (297 grams) 0.58 pound (263 grams)



The 2026 model is about 14% thinner and 13% lighter in its Wi-Fi configuration. The cellular model is about 11% lighter.

A15 Bionic vs. A20 Pro



























































‌iPad mini‌ (2021) ‌iPad mini‌ (2026)
Chip A15 Bionic A20 Pro
Manufacturing process 5-nanometer (TSMC N5P) 2-nanometer (TSMC N2)
CPU 6 cores (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) 128GB and 256GB: 5 cores (2 super cores and 3 efficiency cores)
512GB: 6 cores (2 super cores and 4 efficiency cores)
GPU 5 cores 7 cores
Graphics features Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Neural Accelerators Dedicated Neural Accelerators in each GPU core
Neural Engine 16 cores 128GB and 256GB: 16 cores
512GB: Dual 16-core Neural Engine (32 cores total)
Memory 4GB 12GB
‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and Siri AI, with support for Apple's larger on-device model for more expressive ‌Siri‌ voices and improved dictation
Storage 64GB or 256GB 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB



Apple claims up to 2.2 times the CPU performance and up to four times the GPU performance of the 2021 ‌iPad mini‌ in its tests. Against the 2024 A17 Pro model, Apple says it delivers more than twice the unified memory bandwidth and up to 4.5 times the speed in large language model token generation.

Cameras and Audio












































‌iPad mini‌ (2021) ‌iPad mini‌ (2026)
Front camera on the portrait edge Front camera on the landscape edge
12MP front camera with Center Stage and an ƒ/2.4 aperture 12MP front camera with Center Stage and an ƒ/2.0 aperture
Smart HDR 3 on the front and rear cameras Smart HDR 4 on the front and rear cameras
Retina Flash for the front camera Retina Flash with True Tone for the front camera
Quad-LED True Tone rear flash Adaptive True Tone rear flash
Automatic document detection and scanning in the Camera app, with adaptive flash to reduce shadows
Landscape stereo speakers with external speaker holes Acoustic Display stereo audio with display-coupled woofers and concealed tweeters, without external speaker holes
Dual microphones Updated dual microphones for clearer calls and recordings
HEVC, H.264, and ProRes playback, with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support Apple also lists AV1 playback and HDR10+ and HLG support



Connectivity, Charging, and Price
































































‌iPad mini‌ (2021) ‌iPad mini‌ (2026)
Third-party wireless networking chip Apple N1 wireless networking chip
Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 6
Thread
Third-party 5G modem (cellular models) Apple C2 5G modem (cellular models)
U.S. cellular model A2568 supports LTE band 46 U.S. cellular model A3596 adds 5G bands n14, n26, n70, and n75 and LTE band 106, and drops LTE band 46
UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA support UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ support
Nano-SIM or eSIM (cellular models) eSIM only (cellular models)
USB-C with USB 3 speeds up to 5Gb/s USB-C with USB 3 speeds up to 10Gb/s
External display output up to 4K at 30Hz External display output up to 4K at 60Hz
Extended external display mode with iPadOS 27.2
19.3Wh battery 18.9Wh battery
Fast charging up to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 35W or higher USB-C power adapter, sold separately
Now discontinued Starts at $699 (Wi-Fi) or $849 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)



Both the 2021 and 2026 models are rated for up to nine hours of web browsing over cellular. Apple claims up to 50% faster cellular data speeds with the C2 modem compared with the 2024 ‌iPad mini‌.

Should You Upgrade?


If your 2021 model still feels responsive and lasts long enough for reading, browsing, and taking notes, keeping it makes sense for now, and if battery life is your only complaint, a battery service may be enough.

However, for many 2021 ‌iPad mini‌ owners, the 2026 model is a worthwhile upgrade. If you've had yours since launch, its battery has had five years to wear down, and 64GB can feel cramped if you keep games or downloaded video on it. The new model gives you a fresh battery and twice the storage if you're coming from the 64GB version. Apple still rates both models for up to 10 hours when new, but the 2026 model can charge to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 35W or higher adapter.

The ‌OLED‌ display and lighter design are the changes you're most likely to notice every day. The screen can get dimmer for reading in bed and brighter for HDR video, and the lower weight makes the ‌iPad mini‌ easier to hold one-handed for long stretches. Both displays run at 60Hz, with no ProMotion. The A20 Pro and extra memory matter more if you play demanding games, edit photos or video, or often find that apps reload when you switch back to them.

Some of the smaller changes matter more depending on where you use your ‌iPad mini‌. IP67 water and dust resistance is useful if you take it outdoors, read by the pool, or use it in the kitchen. The landscape front camera is better positioned for calls when the iPad is propped up horizontally, and extended display support lets you use a monitor as a separate workspace.

Which Model Should You Buy?


The discontinued 2024 iPad mini is a good middle ground if your 2021 model is showing its age and you're happy with its display. It gives you more base storage, ‌Apple Intelligence‌, faster USB-C transfers, and ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro support, and you can reuse your existing Smart Folio. Apple lists the 128GB Wi-Fi model for $509 through its Certified Refurbished store when available, with a new battery and a one-year warranty. Remaining new stock from third-party retailers is also worth considering at a low enough price.

If prices are close at the same storage capacity, buy the 2026 model. At $699, it makes the most sense if you specifically want the ‌OLED‌ display, lighter body, or water resistance. If you use a Smart Folio, factor in $79 for the redesigned version. The USB-C ‌Apple Pencil‌ works with either newer model, while the second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ needs replacing. Both newer cellular models use eSIM, so check with your carrier if you currently use a physical SIM.

A used 2021 ‌iPad mini‌ is still a reasonable buy at around $300 or lower if you want a second device for reading, notes, or streaming and 64GB is enough. Battery condition matters more than cosmetic wear; if the price of a 256GB unit or the cost of a battery service brings it close to a refurbished 2024 model, the newer device is still the better buy.

If you're buying the 2026 model, 128GB at $699 is enough for most buyers. If you're already close to filling 128GB on your current ‌iPad‌, the $799 256GB model gives you room to grow. Nano-texture glass brings that configuration to $899 and is worth considering if you regularly contend with glare. The $999 512GB model makes the most sense if you need the extra space for games, media, or projects. It also gets an additional CPU core and a second Neural Engine, which are worth weighing if you use apps that can take advantage of them.
Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

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]]> New Apple TV Sign Language Feature Announced https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-tv-sign-language-interpretation/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/new-apple-tv-sign-language-feature-announced.2494109/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:11:11 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-tv-sign-language-interpretation/ Joe Rossignol Apple TV Featured Accessibility announced a new accessibility feature for the Apple TV app that gives viewers the option to watch supported movies and shows with on-screen sign language interpretation. An interpreter will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen, with the experience said to have been designed and tested by Deaf and native signers.


The feature is available in the Apple TV app on devices running iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and visionOS 27.2 or later.

American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be available for Being Heumann, which chronicles the story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann. The movie begins streaming in the Apple TV app on Friday.

Apple said sign language interpretation will also be available for the movie F1, and for the movies Way of the Warrior Kid and Greyhound later this year. Over time, the option will expand to additional Apple Original films and series.

"Each performance is carefully crafted to fit and complement the Apple Original film it interprets," said Apple.

Titles with sign language interpretation will be labeled with a Sign Language icon. Viewers can enable the feature in the Apple TV app's settings, and then press the Sign Language button while watching a supported movie or show. Search will also make it easier to find titles that feature sign language with simple phrases like "with ASL."


As sign language interpretation becomes more widely available across streaming services, a new "Movies & Shows with American Sign Language" collection will be added to the Apple TV app. Apple mentioning plural "streaming services" suggests that the option will eventually be available for more than just Apple Originals.

"At Apple, we believe everyone should be able to enjoy great stories and entertainment," said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. "Bringing sign language interpretation to Apple TV is an exciting step forward in making the viewing experience more accessible and inclusive for Deaf audiences."
Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: Accessibility
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

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]]> Anker's Early Black Friday Sale Surprises With Mystery Boxes and Big Discounts https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/ankers-early-black-friday/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ankers-early-black-friday-sale-surprises-with-mystery-boxes-and-big-discounts.2494104/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:58:43 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/ankers-early-black-friday/ Mitchel Broussard Black Friday Deals Featured many retailers, and Anker is joining in today with an event that includes big discounts on popular accessories, plus special blind box surprises. This sale will run through November 18th, after which Anker will switch over to its official Black Friday week sale.

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

During this sale, you can get up to 46% off Anker's best wall chargers, power banks, MagSafe-compatible accessories, cables, power strips, docks, and more. There's also Anker's popular blind boxes, which contain contain surprise accessories at a discount.

UP TO 46% OFF
Anker Early Black Friday Sale


There are four blind boxes available, starting at $39.99 for the Silver Blind Box, which contains one of four randomly selected accessories that have potential value of up to $129.99. For every blind box, you are guaranteed to at least save some money, as each box is priced below the cheapest accessory that you could receive.

Portable Batteries



Wireless Chargers



Wall Chargers and Hubs




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 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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]]> Apple Arcade Adding These Four Games in December https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-arcade-games-december-2026/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-arcade-adding-these-four-games-in-december.2494102/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:26:30 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/apple-arcade-games-december-2026/ Joe Rossignol No Linkback Apple Arcade Apple today announced that an additional four games will be added to the Apple Arcade catalog on Thursday, December 3: LEGO DUPLO Playtime, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, solitaire(ish), and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown+.

In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month on its own. Alternatively, the service is included with any Apple One bundle subscription. Every game available on Apple Arcade is free of ads and in-app purchases.
Tag: Apple Arcade

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]]> Disable Touch on MacBook Pro PROLED XDR and When Using Sidecar https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/disable-touch-macbook-pro-proled-xdr-sidecar/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/disable-touch-on-macbook-pro-proled-xdr-and-when-using-sidecar.2494106/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:05:48 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/disable-touch-macbook-pro-proled-xdr-sidecar?post_date=1794337542/ Tim Hardwick Featured MacBook Pro Sidecar
Some would call this sacrilege...

More than a decade later, in 2021, Apple's then-hardware engineering chief John Ternus remarked that the Mac was made exclusively for indirect input and that Apple saw no compelling reason to change its approach.

"We make the world's best touch computer on an iPad. It's totally optimized for that. And the Mac is totally optimized for indirect input. We haven't really felt a reason to change that," Ternus said in an interview with Joanna Stern.

Touch Comes to the Mac


Fast forward to 2026, and Apple has had a change of heart. The new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR is the first Mac to adopt touchscreen technology. Many younger people who grew up with smartphones and tablets expect to interact with their computers the same way they do with their mobile devices, and that expectation appears to have twisted Apple's arm (no pun intended).

Of course, just because the new MacBook Pro models have a touchscreen doesn't mean you have to use it. If you forget it's even there, you can turn off the function and pretend it doesn't exist. If you use Sidecar with an iPad on another Mac, you can turn off touch in the same way.

Turn Off Touch on MacBook Pro and Sidecar


The steps are the same whether you want to disable the MacBook Pro's touchscreen or touch input in Sidecar:

  1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the menu bar and choose System Settings....

  2. Select Accessibility in the sidebar.

  3. Under "Physical and Motor," click Touch.
    settings
  4. Toggle on the switch next to Ignore Touch Gestures.
    settings
That's all there is to it. Your Mac will now ignore touch input, and since the setting covers Sidecar too, an iPad you use as a second display will ignore touches as well. If you ever want touch back, return to the same screen and toggle off Ignore Touch Gestures.

Touch Friendly, Not Touch First


If some gestures prove useful but others keep being triggered by accident, you can adjust them individually instead of disabling touch altogether. In System Settings, select Touch Display in the sidebar, where each gesture can be switched off, and Swipe between spaces, Mission Control, and App Exposé also have pop-up menus for changing how the gesture is performed.

settings
Don't overlook the fact that the Accessibility ➝ Touch screen (where "Ignore Touch Gestures" lives) offers further customization options. Touch Accommodations changes how the screen responds to taps, swipes, and touch-and-hold input. AssistiveTouch can also be found on this settings menu if you want alternative ways to control the screen, and the Accessibility ➝ Zoom menu includes an option to zoom using the touch display or Sidecar.


Whatever you think about touch on a Mac, one group with a genuine reason to leave it on is app developers. Xcode's iOS Simulator responds to direct touch, so you can test your app's taps, swipes, and pinches right on the screen instead of approximating them with a trackpad and keyboard modifiers.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: Sidecar
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

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]]> OLED iPad Air Rumored to Launch in Two Sizes in Early 2027 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/oled-ipad-air-rumored-to-launch-in-early-2027/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/oled-ipad-air-rumored-to-launch-in-two-sizes-in-early-2027.2494090/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 13:42:52 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/oled-ipad-air-rumored-to-launch-in-early-2027/ Hartley Charlton iPad Air DigiTimes OLED iPad Air with OLED displays in the first half of 2027, according to DigiTimes.


An ‌OLED‌ ‌iPad Air‌ has been rumored for over a year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that Apple was developing one and that it was unlikely to arrive before 2027. He narrowed that window to the first half of 2027 earlier this month. The latest report adds shipment estimates and details on how panel orders could be split.

Samsung Display is expected to supply most ‌iPad Air‌ panels. BOE is seeking orders for one of the two sizes and still needs to qualify as a supplier. With orders for the ‌iPad Air‌ and iPad mini, Samsung could become Apple's largest supplier of ‌OLED‌ iPad panels overall, while LG Display is expected to retain the lead for the iPad Pro.

Industry estimates cited by DigiTimes put 2027 shipments at 4 million to 5 million units each for the ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad mini‌, and 3 million to 4 million for the ‌iPad Pro‌. The ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ estimates each cover both screen sizes. The ‌iPad Pro‌ forecast is well below its reported pre-launch target of around 10 million units per year, with industry sources pointing to the price as a factor in weaker demand.

Both sizes of the current M4 iPad Air use LCD screens. The move to ‌OLED‌ would make the ‌iPad Air‌ Apple's third ‌iPad‌ line to adopt the technology, following the ‌iPad Pro‌ in 2024 and the 8.5-inch iPad mini that went on sale November 6.

According to ‌DigiTimes‌, the ‌iPad Air‌ is expected to use the same single-stack ‌OLED‌ design and low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) backplane as the ‌iPad mini‌. The ‌iPad Pro‌ uses two light-emitting stacks to boost brightness and reportedly uses a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) backplane.

LTPO's oxide transistors help pixels hold their charge longer between refreshes, so the display can save power by refreshing less often when the image is still. The ‌iPad Pro‌'s ProMotion display can vary its refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz. ‌DigiTimes‌ previously reported that the ‌OLED‌ ‌iPad Air‌ would stick with 60Hz, leaving ProMotion exclusive to the ‌iPad Pro‌ in Apple's tablet lineup.
Related Roundup: iPad Air
Tags: DigiTimes, OLED
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

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]]> The Original iPod Went on Sale 25 Years Ago Today https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/original-ipod-went-on-sale-25-years-ago/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-original-ipod-went-on-sale-25-years-ago-today.2494087/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:54:45 +0000 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/10/original-ipod-went-on-sale-25-years-ago/ Hartley Charlton iPod

Steve Jobs had unveiled the first iPod just over two weeks earlier, on October 23, at a small press event in the Town Hall auditorium at Apple's Infinite Loop headquarters. Advertised as offering "1,000 songs in your pocket," the device combined a 5GB hard drive with a monochrome LCD display, a mechanical scroll wheel, and up to 10 hours of battery life.

The original model required iTunes. Its FireWire connection transferred music and charged the battery, while automatic synchronization copied songs and playlists from the user's iTunes library. Apple said that an entire CD could be transferred in under 10 seconds and a collection of 1,000 songs in less than 10 minutes. The hard drive could also store documents and other files.

Ahead of the announcement, Apple invited the press to the unveiling of a "breakthrough digital device," specifying that it was not a Mac. Reports variously suggested a music player, a home stereo accessory, or a handheld device with handwriting recognition. A MacRumors rumor roundup published two days before the event included the name "iPod."



The announcement received a mixed response. Our original coverage is still available, along with reader comments questioning the device's price, Mac-only compatibility, and significance. One reader described it as "far from revolutionary," while another wrote, "all this hype for something so ridiculous!" Early forum discussions also covered fingerprints on the polished rear enclosure, heat while charging, and the sound quality of the included earbuds.

Hardware revisions followed in quick succession. The second-generation iPod adopted a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, while the third-generation model introduced the 30-pin Dock Connector in 2003. The full-size iPod gained a color display in 2004 and video playback in 2005.

The iPod mini was announced in January 2004, representing the first extension of the product line. It featured a smaller anodized aluminum enclosure in silver, gold, pink, blue, or green, and introduced the Click Wheel, which integrated playback buttons into the touch-sensitive scrolling surface. Apple adopted the same control for the fourth-generation full-size iPod later that year.



In 2005, Apple introduced both the iPod shuffle and iPod nano. The shuffle omitted a display and offered a smaller, simpler music player, while the nano replaced the mini with a thin design based on flash storage. Later iPod nano models added video playback, a video camera, and a touchscreen. The square sixth-generation model, introduced in 2010, could be worn on the wrist using third-party watch straps.

By April 2007, Apple had sold 100 million iPods, less than six years after the first model reached customers. By October 2011, sales had exceeded 304 million units.

The iPod touch arrived in September 2007, several months after the first iPhone went on sale. It featured a 3.5-inch Multi-Touch display, Wi-Fi, and Safari, without requiring a cellular plan.



Apple discontinued the iPod classic in September 2014, five years after its final hardware revision. The iPod nano and iPod shuffle followed in July 2017, leaving the iPod touch as the sole model.

The seventh-generation iPod touch received an A10 Fusion chip and up to 256GB of storage in May 2019. It remained on sale without further hardware updates until May 10, 2022, when Apple announced its discontinuation and said it would be available while supplies lasted.

In its announcement, Apple attributed the end of the lineup to the integration of music playback across its other products. Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said that "the spirit of iPod lives on" through devices including the iPhone, Apple Watch, HomePod mini, Mac, iPad, and Apple TV.
Related Forum: iPod touch and iPod

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