MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:01:16 PDT en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com Job Listing Suggests Apple Fitness+ Could Get Live Content https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/17/apple-fitness-could-get-live-content/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/job-listing-suggests-apple-fitness-could-get-live-content.2486989/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 01:02:07 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/17/apple-fitness-could-get-live-content/ Hartley Charlton Apple Fitness Plus hiring a Studio Producer for its Fitness+ service with a background in live production, in what could be a hint at the future of the service.


The job listing was posted last month, detailing an in-person role at Apple's Santa Monica studio. It calls for someone with a "strong foundation in live or live-to-tape multi-camera production and a genuine curiosity about where live content is headed next." Apple says it wants a "creative collaborator" who is "excited to experiment with new formats" and "push the boundaries of what live fitness content can be."

The role's actual list of responsibilities reads like Fitness+ production management rather than anything specific to live content. While Fitness+ is not a live service, many of the skills applicable to live production would likely be transferable to its needs.

Apple Fitness+ launched in 2020 as a library of trainer-led workout and meditation videos available on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, all shot in advance and streamed on demand, with Apple Watch integration for workout metrics. Apple has never offered Peloton-style live classes, real-time leaderboards, or scheduled sessions through the service, so the listing's repeated emphasis on live production skills appears to mark new territory, even if the responsibilities section stops short of describing what that live content would look like.

The job listing arrives as Apple continues to consider Fitness+'s future. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in November that Fitness+ was "under review" amid a broader reorganization, describing it as one of Apple's "weakest digital offerings" due to high churn and low revenue. Apple health vice president Sumbul Desai took over the service as part of that restructuring, with the health division now reporting directly to services chief Eddy Cue.

Gurman said in February that the review was still ongoing, and guessed that Apple would eventually merge Fitness+ with the Health app directly in some form, "perhaps offering it as a combined subscription." He did not mention any plans for live content.

Thanks, Anthony!
Tag: Apple Fitness Plus

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]]> AirPods 4 ANC Hit $134.99 Low Price on Amazon, Plus Pro 3 for $189.99 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/16/airpods-4-anc-hit-134/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-4-anc-hit-134-99-low-price-on-amazon-plus-pro-3-for-189-99.2486968/ Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:18:36 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/16/airpods-4-anc-hit-134/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured $134.99, down from $179.00. This is one of the best prices we've seen on the earbuds all year, and it's accompanied by a solid discount on the AirPods Pro 3.

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

You can also get the AirPods 4 for $99.00, down from $129.00. This is a second-best price on the AirPods 4, which is the base model without Active Noise Cancellation. Amazon provides an August 21 estimated delivery date for free shipping, with faster delivery options for Prime members.

$30 OFF
AirPods 4 for $99.00

$44 OFF
AirPods 4 (ANC) for $134.99


Finally, the AirPods Pro 3 are available for $189.99, down from $249.00. This is the best price we've seen on the AirPods Pro 3 since Prime Day in June, coming in around $10 higher when compared to that all-time low price.

$59 OFF
AirPods Pro 3 for $189.99


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.

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



Deals Newsletter


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Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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]]> Top Stories: iOS 27 Beta 5, iPhone 18 Pro Rumors, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/15/top-stories-ios-27-beta-5/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/top-stories-ios-27-beta-5-iphone-18-pro-rumors-and-more.2486944/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:12 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/15/top-stories-ios-27-beta-5/ MacRumors Staff Featured Top Stories

Other news and rumors this week included a look at an alleged battery from the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max, third-party accessories revealing some information about the foldable "iPhone Ultra," and more, so read on below for all of the details!

Top Stories


Everything New in iOS 27 Beta 5


We're a little over a month away from the launch of iOS 27, and Apple is continuing to make changes. The fifth beta of ‌iOS 27‌ seeded to developers and public beta testers this week changes the look of some app icons and adjusts Liquid Glass, plus it adds some smaller features that make the iPhone just a little nicer to use.


Check out our full overview of all of the changes in the latest beta.

iPhone 18 Pro Max's Larger Battery Capacity Allegedly Revealed


The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a nearly 12% larger battery compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to an apparent leak.


An alleged photo of a battery pack for a Chinese model of the iPhone 18 Pro Max with a SIM card tray lists a capacity of 5,391 mAh, up from 4,823 mAh for the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro Max battery.

The iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly start with the same 256GB of storage as the iPhone 17 Pro, but one analyst firm estimates that memory price spikes and other increases will raise Apple's costs to manufacture the new models by approximately 38%.

'iPhone Ultra' Screen Protectors Reveal Asymmetric Corners


The leaker known as "Ice Universe" this week shared images and a hands-on video of screen protectors for Apple's rumored "iPhone Ultra," and the leak appears to confirm a few of the most discussed details about the foldable's front design.


Notably, the leaked accessory has square corners on the side that would sit next to the hinge, and rounded corners on the opposite edge. That asymmetry lines up with months of rumors describing a foldable device with a hinge on one side, and the leak marks one of the clearest looks yet at how the proportions and shape carry over to the cover display itself.

Third-party camera protectors intended for the iPhone Ultra may also point to two expected color options for the device: silver and dark blue.

Apple Watch Rethink Could See Debut of Round Model, Screenless Fitness Tracker, and More


Apple is re-evaluating the Apple Watch lineup and considering a host of radical new designs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In this week's edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman compared plans for the Apple Watch's evolution to the "revolutionary design change" that the foldable iPhone represents. It will be "something that transforms the product for a new era."

Apple's industrial design team has reportedly been "exploring a broader rethink of its smartwatches" for some time, with several directions under evaluation including offering a round display and even some screenless fitness tracker products.

In the nearer term, a ceramic case option for the Apple Watch could return either this year or next. The material has been absent from the Apple Watch lineup since the discontinuation of the Series 5.

New MacBook Pro and Refreshed iMacs Likely Coming in October


Apple is likely to unveil a new M6 MacBook Pro and refreshed iMacs in October, based on its typical release schedule, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Writing in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman reiterated his belief that Apple is readying the launch of a refreshed base-model MacBook Pro with a 14-inch display powered by an M6 chip.

As for iMacs, the new version is likely to be an updated 24-inch model with an M5 chip or M6 chip, replacing the existing M4 model. No major design changes are expected.

iPhone Users Who Pay for Enough iCloud Storage Get New iOS 27 Perks


If you are subscribed to an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage, you will receive new perks in the Home app on iOS 27, according to Apple.


Starting with iOS 27, Apple said iPhone users who are subscribed to an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage receive access to three new Apple Intelligence features in the Home app: generated video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video cameras, the ability to search for camera clips, and automatic surfacing of noteworthy clips.

According to Stephen Robles, the Home app on the fifth developer beta of iOS 27 now indicates how many HomeKit Secure Video cameras are eligible for generated video summaries. Robles told us he had a total of 8TB of iCloud+ storage (6TB plus 2TB from Apple One), and this made him eligible for video summaries for up to 15 cameras.

MacRumors Newsletter


Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
Tag: Top Stories

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]]> MacBook Ultra: Everything We Know About Apple's OLED Touchscreen Mac https://www.macrumors.com/guide/macbook-ultra/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-ultra-everything-we-know-about-apples-oled-touchscreen-mac.2486923/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:22:24 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/guide/macbook-ultra&post_date=1786754904/ Juli Clover Featured Mega Guides MacBook Ultra OLED Touchscreen Mac MacBook Pro that could be called the "MacBook Ultra." The device will have several firsts in a Mac, including an OLED display and a touchscreen.


The "Ultra" name isn't a sure thing, because Apple could also continue to call the device the ‌MacBook Pro‌ and make it a high-end model in the Pro lineup. There are rumors of other "Ultra" devices in the works like AirPods and the foldable iPhone, which could be called the iPhone Ultra.

Design


Apple hasn't redesigned the ‌MacBook Pro‌ since the launch of the M1 Pro and M1 Max models in 2021, so the device is due for a new look. The MacBook Ultra could feature some design changes, including a thinner chassis.

Apple could get rid of the notch on the MacBook Ultra, replacing it with an iPhone-style Dynamic Island. A ‌Dynamic Island‌ could better unify the way Siri AI behaves across the iPhone and the Mac with iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate.

Size Options


The MacBook Ultra will be available in both 14-inch and 16-inch size options.

Display


Apple's upcoming MacBook will be the first with an OLED display. OLED display technology is already used for the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro, but it has taken time for larger-sized OLED screens to come down in price.

OLED will be an upgrade over the current mini-LED display technology in most cases, bringing deeper colors and a higher contrast ratio with true blacks. In an OLED display, individual pixels turn off instead of dimming when not activated, so there's less light leakage. OLED displays tend to have better HDR than mini-LED, but sometimes don't match the mini-LED brightness levels.

Along with OLED technology, the MacBook Ultra is expected to have the first touchscreen display on a Mac. Users will be able to use their fingers to interact with the Mac's display, similar to an iPad.

Touchscreen capabilities will be used alongside the trackpad and keyboard, suggesting Apple sees touch as supplementary rather than a primary control method. Apple is rumored to be adapting ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ for touch input.

Apple plans to add a reinforced hinge to the MacBook Ultra's display so that it doesn't wobble when it's tapped.

MacBook Ultra Hints


There are features in ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ that hint at a future touchscreen Mac. Apple added direct touch input to Sidecar so users can tap and interact with macOS elements when using the ‌iPad‌ as a Mac display.

‌macOS Golden Gate‌ supports an iPhone-style pull-to-refresh option, and it can be used across apps like Safari, Mail, News, Podcasts, and Calendar. A pull-to-refresh option makes the most sense on a touch display.

Chips


The current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models are equipped with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and Apple plans to use the same chips for the rumored MacBook Ultra.

Apple is planning to introduce the M6 chip as soon as late 2026, but Bloomberg says Apple isn't going to release any other chips in the M6 series. Apple's chip plans have changed in recent months, and the company is now accelerating the launch of the M7 series. The M7 chips feature major neural processing improvements that will meet increasing demand for machines better able to handle AI tasks.

With no M6 Pro or M6 Max planned, Apple will need to use the M5 Pro and M5 Max so it doesn't have to wait for the M7 series before debuting the MacBook Ultra. A second-generation MacBook Ultra will use the M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, with that machine planned for late 2027 or early 2028.

Pricing


Apple's OLED MacBook is expected to be a premium product, with a price tag higher than current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. Apple raised the prices of all Macs in June 2026, and so the MacBook Ultra will likely be even more expensive than expected. ‌MacBook Pro‌ pricing went up $300.

The higher-end 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with M5 Pro chip starts at $2,499 after the price increase, while the 16-inch M5 Pro ‌MacBook Pro‌ starts at $2,999. The OLED MacBook will be priced even higher.

Launch Date


Rumors suggest the MacBook Ultra will launch in late 2026 or early 2027, with mass production to start in late 2026. If the MacBook Ultra comes in 2026, it could be released sometime between October and December, but it won't be introduced at Apple's September iPhone event. If the new MacBook launches in 2027, it could come early in the year at Apple's first 2027 event.

Timing is uncertain because of ongoing memory shortages. Apple will need to be able to secure enough memory chips, and that could affect the company's launch plans.
Tags: OLED, Touchscreen Mac

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]]> Should You Buy an iPhone 17 Now or Wait for iPhone 18? https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/iphone-17-vs-iphone-18-buying/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/should-you-buy-an-iphone-17-now-or-wait-for-iphone-18.2486919/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:31:42 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/iphone-17-vs-iphone-18-buying/ Juli Clover Featured iPhone 17 iPhone 18 iPhone 18 in September, and will only launch the iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra. The lower-cost ‌iPhone 18‌ won't come out until spring 2027.

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With prices rumored to be going up in the fall, does it make sense to buy an iPhone 17 now, or wait for the ‌iPhone 18‌?

Price Increases


Apple raised the prices of Macs and iPads in June, but iPhones remain untouched so far. We're expecting the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and Pro Max to be $100 to $300 more expensive, and the ‌iPhone 18‌ could also be pricier.

TrendForce suggests Apple could charge more for the ‌iPhone 17‌ when it introduces new ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models, with price increases hitting even existing iPhone models. If that's the case, there won't be a monetary benefit to waiting to buy a prior-generation iPhone like there usually is. Depending on how much prices go up, you could save some cash if you buy now, especially if you're buying outright. Pricing on the ‌iPhone 17‌ starts at $799.

With a payment plan, you'll still save money, but a few dollars per month over a 12-month to 24-month period won't hit as hard.

Trade-Ins


If you're planning to trade in an older iPhone, it'll be worth more now than it will be when the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models come out. Trade-in prices for older iPhones drop with every new iPhone launch.

Quality Might Go Down


From what we've heard of ‌iPhone 18‌ rumors, Apple could be implementing cost-cutting measures that drop quality in some areas. Apple might use a cheaper screen that's not as bright, and lower-quality A20 chips with fewer GPU cores. Apple is said to be using components from the low-cost iPhone 18e for the ‌iPhone 18‌, narrowing the gap between the two devices. If that's the case, it won't be as good a value as the ‌iPhone 17‌ because it will share fewer features with Apple's more expensive iPhones.

iOS 27 Features


There are mixed rumors about the ‌iPhone 18‌'s RAM situation. Two rumors say it will get 12GB, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is only going to up it to 9GB. With 9GB RAM, the ‌iPhone 18‌ won't support the iOS 27 Siri voice customization and dictation features, which require 12GB RAM. The ‌iPhone 17‌ doesn't have 12GB RAM and doesn't get those features either, so there is no ‌iOS 27‌ benefit to waiting unless Apple opts for 12GB RAM.

iPhone 18 Upgrades


The ‌iPhone 18‌ is on hold until spring 2027, but we've still heard rumors about what to expect. Some of these features might be worth holding out for, depending on what you want in an iPhone.

  • A20 chip - The A20 chip will be built on Apple's 2nm process, likely bringing CPU speed and efficiency improvements.

  • RAM - The ‌iPhone 17‌ has 8GB RAM, and the ‌iPhone 18‌ is rumored to get either 9GB or 12GB. 9GB isn't much of an increase, and it won't support the ‌Siri‌ Expressive Voices or dictation improvements in ‌iOS 27‌, but 12GB would.

  • Front camera - There could be a 24-megapixel selfie cam instead of an 18-megapixel camera, but that's still up in the air.

  • Smaller Dynamic Island - The ‌iPhone 18‌ is rumored to be getting the same smaller Dynamic Island Apple is bringing to the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models.

  • Modem - Apple will likely use its C2 modem in the ‌iPhone 18‌ for faster, more reliable connectivity.


The iPhone 17 Is Still Good


The ‌iPhone 17‌ is the iPhone that we recommend for most people in our 2026 iPhone Buyer's Guide. It has the best mix of premium features, performance, and price, with only a handful of features reserved for the iPhone 17 Pro models.

It has the same 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and Always-On display, the same Wide and Ultra Wide cameras, a chip that's not too much slower, and the same size display as the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌. It lacks a Telephoto camera, has less RAM, uses a less durable chassis, and has a smaller battery, but that's about it.

If you're coming from an older iPhone like the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, or iPhone 15, the ‌iPhone 17‌ is going to be a major upgrade, and there's little reason to wait if you don't care about the features rumored for the ‌iPhone 18‌. Cost and timing are the two main reasons you might want to buy now instead of waiting.

We don't know what ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 18‌ pricing will look like in spring 2027, and roughly six months is a long additional wait if you were expecting to get a new phone in September.
Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 18
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPhone

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]]> The MacRumors Show: Where Does the Apple Watch Go Next? https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/the-macrumors-show-where-does-the-apple-watch-go-next/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-macrumors-show-where-does-the-apple-watch-go-next.2486912/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:35:14 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/the-macrumors-show-where-does-the-apple-watch-go-next/ Hartley Charlton Apple Watch Featured The MacRumors Show The MacRumors Show, we discuss how the Apple Watch is seemingly heading into one of its least eventful new generations, yet the rumors stacking up behind it describe the most radical rethink in the product's history coming later.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos

The most eye-catching change potentially coming this year is not a new feature at all, but a case material Apple abandoned six years ago. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the white ceramic casing is set to return either this year or in 2027, reviving a finish that has become one of the more sought after options among collectors on the resale market.

Ceramic arrived with the Apple Watch Series 2 in September 2016, replacing the gold "Edition" model and bringing the top of the line down from thousands of dollars to $1,249. Apple marketed the finish as four times as hard as stainless steel. A gray option followed alongside the Series 3, before the Edition line vanished entirely with the Series 4 in 2018. White ceramic came back for the Series 5 in 2019 alongside titanium, then Apple discontinued it for good when the Series 6 launched in 2020.

Everything else expected of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 is considerably more restrained. Gurman believes the pair will continue the trend of "modest upgrades," featuring a meaningful performance increase. The Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 all reused the S10 chip, which was itself barely changed from the S9 introduced in 2023.

Gurman also expects new color and band options and a number of health and fitness upgrades, but no design changes, meaning a third year for the case introduced with the Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024. He does not expect an Apple Watch SE 4 this year at all.

Separately, a known Weibo leaker claims Apple is focused on longer battery life with the Series 12. Apple rates the Series 11 at up to 24 hours on a charge, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode. Both new models are expected next month alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and Apple's first foldable iPhone.

Looking to the future, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" claims a major overhaul is due in 2027 or 2028, built around a new band attachment system that would free up internal space for a larger battery and break compatibility with the existing bands. The leaker went as far as advising anyone planning a 2027 purchase to hold off on buying extra bands in the meantime.

If accurate, it would resurrect the "Apple Watch X" plan Gurman reported on in 2023, which promised a magnetic band system, a thinner case, and a microLED display for the device's 10th anniversary. None of that ultimately arrived.

The timing also fits Apple's roughly three year design cadence, running from the original model through to the Series 3, the Series 4 through to the Series 6, and the Series 7 to through the Series 9. Apple has separately been evaluating next-generation OLED backplane technology for the 2027 model, while DigiTimes claimed at least one high-end model is due a significant redesign including eight sensors arranged in a ring on the underside.

Beyond that, Apple appears to be reevaluating the Apple Watch lineup as a whole. Gurman says the industrial design team has been exploring a broader rethink of its smartwatches, taking the resurgence of screenless fitness bands and smart rings seriously enough to consider Apple Watch style devices with no display, alongside new screen types and case sizes. A round display has been contemplated, though Gurman cautioned that such a device is unlikely to ship. Apple has also weighed premium variants sitting above the Ultra and Hermès models, and cheaper options below the SE.

No direction has yet been settled on, but the company is said to be "determined to reinvent the lineup in response to growing competition," with plans to make its wearables more AI-focused and an ambitious long-term revamp of the Health app. Apple also apparently continues to develop non-invasive blood sugar detection, with a goal of shipping it by 2030. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!


You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about what's next for the iPhone Air.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tag: The MacRumors Show
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy)

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]]> Ads Coming Soon to Apple Maps https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/ads-coming-soon-to-apple-maps/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ads-coming-soon-to-apple-maps.2486911/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:29:06 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/ads-coming-soon-to-apple-maps/ Joe Rossignol Apple Ads Apple Maps As reported by MediaPost, businesses in the U.S. and Canada can buy Apple Maps ad slots starting today. An introductory offer provides advertisers with a 15% credit towards future ad spend, on up to $1,000 per month of spend over the first year.

The ads do not appear to be visible in Apple Maps just yet, but they should be rolling out soon, as Apple previously stated that the ads would go live at some point in summer 2026. Ads will appear at the top of Apple Maps search results and at the top of a new "Suggested Places" section in the app.
Tags: Apple Ads, Apple Maps

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]]> Best Apple Deals of the Week: Steep Discounts Hit AirPods, MacBook Pro, and Anker Accessories https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/best-apple-deals-of-the-week-8-14-26/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/best-apple-deals-of-the-week-steep-discounts-hit-airpods-macbook-pro-and-anker-accessories.2486907/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:18:44 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/best-apple-deals-of-the-week-8-14-26/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Back To School Accessory Deals



  • What's the deal? Save on accessories from Anker, Sonos, Samsung, and more

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

$50 OFF
Anker Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station for $99.74

$100 OFF
Sonos Ace Headphones for $299.00

$400 OFF
Samsung 32-inch Smart Monitor M9 for $1,199.99


There's a big accessory sale happening on Amazon this week, with the year's best prices on Anker chargers, Samsung monitors, Sonos audio products, and much more. You can browse the full list of products on sale in our original article.

AirPods



  • What's the deal? Take $100 off AirPods Max 2, $59 off AirPods Pro 3, and more

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

$59 OFF
AirPods Pro 3 for $189.99

$100 OFF
AirPods Max 2 for $449.00


Amazon this week had a big collection of discounts across the AirPods lineup, highlighted by the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for $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, and it's accompanied by a solid deal on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2.

MacBook Pro



  • What's the deal? Take up to $500 off 2026 MacBook Pro

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

$239 OFF
14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,259.99

$240 OFF
16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,759.99

$300 OFF
16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB) for $3,299.00

$500 OFF
16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/2TB) for $4,499.00


Amazon has kept discounting Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro in recent days, with steep markdowns available for both 14-inch and 16-inch devices. We're still tracking solid deals on every model of this computer, with up to $500 available on select models.

Apple Watch Series 11



  • What's the deal? Take $100 off Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

$100 OFF
Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00

$100 OFF
Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00

$99 OFF
Apple Watch Ultra 3 for $699.99


Amazon this week has low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatches. This sale includes a handful of 42mm and 46mm GPS Series 11 aluminum models, but cellular devices are a bit more rare this time around.

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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]]> Tim Cook Reflects on His Legacy in Final Weeks as Apple CEO https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/apple-ceo-tim-cook-reflects-on-legacy-apple/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/tim-cook-reflects-on-his-legacy-in-final-weeks-as-apple-ceo.2486906/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:12:40 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/apple-ceo-tim-cook-reflects-on-legacy-apple/ Tim Hardwick CBS News Tim Cook Apple CEO Tim Cook once said that what Steve Jobs stood for, in a word, was "innovation." In a CBS News interview conducted yesterday, Cook – in his final weeks at the helm of the company – was asked what his legacy stood for, and this was his response:

"In my view, your legacy is described by others, not yourself. And so, I hope that people will say that I was a good and decent man. And if they say that at the end of the day, I will feel like I have achieved something."

The interview was conducted as part of CBS News' coverage of Apple's opening of its Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) in Houston, Texas. You can watch it in full here.
Tags: CBS News, Tim Cook

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]]> 30 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/new-things-your-iphone-can-do-ios-27/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/30-new-things-your-iphone-can-do-in-ios-27.2486904/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:24:56 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/new-things-your-iphone-can-do-ios-27/ Tim Hardwick Featured iOS 27

This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though, as the following feature list testifies. iOS 27 is currently in public beta – if you're OK with that, you can install it today.

Extend Your Photos and Lock Screen Wallpaper



A new wallpaper extension feature in iOS 27 uses Apple Intelligence to automatically expand a photo beyond its original boundaries so it fills the entire Lock Screen more naturally. If a photo is cropped too tightly, doesn't match your iPhone's aspect ratio, or it leaves empty space when positioned on the Lock Screen, iOS 27 can generate additional image content around the edges with the "Extend" option. It will analyze the existing image and create matching background details that blend with the original photo, so there's no need for aggressive cropping. The Extend option can also be found in the Photos app.

Organize Your Safari Tabs



Safari uses Apple Intelligence to automatically organize your open tabs into related topics, making them easier to browse and manage. For example, if you're shopping for a new refrigerator while planning a vacation, Safari groups tabs for each activity into separate topic-based collections. You can enable this feature by opening Tab View, tapping the three-line icon in the top-right corner, and turning on Automatically Create Topics.

Use Natural Language for Reminder and Calendar Entries



In the Reminders app, you can now create reminders using natural language, and Apple Intelligence will automatically fill in details such as the date, time, and location. For example, if you type "Pick up Dad at 6 p.m. tonight" or "Send the photos to Eric tomorrow at 3 p.m.," Reminders extracts the relevant information and adds it to the reminder automatically.

The Calendar app also supports natural language input, identifying people, dates, and locations as you type. You can then tap the suggested information to quickly add it to your event.

Inline Reply to Messages From Android Users



In the Messages app, you can now long press on a specific message from an Android user (a green chat bubble) and get an option to reply to it. That contrasts with iOS 26, where inline replies are limited to blue bubbles sent over Apple's iMessage platform.

Upgrade Your Wallet Passes



Apple has expanded the redesigned pass experience in the Wallet app with iOS 27, bringing the enhanced design introduced for airline boarding passes in iOS 26 to additional pass types. Membership, gift, loyalty, and rewards cards can now use a new Poster Generic layout with a background image, a logo, customizable header and footer fields, main information, and an optional barcode. Passes can also include up to two quick actions at the bottom, such as getting directions to a venue or checking a rewards points balance.

Describe Your Next Shortcut



Apple Intelligence makes creating shortcuts much more accessible by letting you build them with natural language. Tapping New Shortcut in the Shortcuts app opens a Describe a Shortcut interface, where you simply explain what you want the shortcut to do. You can describe a single action or a more complex automation, and Apple Intelligence selects the appropriate actions and assembles the shortcut automatically.

For example, you could create a shortcut that sets tomorrow's alarm based on your first Calendar event, enables Sleep Focus, and dims the bedroom lights each evening, or one that displays your first meeting, the weather, and today's reminders every morning. Like existing shortcuts, these automations can be triggered by factors such as the time of day, your location, app activity, system events like taking a screenshot, incoming notifications, and more.

Get a Better Flyover of Your City



Apple is enhancing the Flyover feature in Maps with iOS 27, using Apple Intelligence models to improve aerial imagery with greater texture and sharper detail. Trees, buildings, and other landmarks appear more realistic, with more accurate geometry and improved lighting effects.

According to Apple, the update makes select cities around the world look more lifelike, from the shape of individual trees to the way light reflects off glass skyscrapers. Flyover already offers detailed 3D views of landmarks, roads, parks, and buildings in more than 350 cities, so iOS 27 is essentially using AI to further improve the quality of those visualizations.

Ask Siri What Your Camera Sees



The iOS 27 Camera app has a new "Siri" mode that is available in addition to the video, photo, and other camera modes. The new mode uses Visual Intelligence to identify objects in the frame and provide information about them. It can be used to identify plants, animals, food, and more. If it's food you want info on, for example, it can tell you what it is, and how many calories are in it.

Other examples ‌Siri‌ mode can be used for include capturing a photo of an event flyer and adding a date to the Calendar app, text translation, splitting a bill, and more.

Make Your Lock Screen Clock More Compact


lock screen
A new compact clock mode is available as a new Lock Screen layout option in iOS 27. Found in the top-right corner of the Font & Color panel, the option moves the time from its traditional large, centered position to a much smaller format alongside the date and widgets at the top of the screen. It's a nice option to have if you like a cleaner Lock Screen look that shows off your wallpaper more fully, and it's the complete opposite effect introduced in iOS 26 that stretches the clock down the screen.

Generate Photo-realistic Images with Image Playground



Apple's Image Playground has been a bit of an embarrassment up until now, being limited to cutesy re-renderings of actual photos and sketched illustrations. But the app gets a major update in iOS 27. Powered by a new generative model that runs on Private Cloud Compute, it can produce high-quality images in virtually any style, including photo-realistic output for the first time. All generated images automatically carry a hidden SynthID watermark to identify them as AI-generated. The app now also supports photo-based editing in addition to creation.

Tweak Liquid Glass Opacity


settings
If Apple's Liquid Glass UI embrace in iOS 26 wasn't your thing, there's a way to tone it down. In iOS 27, Apple added a full Liquid Glass slider under Settings ➝ Appearance ➝ Liquid Glass. It changes the translucency of Liquid Glass elements, and you can choose a clear version of Liquid Glass that allows some of the background to show through, select a more opaque, tinted version that improves the legibility of text, or choose something in between.

Create a Slideshow from Any Album



In iOS 27, you can create a slideshow from any album, collection, or selection of photos in the Photos app, rather than being limited to Memories. Open an album or select multiple photos, tap the menu button in the top-right corner, and choose Start Slideshow. Slideshows can be customized with different transition styles, slide durations, and background music, and then saved as a video or shared directly to social media.

Easily Switch Between Siri and ChatGPT



The new Siri app in iOS 27 defaults to the new Siri AI, but you can switch it to ChatGPT if you prefer. Simply long press on the text input field and tap "Ask...", then you'll see an option to change to ChatGPT. Note that conversation context does not transfer when you switch chatbot providers. Currently, ChatGPT appears as an alternative in the Siri AI app whether or not you have the ChatGPT extension enabled in Settings ➝ Siri ➝ ChatGPT.

Build a Browser Extension With a Prompt



Safari has been given a new AI-powered extension creation feature. A new Create an Extension option, available from Safari's menu to the left of the address bar, lets you describe what you want an extension to do in plain language, and Apple generates it for you. If you need inspiration, Apple also provides suggested ideas across categories including Boost Productivity, Improve Focus, Get Creative, and Develop and Design.

Get AI Summaries of HomeKit Camera Footage (iCloud+ Only)



The Home app is now able to generate written summaries for motion alerts from HomeKit Secure Video cameras. It's also able to group footage from separate cameras for an overview of activity and pull out noteworthy recordings, plus it supports natural language search. Bear in mind that this feature is only available if you have an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage (that's a $9.99/month subscription).

Equalize Your AirPods



With iOS 27, Apple finally introduces adjustable EQ controls for compatible AirPods models. With your AirPods paired and the latest firmware installed, you can go to Settings ➝ [Your AirPods] ➝ Audio & Routing ➝ Equalizer ➝ Custom to adjust the lows, mids, and highs. Custom EQ is available on AirPods with Apple's H2 chip, including AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2.

Customize Siri's Voice



Apple has introduced a more powerful on-device Apple Intelligence model for the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. The upgraded model can understand and generate speech, as well as interpret text and images, enabling a more natural and responsive Siri experience. It also unlocks new voice customization options that let you adjust Siri's expressiveness and speaking pace to suit your preferences.

Rate Your Photos



Apple now lets you assign one- to five-star ratings and keywords to photos and videos in the Photos app, making it easier to organize and filter your library. To go with the new feature, Apple has added a Show Rating Controls option to the Photos section of the Settings app. When enabled, it displays star ratings on photos and videos and adds rating badges to thumbnails, ensuring that your highest-rated media is easy to spot at a glance.

Ask Questions About Your Surroundings



In Accessibility, Apple has added a new Live Recognition section. Powered by on-device intelligence, Live Recognition uses the iPhone's camera to identify and describe people, objects, and surroundings in real time. It can also answer questions about what it sees, with the option to set a default prompt for quick access.

Auto-Update Your Weak Passwords



If you use Apple's Passwords app, there's a new feature that uses Safari to automatically change weak and compromised passwords for you. The feature uses ‌Apple Intelligence‌ to automatically navigate to eligible websites, sign in, and update your password with a tap.

Save a Still From a Video



The Photos app in iOS 27 lets you pull a single frame out of a video and save it as its own photo. So you no longer have to rely on the old workaround of pausing playback, taking a screenshot, and cropping out the scrubber. The frame is subsequently saved in your library as a normal image, ready to edit or share just like any other shot.

Give Your Alarms Their Own Volume



In iOS 27, Settings ➝ Sounds & Haptics gains an Alarms and Timers section with a "Match Ringtone Volume" toggle. Switch it off and a dedicated slider appears, so you can drop the ringer to nothing overnight and still get woken at the volume you chose. Apple's own note under the slider says it won't override wake-up alarms or other alarms that carry their own volume control.

Share Your Location for as Long as You Want



In iOS 26, sharing your location in Find My involves choosing from three presets: one hour, until end of day, or indefinitely. By contrast, iOS 27 adds custom durations – four days and six hours, for example. Alternatively, you can enter an exact date and time for sharing to expire. You can also pause sharing with specific people until the end of the day, without them being informed.

Show Both Camera Views on a FaceTime Call



FaceTime has a Dual Capture option in iOS 27. On the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air, you can use the front and back cameras at the same time while on a FaceTime call. The person you're calling is able to see your face and what's shown through the back camera. You can turn on Dual Capture on a supported iPhone by tapping on the camera flip button. If you only want to show the back camera feed, you can tap to turn off the front camera view.

Draw in Messages



You can now drawing in the Messages app to send little sketches and notes. It's available when tapping on the "+" button next to the text bar in a conversation. The drawing interface is the same as the Markup tool available in apps like Photos and Notes. There's a marker, a pen, a highlighter, and an eraser, plus options to use the tools in any color.

Get Notified About a Webpage Change



Apple's new version of Safari browser in macOS 27 and iOS 27 can be tasked to monitor a webpage and notify you of any changes. With "Notify Me," Safari can keep checking a website on your behalf – such as a product you've been watching for when it comes back in stock – and alert you when a change occurs.

Reframe a Photo



A new Reframe feature in Photos can change the perspective of a photo and make adjustments to the angle of a person or object. It uses the spatial information the iPhone gathers when a photo is taken, and combines it with AI to change the angle of the camera in post-processing. The spatial data is used for adjusting the subject of the image, and then AI fills in any pixels that are missing.

Get Spending Insights in Wallet


wallet
A new "Insights" feature in the Wallet app lets you add different Connected Accounts to monitor your spending. Accessed by tapping the three dots in the top right corner, the feature displays your spending highlights, trends, and other details. Note that Connected Accounts integration is dependent on your bank offering the feature, and currently it has broader support in the U.K. than in the U.S.

Get Context When on a Call



When you're on a phone call to a business, a new feature called "Call Context" proactively surfaces relevant information. If you call an airline to change a flight, for example, the Phone app can automatically find the relevant confirmation code or reservation number from Mail and display it during the call. Apple says Call Context looks only at who the user is calling and not at the call audio itself. The feature runs entirely on device, meaning no data is shared with Apple or any third party.

Learn What's Trending Around You in Maps



In Maps, a new Local Lists section uses intelligent insights from what's trending around you for suggestions on places you should visit. Maps surfaces locally relevant collections of places to make it easier to find popular and interesting locations. Apple says Local Lists is privacy-focused and does not use information tied to individual users. Note that this feature is only available in the U.S.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27

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]]> Apple Trained Own AI Model for China Market With Help From Alibaba https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/apple-trained-own-ai-model-for-china/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-trained-own-ai-model-for-china-market-with-help-from-alibaba.2486900/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:46:29 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/14/apple-trained-own-ai-model-for-china/ Tim Hardwick Apple Intelligence China Reuters reports that Apple has trained its own large language model for the China market, rather than relying on a third-party model to power its Apple Intelligence features in the country.


The LLM has been developed with the help of Alibaba, according to the report's sources. The development marks a break from Apple's previous strategy of relying on domestic models to bring generative AI to its devices sold in China.

Rollout of its AI features in China is expected in the coming months. The rollout is described by the report as a "dual-track strategy" for AI deployment in China, allowing Apple to navigate regulatory hurdles that have limited access for other U.S. tech companies.

The move makes Apple the first foreign company approved by the Chinese government to offer a proprietary AI model in the country.

Apple previously agreed with Chinese regulators to incorporate Alibaba's Qwen model into Apple Intelligence features, similar to Apple's existing ChatGPT extension available elsewhere. Apple briefly published a support guide in China explaining how Mac users can connect Alibaba's Qwen AI to Siri and Writing Tools, before pulling it entirely less than a day later.
Tags: Apple Intelligence, China

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]]> iPhone 17 Pro One Year Later: What Held Up and What Didn't https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/iphone-17-pro-one-year-later/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-17-pro-one-year-later-what-held-up-and-what-didnt.2486892/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:58:50 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/iphone-17-pro-one-year-later/ Juli Clover Featured iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 18 Pro models that will replace the iPhone 17 Pro models, so MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to take a look back at the iPhone he's been using for close to 12 months.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

Ceramic Shield 2 was the best iPhone upgrade this year. Apple said it's more resistant to scratches, and that turned out to be true. Dan goes caseless, and his ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ has only faint scratches, while the 16 Pro was scratched after three weeks. The iPhone has also survived facedown drops with no damage, but there are a few chips in the aluminum along the edges. There have been reports of the orange color fading over time, but Dan didn't see that with his device.

Battery life was also a standout on the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌. It's able to keep up with a full day of heavy use, which is normally only possible with the larger battery in the Pro Max iPhones. Dan swapped to the smaller ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ over the 17 Pro Max because the battery lasted longer than the 16 Pro battery.

Apple added vapor chamber cooling in the 17 Pro, and that kept the iPhone cooler than normal for most of the year. Dan said his iPhone is running hotter with minor dips in performance, probably because of the iOS 27 beta. Running beta software can affect battery life and device performance.

Rumors suggest the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ isn't going to be a huge upgrade over the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, and it's likely prices are going to go up. It's not the worst idea to buy an ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ now instead of holding out for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, especially if you have an older iPhone.
Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 Pro (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPhone

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]]> What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/apple-september-announcement-rumors/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/whats-coming-in-september-new-iphones-apple-watches-and-more.2486891/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:20:39 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/apple-september-announcement-rumors/ Juli Clover Featured Siri AI like the Apple TV.


iPhone 18 Pro


The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting and a faster A20 Pro chip built on a new 2nm process. Battery life could improve with the updated chip and an upgraded LTPO+ OLED display, plus Apple could include a more efficient C2 modem and N2 networking chip. Dark Cherry is supposed to be this year's special color, and there will also be a light blue color.

iPhone 18 Pro Max


The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max will have the same feature set as the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, but it will have a larger battery and a bigger screen. Multiple rumors indicate the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max will be slightly thicker than the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max and the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ because it is slated to get a bigger battery than Apple used last year.

Both the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max could be up to $300 more expensive than the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max. Apple raised prices on Macs and iPads, but is waiting for the September refresh before upping iPhone prices.

Foldable iPhone


Apple's first foldable iPhone is almost ready to launch. The "iPhone Ultra" is expected to have a ~5.5-inch display when closed and a ~7.8-inch display when open. It'll have a 4:3 aspect ratio like an iPad, so when unfolded, it will be similar to using an iPad mini. Apple is supposedly using a hinge design that minimizes the visibility of the crease, and it'll get the same 2nm A20 chip Apple is using in the 18 Pro models.

The foldable iPhone is expected to have dual batteries with one on each side of the device, but it will be limited to a two-lens rear camera system. The iPhone is too thin for the TrueDepth camera system, so it is rumored to use Touch ID instead of Face ID. The foldable iPhone could cost somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500.

We've seen some reports of foldable iPhone manufacturing issues, and rumors that it could launch after the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max. Apple could introduce it in September, and then launch it a bit later, which is what the company did for the iPhone X back in 2017.

Apple Watch Series 12


Apple will refresh the Apple Watch this year, but it's going to be a somewhat boring update. No design changes are expected, but it could get a faster S-series chip, and the upgrade could add improvements to some health and fitness features. It could also have a bigger battery for longer battery life.

Apple Watch Ultra 4


There's going to be an Apple Watch Ultra 4, and it will get the same chip upgrade as the Series 12. DigiTimes claimed the Ultra 4 will be thinner with an upgrade to sensing functions, but the site isn't always accurate and no other rumors have backed up the claim.

Other Possibilities


There are home products and Macs Apple could launch before the end of the year, but it's possible Apple will hold a second event sometime in October or November. There are quite a few home devices in development, plus Apple is expected to introduce an all-new home hub, so a second smart home event would make sense.

  • Home Hub - Apple is working on a home hub with a 7-inch square display. It can be used to control smart home products, view photos, make video calls, and display information. It will have full ‌Siri‌ AI integration, and it will run Apple apps. The hub could come as soon as 2026, but Apple might also hold it until early 2027.

  • Apple TV 4K - The ‌Apple TV‌ 4K is finally getting an update with a faster processor, more RAM, and a new networking chip.

  • HomePod mini - Apple will refresh the HomePod mini this year, adding a faster chip and new color options.

  • HomePod - The full-size HomePod could also get a new chip.

  • Smart Home Camera - Apple has its own security camera in development, and it could launch alongside the home hub.


Other late 2026 possibilities include an ‌OLED‌ ‌iPad mini‌, a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip, an iMac with an M6 chip, a high-end ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ with touchscreen, a new Mac mini, and a new Mac Studio, but it's very doubtful these products would debut at the September iPhone event.

What's Not Launching


Apple isn't going to release a standard iPhone 18 in September 2026. The lineup will instead focus on more expensive iPhones. The ‌iPhone 18‌, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 will come out in spring 2027 instead. Apple does not plan to refresh the Apple Watch SE this year.

Hello, Ternus. Goodbye, Cook


Tim Cook is stepping down from his role as CEO on September 1 to become Apple's executive chairman, and John Ternus is taking over. Ternus will lead Apple's September iPhone event, and it's likely we won't see Cook during Apple's presentation.

Likely Event Dates


Given historical iPhone event dates, this year's presentation is most likely going to happen on Tuesday, September 8 or Wednesday, September 9. September 7 is Labor Day, and Apple may not want to make members of the media travel on a holiday.

Australia's ChannelNews said Apple's event will take place on September 8, but it's not clear if that's accurate information.

If the event is on September 8 or September 9, pre-orders would normally be on Friday, September 11. That date marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, so Apple might avoid holding pre-orders on that day. Instead, we could get pre-orders on Saturday, September 12, which is what Apple did when the iPhone 6s pre-order date fell on 9/11 in 2015.
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]]> Ted Lasso Season 4 Premiere is Apple TV's Biggest Launch Ever https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/ted-lasso-premiere-record/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ted-lasso-season-4-premiere-is-apple-tvs-biggest-launch-ever.2486890/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:05:01 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/ted-lasso-premiere-record/ Juli Clover Apple TV Apple TV Service Deadline. The show racked up 296.6 million viewing minutes in the United States across the August 4 and August 5 launch window. It beat the premieres of prior seasons of Ted Lasso, plus the Severance and Pluribus premieres.


On just August 5, the first episode was the most-streamed program in the United States with more than 200 million viewing minutes.

Season 4 premiered more than three years after the season 3 finale aired, but the long break doesn't appear to have soured Ted Lasso fans. It initially seemed like season 3 might be the final season for the series, so a season 4 was more of a surprise than a wait.

In the fourth season, the show returns to its underdog roots with Ted Lasso moving back to Richmond to coach a second-division women's football team.

There are two episodes of season 4 available now, and new episodes come out every Wednesday.

Apple TV is priced at $12.99 per month, and it can be watched across Apple devices, on popular smart TVs, on set-top boxes like Roku, on gaming consoles, and on the web. ‌Apple TV‌ is also included in Apple One subscription bundles. New subscribers can get a seven-day free trial.
Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: Apple TV Service
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

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]]> Apple Wants to Charge Developers Up to 15 Percent for Linking Outside the App Store https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/app-store-fees-apple-link-outs/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-wants-to-charge-developers-up-to-15-percent-for-linking-outside-the-app-store.2486888/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:11:46 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/app-store-fees-apple-link-outs/ Juli Clover App Store App Store.


Apple is asking for half of its commission on standard apps, so apps that would pay 30 percent for an in-app purchase would pay 15 percent when linking to a web purchase option. Small Business Program participants that would normally pay 15 percent would pay 5 percent.

  • 15 percent - Standard apps.

  • 10 percent - Apps that are part of the News Partner Program, Video Partner Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, and subscription renewals.

  • 5 percent - Apps that qualify for the Small Business Program. Apps qualify if they earn under $1 million per year.


These proposed fees are what developers would pay when someone uses their app, taps a link in the app, and then makes a purchase on the website in the link. So if someone using the Spotify app clicked a link in the app to go to the Spotify website and then purchased a subscription, Spotify would owe Apple a 15 percent fee. Apple says the fees were calculated based on expert analysis, and they are lower than the link-out rates Google is charging in the Epic v. Google case.

Apple submitted the proposal to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has been tasked with determining a reasonable fee for Apple to charge for its intellectual property.

The appeals court suggested the commission could be limited to the direct costs of facilitating link-outs, and under that approach, the fee would be zero. Apple says a zero commission would not reflect the value that it provides developers, and its suggested commission gives it fair compensation for the ‌App Store‌ platform.

As a recap, Apple was ordered to change its ‌App Store‌ rules to allow developers to link to purchase options outside of the ‌App Store‌ way back in 2021 during its legal dispute with Epic Games. Appeals delayed the ‌App Store‌ update for several years, but Apple eventually implemented a 12 to 27 percent fee that was nearly identical to its regular ‌App Store‌ fees when taking into account fees from third-party payment processors.

‌Epic Games‌ complained about Apple's fee structure, and Judge Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in contempt of court. In April 2025, she barred Apple from charging any fee on links, and since then, Apple has collected no money when an app sends users to a website to make a purchase. Apple appealed the ruling, and the appeals court upheld the contempt ruling, but said Apple was entitled to be compensated for its intellectual property. The appeals court sent the case back to the district court and Gonzalez Rogers to determine an appropriate fee.

With a loss on the contempt finding from the appeals court, Apple appealed to the Supreme Court. The justices agreed to hear the case in the term that starts in October. Apple tried several times to get the fee calculation paused until the Supreme Court rules on the case, but it was not successful.

The district court will now evaluate Apple's fee proposal and hear a response from ‌Epic Games‌, and Apple will need to implement the fee the court sets. Apple wanted to pause fee calculations because if the Supreme Court decides the appeals court erred when upholding the contempt ruling, it could nullify the district court's ruling barring Apple from charging fees.
Tag: App Store

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]]> iFixit's Galaxy Z Fold8 Teardown is a Preview of Apple's Foldable Challenges https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/ifixit-galaxy-z-fold8-teardown/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ifixits-galaxy-z-fold8-teardown-is-a-preview-of-apples-foldable-challenges.2486882/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:41:59 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/ifixit-galaxy-z-fold8-teardown/ Juli Clover Foldable iPhone iFixit Samsung iPhone Ultra so well.


The Z Fold8 is likely to be the closest competitor to the foldable ‌iPhone Ultra‌, which makes iFixit's teardown of Samsung's smartphone an interesting read. Will Apple's foldable have some of the same troubles as the Z Fold8, or has Apple solved the issues plaguing foldable smartphones?

Hinges have been a failure point on foldable smartphones, and it's a design problem Samsung hasn't been able to solve. The Fold8 has a dust-and-water ingress rating of IP48, so it's resistant to water, but not to dust. It's hard to keep dust away from a smartphone, and when dust gets inside, it gums up the hinge mechanism and it fails.


iFixit did a dust test on the Z Fold8, putting particulates in the hinge. It resulted in "truly awful crunching and grinding noises" and then the device stopped opening normally. Dust that made its way into the hinge did stay out of many of the sealed portions of the phone, but if a foldable smartphone isn't folding, there's still a major issue.

An IP4X dust rating means the Z Fold8 is resistant to particles 1mm in size and greater, but as iFixit found, many sand and dust particles are smaller than that. iFixit said beach sand measured 0.16mm, and the powder it used was 0.04mm.

Samsung used a new hinge design for the Z Fold8 and added a titanium-reinforced display structure that helps the screen open flatter, but it couldn't get rid of the crease entirely. Creases in foldables can become more visible over time as the device is opened and closed, and a recent Tom's Guide review said the crease in the Z Fold8 became more visible after just seven days.

iFixit was not impressed with the repairability of the Z Fold8, and it earned a repairability score of 4/10. The bezel around the inner display broke into pieces as it was removed, and there's no way to get to the hinge without removing the display. Batteries also aren't easy to replace because doing so requires removing the outer display. "It's an expensive, painful repair even when everything goes right," said iFixit.


The Z Fold8 has a tablet-like look and feel with a 5.5-inch screen when closed and a 7.6-inch screen when open. Most of Samsung's prior foldables have been tall and narrow, but this one is closer to an iPad mini, and its dimensions nearly match those rumored for Apple's foldable.

Apple waited to make a foldable iPhone because it wanted a device that had a minimal crease. Rumors suggest it is using a display panel created by Samsung Display and liquid metal for the hinge, along with optically clear adhesive to make the crease disappear as much as possible.

iFixit will likely do the same hinge test when the foldable iPhone comes out, and we'll know whether Apple "solved" the crease and hinge issue or will be dealing with the same problems. The foldable ‌iPhone Ultra‌ will be introduced at Apple's annual September event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Google's new Pixel 11 Pro Fold has an IP68 dust-and-water-resistance rating with a gearless hinge design, so it will presumably fare better than the Z Fold8 in a dust exposure test. It launches on August 20.
Tags: Foldable iPhone, iFixit, Samsung

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]]> Apple Says iPhone X is Now Obsolete https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/apple-says-iphone-x-is-now-obsolete/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-says-iphone-x-is-now-obsolete.2486881/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:16:53 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/apple-says-iphone-x-is-now-obsolete/ Joe Rossignol iPhone X Vintage and Obsolete Apple Products obsolete products list, according to an updated support document on its website.


When an iPhone becomes obsolete, it is no longer eligible for repairs or other hardware service at Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers.

Apple considers a product to be obsolete once seven years have passed since it stopped distributing the product. Apple stopped selling the iPhone X in September 2018, but the device remained available at select resellers for longer.

Released in November 2017, the iPhone X was the first iPhone with an OLED display and Face ID. The lack of a Touch ID home button resulted in the device having a more edge-to-edge screen with a notch for the front camera and Face ID sensors. The device featured a premium design with a glass back and a stainless steel frame.

iOS 16 was the final major software version compatible with the iPhone X. Apple continues to release iOS 16 security updates for the device.

Apple also added the 2018 edition of the 15-inch MacBook Pro to the obsolete products list.
Tag: Vintage and Obsolete Apple Products
Related Forum: iPhone

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]]> Apple Opens Houston Advanced Manufacturing Center Ahead of Mac Mini Production https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/apple-houston-manufacturing-center/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-opens-houston-advanced-manufacturing-center-ahead-of-mac-mini-production.2486880/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:08:56 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/apple-houston-manufacturing-center/ Juli Clover Mac mini Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) in Houston, Texas. It's located in the same Houston facility where Apple makes AI servers and will start manufacturing the Mac mini this year.


Small and medium businesses can visit the 20,000-square-foot facility for free training and educational sessions, taking advantage of interactive labs, tools, and equipment, including a holographic lab table. Apple says participants can learn the "same innovative processes" used to make Apple devices.
"In less than nine months, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into this Houston facility. We stood up a factory, started production, and shipped the first advanced AI servers off the line. Today, we're thrilled to open our new Advanced Manufacturing Center, a place where businesses, workers, and students can learn the same innovative processes that we use to make Apple's most groundbreaking products. And we're pleased to begin Mac mini production later this year," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We believe in American workers and American ingenuity, and we are moving at an incredible pace because we want to build more than great products. We want to build the future of American manufacturing."

Apple experts will hold sessions on topics like advanced manufacturing principles for final assembly and design considerations for printed circuit board assembly, and lead interactive workshops that use the site's representative production facility and equipment. Apple says participants will learn to identify and adapt to production challenges in real time.

In the future, the AMC will offer hands-on training to local college students.

The location is part of Apple's pledge to spend $600 billion to support manufacturing in the United States. Businesses interested in visiting the AMC can sign up for notifications about future sessions on Apple's website.
Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Mac mini

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]]> iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: When is the Next Apple Event? https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/when-is-iphone-18-pro-iphone-ultra-apple-event/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-ultra-when-is-the-next-apple-event.2486868/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:11:35 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/when-is-iphone-18-pro-iphone-ultra-apple-event/ Joe Rossignol iPhone 18 Pro Apple Event iPhone Ultra

This September, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an all-new foldable iPhone that will reportedly be named the iPhone Ultra. The regular iPhone 18, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 are not expected to be announced until around March 2027, as part of a new launch strategy.

Australian media outlet ChannelNews today published an "exclusive" report claiming that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra event will take place on Tuesday, September 8. However, this date is questionable, as Apple has never held its iPhone event one day after Labor Day. Historically, there has always been at least a two-day gap between the holiday and the event, so it is more likely to fall on Wednesday, September 9 or later this year.

If the event were to fall on Tuesday, September 8 or Wednesday, September 9 this year, pre-orders would ordinarily begin on Friday, September 11. However, that Friday will mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, so Apple may want to avoid starting pre-orders that day out of respect. Perhaps for this reason, when the iPhone 6s event fell on Wednesday, September 9 in 2015, pre-orders began on Saturday, September 12.

It would be a lot smoother for Apple to skip the week of Labor Day and the 9/11 anniversary entirely and hold its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra event the following week instead. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the event will take place in the first half of September, which would make Tuesday, September 15 the latest possible date.

If the event falls on Monday, September 14 or Tuesday, September 15, then pre-orders would likely begin on Friday, September 18, and the devices would likely launch Friday, September 25. It remains to be seen if the iPhone Ultra is available at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro models, but it might be limited to the U.S. at first either way.

Since 2020, iPhone event videos have been pre-recorded, but in recent years Apple has invited select reporters to the Steve Jobs Theater to watch the video in person. Afterwards, attendees receive hands-on time with the new devices.

The table below provides an overview of dates for the last six iPhone events, with 2020 being an outlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic.












































iPhone Series Announcement Date Event Date Delta (Days)
iPhone 17 Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Tuesday, September 9, 2025 14
iPhone 16 Monday, August 26, 2024 Monday, September 9, 2024 14
iPhone 15 Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Tuesday, September 12, 2023 14
iPhone 14 Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Wednesday, September 7, 2022 14
iPhone 13 Tuesday, September 7, 2021 Tuesday, September 14, 2021 7
iPhone 12 Tuesday, October 6, 2020 Tuesday, October 13, 2020 7

Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro
Tags: Apple Event, iPhone Ultra

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]]> Amazon Discounts Every 2026 MacBook Pro With Up to $500 Off https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/2026-macbook-pro-up-to-500-off/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/amazon-discounts-every-2026-macbook-pro-with-up-to-500-off.2486867/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:59:26 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/2026-macbook-pro-up-to-500-off/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured
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.

14-Inch MacBook Pro


Prices start at $2,259.99 for the 24GB/1TB 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro, down from $2,499.00. Amazon is also providing $300 off the 15-Core/24GB/2TB model, as well as $500 off the M5 Max 26GB/2TB model, both of which are solid low prices in the wake of the recent price hikes.

$239 OFF
14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,259.99

$300 OFF
14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (15-Core/24GB/2TB) for $2,699.00

$300 OFF
14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (18-Core/24GB/2TB) for $2,899.00

$500 OFF
14-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/2TB) for $3,599.00

16-Inch MacBook Pro


In terms of the larger display models, we're tracking discounts on all four models on Amazon. These start at $2,759.99 for the 24GB/1TB M5 Pro configuration ($239 off), and reach up to $4,499.00 for the 48GB/2TB M5 Max device ($500 off).

$239 OFF
16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,759.99

$300 OFF
16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB) for $3,299.00

$300 OFF
16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/2TB) for $3,999.00

$500 OFF
16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/2TB) for $4,499.00


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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