Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 20, 2026, 6:01 AM ET

iOS 27 and mac OS Golden Gate Ship

Apple released iOS 27 and mac OS Golden Gate to all users this week, with the iPhone update delivering more than 30 performance improvements spanning app launch times, scrolling, and background processing. The rollout follows last week's hardware event, where every product announced except one has now reached customers, and Apple has opened a Siri AI waitlist for users awaiting the revamped assistant. Among the more unusual additions, the iPhone 18 Pro Max's substantially larger battery prompted Apple to build an entirely new iOS 27 feature to manage the added capacity.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are now on sale, and Amazon moved quickly to discount both models over the launch weekend. The Ultra 4 received its first price cut within a day of release, dropping to $779.99 on Amazon. One notable omission, however: neither new watch includes the handwashing timer that shipped on prior generations, an odd gap given the health focus of the lineup. For at least one longtime Apple Watch user, the Series 12's expanded health features are finally enough to consider abandoning their WHOOP band.

iPhone 18 Pro Hardware Details Emerge

A teardown of the US iPhone 18 Pro Max confirms the device relies on a Qualcomm modem rather than Apple's in-house C2, a notable setback for the company's long-running effort to bring cellular silicon in-house. Apple is also taking a calculated risk with iPhone Duo software, betting that developers will adapt their apps to the new form factor's interface conventions. For those already planning around the 18 Pro, a roundup of top accessories covers cases, chargers, and mounts worth pairing with the device.

M6 Pro Benchmark Disputed

An alleged Geekbench result for the M6 Pro has surfaced, raising questions about earlier reports that Apple plans an unusually short chip generation before moving to the next architecture. The credibility of that benchmark is now in doubt, however, as the posted M6 Pro score appears likely to be fabricated. Apple has not commented on either the benchmark or its silicon roadmap.

Deals and Accessories

Beyond the watches, this weekend's Apple promotions include AirPods discounts of up to $100 alongside markdowns on MacBook Air and Mac mini configurations. On the software side, a new indie app called GasPulse helps iPhone users track local fuel price trends and time their fill-ups. For enterprise IT teams, Dashlane introduced Vault Enforcement, a new tool aimed at closing the persistent gap in corporate password-manager adoption across Apple fleets.