Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 3, 2026, 6:35 AM ET

Smart Home & Accessories

Anker has launched MindBase, an AI home hub designed to work with nearly 100 Anker devices and Matter-enabled smart home products from other companies. The hub runs AI processing locally and doubles as a NAS with up to 48TB of storage. Meanwhile, Aqara introduced five new Matter-enabled smart lights that support Apple Home, Thread, and Zigbee, and can pair with Aqara sensors. Govee also debuted its $400 Sky Ceiling Light, a Matter-enabled fixture with an AI mood response feature, alongside the COB Strip Light 2 Pro and Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 Pro.

Apple Software & OS

iOS 27 is bringing a new iPhone Handoff feature that lets users switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. The update also overhauls Apple Pay with a redesigned checkout flow, marking the payment system's biggest upgrade in years. Longtime Mail users will appreciate three fixes to Apple Mail in iOS, which address long-standing frustrations. At the gym, iOS 27 can turn your iPhone and AirPods into an Apple Watch substitute, bringing Gym Kit-style functionality to devices beyond the wearable. A clever tip from John Gruber, resurfaced via Daring Fireball, lets users open the current app's settings directly from Control Center using a shortcut.

Hardware Rumors & Launches

The iPhone 18 Pro is launching next week and is expected to feature three upgrades that have been rumored for years. However, leakers are battling over the third color option, with conflicting claims about whether it will be silver or black. One leaker has shown a silver component suggesting the color isn't being dropped after all. Apple's M6 MacBook Pro is launching this fall with three new upgrades and a 14-inch screen. The new M6 Mac mini is also shipping soon, representing a giant leap over Apple's first Apple Silicon Mac mini. Apple has notified developers they can stop supporting Intel Macs, as Intel-only apps will not run after mac OS. A Mac Studio buyer's guide compares the new M5 Max and M5 Ultra models. Apple's iPhone Ultra crease fix, using ultra-thin glass, is set to be adopted by Android foldables from Google, Oppo, and Vivo next year. Rumors also suggest Apple's smart home display could launch soon, designed to power Apple Home.

Apple Watch & Health

Apple shared a video featuring an Apple Watch user named Amanda who says her device saved her life. In 2024, Amanda began receiving alerts about an abnormal heart rate, which led to a leukemia diagnosis. "I wouldn't be talking to you" without the watch, she says in the video.

Digital Wallets & Security

Oklahoma has become the 16th state to support Apple Wallet digital IDs, allowing residents to add a digital version of their driver's license to the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. The driver's license integration launched today in the state. The news comes as more than 153 million driver's license scans were up for purchase on the dark web, highlighting the risks of handing over physical IDs. The FBI is investigating the sale of those digital scans. A separate Dropbox breach was seemingly caused by an egregious authentication failure, affecting multiple users. Organized crime is also draining millions through an Apple gift card scam that's spreading worldwide.

Entertainment & Media

Ryan Reynolds' new Apple TV spy movie Mayday is earning rave reviews as it kicks off Apple's big fall lineup. Apple also released the first trailer for its new film from the 'Best Picture' Oscar-winning director of CODA. The film, Being Heumann, tells the story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann.

Legal & Policy

Google has again dodged a business-splitting antitrust ruling, as a judge rejected the DOJ's bid to split its advertising business. Meanwhile, the US government has made a legal filing claiming that copyright violations by AI companies are acceptable if they help move AI innovation forward faster, arguing that AI companies can't innovate without what some call legal theft.

AI & Productivity

Anthropic has upgraded Claude's computer use feature to run in the background on Mac, a significant upgrade from the previous foreground-only operation. Adobe is bringing Photoshop, Firefly, and 70+ creative tools to Slack with a new MCP app integration, allowing teams to create and edit images, videos, designs, and PDFs without leaving conversations. A worrying survey from Elon University and The Washington Post found Americans are increasingly viewing AI chatbots as virtual friends, which raises concerns about the implications of that emotional attachment. Greenpeace says AI adoption poses the biggest threat to Apple's environmental track record, arguing that how the company handles AI will be the defining test of its commitments.

Deals & Retail

Amazon has introduced the first cash discounts on Apple's new Mac mini ahead of its launch. Labor Day deals are now live, with AirPods Pro 3 at $199, M6 Mac mini discounts, Air Tag 2 at $20 each, and more. B&H is running a flash sale with a $200 discount on the M5 MacBook Air configured with 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. A broader deals roundup includes Air Pods Pro 3 at $50 off, M5 MacBook Air at $240 off, and accessories from $5.50. After years of avoiding it, Hobby Lobby has begun rolling out Apple Pay at its checkouts.

Apple History & Auctions

An original Apple-1 Computer, one of fewer than 75 remaining, could sell for between $500,000 and $800,000 at auction this October. The "Hatfield" unit, signed by Steve Wozniak and accompanied by a letter from Steve Jobs, will tour the US before the auction. In other Apple history, Intel's loss of Apple's chip business during the Apple Silicon era was due to Apple's trust in TSMC, a lesson Intel still struggles to match.

Mac Utilities & Tips

Mac users can finally run Wallpaper Engine animated backgrounds natively without booting into Windows, using a tool called Vivid Walls, though there are some caveats to the approach.

Podcasts & Media

The latest 9to5Mac Daily episode covers the Apple vs OpenAI update, OLED iPad mini rumors, and more top stories from September 2, 2026.

Air Pods

Apple's Air Pods lineup is stronger than ever, but rumors are already circulating about what's coming next. Here's everything we know so far about when Apple will release new AirPods, including potential Air Pods 5 timing and features.