Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: May 15, 2026, 2:38 PM ET

Financial Services & Promotions

Apple is preparing a major Apple Card sign-up push that would effectively give new customers free AirPods Pro 3, with a reported $249 cash-back incentive for cardholders who purchase the headphones at Apple retail stores in the U.S. Starting as early as next week, the promotion would mark one of the most aggressive card-bundling offers in the program's history. The timing coincides with Apple's ongoing transition of the Apple Card from Goldman Sachs to Chase, a move that has prompted questions about whether the new banking partner will maintain identical rewards terms. Meanwhile, a separate report suggests Apple is planning similarly large sign-up bonuses for new Apple Card applicants at physical stores beginning next week, with the offer described as effectively giving customers a new pair of Air Pods Pro 3 at no additional cost.

Hardware & Manufacturing

Apple's domestic chip strategy gained new momentum as TSMC committed an additional $20 billion to its Arizona fabrication plants, reinforcing the company's efforts to re-shore semiconductor production. The investment comes as supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Intel has begun testing production of some iPhone, iPad, and Mac chips, potentially ending TSMC's decade-long exclusivity as Apple's sole silicon supplier. Separately, the iPhone 17 Pro has been named the fastest-charging smartphone overall by CNET, a benchmark that could signal Apple's intensified focus on charging speed as a differentiator ahead of the iPhone 18 cycle. In China, Apple slashed iPhone 17 Pro series prices by 1,000 yuan — roughly $138 — in anticipation of the 618 shopping festival, a mid-year retail event that typically drives significant volume in the region.

Software & Platform Developments

Replit released its first iPhone app update in four months after resolving an App Store review dispute with Apple over how AI-generated apps can be previewed and developed on iOS, suggesting the company may have navigated Apple's tightening scrutiny of agentic coding tools. The timing aligns with broader tensions in the AI app ecosystem, as OpenAI plans legal action against Apple over App Store policies. On the operating system front, iPad OS 26 has been praised as the first iPad update in years that makes the device feel meaningfully closer to a primary computer, while mac OS 26.5 shipped with enterprise fixes for managed Macs. In the podcast roundup, iOS 26.5 launched without improvements to Apple Intelligence, a gap that reportedly gave Google room to push its Gemini features ahead of Apple's next OS release.

Entertainment & Content

Apple TV is adding a spy thriller starring Ryan Reynolds to its slate of star-packed originals coming later this year, blending the actor's trademark comedy with a high-stakes espionage premise. The film joins a broader content push as Apple continues to invest heavily in its streaming platform to compete with rivals.

Accessories & Ecosystem

A new Mag Safe headphone amp and DAC now attaches magnetically to the back of iPhones, targeting audiophiles who want higher-quality wired audio without carrying a separate external device. In the smart home space, SwitchBot unveiled its Lock Vision and Lock Vision Pro, both supporting Matter over Wi-Fi for seamless integration with Apple Home, while Ikea's Matter-over-Thread devices have received positive marks for their smart home capabilities despite some lingering compatibility quirks. On the creative side, Apple commissioned three short pieces showcasing Creator Studio across cooking, poetry, and other formats, and Lepro introduced an affordable reactive backlight kit designed to enhance Apple TV viewing setups. OpenAI brought its Codex coding agent to the ChatGPT mobile app, giving iPhone and Android users remote access to Codex sessions running on a Mac, while ChatGPT now connects to financial accounts via Plaid to deliver personalized budgeting advice.

Deals & Pricing

Memorial Day sales are delivering steep discounts across the Apple lineup, with Amazon marking the 2TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro at an all-time low and the 16-inch 2026 MacBook Pro discounted by $249 across all models according to recent listings. Best Buy and other retailers are offering the AirPods Max 2 for $40 off, the 2026 MacBook Pro for up to $216 off, and the Apple Watch Series 11 for up to $130 off, while Anker accessories are also on sale. An ex-Apple designer revealed that AirPods Max development involved hundreds of variations over five years, underscoring the product's lengthy gestation period as the headset continues to evolve through its lifecycle.