Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: July 12, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

New Software and Hardware Rumors Emerge

Apple is reportedly releasing the first public betas for iOS 27 and mac OS Golden Gate this week public betas. The M6 era of Apple Silicon is expected to be short, lasting only six months before Apple transitions to the AI-focused M7 chip M6 era. This shift is said to be influenced by research initially conducted for the Apple Car project, with the M7 and M8 processors poised to deliver enhanced artificial intelligence performance. Gurman's Power On newsletter suggests the M7 Ultra could support up to 1.5TB of RAM, a capacity not seen since the 2019 Mac Pro M7 Ultra. Additionally, upcoming EU regulations might necessitate an upgrade for the Apple Pencil, with new models potentially featuring more easily replaceable batteries by early 2027.

Retail and Product Deals Surface

The Apple Watch Series 11 is available at a discounted price of $299 on Amazon, representing a $100 saving from its usual cost. Air Pods Pro 3 have also hit a new low since Prime Day, selling for $199.99 AirPods Pro. Apple Stores are expanding their use of "Tap to Pay on iPhone," a feature introduced in 2022 that enables merchants to accept contactless payments directly on their iPhones. In crime news, a stolen iPad led to the arrest of a bank robbery suspect, and dozens of iPads were stolen from an elementary school iPad.