Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: July 18, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Apple's Market Dominance and Financial Moves

passed Nvidia to become the world's most valuable company again, with its market valuation surpassing that of the chipmaker. This surge comes as to 87% in the first quarter of 2026, indicating a strong retention of existing users and a slowdown in switching to Android. In other financial news in several countries, following earlier hardware and subscription hikes in the US and Japan. increased iPhone in Japan after raising prices on Macs and iPads globally last month. Despite these price adjustments, Apple One continues to offer substantial savings for users who regularly utilize its bundled services, even after recent price increases for Apple Music and two Apple One tiers.

iOS 27 and Software Developments

The iOS 27 is now available, offering users a glimpse into upcoming features for iPhones and iPads. For those who installed the beta and are experiencing usability or stability issues, a guide to downgrading from iOS 27 Beta to iOS 26 is available. The iOS 27 update also introduces a new recovery screen, allowing malfunctioning iPhones to boot into Recovery Assistant without requiring a Mac or PC, a feature first seen in iOS. Additionally, the beta includes several that are worth exploring. Meanwhile, WhatsApp has begun rolling out its new username feature, with some users reserving their usernames and others seeing the full feature activated for select iPhone users.

App Store and AI Concerns

received demand from a San Francisco City Attorney requesting the removal of 13 AI "face-swap" apps capable of generating nonconsensual nude images. This action highlights growing concerns about the misuse of AI technology. Separately, an investigation revealed on the App Store in Brazil, posing as simple games and utilities. In a related development, the European Commission has formally ordered Google to provide rival AI services with the same access to Android device features as its own Gemini, addressing concerns about preferential treatment for Google's AI on its platform.

Upcoming Hardware and Services

The iPhone 18 are expected in two months, with rumors suggesting they will retain a similar design to their predecessors but will include 12 new features. Apple's Car Keys feature is reportedly expanding to include TANK vehicles made by Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM), based on code changes within Apple's Wallet app. For those looking to enhance their Apple ecosystem and Magic Keyboard are available, with significant discounts on the iPhone 17 Pro Max and other accessories. Amazon is also offering a substantial $200 discount on the 512GB M4 iPad Air 13-inch.

Apple's Legal and Ecosystem Landscape

US Justice are reportedly in early discussions regarding a potential early settlement of the 2024 iPhone antitrust lawsuit. This development could avoid a lengthy trial. The relationship between Apple and OpenAI has reportedly become strained, with accusations of trade secret theft emerging, as discussed on the Apple Insider Podcast. In positive ecosystem news has pledged an additional $100 billion for US chip investment, bringing its total commitment to $265 billion.

Third-Party Integrations and Content

Popular password management app 1Password has, allowing the AI service to access stored credentials without directly seeing passwords. OpenAI has also tweaked chat access in its Chat GPT app for Mac to improve usability. On the content front, Apple TV+ has released the first trailer for its upcoming docuseries, '', ahead of its debut next month. Discussions on the 9to5Mac Daily podcast recap top stories, including Apple's Back to School promo and the Air Pods public beta.

Apple's Journal App and User Habits

While not explicitly marketed for mental health improvement aligns with psychological research supporting reflective writing practices. Its approach encourages users to integrate journaling into a mindful daily routine. Meanwhile, users are being polled on their potential actions if becomes permanent, following significant cost increases for components like memory.

Other Notable Mentions

MacRumors hosting for a MacBook Neo and Satechi accessories. It has also been confirmed that while it is relatively easy to find a real email address behind Apple's Hide My Email feature, it does not pose a significant concern for users employing it as intended for spam filtering.