Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 4, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Apple Ecosystem and International Markets

Apple reportedly achieved $10 billion in annual sales in India for its last fiscal year, marking a significant milestone in the region. The company's first foldable iPhone has been a long time coming, with Samsung's presence in the market making Apple's timing potentially ideal. Apple Pay expanded to the Philippines, allowing iPhone and Apple Watch owners in the country to add supported cards. Russia's antitrust regulator has initiated a formal case against Apple concerning the mandatory preinstallation of domestic apps. India is considering extending tax exemptions on manufacturing machinery and components to further boost Apple's iPhone production within the country.

Product Launches and Rumors

iPhone Fold is slated for a September 2026 launch, with production difficulties reportedly resolved. Apple plans to introduce an iPhone Ultra, with two distinct new iPhone designs expected in the upcoming year. The 20th-anniversary iPhone is rumored to feature a glass-heavy construction, drawing inspiration from the iPhone Air, and will include improved cooling systems. Camera-equipped AirPods may be released sooner than anticipated, potentially as early as next month. Apple is also expected to launch five new products next month, including the iPhone 18 Pro and a folding iPhone, as part of its major end-of-year product release event. Pro is expected to launch next month with a price increase, and a starting price of $1,399 for this model does not appear credible.

Software and Services Updates

iOS 27 will bring significant enhancements to Apple's Photos app, including improvements to slideshows, shared albums, and more. The new Apple Upgrade program requires AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon for iPhone leasing. Apple is working on a new feature that will support cross-device copy and paste between iOS devices and Windows PCs. The latest beta build of WhatsApp’s Mac app lets users choose between daily and weekly update schedules, in addition to checking manually for new updates. The Google Health app for iOS now allows Google Health data, including data from Fitbit trackers, to sync to Apple Health. Wikipedia for iOS has added a new widget for the Home Screen. Apple has recently made changes to its bug bounty program to address a surge in AI-generated security reports.