Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 6, 2026, 9:32 PM ET

iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra Launch

The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra could be in short supply this year due to a memory shortage affecting production. Apple's new Pro processor is not being cranked out as fast as it could be because of RAM shortages, and that is reportedly slowing assembly of the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple's attempt to use Chinese memory maker CXMT as leverage against Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix has backfired, with the two Korean chipmakers ending up with more pricing power rather than less. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be notable changes across the lineup. Apple is gearing up for a more focused and potentially much more expensive iPhone launch this fall, with the cheaper base iPhone 18 being saved for spring. That leaves the more expensive Pro models to carry the fall launch, and the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to be announced in a month with new features including an upgraded camera system and the A20 Pro chip. Analysts are now forecasting what the iPhone 18 Pro could cost given the component shortages and the new feature set.

Apple's Market Position and Hardware News

A new report shows iPad shipments fell 8% in Q2 2026 amid a global tablet market decline. This comes after Apple reported a 5% year-over-year drop in iPad revenue for the June quarter last week. For smartphones selling at over $600, Apple owns 65% of that market and grew 9% year over year in the first half of 2026. However, Chinese brands are making a dent in local market share, putting pressure on Apple's premium dominance. T-Mobile retired 2G GSM network on Monday, August 3, which means all three major carriers in the United States have now ended 2G service. original iPhone has now lost its last cellular network as a result of this shutdown.

Software and Security Updates

Apple now published the security details for today's mac OS Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma updates, which address a serious Screen Sharing vulnerability. Apple today released mac OS Tahoe 26.6.1, an update to the mac OS Tahoe operating system that came out last year, arriving a little over a month after the previous release. Researchers have uncovered Mac malware that can steal credentials and drain all or a selected percentage of a cryptocurrency wallet, in yet another reminder of the importance of security hygiene. pasted Terminal command opens the door to this Mac crypto wallet theft, according to the researchers. The most blatant security backdoor yet seen in an internet router has been found in a range of models sold under multiple brand names, with a firmware implant that phones home to a remote server. Apple's baffling bounty changes finally make sense, according to a new analysis of the company's revised security reward structure.

iOS 27 Fitness, Car Play, and Home Features

Gym Kit has been one of Apple Watch's smartest fitness features since it launched in 2017, and iOS 27 essentially turns your iPhone and Air Pods into an Apple Watch at the gym. The new software lets you tap your watch to compatible gym equipment, and Apple Watch shares your heart rate while the machine sends back workout data. Air Pods are getting a variety of new features in iOS, two of which are exclusive to Air Pods Pro. CarPlay iOS 27 has a handful of new features and improvements, including two additions for some of Apple's most popular apps. iOS 27 also includes hints about the new iPhone Ultra, but it also points to an all-new Apple Home product likely launching soon.

OpenAI and AI News

OpenAI continues to churn out upgrades to its various GPT models, with the latest GPT-5.6 promising to be more succinct and provide confident wrong answers less often. The new Chat GPT version has a "Think" button and will find "more reliable facts," according to the company. OpenAI's GPT-5 one tomorrow, and the company is marking the week by looking beyond individual models with the introduction of Agent Plugins, an open standard meant to let reusable AI-agent extensions work across platforms. OpenAI also shared new pricing and design details about its first smart device, which Bloomberg reports will be a doughnut-shaped speaker. Adobe OpenAI have partnered on a new Chat GPT plugin, showing that Adobe doesn't care where people create, but more on ensuring they create with Adobe. Adobe hell-bent on becoming the creative engine behind AI with this latest integration.

Apple TV and Entertainment

Apple TV now airing Ted Lasso season, and the fall lineup reveals every new show and movie coming soon to the streaming service. Apple's surprise hit series this year is making the jump to theaters for one night only, a rare move for the company which usually reserves theaters for its movies. The high-profile television version of Tom Wolfe's "The Bonfire of the Vanities" will reportedly no longer be made for Apple TV because of creative differences.

Deals, Trade-Ins, and Services

Time is running out to grab limited-time deals on Apple's latest MacBook Air laptops, with M5 models now up to $200 off and many deals ending this weekend. Amazon is offering up to $190 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air, representing the best deals since the price hike. Today's deals are headlined by Air Pods Pro 3 dropping in price again for one of the best offers of the year at nearly 25% off, alongside the ongoing Air Pods Max 2 offer at $100 off. Apple has significantly increased how much it pays you to trade in most devices, but you should compare carrier offerings, other trade-in vendors, and private sale values to get the most for your money. Apple today updated its U.S. trade-in estimates, raising values for most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Samsung's newest of smartphones and smartwatches launches tomorrow, making today your last chance to get pre-order discounts on those devices including up to a $350 Amazon gift card. Apple has expanded support for the Apple Account Card in the Wallet app to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta.

Other Apple News

The Apple Health app on iPhone is a powerful way to track all facets of your health, whether recording data from your Apple Watch, importing records straight from your doctor, or integrating with third-party services. Madden NFL Arcade Edition is available on Apple Arcade starting today, and it is a full Madden NFL game that does not include any in-app purchases. Lutron is expanding its existing Caseta integration with Sonos, adding the ability to control smart-home devices using Sonos Voice Control. Following X launch last month, one question has repeatedly surfaced about what happens to your money if X suspends or closes your social media account. In a joint status report filing, Apple said it hadn't heard from Jon Prosser's lawyer in a month, which his counsel attributed to Prosser caring for his newborn child. Benjamin Chance return for another episode recapping the week in Apple news, including the interesting details of Apple's most recent earnings calls, the last of the Tim Cook era.