Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 6, 2026, 11:53 PM ET

iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable iPhone Supply Concerns

The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable "iPhone Ultra" could be in short supply this year due to a memory shortage. Apple's new A20 Pro processor isn't 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 iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to be announced in a month, with new features including an upgraded camera system, the A20 Pro chip, and more. It is now August, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are just a month away. 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. For starters, the cheaper base iPhone 18 is being saved for spring, leaving the more expensive Pro models to anchor the fall launch. iOS 27 includes hints about the new iPhone Ultra, but it also points to an all-new Apple Home product likely launching soon.

mac OS Security Updates

Apple today released mac OS Tahoe 26.6.1, an update to the mac OS Tahoe operating system that came out last year. Apple has now published the security details for today's mac OS Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma updates, which address a serious Screen Sharing vulnerability. macOS Tahoe 26.6.1 comes a little over a month after the previous update, and users on all three operating systems are urged to install the fixes promptly. Apple's baffling bug bounty changes finally make sense, according to this week's Security Bite column, which explains the rationale behind the revised reward structure.

Apple Health and Fitness Features

The Apple Health app on iPhone is a powerful way to track all facets of your health, whether it's recording data from your Apple Watch, importing records straight from your doctor, or integrating with other connected services. GymKit has been one of Apple Watch's smartest fitness features since it launched in 2017, letting you tap your watch to compatible gym equipment so the watch shares your heart rate while the machine sends back workout data. iOS 27 essentially turns your iPhone and Air Pods into an Apple Watch at the gym, expanding these capabilities beyond the wrist. AirPods Pro 3 are getting a variety of new features in iOS, two of which are exclusive to Air Pods Pro. CarPlay in iOS 27 also has a handful of new features and improvements, including two additions for some of Apple's most popular apps.

iPad and Premium Smartphone Market

Apple reported a 5% year-over-year drop in iPad revenue for the June quarter in its most recent earnings call. A new report shows iPad shipments fell 8% in Q2 2026 amid a global tablet market decline. 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, challenging Apple's dominance in key regions. The most recent earnings call also revealed interesting details about Apple's performance, including what appears to be the last of the Tim Cook era.

OpenAI and AI Developments

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. ChatGPT gets a new "Think" button that will find more reliable facts, addressing a long-standing criticism about hallucinated responses. GPT-5 turns one tomorrow, and the company is marking the week by looking beyond individual models. Today, OpenAI introduced Agent Plugins, an open standard meant to let reusable AI-agent extensions work across platforms and services. Bloomberg shared new pricing and design details about OpenAI's first device, which is reportedly a doughnut-shaped speaker. Adobe's newest AI ChatGPT plugin shows that the company doesn't care where people create, but more on ensuring they create with Adobe.

Security Threats

Researchers have uncovered Mac malware that can steal credentials and drain all or a selected percentage of a cryptocurrency wallet. One pasted Terminal command opens the door to Mac crypto wallet theft, in yet another reminder of the dangers of running unverified scripts. 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.

Deals and Trade-Ins

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. Time is running out to grab limited-time deals on Apple's latest MacBook Air laptops, with M5 models now up to $200 off. Amazon is offering up to $190 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air with the best deals seen since the recent price hike. Today's 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by AirPods Pro 3 dropping in price again for one of the best deals of the year at nearly 25% off. Samsung's newest line 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.

Apple TV and Entertainment

Apple TV is now airing Ted Lasso season, and the fall lineup reveals every new show and movie coming soon to the streaming service. One hit show from Apple this year is coming to the cinema for one night only, a rare move since Apple usually reserves theaters for its movies, not its series. 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.

Other Apple News

T-Mobile retired its 2G GSM network on Monday, August 3, which means all three major carriers in the United States have now ended support for the original iPhone's last cellular network. Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is available on Apple Arcade starting today, and it's a full Madden NFL game that does not include ads or in-app purchases. 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. Lutron is expanding its existing Caseta integration with Sonos, adding the ability to control smart-home devices using Sonos Voice Control. Following X Money's launch last month, one question has repeatedly surfaced: What happens to your money if X suspends or closes your social media account, with details on account suspensions, 6% APY, and physical cards now available in a comprehensive FAQ. For a daily audio recap of the top Apple stories, the 9to5Mac Daily podcast is available on iTunes and Apple's Podcasts app.