Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 7, 2026, 11:58 PM ET

iPhone 18 Pro & iPhone Ultra

Apple's fall iPhone event is expected to include the iPhone 18 Pro with a 2nm A20 chip, C2 modem, and under-display Face ID. A new rumor suggests the iPhone 17 may get a price increase next week, though Apple is widely expected to raise prices on the iPhone 18 Pro when it launches next month. The event is slated for September 9, according to the best estimates. Meanwhile, Apple may unveil three new "Ultra" products by early next year, including a foldable iPhone Ultra. A poll asks which readers plan to buy: the iPhone 18 Pro or foldable iPhone Ultra. The Mac Rumors Show also discussed the iPhone Air 2 and what changes after a difficult first year.

iOS & watch OS Updates

A long-awaited fix for the Wi-Fi to cellular lag is coming in iOS 27. The new compact clock in iOS 27 gives your wallpaper room to breathe, while a physical pass import feature in Apple Wallet has finally been added. Apple is testing an iOS 26.6.1 update for iPhones, and iOS 26 received its first jailbreak after 326 days thanks to Dopamine. On the wearable side, watchOS 27 could upgrade Apple Watch hypertension alerts.

Mac, MacBook Pro & Mac Pro

MacBook Pro users will soon have two compelling upgrade options with the rumored M6 and Ultra models this fall. Apple has expanded its refurb store with rare M5 MacBook Pro configs and Apple TV 4K. The Mac Pro turns 20 today, five months after Apple discontinued it — the 2013 "cheese grater" is celebrated as the best Mac ever made. Also legendary, the BBEdit text editor remains a Mac app legend at 34 years.

Air Pods & Car Play

New Air Pods with cameras could launch next month alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple added nearly 45 hearing devices to its Made for iPhone compatibility list, with 43 models across 22 brands. Persistent Car Play connection issues may be caused by radio interference. Three major automakers — Tesla, Rivian, and GM — still don’t support Car Play; here’s why.

AI & Software

OpenAI delayed its next major AI model "Astra" over critical hacking concerns, saying it is pausing activities. Meanwhile, Claude Code now lets mac OS sessions talk to each other, and Claude Code auto mode becomes default next week. Users may soon be able to create and export custom WhatsApp stickers straight from ChatGPT. WhatsApp also brings its dedicated parental controls to iPhone, making accounts easier to set up. Apple seems to have abandoned Cinematic mode, which one writer argues is a mistake.

Apple Services & Market

Apple captured 65% of the global premium smartphone market in the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint. The Apple Account Card in Wallet has expanded to four new countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia. Apple’s RAM supplier SK hynix is making a $38B bet on the AI boom lasting until 2029, but it won't cut iPhone prices.

Legal & Lawsuits

Apple told a federal court it hasn't heard from Jon Prosser's legal team in a month, flagging discovery delays in its trade secret lawsuit. The Apple Insider Podcast discusses the ongoing Apple-OpenAI lawsuit and the cost of AI.

Podcasts & Media

9to5Mac’s Overtime 076 covers native retro games on iPhone, including a Pokémon 3D Mod on Mac and a native port of Mario Kart. Security Bite explains why scammers love FaceTime now. The Apple Insider Podcast also covers paying for AI, freezing iPhones, and avoiding scams. James Marsden has been confirmed for his third Apple TV project: “Bad News Dads”. Finally, the 9to5Mac Daily for August 7 recaps iPhone Fold hype and macOS updates.