Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 8, 2026, 11:56 AM ET

Upcoming Hardware: iPhone 18 Pro, Macs, Air Pods, Ultra Products

Apple’s annual September iPhone event is expected around September 9 for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, which is rumored to include a 2nm A20 chip, Apple’s custom C2 modem, and under-display Face ID. The company is also moving to a split launch for the iPhone 18 family, with the standard models arriving later. Meanwhile, a new rumor claims iPhone 17 prices could rise as soon as Monday, August 10, ahead of the expected price increases with next year’s models. On the Mac side, Apple is reportedly skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max chips to accelerate the M7 launch, and MacBook Pro users will soon have two new upgrade options this fall: an M6 model and a MacBook Ultra. Apple is also rumored to launch three new “Ultra” products by early next year. The iPhone Air, which reaches its first anniversary next month, is getting a successor — the iPhone Air 2 — after a difficult first year on sale. Additionally, new AirPods with cameras could launch next month, bringing spatial awareness features. MacBook Air shortages continue to build anticipation for the company’s September announcements, and the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Neo are seeing strong enterprise adoption, per IDC data.

Software & Services: iOS, Claude, WhatsApp, Chat GPT

iOS 26 has received its first jailbreak after 326 days, thanks to the Dopamine team. Meanwhile, iOS 27 includes a long-awaited fix for a common Wi‑Fi to cellular lag issue. Apple seems to have abandoned Cinematic mode, a feature that debuted with the iPhone, which some argue is a mistake. On the messaging front, WhatsApp is making parent-managed accounts easier to set up on iPhone with a dedicated parental controls section. OpenAI is working on a feature to let users export custom stickers from Chat GPT straight into WhatsApp. Separately, Anthropic updated Claude Code so that separate coding sessions can message each other directly on mac OS, removing the need to manually copy context. Starting August 14, Claude Code auto mode will become the default permission setting for Pro, Max, and Team users. OpenAI is also delaying its next major AI model “Astra” over critical hacking concerns, saying it is “pausing” activities due to the model’s cyber capabilities.

Accessories & Enterprise: Car Play, MFi, Refurb Store

Car Play connection issues might be caused by radio interference, not the iPhone, cable, or car. Despite Car Play being a must-have for most buyers, Tesla, Rivian, and GM still don’t support the platform, and their reasons vary. Apple has expanded its Certified Refurbished Store with rare M5 MacBook Pro configurations, Studio Display XDR, high-end M5 MacBook Air models, and Apple TV 4K. For hearing accessibility, Apple added 43 new Made for iPhone hearing devices across 22 brands. The 11th generation iPad (A16) is available at its best price since June’s hike: $50 off Wi‑Fi models starting at $399 on Amazon. Apple’s memory supplier SK hynix is making a $38 billion bet on the AI boom lasting until 2029, expanding chip production, but that won’t make iPhones cheaper.

Industry & Legal: SK Hynix, OpenAI, Apple Lawsuit

Apple has told a federal court it hasn’t heard from Jon Prosser’s legal team in a month, as discovery drags on in its trade secret lawsuit against the leaker. The company is also dealing with the fallout from OpenAI’s decision to pause its Astra model over hacking risks.

Media & Culture: Apple TV, Podcasts, Retro Games

Actor James Marsden has been confirmed for his third Apple TV+ project, Bad News Dads, after starring in Your Friends & Neighbors. The latest episode of 9to5Mac Overtime discusses native retro games on iPhone, including a native port of Mario Kart 64 and a Pokémon 3D mod on Mac. 9to5Mac Daily for August 7 covers iPhone Fold hype and macOS updates.