Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 8:52 PM ET

Software Updates

The third public betas for iOS, iPad OS, mac OS Golden Gate, watch OS, and tv OS 27 are now available. Apple has released iOS 27 public beta 3 featuring Siri AI and speed upgrades, while iPadOS 27 public beta 3 brings refinements to the tablet experience. The macOS Golden Gate public beta is on its third iteration, and both tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 public betas have been seeded. A new leak suggests watchOS 27 Modular watch face will gain expanded color options. Separately, Apple has released AirPods beta firmware for public testers, with build 9A5336b available for Air Pods Pro 2 and. In iOS 27 beta, users can make the Liquid Glass effect more transparent than ever before, and a fun new feature adds birthday fireworks on calls. Subscribers to iCloud+ with at least 2TB of storage receive new iCloud+ perks in the Home app. Moreover, iOS 27 beta 5 references six unreleased iPhone models, hinting at Apple’s upcoming lineup. 9to5Mac Daily podcast covers the top stories of the day, including iOS 27 beta 5 and glass iPhone rumors.

iPhone and Foldable Rumors

The future iPhone lineup is taking shape with multiple reports. Internally, Apple is calling its foldable device the iPhone Ultra, though the retail name remains unconfirmed. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to feature major camera improvements, including three new camera upgrades and a starting storage of 256GB. Separately, the iPhone Ultra is rumored to offer two key features that will appeal to Pro users: longer battery life and enhanced durability. Conflicting reports about next year’s 20th anniversary iPhone suggest either a foldable or an all-glass design. Meanwhile, Apple is stockpiling OLED panels to mitigate rising component costs. For the iPad line, BOE may split iPad Air OLED panel orders with Samsung in 2027. Apple’s memory supply issues may persist as China memory crunch makes it less likely to solve the shortage through Chinese RAM suppliers.

Services and Content

Apple is expanding its services across several fronts. Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October, and Apple Pay India launch is expected by that same month. Apple is also in talks to acquire Open Championship streaming rights for golf. On the content side, Apple TV+ unveiled a new crime thriller called Apple TV thriller Last Seen to kick off its fall lineup. Two new puzzle games are coming to Apple Arcade puzzle games: Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+. Non-gaming apps drove mobile spending growth in Q2 2026, rising while gaming revenue fell 4.5% year over year. Apple has extended its Back to School Promotion until September 24, though resellers offer better deals with larger discounts.

Legal and Regulatory

Apple faces legal pressure on multiple fronts. In the Epic Games battle, a judge denied Apple’s request to delay App Store fee fight while awaiting the Supreme Court. As a result, Apple must file new App Store fees for outbound links within 24 hours. Additionally, a class action lawsuit accuses Apple of iCloud Private Relay fraud over alleged security flaws.

Accessories and Deals

Several notable deals and product launches are happening. Sonos is preparing a new set of high-end headphones to rival Air Pods Max, with AI voice assistant support. Satechi has launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger with six USB-C ports splitting 240W. On the discount front, AirPods Max 2 are $100 off on Amazon in all five colors, while AirPods Pro 3 are 25% off in a broader deals roundup. LG is running a Back to School sale with big discounts on TVs and monitors, and you can save up to LG OLED TVs and monitors (up to $5,000 off). A 32" Ultra Fine 6K monitor drops to $1,099.

Security, Privacy, and Other

A critical Zoom flaw allowed attackers to remotely execute code on devices, affecting iPhone and Mac. Bluesky now lets you hide reposts from specific users to reduce feed clutter. In other news, Grok Bot from xAI brings always-on AI agents to mac OS and iOS. Steve Wozniak turned, and a retrospective highlights his role in giving Apple its engineering soul. The Apple @ Work podcast compares Chrome OS vs mac OS after deploying 300 devices. Finally, your iPhone can capture the Perseids meteor shower with the right tools.