Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 2:55 AM ET

Software & Betas

Apple pushed a wave of beta releases yesterday. The third public betas are now available for iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate and watchOS 27. iOS 27 beta 5 lets you make Liquid Glass more transparent than ever, and a new leak reveals that the Modular watch face (already linked at watch OS 27 public beta) will gain new color options. Apple also released new AirPods beta firmware for public testers, build 9A5336b, compatible with Air Pods Pro 2 and Air Pods Pro. Among iOS 27's new perks, iCloud+ subscribers with at least 2TB of storage will receive new Home app features, and a birthday reminder now triggers fireworks on calls. The latest iOS 27 beta code also references six unreleased iPhone models, hinting at Apple's full iPhone 18 roadmap.

Hardware & Product Rumors

Multiple reports are converging on the foldable iPhone. Internal sources say everyone at Apple is calling it the iPhone Ultra, and it is expected to feature two capabilities that “Pro” users will love — possibly a larger display and enhanced multitasking. Meanwhile, conflicting reports about next year’s 20th anniversary iPhone suggest a radical glass design, though details remain disputed. The iPhone 18 Pro is just weeks away and is rumored to bring three significant camera upgrades. A separate report indicates the iPhone 18 Pro will start at 256GB of storage, which may push prices higher. In other hardware news, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds have received FDA clearance for a hearing aid feature, catching up to Apple on hearing health. Sonos is preparing an upgraded Ace Ultra headphones with AI voice assistant support, aiming to rival Air Pods Max. Apple is stockpiling OLED panels amid rising component prices, and future iPad Air OLED panel orders could be split with BOE in 2027. However, China is now even less likely to solve Apple’s memory crunch, as proposed RAM suppliers face challenges.

Services & Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is expanding its sports and entertainment lineup. Apple is in talks to acquire streaming rights for golf’s Open Championship in the US, according to The Guardian. The streamer also unveiled a trailer for “Last Seen,” a new crime thriller that kicks off a big fall lineup. The second season of Women in Blue premiered today on Apple TV. In mobile spending, non-gaming apps drove Q2 growth, with gaming revenue falling 4.5% year over year. Apple Arcade is adding two new puzzle games: Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+. Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October, and Apple Pay is set to launch in India by October. Microsoft Edge is testing Apple Account sign-in support. Bluesky added a feature to hide reposts from specific users.

Legal & Business

Apple’s legal fight with Epic Games continues. Apple failed to delay filing new App Store fees to the court, and now has just 24 hours to detail fees for outbound links. The company also can’t delay the fee fight while waiting on the Supreme Court. In a separate legal matter, Apple faces a class action lawsuit alleging fraud over an iCloud Private Relay security flaw. A Zoom vulnerability discovered with AI allowed remote code execution on iPhones and Macs. On a personal note, Steve Wozniak turned, and a retrospective argues he gave Apple its engineering soul.

Deals & Accessories

Apple extended its 2026 Back to School Promotion until September 24, but resellers offer far better discounts. Amazon has the AirPods Max 2 for $449 in all five colors ($100 off), and AirPods Pro 3 at 25% off is still available. Satechi launched the Charge View 240W Desktop Charger with six USB-C ports. LG’s Back to School sale saves up to $5,000 on OLED TVs and monitors, including a 32" Ultra Fine 6K monitor at $1,099. LG also has a separate sale on its own site with discounts on TVs and monitors. Grok Bot from Space XAI launched as an always-on AI agent for mac OS and iOS. Finally, the 9to5Mac Daily podcast covered iOS 27 beta 5 and glass iPhone rumors, and the Apple @ Work podcast discussed Chrome OS vs mac OS after 300 device deployments.