Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 5:58 AM ET

Software & OS Updates

Apple has unleashed a wave of beta updates across its ecosystem. The company released iOS 27 beta 5 to developers, which introduces new app icons and lets you make Liquid Glass more transparent than ever. Following that, the third iOS 27 public beta is now available, giving users early access to headline Siri AI features and speed upgrades. Apple also released the third public beta of macOS Golden Gate, alongside public beta 3 for iPadOS 27, and watchOS 27. A new leak indicates that the Modular watch face in watch OS 27 will gain a variety of new color customization options. In a charming new iOS 27 feature, your iPhone will celebrate your friends' birthdays with fireworks during calls. Apple has also released new AirPods firmware for public beta testers, available for the Air Pods Pro 2 and Air Pods Pro.

Hardware & Product Rumors

The rumor mill is churning ahead of the fall iPhone event. A new report claims everyone at Apple is calling the upcoming foldable the "iPhone Ultra" internally, while another leak suggests the iPhone Ultra will have two specific features that Pro users should love. The iPhone 18 Pro is reportedly bringing three major camera upgrades, and will reportedly start with 256GB of storage. Code in the latest iOS 27 beta references six unreleased iPhone models, confirming a full roadmap. Analysts are also trying to make sense of conflicting reports about a special 20th anniversary iPhone, which is said to embody Apple’s long-term vision. In the wearables space, Samsung is catching up to Apple on hearing health, announcing its Galaxy Buds Hearing Aid feature has been cleared by the FDA. Meanwhile, Sonos is working on an upgraded version of its Ace headphones that will support an AI voice assistant, aiming to rival Air Pods Max.

Services, Business & Finance

Apple’s services and legal battles remain in the spotlight. Apple Pay executive Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October, and the service is set to launch in India by the same month. Apple has again failed to delay filing new App Store fees in its ongoing fight with Epic Games, and the company must now detail fees for outbound links. In content news, Apple TV+ released the trailer for Last Seen, a new crime thriller kicking off its fall lineup. Apple is also in talks to acquire streaming rights for golf’s Open Championship. On the supply chain front, Apple is stockpiling OLED panels amid rising component prices, and is reportedly considering splitting iPad Air OLED panel orders with BOE in 2027. Additionally, a report indicates that China is even less likely to solve Apple’s memory crunch. In financial news, Sensor Tower reports that non-gaming apps drove mobile spending growth in Q2 2026, while gaming revenue declined 4.5% year over year. A new class action lawsuit accuses Apple of "fraud" over a security flaw in iCloud Private Relay. Lastly, a Zoom vulnerability, discovered with the help of an AI tool, allowed an attacker to take over devices including iPhone and Mac.

Apple Arcade & Retail

Apple Arcade is gaining two new puzzle games: "Block Blast!+" and "Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+". In retail, Apple has extended its 2026 Back to School Promotion until September 24, but other resellers are offering far greater discounts. Amazon is offering the AirPods Max 2 for $449.00, a $100 discount in all five colors. A roundup of deals includes the AirPods Pro 3 at 25% off, MacBook Pro discounts, and Anker car chargers. LG is hosting a big Back to School sale with major discounts on OLED TVs and monitors, with savings up to $5,000. Satechi launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger, a successor to the 140W model with six USB-C ports.

Apple Culture & Media

As Steve Wozniak turns, a retrospective discusses how he gave Apple its engineering soul before Steve Jobs made it a hit. On the streaming front, the second season of "Women in Blue" (Las Azules) has premiered on Apple TV+. Microsoft is testing Apple Account sign-in support in its Edge Canary browser. The latest 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps the top stories of the day, including iOS 27 beta 5 and glass iPhone rumors. For enterprise users, an Apple @ Work Podcast discusses deploying 300+ devices, comparing Chrome OS vs mac OS.