Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 9:06 AM ET

iOS 27 Beta 5 and Photo Authentication

Apple's latest iOS 27 beta 5 includes references to a new feature that lets the company authenticate iPhone photos, a move that could have significant implications for digital trust. The update also introduces the ability to make Liquid Glass more transparent than ever. The third public beta of iOS 27 is now available, bringing Siri AI and speed upgrades to iPhone users. Apple also released third public betas for iPadOS 27, as well as tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 for Apple TV and Apple Watch users. A new leak indicates that the popular Modular watch face in watch OS 27 will gain new color customization options. For iCloud+ subscribers with at least 2TB of storage, new Home app perks arrive in iOS 27. And in a charming touch, iOS 27 displays birthday fireworks when you are on a call with someone whose birthday it is. Apple also released new AirPods beta firmware for public testers, available for Air Pods Pro 2 and Air Pods Pro. The third public beta of macOS Golden Gate is now available as well.

20th Anniversary iPhone and Foldable Rumors

Despite recent cancellation rumors, leakers suggest the all-glass 2027 iPhone is still on track, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman pushing back against analyst claims. Internal sources indicate that Apple is calling the upcoming foldable the 'iPhone Ultra', and a separate report details two features that Pro users should love about the device. A new analysis attempts to make sense of the contradictory rumors surrounding the 20th anniversary model. For the near term, the iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly start with 256GB of storage, and rumors indicate three new camera upgrades are coming to the Pro model. Apple is also stockpiling OLED panels amid rising component prices.

Apple Executives and Legal Battles

Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October. In legal news, Apple failed to delay filing new App Store fees as its battle with Epic Games continues, and now has only 24 hours to detail fees for outbound links. The company also faces a proposed class action lawsuit for fraud over an iCloud Private Relay security flaw. A Zoom vulnerability discovered with AI assistance allowed remote code execution on devices including iPhone and Mac.

Content and Services

Women in Blue's second season premieres on Apple TV+, and Apple unveiled a new crime thriller, Last Seen, to kick off its fall lineup. The company is reportedly in talks to acquire US streaming rights for golf's Open Championship. On the gaming front, two new puzzle games are coming to Apple Arcade. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast covers iOS 27 beta 5 and glass iPhone rumors. And Steve Wozniak celebrated his 76th birthday, with a reflection on how he gave Apple its engineering soul.

Accessories and Competitors

Satechi launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger with six USB-C ports. Sonos is preparing an AirPods Max rival with voice assistant support. Samsung is catching up on hearing health with FDA clearance for its Galaxy Buds Hearing Aid feature. Microsoft Edge tests Apple Account sign-in support. Elon Musk's Space XAI launched Grok Bot, an always-on AI agent for mac OS and iOS.

Deals and Promotions

Apple has extended its 2026 Back to School promotion until September 24, but resellers offer better discounts. Amazon offers AirPods Max 2 for $100 off in all five colors, and AirPods Pro 3 are 25% off. LG's Back to School sale offers up to $5,000 off OLED TVs and monitors, and LG's official sale includes monitors and TVs. Parents are urged to revisit screen time limits as kids head back to school.

Mobile Spending Trends

A report from Sensor Tower shows that non-gaming apps drove mobile spending growth in Q2 2026, with gaming revenue declining 4.5% year over year.