Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 2:56 AM ET

iPhone Lineup

Google’s Pixel 11 lineup debuted this week with a $100 price bump, and analysts say that move may foreshadow what Apple charges for the iPhone 18 Pro — though Apple has already secured lower OLED display prices for the Pro models. A new side-by-side spec comparison pits the iPhone 17 Pro against the Pixel 11 Pro, while leakers suggest the iPhone Ultra will place both selfie cameras in the same corner and ship with asymmetric screen protectors. In a surprise move, Apple is skipping the standard iPhone 18 launch this year — Pegatron confirmed the base model won’t arrive until early 2027 — though when it does, it could pack two Pro-level upgrades like 12GB RAM and a new Dynamic Island. Looking further ahead, the iPhone 20 Pro will reportedly be bezel-free with a slightly bigger display but the same aspect ratio, and a leaker insists the all-glass 2027 iPhone is still on track despite cancellation rumors.

Apple Watch & Health

watchOS 27 will add standalone Siri and Find My apps to the Apple Watch, and our reviewer found that customizing Apple Watch sleep score settings made the feature far more useful. For fitness fans, the BowFlex T6 treadmill brings Apple Gym Kit home at a normal price of $999, letting Apple Watch and cardio equipment exchange data seamlessly.

Mac and iPad

M5 Pro MacBook Pro discounts are running up to $540 off at Amazon, while the M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099 — though MacBook Air shortages are worsening, with dwindling availability across retailers. The M4 Mac mini is back in stock at Amazon with delivery dates near, and the M4 Pro model is also on sale. Apple’s longtime manufacturing partner Foxconn now makes less than 29% of its revenue from Apple, down from over half, as AI business surpasses iPhone assembly.

Apple TV+ and Entertainment

Apple TV+ released the trailer for Stillwater season 5, the Peabody and Emmy-winning mindfulness series. Eddy Cue confirmed that Ted Lasso has a bright future beyond season, while Vince Gilligan revealed that Pluribus season 2 has hit a major milestone, with filming expected in late 2027. Gaming fans can preorder Dave the Diver, which splashes onto iPhone, iPad, and Mac on September 17.

Software and Services

Apple is in talks to pay publishers for news content to power Siri AI, according to The Wall Street Journal. WhatsApp is rolling out username support when creating new contacts, and the MLB iPhone app gained upgraded Car Play and Live Activity features. Claude’s Chrome side panel is now a full Cowork session that follows users across apps, and Raycast’s Screen Awareness lets you ask AI about whatever is on your display. A new Apple patent describes a system to improve notification summaries and reduce interruptions in real time. iOS 27 introduces an extra-large Calendar widget that is a standout Home Screen upgrade. Microsoft is testing Apple Account sign-in support for its Edge browser, and Apple is developing a system to authenticate iPhone photos — but that’s just the start of its verification ambitions.

App Store and Legal

Apple is in the final countdown to produce its App Store commission plan — the company has just 24 hours to file the fees it wants to charge for outbound links in the continuing Epic Games battle.

Retail and Deals

Apple Wallet could soon let customers save trade-in quotes for 90 days, according to code seen by Mac Rumors. Amazon is running big accessory deals on Anker, Sony, and Samsung this back-to-school week, and the 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps the latest on Apple exec changes and bargain hunting.

Other News

US smartphone sales fell 5% in Q2 2026 as rising memory costs squeezed the low end, Counterpoint Research reports. An Apple billboard featuring a toddler holding an iPhone has sparked controversy in Italy, with the children’s rights watchdog referring the ad to regulators. Twitch now lets streamers block Amazon from using their content for AI training, but it’s opt-out by default. Apple hired former American Airlines executive Nick Gatten as VP of government affairs. Google also announced a Pixel Tag to rival Apple’s Air Tag, along with the Pixel Watch 5 at its Made by Google event. Finally, parents are being urged to revisit screen time limits as kids head back to school.