Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 25, 2026, 4:08 AM ET

Apple Leadership Transition

Fifteen years ago today, Tim Cook was appointed Apple CEO following Steve Jobs' resignation on August 24, 2011. On September 1, Cook will step down and incoming CEO John Ternus will take over. Apple recently hosted a farewell party for Cook ahead of his departure, according to The Information. The road to Jobs' resignation and Cook's rise as his first successor is well documented, with Jobs stepping down just six weeks before his death; Cook now prepares to exit the role he inherited.

Upcoming iPhone Event & Pricing

It is now late August, meaning Apple's annual iPhone event is just around the corner. This September, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and the new iPhone Ultra, a foldable device. Meanwhile, Apple is preparing to raise iPhone prices following similar moves from Samsung and Google, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Next year's iPhone Pro models are expected to feature a new, all-glass design timed for the iPhone's 20th anniversary. A leaker now says the iPhone 20 Pro will indeed use that curved glass design, which will be made like the iPhone Air.

Apple Watch & Air Pods

The Apple Watch Series 12 is almost certain to be introduced at Apple's annual iPhone event next month, and the rumors point to another quieter upgrade year for the device. Apple has not altered the Apple Watch's design significantly in recent years, but the Series 12 is expected to bring internal improvements. Meanwhile, Apple could debut two AirPods 5 models next month, per a report, although Air Pods with cameras aren't expected until next year.

Mac Mini & Other Hardware

Apple plans to unveil a new Mac mini in the "coming days," according to the latest word from *Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. A new rumor places a new Mac mini launching within days, and yes, ahead of the Apple event. Other new products are still coming in 2026, including an OLED iPad mini in October and Air Pods.

Software Updates

Apple has released the seventh iOS 27 beta for developer testing, continuing the summer beta cycle ahead of a public release in September. Apple also seeded the seventh betas of iOS 27 and iPad OS 27 to developers. iPad OS, watch OS, and more are in beta 7 as of today. Apple also provided developers with the seventh beta of macOS Golden Gate. The new versions are being tested as release looms, with Apple having seeded the seventh developer betas for iOS 27 and macOS 27. New public betas for iOS, iPadOS, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and more are now available. Apple also released the fifth public betas for iOS, iPadOS 27, and more. The seventh beta of watchOS 27 is out for developers, coming a week after the sixth. Apple also seeded the seventh visionOS 27 beta to developers. And Apple has released the tvOS 27 beta 7 for testing. Plus, second release candidates for mac OS Tahoe 26.7 and mac OS Sequoia 15.8 are now available, one week after the first RC revealed several details about upcoming products. And developers can now install macOS 27 Golden Gate beta 7, just a week after the rollout of beta.

Siri AI Features

With iOS, Apple is set to launch a massive Siri AI upgrade, but users will have to wait for it. iOS 27 will have a waitlist for Siri AI when it launches, according to reports. Apple's iOS 27 beta 7 continues the testing cycle, including what may be the start of the company's big Siri push.

Messages Improvements

iOS 27 fixes three of the most annoying bugs in Messages, a big win for users dealing with broken message ordering, reaction issues, or notification problems. As noted in a new piece, iOS 27 fixes key Messages bugs that have been in the app for generations. Additionally, Chat GPT now lets users create custom iMessage and WhatsApp stickers, using any photo as a sticker source.

OpenAI & Chat GPT

Following several weeks during which Chat GPT users were subject only to a weekly usage cap, OpenAI announced today that it is restoring a five-hour limit on Codex and Chat GPT Work for Plus subscribers, via 9to5Mac.

Apple TV & Entertainment

Apple TV kicks off fall with several high-profile premieres in September, including a Ryan Reynolds film and Slow Horses Season 6. Ted Lasso season 4 still has many new episodes, and season 5 has gotten an exciting new status update — filming will start in January 2027. Meanwhile, Deadline reports that Tom Selleck is set to join a new Apple TV+ comedy starring Elizabeth Banks, best known for Friends and Blue Bloods, per the report.

Apple Services & Retail

Apple's Virtual Shopping Assistant has begun to appear for some iPhone users, offering to answer questions about products or check on orders, per a report. In the Apple Store app on the iPhone, select users have received access to an "early preview" of a new AI-powered virtual shopping assistant. Apple is also testing an AI shopping assistant for the store app, as the company moves forward.

Apple Pay & Retail

Walmart is now rolling out Apple Pay support in its stores, following payment provider updates. The latest 9to5Mac Daily update covers the rollout and recent Apple layoffs.

Leaks, Rumors & AI Hardware

Apple has "leaked" itself after pushing out the mac OS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, which contained a raft of unannounced product references. The leak shows how Apple's secretive culture can break down, as the story explains. On smart home, Apple's coming Home Pad and the Sonos Gambit soundbar leaked on a Smart Home Insider podcast roundup. Photos of Apple's AI servers have surfaced, giving a first look at the Private Cloud Compute hardware inside.

Hardware Reviews

The Nuki Smart Lock and Keypad 2 NFC combo is perfect for renters, supporting features like Apple Home Key with a low-profile lock that emphasizes simplicity, as our full review explains. The TUCCH Mag Wallet feels like a real wallet, with a foldable design that has room for cash and cards, a huge upgrade over typical Mag Safe wallets, in our hands-on.

Security & Emergency Services

Thanks to a new partnership with Rapid SOS, emergency services in Brazil can now request live video from iPhone users as part of Emergency SOS Live Video, now available in the region.

Privacy & Data

Hide My Email is staying on iCloud.com after Apple says it will no longer change domains, following community pushback; while Sign In with Apple addresses will still move to a new domain, the announcement said. In future releases of mac OS, Mac users will no longer be able to format or eject disk images using the very long-standing Terminal command, hdiutil, which is being deprecated.

Apple Legal & Epic

Epic is opposing Apple's bid to seal key data behind the new fee structure for linked-out purchases, arguing that data should be public for court analysis, in its latest filing against Apple.

Streaming & Sports

Another week, another streaming price hike: ESPN announced that ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited are getting more expensive, as are some Disney+ and Hulu, in a round of cost increases. Apple TV is pushing into sports, and its F1 viewership has seen a decline in May, though the data may not tell the whole story, as explained in a recent analytics roundup.

Apple Refurbished & Deals

The official Apple Certified Refurbished Store is back with a closer look at the gear we have our eyes on, including Macs at up to $500 off, for Apple's picks. Amazon is taking up to $150 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air, in a new discount run. Plus, Air Tag 2 is at its best price ever, from $20 each, for the latest deals from 9to5Toys. And beyond the new products, expect the launch of five especially exciting devices, per a new preview.

Car Play Accessories

Car Play can make any vehicle feel more modern, but the experience is not always perfect out of the box. Our roundup of affordable CarPlay accessories delivers the fixes for the wired and wireless connections.

Mac OS & Files

mac OS Tahoe 26.7 and mac OS Sequoia 15.8 are now seeded as second release candidates. Apple's new Home Hub will support multiple profiles and identify who is using Home, via a new face-based profile switching system, according to code found in macOS Tahoe.

Bespoke iOS Features

Three key iOS 27 iPhone features are absolutely great: notification summaries, per-app control, and changes to the Messages app, as described in our three favorites. And there are a lot of features across Messages, Notes, and the rest; see everything new.

Trade & Supply Chain

Rumors are circulating in China that the Trump Administration may use Apple's request to buy CXMT RAM memory as a bargaining chip in international relations, but the report from that questionable source makes a logical claim, from AppleInsider.

Future Hardware

Apple's Home Hub — the "Home Pad" — is in the works, with code hints at face-based profiles and smart ambient sensing for identity verification, from MacRumors. And for the future foldable iPhone — potentially called the iPhone Ultra, it might not have all key features on board, as reported.