Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 25, 2026, 9:17 AM ET

Hardware Roadmap

Apple's product pipeline is heating up ahead of its September event, with AirPods 5 potentially debuting as soon as next month, according to a new report. While Air Pods with integrated cameras aren't expected until next year, the standard earbuds could arrive alongside the iPhone 18 lineup. The Mac mini is also reportedly set for an imminent launch, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claiming the desktop will be unveiled in the "coming days" — ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro event. That timeline aligns with separate reporting suggesting the new Mac mini will drop within days, followed by an OLED iPad mini in October and Air Pods 5 later in 2026.

The upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to be another quieter upgrade year, with rumors pointing to incremental improvements rather than a radical redesign. Meanwhile, Apple's first foldable device — potentially branded as the iPhone Ultra — is reportedly set for announcement in just over two weeks, though it may lack several key features that some had anticipated. Looking further ahead, next year's iPhone 20 Pro is expected to feature a radical all-glass design timed for the iPhone's 20th anniversary, according to a new leaker update. The iPhone event timing is still unconfirmed, but late August positioning suggests an announcement is imminent.

Software Updates

Apple has released the seventh developer betas for iOS, iPad OS, tv OS, and watch OS, continuing the summer beta cycle ahead of a public release in September. The iOS 27 beta 7 is now available for developer testing, with Apple also testing a major Siri AI upgrade. The company has seeded beta 7 for iPadOS and watchOS 27, alongside the latest macOS Golden Gate beta, which arrived a week after the sixth build. Developers can also access the seventh visionOS 27 beta and the latest tvOS 27 beta 7. For those on the public track, Apple has released the fifth public betas of iOS, iPad OS, mac OS, and tv OS, with the corresponding public builds now rolling out following the seventh developer releases.

The new Siri AI experience will require a waitlist when iOS 27 launches, according to reports, meaning users won't get immediate access to the upgraded assistant. iOS 27 also brings several new iPhone features that early testers are praising, including improvements to Messages and Notes. Separately, Apple has released second release candidates for mac OS Tahoe 26.7 and mac OS Sequoia 15.8, one week after the first RC for mac OS 26.7 revealed details about upcoming products. Developers can also find installation instructions for the latest mac OS 27 Golden Gate beta.

Services & Apps

OpenAI has restored the five-hour limit on Codex and Chat GPT Work for Plus subscribers, following several weeks where users were subject only to a weekly usage cap. Chat GPT is also adding a new feature that lets users create custom iMessage and WhatsApp stickers from any photo or use images as inspiration for custom packs. Apple is testing an AI shopping assistant in the Apple Store app, with the feature now appearing for some iPhone users. The Virtual Shopping Assistant can answer questions about products or check on orders, and select users have received access to an "early preview" of the new AI-powered tool.

ESPN is raising prices on its streaming tiers, with ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited both getting more expensive, along with some associated Disney+ and Hulu bundles. Apple's Emergency SOS Live Video is now available in Brazil thanks to a new partnership with Rapid SOS, allowing emergency services to request live video from iPhone users. The company is also keeping Hide My Email on iCloud.com after community pushback, though Sign in with Apple addresses will still move to a new domain.

Content & Entertainment

Tom Selleck has been confirmed as a guest star in an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series starring Elizabeth Banks, according to Deadline. Apple TV+ is also kicking off fall with several high-profile September premieres, including a Ryan Reynolds film and the new season of Slow Horses. Ted Lasso fans have reason to be optimistic: season 5 is set to begin filming in January 2027, according to a new status update. Meanwhile, smart TV analytics suggest Apple TV+ F1 viewership fell off sharply in May, though the data may not tell the whole story.

Smart Home & Accessories

The Nuki Smart Lock and Keypad 2 NFC combo offers a low-profile lock with Apple Home Key support, making it ideal for renters who want simple access without permanent installation. Apple's upcoming home hub will support multiple profiles with face-based switching, according to code found in mac OS Tahoe, including "ambient sensing" for identity verification. The latest Smart Home Insider podcast rounds up rumors about Apple's smart home display and covers the Sonos Gambit soundbar leak. On the accessory front, the TUCCH Mag Wallet feels like a real wallet rather than just a card slot, with room for cash and a driver's license. For drivers, there's a roundup of affordable CarPlay accessories worth trying, especially for vehicles that lack wireless Car Play or require additional hardware.

Business & Legal

Apple hosted a farewell party for Tim Cook ahead of his September 1 departure, with John Ternus preparing to take over as CEO. In legal news, Epic Games is fighting Apple's bid to seal key data behind proposed fees on linked-out purchases, arguing that Apple's sealing requests are overly broad and that the information is central to determining what the company can charge developers. A report from a questionable leaker out of China suggests the Trump Administration may use Apple's request to buy CXMT memory as a diplomatic bargaining chip with Chinese leadership.

Infrastructure & Tools

Photographs have surfaced online showing the inside of Apple's AI servers, offering a glimpse of how the company designed its Private Cloud Compute hardware. On the software side, mac OS is saying goodbye to the long-standing hdiutil Terminal command, which will no longer be available for formatting or ejecting disk images in future releases.

Deals & Retail

This week's top picks from the Apple Certified Refurbished Store include Mac Books and watches at up to $500 off. Amazon has dropped the AirTag 2 to its best price ever at $20 each, alongside deals on Air Pods, the M5 MacBook Pro at $320 off, and other Find My gear. The retailer is also offering up to $150 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air. For those keeping up with daily news, the 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps top stories including the Walmart Apple Pay rollout and Apple layoffs.