Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 26, 2026, 8:43 AM ET

Apple Silicon Lineup Expands

Apple surprised observers with an unusually timed August refresh of its compact desktop line. The new Mac mini is available in M6 and M5 Pro configurations, keeping the same compact design while delivering a major performance boost over the previous generation. The M6 model marks the first Mac mini update in nearly two years, and Apple has now shared a behind-the-scenes look at its fun new commercial for the device. A detailed spec comparison between the M6 and M4 versions shows the new model retains the same three-display limit but raises maximum refresh rates, while the M5 Pro gains support for connecting higher-resolution displays. However, the launch comes with a record-high starting price, a notable shift for the traditionally budget-friendly desktop.

The Mac Studio also received a generational update, now powered by the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips with support for up to 512GB of unified memory, as detailed in the official announcement. The M5 Ultra model can drive up to eight external displays, a capability that requires serious computational horsepower to justify. Apple's chip roadmap suggests the M6 generation will eventually extend to the iPhone 18 Pro, potentially unlocking two major upgrades for the next flagship smartphone. Looking further ahead, Apple still has 13 more products planned for release later this year, including three additional Macs expected this fall, with the M6 MacBook Pro and iMac among the most anticipated.

Pre-Orders, Deals, and Accessories

Both new Macs are available to pre-order starting today, with Amazon already listing the new hardware for launch-day delivery. The retailer is offering significant discounts on M6 Mac mini configurations, with some models seeing $500 or more off when trading in an M4 model. A roundup of today's best deals also includes Air Tag 2 at $20 each and a 48GB M5 Pro MacBook Pro at $400 off, with the full list of price drops available here. Apple has also introduced a new version of its Polishing Cloth at a reduced $9 price point, down from $19 for the previous model. Additionally, Apple expanded its 40W Dynamic Power Adapter to more countries across Europe and Vietnam.

The company quietly refreshed its Magic Keyboard lineup with revised U.S. English key labeling, replacing text labels on the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keys with glyph symbols. The change applies to the new keyboards shipping alongside the Mac mini and Mac Studio, and the updated models are available now on Apple's online store. One notable purchasing change: adding Apple Care to the new Macs now appears later in the order process than it historically has, a subtle shift that may catch some buyers off guard. For those looking at alternatives, Labor Day accessory sales are live on Amazon with deals on Anker, Sony, and Samsung products.

Software and Services

Apple has officially launched ads in Apple Maps, with the rollout now live in the United States and Canada. The ads appear as promoted listings in search results, and there is no way to disable them in the current implementation. The company says the rollout will ramp up with more advertisers expected to join the platform, and the new ad format details have been outlined for developers and businesses. This marks Apple's continued push into services revenue, following the introduction of ads in the App Store and Apple News.

iOS, the next major iPhone software update, is expected to launch in mid-September, following Apple's traditional release pattern. The update will bring a host of new features to compatible iPhones, and Apple has also published a new support page outlining 50 accessibility tips designed to help aging users get more from their devices. WhatsApp, meanwhile, has announced three new security features including expanded passkey support, stronger two-step verification, and new call security measures, all rolling out to users (https://headlinesbriefing.com/mobi/9to5mac/whatsapp-adds-passkey-2fa-and-call-security-features-10cd49ba).

Legal and Enterprise

Apple has submitted its response to OpenAI's attempt to block expedited discovery in its ongoing trade secret misappropriation lawsuit, pushing for a faster legal process. The company argues that expedited discovery is necessary to prevent further alleged misuse of its proprietary technology. The case, which Apple filed in July, alleges that OpenAI improperly used Apple's trade secrets in developing its AI systems.

Jet Brains has announced Junie Local, a free 27B parameter coding agent that runs entirely on-device without consuming cloud tokens. However, the model requires a Mac mini with an M5 Pro chip and 64GB of RAM — a configuration that costs approximately $2,700 — making the "free" model a significant hardware investment. Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac claims up to 160% faster Open GL graphics for Windows applications like Blender 4.3, plus AI acceleration on M4 Macs, offering a performance boost for cross-platform workflows.

Audio, Accessories, and Apps

The Asus ROG Kithara gaming headset brings Hifiman's planar-magnetic drivers to the Mac gaming world, delivering audiophile-grade sound quality that's sometimes undermined by unforgiving ergonomics. The review notes the headset's impressive audio fidelity but questions whether the comfort trade-offs are worth the premium price. Notability has added a new desktop workflow that lets Mac users start recording sessions directly from their calendar events, with notes automatically organized around their schedule — a useful feature for meeting management.

Pebblebee has launched the LÔC8, a new tracker designed to hide within bike handles, golf clubs, and other gear. The device works with both Apple Find My and Android Find Hub networks and boasts a three-year battery life, making it a durable option for tracking valuable equipment.

Media and Entertainment

Apple TV has announced "Brothers," a new comedy series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, created by an alum of "The Office." The show is set to premiere next month on the streaming service. Meanwhile, smart TV analytics suggest Apple TV's F1 viewership fell off sharply in May, though the data doesn't tell the whole story — the numbers don't account for viewing on other devices or the impact of regional broadcast deals.

Apple remains on track to launch its first smart home device with a screen before the end of the year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The smart home display is expected to serve as a hub for Home Kit accessories and could feature a new interface designed for home control.

Mac Mini Deep Dive

The M6 Mac mini's display support deserves closer examination. While the three-display limit remains unchanged from the M4 generation, the new model raises refresh rates and adds support for higher-resolution panels. The M5 Pro configuration can drive two 6K displays at 60Hz plus one 4K display at 144Hz, while the M6 model supports similar configurations with slightly different combinations. For users who need more displays, the Mac Studio with M5 Ultra remains the only option, supporting up to eight simultaneous external displays.

A separate comparison highlights the key upgrades the M6 brings over the M4: a faster CPU and GPU, support for Wi-Fi, and improved memory bandwidth. The M6 Mac mini also includes Thunderbolt 5 ports, doubling the bandwidth of the previous generation's Thunderbolt 4 connections. The Mac mini's Wi-Fi 7 support is part of a broader rollout — Apple has now updated all compatible devices across its lineup, including the new Mac Studio and MacBook Pro models.

Today's Complete Announcement Roundup

Beyond the Mac mini and Mac Studio, Apple also introduced updated Magic Keyboards with glyph-based key labels, a new Polishing Cloth at a lower price, and expanded the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter to additional countries. The full announcement roundup details every product revealed today, while a separate list of 13 things you might have missed covers the finer details, including the removal of USB-A ports, the addition of an SD card slot on the Mac Studio, and the new thermal design that allows the M6 to sustain higher clock speeds for longer periods.

The 9to5Mac Daily podcast has a full recap of today's announcements available on iTunes and Apple's Podcasts app, covering the new Mac mini and Mac Studio in depth. With pre-orders now open and shipping expected within weeks, the new hardware represents Apple's most significant desktop refresh in years — and sets the stage for the remaining product launches expected before the end of 2026.