Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 26, 2026, 2:45 PM ET

September 9 Event Announced

Apple has officially confirmed its annual iPhone-centric event for Wednesday, September 9 at 10 am PT, under the tagline "Surprise and shine." The event, held at Apple Park in Cupertino, will showcase the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and the company's first foldable iPhone. Attendees are being invited to a "Welcome Run" the night before, featuring a fun walk, run, or wheelchair lap. For those watching remotely, Apple has added an event placeholder to its website, with livestream details expected to be finalized closer to the date. The event will also include more than just the iPhone 18 Pro and folding iPhone launches.

iPhone Ultra and Foldable Rumors

The iPhone Ultra is expected to be a major highlight, with three new features poised to justify its premium price. A concept video from a You Tuber has generated buzz for its production quality, rivaling Apple's own launch trailers. Adding to the speculation, leaked motherboard images have surfaced online, offering a rare glimpse at the device's internal components. Another fan-made concept video imagines the foldable iPhone Ultra reveal, while photos of alleged foldable circuitry are circulating on X and Chinese social media. However, a new *CNETsurvey found that 75% of U.S. adults have no interest in buying a foldable iPhone. A separate survey indicates that while 25% of adults are interested in the iPhone Ultra, they are unwilling to pay a premium for it.

New Macs: M6 and M5 Chips

Apple's new Mac mini and Mac Studio were unveiled yesterday, introducing the M6 chip — Apple's first built using a 2nm process and its first design to use three different CPU core types. The M6 vs. M5 comparison shows significant performance gains. A detailed spec comparison between the M6 and M4 Mac mini models highlights the generational leap. Apple is even upgrading some customers who ordered an M4 Mac mini to the new M6 model for free. The new Mac mini and Mac Studio also add genlock support over USB-C for precise camera syncing. Apple also published a behind-the-scenes video for its new Mac mini commercial. three new Macs are expected this fall, including an M6 MacBook Pro and iMac.

Mac Studio Analysis

The M5 Max Mac Studio offers faster performance than its M4 Max predecessor, but at a higher price, leading some to question the upgrade value. There's a $300 GPU upgrade gotcha in the M5 Max configuration that buyers should be aware of. For those pre-ordering a Mac mini or Mac Studio, Best Buy is offering rewards that can effectively reduce the cost. Meanwhile, a JetBrains local AI coding agent called Junie Local is free to use but requires a Mac mini with 64GB of RAM — a $2,700 investment.

Deals and Accessories

Amazon is offering a $500 discount on Apple's 2TB MacBook Pro with M5 Pro 20-core GPU, bringing it to $2,699. Pioneer, known for its Car Play head units, has launched its first collection of iPhone accessories, including a Mag Safe car mount. Pebblebee's new LÔC8 tracker is designed to hide inside bike handles and golf clubs, offering a 3-year battery life and supporting both Android Find Hub and Apple Find My. Apple's new $9 Polishing Cloth is softer than the original but similar in size. The Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock offers a significant speed boost over its predecessor, as detailed in a hands-on review.

Software and Services

Apple has explained why Spotlight indexing can take days after a major OS update, publishing a support document for users experiencing the lengthy process in iOS, mac OS, iPad OS, and vision OS 27 betas. The iOS 27 release date is expected in mid-September, and the beta reveals that Apple TV 4K and HomePod may receive powerful new AI features. iOS 27 also tweaks Apple Wallet's U.S. passport feature, refining menus and information displayed alongside the Digital ID. Notability has added a new desktop workflow for meeting recordings, letting Mac users start sessions directly from calendar events with notes organized automatically. WhatsApp announced three new security features, including expanded passkey support and stronger two-step verification. Instagram's new auto-Reels feature is iPhone-exclusive, letting users create edited videos with a single tap, though Meta is being cautious about upsetting creators.

Apple Maps, Wallet, and Support

Ads have arrived in Apple Maps in the United States and Canada, and there is no way to turn them off. The rollout has been met with criticism, as users report the ads are as intrusive as expected. On a more positive note, Virginia residents can now add their driver's license to Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple's support line 1-800-APL-CARE now routes callers to an AI-powered assistant instead of a human in many cases. Apple's Car Keys feature appears to be coming to Xiaomi Auto vehicles based on code changes in Apple's Wallet backend. A leaked image of Apple's AI servers, believed to power Private Cloud Compute, offers a first look at the hardware layout.

Legal and Education

Apple has renewed its push for expedited discovery in its trade secret misappropriation lawsuit against OpenAI, arguing that delays cause more harm every day. Apple's response to OpenAI's attempt to block the expedited process emphasizes the ongoing profit from allegedly stolen information. In education, OpenAI has expanded its free ChatGPT for Teachers program to 55 additional school systems across 20 states, building on the initial 2025 launch.

Apple TV+ and Entertainment

Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan are set to lead a new heist drama titled "12-12-12" on Apple TV+, debuting in Fall 2026. The crime thriller features major stars and has already generated significant anticipation.

Miscellaneous

The iPhone 17 retained its position as the world's best-selling smartphone in Q2 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. Volvo has detailed a CarPlay update adding Spatial Audio for the EX90, EX60, and ES90 models. The Asus ROG Kithara headset brings Hifiman's planar-magnetic drivers to Mac gaming, though it has some ergonomic drawbacks. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps the new Mac mini and Mac Studio announcements. Finally, a list of Apple devices with full Wi-Fi 7 support has been compiled, including the newly updated Mac mini and Mac Studio.