Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 27, 2026, 9:52 AM ET

Apple's September 9 Event Confirmed

Apple has officially confirmed its annual iPhone event for Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with the tagline "Surprise and shine." The company's event logo hints at two rumored iPhone 18 Pro features, including new color options, while the tagline itself varies by country — and a Google Translate interpretation of the Chinese version suggests a hidden "foldable" teaser. As is tradition, Apple's custom "#Apple Event" hashmoji is already live on X, and the company has added an event placeholder to its website for those planning to watch the livestream. Attendees are also being invited to a "Welcome Run" the night before, featuring a fun walk, run, or wheelchair lap at Apple Park.

iPhone Ultra Expectations

The foldable iPhone Ultra is expected to headline the September 9 event, and IDC has a bullish forecast of 10 million units shipped in its first year. Leaker Evan Blass claimed the device will come in three colors, including a surprise red option — but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has disputed the authenticity of those renders. A new concept video imagines how Apple might present the foldable, while another fan-made teaser rivals Apple's own launch video style. For those waiting, three new features are said to make the device worth the wait. The iPhone 18 Pro will also debut alongside the Ultra, and a full preview of what to expect from the event covers both devices, plus the likely reveal of iOS 27's release date. For those planning to watch, here's how to catch the launch live.

Meta's Teen Safety Settlement

Meta has reached a settlement with US states in an $18B lawsuit accusing the social media giant of deliberately making Instagram addictive for teens. As part of the agreement, Meta will implement major changes to limit teens' time on Facebook and Instagram, and the company is calling on TikTok and YouTube to match its new protections.

New Macs and Displays

Apple's new Mac mini and Mac Studio feature genlock support over USB-C, allowing users to precisely sync cameras for professional workflows. The M6 Mac mini arrives in an unusually timed update, and a spec comparison against the M4 version shows the improvements. Meanwhile, the M5 Ultra Mac Studio arrives four years after the original M1 Ultra model, and a detailed comparison highlights how the latest top-spec model has evolved. For those looking to pair their new Mac with a display, a roundup of the best options covers everything from budget to pro-level panels. Best Buy is offering rewards on Mac mini and Mac Studio pre-orders, and Amazon has a $500 discount on the 2TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro, bringing it to $2,699.

iOS 27 and Software Updates

Apple has published a new support document explaining Spotlight indexing across its devices, including three things that can help the process finish more quickly — a welcome relief for anyone who has experienced post-update indexing delays that can take days. iOS 27 adds 13 ways the Messages app is smarter and less annoying, plus new features for Reminders. The beta also reveals that Apple TV 4K and Home Pod may get powerful new AI features. Apple is automatically updating some Apple Watch apps for watchOS 27 compatibility after users reported apps not launching on the beta. iOS 27 also tweaks information and menus in the Apple Wallet's US passport feature, and the company has released Safari Technology Preview 251 with bug fixes and performance improvements. The update also adds new features to the Reminders app that improve organization and productivity.

Apple Wallet and Services

Virginia residents can now add a digital driver's license to Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch, usable for identity verification at airports and businesses. Apple's support line has also changed: calling 1-800-APL-CARE now connects you with an AI-powered support assistant instead of a human in many cases.

Apple Education and Retail

Apple has announced a new Education Center in Hanoi, Vietnam, to expand training and skill development for supplier employees in the region.

Third-Party Accessories and Apps

Astropad has launched Rock Paper Pencil 4.0, an updated screen protector with a new graphite Apple Pencil tip. Pioneer, known for its Car Play head units, is expanding into iPhone accessories for the first time with a lineup of in-car gear including a Mag Safe charger. The Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock offers a significant speed boost over its predecessor, and Bringnox's smart roller shades provide Matter over Thread support for Apple Home at a more affordable price point. LM Studio has added Z.ai's GLM-5.3-Flash model to Bionic, bringing multimodal input and a 1 million-token context window at significantly lower pricing than GLM-5.2.

Apple TV+ and Media

Apple TV+ has unveiled a first look at 12-12-12, a new heist drama starring and executive produced by Emmy Award nominee Anthony Mackie. The crime thriller joins Apple's growing slate of original programming.

Car Play and Automotive

Volvo has detailed a CarPlay update adding Spatial Audio support for Apple Music across three models: the EX90, EX60, and ES90. The update reaffirms Volvo's earlier commitment to bringing Spatial Audio to its vehicles through Car Play.

Market and Industry

The iPhone 17 retained its position as the world's best-selling smartphone in Q2 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. The Xiaomi 18 Fold has leaked ahead of the iPhone Ultra launch, and a comparison of the two approaches suggests book-style folds are winning the form factor war. The leaker also posted what he claims are the iPhone Ultra colors, though the red option has been disputed.

Outages and Fixes

Proton Mail and other Proton platforms experienced a widespread outage that has now been largely resolved, though some lingering issues remain for certain users. Apple also made a rare August product launch that signals the company is building momentum toward its big September event.

Mac Tips and How-Tos

For Mac users, there's a guide on how to restore Fan view for Downloads and other Dock folders, a feature that can make files easier to access. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast has a recap of the day's top stories, including the confirmed September 9 event and all the surrounding news.