Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 29, 2026, 6:24 AM ET

Apple's M6 Mac Mini and Mac Studio

Apple had an unusually big week of announcements, highlighted by the debut of the M6 chip in the new Mac mini. The lower-end models include the first M6 chip, while the M6 era will be a little complicated, as few existing Macs are expected to adopt it. Apple’s next-generation silicon brings a new feature previously exclusive to higher-end chips like the M5 Pro and Max, a significant core architecture upgrade. Podcasts this week dug into the specifics, comparing the outgoing M4 model and the new M6 Mac mini, as well as the new M5 Pro Mac mini and Apple’s new Mac Studio desktop, with one episode discussing the $899 Mac mini. The Mac Rumors Show also covered the surprisingly big week of Apple announcements.

Retailers were quick to act on the new hardware. Amazon has introduced the first cash discounts on Apple’s brand new Mac mini, bringing the 2026 desktop down to as low as $879.99. The massive 2026 Amazon Labor Day sale is also live, featuring $50 off Air Pods Pro 3 and an all-time low on Air Tag, with the deals headlined by the Mac mini preorder discounts.

Inside the iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable Rumors

Apple will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro on September 9, but rumors have already leaked a lot of what to expect, including two exciting upgrade features that have users eager for the upgrade. Pre-orders may not open until Saturday, September 12, a day later than the company's usual schedule. That is according to a new report on pre-order timing. The Mac Rumors Show podcast also noted the next iPhone event, where the first foldable iPhone is also expected. A deep dive into the iPhone Ultra provides the latest details on what the rumor mill thinks is coming for Apple's first foldable and when it might break cover. For a broader look at the fall season, Apple has a packed lineup of products launching, with a full fall lineup expected starting September 9.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Photos

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is coming on September 9, and the key ways it’s rumored to differentiate itself from prior models have been detailed. In the meantime, the Apple Watch SE has hit a new low price of $199.99 on Amazon for the 44mm GPS model. On the software side, Apple Photos in iOS 27 upgrades one of the app's favorite features in a big way, with enhancements to iCloud Shared Albums.

Apple TV, Apple One, and Privacy

Apple's price increases continue, this time hitting the video streaming side. The company today announced that Apple TV is receiving a price increase in the U.S. starting today, raising its price to $14.99/month — a hike that also impacts some Apple One tiers. This corresponds to a similar hike announced for Apple Music just weeks ago, making it the second round of subscription price increases. The streaming service price increase is also taking effect in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, as well as the U.S., according to an email sent by Apple to MacRumors.

In a separate class action matter, Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit regarding Siri. The claim dates for iPhone owners to submit claims have now been revealed.

Apple TV+ Original Acquisition

Apple TV has bought the worldwide rights to "Small Prophets," breaking with its normal strategy of purchasing existing English-language hits and for the first time acquiring a pre-existing hit. The move marks a new approach for the streaming service.

Auction and Apple's Response

Aug, 2026 — A hand-built exhibit has sold for $34,375. Steve Jobs’ 1968 science fair project has closed at auction with that winning bid, as the auction details show. The project was Jobs' 8th grade science project.

Meanwhile, Tim Cook pledged that Apple will make a donation toward relief and rebuilding work in Nepal and Tibet, where flash floods and mudslides have been devastating. A donation pledge was announced via Cook. His career as Apple CEO can be mapped through his best WWDC announcements, with one piece highlighting the best WWDC moments as he puts the final touches on his last, possibly.

Smart Home and Mobile Extras

Linkind’s Smart Light Stick aims to bring the idea of a "live flame" to a smart bulb, and the Smart Light Stick is reviewed in Home Kit Weekly. The device supports Matter and brings flame effects to the Home Kit ecosystem.

On the AI front, OpenAI confirmed that Chat GPT and Codex users can now add multiple Gmail accounts and Google Cal calendars, a feature now available for ChatGPT and Codex. This is rolled out via OpenAI's latest update.

WhatsApp has followed up following the recent discovery that it was working on new chat themes; the feature is now rolling out to iPhone users. The new chat themes include animated wallpapers.

Car Play and Connectivity

Spatial Audio support in Car Play is rolling out in Volvo vehicles. Volvo this week confirmed that Spatial Audio support in Car Play, powered by Dolby Atmos, is now available for the EX90, a key Volvo rollout.

Deals and Industry Content

First, the story about Tello Mobile claims that most people overpay for their phone plan, and it maxes out at $25/month for unlimited. The Tello Mobile deal is pitched as a way for people to save. The company argues the US has some of the most expensive mobile phone plans in the world, and switching to Tello can reduce monthly costs significantly.

Switching to a cheaper alternative, Apple’s Kentucky glass plant is poised to become a bigger piece of the iPhone supply chain, with hundreds of new jobs and temporary positions. Apple charges $3,800 to upgrade the new M5 Max Mac Studio from 512GB to 8TB, but there are better and more flexible choices for 8TB storage that can save money. A guide to 4K displays and Apple’s high-end Studio Display rounds out some essential accessories for the Mac.

The Bigger Picture

Sam Altman and other AI companies are crying out for a public effort to solve AI hacking that they all enabled. One editorial calls the response from Altman and others a tone-deaf plea for a problem they created. This criticism came from the Apple Insider coverage.

Daily Podcasts

9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, and the 9to5Mac Daily podcast offers a recap of the top stories of the day. The Apple Insider podcast also covers the launch date for the iPhone, the M6 processor for the Mac mini, and the AI Music and Tim Cook topics via the AppleInsider Podcast. The Mac Rumors Show also discussed Apple’s surprisingly big week, particularly the M6 chip and Mac mini.

Deals and Display Options

Amazon is hosting major deals. The M6 Mac mini is now seeing preorders for only as low as $879.99. The Apple Insider article covers a first M6 Mac mini deals post for the same deals with prices starting $879.99. The Amazon deals also included the Apple Watch SE 3 at $199.99 and the Air Tag packs.

Other Rumors

The What NOT to Expect at Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' September 9 event article highlights what NOT to expect, such as new Macs. Read the what not to expect article for more details on the event.

A Look Back

Finally, a science project that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs built for his 8th-grade science fair went sold at auction for $34,375, according to Mac Rumors.

One More

Video experiment perfectly illustrates my frustration with iPhone Cinematic mode — The frustration that Apple has abandoned Cinematic mode was further illustrated by a video experiment. See the details.