Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 2, 2026, 10:30 PM ET

Policy & Legal

The US government has waded into the copyright debate with a striking legal filing arguing that AI companies may need to violate copyright laws to remain competitive. The administration claims that allowing LLM developers to train on copyrighted material without permission is a matter of national security, as restricting data access would cede ground to foreign adversaries. Meanwhile, Google has dodged a breakup after a federal judge rejected the DOJ's bid to force a divestiture of its advertising business, keeping the ad-tech empire intact for now.

Hardware & Launches

The iPhone 18 Pro is launching next week, and expectations are high for three upgrades that have been rumored for years. The device is expected to debut alongside a slew of other products, with Apple unveiling eight new products this month, including new Macs, iPhones, and wearables. The color situation remains contested — leakers are battling over whether the third Pro color will be silver or black, with one leaker showing a silver component that suggests the classic finish is staying. Another leak points to three color options including dark cherry and sky blue, but notably excluding black.

Apple's new M6 MacBook Pro is coming this fall with a 14-inch screen and three significant upgrades. The M6 Mac mini has already seen pre-order discounts at Amazon, marking the first cash discounts on the brand-new machine. For those comparing options, the new Mac Studio buyer's guide breaks down the M5 Max vs. M5 Ultra models. Apple has also told developers they can stop supporting Intel Macs, with Intel-only apps confirmed to not run after mac OS.

iOS 27 & Software

iOS 27 introduces a new iPhone Handoff feature that allows users to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. The update also fixes Apple Mail in three ways that longtime users will appreciate, and it brings a redesigned Apple Pay checkout flow that's been called the best upgrade in years. At the gym, iOS 27 turns your iPhone and AirPods into an Apple Watch-like fitness tracker, expanding Gym Kit functionality beyond the wearable. There's also a clever Control Center trick resurfaced by John Gruber that lets you open the current app's settings directly from Control Center.

Apple Pay & Wallet

Hobby Lobby has added Apple Pay support at its checkouts after years of avoiding contactless payments, to the relief of frustrated customers. Apple Wallet driver's license support has launched in Oklahoma, making it the 16th US state to support digital IDs in the Wallet app. This comes as a massive ID problem has been exposed — more than 153 million driver's license scans were found for sale on the dark web. The FBI is investigating the sale of those scans, which highlight the risks of handing over physical IDs. Digital IDs could limit some of that exposure.

Apple TV & Entertainment

Ryan Reynolds' new Apple TV+ spy movie Mayday is earning rave reviews as it kicks off the streamer's big fall lineup. Apple has also released the first trailer for a new film from the director of CODA, the 'Best Picture' Oscar winner — the Being Heumann trailer has debuted. The company's smart home ambitions are also heating up, with a new smart home display rumored to be launching soon, designed to power Apple Home.

AI & Industry

Anthropic has upgraded Claude's computer use capabilities to run in the background on Mac, a nice upgrade over the previous foreground-only operation. Adobe is bringing Photoshop, Firefly, and 70+ creative tools to Slack with a new MCP app, letting teams create and edit images, videos, and PDFs without leaving conversations. The Adobe for Slack integration allows workers to generate prompts directly from the communications tool. Meanwhile, a worrisome survey from Elon University and The Washington Post suggests Americans are increasingly viewing AI chatbots as virtual friends — a trend that experts say matters. Greenpeace warns that AI poses the biggest threat to Apple's environmental track record, arguing that how the company handles AI energy demands will define its eco commitments. On the chip front, TSMC's relationship with Apple is something Intel struggles to match — Apple's trust in TSMC during the Apple Silicon era was a key factor in Intel's loss of the chip business.

Security & Breaches

Dropbox has confirmed a security breach caused by an egregious authentication failure, with multiple users emailed about unauthorized access. The company says the breach was the result of a failure in its authentication systems. Separately, an Apple gift card scam is spreading worldwide, with organized crime draining millions through the cards. While some perpetrators are being caught, users are urged to protect themselves.

Apple Watch & Health

Apple has shared a survival story featuring an Apple Watch user named Amanda, who says the device saved her life. In 2024, Amanda began receiving alerts about an abnormal heart rate, which led to a diagnosis of leukemia. Her story is featured in a short video released by Apple today.

Auctions & Collectibles

A rare working Apple-1 computer could fetch $800,000 at auction when it goes under the hammer this October. The "Hatfield" unit, signed by Steve Wozniak and accompanied by a letter from Steve Jobs, will tour the US before the auction. Fewer than 75 Apple-1 computers are known to exist.

Deals & Shopping

Labor Day deals are now live, with Air Pods Pro 3 back down to $199 — that's $50 off. The deals roundup also includes AirPods Pro 3 at $50 off, M5 MacBook Air at $240 off, M6 Mac mini deals, and accessories from $5.50. B&H has a flash sale on the M5 MacBook Air with 32GB RAM and 2TB storage, dropping $200 off the loaded configuration.

Foldables & Displays

Apple's iPhone Ultra crease fix is set for Android foldables next year, with Google, Oppo, and Vivo planning to adopt ultra-thin glass (UTG) following Apple's lead. The move could significantly reduce the visible crease on foldable displays.

Podcasts & Media

The 9to5Mac Daily podcast for September 2 covers Apple vs OpenAI updates, OLED iPad mini rumors, and more. The show is available on iTunes, Apple's Podcasts app, and Stitcher.