Apple News 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 7, 2026, 2:03 PM ET
Prime Day Deals
Amazon's fall Prime Big Deal Days are in their final hours, with Apple gear heavily discounted. The 15-inch MacBook Air M5 is down to $1,299, a $200 savings, while 13-inch models start at $1,099. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been slashed to $599, also $200 off, and Mac mini deals offer up to $149 off every model. Best Buy is countering with $260 off all iPhone Air models during its Techtober sale, and Walmart is challenging Amazon directly with AirPods 4 for $79.
Editors are highlighting their personal picks, with AirPods Pro at $179 and a $199 Apple Watch among the standout buys. Anker's 3-in-1 wireless charging station has dropped to $94.74, and accessory bundles start at just $24. The Beats Studio Pro headphones are at 50% off, while Kindles are being cleared out at up to 34% off. For those seeking larger screens, TV deals from Samsung and Sony are at their lowest prices of the year. Roborock's robot vacuum sale offers up to $1,600 off, and the Mac Studio is seeing up to $200 in savings. A curated list of the best deals under $200 rounds out the final push, with editors sharing what they're actually buying today.
Mac Hardware
A fully redesigned MacBook Pro is reportedly launching soon with three key changes. Apple's next-generation M6 chip promises more performance at a smaller 2-nanometer scale, with significant design changes over the M5. The latest macOS 27.2 beta further hints at a MacBook with a touch-enabled OLED display. However, Apple has killed the Mac mini's best hidden feature with the release of the M6 model, removing a beloved capability that power users relied on.
For those seeking expansion, Sonnet's Echo SE I T5 Thunderbolt 5 enclosure brings PCI-E expansion to the Mac mini and MacBook Pro. Meanwhile, a community project on Reddit is working on Nvidia drivers that could let Hackintosh and Intel Mac Pro owners run Nvidia cards soon. In a notable compatibility shift, Apple has dropped Intel Macs from the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad compatibility lists. The uGreen NASync DXP6800 Ultra, reviewed at $1,449.99, sits halfway between an AI powerhouse and basic NAS, offering six hard drive bays with fast storage but modest AI capabilities.
iPhone & iOS
Apple is reportedly waiting on Samsung to perfect a next-generation OLED technology for an ultimate bezel-free iPhone display. The upcoming iOS 27.2 release is coming surprisingly soon, with iOS 27.1 focusing on iPhone Duo changes. The iPhone Duo's Quick Look feature now offers a book-like two-page layout for previewing documents, providing a more natural reading experience. Apple's escalating crackdown on ad vendors in iOS 27 is catching some innocent victims, with legitimate apps being affected by the aggressive ad-blocking measures. A long-term study of Apple's 80 percent charge limit on iPhones over three years reveals the battery health results. The Call Screening feature in iOS 27 has made a significant difference to the iPhone experience, effectively blocking spam calls.
Smart Home & Accessories
Leaked FCC filings reveal the designs of three upcoming LG smart home accessories co-developed with Apple, including a doorbell, smart lock, and thermostat. Bloomberg reports that Apple's smart home push includes an LG-made doorbell, lock, and thermostat, with the first images of what these Apple and LG smart home accessories will look like now surfacing. However, LG is just the start — Apple is still working on its own smart home cameras, which may be delayed until 2027. Mac Rumors clarifies that Apple's own home security camera remains in development separately from the LG partnership. Amazon's Ring has announced its first smart lock, solving a major pain point by eliminating battery anxiety, alongside new 4K cameras. Transport for Greater Manchester's Bee Card is now fully supported in Apple Wallet.
Apple Intelligence & AI
A new app called Remove Mac AI allows users to turn off and delete Apple Intelligence from their Macs. The demand for such a tool is so strong that Apple may have to officially support easy Apple Intelligence removal on Macs in the future. Meanwhile, Meta's AI agent Muse, which spent weeks as the top iPhone app, has now launched for iPad — but Apple Insider warns users to leave it there, citing privacy concerns. In a surprising development, Space XAI's Grok Bot has become much smarter thanks to integration with Anthropic's Claude model.
Apple Watch & Fitness
The Apple Watch Series 12 has been reviewed as the best non-Ultra model yet, upgraded where it was needed. iFixit's teardown of the Series 12 and Ultra 4 found mixed repairability results, with some components easier to service than others. Apple has announced its next Apple Watch Activity Challenge, this time exclusive to Japan and set for October 10.
Apple TV & Entertainment
Trent Crimm's new book about Richmond AFC, The Richmond Way, is now out, written and narrated in a tongue-in-cheek style. Apple has also released a free chapter from the book to coincide with the Ted Lasso season 4 finale. Formula 1 coverage on Apple TV will be broadcast in Dolby Atmos beginning with the U.S. Grand Prix weekend on October 23. The acclaimed British comedy series Small Prophets is now available on Apple TV, with the first two episodes streaming now. The show is being hailed as the finest to hit Apple TV this year. A new Crossy Road game has been announced as an Apple Arcade exclusive, launching November 5.
Business & Regulation
Apple executive chair Tim Cook has sold nearly $63.9 million in Apple shares this month. The company will report Q4 2026 earnings on November 2. Apple and Brussels are on unusually similar ground regarding child-safety policy, with Tim Cook backing the EU's push. However, the EU's proposed Big Tech tax hike faces opposition not just from the US but also from within Europe. Under a revised plan, Apple may have to pay an annual lump sum to the EU as part of a tax compromise. Apple has overtaken Samsung to lead European carrier smartphone sales in Q2, according to Counterpoint Research.
Podcasts & Upcoming
The 9to5Mac Daily podcast for October 7 recaps iOS 27.2 beta 3 and the Apple-LG smart home partnership, while the October 6 episode covers John Ternus's role in design and Apple Cash changes. October is shaping up to be a busy month with 12 new things to expect from Apple, including the redesigned MacBook Pro, iOS 27.2, and the LG smart home accessories.