Apple News 3d Briefing
×New Apple Products
Apple 9to5mac.com announced the iPhone 17e and an iPad Air with M4 chip in its latest product release. The iPhone 17e 9to5mac.com brings increased base storage and Mag Safe technology to Apple's value-focused smartphone, solving the predecessor's biggest problem. Despite being a solid upgrade, the device looks dated upon release, though existing iPhone 16e cases will still fit the new model. The new iPad Air appleinsider.com features an M4 chip with only three performance cores, making it less powerful than the iPad Pro version.
Software Updates
iOS 26 9to5mac.com is changing how the Always On Display works in a way users may not appreciate. Apple has seeded the third betas of iOS 26.4 macrumors.com and iPad OS 26.4 9to5mac.com to developers, with iOS 26.4 introducing AI-powered Apple Music updates. The third betas of watch OS 26.4 macrumors.com, tv OS 26.4, and vision OS 26.4 have also been released for testing. Meanwhile, mac OS 26 9to5mac.com is receiving mixed reviews, with some users looking to block alerts or downgrade due to perceived issues.
Rumors & Future Products
Apple is reportedly developing a large foldable iPad macrumors.com that could arrive by 2029 despite technical hurdles. The company is also expected to update the MacBook Air macrumors.com with an OLED display for its 2028 model. The iPad Pro appleinsider.com will likely receive a vapor chamber cooling system in early 2027 rather than a major design overhaul. Apple's WWDC 2026 appleinsider.com may introduce Core AI as a replacement for Core ML, with Gemini-trained Apple Foundation Models and enhanced Siri functions.
Retail & Stores
Apple retail stores macrumors.com in the United Arab Emirates have been temporarily closed. Meanwhile, Apple has advised employees to expect a "major rush" of customers this week. The company is preparing its retail spaces for several physical product launches, with the new MacBook receiving its own dedicated table in stores.
Deals & Accessories
Amazon macrumors.com is offering all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series, with $100 off nearly every aluminum model. The AirPods 4 macrumors.com with Active Noise Cancellation are priced at $119, representing a 35% discount. Additionally, Amazon has $100 discounts on the iPad Mini, starting at $399. Apple has also released new colors for iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and the Crossbody Strap.
AI Competition
Anthropic macrumors.com is adding a free memory import tool to its Claude AI service to lure users away from Chat GPT and Gemini. The feature is available to free users and allows for importing conversations and memories. Meanwhile, Claude 9to5mac.com has jumped to the number one spot on the US App Store's Top Downloaded charts, rising from 42nd place as users rally behind Anthropic's government standoff. Apple has reportedly asked Google macrumors.com to investigate setting up servers in its data centers to run a future version of Siri powered by Gemini.