Apple News 3d Briefing
×New Hardware Announcements
Apple 9to5mac.com has announced six new products this week, with more expected to come. The iPhone 17e 9to5mac.com brings Mag Safe and 256GB storage to Apple's value-focused smartphone, while maintaining a familiar design that allows existing iPhone 16e cases to still fit appleinsider.com. Meanwhile, the new iPad Air 9to5mac.com features an M4 chip that has been binned with only three performance cores, differentiating it from the iPad Pro version appleinsider.com. Apple has also unveiled new Studio Display macrumors.com models, with the Studio Display XDR supporting DICOM medical imaging presets for professional medical use macrumors.com. However, neither display model works with Intel Macs macrumors.com, and the Studio Display XDR requires newer Macs to achieve its full 120Hz refresh rate macrumors.com. Apple has discontinued several products this week, including the Pro Display XDR appleinsider.com.
MacBook Updates & Leaks
Apple 9to5mac.com has raised the base price of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with its latest lineup. The new MacBook Air 9to5mac.com comes with a more powerful charger than previous models, while the maxed-out M5 MacBook Pro appleinsider.com can cost as much as $7,349. Apple has also accidentally leaked details about its upcoming "MacBook Neo" model, including the product name itself macrumors.com. The leaked documents reveal features of this lower-cost MacBook expected to be announced soon macrumors.com.
Software & Features
iOS 26 9to5mac.com has added a new "Preview" app to the iPhone's Home Screen. Meanwhile, Apple has seeded the third beta versions of iOS 26.4 macrumors.com and iPad OS 26.4 to developers, which include AI-powered Apple Music updates 9to5mac.com. The third betas of watch OS 26.4 macrumors.com, tv OS 26.4, and vision OS 26.4 have also been released. However, iOS 26 has tweaked the iPhone's Always On Display in a way some users might not like 9to5mac.com.
Deals & Accessories
Amazon macrumors.com currently has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series, offering $100 off nearly every aluminum model. AirPods 4 macrumors.com with Active Noise Cancellation are also available at $119, representing a 35% discount. Additionally, iPad Mini 7 models are available starting at $399 after a $100 discount macrumors.com. Apple has also released new seasonal colors for iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and the Crossbody Strap macrumors.com.
Future Products & Roadmap
Apple is reportedly developing a foldable iPad macrumors.com that could arrive by 2029, though it has faced several technical hurdles. The company is also expected to update the MacBook Air with an OLED display macrumors.com for its 2028 model. For the iPad Pro, Apple may add a vapor chamber cooling system macrumors.com as soon as next year, though other reports suggest it might wait until early 2027 appleinsider.com.
Services & Partnerships
Roku macrumors.com has teamed up with Apple to offer Apple TV subscriptions through the Roku Channel. Meanwhile, 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. Apple Stores are also preparing for a "major rush" of customers this week macrumors.com, though all five of Apple's retail stores in the United Arab Emirates have been temporarily closed macrumors.com.