Apple News 3d Briefing
×iPhone & Hardware Updates
Apple macrumors.com has already finalized plans for next year's entry-level "iPhone 18e" model, according to a known leaker. This week, Apple 9to5mac.com is releasing the new iPhone 17e, which doubles the storage and adds the "magic of Mag Safe" to the $599 iPhone 16e replacement. The first benchmarks for the iPhone 17e macrumors.com surfaced in the Geekbench 6 database today, offering a closer look at the A19 chip's performance. Meanwhile, a leaker with a good track record has posted design images of the iPhone Fold appleinsider.com, although with no further details and no indication of dimensions.
MacBook & Mac Announcements
Apple unveiled the long-awaited entry-level MacBook Neo macrumors.com starting at just $599, with Apple Care+ repair fees for the laptop lower than all other Macs. The new laptop is just the latest in Apple's 35 years of trying to make a budget portable, dating back to the Power Book. Early reviews say the Apple iPad Air appleinsider.com delivers impressive performance gains with the M4 chip, but that doesn't mean existing users should rush to upgrade. Apple is planning more Mac refreshes for the rest of the year, with Mac Studio appleinsider.com update now expected in the middle of 2026 and consumers waiting until September to October for iMac and Mac mini updates.
Product Design & Manufacturing
Apple hardware design lead Molly Anderson said that the company started from scratch when it came to the process for manufacturing the new MacBook Neo 9to5mac.com, resulting in halved materials use. Apple's Industrial Design Leader discusses the process behind creating the MacBook Neo in a new interview. The company has made it pretty clear that it wants to siphon off Android and Windows users by adopting an aggressive, "budget-friendlier" model across nearly its entire ecosystem. Apple said that it wanted the new MacBook Neo 9to5mac.com to be seen as a fun new addition to its product lineup.
Software & Services
iOS 26 adds a lot to the Messages app, including new group chat features and spam prevention tools. Apple researchers ran an A/B test to measure how AI-generated relevance labels would affect App Store search rankings and app downloads. Attitudes to the hugely delayed launch of the new Siri 9to5mac.com seemed to be split between frustration and resignation. Built by a group of ex-Apple employees who co-created Swift UI, Bitrig now lets you build iPhone apps right from your Mac through prompts.
Entertainment & Media
One of Apple TV's highest-profile originals of the year, Margo's Got Money Troubles, is coming soon—and its trailer was just released. Apple TV keeps proving itself a destination for sci-fi fans, with two of the streamer's beloved hits inspiring spinoff series that are coming. Silo season 3 is expected to premiere later this year, but the show just got a big season 4 update too.
Leadership & Company News
Apple on Friday added three new executive profiles to its leadership page for Jennifer Newstead, Molly Anderson, and Steve Lemay. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a new interview weeks ahead of the company's 50th anniversary that Apple is a "Party of One" in the world. Steve Wozniak jokes when asked about Apple's origin: "Well, it kind of started when I was born. Steve Jobs wanted a company and he did it, and I was his resource."
Accessories & Smart Home
Air purifiers are one of my favorite Home Kit accessories, with the Smartmi E1 being the best-looking Apple Home solution. The Home Hub will be able to stick to a wall using a Mag Safe-like connection, a questionable leak says, with the Apple Home controller set to use Apple Intelligence. I have been on the search for a thin Mag Safe battery for years, testing dozens of these battery packs that all share the same compromise of bulk.
Pre-Orders & Deals
Amazon today has introduced the first big pre-order discounts on the brand new Apple Studio Display lineup, with up to $300 off these monitors. The Studio Display deals join pre-order discounts on M4 iPad Air and other new products. It's Apple pre-order week, and we're already tracking solid discounts across every new product that was announced this week, including free Best Buy gift cards when ordering the new MacBook Neo.
Future Products
Apple is planning to launch an all-new "MacBook Ultra" model this year, featuring an OLED display, touchscreen, and a higher price point. Apple's second-generation MacBook Neo macrumors.com will launch in 2027 and could feature a touchscreen, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple is shifting towards producing more "Ultra" products, with high-end devices on the way that may extend the use of the special suffix in new ways.