Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Apple Leadership Transitions & Personnel

Apple's artificial intelligence division is undergoing a significant leadership shift as former AI chief John Giannandrea officially departs this week, concluding his tenure after his final stock vesting date approached; Giannandrea, who initially joined Apple in 2018 following eight years at Google, has reportedly been reduced to an advisory role since his retirement was announced in 2025. This internal transition comes as the company prepares for major AI feature rollouts, though the exact impact of his exit on near-term strategy remains unclear.

Hardware Development & Rumors: Foldables and Glasses

Speculation surrounding Apple's long-anticipated foldable iPhone intensified this week, with reports suggesting the device, possibly dubbed the 'iPhone Ultra,' is slated for an unveiling in September and will aim to solve existing creasing issues plaguing current foldables. Achieving a near-invisible crease hinges on advances in optically clear adhesive (OCA) technology, a factor that Trend Force notes is key to the device's success, while rival Huawei has already launched a book-style foldable, the Pura X Max, that shares a similar wide aspect ratio with Apple's rumored design. Separately, the company is aggressively pursuing its augmented reality roadmap, testing at least four distinct smart glasses styles crafted from high-end materials to differentiate them from competitors like Meta's Ray-Ban offerings.

MacBook Lineup & Deals

Demand for the new MacBook Neo appears to be exceeding initial expectations, creating potential supply chain challenges for Apple, although some users are already finding ways to personalize their machines, with official Apple parts available to create multicolor versions for as little as $39. Meanwhile, consumers are benefiting from aggressive pricing on existing silicon, with Amazon offering all-time low prices of up to $200 off M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro models, and a broader weekly roundup noting that nearly every configuration of the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air saw $150 discounts. Further signaling potential desktop refreshes, certain high-RAM configurations for the Mac mini and Mac Studio are currently unavailable through Apple's online store.

Mobile & Software Updates

In connectivity management, Apple introduced a user-friendly enhancement allowing users to easily view exactly who is tethered to their personal iPhone hotspot data, a welcome feature for those frequently sharing connections with iPads or laptops. On the software front, the release of iOS 26.4 includes a new setting to manage visual intensity, allowing users to disable flashing elements associated with the 'Liquid Glass' effect introduced earlier this year. Furthermore, reports suggest iOS 27 may introduce a dedicated ‘Siri’ application on the Home Screen, capitalizing on the popularity of third-party chatbot applications currently topping App Store charts.

Gaming & Entertainment Ecosystem

Valve is expanding its cross-platform gaming support by bringing the Steam Link app to the Apple Vision Pro, enabling users to stream titles from their primary gaming PC directly to the spatial computing headset. This move bolsters the Vision Pro's appeal to core gamers just as Apple TV is concluding high-profile series runs, with three separate shows airing season finales this week. To maintain consumer engagement offline, Apple is hosting an immersive fan experience in Century City dedicated to showcasing its growing library of Apple TV original series.

Market Position & Legal Matters

Apple secured the top position in the global smartphone market for the first time in the first quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research, driven primarily by strong consumer demand for the iPhone 17. Concurrently, the company faces continued legal friction regarding its App Store policies, as both Apple and Epic Games have filed new motions concerning the continuation or lifting of a court-ordered stay in their long-running dispute. In other platform news, the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine faces severe operational threat due to escalating publisher blocks, jeopardizing access to historical web content.

Accessories & Deals

The market for charging accessories saw new compact options emerge, with Belkin releasing 25W Qi2.2 MagSafe docks designed for both iPhone and Android users, while Satechi launched a similar 3-in-1 charger featuring 25W output with a design aesthetically aligned with Apple products. For audio enthusiasts, significant deals surfaced for Apple's over-ear headphones, with the Air Pods Max USB-C model available for a flash sale price of $399.95, representing a $150 reduction, and the newer Air Pods Pro 3 marked down to an attractive $199.99.