Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 2:36 AM ET

Markets & Corporate

Apple shares closed above $300 for the first time after investors rewarded the company's stronger-than-expected earnings and a massive $100 billion buyback program, even as AI concerns lingered. The rally caught the attention of analysts at Evercore, who raised their price target to $365 on the belief that Apple Intelligence will prove a long-term revenue driver. The stock climb also spared CEO Tim Cook from being named in xAI's antitrust lawsuit; instead, Craig Federighi was added as a document custodian in the case against Apple and OpenAI, while Cook and other senior executives were not targeted. Meanwhile, OpenAI is exploring legal action against Apple after users adopted its Chat GPT integrations without converting to paid accounts at the rate CEO Sam Altman had expected, a dispute that also surfaced in xAI's parallel suit. The legal turbulence comes even as Apple's Services revenue continues to surge, reinforcing the market's willingness to look past regulatory headwinds.

Product Pipeline & iPhone Rumors

Apple is preparing to launch 15 or more new products this fall, headlined by what appears to be its first foldable device. The iPhone Ultra — likely the brand's foldable flagship — is rumored to ship in September with a curved display that sources say will see improvements in a second-generation version arriving the following year. The iPhone 17 Pro has already been named the fastest-charging smartphone overall by CNET, and the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to introduce three upgrade-pulling features later this fall. In China, Apple slashed iPhone 17 Pro series prices by 1,000 yuan ahead of the 618 shopping festival, a $138 discount that signals competitive pressure in the world's largest smartphone market. A survey found more than 10% of iPhone owners are eyeing a folding phone, though broader data suggests most U.S. consumers are not motivated to upgrade for foldables or AI features, potentially limiting the addressable market for the Ultra at premium pricing.

AI, Siri & the App Store

With WWDC weeks away, Apple is navigating a tightening AI landscape. Google's Gemini Intelligence announcement arrived a month before Apple's expected Apple Intelligence reveal, but reviewers found it fell short of displacing Siri's position in users' workflows. Apple confirmed in January that Gemini will power new Siri features, and a new report says iOS 27 will push developers to integrate their apps with Siri, though some fear the added complexity could deter adoption. Apple is also exploring ways to support AI agent apps on the App Store, a move that follows a reconciliation with Replit, which released its first iPhone app update in four months after resolving a dispute over how AI-generated apps can be previewed on iOS. OpenAI, meanwhile, brought its Codex coding agent to the ChatGPT mobile app, giving iPhone users remote access to Mac-based coding sessions, while two AI video generation apps have gone viral on the App Store in the wake of OpenAI's Sora shutdown.

Apple TV & Entertainment

Apple TV is entering what executives are calling its best summer lineup ever, with a slate that includes Ryan Reynolds' upcoming spy thriller with a comedy twist and the renewal of 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' for a second season. The streamer also confirmed the Shrinking revival will return with a time jump after its third season concluded last month. In staffing news, Morgan Wandell is leaving Apple TV after years with the platform to launch his own production company, marking a notable departure as the service scales its original content ambitions. Apple also commissioned short creative pieces for its Creator Studio to demonstrate the tool's versatility across video, poetry, and cooking workflows.

Mac, Accessories & Deals

The MacBook lineup is seeing aggressive pricing pressure ahead of Memorial Day. Amazon is offering the 20-core 2TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro at an all-time low, while the 16-inch M5 Pro model is discounted by $249 across all configurations and the base M5 MacBook Pro starts at $1,499. B&H is clearing M4 MacBook Air inventory for $829, and the MacBook Neo continues to draw comparisons, with one study claiming a $549 Windows laptop outperforms it. On the accessory front, a Mag Safe headphone amp with a built-in DAC has launched for wired-audio enthusiasts, iVANKY's FusionDock Ultra offers 26 Thunderbolt 5 ports, and Anker's Prime 3-in-1 wireless charging station dropped to $104.99. Mactracker, the longstanding hardware database, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a major update to its iPhone and iPad apps.

Privacy, Security & Home

Apple patched Safari 26.5 after a Web Kit vulnerability was found that could expose sensitive user data through malicious web content. In China, iPhone thieves can earn up to $800 more for unlocked devices, and new research shows criminals are increasingly defeating security measures designed to lock stolen phones. On the home front, SwitchBot Lock Vision launched with facial recognition and Matter over Wi-Fi support, joining a wave of new Matter-compatible devices from Ikea that work with Apple Home but still show reliability gaps. Apple also expanded its Limit Precise Location feature to more users, continuing its push to restrict carrier access to location data.