Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: July 17, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Software Updates and Public Betas

Apple released iOS this week, bringing a host of new Siri and Apple Intelligence features, including a significant change to the Home Screen and a revamped Notification Center that breaks from 15 years of muscle memory. The mac OS 27 Golden Gate public beta is also available for testing, offering users a chance to explore upcoming features before the official fall release. Additionally, new Air Pods beta firmware is out for public testers, compatible with Air Pods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3.

Apple Intelligence and AI Developments

Apple Intelligence by Chinese regulators, paving the way for its launch in the country. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly in talks with AI startup Prism ML regarding its AI model-shrinking technology, which Prism ML claims is suitable for iPhones. Prism ML has also released its Bonsai 27B model, touted as the first major AI model of its size that can run on iPhones. In other AI news, 1Password has added Claude support, allowing the AI service to access credentials without direct password exposure.

Hardware and Product Updates

Apple has increased the price of some for Macs and iPads, making Apple Care One a more attractive value proposition by comparison. The company has also begun selling refurbished iPad mini models with the A17 Pro chip at a discount in the U.S. and Canada. Reports suggest Apple is ramping up orders for vapor chamber cooling components for its anticipated foldable iPhone and 20th-anniversary iPhone models. The 20th-anniversary iPhone is rumored to feature an all-glass design, with supply chain facilities reportedly ready for production. An upcoming OLED iPad mini is also rumored to feature an 8.4-inch 60Hz display panel.

Promotions and Financing

Apple's annual Back to School promotion has launched in select countries, including China, India, and Malaysia. While Apple is offering its own deals, other resellers are providing greater discounts on eligible products. Apple has also updated its website with a list of products eligible for upcoming sales tax holidays in 10 U.S. states Lists Products. Additionally, carrier-financed iPhones purchased from Apple will now be locked to the carrier, ending a previous workaround for purchasing unlocked iPhones on payment plans. Apple is also offering a new 36-month cellular iPad financing plan, though better deals may be available elsewhere.

Legal and Regulatory Matters

Apple is facing new scrutiny from Brazil regarding betting apps accessible to minors, with officials giving the company five business days to provide additional details. Separately, a proposed class action lawsuit accuses Apple's Hide My Email feature of a flaw, seeking payouts without alleging that the vulnerability was exploited. In a positive development for the company, a judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Apple of failing to prevent child sexual abuse material from being stored and shared on iCloud. Apple has also won a discovery fight against the DOJ in its antitrust case, gaining access to documents from 14 federal agencies.

Apple TV+ and Content

Apple TV+ has announced the return of Major League Soccer tomorrow, following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. The service also revealed the premiere date for the fifth season of its series Stillwater, a first look at season two of ‘Where’s Wanda?’ reveals first, and the trailer for its new action-comedy Mayday, starring Ryan Reynolds. The limited series Lucky, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy, has also premiered.

Partnerships and Industry Moves

Apple chip supplier TSMC has pledged an additional $100 billion for U.S. chip investment, bringing its total commitment to $265 billion. In a significant move for the AI hardware space, OpenAI is reportedly developing a portable smart speaker as its first hardware product. The European Commission has ordered Google to provide rival AI apps the same Android access as Gemini. Meanwhile, One Plus is reportedly exiting the U.S. and European smartphone markets as part of a restructuring at Oppo.

App and Service Updates

Apple Maps is rolling out a new Advertising Services policy that will restrict certain ad categories within the app. Apple TV and Apple Music for Android are receiving updates, with the former gaining homescreen widgets and the latter enabling WhatsApp sharing. WhatsApp is also developing an alternative to iCloud for chat backups on iPhone, allowing users to store backups in their own cloud storage. Roblox is integrating AI game creation directly into its mobile app, making it easier to generate games on iPhones. Suno is now enabling iPhone users to generate songs directly within the Messages app.

Deals and Discounts

Several deals are available on Apple products, including Air Pods Pro 3 with a $50 price drop, Air Pods 4 with ANC at a best price in months, and Apple Watch Series 11 with up to $130 off. MacBook Air M5 models are seeing discounts, with Amazon offering $150 off select configurations, and some M5 MacBook Pro models are available for $1,849 due to a price war between retailers.

Other Notable News

The European Commission has adopted new exemptions to its Batteries Regulation, removing the battery removal requirement for Apple Watch and AirPods. A former Apple VP, Tang Tan, is reportedly at the core of trade secret theft lawsuits against OpenAI, with OpenAI blaming an email mix-up for its failure to respond to Apple's claims. LEGO is considering a Bondi Blue iMac G3 set for its Ideas platform. Opera has seen significant user growth for its iOS browser in the U.S. and UK.