Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: July 20, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Beta Software and Updates

Apple continued beta this week, releasing the fourth developer betas for iOS, mac OS 27 (internally codenamed "Golden Gate"), tv OS, and iPad OS. The company also seeded the fourth beta of tv OS 27 to developers. Alongside the iOS 27 testing, Apple debuted the release candidate version of iOS 26.6, with official release notes indicating it prepares iPhones for the upcoming iOS. Similarly, mac OS 26.6 release candidates were made available for developer and public testing. In a notable cadence, Apple rolled out a sixth round of release candidates for mac OS Sonoma 14.8.8 and mac OS Sequoia 15.7.8. Developers can also download the fourth beta of tv OS. For those who have installed the iOS 27 or iPad OS 27 betas and wish to revert, a guide on is available.

mac OS and AI Features

Apple provided developers with the fourth beta of mac OS Golden Gate, also known as mac OS, two weeks after the previous beta release. This update introduces a hidden popover interface for Siri within the mac OS 27 Golden Gate beta, which surfaces Writing Tools and contextual actions when text is selected. Additionally, Apple is testing a new AI-powered "Live Notes" feature at its Genius Bar locations, designed to transcribe and summarize customer interactions. However, this initiative has sparked concerns among employees regarding potential monitoring and evaluation. In other mac OS news, a new malware threat called Click Lock Stealer has been uncovered, which hijacks system behavior to pressure Mac users into surrendering passwords. For users experiencing performance issues like "beach balls" or unresponsive trackpads on mac OS 26.5, a potential fix has been identified.

Apple Services and Pricing

Subscription services are seeing price adjustments, with Apple increasing prices on more products and services beyond Macs and iPads. This follows earlier price hikes on Macs and iPads globally last month. iCloud+ subscription prices have also been raised in several countries. In light of these changes, discussions are underway regarding the value proposition of Apple One, with one analysis suggesting it still offers substantial savings for regular users despite recent price increases for Apple Music and some Apple One tiers. Apple Music and Apple One are facing price increases, according to reports.

Hardware and Deals

The new iPad mini is expected soon, marking the first significant update to the device in two years. In terms of deals, Air Pods Pro 3 are available for $199.99, and Air Pods 4 are priced at $99. AirPods Max have seen a discount of $100 on Amazon, bringing them down to $449.00. The Air Tag 2 is also at an all-time low price of $89.00 for a four-pack. Additionally, significant discounts of up to $400 are available on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops, including M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max models, through B&H.

Content and App Updates

Apple TV+ is set to premiere a new film from the director of "CODA," a biopic focusing on disability activist Judy Heumann. Apple TV will screen the movie. The Apple Sports app received an update to include additional soccer leagues from Asia and Europe, along with the ability to view formations. A new independent app called "Passable" allows users to easily share their contact information through Apple Wallet. On Apple Books, a growing problem with AI-generated content has been observed, with some books reportedly being "written" in a matter of hours. Meanwhile, YouTube's picture-in-picture mode is reportedly broken on both iPhone and Android devices.

Industry and Security

Apple momentarily regained its position as the world's most valuable publicly traded company, surpassing Nvidia. Concerning Mac security, the Click Lock Stealer malware has been identified, posing a new potential backdoor for enterprise fleets. Separately, a report suggests Apple deliberately excluded Jony Ive from its OpenAI lawsuit. The discussion around AI's future points towards an on-device AI processing model, which could offer significant benefits and potentially become a billion-dollar opportunity.

Retail and App Store

Four Apple retail stores in the U.S. are relocating this month, though the moves are minor. In Brazil, an investigation has uncovered dozens of disguised gambling apps on the App Store. Furthermore, a poll of 9to5Mac readers indicates that higher Apple prices are likely to slow down upgrade cycles, even among loyal customers.