Last updated: August 6, 2026, 9:58 PM ET
iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Ultra, and the September Event
Apple is preparing for its annual September iPhone event, which is expected to debut the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an all-new foldable device. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to be announced in a month, featuring an upgraded camera system, the A20 Pro chip, and more. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models, but with 12 new features including three upgrades that have been rumored for years. Apple's first iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone Ultra," sounds truly deserving of the "Ultra" name based on current rumors. Apple is gearing up for a more focused and potentially much more expensive iPhone launch this fall, with the cheaper base iPhone 18 being saved for spring. Apple hasn't invitations yet, but its announcement history gives us a remarkably consistent window for when the event date will be revealed. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stirred things up with what was likely a deliberately teasingly-phrased tweet about the event format, but a live iPhone keynote presentation remains unlikely. Apple's employee for the September iPhone launch doesn't mean it will be a return to a live-presented event, as it will probably be the same pre-recorded format.
The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra could be in short supply this year due to a memory shortage. Apple's new Pro processor isn't being cranked out as fast as it could be because of RAM shortages, which is reportedly slowing assembly of the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple's attempt to use Chinese memory maker CXMT as leverage against Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix has backfired, with the two Korean chipmakers ending up with more pricing power rather than less. Shockwaves global RAM and SSD crisis continue to echo through home electronics pricing, and RAM manufacturers are reaping massive profits. Ahead of producing the iPhone 18 Pro and the folding iPhone, Apple's main manufacturer Foxconn has announced its greatest monthly earnings ever. Global foldable shipments are expected to grow 20% in 2026 compared to last year, with Apple's first entry into the category cited as one of the factors driving the increase. Apple is prototyping a second new iPhone display measuring around 6.4 inches that could be destined for the 20th anniversary iPhone, according to a Chinese leaker.
Pricing, Trade-Ins, and Carrier Plans
Claims of a $1,399 starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro may be exaggerated, but Apple recently raised prices across much of its product lineup, and even more increases are expected next month. iPhones get more expensive, T-Mobile has launched a new 3-year plan to accommodate the higher price points. Apple today its U.S. trade-in estimates, raising values for most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Apple has significantly increased how much it pays you to trade in most devices, but you should compare carrier offerings, other trade-in vendors, and private sale values to get the most for your hardware. Apple set new annual sales in India, with its second main iPhone manufacturing base generating a record $10 billion in sales despite currency challenges.
Software Updates: iOS, mac OS, and iPad OS
Apple today released mac OS Tahoe 26.6.1, an update that comes a little over a month after the previous release. Apple has published the security details for today's mac OS Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma updates, which address a serious Screen Sharing vulnerability. iOS 27 continues Apple's trend of giving you more control over the design of your iPhone's Lock Screen, with new customization options, wallpaper settings, and more. iOS 27 gives the Messages app a variety of new features, and based on time with the beta, Messages' best new feature is all about saving you time. iOS 27 brings exciting new features to Face Time, including a powerful new upgrade. iPad OS 27 launches next month with new features in apps like Notes. iOS 27 includes hints about the new iPhone Ultra, but it also points to an all-new Apple Home product likely launching soon. iOS 27 also adds four new ways to customize your iPhone's Lock Screen. Siri AI is a major upgrade and highlight of iOS, mac OS Golden Gate, and more, but only newer Apple devices will receive it. CarPlay iOS 27 has a handful of new features and improvements, including two additions for some of Apple's most popular apps.
GymKit has been one of Apple Watch's smartest fitness features since it launched in 2017, and iOS 27 basically turns your iPhone and Air Pods into an Apple Watch at the gym. Air Pods are getting a variety of new features in iOS, two of which are exclusive to Air Pods Pro. Apple today a fourth version of the beta firmware it is testing for the Air Pods Pro, Air Pods Pro, and Air Pods. Apple has expanded support for the Apple Account Card in the Wallet app to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta.
Apple TV+ and Entertainment
Ted Lasso officially back for season, with the first episode available to stream as of today after a three-year gap since the season 3 finale. Ted Lasso was revealed to be Apple TV's most popular show this year. Apple TV now airing Ted Lasso season, and the fall lineup reveals every new show and movie coming soon. However, the high-profile television version of Tom Wolfe's "The Bonfire of the Vanities" will reportedly no longer be made for Apple TV because of creative differences. One hit from Apple this year is coming to the cinema for one night only, marking a rare theatrical release for an Apple TV series. Madden NFL Arcade Edition is now available on Apple Arcade as a full Madden NFL game without in-app purchases. Spotify has crossed 300 million paying subscribers, a major new milestone for the audio subscription service as it competes with Apple Music. Disney could an ad-supported Disney+ free tier in the future, according to comments Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro made during the company's latest earnings call.
Security and Privacy
Apple's paid Safari protection feature iCloud Private Relay doesn't always work, according to security researchers Tommy Mysk and Talal Haj Bakry, who found it leaking users' real IP addresses. The most blatant security backdoor yet seen in an internet router has been found in a range of models sold under multiple brand names, with a firmware implant that phones home. Researchers have uncovered Mac malware that can steal credentials and drain all or a selected percentage of a cryptocurrency wallet. A malware campaign is using fake Zoom updates and business files to install Screen Connect, giving attackers remote control, and it has now expanded its reach to mac OS. Apple is facing a civil lawsuit in Brazil seeking R$300 million (roughly $59 million) in damages over allegations that children can download and access casino-style games on the App Store without age checks. A judge is allowing a $32B lawsuit to proceed over Apple Photos face recognition, but Apple Photos face recognition is not a privacy threat — quite the opposite. Telegram was briefly removed from the App Store after a review found content that violated Apple's strict guidelines prohibiting child sexual abuse material. Telegram's CEO an extortionist manipulated Apple into the App Store removal by planting AI-modified child sexual abuse material. In a joint status report filing, Apple said it hadn't heard from Jon Prosser's lawyer in a month, which his counsel attributed to Prosser caring for his newborn child. One of the theories voiced about how a former Apple employee may have accessed confidential documents after leaving the company to join OpenAI has been dispelled. As the EU's new transparency requirements for AI-generated content take effect, WhatsApp is working on a feature that will let channel admins flag AI-generated media. No, your payment method didn't expire — it's just a scam attempting to steal your payment information. posts telling iPhone owners to refrigerate overheated devices should be ignored, as that will cause damage. T-Mobile retired its 2G GSM network on Monday, August 3, which means all three major carriers in the United States have now ended 2G support, and the original iPhone has lost its last cellular network. A T-Mobile outage last week left many iPhone users across the US without service for several hours, and Redditors are reporting compensation of $10 to $80.
OpenAI, AI, and Smart Home
OpenAI's GPT-5 one tomorrow, and the company is marking the week by introducing Agent Plugins, an open standard meant to let reusable AI-agent extensions work across platforms. OpenAI continues to churn out upgrades to its various GPT models, and the latest GPT-5.6 promises to be more succinct and provide confident wrong answers less often. Bloomberg has shared new pricing and design details about OpenAI's first device, which is described as a doughnut-shaped speaker. It's end of a very short road for Chat GPT Atlas, OpenAI's dedicated web browser for Mac, and OpenAI has shared details about what happens when it shuts down this weekend. Adobe's newest AI Chat GPT plugin shows that the company doesn't care where people create, but more on ensuring they create with Adobe. Meta today Muse Code, a terminal coding agent available for mac OS that costs up to 20x less if you let Meta train on your data. Mac Paw has announced a long-term strategic partnership with Liquid AI to co-develop an on-device AI technology stack built specifically for the Mac. Wispr Flow on Mac can now access Notetaker, an AI-powered meeting assistant that uses calendars, connected apps, and personal dictionaries.
Lutron is expanding its existing Caseta integration with Sonos, adding the ability to control smart-home devices using Sonos Voice Control. DIY smart security company Abode expanded its Apple Home-compatible lineup today with two new sensors designed to monitor garage doors, gates, sheds, and other entry points. Apple is preparing some smart home updates, with a new Home Pod mini expected soon. Boat owners are getting a new entertainment option as Crest Marine and Balise bring Car Play to pontoon boats.
Deals and Retail
Amazon today has a few deals on the Apple Watch Ultra, with $99 off available. Summer Apple Watch sales at Amazon and Walmart deliver discounts of up to $172 off SE, Series, and Ultra 3 styles. Time is running out to grab limited-time deals on Apple's latest MacBook Air laptops, with M5 models now up to $200 off and many deals ending this weekend. You can get up to $190 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air at Amazon with the best deals since the price hike. Apple's powerhouse MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip and 40-core GPU is $500 off today, the largest discount currently available across the 16-inch lineup. Amazon this week has brought back notable discounts on the M4 iPad Air, with a trio of markdowns up to $69 off. August Apple are in full swing at Amazon, with savings of up to $500 off across Mac, iPad, Air Tag, and Apple Watch categories, with prices starting at just $27. Best Buy is still hosting its big Back to School sale this week, with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones, and monitors. Today's 9to5Toys Break is headlined by Air Pods Pro 3 dropping in price again at nearly 25% off, alongside the ongoing Air Pods Max 2 offer at $100 off. The Air Pods Pro 3 have dropped even lower at $60 off alongside all-time low pricing on Air Tag. Samsung's newest of smartphones and smartwatches launches tomorrow, making today the last chance to get pre-order discounts including up to $350 in Amazon gift cards. Apple Card have a new way to get more value out of Booking.com without spending months climbing its loyalty ranks.
Market Position and Other News
For smartphones selling at over $600, Apple owns 65% of that market and grew 9% year over year in the first half of 2026. Last week, Apple reported a 5% year-over-year drop in iPad revenue for the June quarter, and a new report shows iPad shipments fell 8% in Q2 2026 amid a global tablet market decline. Apple's Apple app on iPhone is a powerful way to track all facets of your health, whether recording data from your Apple Watch or importing records straight from your doctor. Apple Watch users in China can participate in the next National Fitness Day challenge this weekend to unlock virtual rewards. A new study covering wearing an Apple Vision Pro during certain surgeries has concluded that it is superior to existing medical equipment. Even though Apple now supports RCS to let Android users join in iMessage conversations, the risky Sunbird app is back to persuade them to route everything through its servers. WhatsApp today a series of updates to group chats, including an "@all" mention feature, three new poll upgrades, and a faster way to spin off new groups from existing ones. Signal's encrypted service is making it easier to use the app across different iPhones with its latest iOS update. Following last month's sunsetting of TV Time, one of the app's co-founders, Antonio Pinto, announced Bingers, a new TV and movies tracking app that leans more heavily on social features. RevenueCat's annual mobile hackathon is officially back, running August 1-September 30 with major prizes available for winning apps. Apple's Newton handheld computer was both the company's biggest failure and its greatest peek into the future, and 33 years after its August 1993 launch, it set the stage for what would become the iPad and iPhone. Apple Watch 4 is coming next month, launching alongside iPhone 18 Pro with three new features that already have enthusiasts excited. 9to5Mac's Benjamin and Chance returned for another episode recapping the week in Apple news, including the interesting details of Apple's most recent earnings calls in the last of the Tim Cook era. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple's Podcasts app for those wanting a recap of the top stories of the day. TikTok boasted about adding measures to protect teenagers from harmful content, but deliberately kept them from 15 million Americans until one killed himself, and then lied about being responsible. One of the favorite iPhone cases from Bitmo Lab is back with a new look, as the GAMEBABY translucent case turns your iPhone into a Game Boy with real buttons. Apple's September event is expected to announce at least five new devices, though it's possible we'll also get devices that were waiting on Siri. The Memoket Gem is an 11g AI wearable that slots beside your Apple Watch in a co-wear band, and it's one of the favorite Apple Watch accessories of 2026 so far. If you've been dying to run mac OS on iPad hardware natively, a jailbreak solution has emerged for M1 and M2 iPads still running iPad OS, though it is extremely limited. X Money last month, and one question has repeatedly surfaced: what happens to your money if X suspends or closes your social media account. The Apple @ Work podcast examines the state of digital signage on Apple TV in 2026.