Last updated: August 6, 2026, 11:33 PM ET
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: Launch Prep, Supply Woes, and Pricing
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 "iPhone Ultra." The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but will feature at least 12 new capabilities, including an upgraded camera system and the A20 Pro chip. Apple hasn't sent event invitations yet, but its announcement history gives a remarkably consistent window for when the event date will be revealed. Apple's employee lottery 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 as recent years. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stirred things up with a likely deliberately teasingly-phrased tweet that some took as a reference to a live iPhone keynote presentation.
The iPhone 18 Pro lineup could be in short supply this year due to a memory shortage affecting production. Apple's new A20 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 from the global RAM and SSD crisis continue to echo through home electronics pricing, and RAM manufacturers are reaping massive profits. 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.
The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to be announced in a month, with new features including an upgraded camera system and the A20 Pro chip. While claims of a $1,399 starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro may be exaggerated, Apple recently raised prices across much of its product lineup, and even more increases are expected next month. Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Ultra, sounds very much deserving of the "Ultra" name based on rumors about the product. Global foldable smartphone 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 has waited a very long time to launch its first foldable iPhone, and Samsung's experience shows the timing couldn't be better.
iOS 27 and Software Features
iOS 27 continues Apple's trend of giving users more control over the design of the iPhone's Lock Screen, with new customization options and wallpaper settings. The Messages app in iOS 27 has a variety of new features and improvements, highlighted by a time-saving enhancement that stands out as the best new addition. iOS 27 brings exciting new features to Messages, Apple Notes, and FaceTime, including a powerful upgrade for the latter. CarPlay in iOS 27 has a handful of new features and improvements, including two additions for some of Apple's most popular apps. iOS 27 includes hints about the new iPhone Ultra and also points to an all-new Apple Home product likely launching soon. GymKit, one of Apple Watch's smartest fitness features since it launched in 2017, gets enhanced in iOS 27 to essentially turn your iPhone and Air Pods into an Apple Watch at the gym. AirPods are getting a variety of new features in iOS, two of which are exclusive to Air Pods Pro.
Siri AI is a major upgrade and highlight of iOS, mac OS Golden Gate, and more, but only newer Apple devices will support it. iPadOS 27 launches next month with new features in apps like Notes that have been well received. Apple today released mac OS Tahoe 26.6.1, an update to the mac OS Tahoe operating system that came out last year. Apple has published the security details for today's mac OS Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma updates, which address a serious Screen Sharing vulnerability. Apple today released a fourth version of the beta firmware it is testing for the Air Pods Pro, Air Pods Pro, and Air Pods.
Apple Financials and Market Position
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. For smartphones selling at over $600, Apple owns 65% of that market and grew 9% year over year in the first half of 2026. Apple has set new annual sales in India, with its second main iPhone manufacturing base generating a record $10 billion in sales despite currency and other challenges. Apple's main manufacturer Foxconn has announced the greatest monthly earnings in its history, driven by AI demand ahead of producing the iPhone 18 Pro and the folding iPhone. Apple today updated 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, though you should compare carrier offerings and private sale values to get the most for your money.
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 can leak users' real IP addresses. Researchers have uncovered Mac malware that can steal credentials and drain all or a selected percentage of a cryptocurrency wallet. A malware campaign using fake Zoom updates and business files to install Screen Connect has expanded its reach to mac OS, giving attackers remote control. 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. A judge is allowing a $32B lawsuit to proceed over Apple Photos face recognition, though the feature is not a privacy threat and is quite the opposite. 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 about how a former Apple employee may have accessed confidential documents after leaving to join OpenAI has been dispelled by Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI. Telegram was briefly removed from the App Store on Monday night after a review found content that violated Apple's guidelines against child sexual abuse material. Telegram CEO says a "takedown extortionist" planted AI-modified CSAM to get Apple to remove the app from the App Store. Telegram was removed from the App Store briefly Monday after CSAM was posted by a user, and the app was restored after the content was removed.
Apple TV+ and Entertainment
Ted Lasso is officially back, with the first episode of season 4 available to stream as of today, three years after the season 3 finale aired. Ted Lasso season 4 is now streaming on Apple TV, and it was revealed as Apple TV's most popular show this year. Two more hit Apple shows are coming soon alongside the Ted Lasso return. One hit show from Apple this year is coming to the cinema for one night only, marking a rare theatrical release for a series. 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.
Deals and Retail
Amazon has up to $190 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air with the best deals since the price hike. Time is running out to grab limited-time deals on Apple's latest M5 MacBook Air laptops, with M5 models now up to $200 off. Apple's loaded 16-inch 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. August Apple deals are in full swing at Amazon, with savings of up to $500 off across Mac, iPad, Air Tag, and Apple Watch categories. Best Buy is still hosting its big Back to School sale this week, with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones, and monitors. Summer Apple Watch sales at Amazon and Walmart deliver discounts of up to $172 off SE, Series, and Ultra 3 styles. Amazon today has a few deals on the Apple Watch Ultra, offering $99 off. Air Pods Pro 3 have dropped to $60 off alongside all-time low pricing on Air Tag, with the MacBook Neo also discounted up to $120 off. AirPods Pro 3 are dropping in price again for one of the best deals of the year at nearly 25% off, alongside the ongoing Air Pods Max 2 offer at $100 off. Amazon this week has brought back notable discounts on the M4 iPad Air, with a trio of markdowns of up to $69 off. Samsung's newest line of smartphones and smartwatches launches tomorrow, making today the last chance to get pre-order discounts including up to a $350 Amazon gift card.
OpenAI and AI Ecosystem
OpenAI continues to churn out upgrades to its various GPT models, with the latest GPT-5.6 promising to be more succinct and provide confident wrong answers less often. OpenAI's GPT-5 turns one tomorrow, and the company introduced Agent Plugins, an open standard meant to let reusable AI-agent extensions work across platforms. Bloomberg shared new pricing and design details about OpenAI's first device, a doughnut-shaped speaker. It's the end of a very short road for Chat GPT Atlas, OpenAI's dedicated web browser for Mac, which shuts down this weekend. Adobe and OpenAI announced a new ChatGPT plugin on Thursday, showing Adobe's focus on becoming the creative engine behind AI. Meta today launched Muse Code, a terminal coding agent available for mac OS that costs up to 20x less if you let Meta train on your data. MacPaw 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 users on Mac can now access Notetaker, an AI-powered meeting assistant that uses calendars, connected apps, and personal dictionaries.
Smart Home and Accessories
Lutron is expanding its existing Caseta integration with Sonos, adding the ability to control smart-home devices using Sonos Voice Control. DIY smart home security company Abode expanded its Apple Home-compatible lineup 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. Apple has expanded support for the Apple Account Card in the Wallet app to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta. Apple Card users have a new way to get more value out of Booking.com without spending months climbing its loyalty ranks. Crest Marine and Balise are bringing Car Play to pontoon boats, giving boat owners a new entertainment option.
Other Apple News
T-Mobile retired its 2G GSM network on Monday, August 3, which means all three major carriers in the United States have now ended the network that the original iPhone relied on. A T-Mobile outage last week left many iPhone users across the US without service for several hours, and Redditors are discussing compensation of $10 to $80. As iPhones get more expensive, T-Mobile has launched a new 3-year plan. Apple Watch users in China can participate in the next National Fitness Day challenge this weekend to unlock virtual rewards. Following last month's sunsetting of TV Time, co-founder Antonio Pinto announced Bingers, a new TV and movies tracking app that leans more heavily on social features. Revenue Cat's annual Shipaton mobile hackathon is officially back, running August 1-September 30 with $1 million worth of prizes available for winning apps. Spotify has crossed 300 million paying subscribers, a major new milestone for the audio subscription service as it competes with Apple Music. Apple is prototyping a second new iPhone display, this one measuring around 6.4 inches, that could be destined for the 20th anniversary iPhone. 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 Apple's servers. WhatsApp today announced 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. 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. Signal's latest iOS update expands its multi-device feature for iPhone users. A jailbreak solution has emerged for M1 and M2 iPads still running iPad OS, allowing users to run mac OS on iPad hardware natively. Disney could introduce 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. Apple's Newton handheld computer launched in August 1993 and set the stage for what would become the iPad and iPhone, 33 years later. Viral posts telling iPhone owners to refrigerate overheated devices should be ignored, as that will cause condensation and damage. An Uber scam email is making the rounds claiming your payment method expired, attempting to steal payment information. 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. A judge is allowing a multi-billion dollar class action over Apple Photos face recognition to proceed, though the feature is not a privacy threat.