Last updated: August 7, 2026, 3:08 PM ET
iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra Launch
Apple is preparing for a flagship-only September event that will feature the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Ultra, with the cheaper base model saved for spring. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch next month with 12 new features, including an upgraded camera system, the A20 Pro chip, and a new C2 modem. Under-display Face ID is rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro, alongside the 2nm A20 processor that promises significant performance gains.
Rumors point to at least three ways the new Pro models will be more "Pro", including better cameras, longer battery life, and a higher price tag. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup could cost $250-300 more than current models, with some reports suggesting a starting price of $1,399. T-Mobile has launched a new 3-year plan to help customers manage the rising cost of flagship iPhones, spreading payments over a longer period.
Apple's employee lottery for the September iPhone launch doesn't mean it will be a return to a live-presented event, as it'll probably be the same pre-recorded format. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stirred speculation about a live iPhone keynote, but the event could simply be "livelier" rather than truly live. Apple's event announcement history gives a remarkably consistent window for when invitations will go out, with September 9, 2026 being the best estimate for the event date.
The iPhone Ultra sounds truly deserving of the "Ultra" name, with a software experience that takes advantage of the foldable form factor in meaningful ways. 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 a major driver of the increase. A poll asks readers which they plan to buy: the iPhone 18 Pro or the foldable iPhone Ultra, as Apple prepares for a more focused and expensive launch.
Memory Shortage and Supply Chain
SK hynix is investing $38 billion to expand chip production amid global shortages, but the massive bet on AI boom lasting until 2029 won't make your next iPhone any cheaper. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra" could be in short supply this year due to a DRAM shortage, with assembly reportedly slowing. Apple's new A20 Pro processor isn't being cranked out as fast as it could be because of RAM shortages, which are reportedly slowing assembly of the iPhone 18 Pro.
The global RAM and SSD crisis continues to echo through home electronics pricing, with RAM manufacturers reaping massive profits and a fix that is a long time away. 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. Apple's main manufacturer Foxconn has announced record monthly earnings ahead of producing the iPhone 18 Pro and the folding iPhone, driven by AI demand.
Market Share and Financials
Apple captured 65% of the global premium smartphone market in the first half of 2026, as the wider premium segment's share of overall smartphone sales climbed to a record 29%. For smartphones selling at over $600, Apple owns 65% of that market and grew 9% year over year, though Chinese brands are making a dent in local market share. iPad shipments fell 8% in Q2 2026 amid a global tablet market decline, following Apple's reported 5% year-over-year drop in iPad revenue for the June quarter.
Software Updates
Apple appears to be testing a forthcoming iOS 26.6.1 update for iPhone users, coming nearly two weeks after iOS 26.6 was released. Apple's software engineers are internally testing iOS 26.6.1, according to Mac Rumors visitor logs, following the release of mac OS 26.6.1. Apple has released macOS Tahoe 26.6.1 with security fixes, coming a little over a week after the previous update.
Apple has published security details for today's macOS Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma updates, addressing a serious Screen Sharing vulnerability. iOS 27 adds a variety of new features and changes for Apple Wallet, including one that's been on many users' wishlists for years: the ability to import physical passes. iOS 27's new compact clock option does the opposite of iOS 26's stretched Lock Screen clock, giving your wallpaper room to breathe.
iOS 27 continues Apple's trend of giving you more control over the design of your iPhone's Lock Screen, with four new ways to customize. iOS 27 gives the Messages app a variety of new features, with the best new feature being time-saving one-tap suggestions based on your conversation context. iOS 27 brings GymKit to iPhone and AirPods, basically turning your devices into an Apple Watch at the gym by sharing heart rate data with compatible equipment.
CarPlay in iOS 27 has a handful of new features and improvements, including two additions for some of Apple's most popular apps: a mini player and scrubbing controls. iOS 27 includes hints about the new iPhone Ultra, but it also points to an all-new Apple Home product likely launching soon, possibly a security camera. iPadOS 27 launches next month with new features in apps like Notes, with two standout additions that users have been loving in beta.
Siri AI is a major upgrade and highlight of iOS 27, but it's coming to newer Apple devices only, with a full compatibility list now available. AirPods are getting a variety of new features in iOS 27, two of which are exclusive to Air Pods Pro, making them even better. watchOS 27 could make Apple Watch's hypertension notifications even better, an important and potentially life-saving new feature added last year.
Deals and Accessories
B&H's best-selling M5 MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM is on sale for $1,349, which is $150 off this weekend only, making it a great time to upgrade. 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. Amazon has up to $190 off multiple models of the M5 MacBook Air, marking the best deals since Apple's price hike.
Apple's powerhouse 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip and 40-core GPU is $500 off at Amazon, the largest discount currently available across the 16-inch lineup. The AirPods Pro 3 have dropped to $189.99, alongside up to $500 off select MacBook Pro models and the lowest iPad Air prices since Apple's price hike. AirPods Pro 3 are dropping in price again at nearly 25% off, alongside the ongoing Air Pods Max 2 offer at $100 off.
Summer Apple Watch sales at Amazon and Walmart deliver discounts of up to $172 off SE, Series, and Ultra 3 styles. Amazon has deals on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 at $99 off before they're gone, with multiple configurations available. Best Buy is still hosting its big Back to School sale with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones, monitors, and much more.
Apple has significantly increased how much it pays 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 today updated its U.S. trade-in estimates, raising values for most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Apple has added a host of new products to its official Certified Refurbished Store, including new M5 MacBook Pro models, the Studio Display XDR, and high-end M5 MacBook Air configurations.
Samsung's newest line of smartphones and smartwatches launches tomorrow, making today the last chance to get pre-order discounts including up to $350 in Amazon gift cards. RevenueCat's annual Shipaton mobile hackathon is officially back, running August 1-September 30 with $1 million worth of prizes for winning apps.
Legal and Security
Apple has told a federal court that it hasn't heard from Jon Prosser's legal team in a month, as discovery drags on in its trade secret lawsuit against the leaker. 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 accessed confidential documents after leaving to join OpenAI has been dispelled by Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI.
Apple's paid Safari protection feature that promises to keep your IP masked doesn't always work, according to security researchers Tommy Mysk and Talal Haj Bakry, who found iCloud Private Relay is leaking users' real IP addresses. Researchers have uncovered Mac malware that can steal credentials and drain cryptocurrency wallets, with a single pasted Terminal command opening the door to theft. 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.
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. Telegram was subject to a "takedown extortionist" who planted AI-modified child sexual abuse material to get Apple to remove the app from the App Store, according to Telegram's CEO. No, your Uber payment method didn't expire, it's just a scam attempting to steal your payment information, and here's how to spot such emails.
Apple's baffling bug bounty changes finally make sense according to the latest Security Bite analysis, explaining the rationale behind the controversial program modifications. 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. Why scammers love FaceTime now is the topic of the latest Security Bite Podcast, exploring the platform's appeal for fraudsters.
Apple TV+ and Entertainment
Comedy series Ted Lasso is back, with the first episode of season 4 available to stream as of today, three years after the season 3 finale aired. Ted Lasso is officially back for season 4, and two more hit Apple shows are coming soon, including Slow Horses and Dark Matter. Apple TV is now airing Ted Lasso season 4 as part of its fall lineup, which reveals every new show and movie coming soon.
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 show from Apple this year is coming to the cinema for one night only, with Widows Bay making the jump to theaters, a rare move for an Apple TV+ series. 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.
Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is available on Apple Arcade starting today, a full Madden NFL game that does not include any ads or in-app purchases. 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.
Mac and Hardware
The original Mac Pro is 20 years old today and even though the whole range is now gone, people are still celebrating this old, favorite workhorse for its design and performance. Apple announced the original Mac Pro 20 years ago today, with the anniversary landing five months after the company discontinued the machine for good. Apple is rumored to give MacBook Pro users two very different new models to choose from this fall, including the M6 and a new MacBook Ultra.
You may like Pages and you may tolerate Microsoft Word, but text editor BBEdit has been rightly earning devotees on the Mac for 34 years, remaining simple yet powerful. Apple's Newton handheld computer was both the company's biggest failure and its greatest peek into the future, with its August 1993 launch setting the stage for what would become the iPad and iPhone. If you've been dying to run macOS on iPad hardware natively, a jailbreak solution has emerged for M1 and M2 iPads still running iPad OS, though it is extremely limited.
Apple is preparing some smart home updates with a new HomePod mini expected soon, with a focus on being small, Siri-integrated, and smart. A new study covering wearing an Apple Vision Pro during certain surgeries has concluded that it is superior to existing medical equipment, with surgeons enthusing about what a great bargain it is. Boat owners are getting a new entertainment option as Crest Marine and Balise bring Car Play to pontoons with the Savvy Navvy system.
As it generally goes with social media advice, viral posts telling iPhone owners to refrigerate overheated devices should be ignored as that will cause condensation damage. The Apple Health app on iPhone is a powerful way to track all facets of your health, whether it's recording data from your Apple Watch, importing records from your doctor, or integrating with third-party apps. Apple Watch Ultra 4 is coming next month, launching alongside iPhone 18 Pro, with three new features that already have users excited.
Services and Ecosystem
Apple this week expanded support for its Apple Account Card in the Wallet app to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta, continuing the feature's global rollout. The Apple Account Card option for Wallet started rolling out earlier this year, and now it's available in four more European countries. Following X Money's launch last month, one question has repeatedly surfaced: what happens to your money if X suspends or closes your social media account, with answers about 6% APY and physical cards.
Lutron is expanding its existing Caseta integration with Sonos, adding the ability to control smart-home devices using Sonos Voice Control for hands-free operation. 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 recently raised prices across much of its product lineup, but even more increases are expected next month for iPhone and other products due to component costs.
AI and Competition
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, plus a new "Think" button. OpenAI's GPT-5 turns 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. After sharing initial details about OpenAI's plans for its first smart device, Bloomberg reports new pricing and design details about the doughnut-shaped speaker device.
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. Adobe's newest AI ChatGPT plugin shows that the company doesn't care where people create, but more on ensuring they create with Adobe, as it becomes the creative engine behind AI. 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, starting with Eney.
Wispr Flow users on Mac can now access Notetaker, an AI-powered meeting assistant that uses calendars, connected apps, and personal dictionaries to provide additional context. Someone has to pay for all this AI, nothing is foolproof, and Apple's lawsuit with OpenAI is only just beginning, all discussed on the Apple Insider Podcast. 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.
Podcasts and Media
The 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps the top stories of the day, including iPhone Fold hype and mac OS updates, available on iTunes and Apple's Podcasts app. Benjamin and Chance return for another episode recapping the week in Apple news, including the interesting details of Apple's most recent earnings calls and the last of the Tim Cook era. The latest 9to5Mac Daily episode covers Apple iPhone event clues and other top stories from August 5, 2026.
The AppleInsider Podcast discusses the cost of iPhone components, which is only getting higher, and the ongoing lawsuit with OpenAI. The iPhone Air reaches one year on sale next month, and Apple is now closer to launching its successor than it is to the original's debut, with the Mac Rumors Show discussing what changes after a difficult first year. 9to5Mac Daily covers the latest Apple vs OpenAI drama in its August 4, 2026 episode.