Last updated: August 8, 2026, 11:55 AM ET

Apple News

Top Stories

Apple’s annual September iPhone event is about a month away, but this year things look different. According to a detailed rumor roundup, the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to see a price increase of $250–$300, driven by new camera systems and the A20 Pro chip. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max chips to accelerate the M7 launch, according to Bloomberg. In the premium smartphone market, Apple continues to dominate, capturing 65% of global premium sales in the first half of 2026. Apple also faces legal headwinds: in its lawsuit against leaker Jon Prosser, Apple has flagged discovery delays after not hearing from his legal team for a month.

Hardware: iPhone, Mac, iPad, Watch, Audio

iPhone 18 Pro, Ultra, and Fold

The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is expected to feature a 2nm A20 chip, C2 modem, and under-display Face ID. Apple is also preparing a foldable iPhone Ultra, and a poll asks which you plan to buy. The iPhone Air reaches one year on sale next month; the MacRumors Show discusses what changes for iPhone Air 2. A rumor claims iPhone 17 prices could rise as soon as Monday, ahead of the next generation. Apple’s trade-in values have been raised for most iPhones, Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches.

Mac: M5, M6, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro

Apple is expanding its refurb store with rare M5 MacBook Pro configs, Apple TV 4K, and more. MacBook Pro users will soon have two compelling new upgrade options this fall: M6 and Ultra models. The Mac Pro turns 20 years old today—five months after Apple killed it—and an opinion piece argues it’s the best Mac ever made. IDC shipment data suggests the MacBook Neo and Air are growing in the enterprise as the PC market declines.

iPad

Amazon is offering the A16 iPad at its best price since June’s hike — $50 off Wi‑Fi models starting at $399. A report shows iPad shipments fell 8% in Q2 2026 amid a global tablet market decline.

Apple Watch

watch OS 27 could improve Apple Watch’s hypertension notifications even further. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has three new features that already have me excited, launching next month. August Apple Watch deals deliver savings of up to $172 off Series, Ultra, and SE.

Audio: Air Pods

New Air Pods could launch next month, and one feature sounds very exciting: Air Pods with cameras. AirPods Pro 3 keep getting better with iOS 27 exclusive features. Apple added nearly 45 hearing devices to its Made for iPhone compatibility list.

Other Hardware

Apple is rumored to launch three new “Ultra” products by early next year. iOS 27 hints at an all-new Home product launching soon — possibly a Home security camera. The HomePod mini 2 is expected soon, with Siri and smart home improvements.

Software Updates

iOS, iPad OS, mac OS Tahoe

iOS 27 has a long-awaited fix for a common iPhone wireless issue — the lag switching from Wi‑Fi to cellular. It also adds a compact clock option that gives your wallpaper room to breathe. iOS 27 basically turns your iPhone and AirPods into an Apple Watch at the gym by bringing Gym Kit to iPhone. There are four new ways to customize your iPhone’s Lock Screen. Car Play in iOS 27 adds a mini player and scrubbing for popular Apple apps. iOS 27 adds physical pass import to Apple Wallet, a long‑wished‑for feature. Apple is testing iOS 26.6.1 internally.

iPad OS 27 adds two new iPad features that users are loving.

Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.6.1 with security fixes. The update addresses a serious Screen Sharing vulnerability that also applies to Sequoia and Sonoma.

Siri AI and Device Support

Siri AI is a major upgrade of iOS, but it will be limited to newer Apple devices — here’s the full list.

Jailbreak

After 326 days, iOS 26 gets its first jailbreak thanks to Dopamine.

Apple Services & Content

Apple TV+

Ted Lasso Season 4 is now streaming on Apple TV. Apple TV’s fall lineup reveals every new show and movie coming soon. The surprise hit series “Widow’s Bay” is making the jump to theaters for one night only. Actor James Marsden is confirmed for his third Apple TV project, “Bad News Dads.” However, the “Bonfire of the Vanities” series has been dropped by Apple TV due to creative differences.

Apple Arcade & Fitness

Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is now available on Apple Arcade.

Apple Wallet & Payments

The Apple Account Card expands to four new countries — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia.

Apple Health

Apple Health is more powerful than you think; here are top tips for maximizing it.

Legal & Litigation

Apple has told a federal court that it hasn’t heard from Jon Prosser’s legal team in a month, as the trade secret lawsuit drags on. In a separate joint status report — same topic but different URL? Wait, we already used that first URL for Prosser discovery delays. We need to ensure each URL appears exactly once. The article is from 9to5Mac with URL We'll use that one for the joint status report detail. Meanwhile, the Apple Insider podcast discusses Apple’s lawsuit with OpenAI and the costs of AI.

Supply Chain & Business

Apple’s memory supplier SK hynix is making a $38B bet on AI boom lasting until 2029, but it won’t cut iPhone prices. A RAM shortage is holding up iPhone 18 Pro assembly, another bad sign. Apple’s attempt to use Chinese chipmaker CXMT as leverage against Samsung and SK hynix has backfired, giving the Korean firms more pricing power.

Security & Privacy

Apple’s iCloud Private Relay is leaking users’ real IP addresses, according to security researchers. Researchers uncovered Mac malware that steals crypto wallet credentials via a single pasted Terminal command. A big backdoor was found in Chinese routers sold under multiple brand names. Security Bite explores why scammers love FaceTime now and Apple’s baffling bug bounty changes finally make sense. Be wary of the scam Uber email making the rounds. The unsafe iMessage for Android app Sunbird just will not die.

Competitors & Industry

OpenAI

OpenAI delays its next major AI model “Astra” over critical hacking concerns. A new Chat GPT version has a “Think” button to find more reliable facts. You may soon be able to create and export custom WhatsApp stickers straight from ChatGPT. OpenAI’s GPT-5 turns one as the company shares a new Agent Plugins standard. A report shares new pricing and design details about OpenAI’s first device — a doughnut-shaped speaker.

Meta, WhatsApp, Sonos

Meta launched Muse Code, a new Mac coding agent that costs up to 20x less if you let Meta train on your data. WhatsApp makes parent-managed accounts easier to set up on iPhone. WhatsApp channel admins will soon get the ability to flag AI-generated media. Lutron Caseta expands hands-free smart home controls through Sonos Voice Control. Adobe is hell‑bent on becoming the creative engine behind AI with a new Chat GPT plugin.

Car Play

These automakers still don’t support CarPlay: Tesla, Rivian, and GM. If you’re having CarPlay connection issues, it might be due to radio interference.

Discontinued Networks

The original iPhone loses its last cellular network as T‑Mobile kills 2G.

Deals & Buying Guide

Last call to save up to $200 on M5 MacBook Air laptops — many deals end this weekend. Amazon has up to $190 off M5 MacBook Air with best deals since the price hike. AirPods Pro 3 are now even lower at 25% off, alongside Air Pods Max 2 and other deals. Apple Watch Ultra 3 deals return at $99 off. Apple sweetens its trade‑in deals, but you can still do better elsewhere. Last day for up to $350 Amazon gift card with Samsung Galaxy pre‑orders. The X Money FAQ covers account suspensions, 6% APY, physical cards, and more.

Miscellaneous

9to5Mac Overtime 076 discusses native retro games on iPhone, including a Pokémon 3D Mod on Mac and Mario Kart 64 port. Apple seems to have abandoned Cinematic mode, and that’s a mistake — an opinion. Still simple, still powerful, BBEdit is a Mac app legend after 34 years. These are my favorite Apple Watch accessories of 2026 so far. Surgeons enthuse about what a great bargain Apple Vision Pro is for surgery. Claude Code adds cross‑session messaging on macOS. PSA: Claude Code enabling auto mode as default next week. Disney+ could get a free ad‑supported tier. Abode launches new Apple Home‑compatible sensors for garages and gates. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps iPhone Fold hype and mac OS updates. The AppleInsider Podcast discusses paying for AI, freezing iPhones, and avoiding scams. Apple earnings, universal clipboard interoperability, and iPhone event chatter on the latest 9to5Mac podcast.