Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: August 8, 2026, 8:50 PM ET

September iPhone Event & iPhone 18 Pro

Apple is gearing up for its annual September iPhone event, expected to occur around September 9 according to the best iPhone 18 Pro launch estimates. This year’s lineup will be different: the cheaper base iPhone 18 is being saved for spring, leaving a flagship-only fall consisting of the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Ultra. A recent poll asks which model you plan to buy between the Pro and the Ultra. The iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to feature a 2nm A20 Pro chip, an Apple C2 modem, and under-display Face ID, all detailed in a full rumor roundup. However, RAM shortages are reportedly slowing assembly of the new iPhones, with SK hynix making a massive $38B investment in AI memory chips that won’t immediately lower iPhone prices. Apple’s attempt to use Chinese chipmaker CXMT as leverage against Samsung and SK hynix has backfired, giving the Korean suppliers more pricing power. Prices could rise: a rumor claims iPhone 17 prices may increase as soon as Monday, August 10, and analysts predict the iPhone 18 Pro could cost $250–$300 more than its predecessor. To sweeten the deal, Apple has raised trade-in values for iPhones, Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches, though independent vendors may still offer more. Apple is also preparing for launch by expanding its reach with new programs. Meanwhile, the iPhone Air reaches one year on sale next month, and a new episode of the Mac Rumors Show discusses what changes after a difficult first year.

iOS 27 & watch OS 27

iOS 27 has been in beta for about two months, and the public release is still 4–6 weeks away. It’s been called “the easiest beta to forget about,” but it includes meaningful improvements. Apple says iOS 27 takes extra care to make iPhone software “more responsive, reliable, and delightful,” including a long-awaited fix for Wi‑Fi to cellular lag. The update brings Gym Kit to iPhone and Air Pods, essentially turning them into an Apple Watch at the gym. A new compact clock option gives wallpapers room to breathe, as explained in a how-to guide. Apple Wallet gains a feature that’s been on wishlists for years: physical pass import. Car Play in iOS 27 adds a mini player and scrubbing for Apple’s popular apps. Air Pods Pro 3 get exclusive new features in iOS, detailed in a new features roundup. iOS 27 also hints at an all-new Apple Home security camera product launching soon. watch OS 27 could upgrade the Apple Watch’s hypertension alerts to make the health feature even better. Meanwhile, Apple is testing an iOS 26.6.1 update, according to MacRumors visitor logs. The first jailbreak for iOS 26 arrived after 326 days, thanks to the Dopamine developers.

Mac Updates & Refurb Store

Apple has given MacBook Pro users two compelling new upgrade options rumored for fall: an M6 model and a new MacBook Ultra. Reports suggest Apple is skipping high-end M6 Pro and M6 Max chips to accelerate the M7 launch. Apple also released mac OS Tahoe 26.6.1 with security fixes, as detailed in the update release notes. The latest mac OS updates address a serious Screen Sharing vulnerability. Apple expanded its Certified Refurbished Store this week, adding rare M5 MacBook Pro configs, the Studio Display XDR, and more products. The original Mac Pro turned 20 years old today, five months after Apple discontinued the tower; a retrospective argues the “cheese grater” design remains the best Mac ever made.

Apple Services & Content

Apple TV welcomed back Ted Lasso season four with a clever new ‘Welcome Back’ commercial. The fall lineup reveals every new show and movie coming soon, including the series Widow’s Bay, which is making a one-night-only jump to theaters. Actor James Marsden was confirmed for his third Apple TV project, titled Bad News Dads. However, the high-profile adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s “The Bonfire of the Vanities” has been dropped by Apple TV due to creative differences. The Apple Account Card in Wallet has expanded to four new countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia, with details on what it is and isn’t. Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is now available on Apple Arcade, a “full Madden NFL game that does not include” in-app purchases. X Money launched last month, and a new FAQ covers account suspensions, 6% APY, physical cards, and more.

AI & OpenAI

OpenAI delayed its next major AI model, Astra, over critical hacking concerns, saying it is “pausing” activities because the model’s cyber capabilities are too dangerous. Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to iterate: the latest GPT‑5.6 promises to be more succinct with a new ‘Think’ button for more reliable facts. GPT‑5 turns one tomorrow, and the company introduced an Agent Plugins open standard for reusable AI agents. OpenAI is also working on exporting custom ChatGPT stickers directly to WhatsApp. A new report shares pricing and design details about OpenAI’s first device, described as a doughnut‑shaped speaker that connects to the cloud. Anthropic updated Claude Code to allow cross‑session messaging on mac OS, removing the need to manually copy context between Terminal windows. Claude Code will enable auto mode as default starting August 14, a change Anthropic says will apply to Pro, Max, and Team users. Adobe is betting on AI creativity: it released a Chat GPT plugin that lets users generate images with Adobe Firefly, signaling the company wants to be the creative engine behind AI.

Security & Privacy

A new report warns that scammers are increasingly targeting users via Face Time, as discussed on the latest Security Bite podcast. Apple’s bug bounty changes finally make sense after the company clarified its payout structure. macOS malware that steals crypto wallet funds by pasting a single Terminal command has been uncovered, reminding users to be cautious. The biggest backdoor yet found in Chinese routers, sold under multiple brand names, phones home and could compromise entire networks. In legal news, Apple told a federal court it hasn’t heard from Jon Prosser’s lawyer in a month, flagging discovery delays in its trade secret lawsuit against the leaker; Prosser’s counsel attributed the silence to caring for a newborn.

Car Play & Automotive

CarPlay connection issues might be caused by radio interference, not your iPhone or cable. Three major automakers—Tesla, Rivian, and GM—still don’t support Car Play, and a new analysis explains why they resist and whether that might change. Lutron Caseta expanded hands‑free smart home controls through Sonos Voice Control, allowing users to manage lights and shades from their speakers.

Air Pods & Accessories

New AirPods with cameras could launch next month alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, a feature that sounds very exciting for spatial audio and gestures. Air Pods Pro 3 continue to get better with iOS 27‑exclusive features, and deals on AirPods Pro 3 have dropped to nearly 25% off, alongside Air Pods Max 2 at $100 off.

Other Hardware & Deals

Apple captured 65% of the global premium smartphone market in the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. The A16 iPad is at its best price since June’s price hike, with Amazon taking $50 off Wi‑Fi models starting at $399. Amazon also cut up to $190 off M5 MacBook Air laptops with the best deals since price increases, and Apple’s M5 MacBook Air is up to $200 off in limited‑time deals that end this weekend. Apple sweetened its trade‑in deals, but you can still do better by comparing carrier offers. Last call to save up to $350 in Amazon gift cards with Samsung Galaxy pre‑orders. An indie app spotlight showcases Pocket Jam, which helps users learn and practice their favorite songs. Apple added 43 new Made for iPhone hearing devices across 22 brands to its compatibility list. WhatsApp made parent‑managed accounts easier to set up on iPhone with a dedicated parental controls section. A podcast episode discusses whether you should buy an iPhone 17 Pro now or wait for the iPhone 18 Pro, given that Apple is set to unveil the latter next month. IDC data shows Mac shipments growing even as the PC market declines, with implications for the MacBook Neo and Air in the enterprise. The 9to5Mac Overtime podcast explores native retro games on iPhone, including a Pokémon 3D Mod and a Mario Kart 64 port. Apple seems to have abandoned Cinematic mode, which some argue is a mistake. iOS 27 also adds a new compact clock, and the Apple Health app is more powerful than you think—here are top tips to maximize it. The original iPhone lost its last cellular network as T‑Mobile killed 2G. Apple’s latest earnings call, universal clipboard interoperability, and iPhone event chatter were covered in a weekly podcast. iPad shipments fell 8% in Q2 2026 amid a global tablet market decline. BBEdit, the 34‑year‑old Mac text editor, remains “still simple, still powerful” and a legend.