Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: August 9, 2026, 5:47 PM ET

iPhone 18 Pro & Foldable Plans

Apple’s September iPhone event is now expected to be a split launch for the iPhone 18 lineup, and the iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to see a price increase of $250 to $300, putting the starting price near $1,299 or higher. A full rumor roundup points to a 2nm A20 chip, an Apple-designed C2 modem, and under-display Face ID. Meanwhile, a separate report says iPhone 17 prices could rise as soon as Monday, ahead of the September event. On the foldable front, the iPhone Fold is expected in silver or dark blue, and a third-generation foldable "iPhone Ultra 3" is reportedly planned for 2028. Apple is also rumored to launch three new ‘Ultra’ products by early next year. The iPhone Air 2 is under scrutiny after a difficult first year, and a 9to5Mac poll asks readers whether they plan to buy an iPhone 18 Pro or the foldable iPhone Ultra. For those on the fence, one analyst argues you should buy an iPhone 17 Pro now instead of waiting for the 18 Pro.

Apple Watch & Wearables

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that a ceramic case could return with the Apple Watch Series 12 as soon as this year. More radically, Apple is reconsidering the entire Watch lineup, with potential designs including a round model and a screenless fitness tracker. On the software side, watchOS 27 may upgrade the hypertension notification feature by offering more granular health alerts. Separately, Apple updated its Made for iPhone hearing device list, adding 43 new models across 22 brands. Rumors also suggest new AirPods with cameras could launch next month alongside the iPhone 18 Pro.

Mac & iPad

Apple’s Mac lineup is feeling the pinch of global RAM shortages — MacBook Air availability is now affected after earlier shortages of higher-end models. In a strategic shift, Apple is skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max chips to accelerate the M7 launch. MacBook Pro users will soon have two compelling upgrade options: an M6 model and a new MacBook Ultra this fall. Meanwhile, IDC data on Mac shipments shows growth even as the broader PC market declines. Apple refreshed its Certified Refurbished Store with rare M5 MacBook Pro configs and Apple TV 4K models. The Mac Pro turned 20 years old this week, five months after Apple discontinued the tower, and a companion piece calls it the best Mac ever made. On the iPad side, Amazon is offering the A16 iPad at $399—its best price since June’s hike, while a new report shows iPad shipments fell 8% in Q2 amid a global tablet market decline. A top stories roundup recaps these developments.

Software & Services

iOS 27 continues to take shape. The beta adds a long-awaited fix for a common Wi-Fi to cellular lag issue, a compact clock option that gives wallpaper more breathing room, and a feature to import physical passes into Apple Wallet. Meanwhile, Apple is testing iOS 26.6.1 internally. The first jailbreak for iOS 26 arrived via Dopamine after 326 days. On the App Store and services front, WhatsApp now makes parent-managed accounts easier to set up on iPhone. Chat GPT is working on a feature to let you export custom stickers to WhatsApp. Claude Code added cross-session messaging on macOS and will enable auto mode by default next week. Apple’s Account Card in Wallet expanded to four new countries. The Apple Health app gets a tips guide, and a new Security Bite podcast explains why scammers love Face Time. Apple seems to have abandoned Cinematic mode—a move one writer calls a mistake. CarPlay connection issues may be caused by radio interference, and three major automakers still don’t support CarPlay — here’s why. Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is now available on Apple Arcade.

Industry & Legal

OpenAI is delaying its next major AI model, Astra, over critical hacking concerns. A separate report shares pricing and design details about OpenAI’s first device — a doughnut-shaped speaker. Apple’s own Sunday Reboot column touches on the nightmare scenario of an OpenAI hardware leak and the cheapness of Ted Lasso prizes. Apple’s memory supplier SK hynix is making a $38 billion bet on AI memory, but that won’t cut iPhone prices. According to Counterpoint, Apple captured 65% of the global premium smartphone market in the first half of 2026. A crime blotter reports thieves using stolen credit cards at a Miami Apple Store and other incidents. In legal news, Apple flagged discovery delays in its trade secret lawsuit against Jon Prosser. A scrapped Apple Upgrade feature would have preloaded user data on new iPhones, but it was nixed over privacy optics. The AppleInsider Podcast discusses the costs of AI, iPhone 18 rumors, and the OpenAI lawsuit. T-Mobile has killed its 2G GSM network, meaning the original iPhone has lost its last cellular network.

Media & Entertainment

Apple TV+ launched a clever new commercial to welcome back Ted Lasso for season four. Actor James Marsden has been confirmed for his third Apple TV+ project, “Bad News Dads.” An indie app spotlight highlights Pocket Jam, which helps you learn and practice favorite songs. The long-running Mac text editor BBEdit is still going strong at 34 years old. A podcast episode of 9to5Mac Overtime discusses native retro games on iPhone, including a native port of Mario Kart.