Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 9:00 AM ET

iPhone & Hardware

Apple's upcoming iPhone lineup is generating significant buzz. A leaked photograph appears to confirm a massive 5,391mAh battery for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, representing a nearly 12% increase over its predecessor. Meanwhile, a separate photo leak backs up claims of the increased capacity. The debate continues over the exact shade of the "Dark Cherry" color for the iPhone 18 Pro, with a known Weibo leaker weighing in on the correct shade. On the design front, a Jefferies analyst claimed Apple's all-glass 20th anniversary iPhone has been canceled, but another report insists Apple is still planning a "glass-centric" redesign for 2027. The foldable "iPhone Ultra" is rumored to launch in silver and dark blue finishes, based on new images of camera protector accessories. Separately, the iPhone Fold may ship in those same two colorways. Apple is already planning a third-generation foldable iPhone, with launch expected as early as 2028. The iPhone 17 is set to break a 15-year record as the longest-lasting flagship without a price cut. With price hikes on recent models due to the memory crisis, some wonder if Apple will stop dragging its feet on upgrades. The M6 MacBook Pro and refreshed iMacs are likely coming in October, and Apple is reportedly skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips to accelerate the M7 launch. OLED iMac panels may include an extra layer to fight screen burn-in. Finally, for those considering an iPhone 17 Pro now, there are reasons to buy instead of waiting.

Apple Watch & Wearables

Apple is re-evaluating the Apple Watch lineup, with radical new designs including a round model, a screenless fitness tracker, and more, according to Bloomberg. A round Apple Watch is possible, but an Apple Ring is more likely. The ceramic case could return with the Apple Watch Series 12. The latest watch OS 27 beta 5 was seeded to developers.

Software & Betas

Apple released the fifth developer betas for all major platforms: iOS, iPad OS, mac OS, tv OS, watch OS, and vision OS 27. The fifth beta of iOS 27 brings new Liquid Glass icons for Siri, Safari, Settings, and more. New "Before Searching" settings and updated app icons are also included. The fifth beta expands Siri AI voice customization with pace and expressivity options. Apple also released beta security updates for iOS, iOS, and mac OS 26. Separate betas for iOS 26.6.1 and mac OS 26.6.2 are also rolling. iOS 26.6.1 and iPad OS 26.6.1 betas were released with security fixes, and mac OS Tahoe 26.6.2 beta is also available. Apple is working on a way to authenticate that a photo came from an iPhone camera, as references in iOS 27 beta 5 show. The iOS 27 Wallet app gets 7 new features, including bold card designs and AI tools. Apple Maps in iOS 27 sees a wide array of new features. Some users find iOS 27 the easiest beta to forget about due to its stability thus far.

Supply Chain & Memory

Apple is scaling back 2026 hardware shipments due to a DRAM shortage, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The memory crunch has made China even less likely to solve Apple's memory shortage, as the company tested Chinese chips from CXMT but faces challenges. Apple has been testing memory chips from China's Chang Xin Memory Technologies across iPhones and MacBooks. RAM shortages are now affecting MacBook Air availability. Kuo also poured water on the rumor of a $1B Apple chip stockpile at TSMC.

Services & Content

Apple TV has picked up Alfonso Cuarón’s "Ascension" series, marking his second collaboration with the platform. The service also welcomed back Ted Lasso with a clever new commercial. Apple and MLB announced 3D MLB games coming to Vision Pro, with the September schedule. Apple TV+ continues to be a focus, while a separate Sunday Reboot column discusses AI device worries and Ted Lasso cheapness.

Legal & Policy

Apple faces a class action lawsuit over an alleged iCloud Private Relay flaw that researchers revealed last week. The company also settled a religious discrimination lawsuit with the EEOC for $150,000. Apple scrapped a plan to ship leased iPhones already set up for users, which would have made setup more seamless. That scrapped Apple Upgrade feature is detailed further in 9to5Mac.

Deals & Offers

B&H is blowing out M4 15-inch MacBook Air inventory at $1,279. Amazon is offering the Apple Watch SE 3 for just $219. The A16 iPad is at its best price since June's hike, starting at $399. The Apple official refurb store has top picks of the week with savings. Rounding out deals: M5 MacBook Pro $300 off, Air Pods Pro, and more are covered in a roundup.

Accessories & Apps

The Mcon mobile gaming controller offers a compact design with a premium feel. A hands-on video shows the modular Ohsnap MCON controller that slides open to transform an iPhone into a mobile game console. The TESSAN AERO 5000 brings a titanium finish to an ultra-thin Mag Safe battery. Air Tag 2 gets even better with an add-on accessory that extends battery life to 10 years. The Eve Weather sensor is a must-have for Apple Home automations. On the software side, Bluesky now lets you hide reposts from specific users. WhatsApp’s latest beta for iOS adds references to an in-chat search tool. Chat GPT users can now book tables and join restaurant waitlists through Yelp. Meta released a brand-new Facebook Creator Studio app for iPhone. Indie App Spotlight features "Pocket Jam" which helps learn and practice favorite songs. The Mac text editor BBEdit remains a legend after 34 years. A feature request suggests ending the guessing game with iPhone app settings using a shortcut. Apple briefly posted a China guide for connecting Siri to Qwen AI, then pulled it. Apple revealed how Siri AI features work in China using Alibaba's Qwen models, raising privacy questions. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps Apple Watch rumors and more. A crime blotter reports thieves trying to use stolen credit cards at a Miami Apple Store and other incidents. Smart Home Insider covers flight tracking poster, Schlage Sense Pro review, and more. An opinion piece argues generative AI needs ethical leaders and to be controlled like nuclear power. Apple @ Work covers Chrome OS vs. mac OS after 300 devices and Mac shipments growth. The Perseids meteor shower can be captured with an iPhone using the right tools, including tips for astrophotography. iPad Air OLED panel orders could be split with BOE in 2027.