Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 12:04 PM ET

iPhone 18 and Beyond

Apple's future iPhone lineup is generating significant buzz, starting with a surprise delay. Pegatron indirectly confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 model won't launch until early 2027, skipping this year entirely. When it does arrive, the base iPhone 18 could inherit Pro-level upgrades like 12GB of RAM and a new Dynamic Island design. The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models, however, are on track for a fall debut. A photo leak backs up a massive 5,391mAh battery for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, nearly 12% larger than its predecessor. Storage is also rumored to start at 256GB for the Pro models, and a “Dark Cherry” color shade has been weighed in on by a known leaker. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to bring three new camera upgrades, and the 18 Pro Max’s battery capacity has been allegedly revealed in an apparent leak.

Beyond the iPhone, Apple’s foldable device is being called “iPhone Ultra” internally by “everyone” at the company, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. A new rumor suggests the foldable is consistently referred to as “iPhone Ultra” inside Apple. Screen protectors for this device have revealed asymmetric corners, hinting at a unique design. The iPhone Ultra is expected to include two features that Pro users should love.

Looking further ahead, the 20th anniversary iPhone — rumored to feature an all-glass design — has been the subject of conflicting reports. One analyst claimed the all-glass iPhone has been canceled, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and other leakers have pushed back, saying the all-glass 2027 iPhone is still on track. A supply chain leaker has spotted the iPhone 20 Pro’s all-glass design, and a separate report suggests the iPhone 20 Pro will be bigger with familiar aspect ratios and bezel-free. A detailed analysis helps make sense of the conflicting 20th anniversary iPhone reports. Meanwhile, the latest iOS 27 beta references six unreleased iPhone models, suggesting Apple is still working on multiple future devices.

In other iPhone news, the iPhone 17 is set to break a 15-year flagship record for longest time without a successor. Apple also briefly considered a “white-glove” plan for leased iPhones that would have delivered pre-set devices, but the idea was dropped.

iOS 27 and Software Updates

Apple’s latest OS 27 beta cycle is in full swing. The fifth developer beta of iOS 27 landed alongside betas for iPad OS, tv OS, watch OS, vision OS, and mac OS. A comprehensive look at everything new in iOS 27 beta 5 includes redesigned app icons for Siri, Safari, and Settings, which are highlighted in a separate roundup. The beta also expands Siri AI voice customization with pace and expressivity options. Users can now make Liquid Glass more transparent than ever, and the “Before Searching” settings and updated app icons are detailed in another article on new features in beta 5.

Public betas are also rolling out. Apple released the third public beta of iOS 27 with Siri AI and speed upgrades, along with public beta 3 for iPadOS 27 and other OS updates. The third macOS Golden Gate public beta is now available, as are tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 third public betas. Apple also seeded the fifth beta of watchOS 27 to developers, along with tvOS 27 beta 5 and visionOS 27 beta 5. A new iOS 27 AirPods beta firmware is available for public testers.

In iOS, birthday reminders now feature fireworks during calls, and iCloud+ subscribers with 2TB of storage get new Home app perks. Apple Maps in iOS 27 has been detailed with everything new. Apple is also testing beta security updates for older OS versions, including iOS, iOS, and macOS 26. The iOS 26.6.1 beta and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 beta with security fixes are also rolling out. Apple released iOS 26.6.1 and iPadOS 26.6.1 betas as well. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast covered iOS 27 beta 5 and glass iPhone rumors.

Photo authentication is a new focus. References in iOS 27 beta 5 point to a feature that authenticates iPhone photos to prove they came from the device’s camera. Apple is working on a way to authenticate that a photo came from an iPhone camera, which could help identify fakes. This is just the start of Apple’s photo authentication efforts.

Apple TV+ and Entertainment

Apple TV+ is ramping up its fall lineup. The streaming service released a trailer and launch date for Australian thriller “Last Seen,” starring Patrick Brammall, premiering in September. The series kicks off a big fall lineup for the streamer. Apple TV has also picked up Alfonso Cuarón’s series “Ascension,” marking his second collaboration with the platform. The second season of “Women in Blue” has premiered on Apple TV.

In gaming, popular fishing sim “Dave the Diver” is coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac in mid-September, with preorders open. Apple Arcade is adding two new puzzle games: “Block Blast!+” and “Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+.” For sports fans, Apple and MLB announced 3D MLB games coming to Vision Pro as part of Friday Night Baseball. Apple is also in talks to acquire streaming rights for golf’s Open Championship, according to a report.

Apple Hardware, Supply Chain, and Business

Apple’s supply chain is facing headwinds. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple is cutting back 2026 hardware shipments due to DRAM shortages. Apple is also stockpiling OLED panels amid rising component prices. China is unlikely to solve Apple’s memory crunch, as Chinese companies are unlikely to supply RAM. However, Apple has been testing memory chips from China’s CXMT in iPhones and Mac Books. A prominent analyst, Kuo, pours water on the rumor of a $1B Apple chip stockpile at TSMC. Foxconn, once making half its revenue from Apple, now sees that figure below 29% as AI business grows.

New hardware is on the horizon. Apple is likely to unveil new M6 MacBook Pro and refreshed iMacs in October, according to Bloomberg. An OLED iMac panel could include an extra layer to fight screen burn-in. Apple Watch plans include a possible return of the ceramic case with Apple Watch Series 12, while a round Apple Watch is possible but an Apple Ring is more likely. A leaker suggests the all-glass 2027 iPhone is still on track despite cancellation rumors.

Apple Pay is expanding. Apple Pay will launch in India by October. Meanwhile, Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October. In China, Apple briefly posted a guide for connecting Siri to Qwen AI before pulling it. Apple revealed how Siri AI features work in China using Alibaba’s Qwen models, raising privacy questions.

The company settled a religious discrimination lawsuit with the EEOC for $150,000. Apple is facing a proposed class action lawsuit accusing it of fraud over iCloud Private Relay. In the ongoing Epic Games battle, Apple failed to delay filing new App Store fees and has 24 hours to file details. Apple is being forced to detail fees for outbound links as the Epic battle continues.

Deals and Accessories

A slew of deals are available. Amazon has the M4 Mac mini back at $999 with M4 Pro models on sale. The AirPods Max 2 are $100 off in all five colors, and AirPods Pro 3 are 25% off along with other deals. The Apple Watch SE 3 is available for $219 on Amazon. B&H is blowing out M4 15-inch MacBook Air inventory at $1,279. Apple’s official refurb store has top picks with savings. A roundup of the best Apple and Anker deals includes M5 MacBook Pro $300 off and more.

Satechi launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger with six USB-C ports. The TESSAN AERO 5000 is an ultra-thin titanium battery for Mag Safe. The Mcon mobile gaming controller offers a compact design with premium feel for iPhone gamers. An AirTag 2 add-on accessory extends battery life to 10 years. LG is hosting a Back to School sale with big discounts on OLED TVs and monitors, and savings of up to $5,000 on LG OLED TVs and a 6K monitor. Apple’s Back to School promotion has been extended until September 24, but resellers offer better discounts.

Miscellaneous Apple News

A Zoom vulnerability discovered with AI allowed attackers to take over devices remotely. Bluesky now lets users hide reposts from specific users. Meta released a new Facebook Creator Studio app for iPhone. WhatsApp’s latest beta on iOS adds an in-chat search tool. Chat GPT users can now book restaurant tables through Yelp. Microsoft Edge is testing Apple Account sign-in support and also tests the same feature. Samsung is catching up on hearing health with FDA-cleared Galaxy Buds hearing aid feature. Sonos is preparing AirPods Max rival headphones with voice assistant support. BOE aims to supply OLED panels for iPad Air and could split orders. Parents are urged to revisit screen time limits for back-to-school. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast for August 10 covered Apple Watch rumors. The Sunday Reboot discusses AI device worries and Ted Lasso. A feature request aims to end the guessing game with iPhone app settings. Steve Wozniak gave Apple its engineering soul before Steve Jobs made it a hit. The iPhone can capture the Perseids meteor shower with the right tools. A Home Kit Weekly post highlights why the Eve Weather sensor is a must-have. The Smart Home Insider podcast covers flight tracking and Schlage Sense Pro. Generative AI needs ethical leaders controlled like nuclear power. The BBEdit text editor remains a 34-year-old Mac legend. The Apple @ Work podcast compares ChromeOS vs macOS deployment. Non-gaming apps drove mobile spending growth in Q2 2026 as games fell 4.5%. Price hikes may force Apple to stop dragging feet on upgrades. Grok Bot from Space XAI brings always-on AI agents to macOS and iOS. watch OS 27 will upgrade the Modular watch face with new color options.