Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

iPhone & iPad

Apple’s iPhone roadmap continues to generate intense speculation. The next flagship lineup is expected to include the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with a leaked battery photo allegedly revealing a 5,391mAh pack for the Pro Max — nearly 12% larger than its predecessor. A separate photo leak backs up that massive capacity figure. The iPhone 18 Pro is also rumored to start at 256GB of storage and bring three notable camera upgrades. The base iPhone, however, will not launch until 2027; a supplier indirectly confirmed its delay. When it does arrive, it could gain Pro-level features like 12GB RAM and a new Dynamic Island. Apple has also secured lower OLED display prices for the Pro models. The color shade for the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s rumored “Dark Cherry” finish has been the subject of debate, with a Weibo leaker weighing in to clarify the exact hue. Beyond this year, the iPhone 20 Pro is expected to be bezel-free with larger displays while keeping familiar aspect ratios.

The foldable “iPhone Ultra” is generating its own buzz. According to a leaker, screen protectors for the device reveal asymmetric corners, and internally everyone at Apple is calling it the iPhone Ultra. Two selfie cameras on the Ultra could sit in the same corner of the device. The device is also tipped to include two features that “Pro” users should love. Meanwhile, rumors about Apple’s all-glass 20th anniversary iPhone have been conflicting: one analyst said it’s canceled, but a leaker insists it’s still on track despite those claims. A separate report attempts to make sense of the conflicting signals.

In other hardware news, Apple is testing Chinese memory chips from CXMT in iPhones and Mac Books, though China is unlikely to solve Apple’s memory crunch. A prominent analyst doubts a billion-dollar chip stockpile rumor at TSMC. Apple is also cutting back 2026 hardware shipments due to a DRAM shortage, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. LG Display is developing a five-layer OLED iMac panel to fight burn-in, and new M6 MacBook Pro and refreshed iMacs are likely coming in October. iPad Air OLED panel orders could be split with BOE in 2027.

Software Updates

Apple continues to refine its operating systems ahead of fall releases. The fifth developer beta of iOS 27 brings redesigned app icons for Siri, Safari, and Settings, plus a more transparent Liquid Glass effect. New “Before Searching” settings and updated icons are among the changes in iOS 27 beta 5. The beta also expands Siri AI voice customization with pace and expressiveness options. A new feature will let Apple authenticate iPhone photos to verify their source, and references in the code point to that authentication system. iOS 27 also celebrates birthdays with fireworks during calls. iCloud+ subscribers with at least 2TB of storage will get new perks in the Home app. The latest beta references six unreleased iPhone models, and Apple Maps gains several new features. An extra-large Calendar widget is a standout Home Screen upgrade. Public beta 3 for iOS 27 is now available, offering Siri AI and speed upgrades. New Air Pods beta firmware for public testers was also released.

For watch OS, the fifth developer beta is out, and the Modular watch face is set to gain new color options. Sleep score customization is more useful with specific settings. The third public beta for watchOS 27 is available, along with tv OS. The fifth beta of tvOS 27 and the fifth visionOS 27 beta are now seeded to developers. iPad OS 27 beta 5 and its public beta 3 are rolling out, with details on [what’s new](https://headlinesbriefing.com/mobi/9to5mac/public-beta-3-for-ipados-27-whats-new-18f91428?ActuallyURL#43: and #82 as iPadOS 27 beta 5. Also #81 fifth developer betas: link as fifth developer betas for iOS and mac OS. #42 third mac OS Golden Gate public beta: link as third public beta of macOS Golden Gate. #85 watch OS 27 beta 5: already used? I used #85? No, I used #41 for watch face, #45 for public beta, #85 for developer beta. I'll link #85 as watchOS 27 beta 5.

Apple has also released security-focused betas: iOS 26.6.1 and iPad OS 26.6.1 betas with security fixes, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 beta are available. A second wave of betas includes iOS 26.6.1 and mac OS 26.6.2. Apple is also prepping beta security updates for iOS, iOS, and macOS 26. The fifth developer betas for iOS, macOS, and more have landed.

Apple Services & Entertainment

Apple TV+ is lining up a strong fall slate. The second season of Women in Blue has premiered, and a new crime thriller titled Last Seen will kick off the big fall lineup. Apple TV has also teamed up with Alfonso Cuarón for a second time with the series Ascension. Vince Gilligan’s hit series Pluribus season 2 has hit a major milestone, with filming likely starting in [late 2027](https://headlinesbriefing.com/mobi/9to5mac/pluribus-season-2-filming-start-late-2027-premiere-likely-d22e49f6?Actually#11URLis Apple is also in talks to acquire US streaming rights for golf’s Open Championship. On the sports front, Apple and MLB announced 3D games coming to Vision Pro.

Apple Pay is undergoing changes. Longtime executive Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October. Apple Pay is set to launch in India by October. The Wallet app may soon let users save trade-in quotes for 90 days.

Apple Arcade is adding two new puzzle games: Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna. “Dave the Diver” is coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac in September.

Siri AI in China will use Alibaba’s Qwen models, raising privacy questions. Apple briefly posted a guide for connecting Siri to Qwen AI before pulling it.

Bluesky now lets users hide reposts from specific users in their feeds. WhatsApp’s latest iOS beta adds an in-chat search tool. Chat GPT users can book restaurant tables through Yelp. Microsoft Edge is testing Apple Account sign-in support. Meta released a new Facebook Creator Studio app for iPhone. Elon Musk’s Grok Bot brings always-on AI agents to macOS and iOS. Raycast adds a new feature called Screen Awareness for AI context. Apple is patenting a way to improve notification summaries and the “Reduce Interruptions” focus. A round Apple Watch is possible, but an Apple Ring is more likely according to reports.

Deals & Accessories

Several major discounts are available. Amazon is offering the M5 Pro MacBook Pro up to $540 off, the M5 MacBook Air from $1,099, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 at a reduced price. The Apple Watch SE 3 is just $219 on Amazon. Air Pods Max 2 are $100 off in all five colors. The M4 Mac mini is back at Amazon, with the M4 Pro model also on sale. B&H is blowing out the M4 15-inch MacBook Air at $1,279. The Apple Certified Refurbished Store has top picks of the week with hundreds in savings. LG’s Back to School sale offers up to $5,000 off OLED TVs and monitors, and a separate sale from LG brings major discounts on [OLED TVs and monitors](https://headlinesbriefing.com/mobi/macrumors/lg-launches-back-to-school-sale-with-big-tv-monitor-discounts-2ac47064?Actually#54URL: Best Back to School Accessory Deals cover Anker, Sony, Samsung, and more.

In accessories, the Bowflex T6 treadmill with Apple Gym Kit is available at a normal treadmill price of $999. Satechi launched the 240W ChargeView Desktop Charger with six USB-C ports. The TESSAN AERO 5000 brings a titanium finish to an ultra-thin MagSafe battery. A new add-on case extends the Air Tag 2’s battery life to 10 years. Sonos is preparing a rival to the Air Pods Max with voice assistant support. Apple extended its 2026 Back to School Promotion until September 24.

Business & Legal

Apple’s legal battle with Epic Games continues. Apple lost a stay bid to delay filing new App Store fees, and is now forced to detail the fees within 24 hours as the Epic battle continues. Apple faces a class action lawsuit over an alleged security flaw in iCloud Private Relay, accusing it of fraud and false advertising. The company also settled a religious discrimination lawsuit with the EEOC for $150,000.

Apple has hired a former American Airlines executive as its new vice president of government affairs. Foxconn’s revenue from Apple has dropped below 29%, as AI business surpasses iPhone assembly. Apple is stockpiling more components like OLED panels amid rising prices. The company dropped a plan to ship pre-set leased iPhones under the Apple Upgrade program. Non-gaming apps drove mobile spending growth in Q2 2026, while games fell 4.5%. Parents are urged to revisit screen time limits for kids heading back to school. A feature request suggests ending the guessing game with app settings. The Smart Home Insider podcast covers a flight tracker and Schlage Sense Pro review. Generative AI needs ethical leaders, and should be controlled like nuclear power. Your iPhone can capture the Perseids meteor shower with the right tools. The Sunday Reboot column covers AI device worries and Ted Lasso cheapness. And the latest 9to5Mac Daily podcasts recap the top stories: August 11 and August 10. The Apple @ Work Podcast discusses Chrome OS vs mac OS after 300 devices. MacBook Air shortages are worsening, with tips on where to buy.