Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 2:55 AM ET

iPhone 18 and Ultra Lineup: Price, Cameras, Storage, and Delays

Apple's upcoming iPhone generation is shaping up to be its most complex yet. The standard iPhone 18 won’t launch until early 2027, but when it arrives it could pack 12GB of RAM and a new Dynamic Island, per a report. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro is just weeks away and rumors indicate three noteworthy camera upgrades, including a new telephoto system. Apple has secured lower prices for OLED displays for the Pro models, even as a broader RAM shortage pressures costs. The iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly start with 256GB of storage, though the price may rise. A photo leak backs up a massive 5,391mAh battery for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, a nearly 12% increase over its predecessor. The Dark Cherry color for the Pro Max has a leaker weighing in on the correct shade amid online debate.

The foldable iPhone Ultra is being called "iPhone Ultra" internally at Apple, though the final name may differ. It will feature two selfie cameras that could sit in the same corner of the device, and screen protectors reveal asymmetric corners. The iPhone Ultra will have two features that “Pro” users should love, according to leaks. Meanwhile, conflicting reports surround the 20th anniversary iPhone — one analyst claims it’s canceled, but a leaker insists the all-glass device is still on track for 2027. Further out, the iPhone 20 Pro will be bigger but retain familiar aspect ratios and go bezel-free. Google’s $100 Pixel price hike and trade-in push hint at what Apple might do with the iPhone 18 Pro. A full spec comparison between the iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 11 Pro is also available.

Software Betas: iOS, watch OS, mac OS Golden Gate, and More

Apple continues its beta cycle with the fifth developer betas of iOS 27, iPad OS, watch OS, tv OS, vision OS, and mac OS, released after an unusually long three-week wait. The third public betas are now available for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and watchOS 27. visionOS 27 also gets its fifth beta. tvOS 27 beta 5 is seeded to developers.

iOS 27 beta 5 introduces a host of changes: redesigned icons for Siri, Safari, Settings, and more; a Liquid Glass feature that can be made more transparent; expanded Siri AI voice customization with pace and expressiveness options; and new Before Searching settings. The beta references six unreleased iPhone models, confirming Apple’s roadmap. Apple Maps gets new features in iOS. Also new: a birthday reminder that sets off fireworks during calls on a friend’s special day.

watch OS 27 will add two new apps — Siri and Find My — to the Apple Watch. The popular Modular watch face gains new color options. iOS 27 also introduces an extra-large Calendar widget that is a home screen game-changer. AirPods beta firmware for public testers is out with build 9A5336b. Additionally, Apple is prepping beta security updates for iOS, iOS, and mac OS, and has released iOS 26.6.1 beta and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 beta with security fixes.

Apple Business: Component Shortages, Foxconn Shift, and Trade-In Plans

Apple is cutting back 2026 hardware shipments due to a DRAM shortage, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. The company is stockpiling more components like OLED panels amid rising prices. China is unlikely to solve Apple’s memory crunch as Apple tests Chinese memory chips from CXMT. Kuo also pours water on the rumor of a $1B Apple chip stockpile at TSMC.

Foxconn, once reliant on Apple for half its revenue, now sees that figure below 29% as AI business surpasses iPhone assembly. Apple Wallet could save trade-in quotes for 90 days, according to code discovered by Mac Rumors. The company also dropped a plan to ship leased iPhones already set up for users. iPad Air OLED panel orders could be split with BOE in 2027, and an OLED iMac panel may include an extra layer to fight burn-in. M6 MacBook Pro and refreshed iMacs are likely coming in October.

Services: Apple TV+ Content, Siri AI Deals, Apple Pay, and Games

Apple TV+ published the trailer for Stillwater’s fifth season, the Peabody-winning mindfulness series. Ted Lasso has returned for season, and Eddy Cue hints at a bright future beyond. Vince Gilligan reveals Pluribus season 2 just hit a major milestone, likely premiering in late 2027. Women in Blue’s second season premieres on Apple TV. Apple TV unveiled a new crime thriller Last Seen that kicks off the big fall lineup, and teams up with Alfonso Cuarón again for Ascension. Apple is in talks to acquire streaming rights for golf’s Open Championship.

Apple has approached publishers to pay for news content to power Siri AI. In China, Apple revealed that Siri AI uses Alibaba’s Qwen models, briefly posting a guide before pulling it. Siri AI voice customization expanded in iOS 27 beta.

Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October. Apple Pay will launch in India by October. The MLB iPhone app got CarPlay and Live Activity upgrades. Dave the Diver splashes onto iPhone, iPad, and Mac on September 17. Apple Arcade adds Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+. Apple announces 3D MLB games coming to Vision Pro. iCloud+ subscribers with 2TB get new iOS 27 Home app perks.

Legal and Regulatory: App Store, Epic, Discrimination, Billboard Controversy

Apple is being forced to produce its App Store commission plan within 24 hours in the Epic fight, after failing to delay the fee calculations. The final countdown is on. Apple settled a religious discrimination lawsuit for $150,000. An Apple billboard showing a toddler with iPhone caused controversy in Italy, referred to regulators. Apple faces a fraud class action lawsuit over iCloud Private Relay.

Hardware: MacBook Air Shortages, Mac mini Deals, and New Accessories

MacBook Air shortages are worsening, with dwindling availability at retail. The M4 Mac mini is back at Amazon with a $999 model and deals on the M4 Pro. B&H is blowing out the M4 15-inch MacBook Air at $1,279. The Apple Watch SE 3 is $219 on Amazon. Amazon also offers AirPods Max 2 for $100 off in all colors. Satechi launched a 240W ChargeView desktop charger with six USB-C ports. LG is hosting a Back to School sale with major discounts on OLED TVs and monitors. Save up to 50% on LG OLEDs and the 32" Ultra Fine 6K monitor at $1,099.

The Bow Flex T6 treadmill brings Apple GymKit home at a normal price of $999. Apple’s official refurb store has top picks with savings. The TESSAN AERO 5000 offers an ultra-thin titanium battery for Mag Safe. The AirTag 2 gets an add-on to extend battery life to 10 years.

Apple Watch and iPhone Features: Sleep, Photography, Authentication

The Apple Watch sleep score became more useful with custom settings. A round Apple Watch is possible, but an Apple Ring is more likely. iPhone users can capture the Perseids meteor shower with the right tools. Apple is working on a way to authenticate iPhone photos via a reference image. A patent describes improving notification summaries and the Reduce Interruptions focus. Parents are urged to revisit screen time limits as kids go back to school.

Competing Platforms and Third-Party Apps

WhatsApp starts rolling out username support when creating new contacts and adds references to an in-chat search tool on iOS. Bluesky now lets you hide reposts from specific users. Chat GPT users can book restaurant tables through Yelp. Claude turns its Chrome side panel into a Cowork session. Raycast adds Screen Awareness AI to ask about what’s on your screen. Meta released a new Facebook Creator Studio app for iPhone. Microsoft Edge is testing Apple account sign-in. Sonos is preparing an AirPods Max rival with AI voice support. Twitch will train Amazon’s AI on streams unless you opt out. Grok Bot brings always-on AI agents to mac OS and iOS.

Apple People and Podcasts

Apple hired former American Airlines exec Nick Gatten as VP of government affairs. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast recaps Apple exec changes and back-to-school deals. Earlier episodes cover iOS 27 beta 5 and glass iPhone rumors and Apple Watch rumors. The Apple @ Work podcast discusses ChromeOS vs macOS deployment after 300 devices. Smart Home Insider covers flight tracking and Schlage Sense Pro. A feature request aims to end the guessing game with app settings. The need for ethical leadership in generative AI is compared to nuclear power.

Deals and Promotions

Apple extends its 2026 Back to School promotion until September 24. Best Back to School accessory deals on Anker, Sony, Samsung and more are available. Amazon has M5 Pro MacBook Pro up to $540 off, M5 MacBook Air from $1,099, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 deals. US smartphone sales fell 5% in Q2 2026 as prices keep climbing. Non-gaming apps drove mobile spending growth in Q2 as games fell 4.5%. Google’s Pixel 11 lineup includes Pixel Tag and Pixel Watch.