Last updated: August 13, 2026, 9:02 AM ET

Apple News Briefing: August 10–12, 2026

iPhone 18 Lineup and Upcoming Models

Apple’s iPhone 18 generation is shaping up to be a significant update, despite the base model being delayed until early 2027. Apple supplier Pegatron indirectly confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 will not launch this year, with a release now expected next year. However, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are on track for a fall 2026 debut, and they will reportedly start with 256GB of base storage, matching the iPhone 17 Pro’s increase. A new leak suggests the iPhone 18 Pro Max will pack a massive 5,391mAh battery — nearly 12% larger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max — backed by an alleged photo of the component. The Pro models may also receive three notable camera upgrades, including a periscope lens and improved sensor-shift stabilization.

The base iPhone, when it arrives, could gain two Pro-level upgrades: 12GB of RAM and the Dynamic Island, according to a report. Another rumor indicates the iPhone 18 Pro will come in a new “Dark Cherry” color, with a leaker weighing in on the correct shade. Apple has also secured lower display prices for the iPhone 18 Pro OLED panels, even amid a RAM shortage that is forcing the company to scale back 2026 hardware shipments.

Beyond the 18 series, the rumored foldable iPhone is internally being called “iPhone Ultra” by everyone at Apple, though it’s unclear if that moniker will stick for consumers. Screen protectors for the “iPhone Ultra” have leaked, revealing asymmetric corners that hint at a unique design. The same device will reportedly feature two selfie cameras sitting in the same corner, plus two features aimed at Pro users. A separate rumor claims Apple’s all-glass 20th anniversary iPhone has been canceled, but several leakers — including Mark Gurman — have pushed back, saying the device is still on track. New iOS 27 beta references six unreleased iPhone models, which likely include the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Ultra, and the delayed base iPhone.

iOS 27 Beta Updates and Features

Apple continues to refine iOS 27 ahead of its public launch. The fifth developer beta introduced a host of changes: redesigned Liquid Glass icons for Siri, Safari, and Settings; new Siri AI voice customization options for pace and expressiveness; and a more transparent Liquid Glass effect. Public beta 3 is now available for iPhone, bringing Siri AI, speed upgrades, and more. The beta also expands Siri AI’s capabilities in China, where Apple revealed it uses Alibaba’s Qwen models — raising privacy questions. Additionally, iOS 27 beta 5 includes references to an upcoming feature that will authenticate iPhone photos, marking Apple’s first step toward photo provenance.

Another new feature in iOS 27 is a birthday fireworks effect that activates during calls with friends. Users with 2TB or more of iCloud+ storage will get new Home app perks. Apple Maps also gains several improvements in iOS, including enhanced transit directions and indoor maps. The OS introduces extra-large Calendar widgets that become the new Home Screen standout, and a “Before Searching” settings panel that lets users customize search behavior.

Apple has also released beta security updates for older OS versions, including iOS 26.6.1 and mac OS Tahoe 26.6.2. The third public betas for tv OS, watch OS, and vision OS 27 are now available, alongside the fifth developer betas for each platform.

Apple Watch and watch OS 27

watch OS 27 is adding two new apps to the Apple Watch: a dedicated Siri app and a Find My app, according to reports. The update will also upgrade the popular Modular watch face with new color customization options, per a leak. Apple seeded the fifth beta of watchOS 27 to developers, and the third public beta is now available. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch sleep score can be made more useful by tweaking specific settings, as one user suggests. For those looking to buy, the Apple Watch SE 3 is available for $219 on Amazon, while the Bow Flex T6 treadmill review highlights how Gym Kit integration brings Apple Watch connectivity home at a normal price.

Apple TV+ and Streaming Content

Apple TV+ is expanding its library with both classic films and new originals. Subscribers can now stream a bunch of classic movies for free, including titles like The Godfather and Casablanca. The platform also released the trailer for Last Seen, a new crime thriller that kicks off the big fall lineup. Apple TV has teamed up with Academy Award-winning director Alfonso Cuarón for a second time, picking up his series Ascension. The second season of Women in Blue (Las Azules) premiered its first episode today. Additionally, Apple TV published the trailer for the fifth season of its Peabody and Emmy Award-winning mindfulness series Stillwater.

Ted Lasso is officially back for a fourth season, but Apple’s Eddy Cue has hinted at a bright future beyond that, strongly suggesting a fifth season is likely. Creator plans support more seasons. *Pluribusseason 2 from Vince Gilligan just hit a major milestone, with filming starting in late 2027. Apple is reportedly in talks to acquire US streaming rights for golf’s The Open Championship, according to a report from The Guardian. The company also announced 3D MLB games coming to Vision Pro, alongside the September Friday Night Baseball schedule.

App Store, Epic Games, and Legal

Apple’s legal battle with Epic Games continues: the company lost a stay bid for fee calculations while awaiting a Supreme Court hearing. With 24 hours to file, Apple is being forced to detail the fees it wants to charge for outbound links. Separately, Apple faces a proposed class action lawsuit over iCloud Private Relay, accusing the company of fraud and false advertising over a security flaw. The company settled a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by the EEOC, agreeing to pay $150,000. In Italy, an Apple billboard featuring a toddler holding an iPhone has sparked controversy, with the children’s rights watchdog referring the ad to regulators.

Stop The Madness developer Jeff Johnson has called out “obvious” App Store ratings fraud that he says Apple is failing to detect, highlighting a systemic issue with fake reviews.

Retail, Back to School, and Deals

Apple is closing its Basingstoke store (Apple Festival Place) in November 2026 after 15 years, while its nearby Reading store in the Oracle Shopping Centre will reopen in December with a completely new design. The closure has been confirmed by multiple outlets. Apple’s 2026 Back to School promotion went live in Europe and the UK, offering gift cards with eligible purchases, and has been extended until September 24. However, reseller discounts often beat Apple’s offers, as noted in a comparison. A separate report notes that Apple’s Back to School offers are limited but have been extended.

In deals, the M5 Pro MacBook Pro is up to $540 off, the M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099, and Air Pods Pro 3 are nearly 25% off. Amazon is offering AirPods Max 2 for $449 in all five colors. The Apple Watch SE 3 is $219, and the M4 Mac mini is back at Amazon with deals on both standard and Pro models. B&H is blowing out M4 15-inch MacBook Air inventory at $1,279. Best Back to School accessory deals on Anker, Sony, and Samsung are available this week. LG is hosting a Back to School sale with major discounts on OLED TVs and monitors, with up to $5,000 off. The 32-inch UltraFine 6K monitor drops to $1,099. The Apple Certified Refurbished Store has top picks of the week with savings on iPhone, MacBook, and more.

Apple Pay, Finance, and Corporate Changes

Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October, marking a significant leadership change. Apple hired former American Airlines executive Nick Gatten as its new vice president of government affairs. Apple Pay is set to launch in India by October, though without UPI support initially. Meanwhile, Apple Wallet could soon save trade-in quotes for 90 days, based on code references found in iOS.

AI, Siri, and Software Features

Apple is in talks to pay publishers for news content to power Siri AI, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company has approached publishers for content deals to give Siri AI access to current news. In China, Siri AI uses Alibaba’s Qwen models, as revealed by Apple. The latest iOS 27 beta expands Siri AI voice customization with pace and expressiveness sliders. Apple is also patenting a way to improve notification summaries and the “Reduce Interruptions” focus mode, using real-time interruption decisions.

Beyond Apple, Anthropic’s Claude is turning its Chrome side panel into a full Cowork session, allowing browser-based tasks to follow users across apps. Raycast added Screen Awareness, letting users bring context from their active app directly into AI Chat. Elon Musk’s Space XAI launched Grok Bot, a “team of always-on agents” for mac OS and iOS that can complete tasks using tools and apps. ChatGPT users can now book restaurant tables and join waitlists through Yelp directly within chats.

Mac, MacBook, and mac OS

Apple released the third public beta of macOS Golden Gate (mac OS 27), and the fifth developer beta is also available. MacBook Air shortages are worsening due to supply constraints, with availability dwindling across Apple and third-party retailers. Foxconn’s revenue from Apple fell below 29%, down from half, as AI business surpasses iPhone assembly. Apple’s memory crunch is not likely to be solved by Chinese suppliers, as new sanctions complicate RAM purchases. The company is stockpiling OLED panels amid rising prices, extending how long it holds display panels in reserve.

A patent suggests Apple is working on a system to authenticate iPhone photos, with references in iOS 27 beta 5 pointing to a feature that will verify the camera source. The M4 Mac mini is back in stock at Amazon, with the M4 Pro model also on sale.

Services, Gaming, and Entertainment

Apple Arcade is adding two new puzzle games: “Block Blast!+” and “Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+”. “Dave the Diver” will splash onto iPhone, iPad, and Mac on September 17, with preorders now open. Non-gaming apps drove mobile spending growth in Q2 2026, while gaming revenue fell 4.5% year over year. The official MLB iPhone app got better with new Car Play and Live Activity features. Meta released a brand-new Facebook Creator Studio app for iPhone. Twitch will train Amazon’s AI on your streams unless you opt out, as streamers can now block the use of their content for AI training.

Accessories, Hardware, and Other Launches

Satechi launched the Charge View 240W Desktop Charger with six USB-C ports, a successor to the 140W model. Sonos is preparing an Air Pods Max rival (Ace Ultra headphones) with AI voice assistant support, according to Bloomberg. The TESSAN AERO 5000 Mag Safe battery pack features a titanium finish and ultra-thin design. The Mcon mobile gaming controller review praises its compact, pocketable design with a premium feel. AirTag 2 can get even better with an add-on case that extends battery life to 10 years. The BowFlex T6 treadmill brings Apple Gym Kit home for $999.

Privacy, Security, and iOS 26 Updates

Apple is facing a class action lawsuit over iCloud Private Relay fraud allegations. The company preps beta security updates for iOS, iOS, and mac OS. Apple released iOS 26.6.1 beta for iPhone and mac OS Tahoe 26.6.2 beta with security fixes. The company also shipped beta security updates for older OS versions. Parents are urged to revisit screen time limits as kids head back to school. Bluesky now lets users hide reposts from specific individuals in their feeds. WhatsApp is rolling out username support when creating new contacts, and its latest iOS beta adds references to an in-chat search tool.

Miscellaneous News

Apple’s Steve Wozniak turns, and a retrospective piece highlights how he gave Apple its engineering soul. The iPhone can capture the Perseids meteor shower with the right tools, according to astrophotography tips. The latest 9to5Mac Daily podcasts cover Apple exec changes, iOS 27 beta, glass iPhone rumors, and more. The Apple @ Work podcast discusses Chrome OS vs mac OS after deploying 300 devices. The Smart Home Insider podcast covers a flight tracking poster and Schlage Sense Pro review.

Analyst Reports and Market Trends

US smartphone sales fell 5% in Q2 2026 as prices keep climbing, according to Counterpoint Research. Google’s $100 Pixel price hike and trade-in push may hint at Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro pricing plans. Foxconn’s revenue shift shows AI now surpasses iPhone in its business. Apple cutting back 2026 hardware shipments due to DRAM shortage is confirmed by Ming-Chi Kuo. iPad Air OLED panel orders could be split with BOE in 2027. China is even less likely to solve Apple’s memory crunch due to geopolitical issues. Generative AI needs ethical leaders, argues an op-ed, comparing it to nuclear power.