Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: August 15, 2026, 2:32 PM ET

Apple's Smart Home and Product Strategy

Apple is reportedly preparing a significant overhaul of its smart home offerings, with a focus on expanding its product lineup beyond the current Home Pod mini and Apple TV. Details are scarce, but the company's roadmap suggests a more comprehensive approach to the connected home ecosystem. This comes as Apple is also rumored to be working on new configurations for the MacBook Air and unique iPhone 16 Plus models for its Certified Refurbished Store. In terms of software, iOS 27 is set to bring substantial updates, including two highly anticipated features for the Photos app: improved slideshow capabilities and enhanced shared album functionality. Additionally, Apple Wallet in iOS 27 will introduce a new 'Discover' section in its beta 5 release, aiming to provide users with a more integrated experience. The company's smart glasses, potentially dubbed Apple Glasses, are also a subject of patent filings, with one indicating a feature that would alert the wearer when recording, though only for them. The HomePod mini itself is expected to see a second generation, nearly six years after its initial release, with rumors suggesting a new model could arrive soon.

iPhone and Wearable Updates

The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be unveiled soon, with rumors suggesting that the Pro Max model might offer distinct advantages over its counterpart. For consumers considering a purchase, the choice between the iPhone 17 and waiting for the iPhone 18 is a pertinent question, especially as Apple is reportedly skipping an entry-level iPhone model this fall. The base iPhone 18 model is tipped to receive significant upgrades, including 12GB of RAM and the Dynamic Island, features previously reserved for Pro models. Further into the future, the "iPhone Ultra" is a possibility, with speculation that it could feature a foldable design and might initially launch exclusively in the U.S. market, similar to the Vision Pro. On the wearable front, new Apple Watch models are slated for a September launch, alongside the new iPhones. watchOS 27 is also on the horizon, promising two new apps for the Apple Watch: Siri and Find My. For those interested in the current generation, Apple has declared the iPhone X obsolete, impacting its service and support availability.

Software and Services Enhancements

iOS 27 is poised to bring a wealth of new features, with reports detailing up to 30 enhancements for iPhones. Beyond the Photos app upgrades, iOS 27 will also benefit Apple One subscribers with new features for bundled services like iCloud+ and Apple Music. Continuity features are also being expanded in OS, allowing for seamless handoffs of Siri conversations and live Mac content across Apple devices. For Apple TV users, tvOS 27 is expected to arrive next month, potentially encouraging upgrades to the new Apple TV 4K. Apple's own streaming service, Apple TV+, continues to expand its content library, recently adding a collection of classic movies and seeing the premiere of "Ted Lasso" season 4 set a new record for the platform's biggest launch ever. There are also hints from Apple executives that more seasons of "Ted Lasso" could be in the works.

App Store and Developer Relations

The long-standing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple regarding the App Store continues, with closing arguments pending in the six-year saga. Apple has proposed a new commission structure, suggesting it could charge developers up to 15 percent for linking to purchase options outside of the App Store. This move comes as Apple is reportedly struggling to effectively police App Store ratings, with developers claiming that "obvious" fraud is going undetected. In other app-related news, WhatsApp is reportedly working on customizable emoji reaction sets for iOS, allowing users to personalize their messaging experience. The app is also testing chat themes with animated wallpapers and has begun rolling out username support for creating new contacts.

Mac and Computing News

Apple is reportedly preparing a significant upgrade for the successor to its MacBook Neo, with rumors suggesting that the MacBook Neo 2 will receive a much-needed boost in RAM. Meanwhile, the current M5 Pro MacBook Pro with 48GB of RAM is seeing a $300 price cut. For Mac users looking to enhance their productivity, various AI tools are available that can simplify workflows. In a surprising move, OpenAI is giving Chat GPT a new "Computer History" feature for Mac, which will allow it to learn from and remember user activity outside of the app itself, replacing the previous Chronicle feature. Classic console games are also becoming more accessible on the Mac through a growing scene of fan-made decompilations and recompilations, bypassing the need for emulation.

Deals and Business Moves

Consumers can find significant discounts on Apple products this weekend, with Mac Books up to $540 off and Air Pods up to $100 off. Further deals include Air Pods Pro 3 at 25% off and AirPods Max 2 at $100 off. Amazon is also offering substantial savings on Beats products, with discounts up to 54%, and Nomad iPhone cases are available for as low as $19. Apple has expanded its Certified Refurbished Store with new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro configurations, as well as unique iPhone 16 Plus models. In other business news, Apple has reportedly trained its own large language model for the Chinese market with assistance from Alibaba. The company has also begun selling ads on Apple Maps in the U.S. and Canada, offering incentives to advertisers.

Security and Privacy Concerns

Apple has issued a worldwide warning to users in 110 countries regarding potential spyware attacks, urging vigilance against sophisticated threats. In a separate privacy-related development, a deal is being offered for Incogni, a service that helps remove personal data from the internet. Meanwhile, a new malware has been identified that can steal sensitive data from Safari and Chrome browsers on Macs by masquerading as a fake GitHub download.

Industry and Competitor News

Google has introduced its latest Pixel lineup, including the Pixel 11 and Pixel Watch, with the Pixel 11 Pro being compared directly to Apple's iPhone 17 Pro. Google's recent price hike for its Pixel phones may indicate a similar strategy for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. In the competitive landscape, Samsung's new foldable smartphones, such as the Galaxy Z Fold8, are being noted for their design similarities to potential Apple foldable devices. The U.S. smartphone market experienced a 5% decline in sales in the second quarter of 2026, attributed to rising prices. Separately, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has advised Apple against purchasing memory chips from Chinese suppliers, a stance reiterated by the U.S. Commerce Secretary.

Other Tech News

Space XAI has completed its acquisition of Cursor and released updates for Grok Bot and Grok 4.6. On the smart home front, an iPad app called Dashboard can transform a Home Kit setup into a wall-mountable command center. For lawn care, the TerraMow V1000 is being highlighted as an easy-to-use, iPhone-controlled robot lawn mower. Matic has introduced voice and gesture control for its robot vacuum and mop with the Matic Cues update. In a move that could impact AI development, Twitch is now allowing streamers to opt out of having their content used to train generative AI models. Finally, Apple CEO Tim Cook is reflecting on his legacy as he enters his final weeks at the company.