Apple News 8 Hours

Last updated: August 10, 2026, 2:57 PM ET

Operating System Betas

Apple today released the fifth developer betas of iOS, iPad OS, tv OS, watch OS, vision OS, and mac OS, marking the milestone release’s second wave of testing. iOS 27 beta 5 is now available for developers and continues Apple’s summer beta cycle ahead of a public launch next month, with a focus on a major Siri AI upgrade. iPadOS 27 beta 5 rolled out after an unusually long three-week wait, and macOS Golden Gate beta 5 arrived two weeks after the fourth beta. For Apple Watch, watchOS 27 beta 5 similarly landed, while tvOS 27 beta 5 and visionOS 27 beta 5 completed the suite. Separately, Apple surprised developers with a new iOS 26.6.1 beta for iPhone, alongside mac OS 26.6.2 updates. The macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 beta includes security fixes and is available to developers and public testers. Additionally, iOS and iPadOS 26.6.1 betas shipped two weeks after the launch of iOS 26.6, focusing on security patches.

iPhone 18 and Beyond

A photograph allegedly reveals the iPhone 18 Pro Max will pack a massive 5,391mAh battery — nearly 12% larger than its predecessor — according to an apparent leak of a Chinese model battery pack. That aligns with a separate report that the upcoming phone’s battery capacity has been allegedly revealed via a leaked photo. Meanwhile, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee says Apple’s rumored all-glass 20th anniversary iPhone has been canceled, a claim echoed by a report that the all-glass design for the next-gen flagship is off the table. On the color front, the Dark Cherry iPhone 18 Pro rumor persists, with a known Weibo leaker now weighing in on the correct shade — a deep burgundy as per a separate leak detailing the iPhone 18 Pro’s flagship new color. The Foldable iPhone Ultra faces stiff competition from a surging Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, as Samsung builds extra units. A Trend Force analysis estimates the iPhone 18 Pro will cost Apple 38% more in parts than its predecessor, driven by a memory crisis that makes the iPhone 18 Pro 40% more expensive to manufacture. A Bloomberg report suggests eight new products will debut at Apple’s September event, including the iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple Vision Pro & Media

Apple and MLB have announced that this season’s Friday Night Baseball will stream key games live in Immersive Video to the Apple Vision Pro in the US and select countries. The company will stream four September games using 3D MLB games in Apple Immersive video for the headset, marking another push into live content. A separate report details that Apple is making another foray into live Immersive Video MLB games for Vision Pro.

Apple Watch & Wearables

Amazon is offering the Apple Watch SE 3 for just $219, taking $30 off the standard price. Meanwhile, a Bloomberg report speculates that a round Apple Watch is possible, but an Apple Ring design is considered more likely to shake up the wearable lineup.

Apple Services & AI

iOS 27 brings a wide array of updates to Apple Maps, including everything from improved navigation to enhanced search, detailed in a new roundup of what’s new in Apple Maps. On the AI front, Apple briefly published a support guide in China explaining how Mac users can connect Alibaba’s Qwen AI to Siri, raising privacy questions; the guide was quickly removed. The company revealed how Siri AI features will work for users in China, using Qwen models. The guide for connecting Siri to Qwen appeared and then disappeared, but detailed instructions for local users were documented. A separate feature request on 9to5Mac suggests a UI change to end the guessing game with iPhone app settings, pointing to a persistent annoyance. A wider discussion on generative AI argues that the technology needs ethical leaders and should be controlled like nuclear power, citing irresponsible behavior from AI companies.

Hardware & Components

Apple has been testing Chinese memory chips from CXMT in iPhones and Mac Books, according to The Wall Street Journal, a move that could reshape component supply chains. The company is testing Chinese memory chips in more than just the iPhone, as competitors are already shipping CXMT RAM. A separate report confirms Apple is testing CXMT memory across product lines. LG Display is developing a five-layer OLED panel with an extra layer to combat burn-in, which could end up in an iMac with OLED screens now predicted for 2029. The OLED iMac panel includes that extra layer to increase brightness and prevent screen burn-in.

Deals and Stock

A batch of deals includes the M5 MacBook Pro at $300 off, Air Pods Pro, and an Anker 3-in-1 Qi2 25W Mag Safe charger. The M5 MacBook Pro $300 off deal is among highlights, as is the Matte Black Beats Solo Buds for $41. B&H is blowing out the M4 15-inch MacBook Air at $1,279, with a closeout deal limited to stock on hand. On the analyst front, Jefferies cut its AAPL target to $263.66 and downgraded Apple to Underperform, citing the canceled all-glass iPhone design.

Other Apple Ecosystem News

Meta released a brand-new Facebook Creator Studio app for iPhone, joining multiple new app launches this summer. On the Smart Home Insider podcast, topics included a flight tracking poster, the Schlage Sense Pro review, and more, covered in a smart home roundup. A leak also backs up a massive battery rumor for the iPhone 18 Pro Max with a photo leak confirmation.