Apple News 8 Hours

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 8:53 PM ET

Foldable iPhone & Camera Upgrades

A new rumor suggests that internally, Apple employees are calling the upcoming foldable the iPhone Ultra. Whether that branding sticks for consumers remains unclear, but the device is widely expected to launch next year. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro, just weeks away from announcement, is rumored to bring three new camera upgrades including a periscope lens with improved zoom and enhanced low-light performance.

Air Pods, Accessories & Competitors

Amazon is currently offering the AirPods Max 2 at $449.00, a $100 discount available in all five colors. In the over-ear headphone space, Sonos is preparing a rival to the Air Pods Max with AI voice assistant support for its upcoming Ace Ultra headphones. For desktop charging, Satechi has launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger, a six-port USB-C hub that splits power across devices and supports 140W single-port output.

Software Features & Customization

iOS 27 beta 5 introduces a more transparent Liquid Glass effect, allowing users to adjust opacity further than before. The same beta also adds a cheerful touch: birthday fireworks that appear on the iPhone during calls when it’s a contact’s special day. Over on Apple Watch, watch OS 27 will upgrade the popular Modular watch face with a variety of new color customization options, per a leak.

Public Betas Roll Out Across Platforms

Apple has released the third public beta of macOS Golden Gate for non-developers. Simultaneously, iPadOS 27 public beta 3 and iOS 27 public beta 3 are now available, with the latter bringing Siri AI and general speed upgrades. tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 have also entered their third public beta. For Air Pods users, Apple seeded new AirPods beta firmware (build 9A5336b) for the Air Pods Pro 2 and Air Pods Pro, available to public testers.

Legal & Business Developments

Apple’s legal battle with Epic Games continues to heat up. The company has lost a stay bid that would have delayed filing new App Store fee calculations while it awaits a Supreme Court hearing; Apple now has just 24 hours to file the fees it wants to charge for outbound links. In sports rights news, Apple is in talks to acquire US streaming rights for golf’s Open Championship, according to a report. Additionally, Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey is retiring in October, marking a major leadership change in Apple’s payments division.

Retail & Spending Trends

Apple has extended its 2026 Back to School promotion until September 24, but third-party resellers are offering far greater discounts than Apple’s own deals, as noted by AppleInsider. On the mobile spending front, a Sensor Tower report reveals that non-gaming apps drove global mobile spending growth in Q2 2026, while gaming revenue fell 4.5% year over year across iOS and Android.

Industry & Culture

Elon Musk’s Space XAI launched Grok Bot, a team of always-on AI agents for mac OS and iOS that can complete tasks using tools, websites, and apps. For a daily recap, the 9to5Mac Daily podcast covers iOS 27 beta 5 and glass iPhone rumors. Finally, on Steve Wozniak’s 76th birthday, a reflection on how Woz gave Apple its soul before Steve Jobs made it a commercial hit offers a nostalgic look at the company’s engineering roots.