Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 3, 2026, 10:43 PM ET

Apple Leadership & Corporate News

Apple's leadership transition is now official, with John Ternus stepping into the CEO role, marking a significant shift just days before the company's biggest product launch of the year. The change comes as Apple faces mounting legal pressure, including a £2 billion lawsuit in London over claims that its App Tracking Transparency rules unfairly disadvantage third-party developers while benefiting Apple's own advertising services. The class action, filed by a former UK antitrust director, alleges Apple's privacy feature was designed to create an uneven playing field that harms competitors. Adding to the legal woes, chemical giant BASF has filed a patent lawsuit against Apple over Face ID technology, nearly a decade after the feature debuted in the iPhone X. The company is also reportedly paying 400% more for iPhone 18 Pro memory components due to industry-wide shortages, a cost that will likely be passed on to consumers. The App Tracking Transparency lawsuit includes a twist, as Apple has long used privacy as a key selling point for its hardware and services.

September 9 Event Preview

Apple's highly anticipated September 9 event is expected to deliver six major product launches, headlined by the foldable iPhone Ultra. New TrendForce analysis suggests the device could top $3,000 when fully maxed out, with pricing driven upward by component shortages affecting the entire industry. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will feature two display upgrades, including LTPO technology and a smaller Dynamic Island. Supply chain leaks point to the A20 Pro chip delivering a seven-core GPU with faster RAM and a wider memory interface. Another leaker's circuit diagram analysis corroborates the GPU and bandwidth improvements, suggesting significant gains in gaming performance and memory bandwidth. Trend Force estimates iPhone 18 Pro prices could rise 10-20% over the previous generation. Beyond the Pro models, the iPhone Ultra is expected to offer three key advantages over the 18 Pro, including a larger foldable display and enhanced camera system. A separate report indicates the maxed-out iPhone Ultra will likely break the $3,000 threshold, positioning it as Apple's most expensive iPhone ever. The foldable iPhone Ultra rumors have been picking up as the event date approaches, with details emerging about the device's design and features. The A20 Pro chip leak also suggests faster RAM and a larger L2 cache for improved performance.

Mac & iPad Roadmap

A new Omdia research note has revealed significant changes to Apple's Mac and iPad roadmap, including the apparent cancellation of a foldable MacBook project that was reportedly a priority for new CEO John Ternus. The same report indicates Apple has scrapped plans for two new MacBooks, including a larger OLED MacBook Pro model. However, the company is reportedly planning an all-new 13.8-inch OLED MacBook for 2029 that would sit between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, potentially creating a new product tier. Existing mini-LED MacBook Pro models are now expected to remain available until 2028, delaying the OLED transition. The rumored "MacBook Ultra" could feature an M5 Ultra chip option in early 2027, though analysts express skepticism about the likelihood of this configuration. Apple's broader 2026-2029 roadmap includes new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPad models with OLED displays, though the timeline appears to have slipped. For those considering a purchase now, the M6 vs. M5 Pro Mac mini comparison offers guidance on which configuration makes sense, particularly for creative professionals. The canceled foldable Mac-iPad hybrid was reportedly a priority for Ternus, making its cancellation a notable shift in strategy. The OLED MacBook Pro with M5 Ultra seems unlikely according to analysts, despite the rumor. The 2029 OLED MacBook would bridge the gap between the Air and Pro models.

MacBook Neo & Competitors

The MacBook Neo has proven to be a resounding success since its release earlier this year, with Apple now reportedly working on a second-generation model. Demand has exceeded expectations so significantly that Apple has faced supply chain challenges. Lenovo is now taking direct aim at the MacBook Neo with its new IdeaPad Vibe, a colorful laptop starting at just $699 that offers a compelling alternative for budget-conscious consumers. The competitive landscape is heating up as Apple prepares to refresh its MacBook lineup with new OLED displays and potentially new form factors.

iPhone Air & Accessories

A year after its launch, the iPhone Air has proven its critics wrong, with reviewers noting that the device is more than the sum of its flaws. Despite initial hand-wringing over its compromises, the iPhone Air has found its audience and demonstrated that Apple's design decisions were sound. In the accessory space, Brydge has announced color-matched keyboards for the entry-level iPad, expanding options for users who want a more integrated typing experience. The company's comeback continues after its acquisition and return to the market.

Software & watch OS

watch OS 27 has removed the app switcher feature that many users relied on for multitasking, a change that has drawn criticism from long-time Apple Watch owners. Meanwhile, Siri AI on Apple Watch has finally arrived in watch OS 27 beta, though it's two cycles late compared to Apple's original timeline. The iOS 27 Calendar app has received a brand new design for key features including event creation and details, bringing a fresh look to one of Apple's most-used apps.

Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro continues to find new applications in healthcare and other fields. The headset was just used in a first-of-its-kind FDA-authorized surgery, marking a significant milestone for spatial computing in medical settings. Pfizer has also launched an immersive Vision Pro experience designed to help cancer patients understand their treatment options and the science behind oncology research. These developments suggest the Vision Pro is finding traction beyond entertainment and productivity use cases.

Deals & Pricing

Labor Day sales have brought significant discounts on Apple hardware. The Apple Studio Display has dropped to $1,499 at B&H and Amazon, representing one of the lowest prices of the season. Amazon is offering the Studio Display with Nano-Texture Glass at $1,684.88, a $214 discount. The AirPods Pro 3 are back at $199 after a $50 discount, while the broader Labor Day tech deals include iPad Air savings of $100 and various charging accessories.

AI & OpenAI

OpenAI is releasing a major upgrade to Chat GPT and Codex with GPT-6 Astra, arriving just over a year after the first GPT-5 models. The upgrade promises significant capability improvements across both platforms. However, widespread AI outages hit Claude, Chat GPT, and Grok simultaneously, affecting users on both iPhone and web platforms for about half an hour before services began recovering. The outage affected multiple platforms simultaneously, highlighting the industry's reliance on centralized AI infrastructure.

Nvidia & AI Hardware

Nvidia's new PAIR tool allows M4 Macs to share local AI workloads with Windows PCs over a home network, effectively turning connected devices into a shared supercomputer for AI tasks. The free tool represents a significant step toward distributed local AI processing and could change how users approach AI workloads that require more compute power than a single device can provide.

Smart Home

The smart home space is seeing significant new product launches ahead of the holiday season. Anker has entered the Matter smart home market with its MindBase hub, which runs AI locally and doubles as a NAS with up to 48TB of storage. The hub works with nearly 100 Anker devices and Matter-enabled products from other manufacturers. Aqara has introduced five new Matter smart lights with Apple Home support, supporting both Thread and Zigbee protocols. Govee's new $400 Sky Ceiling Light features AI mood response capabilities and Matter support. Philips Hue has made TV syncing more accessible with new products starting at $120, down significantly from the $385 Sync Box 8K, and now includes Nanoleaf integration.

Entertainment & Apple TV

Apple TV has picked up the sci-fi thriller "Waffle House Index" in a seven-figure deal, betting on a disaster film that takes the restaurant chain's reputation for staying open during emergencies to its logical extreme. The acquisition signals Apple's continued investment in original content, though the company is also reportedly considering a price increase for Apple TV+ subscription service.

Mac Software & Utilities

Mac users can now run Wallpaper Engine animated backgrounds natively through a workaround using Vivid Walls, though there are some caveats regarding performance and feature compatibility. The solution brings popular Windows desktop customization options to mac OS without requiring a virtual machine or boot camp.

Podcast & Daily Briefings

The 9to5Mac Daily podcast covered the top stories of the day, including more Apple executive news and updates to Apple Maps. The daily briefing format continues to be a popular way for Apple enthusiasts to stay informed about the latest developments across the ecosystem.