The smarter, more capable version of Siri is finally here, available in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. The updates are limited to developers right now, but there's a lot to look forward to this fall.


Personal Context is a ‌Siri‌ capability that distinguishes ‌Siri‌ AI from other chatbots like Claude and OpenAI. ‌Siri‌ has access to the data on your iPhone, from emails and messages to photos and files. ‌Siri‌ can find anything you're looking for. Apple rebuilt its search index for ‌Siri‌ AI, and it's more comprehensive for a better search experience.

‌Siri‌ can see what's on your screen with onscreen awareness, and answer questions about what you're looking at. If there's an image on Instagram and you want to know where it was taken, you can just ask ‌Siri‌ where it was taken and get a response. Visual Intelligence is now part of the Camera app, and ‌Siri‌ can answer questions about anything you take a picture of.

Like other chatbots, ‌Siri‌ can search the web and access general world knowledge, so it can provide responses to any questions you might have. It can evaluate documents, solve math problems, craft recipes, walk you through DIY tasks, help you plan a party, and more.

‌Siri‌ can take action in and across apps, getting detailed maps directions with multiple stops, editing and sharing photos, or writing an email from scratch in your own writing style. It can do multiple tasks that are included in the same request.

‌Siri‌ is located in the iPhone's Dynamic Island, and there's a glassy new ‌Siri‌ bubble with bright colors that pops up when ‌Siri‌ is activated. You can use Hey ‌Siri‌ or hold down the side button, but ‌Siri‌ also comes up with a swipe down from the top center of the display. Responses show up in that same area, and if you swipe on a response, you can get more information and ask follow-up questions.

Apple also created a full ‌Siri‌ app where you can revisit past conversations and start a new conversation. The ‌Siri‌ app syncs across devices, so you can start a conversation on your iPhone and wrap it up on your Mac. ‌Siri‌ AI is available in ‌iOS 27‌, ‌iPadOS 27‌, ‌macOS Golden Gate‌, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, plus it works on AirPods and CarPlay.

‌Siri‌ AI has the same device requirements as Apple Intelligence, so you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or later to use it. ‌Siri‌ AI is available in beta right now, and Apple is still refining. ‌iOS 27‌ is limited to developers, with a public beta set to come out in July. ‌iOS 27‌ with ‌Siri‌ AI will launch in September.
This article, "Hands-On With iOS 27's Siri AI" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple updated its App Store Review Guidelines this week, adding stricter language around low-quality apps.


The 4.3 Spam rule already barred overly simple apps in saturated categories, but Apple now includes language saying low-effort apps could be pulled from the App Store. Apps in oversaturated categories that are not updated, improved, or do not attract customers may be removed, according to Apple.

App Guideline 4.3(b) New Language:

Don't submit apps that are indistinguishable from what's already widely available. Opportunistically creating variants of existing app categories or popular apps degrades App Store discovery, reduces overall app quality, and harms both users and developers. Certain kinds of apps, such as dating, flashlight, sound effects, wallpaper, simple timers, and fortune telling, are well established on the App Store and we will not accept new submissions unless they offer a meaningfully different or improved experience. We may remove these apps from the App Store going forward if they are not updated, improved, or do not attract customers. Other kinds of apps, such as drinking games, Kama Sutra, fart, and burp apps, are mediocre, low-quality, or low-effort and do not add value to the App Store. Repeated submissions of this kind may lead to removal from the Apple Developer Program.

App Guideline 4.3(b) Old Language:

Also avoid piling on to a category that is already saturated; the App Store has enough fart, burp, flashlight, fortune telling, dating, drinking games, and Kama Sutra apps, etc. already. We will reject these apps unless they provide a unique, high-quality experience. Spamming the store may lead to your removal from the Apple Developer Program.

Apple says it won't approve dating, flashlight, sound effect, wallpaper, simple timer, and fortune telling apps unless they are meaningfully different from existing apps. Apple says fart, burp, Kama Sutra, and drinking game apps are "mediocre, low-quality, or low-effort" and add no value to the ‌App Store‌. Repeated app submissions of this type could lead to removal from the Developer Program.

Wording on spam apps is clearer than before, and it sounds like Apple will approve fewer apps in saturated categories and may even clean up some clutter apps that get no interest.

Apple also added new detail to its 1.2 rule on apps with user-generated content, which is a guideline that has seen Apple threaten to remove apps like Grok from the ‌App Store‌. Apple now makes it clear that app developers are responsible for removing content that violates ‌App Store‌ guidelines, such as pornographic content.

It is your responsibility to remove content that violates this guideline, your terms of service, or your community standards. If we find such content, we will ask you to remove it, and provide a plan to improve your compliance with this guideline. Based on your response, your app may be removed from the App Store until you can demonstrate improvements that bring your app into compliance. Egregious or repeated behavior is grounds for immediate removal of your app from the App Store, and from the Apple Developer Program.

Apps that do not have a compliance plan for addressing content violations could be removed from the ‌App Store‌.

Apple's final guideline change (4.5.3) bars app developers from using Live Activities to spam, phish, or send unsolicited messages to customers.

The full ‌App Store‌ Review Guidelines are available on Apple's website.
This article, "Apple Updates App Store Guidelines With Stricter Rules for Low-Quality Apps" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Anthropic today announced the launch of Claude Fable 5, a Mythos-class model that it says is safe for general use.


According to Anthropic, Fable 5's capabilities exceed those of any model it has made generally available, and Fable has demonstrated "exceptional performance" for software engineering, knowledge work, vision, scientific research, and more. It outperforms Opus models on longer, more complex tasks. Fable 5 can work autonomously for longer than any prior Claude model.

Fable 5 is being released with conservative safeguards to prevent it from being misused in areas like cybersecurity. Questions about some topics will instead be answered by Opus 4.8, with safeguards expected to trigger in less than five percent of sessions on average. Most queries related to cybersecurity, chemistry, and biology will get responses from Opus 4.8 instead of Fable 5.

Anthropic is also releasing Claude Mythos 5 for a small group of cyberdefenders and infrastructure providers. It uses the same underlying model as Fable 5, but with some of the safeguards lifted. Mythos 5 is being deployed through Project Glasswing as an upgrade to the Claude Mythos Preview. Anthropic says Mythos 5 has the strongest cybersecurity capabilities of any model in the world, with access set to expand through a broader trusted access program.

Fable 5 and Mythos 5 are available at $10 per million input tokens and $50 per million output tokens, which is less than half the price of the Claude Mythos Preview. Mythos 5 is available to those who have access to the Mythos Preview, and that includes Apple. Apple is one of Anthropic's Project Glasswing partners.

Claude Fable 5 is included in Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise plans from today until June 22. On June 23, the model will be removed from those plans and using it will require usage credits. When Fable 5 capacity is sufficient, Anthropic plans to re-add it to subscription plans.
This article, "Anthropic Launches Claude Fable 5, Its First Public Mythos-Class Model" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Messaging app Telegram now has a native Apple Watch app. The app supports viewing and responding to Telegram messages from the wrist.


Features like stickers, voice messages, and location information can be shared from the Apple Watch app.

Telegram had an Apple Watch app back in 2015, but it was discontinued and removed from the App Store a few years back. There have been third-party Telegram apps for the Apple Watch, but now Telegram users can once again use a first-party solution.
This article, "Telegram Gets Native Apple Watch App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

When Liquid Glass launched in macOS Tahoe, Apple faced criticism over how the design looked on the Mac. Some people felt that Liquid Glass in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ was an afterthought with little impact from the design update, while others had issues with contrast, readability, rounded corners, and design consistency. There were long complaint threads on the MacRumors forums and on Reddit, and some people refused to update.


Apple is making several changes to Liquid Glass and the overall macOS Golden Gate design, and while subtle, some of the changes could make Liquid Glass on Mac easier to digest.

Transparency and Diffusion

Apple added a full Liquid Glass slider under System Settings > Appearance. It changes the translucency of Liquid Glass elements, and users can choose a clear version of Liquid Glass that allows some of the background to show through, select a more opaque, tinted version that improves the legibility of text, or choose something in between.


Unfortunately, there is no ultra-clear version of Liquid Glass available with the slider. Even the setting that's as clear as possible does not match the original version of Liquid Glass that Apple showed off at WWDC 2025.

Apple changed the overall Liquid Glass opacity, and it now diffuses complex content more effectively. Apple says a darkened edge and brighter specular highlights establish more depth and separation for the UI.

Toolbars and Window Shapes

Apps have uniform toolbars to make text headings and groups of controls more legible. Windows also all have the same corner radius for more consistency between apps.


Corners of apps are not as dramatically rounded in ‌macOS Golden Gate‌, and the difference is noticeable.


It's easier to tell when a window is active because of the sidebar design, the opacity update, and changes to window shadows.

Sidebars

Sidebars are no longer floating and are instead edge-to-edge. It's a design that's less distracting and more uniform because there's no unnecessary sidebar shadowing that just takes up space.


Sidebar icons have color again, which is something Apple removed in ‌macOS Tahoe‌.

Icons

Apple didn't budge on requiring squircle Mac icons, but it did change icon design. Icons have more layers of Liquid Glass to improve detail and sharpness in light, dark, tinted, and clear icon modes.


Apple is also using icons for some menu bar items to make it easier to find commonly used actions.

HDR

Apple is using HDR for depth and dimension in the ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ interface.

Launch Date

‌macOS Golden Gate‌ also includes all of the new Siri AI features coming in iOS 27, along with performance improvements that make the Mac feel faster.

The update is limited to developers right now, but Apple plans to release a public beta in July. ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ will launch this fall.

This article, "All the Liquid Glass Changes in macOS Golden Gate" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today released new beta firmware for the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 9A5292e.


In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, Apple is adding a new AirPods interface and support for custom EQ. AirPods are also compatible with the new Siri AI.

With iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates beta testing.

Developers can use the beta option to turn on beta downloads.
This article, "Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware With iOS 27 Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Nomad today introduced two new products in its Stellar Orange colorway, expanding the number of accessories it offers in the unique shade. Stellar Orange matches the Cosmic Orange color that Apple used for the iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.


The Stellar Orange Stand One is a 2-in–1 charging stand that's priced at $135. It was previously available in silver and carbide, but it now comes in bright orange. It is a Qi2 charger that charges a MagSafe iPhone at up to 25W.

The upright charger supports charging an iPhone in portrait or landscape orientation for Stand By, and it has a quality glass and metal build. A second Qi charger at the bottom of the stand allows AirPods to be charged at 5W.

The stand charges over USB-C, and you'll need to supply a 40W or better power adapter, but it does come with a braided nylon USB-C cable. An anti-slip base keeps it in place, as does the weight of the charger.

Nomad's Stellar Orange Tracking Card Pro is $39, and it is made to slip into a wallet to add Find My tracking capabilities. It connects to the ‌Find My‌ network so it is locatable in the ‌Find My‌ app's Items tab, and it can use nearby Apple devices to report its location if lost or stolen.


The Tracking Card Pro can charge using any Qi or ‌MagSafe‌ charger, and the battery lasts for up to 16 months. It is 2.5mm thin, which makes it three times thinner than an AirTag and better suited for use in a wallet. It does not support Precision Finding because Apple doesn't make the iPhone's Ultra Wideband chip available to third-party trackers.

Nomad's $135 Stellar Orange Stand One and $39 Stellar Orange Tracking Card Pro are available from the Nomad website as of today.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This article, "Nomad's New Stellar Orange Charger and Find My Card Match the iPhone 17 Pro" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

BenQ is expanding its display lineup with the MA320UG, a 32-inch 4K 120Hz display designed for Mac users. BenQ's new $830 display connects to a Mac using Thunderbolt 4, and provides up to 96W charging.


The MA320UG has an appealing design with a silver aluminum stand and a round height-adjustment arm that has up to 150mm of travel. It can be used in landscape or portrait mode by rotating, and the bottom of the base has a rubber pad where a Mac can sit. It has tilt and swivel functionality for getting an ideal viewing angle. There are slim bezels at the sides and top of the display, and a thicker bezel at the bottom.


There's an upstream Thunderbolt port, a downstream Thunderbolt port to daisy chain a second display, two USB-C ports (one with 35W charging), two USB-A ports, and two HDMI ports at the back of the display. An always-on charging mode lets devices charge when the display is turned off, and there are two speakers included. Speakers in displays are generally not great, and that's the case here. The sound is fine, but if you want good sound, use your Mac's speakers or get external speakers. The 96W charging was enough to keep my MacBook Pro topped up, even though the ‌MacBook Pro‌ can draw up to 140W.

I tested the MA320UG with a 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, and it's always tricky evaluating a 4K display next to a ‌MacBook Pro‌ display, because it's never going to look as crisp. A 4K 32-inch display is about 138 pixels per inch (PPI), while my ‌MacBook Pro‌ display is 254 PPI.


With BenQ's display software, the MA320UG can be set to 2560x1440, which is the default, 3840x2160, or a lower resolution. The lower the resolution, the larger the on-screen elements. I find 3840x2160 to be too small, and 2560x1440 to be too big, so there's no real sweet spot. The software doesn't allow for it, but I used my Mac's settings for a 3008x1692 resolution for a more consistent UI size with my ‌MacBook Pro‌.

Text on the MA320UG is slightly fuzzier than on the ‌MacBook Pro‌'s display at the three higher resolutions I tested, but it's still entirely readable with HiDPI for Retina scaling. I don't notice the difference when I'm absorbed in work, but if I sit and stare at both displays, I can see the softness of the text on BenQ's display. I know some people are bothered by the disparity, but it's not something I think about unless I concentrate on it.


HDR video in BenQ's HDR mode is where I can see the biggest difference between the MA320UG and the ‌MacBook Pro‌. The ‌MacBook Pro‌'s display is much brighter and the contrast ratio is higher, so it wins out when it comes to color variation and detail. Everything has more depth on the ‌MacBook Pro‌ display.


If I'm not sitting at my desk and looking at the same HDR video on both displays at the same time, the MA320UG is totally fine, and I don't know what I'm missing. If I look at the MA320UG alone, it looks great. The MA320UG has a 120Hz refresh rate, which does match the ProMotion of the ‌MacBook Pro‌ for smooth scrolling, so there's no jarring transition. While the refresh rate is up to 120Hz, it tops out at 60Hz when using HiDPI and HDR at the same time due to bandwidth limitations.

You can have 120Hz HiDPI, 120Hz HDR, or HiDPI HDR enabled, but not all three, and if that sounds confusing, it is. The limitation is because of the bandwidth needed for 4K, HDR, 120Hz, and Retina scaling all at once, and it's true for other 4K HDR 120Hz displays too.

Mac settings and BenQ's software aren't intuitive when it comes to using the different modes. The app doesn't allow refresh rates to be manually adjusted, and it's not clear why HDR can't be activated when in HiDPI mode and at 120Hz. In the native display settings, HDR doesn't even show up as an option. I have to use the Mac settings to drop to 60Hz when using HiDPI, then the HDR option appears.


I don't know that anyone is going to want to use 120Hz HDR without HiDPI in a scaled mode because it looks bad, so HDR mode effectively means running at 60Hz unless you're at the native 4K resolution. At 4K, you're not using HiDPI, so 120Hz HDR works fine. You can set up modes on the BenQ display to switch these parameters quickly when you want to watch HDR content.

The MA320UG uses an IPS panel with what BenQ calls a "Nano Gloss" coating. It has 450 nits brightness, a 2000:1 contrast ratio, and DisplayHDR 400. It does not have the brightness level or the contrast ratio for the bright colors and deep blacks that make HDR content look incredible on a Retina display, but it's not terrible. Content that's bright makes the entire display brighter, drowning out dark colors and cutting some detail. This wouldn't be my first choice for HDR content, but it is an option.


"Nano Gloss" is indeed glossy, and it looks fairly similar to the coating on my ‌MacBook Pro‌ and Studio Display. It's glossier than other 4K displays I've used, which are typically more matte. It has reflectivity that's similar to a ‌MacBook Pro‌'s display, so it's maybe not the best monitor if you have a bunch of bright lights behind you, or light from a bright window.


BenQ says the MA320UG covers 98 percent of the P3 wide color gamut, with a color syncing feature that matches the color of the display to the Mac's display. I thought the colors were close to identical on the default setting when comparing the same image on the MacBook's screen and the BenQ display. I don't have a colorimeter, but to the naked eye it was close. There are options for tweaking red, blue, and green to get a better match if needed. The Mac color matching feature does not seem to work when the display is in HDR mode because HDR settings override it.

The display supports setting different color profiles like P3, sRGB, Cinema, Game, or ePaper. Cinema cranks up contrast while lowering brightness, while Game increases brightness and sharpness. ePaper is a black and white mode, which is interesting if you want a quick access grayscale mode for reading. You can also set a custom user mode and adjust gamma, color temperature, contrast, sharpness, hue, and saturation.

Display Pilot 2 is BenQ's display software that adds multiple "Mac" features to the MA320UG. I have mixed feelings about the software. It's useful and feature-rich, but wanted me to sign in with an Apple or Google account when I first installed it. My Apple Account passkey would not work, but I was able to use the software in guest mode. Signing in enables auto backup of personal settings to a Cloud server and allows display settings to sync across devices, but I'm not sure most people need that. It also opted me in to sharing analytics, diagnostics, and usage information with BenQ automatically (an opt out toggle is available in settings).

You need the software to get the full feature set from the MA320UG, like the ‌MacBook Pro‌ color syncing. It also enables brightness control from your Mac's keyboard, which is done through macOS Accessibility permissions. Other display control apps like BetterDisplay do the same thing. In addition to color matching, True Tone, Night Shift, and automatic brightness sync are available too, so the BenQ display's white balance always mirrors your Mac's white balance. The display has a sensor that can be used to detect ambient light and keep brightness levels matched between the display and the connected Mac, but it made both displays inappropriately bright in my office. The ‌MacBook Pro‌'s ambient light sensor did a better job, and that's also an option for maintaining the same brightness levels.

It is convenient to have a third-party display that behaves in the same way the ‌Studio Display‌ does, because you don't need to dig into menus for things like adjusting brightness. I think the app could use a better interface and improved instructions that outline what each feature does, but I appreciated the unseen features that made Mac settings work.


The app has a long list of settings for customization and to meet different workload needs. It syncs color and Focus modes between the MA320UG and the Mac display. You can set display settings to go with a particular Focus mode. If you activate Do Not Disturb, for example, you can set a Low Blue Light mode on the MA320UG, change the color temperature, or choose a particular color mode. Focus options can be used for quickly changing display color modes by activating a Focus on the Mac. Using Focus modes requires enabling Full Disk Access, and that's not a setting that I enable for any app.

There's a visual optimizer, blue light reduction feature, partition option for changing how tiled windows are displayed, quick access tools for swapping color modes and changing resolution, toggles for HiDPI and HDR, KVM settings, and a DualView mode where you can use one color profile on half the screen, and a different color profile on the other half. I don't know why, but there's also a Google bar that lets you enter a search term in the app that then opens a Google search on the web.

With a 5ms response time, the MA320UG isn't ideal for competitive gaming, but it does support FreeSync for general gaming. There is a built-in KVM switch for using the same peripherals with two Macs or a Mac and a PC, and it can be used for cross-device copy paste and file transfers. Display Pilot 2 needs to be installed on both machines, with PBP mode activated and KVM set to auto switch.

Display Pilot 2 understandably only works with BenQ displays, but that's frustrating if you want to use it with other third-party displays. I have a 4K OLED display for my PC that I sometimes use with my Mac, and if I want to adjust brightness or manage it, I have to use BetterDisplay. I can use BetterDisplay with the BenQ display too, but then I lose some of the features like color matching.

Bottom Line

BenQ's MA320UG is a good 4K display if you're looking for a Mac-friendly 32-inch display at a price that comes in under Apple's own display options. The Mac color matching and the software that allows it to work like a native display are useful, and a 120Hz refresh rate is appreciated when used alongside a ‌MacBook Pro‌.

Many third-party displays are much less Mac-friendly and aren't able to function like a native display, but the MA320UG matches the Mac's color and white balance, which gives it an edge over competing 4K displays.

For a 4K LCD display, the MA320UG has a good screen that pairs well with a Mac. It wouldn't be my first choice for HDR or gaming, but for everyday work, it's a solid option. A lot of displays are designed for Windows machines and don't have features that translate to a Mac, so I do appreciate that BenQ created the MA320UG with Mac functionality in mind.

BenQ's software is decent, as long as you don't have another third-party display that you want to use along with the MA320UG. Multi-display management is a hassle when you have to use two different display software options.

I wouldn't choose this over a ‌Studio Display‌ if I had the budget for Apple's monitor, but it is larger and hundreds of dollars less expensive.

How to Buy

The MA320UG is available from the BenQ website or from Amazon.com for $829.99.

Note: BenQ provided MacRumors with an MA320UG for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "BenQ MA320UG Review: A 32-Inch 4K 120Hz Display Made for Macs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple held its WWDC 2026 keynote today, introducing iOS 27, macOs 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27. It took Apple an hour and a half to walk through the major new features in the updates, but we have a quicker 10 minute recap for those who want the highlights.


Apple debuted an all-new smarter Siri, added Apple Intelligence features to multiple apps, and shared details on a long list of performance improvements and bug fixes. We have a recap of all our coverage below.

Siri AI

• Apple Announces 'Siri AI' at WWDC 2026


• Apple Unveils All-New Siri App Across iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate


• Apple Rebuilds Search Infrastructure Across Platforms


• Apple Touts Faster Core Software Features Across Devices


• Apple Reveals New AI Architecture Built Around Google Gemini Models


• New Siri AI Features Won't Be Available in EU Later This Year


• Apple Says New Siri is Compatible With These iPhones, iPads, and Macs


• Siri AI Gains Customizable Voice Expressiveness and Pace


• Apple's Private AI Will Run on Google's Servers

iOS 27 and iPadOS 27

• Apple Announces Liquid Glass Improvements and Transparency Slider


• Apple Expands Visual Intelligence With Bill Splitting, Nutrition Insights, and visionOS Support


• New Safari Can Monitor a Webpage and Notify You of Updates


• Apple Brings Natural Language Creation to Shortcuts App


• Apple to Bring AI Reframing and Editing Tools to Photos App


• Apple Revamps Image Playground With Photorealistic Generation and New Editing Tools


• iOS 27 Adds New Parental Controls: Ask to Browse, Time Allowances, and a Redesigned Screen Time


• Apple to Add AI Video Descriptions and Smarter Notifications to Home App


• Apple Intelligence Introduces Contextual Call and Messages Features


• iOS 27 Calendar and Reminders Apps Get New AI Features and Natural Language Support


• Apple Passwords Can Now Automatically Fix Weak and Compromised Passwords With Agentic AI


• Apple Brings AI Tab Organization and AI-Generated Extensions to Safari


• iOS 27 Camera App Gets Siri Mode, Updated UI


• Apple Intelligence Gains Smarter Writing Tools in iOS 27


• iOS 27 Wallet App Gets 'Create a Pass' Feature


• Apple Overhauls Genmoji in iOS 27


• iOS 27 Tidbits: Share a Phone Number on Two iPhones, Independent Alarm Volume, Faster AirPlay and More


• Apple Announces New CarPlay Features on iOS 27, Including Video Apps


• Apple Maps Flyover Gets a Visual Upgrade in iOS 27


• iOS 27 Adds Perimenopause and Menopause Tracking to Health App


• Apple Photos Finally Gets a Slideshow Maker


• iOS 27 Supports iPhone 11 and Newer


• iPadOS 27 Drops Support for a Wave of iPads


• How to Get iOS 27's New Siri AI: Join the Waitlist First


• iOS 27 Announced: How to Install the Beta

macOS 27 Golden Gate

• Apple Announces macOS Golden Gate


• Rich Siri Conversations in macOS 27 Can Be Started in Spotlight


• Here Are the Macs Compatible With macOS Golden Gate

watchOS 27

• watchOS 27 Features Dynamic App Grid, New Gesture Control, and More


• watchOS 27 Introduces Workout Buddy Upgrades, Better Sleep Tracking, and More


• watchOS 27 Drops Support for Apple Watch Series 8, Ultra 1, SE 2, and Older


• Apple Watch Series 9 Mistakenly Left Off watchOS 27 Compatibility List

tvOS 27

• Apple Announces tvOS 27 With These New Features


• tvOS 27 Drops Support for Two Apple TV Models

visionOS 27

AirPods

• Apple to Bring Custom EQ to AirPods

Other News

• Apple Releases First iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Betas to Developers


• Apple Unveils Xcode and Foundation Models Framework Improvements


• Apple's Most Powerful On-Device AI Now Requires iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air


• Apple Brings Full-Resolution iCloud Shared Albums to Android and Windows


• iOS 27 Hints at Foldable iPhone With App Resizability Push and New Framework Strings


• Tim Cook Delivers Farewell Remarks at His Last Apple Keynote as CEO

Make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors, because we'll have more in-depth feature guides and videos coming over the next several weeks.
This article, "Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2026 in 10 Minutes" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Maps is getting a visual update in iOS 27, with Apple planning to introduce new aerial imagery that's combined with Visual Intelligence models.


Apple said everything will have sharper detail, from the "shapes of individual trees to the way light reflects off the glass of skyscrapers."

Flyover is an ‌Apple Maps‌ view that lets users see more than 350 cities in 3D with detailed landmarks, roads, trees, parks, buildings, and more. It uses aerial imagery captured by planes, and it is a signature ‌Apple Maps‌ feature.

The more detailed Flyover visuals Apple described at the WWDC 2026 keynote do not appear to be implemented in the ‌iOS 27‌ beta as of yet.
This article, "Apple Maps Flyover Gets a Visual Upgrade in iOS 27" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today said it is expanding Private Cloud Compute (PCC) beyond its data centers, partnering with Google and NVIDIA to run Apple Intelligence workloads on Google Cloud.


Private Cloud Compute is Apple's cloud intelligence system for private AI processing, used to keep ‌Apple Intelligence‌ requests secure while handling processing in the cloud. PCC has been limited to Apple silicon servers in Apple data centers, but Apple is now relying on Google servers to handle some ‌Apple Intelligence‌ processing.

Apple partnered with Google to use the technologies behind Google's Gemini AI models for its own Apple Foundation Models. While some processing is done on-device, agentic tool use and complex reasoning require cloud processing. Apple says it worked with Google and NVIDIA to extend its PCC infrastructure to Google Cloud systems that run NVIDIA GPUs without compromising privacy and security protections.

Our core PCC requirements remain exactly the same: stateless computation, enforceable guarantees, no privileged runtime access, non-targetability, and verifiable transparency. What's new with PCC on Google Cloud is the implementation: NVIDIA Confidential Computing with NVIDIA GPUs, Intel CPUs with TDX, and Google's Titan chip.

All server components and software are part of a trusted computing base subject to verifiable transparency and no-privileged-access guarantees, plus Apple has a cryptographically verifiable ledger of all Google Cloud hardware that is part of the PCC fleet to mitigate the risk of supply chain attacks. PCC on Google Cloud also uses many of the same architectural security patterns as PCC on Apple silicon.

Apple says the efforts it has made to bring PCC to Google Cloud will mean user data continues to be protected by PCC's security and privacy properties even outside of Apple hardware and data centers. Apple maintains control over PCC software and Apple devices will only trust PCC software cryptographically approved by Apple.

PCC on Google Cloud is not fully implemented, and Apple plans to gradually add the full set of protections throughout the beta testing process.

PCC on Google Cloud binaries will be available for public inspection. Apple plans to provide public research tooling and access to live PCC nodes in research mode through its Apple Security Bounty Program.
This article, "Apple's Private AI Will Run on Google's Servers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

At the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple detailed iOS 27 changes like a new version of Siri with a dedicated ‌Siri‌ app and Apple Intelligence features across multiple apps, but there are dozens of smaller but still important changes that Apple didn't have time to go through.


Apple shared an image summarizing some of the bug fixes and optimizations it made in ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, and there are some interesting changes.

Dual Phone Numbers

Apple says you'll be able to switch between two iPhone devices with the same phone number, which presumably means you can set up two iPhones with one number and then swap between them as needed. It could work similar to how an iPhone and Apple Watch can share the same phone number. It should be a useful change for anyone who wants to get a foldable iPhone and a standard iPhone 18 Pro this year.

Sharing numbers between two iPhones may require carrier support, so it's not clear if it's implemented in the beta.

Two FaceTime Cameras

Dual camera in FaceTime is a listed feature, and that likely means you'll be able to use the front and back cameras at the same time during ‌FaceTime‌ calls.

Faster AirPlay and AirDrop

AirPlaying content to the HomePod and Apple TV is faster than before thanks to multiple system improvements. AirDrop transfers from the iPhone to other devices are also faster, and it's quicker for an iPhone to find nearby AirDrop recipients.

Messages Drawing App

There's a drawing app in Messages where you can handwrite a message or draw a picture. It uses the same drawing tools that are available in the Notes app or when annotating images.

Extra Large Widgets

There's a new extra large widget size you can select on the iPhone's Home Screen. The extra large size takes up an entire app page and displays more information from an app.

Shared Album Expirations

You can now set a shared photo album to expire after a set time, so it doesn't exist indefinitely.

Independent Alarm Volume

Alarm volume can be controlled separately from system volume, as can alerts and system sounds. In Settings > Sounds & Haptics, there are toggles to match Alarms, Timers, Alerts, and System Sounds to Ringtone Volume or to decouple them. Toggling off the match option lets you select a preferred volume level for alarms and system sounds.

Markdown in Notes

You can now copy and paste Markdown in the Notes app.

Save a Video Frame

There's a new option to save a video frame as a photo in the Photos app.

Weather

The Weather app has a "Highlights" view with at-a-glance information, plus it includes updated hourly and 10-day views for precipitation and wind speed.

Other iOS 27 Optimizations and Changes

• Faster message loading in Mail


• Enhanced Safari power efficiency


• Improved battery insights


• Smoother scrolling in App Library


• Smoother unlocking on iPhone


• New AutoMix transitions in Apple Music


• Faster HomeKit accessory pairing


• Faster start page loading in Safari


• More accurate Visited Places in Maps


• Improved Messages syncing across devices


• More power efficient personal hotspot on devices with N1 chip


• Failed messages will automatically try resending


• Improved Bluetooth power management


• Support for time zone changes in Sleep


• Improved unread badge accuracy in Mail

These are just some of the improvements and changes that Apple has introduced in ‌iOS 27‌. We'll be sharing more new features in ‌iOS 27‌ as they're discovered by the community. The ‌iOS 27‌ beta is available for developers right now, with Apple planning to introduce a public beta in July. ‌iOS 27‌ will launch this fall.
This article, "iOS 27 Tidbits: Share a Phone Number on Two iPhones, Independent Alarm Volume, Faster AirPlay and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 27 includes an entirely revamped Genmoji creation experience. There's an updated interface that supports describing an emoji that you want to create, with options to start from existing emoji, choose an image from Photos, or select a person.


After uploading an image or using a text phrase to create a ‌Genmoji‌, there's now a "Describe a change" interface for making updates to what you've already created. You can iterate on designs and change specific elements of a ‌Genmoji‌, tweaking colors and objects.

Apple's AI is smarter than before and it is able to successfully make iterative updates for better ‌Genmoji‌ customization. Each change uses the old base rather than regenerating a new ‌Genmoji‌ with every request. With a series of requests, it is possible to make a complicated, multi-element ‌Genmoji‌. Along with describing changes, you can also add in additional emoji, and the interface makes suggestions on what to do next.

‌Genmoji‌ output is also more consistent, and ‌Genmoji‌ look more like real emoji with a 3D, cartoonish style by default. There is now an option to change style, so if you don't want the cartoonish look, you can ask for something else like a drawing or a sketch.

Generating a ‌Genmoji‌ does not take as long, and it appears to be less system intensive with less battery drain.

Apple also overhauled Image Playground in ‌iOS 27‌, and both Image Playground and ‌Genmoji‌ use updated Apple Foundation Models. ‌Image Playground‌ now supports generating photorealistic images and adding AI elements to just parts of photos.
This article, "Apple Overhauls Genmoji in iOS 27" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The Wallet app in iOS 27 has a new "Create a Pass" option that's designed to let you add passes for tickets, memberships, and more using Visual Intelligence. If you have a ticket for an event and there's not a digital version available in the Wallet app already, you can create one using the physical pass.


By default, the Wallet app uses ‌Visual Intelligence‌ to scan a pass and add it, but there's also a "Create Pass Manually" option. Pass templates include Standard, Membership, and Event.

Each type includes relevant information like name, location, or admission type, along with a scannable code drawn from an included barcode or QR code that you take a photo of. There are 12 background colors to choose from, or seven custom backgrounds for categories like theater, music, sports, and movies.

Fields can be added or removed as needed when creating a custom pass, with options like label, date, membership, contact, coupon code, VIN, insurance, and more, so most physical cards should be able to be stored digitally.
This article, "iOS 27 Wallet App Gets 'Create a Pass' Feature" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The iOS 27 Camera app has a new "Siri" mode that is available in addition to the video, photo, and other camera modes. You can get to ‌Siri‌ mode by swiping over to it at the bottom of the Camera app in the ‌iOS 27‌ developer beta.


‌Siri‌ mode integrates Visual Intelligence, so you can take a photo of something and ask ‌Siri‌ about it. ‌Siri‌ can answer questions about whatever you're taking a photo of, identifying plants, animals, landmarks, and more.

Visual Intelligence is expanding to new categories in ‌iOS 27‌, and it can help you determine the calories in a plate of food or split a bill with friends by calculating what each person owes.

In ‌Siri‌ mode, the main Camera button captures an image and ‌Siri‌ will give information about what's in the shot. A button on the right lets you search Google Images, and a button on the left lets you ask a specific question.

In other Camera modes, there are minor interface updates. Quick access tools for turning on Night Mode, turning off Live Photo, and activating Flash are at the top center of the interface, and the full set of tools can be accessed from the bottom right instead of the top right.

While there were rumors of a Camera app widget section for customizing the available camera controls, that's not a feature that's available yet.

Using ‌Siri‌ mode in the Camera app requires access to the ‌Siri‌ waitlist. The ‌iOS 27‌ beta is only available to developers right now, but Apple plans to make a public beta available in July. ‌iOS 27‌ will launch this fall.
This article, "iOS 27 Camera App Gets Siri Mode, Updated UI" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The Calendar and Reminders apps in iOS 27 let you create events and reminders using natural language commands, making it easier to manage your schedule and task list.


You can tap the "+" button in the Calendar app and then type in something like "Movies with Sarah at 8pm on Thursday" to schedule an event. You don't need to go to the specific day to create an event, and you can instead just tap when the date and time suggestions appear as you type. You can also use timing like "every week" to set up a recurring event.

Reminders work in a similar way, and you can type in something like "Remind me to go grocery shopping at 2pm on Thursday" to set up a reminder for that date and time.

Apple says editing an event in Calendar is also simpler. If you have a meeting that's every week and update it to every other week, the Calendar app will intelligently adjust frequency for all future events.

Visual Intelligence integrates with Calendar and Reminders, so if you're looking at an event online and take a screenshot, or if you snap a photo of a flyer with your phone, you can have relevant information added to the Calendar app automatically. Siri is also able to intelligently add events to the Calendar app with natural language requests.

‌iOS 27‌ is limited to developers right now, but Apple plans to make a public beta available in July.
This article, "iOS 27 Calendar and Reminders Apps Get New AI Features and Natural Language Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

This fall, Apple will bring new child safety features to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. Apple says parents will have access to a simpler setup experience with recommended apps, a new Ask to Browse feature for Safari, and an overhauled Screen Time interface with Time Allowances.


Parents will be able to select the apps a child can access, opting for a few essential apps, a curated set, or the apps that are appropriate for the individual child. Apps can be added over time, and kids can get parental approval for app downloads with Ask to Buy. If the new Ask to Browse option is enabled, parents can also approve each new website that a child visits.

There are tools for managing who children can connect to on Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, and parents can enable a setting that will require children to get permission before connecting with a new contact.

Communication Safety is being updated to blur gore and violence in Messages and ‌FaceTime‌ calls by default for users under 18. As with nudity, it will automatically blur content when gore or violence is detected in images and videos.

With Time Allowances, parents can manage the time that children spend in apps in the Entertainment, Games, and Social Media categories. Parents can set a limit based on the child's age, with suggestions from the latest expert guidance.

Daily Schedules let parents limit which apps children can access and when based on time of day and day of the week.

Screen Time gives parents an at-a-glance view of their kids' device usage and most used apps, with options to make adjustments to access in the moment. Apple says parents will be able to quickly limit access during meals, outdoor play, and other times that "deserve full attention."

Apple now has a dedicated Child Safety website where parents can learn more about the tools coming in ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate.
This article, "iOS 27 Adds New Parental Controls: Ask to Browse, Time Allowances, and a Redesigned Screen Time" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple released the first betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 today, introducing a more capable version of Siri called ‌Siri‌ AI. Developers are able to download the betas and try ‌Siri‌ out, but there is a waitlist.


After updating to ‌iOS 27‌, developers will need to open the Settings app, go to the Apple Intelligence section, and opt in to the waitlist to get access to ‌Siri‌.

There is no word yet on how long the wait will be, but Apple used a similar waitlist when rolling out ‌Apple Intelligence‌ in iOS 18. It could be a matter of hours for some of the first developers to update to ‌iOS 27‌.

The new ‌Siri‌ and ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features that Apple introduced today are available on all devices that support ‌Apple Intelligence‌, but some on-device capabilities will be limited to newer iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

‌Siri‌ AI is free, but Apple does have daily limits on some capabilities like image generation. Opting into an iCloud+ subscription plan increases AI limits. ‌Siri‌ AI is limited to English, and it is not available in the European Union on the iPhone or the iPad, but EU users can try it on Mac. ‌Siri‌ AI is not available in China.
This article, "How to Get iOS 27's New Siri AI: Join the Waitlist First" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Following the WWDC 2026 keynote event, Apple has seeded the first betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 to developers for testing purposes.


Registered developers can opt in to betas and download the software through the Settings app on each device.

The software includes many of the new features that were shown off earlier today, though some of what Apple demoed won't be available right away. Highlights include an updated version of Siri with a ‌Siri‌ app and new AI features for apps like Photos, Camera, and Wallet.

There are dozens of new features to go through, including hundreds of smaller tweaks and changes that we'll be writing about over the next several weeks. Make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors for hands-on coverage, guides, how-tos, and an in-depth look at everything you'll want to know about the new software.

Today's betas are limited to developers who will incorporate the new features into their apps. Apple will release a public beta so anyone can test out the software in July. ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, ‌macOS 27‌, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 will all launch to the public in the fall.
This article, "Apple Releases First iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Betas to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference is just days away, and it's going to be an interesting event because it will give us a look at Apple's AI plans. We'll see how Apple is going to compete with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google in the months to come with an AI version of Siri and new AI features for its apps.

iOS 27 Siri Changes

Big changes are coming in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, and Apple employees haven't been able to keep quiet. We've heard details on a long list of AI updates Apple has planned, with enough detail that screenshots could be recreated by Bloomberg. Much of what's rumored relates to AI features and changes.

New Siri Features

Based on Apple's promises and rumors about what's coming in the new version of iOS, ‌Siri‌ in ‌iOS 27‌ will be nothing like ‌Siri‌ in iOS 26. In 2024, Apple showed us three ways that ‌Siri‌ will improve, but two years have passed and extra work has been done, so we're expecting even more than what Apple demonstrated back then.


‌Siri‌ is going to be able to draw on user data and information from Apple devices, with access to personal data for completing tasks. The assistant is also going to be able to do more with apps, and it will be able to tell what's on the screen to answer questions.

Personal Context

‌Siri‌ will be able to access emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning all about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent. Apple offered some examples of how personal context will work:

• Show me the files Eric sent me last week.


• Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.


• Find the books that Eric recommended to me.


• Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?


• What's my passport number?

Onscreen Awareness

Onscreen awareness will let ‌Siri‌ see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, you can tell ‌Siri‌ to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask ‌Siri‌ to do it for you.

App Integration

‌Siri‌ will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what ‌Siri‌ will be capable of, but Apple gave a few examples of what to expect.

• Moving files from one app to another.


• Editing a photo and then sharing it with someone.


• Getting directions home and sending the ETA in the Messages app.


• Drafting and then sending an email.

‌Siri‌ will be able to complete tasks in Apple apps and in third-party apps, with developers able to expose app capabilities to ‌Siri‌.

Siri Chatbot

Apple needs a ‌Siri‌ app because ‌Siri‌ is becoming a chatbot. ‌Siri‌ will be like ChatGPT or Claude, able to draw on information from the web to provide answers to questions.

‌Siri‌ will be deeply integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS at the system level, and can draw on device information. It will know more personal context than before, and will be able to access emails, texts, photos, calendar information, contacts, notes, and other personal data. Some of what ‌Siri‌ will be able to do:

• Search the web for information


• Generate images


• Generate content


• Summarize information


• Analyze uploaded files


• Use personal data to complete tasks


• Ingest information from emails, messages, files and more


• Write emails, notes, and texts


• Analyze open windows and on-screen content to take action


• Control device features and settings


• Search for on-device content, replacing Spotlight

‌Siri‌ will be integrated into Apple apps like Mail, Messages, Photos, and Apple TV.

Siri Design

With ‌Siri‌'s chatbot transition, Apple will be making multiple Siri-related design changes. ‌Siri‌ will largely live in the Dynamic Island, and Bloomberg says there will be new ways to access ‌Siri‌.

Swiping down from the center of the iPhone's display from the Home Screen or any app will bring up a new "Search or Ask" feature in the ‌Dynamic Island‌. A glowing, pill-shaped animation will be displayed in the ‌Dynamic Island‌ to indicate that ‌Siri‌ is processing a request.

When ‌Siri‌ has an answer, the ‌Dynamic Island‌ will expand into a transparent card with the result, incorporating images, info from the web, notes and other information relevant to the query or request. Swiping on the results card will bring up a conversation mode that looks similar to an iMessage chat, and there will be an option to transition to the full ‌Siri‌ app.

Search or Ask replaces ‌Siri‌ Suggestions and will let users launch apps, start text messages, ask about the weather, add calendar appointments, trigger shortcuts in apps, and search the web using Apple's new AI web search feature. Search or Ask queries can also be sent to third-party chatbot services like ChatGPT instead of ‌Siri‌.

While ‌Siri‌ can be accessed through a swipe in ‌iOS 27‌, Apple is keeping the "Hey ‌Siri‌" wake word and ‌Siri‌ activation through the Side button. With the new center swipe, accessing the Notification Center will be done with a swipe down on the left side of the display. Swiping down on the right side will continue to bring up Control Center. With the change to how Notification Center is accessed, notifications will now slide in from the left side of the iPhone instead of the top of the display.

Apple will also integrate an "Ask ‌Siri‌" button into the menus of its apps, giving users a way to send content directly to ‌Siri‌ alongside a request.

The new ‌Siri‌ interface uses dark colors with no light mode available. ‌Siri‌ UI elements have a dark background with color accents that mirror the options Apple is using in WWDC imagery. Apple's WWDC website features a white Swift bird with subtle highlights in pink, dark blue, purple, and orange.

Standalone Siri App

Bloomberg recently shared a mockup of what the standalone ‌Siri‌ app will look like, and it's similar to other chatbot apps like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.

‌Siri‌ will support text or voice-based conversations. The app will open with an "Ask ‌Siri‌" bar where users can type in a question. A paperclip icon will be available for attaching images, PDFs, and other documents. Apple will provide prompts with suggestions on what users can ask.

Questions will resemble iMessage chat bubbles, with Apple adopting a design that is familiar to users. Responses will include links, images, and other information.

A section of the app will be dedicated to past conversations that can be shown in a card-style interface with conversation summaries, or a list view. Users will be able to tap into a conversation to continue it.

Siri Privacy

Apple plans to lean into privacy as a central principle of its approach to AI, giving it a way to distinguish ‌Siri‌ from other chatbot options. Apple will likely aim to keep as much processing on-device as possible to limit the amount of data that leaves a user's device.

Apple said that Apple Intelligence features will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute.

Apple will have limits around memory, including restrictions on the information that can persist and how long it is kept. Users will be able to auto-delete ‌Siri‌ chats and requests after a set period of time, like 30 days or one year. There will also be an option to keep chats permanently, and chats will sync across Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.

‌Siri‌ can be turned off right now, as can ‌Apple Intelligence‌, and there's no sign that's going to change in ‌iOS 27‌. Users who don't want to enable ‌Siri‌ or use the new features will not have to.

Siri Extensions

Apple is letting rival chatbots integrate with ‌Siri‌ in ‌iOS 27‌, expanding on the OpenAI partnership that currently allows ‌Siri‌ to hand off requests to ChatGPT, Bloomberg says Apple plans to allow other chatbots like Claude and Gemini to work with ‌Siri‌, so users will be able to send questions to their favorite chatbot instead of ‌Siri‌.

iPhone users will be able to select which services they want to use inside ‌Siri‌ through "Extensions" options coming to ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, and ‌macOS 27‌. The options will be available in the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and ‌Siri‌ section of the Settings app, with Apple providing download links for chatbot apps. There will be a dedicated Extensions section in the App Store that will serve as a way to choose a third-party AI app.

‌Siri‌ will be the default for the Search or Ask interface, but rumors suggest users will be able to select other chatbots to speak with. Users will also be able to choose third-party AI services as the default for ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features like Writing Tools and Image Playground, expanding ‌Apple Intelligence‌ integration beyond ChatGPT.

Apple also plans to let users choose voices from third-party AI to use instead of ‌Siri‌, so there will be a distinct audio difference between a response from ‌Siri‌ and a response from the user's chatbot of choice. ‌Siri‌ would use one voice, while responses from third-party AI options would use another voice.

Google Gemini Backbone

To get ‌Siri‌ up and running, Apple partnered with Google to use Gemini AI models instead of using its own AI models. Apple signed a multi-year deal to use Google's Gemini models and cloud technology for its Apple Foundation Models, and it's costing Apple somewhere around $1 billion a year.


Google and Apple said that the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google Gemini models, with Gemini used to power future ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features and the more personalized version of ‌Siri‌.

Apple said Google's AI technology offered the most capable foundation for its models.

iOS 27 Apps and Feature Updates

Camera

Apple is moving Visual Intelligence from the Camera Control button to the Camera app in ‌iOS 27‌. Bloomberg has shared images of the new interface, featuring a ‌Siri‌ mode that's available alongside the existing Photo, Video, Portrait, and Panorama modes. When in ‌Siri‌ mode, the existing Camera app shutter button will feature the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ logo, letting users know the ‌Siri‌ features are available.


‌Siri‌ mode is a renaming of ‌Visual Intelligence‌, and it will make the feature more visible. Accessing ‌Visual Intelligence‌ in ‌iOS 26‌ requires users to hold down the Camera Control button or assign the feature to the Action button, and many people may not even know it exists.

‌Visual Intelligence‌ can identify objects, plants, animals, art, books, and more, searching for whatever the user snaps on Google Image Search. In ‌iOS 27‌, ‌Siri‌ will be able to answer questions about what a user is looking at, providing information from the web.


Apple is adding new ‌Visual Intelligence‌ capabilities in ‌iOS 27‌, and they will be available through the Camera app ‌Siri‌ mode.

• Nutrition - Users can scan nutrition labels on food packaging for calorie and macronutrient tracking using the Health app.


• Contacts - ‌Visual Intelligence‌ will let users scan phone numbers and addresses on business cards and other print media, adding the information to the Contacts app.

Apple plans to make the Camera app more customizable in ‌iOS 27‌. iPhone users will be able to replace the top row of camera shortcuts with options of their choosing, selecting features like flash, exposure, timer, depth of field, photo styles, and resolution.

Camera controls, now labeled as widgets, can be placed at the top of the Camera interface in any order. Users can select widgets from a transparent widget tray that comes up from the bottom of the app and organizes widgets into categories like basic, manual, and settings.

The Camera app will have the same default layout that's available now with quick tap buttons for flash, Live Photos, and Night Mode, but the customizable widget interface will be added as an advanced layout that will appeal to professional users.

iPhone users can currently tap on an icon at the top right of the Camera app to access all of the Camera controls, but Apple is moving that view to the right of the shutter button in ‌iOS 27‌.

The Camera app is also going to get new grid and level options that will join the existing features.

Photos

The ‌Photos‌ app will have an Apple Intelligence Tools section when editing an image. According to Bloomberg, there will be new Extend and Reframe options.

• Extend - Extend generates additional image content beyond the original frame of the photo, filling in scenery when changing the crop of an image. This tool will support expanding the edges of an image with zoom gestures.


• Reframe - When used with spatial photos, Reframe will let users change the perspective of an image after it's captured.

Apple is also testing an AI photo editing feature that lets users request edits using natural language. Users would be able to tweak color, lighting, cropping, and other image parameters without having to use manual tools. The natural-language editing feature may not arrive in the first version of ‌iOS 27‌.

Shortcuts

The ‌iOS 27‌ Shortcuts app will support using natural language to create a shortcut with AI. Users will be able to tell ‌Siri‌ what they want to accomplish with a multi-step shortcut, and ‌Siri‌ will generate it.

The Shortcuts app will open with a prompt that says "What do you want your shortcut to do?" with a text field to enter a description. Shortcuts that are created using AI are then automatically installed and immediately available for use.

Wallet

The Wallet app is getting a "Create a Pass" option so users can generate digital passes from scans of physical items like movie tickets, concert passes, and gym membership cards.


Users can tap on the "+" button in the Wallet app and then scan a QR code on a pass or ticket if one is available. If there is no QR code available, there will be an option to create a custom pass.

There are three pass types in Create a Pass, each with a different color. Apple is using purple for events, blue for memberships, and orange for other types of passes. Users can customize images, colors, style, and text on the digital passes.

Apple is also adding an AI bill-splitting feature that will work with Apple Cash. iPhone users will be able to take a photo of a receipt and generate Apple Cash payment requests for different people.

Image Playground and Genmoji

Apple is updating the ‌Image Playground‌ app. The interface for generating a new image has fewer controls and a "describe a change" option for editing images that are created. Previously created images are displayed in a grid with more rounded edges, and instead of a New Image button, there's a "+" button.


Apple has also been testing new models that produce more lifelike images, so we could see new image generation capabilities in ‌iOS 27‌ with better image quality.

Genmoji is also getting an update so it will use fewer resources, causing less battery drain and fewer heat problems. ‌Genmoji‌ will be better quality with a new ‌Genmoji‌ model, and a Suggested ‌Genmoji‌ feature will bring up custom emoji ideas based on your media and text history.

Writing Tools

Apple is testing an expanded version of Writing Tools that will do more rewriting and text generation than the current version. There is a "Write with ‌Siri‌" toggle at the top of the keyboard, according to Bloomberg, along with a "Help Me Write" option that comes up when ‌Siri‌ is activated while a text field is open.

Apple is going to add a dedicated AI grammar checker that will work alongside the current spell check. When writing in Messages, Mail, and other apps there will be a translucent menu that slides up from the bottom of the iPhone's screen, and it will show suggested revisions next to the original written text.

Users can go through the suggestions and accept or reject them one by one, approve all of the changes at once, or ignore the changes.

Other Features

• Wallpaper - There will be an option to generate custom wallpapers with the ‌Image Playground‌ app, with the feature built into the interface for selecting a new wallpaper.


• Safari - Safari will get an updated start page with four tabs for switching between favorites, bookmarks, Reading List, and history.


• Calendar - Rumors suggest the Calendar app will incorporate new AI features. ‌Siri‌ will also be able to draw on information in the app.


• Health - With a new calorie scanning feature coming to the Camera app, calorie tracking will be more prominent in the Health app. Apple was also planning a Health+ subscription service, and while that's been scaled back, there could be other AI health app changes.


• Weather - The Weather app will have a new Conditions panel for switching between temperature, rain, and wind from the main interface, without the need to tap into a weather module.


• AirPods settings - The AirPods interface in the Settings app will be simplified, with options featuring better organization. Major features like hearing health will be easier to find.


• AirPlay Alternatives - Apple is adding a feature that will let users beam content to AirPlay alternatives like Google Cast. It could be limited to iPhone users in the EU because it is being implemented as a Digital Markets Act requirement.

iOS 27 System-Wide Design Changes

There are system-wide design changes coming in ‌iOS 27‌. The separate tab bar in apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, News, and ‌Apple TV‌ will be adjusted to combine search with the other navigation options. Apple separated search in many apps when introducing Liquid Glass, but it's reverting to the original look.

When using the on-screen keyboard, there's a new animation that shows the keys sliding up from the bottom of the iPhone interface, and Apple is adding redo and undo controls for easier customization of the ‌Home Screen‌'s icon and widget layouts.



Apple doesn't plan to make major changes to the Liquid Glass aesthetic in ‌iOS 27‌, but the company is mulling a system-wide setting that would precisely adjust the look of the interface. In iOS 26.2, Apple added a slider that lets users adjust the opacity of Liquid Glass for the Lock Screen's clock, and that setting could be expanded to the entire operating system.

iOS 27 Updates for Foldable iPhone

The first foldable iPhone will be introduced in September. Rumors suggest that it will feature a 5.5-inch display when folded, and a 7.8-inch display when it's opened up like a book.



An iPhone with a larger display will require major updates to iOS, and ‌iOS 27‌ will focus on building new interfaces and experiences made for a larger smartphone display.

The iPhone Fold will operate like a cross between an iPhone and an iPad, but it will run iOS, not iPadOS, and it won't support ‌iPad‌ apps. When unfolded, the iPhone will have an iPad-like layout that supports multitasking with two apps side-by-side. Many of Apple's iPhone apps will have sidebars on the left of the display, with Apple providing developers with tools to easily adapt their apps to the new layout.

Apple is using a wider design for the ‌iPhone Fold‌ than most foldable smartphone makers have used, and it is rumored to have an iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio. When the iPhone is closed, it will have a standard iPhone layout that looks like the version of iOS we have now.

iOS 27 Satellite Features

Apple is working on several new satellite features for the iPhone, and it's possible some features could be introduced as soon as 2027.

• Apple Maps via satellite


• ‌Photos‌ in Messages via satellite


• Satellite API framework for third-party apps


• Satellite over 5G


• Satellite connectivity without the need for a view of the sky

iOS 27 Accessibility Updates

Each May, Apple previews new accessibility features that are coming later in the year. This year, Apple showed off some new options that are expected in the ‌iOS 27‌ update.

Apple is adding new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features to VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Accessibility Reader.

• VoiceOver Image Explorer uses ‌Apple Intelligence‌ for detailed descriptions of images throughout the system, including photographs, scanned bills, and personal records. Users can press the Action button on the iPhone to ask questions about what the camera viewfinder sees, with follow-up questions supported in natural language.


• Magnifier brings Apple Intelligence-powered visual descriptions to its high-contrast interface for users with low vision, with support for spoken commands like "zoom in" or "turn on flashlight."


• Voice Control gains natural language input so users can describe onscreen elements conversationally, such as "tap the guide about best restaurants" or "tap the purple folder," rather than memorizing exact label names or numbers. Apple says the feature can also help when users want to access on-screen elements that don't have clear accessibility labels.


• Accessibility Reader gains support for more complex document layouts including scientific articles with multiple columns, images, and tables, plus on-demand summaries and built-in translation that retains a user's custom font, color, and formatting preferences.


• Generated Subtitles use on-device speech recognition to automatically transcribe spoken audio in uncaptioned video content, including clips recorded on iPhone, received from friends and family, or streamed online, across the iPhone, ‌iPad‌, Mac, ‌Apple TV‌, and Apple Vision Pro. The feature will be available in English in the U.S. and Canada at launch.

iOS 27 Performance and Stability

Bloomberg has described iOS 27 as a "Snow Leopard" update, suggesting that Apple will focus on improving underlying performance and quality.

Apple is prioritizing cleaning up the iOS code and removing anything that's outdated, which could mean upgrading apps to improve performance and rewriting some existing features to be more efficient. The code updates could provide a more responsive, faster version of iOS.

Apple is also aiming for efficiency improvements that could translate into tangible battery life gains.

iOS 27 Compatibility

‌iOS 27‌ is expected to drop support for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and second-generation iPhone SE. It will be available on all other iPhones that support ‌iOS 26‌.

iPadOS 27

Many of the features that are coming in ‌iOS 27‌ will also extend to the ‌iPad‌, including all of the new ‌Siri‌ capabilities. We haven't heard rumors of iPad-specific features as of yet.

macOS 27

Like ‌iOS 27‌ and iPadOS 27, ‌macOS 27‌ will adopt the new version of ‌Siri‌ with chatbot capabilities, personal context and the ability to access data on your Mac, and improved integration in and between apps. A standalone ‌Siri‌ app for the Mac is likely.


We've heard a lot about what ‌Siri‌ will look like on the iPhone, with it set to be integrated into the ‌Dynamic Island‌, but no detail on how ‌Siri‌ will look on the Mac. The ‌Siri‌ Mac interface will be more of a surprise.

The ‌Photos‌ app feature for AI reframing and extending an image will be available, as will the text-based option to create a Shortcut with natural language commands. Grammar checking capabilities will be added to Writing Tools, and ‌Image Playground‌ and ‌Genmoji‌ will see improvements to the underlying models. Apple is experimenting with more realistic models, so ‌Image Playground‌ might be able to generate content that's not so cartoonish.

Safari is expected to have a new feature that uses AI to automatically group tabs that are similar to one another, expanding on the tab groups feature.

In ‌iOS 27‌, we're getting some minor tweaks to Liquid Glass, including tab bars that do away with the standalone search option and possibly a slider for adjusting the overall look of Liquid Glass, but we know less about what to expect for Liquid Glass on the Mac. There has been criticism of the Mac's Liquid Glass interface in particular, so Apple could have changes planned.

Bloomberg claims Apple is working on a "slight redesign" for ‌macOS 27‌, with plans to address "quirks" with shadows and transparency.

Apple is working on an OLED MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, so there could be new touch-based interface options hidden in ‌macOS 27‌. The OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ likely isn't launching until early 2027, so it's not something we're expecting to see in the launch version of ‌macOS 27‌.

macOS Naming

We don't know what Apple is going to call ‌macOS 27‌, but it will likely continue to have a California landmark name. The filename of Apple's hashmoji for WWDC 2026 on X is "Project Big Bear," leading to speculation that Apple might go with macOS Big Bear.

The filename could be unrelated to ‌macOS 27‌, and it's possible Apple will choose something else entirely. Apple has trademarked multiple California-themed names in the past, including Diablo, Grizzly, Mammoth, Miramar, Pacific, Redtail, Redwood, Shasta, Skyline, and Tiburon.

Performance Improvements

Apple has been working on refinements to macOS that will include bug fixes, performance improvements, and tweaks to boost battery life.

No More Intel Macs

Apple is dropping support for Intel Macs with ‌macOS 27‌, so if you have an Intel Mac, it's not going to be able to run the new Mac software. macOS Tahoe is the last version of macOS that will work on Intel Macs.

Apple is also phasing out Rosetta 2 support, and ‌macOS 27‌ will be the last version of macOS that includes it. Rosetta 2 lets Apple silicon Macs run apps built for Intel Macs, so older apps that still have the outdated architecture will no longer work in macOS 28.

Current Intel Macs that run ‌macOS Tahoe‌ but won't run ‌macOS 27‌ include the 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ from 2020, the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ from 2019, the 27-inch iMac from 2020, and the 2019 Mac Pro.

watchOS 27

In watchOS 27, Apple plans to introduce new watch faces, including a variant of the Modular Ultra face. The new watch face will have a large time readout with three complications, and it will be available for all Apple Watch models.


We haven't heard anything else about new watchOS 27 features, and Apple Watch software updates tend to be on the smaller side. With Apple planning to add an option for generating a wallpaper using AI on the iPhone, it's possible there could be some Apple Watch equivalent feature.

Some of the new ‌Siri‌ features could work on the watch, and some of the AI features might transition, like grammar correction when writing or dictating on the watch.

tvOS 27

We haven't heard anything about tvOS 27, and ‌Apple TV‌ updates are usually not super exciting. With the ‌Apple TV‌ expected to be refreshed with a chip that works with ‌Apple Intelligence‌ later this year, we could see Apple introduce some AI features for the ‌Apple TV‌.


Better TV and movie recommendations are a possibility, as is a more capable ‌Siri‌ that is better at handling requests. There could also be new smart home integrations that will work alongside a centralized smart home hub Apple is rumored to be launching this year. One feature we do know about is larger text, which is an Accessibility option Apple is adding.

visionOS 27

visionOS 27 will apparently be "light on new features," but it could get the same AI app updates and ‌Siri‌ changes that are coming to Apple's other platforms.

New Hardware?

There are several products that Apple is still expected to launch in 2026, but it's not looking like any of them are going to be unveiled at WWDC. With several new software updates to cover and an all-new version of ‌Siri‌, Apple may not want to take the focus away from its software announcements.

We are expecting M5 Mac Studio and Mac mini updates at some point, plus there could be a new ‌iMac‌. Unfortunately, high RAM costs and chip shortages mean delayed Mac refreshes, and new models aren't expected until later in the year.

The low-cost ‌iPad‌ still hasn't been refreshed, and updates for the HomePod mini and ‌Apple TV‌ are apparently ready to go. There's also a new smart home hub tied to the new version of ‌Siri‌, but it's not likely to come out until ‌Siri‌ sees an official launch in the fall.

How to Watch

‌WWDC 2026‌ begins at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 8. Apple plans to stream the WWDC keynote on YouTube, the ‌Apple TV‌ app everywhere it's available, and the Apple Events website.


For those who are unable to watch the livestream, we'll have live coverage at MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive X (Twitter) account.

Launch Timeline

Betas of ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, ‌macOS 27‌, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 will be seeded to developers after Apple's keynote event. Public betas will come out in July, and after several months of testing, the updates will launch to the public in the fall.
This article, "What to Expect From WWDC 2026: Gemini-Powered Siri, iOS 27, macOS 27 and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is now selling refurbished versions of the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 at discounted prices.


This is the first time the Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 have been available through Apple's online refurbished store since the devices launched last September.

Refurbished pricing on the 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $369, down from $429, while Apple Watch Ultra 3 pricing starts at $699, down from $799. Apple Watch SE 3 40mm models start at $209, which is $40 less than the standard $249 price.

Apple has limited colors and sizes available for the Apple Watch Series 11, but refurbished stock changes regularly. If you're looking for a specific color, you can check back later to see if it's in stock. Both ‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌ colors are available, and there are also several SE 3 options in stock.

Refurbished devices go through a rigorous cleaning and inspection process prior to sale, according to Apple. Refurbished products feature the same one-year limited warranty as newly purchased devices, and they are eligible for AppleCare+.

Apple offers around a 15 percent discount on its refurbished products, but you can get even better prices from third-party sellers. Amazon has the Apple Watch Series 11 available starting at $299 this week.
This article, "Apple Starts Selling Refurbished Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Google's Chrome browser hit new records on browser benchmarking tools Speedometer 3.1 and JetStream 3, Google said today.


Chrome earned a score of 61 on Speedometer, a five percent improvement since last year. It earned a 469 on JetStream 3, a 10 percent improvement since the beginning of 2026. Tests were done on an M5 MacBook Pro running macOS 26.0.1.

Google says it holds a dual record across all browsers, beating every other Mac browser, including Safari.

Google reworked JavaScript handling to boost its benchmarking scores, skipping unnecessary execution steps and inlining asynchronous operations. Inlining "fast paths" for common operations resulted in speed gains across multiple daily tasks.

Improvements were also implemented for WebAssembly workloads and the Blink rendering engine, with details available on Google's Chromium blog.

Google says the benchmarking wins translate into a "meaningfully faster" browsing experience for Chrome users.
This article, "Chrome Sets Browser Speed Records on M5 MacBook Pro" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

CalDigit is best known for its docks and hubs, and it has two options designed for Apple's latest Macs. I reviewed the larger $500 20-port TS5 Plus last summer, and for the last couple of weeks, I've been testing the $400 15-port TS5 that launched a bit later than the premium model, and the smaller $250 Element 5 Hub.

TS5

The TS5 is probably the Thunderbolt 5 dock that I would recommend if someone on the street came up to me and asked which Thunderbolt 5 dock to buy. It's smaller and takes up less space on a desk than the TS5 Plus, it has no fans like some competing docks, and it has a useful port selection. With some exceptions, it'll meet the needs of most people.


Thunderbolt 5 docks are ideal for Apple's Thunderbolt 5 Macs (the M4 Pro, M4 Max, M5 Pro, and M5 Max), but they're also backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 Macs, so you can use the TS5 with almost any Mac to add ports for displays and accessories.

Ports on the front:

• Audio jack


• USB-C with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W


• USB-C with 10Gb/s speeds and 20W


• MicroSD card slot (UHS-II)


• SD card slot (UHS-II)

Ports on the back:

• Audio in/out


• USB-C port with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W


• USB-A port with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W


• USB-A port with 480Mb/s speeds and 7.5W


• 2.5 GbE


• Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports with 15W charging


• One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port with 140W charging

The TS5 does not have dual USB controllers like the TS5 Plus, it has 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet instead of 10GbE, it doesn't have DisplayPort, and it has three fewer USB-A ports and two fewer USB-C ports than the TS5 Plus. The TS5 has three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports instead of two, so it beats the TS5 Plus (which only has two), but the higher-end TS5 Plus has more charging power. The front USB-C port on the TS5 Plus is 36W, as are the two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports at the back.


The TS5 has the same general design that CalDigit has used for its last several docks. It's made from a space gray aluminum material with ribbing on the top and sides for dissipating heat. Though it has no fan, it never got beyond lukewarm in my testing, and I was surprised at how cool it stayed. The TS5 Plus ran much warmer when I tested it, but the smaller TS5 wouldn't keep me cozy on a freezing night.

The dock's design blends in well with a desk setup, but like most Thunderbolt 5 docks, it's not going to turn any heads. I don't have space gray equipment so the color doesn't match my MacBook or my Studio Display, but it doesn't look too out of place. I wish accessory makers would adopt bolder, brighter colors, but I'm guessing gray and black are what sell.

CalDigit's TS5 dock is about 5.5 inches tall, 4.5 inches wide, and a little under two inches thick. It fits well under a display, and it can be positioned either upright or on its side. There is a separate 240W power brick, and that's typical for most Thunderbolt 5 docks. Along with the power supply, CalDigit includes a braided 1-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable, and I appreciate the cable upgrade because not all docks come with nice cables.

One thing I appreciate about CalDigit over some other dock makers is the info the website provides. I think the average person probably finds hubs and docks somewhat confusing, especially when it comes to determining which displays and how many external displays a dock supports with a given Mac. CalDigit has an extensive chart with all Apple silicon Macs listed, so it's fairly easy to see what your Mac will support. Thunderbolt 5 supports up to 80Gb/s speeds with bandwidth boost up to 120Gb/s for displays, twice that of Thunderbolt 4.


The TS5 supports up to four 6K 60Hz displays, but only if you're using a Mac with an M5 Max chip. It'll also run dual 8K 60Hz displays, dual 4K 240Hz displays, or four 4K displays with up to a 144Hz refresh rate. When used with an M5 Pro Mac, the dock supports up to three 6K 60Hz displays, and for Macs with earlier Pro/Max chips, the dock is limited to dual displays. You can power dual 8K 60Hz displays using the TS5 with an M4 Max or M5 Max Mac, while other machines cap out with two 6K 60Hz displays. The base M-series chips have different support depending on generation too. The M4 and M5 chips can support two external displays up to 6K at 60Hz with the TS5, but M1 and M2 chips only support one. The M3 is a special exception because it supports two displays when the Mac is in clamshell mode, or one with the display open.

I tested with a ‌Studio Display‌ and a ‌Studio Display‌ XDR, both of which are 5K displays. I also tested with a ‌Studio Display‌ and a 32-inch 120Hz OLED display, and I didn't run into any issues with either setup.


There is one 5K display limitation that potential buyers should be aware of, and that's support for the LG UltraFine 5K monitors. The dock does not support dual LG UltraFine 5K displays unless used with an M5 Max MacBook Pro.

I used every port at once and performance was as expected, but I did run into an issue with the TS5 not recognizing SSDs. SSDs that I plugged into the two USB-C ports weren't popping up, but a Thunderbolt 5 SSD was fine. Unplugging the dock and plugging it in again didn't work, but restarting my Mac did. I've had the same problem intermittently, but after the first time, unplugging the dock and then plugging it back in seemed to work. It doesn't happen every time, but losing SSD connectivity through the USB-C ports is a hassle.


The TS5 has 140W host charging, which is more than enough for all of Apple's notebooks. The Thunderbolt 5 ports and the 10Gb/s USB-C and USB-A ports have offline charging so you can charge accessories with the dock when your Mac isn't connected.

Element 5 Hub

I also spent a short amount of time with CalDigit's $250 Element 5 Hub, which is an impressive little device. It's as small as the 180W power brick it comes with, and it's the Thunderbolt 5 option to get if you need minimal ports.


The Element 5 Hub has four Thunderbolt 5 ports (one upstream, three downstream), two USB-C ports, and three USB-A ports. 90W host charging is available for a connected Mac, which is enough to keep my 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ charged. The downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports have 15W for accessories, and the USB-C ports offer 7.5W. Like the TS5, the ports work even when the hub isn't connected to a host computer.

Since there are three Thunderbolt 5 ports, the Element 5 Hub can drive the same number of displays as the TS5. It doesn't have as many USB-C ports, no SD card slots, and no audio jack, but if all you need is Thunderbolt and a couple of USB-C/USB-A ports, this is the way to go.


I love how little space the Element 5 takes up on my desk, so much so that I may adopt one for long-term use. I do use SD card slots, but the smaller size may be worth the sacrifice. The Element 5 is 2.75 inches wide, 4.5 inches long, and an inch thick. It's about the same size as my Thunderbolt 5 SSD, and smaller than an iPhone. If you want compact, get this dock.

Bottom Line

I prefer the TS5 over the TS5 Plus because of the extra Thunderbolt 5 port on the TS5. I can connect two displays and still have a port for a Thunderbolt 5 SSD, which isn't the case with the TS5 Plus. Unfortunately, I'm continually running into problem where SSDs connected to the USB-C ports on the dock don't work, and that makes it hard to recommend to someone who needs to use it for storage purposes. I can just restart the dock, but I shouldn't have to. TB5 SSDs are fine, so are USB-C SSDs connected through a Thunderbolt port.

CalDigit's more expensive TS5 Plus is a better option than the TS5 if you need DisplayPort 2.1, 10GbE, or an absurd number of USB-A ports (five for the TS5 Plus vs two for the TS5). The TS5 Plus also has dual 10Gb/s USB controllers, which is useful if you want to run multiple high-speed SSDs or drives at the same time.

If you only need a limited number of ports, I'd definitely recommend checking out the Element 5 Hub. It's compact, but still includes four Thunderbolt 5 ports, three USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. I didn't seem to have the same SSD problem with the TS5 Plus or the Element 5.

I like CalDigit's Thunderbolt 5 docks over competing docks from Anker and Satechi, mainly because CalDigit doesn't include fans and its docks operate silently. The SSD problem might be my particular dock or my ‌MacBook Pro‌, but if you pick up a TS5, get it from a place with a return policy just in case.

I like all of the docks I've tried so far, though, and they've all been good options with no major problems. I'd pick Anker's Prime Thunderbolt 5 dock if I wanted a dock with no external power supply, or Satechi's CubeDock if I wanted a built-in SSD or had a Mac mini and wanted to match it.

Thunderbolt 4 docks are cheaper than Thunderbolt 5 options, but if you have a Thunderbolt 5 Mac or are planning to get one in the next year or two, it's worth going for Thunderbolt 5 for the upgraded bandwidth.

How to Buy

The CalDigit TS5 can be purchased from the CalDigit website or from Amazon for $400.

The Element 5 Hub is available from the CalDigit website or from Amazon for $250.

Note: CalDigit provided MacRumors with a TS5 and Element 5 Hub for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "CalDigit TS5 and Element 5 Hub Review: Two Thunderbolt 5 Docks for Apple's Latest Macs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 27 has been the star of the rumors we've been hearing ahead of Apple's WWDC 2026 event, but there have also been a few tidbits about the next version of macOS, macOS 27. We don't know as much about ‌macOS 27‌ as we do about ‌iOS 27‌, so there will be some surprises in store.

Liquid Glass Revision

Hate Liquid Glass on the Mac? It's not going anywhere, but Apple is planning a "slight redesign."

Liquid Glass transparency and shadows don't work as well on the Mac as they do on the iPhone, and Apple has some revisions in mind. Don't expect Apple to revert to the pre-Tahoe design, but minor improvements are likely.

Siri

Most people probably never use Siri on the Mac, but that could change with ‌macOS 27‌. The smarter, more capable version of ‌Siri‌ that we've been hearing about endlessly isn't just for iOS. ‌Siri‌ is also coming to macOS, with a new ‌Siri‌ interface planned and, presumably, a standalone ‌Siri‌ app for the Mac.

We don't know as much about the ‌macOS 27‌ ‌Siri‌ interface as we do about the ‌iOS 27‌ interface, but it'll probably parallel what's coming in iOS. On the iPhone, ‌Siri‌ will be integrated in the Dynamic Island. Will Apple somehow carry that over to the Mac's notch? Who knows, but it's possible. ‌Siri‌ on iOS has a dark interface that's hinted at in WWDC graphics, and we could get that same style in ‌macOS 27‌.

If you want to read more about the changes coming to ‌Siri‌, check out our iOS 27 roundup.

AI App and Feature Updates

Most of these rumors are for ‌iOS 27‌, but a lot of what's available on iOS is also available on macOS.

• Photos - The Photos app will include new Extend and Reframe options. Extend generates image content beyond the original frame of the photo, and Reframe lets users change the perspective of an image after it's captured. There's also a tool for natural language photo edits, but it might not be ready to go when ‌macOS 27‌ launches.


• Image Playground - Apple is testing new models that produce more lifelike images, plus there could be some updates to the app interface.


• Wallpaper - ‌iOS 27‌ is getting a wallpaper-generating feature that uses Image Playground, so it makes sense for it to be available in ‌macOS 27‌ too.


• Shortcuts - The Shortcuts app will let users ask ‌Siri‌ to generate a shortcut using natural language. With a short statement on what a shortcut should do, AI will whip it up and add it to the app. It'll make shortcuts much easier for the average person to use.


• Writing Tools - In addition to spell check, there will be a grammar check feature. Writing Tools will also support expanded rewriting and text generation capabilities.


• Safari - Safari is getting a feature for automatically organizing browser tabs into groups, which will be useful for tab addicts who like to see just how many tabs their Mac can handle before it starts to feel sluggish.

Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements

Bug fixes and performance improvements will be a focus in both ‌iOS 27‌ and ‌macOS 27‌. In fact, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is working on a "Snow Leopard-style update" for ‌iOS 27‌ and ‌macOS 27‌.

Apple wants to improve the underlying quality and performance of macOS.

Touchscreen Support

There is a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen OLED display that's going to come at some point during the ‌macOS 27‌ release cycle, so there could be hidden touch-based tweaks. This isn't a device that we're expecting until late 2026 at the earliest (and 2027 is more likely), but researchers who like to dig into macOS code might find some hints of touchscreen support.

No More Intel Macs

It's the end of the road for Intel Macs. If you're still using a Mac with an Intel chip, you won't be able to upgrade to ‌macOS 27‌. macOS Tahoe is the last version of macOS that runs on Intel Macs, and ‌macOS 27‌ will require an M1 Apple silicon chip or later.

Apple has phased out all Intel Macs, and it stopped selling the last Mac with an Intel chip in 2023.

Speaking of phasing things out, Apple is ending support for Rosetta 2 after ‌macOS 27‌. Rosetta will still be available in ‌macOS 27‌, but not macOS 28. If you're still using an app that relies on Rosetta, it will need an Apple silicon update by fall 2027 or it's not going to work anymore.

macOS Name

One detail that rarely leaks ahead of WWDC is Apple's name for the next version of macOS. Apple uses California landmarks for its Mac software, and there are still plenty to choose from. "Project Big Bear" is the name of the hashmoji file that Apple shared on X, so macOS Big Bear is a possibility. If ‌macOS 27‌ focuses on bugs and is a "Snow Leopard" update, Apple could pick macOS Emerald after Emerald Bay.

Emerald Bay is a small bay off of Lake Tahoe, and it would be a fitting choice. "Snow Leopard" followed "Leopard," and using the same kind of linked name would be a strong signal of Apple's commitment to performance improvements in the ‌macOS 27‌ update.

Launch Date

‌macOS 27‌ will be available for developers after the June 8 WWDC keynote event. A public beta will follow in July, and the software will see a public launch in the fall.
This article, "5+ New Features Coming in macOS 27" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

We have four days to go until Apple's WWDC keynote event begins on Monday, June 8. iOS 27 has been the focus of most of the rumors, but we're also going to get a new version of macOS, macOS 27.


Some of the same features that are coming in ‌iOS 27‌ will come to ‌macOS 27‌, like the new version of Siri and the dedicated ‌Siri‌ app, but we want to hear from MacRumors readers. What are you hoping to see in ‌macOS 27‌?

Do you want updates to Liquid Glass? Changes to multitasking? Bug fixes? Better external display support? Improved memory management since no one can afford RAM anymore?

Guessing the name Apple will choose for the next version of macOS is always fun. There are still plenty of California landmarks for Apple to choose from, and the filename of Apple's hashmoji for the event on X hints that macOS Big Bear is a possibility.

Let us know what name you think Apple will pick, and tell us your most wanted features in the comments below.
This article, "macOS 27 Wishlist: What Do You Want From Apple at WWDC 2026?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone accessory maker Ugreen recently came out with a new Nexode Air charger and MagFlow Air power bank, two products that are designed for Apple users.

MagFlow Air

The $60 MagFlow Air is a 10,000mAh Qi2 power bank that also has a built-in USB-C cable. The power bank is 4.4 inches long, 2.75 inches wide, and 0.55 inches thick. It has some weight to it, and feels like a good quality device. It's about the same weight as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It's close in size and design to Anker's MagGo, which is $20 more expensive at $80.


The MagFlow Air has a clever design. It's a Qi2 charger so you can charge your iPhone wirelessly, but there's also a pull-out braided USB-C cable that unclips from the bottom corner. When it's clipped in, it serves as a lanyard. There's another USB-C port at the bottom for charging the power bank or charging a third device (though you can also charge it with the built-in cable). It does support passthrough charging, so you can connect it to a power adapter and then plug in an iPhone. With this setup, the iPhone charges first and then the power bank charges.

I would not choose Qi charging over USB-C charging when there's a choice, but it's useful to have both in case you need to charge two devices at one time. I am a fan of built-in cables, and this one seems well-attached. It takes some force to pull the cable out, so it stays in place when it's used as a carrying strap. The cable is not removable, and it is not replaceable. Ugreen says it has been bent over 10,000 times in testing with no issue.

Qi2 charges a compatible iPhone at up to 15W, and it's not the fastest wireless charging available. You can get up to 25W with one of Apple's MagSafe chargers or a Qi2.2 charger. The magnets in the MagFlow Air are strong, making for a secure connection to an iPhone. It stayed in place when pulling my iPhone out of a pocket.


USB-C charging is faster at 30W, and if you use the USB-C cable instead of the Qi2 charger, you can fast charge your iPhone. You can attach the charger via ‌MagSafe‌ and plug it in, which is useful because it combines USB-C charging speeds with the convenience of a magnetic attachment. An iPhone plugged in via the USB-C cable won't charge wirelessly, but the connection remains available.

I have an ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, so 10,000mAh isn't quite enough for two full charges, but it is sufficient for a full charge and then some. The MagFlow Air gets warm when charging an iPhone wirelessly, which is not unusual for a Qi charger.

I tested the space gray aluminum color, but the power bank also comes in blue and white. The back has a soft touch material that won't scratch an iPhone, and that provides grip. A button on the side lights up four LEDs to let you know the charge level. It takes about two hours to charge the MagFlow Air from empty to full over USB-C.

Ugreen says the power bank has "Dymondcell ATL cells with 13-layer protection," "intelligent safety protection," and "Thermal Guard temperature control," which will hopefully keep it from exploding on an airplane (it is under the airline limit of 100Wh). The 13-layer protection is supposed to prevent "overheating, overcurrent, and short circuits" for safer charging.

Ugreen doesn't explain what Dymondcell is, but it has partnered with battery maker Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) and is using ATL lithium-ion batteries. Ugreen's UK site has a little more information, but it doesn't detail what the 13 layers are. The battery cells can apparently withstand a 4mm tungsten steel nail penetration test and survive a 1.43-ton crush resistance test. I can't test those claims, but it sounds impressive.

Nexode Air

Priced at $25, the USB-C Nexode Air is the slimmest 65W charger I've seen to date. It uses GaN, and it's not too far off from the size of the tiny power bricks that Apple used to provide with the iPhone.


The Nexode Air is just over 1.6 inches long, 1.2 inches wide, and 1.3 inches deep. The prongs fold in when it's not in use, making it more compact for travel. I tend to prefer multi-port chargers so I can charge more than one device at a time, but if you need a single charger for a Mac or another device, it's a good option.

Ugreen's 65W Nexode Air next to 30W Apple USB-C charger

I tested a space gray version that charges at 65W, but it also comes in 45W and in orange, white, and blue to match Apple's ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models. 65W is enough to fast charge a MacBook Air, and it also works for iPhones and iPads. It fit well in a plug, left plenty of space to plug in something else, and it charged as expected.

Ugreen includes a color-matched braided USB-C to USB-C cable that feels like it's made well. The cable is 3.3 feet, which is a standard size that usually comes with accessories.

Bottom Line

There are a ton of power banks out there, so the MagFlow Air has a lot of competition. This little Anker Nano is my favorite 10K option, but the MagFlow Air is growing on me. I like the magnetic connection with the option to charge over USB-C because it's a combo that most power banks don't offer.

$60 is on the high side for a 10K power bank, but with the built-in cable and the Qi2 magnetic charging, it's priced competitively with other trusted brands.

As for the Nexode Air, it's a good little USB-C power adapter if you need a pocketable single-device charging option.

How to Buy

The 65W Nexode Air is available from Amazon for $25. The MagFlow Air is available from Amazon for $60.

Note: Ugreen provided MacRumors with an MA320UG for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "Ugreen MagFlow Air and Nexode Air Review: A Power Bank and Charger Built for iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

With developers and members of the media soon to arrive at the Apple Park campus for WWDC 2026, Apple has added new merchandise to the store at the ‌Apple Park‌ Visitor Center.


Mr. Macintosh shared images of the new items, including crewneck sweatshirts with the classic Apple Garamond text featuring rainbow lettering, hats with a rainbow Apple logo, and water bottles in gray and white.


He also said Apple is using new merchandise drawers at the ‌Apple Park‌ Visitor Center to hold the ‌WWDC 2026‌ gear.

The ‌Apple Park‌ Visitor Center sells Apple-branded gear unavailable at other Apple retail stores. Apple regularly introduces new T-shirt and sweatshirt designs, and it sells water bottles, notebooks, pens, and other small items.

‌Apple Park‌ is also a full Apple Store with the option to purchase standard Apple products like iPhones, iPads, Macs, and accessories.

Apple invited members of the media and select developers to an in-person ‌WWDC 2026‌ keynote viewing event. WWDC is set to begin on Monday, June 8, which means attendees will be heading to ‌Apple Park‌ in the coming days.
This article, "Apple Park Visitor Center Gets New Merch Ahead of WWDC 2026" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Accessory maker Satechi released its first Thunderbolt 5 dock earlier this year, debuting the $400 Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock. Satechi's dock combines Thunderbolt 5 connectivity with the traditional ports you expect from a dock, plus extra SSD storage thanks to an added SSD enclosure.


Satechi likes to make things shaped like the Mac mini, and the CubeDock gives ‌Mac mini‌ vibes. It's five inches by five inches, and two inches thick, identical to the ‌Mac mini‌. It's silver, so it matches Apple hardware that comes in that shade, and it would pair well with a ‌Mac mini‌.

The front of the dock has a 30W/10Gbps USB-C port, a 7.5W/10Gbps USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and SD and microSD card slots. I like the positioning of the card readers because they're easy to get to. I don't use wired headphones, but if I did, I'd also appreciate having that front audio jack. 30W charging for the front USB-C port is useful too, because 30W is enough to fast charge an iPhone and charge an iPad or MacBook Air.


The back has a 2.5Gb Ethernet port, an 80/120Gbps Thunderbolt 5 host port to connect to a Mac, three additional 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5 ports (with 15W each for accessories), a 10Gbps 4.5W USB-A port, a 10Gbps 7.5W USB-C port, and a DC port for connecting the power supply. The CubeDock provides 140W for a MacBook,can charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro at the fastest speed.


At the bottom of the CubeDock, there's a panel that can be popped out to add in up to an 8TB NVMe SSD. It supports 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 sizes with transfer speeds of up to 6000MB/s, depending on the SSD used. The CubeDock has an SSD enclosure, but it does not come with SSD storage. You need to buy an internal SSD separately if you want to use the enclosure, and SSDs aren't cheap right now.


I installed a 2TB SSD in the slot at the bottom of the CubeDock. There's a plastic cover that comes off, and the SSD plugs in underneath. It's held in place with a screw, but the installation process was a little annoying because the screw needs to be positioned before the SSD is inserted. Satechi includes a thermal pad, which I added before closing it back up. My Mac recognized the SSD in the enclosure just as it would any other SSD I plugged in.


There is a fan in the CubeDock that circulates air, along with vent holes at the sides. It has an LED power button on the front, and it charges with an included 180W power supply. The power supply is not built into the dock and is instead an external brick. Satechi also includes a Thunderbolt 5 cable to connect the dock to a Mac.

I don't generally mind the sound of fans, but the CubeDock's fans have a subtle electronic whine that bothers me. I know some people can't hear that high-pitched electronic noise, but I can, and in a quiet room, it's the audio equivalent of having a pebble stuck in my shoe. I can't hear the sound when the TV is on, when music is playing, or when my AC is running. Anker's Thunderbolt 5 Dock has fans and had a similar noise, but fanless models like the CalDigit TS5 Plus are silent.

With the fans, the CubeDock doesn't get blazingly hot, but it is warm to the touch. The temperature is closer to a hand warmer on a cold day than scorching coffee. I didn't notice a temperature difference testing with the SSD installed and without it.


The CubeDock supports up to three 8K displays at 60Hz, but Satechi says 8K is limited to Windows machines. The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips do support 8K displays, but I don't have one to test with.

What I do have on hand is a 5K Studio Display and a 32-inch 4K 120Hz OLED display, both of which the CubeDock can handle with no problem. I plugged in two iPhones to charge, put in an SD card, and connected two SSDs, and transferred large files. I had no issues with the CubeDock under this stress test, and everything also worked during day-to-day testing.

The benefit of a dock like the CubeDock is being able to plug in multiple displays, peripherals, and accessories while only having one cable connected to a Mac. I can tuck the CubeDock under a display, route the cables out the back, and keep my desk neater with less cable clutter. I felt like the CubeDock had a good number of ports for everyday use, and I wasn't missing anything. It has fewer USB-C and USB-A ports than some other docks that it competes with, but I have few enough USB-A devices that even two USB-A ports felt like one too many.

The Apple silicon chip you have determines the number of displays that the CubeDock can drive over a single Thunderbolt port. M5 Pro and M5 Max Macs can drive three displays at 6K/60Hz with Satechi's dock. M4 Max, M4 Pro and earlier Pro/Max chips support up to two external displays with the CubeDock (up to 6K/60Hz).


Pro/Max Macs can generally support more than two external displays, but you need to use more than one Thunderbolt port. I have two displays connected to an M1 Max with the CubeDock, and a third display plugged into a different Thunderbolt port.

Base M1 and M2 Macs support a single external display over Thunderbolt, but base M4 and M5 Macs can drive two. The M3 is complicated because an M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ can support two displays, but only in clamshell mode. It's best to check Satechi's website for compatibility info to make sure you can connect what you want to connect.

Bottom Line

Satechi's dock lets you connect multiple displays, peripherals, and accessories to your Mac with one cable, offering easy plug-and-play functionality. The addition of an SSD enclosure helps differentiate the CubeDock from competing products. It puts the ports most people need right up front, and hides the rest away for desk organization.

The CubeDock is one of the better looking options on the market because of how well it matches Apple's aesthetic, and it doesn't run as hot as docks without a fan included. Unfortunately, the fan noise can be distracting for people who are sensitive to certain sounds.

With two generations of Thunderbolt 5 Macs now available, there's more reason to choose a Thunderbolt 5 over a Thunderbolt 4 dock. Compared to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5 offers double the bandwidth (80Gbps instead of 40Gbps) and up to 120Gbps for display-heavy setups.

If you have a newer Mac that supports Thunderbolt 5 and need extra ports, a Thunderbolt 5 dock makes the most sense. If you have an older Mac and are trying to decide between Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 5 is the better choice if you're going to upgrade anytime in the next couple of years.

How to Buy

The Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure can be purchased from the Satechi website or from Amazon.com for $399.99.

Note: Satechi provided MacRumors with a CubeDock for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Satechi and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
This article, "Satechi CubeDock Review: A Thunderbolt 5 Dock That Doubles as an SSD Enclosure" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Siri is getting a major overhaul in iOS 27, but Apple also has some big updates planned for apps like Camera, Photos, and Wallet. There are multiple new AI features in the works, plus some non-AI upgrades.

Camera

Apple is moving Visual Intelligence from the Camera Control button to the Camera app in iOS 27, according to Bloomberg. There will be a Siri mode that will be available alongside the existing Photo, Video, Portrait, and Panorama modes. When in Siri mode, the existing Camera app shutter button will feature the Apple Intelligence logo, letting users know the Siri features are available.

Siri mode is a renaming of Visual Intelligence, and it will make the feature more visible. Accessing Visual Intelligence in iOS 26 requires users to hold down the Camera Control button or assign the feature to the Action button, and many people may not even know it exists.

Visual Intelligence can identify objects, plants, animals, art, books, and more, searching for whatever the user snaps on Google Image Search. In iOS 27, Siri will be able to answer questions about what a user is looking at, providing information from the web.

Apple is adding new Visual Intelligence capabilities in iOS 27, and they will be available through the Camera app Siri mode.

• Nutrition - Users can scan nutrition labels on food packaging for calorie and macronutrient tracking using the Health app.


• Contacts - Visual Intelligence will let users scan phone numbers and addresses on business cards and other print media, adding the information to the Contacts app.

Apple plans to make the Camera app more customizable in iOS 27. iPhone users will be able to replace the top row of camera shortcuts with options of their choosing, selecting features like flash, exposure, timer, depth of field, photo styles, and resolution.

Camera controls, now labeled as widgets, can be placed at the top of the Camera interface in any order. Users can select widgets from a transparent widget tray that comes up from the bottom of the app and organizes widgets into categories like basic, manual, and settings.

The Camera app will have the same default layout that's available now with quick tap buttons for flash, Live Photos, and Night Mode, but the customizable widget interface will be added as an advanced layout that will appeal to professional users.

iPhone users can currently tap on an icon at the top right of the Camera app to access all of the Camera controls, but Apple is moving that view to the right of the shutter button in iOS 27.

The Camera app is also going to get new grid and level options that will join the existing features.

Photos

The Photos app will have an Apple Intelligence Tools section when editing an image with new Extend and Reframe options.

• Extend - Extend generates additional image content beyond the original frame of the photo, filling in scenery when changing the crop of an image. This tool will support expanding the edges of an image with zoom gestures.


• Reframe - When used with spatial photos, Reframe will let users change the perspective of an image after it's captured.

Apple is also testing an AI photo editing feature that lets users request edits using natural language. Users would be able to tweak color, lighting, cropping, and other image parameters without having to use manual tools. The voice-based photo editing feature may not arrive in the first version of iOS 27.

Shortcuts

The iOS 27 Shortcuts app will support using natural language to create a shortcut with AI. Users will be able to tell Siri what they want to accomplish with a multi-step shortcut, and Siri will generate it.

The Shortcuts app will open with a prompt that says "What do you want your shortcut to do?" with a text field to enter a description. Shortcuts that are created using AI are then automatically installed and immediately available for use.

Wallet

The Wallet app is getting a "Create a Pass" option so users can generate digital passes from scans of physical items like movie tickets, concert passes, and gym membership cards.

Users can tap on the "+" button in the Wallet app and then scan a QR code on a pass or ticket if one is available. If there is no QR code available, there will be an option to create a custom pass.

There are three pass types in Create a Pass, each with a different color. Apple is using purple for events, blue for memberships, and orange for other types of passes. Users can customize images, colors, style, and text on the digital passes.

Apple is also adding an AI bill-splitting feature that will work with Apple Cash. iPhone users will be able to take a photo of a receipt and generate Apple Cash payment requests for different people.

Image Playground and Genmoji

Apple is updating the Image Playground app. The interface for generating a new image has fewer controls and a "describe a change" option for editing images that are created. Previously created images are displayed in a grid with more rounded edges, and instead of a New Image button, there's a "+" button.

Apple has also been testing new models that produce more lifelike images, so we could see new image generation capabilities in iOS 27 with better image quality.

Genmoji is also getting an update so it will use fewer resources, causing less battery drain and fewer heat problems. Genmoji will be better quality with a new Genmoji model, and a Suggested Genmoji feature will bring up custom emoji ideas based on your media and text history.

Writing Tools

Apple is testing an expanded version of Writing Tools that will do more rewriting and text generation than the current version. There is a "Write with Siri" toggle at the top of the keyboard, along with a "Help Me Write" option that comes up when Siri is activated while a text field is open.

Apple is going to add a dedicated AI grammar checker that will work alongside the current spell check. When writing in Messages, Mail, and other apps there will be a translucent menu that slides up from the bottom of the iPhone's screen, and it will show suggested revisions next to the original written text.

Users can go through the suggestions and accept or reject them one by one, approve all of the changes at once, or ignore the changes.

Other Features

• Wallpaper - There will be an option to generate custom wallpapers with the Image Playground app, with the feature built into the interface for selecting a new wallpaper.


• Safari - Safari will get an updated start page with four tabs for switching between favorites, bookmarks, Reading List, and history.


• Calendar - Rumors suggest the Calendar app will incorporate new AI features. Siri will also be able to draw on information in the app.


• Health - With a new calorie scanning feature coming to the Camera app, calorie tracking will be more prominent in the Health app. Apple was also planning a Health+ subscription service, and while that's been scaled back, there could be other AI health app changes.


• Weather - The Weather app will have a new Conditions panel for switching between temperature, rain, and wind from the main interface, without the need to tap into a weather module.


• AirPods settings - The AirPods interface in the Settings app will be simplified, with options featuring better organization. Major features like hearing health will be easier to find.


• AirPlay Alternatives - Apple is adding a feature that will let users beam content to AirPlay alternatives like Google Cast. It could be limited to iPhone users in the EU because it is being implemented as a Digital Markets Act requirement.

System-Wide Design Changes

There are system-wide design changes coming in iOS 27. The separate tab bar in apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, News, and Apple TV will be adjusted to combine search with the other navigation options. Apple separated search in many apps when introducing Liquid Glass, but it's reverting to the original look.

When using the on-screen keyboard, there's a new animation that shows the keys sliding up from the bottom of the iPhone interface, and Apple is adding redo and undo controls for easier customization of the Home Screen's icon and widget layouts.



Apple doesn't plan to make major changes to the Liquid Glass aesthetic in iOS 27, but the company is mulling a system-wide setting that would precisely adjust the look of the interface. In iOS 26.2, Apple added a slider that lets users adjust the opacity of Liquid Glass for the Lock Screen's clock, and that setting could be expanded to the entire operating system.

Foldable iPhone Interface

The first foldable iPhone will be introduced in September. Rumors suggest that it will feature a 5.5-inch display when folded, and a 7.8-inch display when it's opened up like a book.



An iPhone with a larger display will require major updates to iOS, and iOS 27 will focus on building new interfaces and experiences made for a larger smartphone display.

The iPhone Fold will operate like a cross between an iPhone and an iPad, but it will run iOS, not iPadOS, and it won't support iPad apps, according to Bloomberg. When unfolded, the iPhone will have an iPad-like layout that supports multitasking with two apps side-by-side. Many of Apple's iPhone apps will have sidebars on the left of the display, with Apple providing developers with tools to easily adapt their apps to the new layout.

Apple is using a wider design for the iPhone Fold than most foldable smartphone makers have used, and it is rumored to have an iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio. When the iPhone is closed, it will have a standard iPhone layout that looks like the version of iOS we have now.

Satellite Features

Apple is working on several new satellite features for the iPhone, and it's possible some features could be introduced as soon as 2027.

• Apple Maps via satellite


• Photos in Messages via satellite


• Satellite API framework for third-party apps


• Satellite over 5G


• Satellite connectivity without the need for a view of the sky

Performance and Stability

Bloomberg has described iOS 27 as a "Snow Leopard" update, suggesting that Apple will focus on improving underlying performance and quality.

Apple is prioritizing cleaning up the iOS code and removing anything that's outdated, which could mean upgrading apps to improve performance and rewriting some existing features to be more efficient. The code updates could provide a more responsive, faster version of iOS.

Apple is also aiming for efficiency improvements that could translate into tangible battery life gains.

Launch Date

Apple will preview the new iOS features at its WWDC 2026 keynote event on June 8. Developers will get access the same day, and a public beta will likely be available in July. iOS 27 will launch in September alongside new iPhones.
This article, "iOS 27: All the Rumored App Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Bluetti's Elite 10 Mini Power Station is larger than your average iPhone or iPad power bank, but it's still small enough to be portable. It's ideal for camping, day trips, barbecues, or to have on hand in case of a power outage. It's also a design that works well on a desktop thanks to the included ports.


The Elite 10 has a 128Wh capacity, which is enough to charge a MacBook Neo almost three times, a MacBook Pro 1.5 times, or a MacBook Air twice. It can charge an iPhone or an ‌iPad‌ multiple times, and it supports charging multiple devices at one time too. It can power devices that draw as much as 200W and it has 300W surge capacity with 400W lifting power, so it's more than adequate for Apple products. You can plug in anything that is under 200W, so it's not going to work for things like blow dryers or heaters, but it can power all kinds of small electronics.

There's a single AC outlet on the right side of the charger, plus two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and a 12V DC port at the front. One of the USB-C ports offers up to 100W charging, so you can charge a Mac, ‌iPad‌, or iPhone directly with that port without the need for a power adapter. The other USB-C port is 15W, as are the two USB-A ports. As with other Bluetti chargers, you need to press the AC or DC buttons to turn on power to the ports, a feature that prevents unnecessary power draw in standby mode.


Bluetti sells the Elite 10 in a standard gray shade or a light green that's a fun match with the bright colors of the ‌MacBook Neo‌. It's made from plastic, but it's weighty and feels durable. The Elite 10 is 7.9 inches long, 5.8 inches wide, and 4.3 inches tall, so it's not something you're going to want to carry around in a backpack as a daily charger, but it is small enough to keep in the car for emergencies, and at four pounds, it's not too heavy to bring on a trip to the park or the beach.

There's a carrying handle at the top of the Elite 10, and it has built-in fans to keep it cool. The fans are barely noticeable unless you're drawing power at full capacity, and even then, they're quiet. An LED display lets you know the Elite 10's capacity, how much power is being sent to a device, and how much longer the battery will last. Alternatively, you can use the Bluetti app to see that information.


There is a built-in LED light strip at the back that offers cold light, warm light, and a flashing emergency light that can stay on for up to 50 hours. The light is bright enough to light up a tent or a small space. I'm a fan of the LED strip in the Elite 10 because it's a feature that not too many power stations offer.

I've been testing the Elite 10 since December 2025, and I have no complaints. It's worked as intended, and it's a charger that I like to keep on my desktop. I've also brought it outside to charge up smart bird feeders, and it's come on day trips. I did most of my testing of the Elite 10 back in December, but I wanted to see how it would work as a power station that's just tucked away until it's needed in an emergency.


I charged it to full in January, made sure it was off, then stuck it in my closet and left it alone. I was curious about whether it could hold a charge across multiple months, and it does. When I pulled it out of the closet on May 15, it was still at 100 percent charge. It's not ideal to leave a battery at a 100 percent charge for long periods, but if you charge it up and forget about it until a power outage, it's still good to go. Draining it to about 90 percent and then checking in on it every six months or so should be enough if you just want an in-case-of-emergency device that you don't have to think about often. Bluetti says that the LiFePO4 battery inside will last for over 3,000 cycles while remaining above 80 percent total capacity.

UPS mode is supported for uninterrupted power during an outage. You can plug the Elite 10 into a power source and then plug in a computer or router. If the power goes out, it takes 10ms for the Elite 10 to provide power to your computer or router, so your device won't shut off. When you're using it for that purpose, it supports 350W max bypass charging, so it will work for some PC setups. I tested with my router and with a light, and it did swap over as quickly as advertised.

The Elite 10 can be charged with a standard outlet (and a charging cable is included), a car (adapter sold separately), or up to a 100W solar panel. It supports simultaneous AC + solar charging too at up to 150W. With AC power, it can charge at 150W, reaching 100 percent in just over an hour.


Bluetti says that the Elite 10 is in the airline-approved range for carry-on batteries, but I'm not sure I'd try to bring it on a plane. The last few times I've flown in the U.S., flight attendants have been wary of portable batteries and there's now a rule that they must be visible and in reach at all times.

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a portable charger that's still big enough to power multiple iPhones, a couple of iPads, or a MacBook and an iPhone, the Elite 10 is a good option. It's light enough and small enough to bring on short trips, and it's also ideal for keeping in the car or on hand for power outages.

How to Buy

Bluetti's Elite 10 Mini Power Station can be purchased from the Bluetti website or from Amazon for $120.

Note: Bluetti provided MacRumors with an Elite 10 Mini Power Station for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Bluetti and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
This article, "Bluetti Elite 10 Mini Power Station Review: Small, Capable, and Apple-Friendly" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums