Apple Invites was updated today with two minor features related to RSVPing to an invite: hosts and guests can now react with emoji when someone replies to an event, and a confetti animation now appears when guests reply.


Version 1.10 of the app also contains bug fixes and performance improvements, according to Apple. The update is available now in the App Store.

Released for the iPhone in February 2025, the Apple Invites app makes it easy to invite people to events, such as birthday parties and baby showers. The ability to create an event in the app requires subscribing to an iCloud+ plan with at least 50GB of storage, but anyone who receives an event link can RSVP for free on any device.
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Apple today updated its TestFlight app with a search field for quickly finding apps that you are beta testing, along with bug fixes and performance improvements.

TestFlight version 4.3 is available now in the App Store.
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Best Buy today is offering customers a chance to get $160 off every model of the iPhone Air during its Black Friday in July event.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You can get the 256GB iPhone Air for $839.99 ($160 off), and this is an unlocked model available in all colors. The retailer is also offering the 512GB model for $1,039.99 and the 1TB model for $1,239.99, both $160 off.



Additionally, Amazon is back with an all-time low price on the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery, available for $59.00, down from $99.00.



The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is only compatible with the iPhone Air, and it can add up to 65 percent additional charge to the smartphone. The MagSafe Battery supports up to 12W of fast wireless charging, and it sports a thin and light design similar to the iPhone Air.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple addressed a vulnerability in Hide My Email that exposed a user's real email address, reports 404 Media. Apple told the site the issue was fully fixed in a patch released on July 3.


The Hide My Email vulnerability was brought to Apple's attention in June 2025, but the company did not fix it until 404 Media publicized the bug in early July.

EasyOptOuts co-founder Tyler Murphy, who first reported the flaw to Apple, said he was told it was under investigation. Apple told him the vulnerability was fixed in March 2026, but it had not been. In the following months, Apple said it was again looking into the problem, but Murphy was unconvinced Apple would actually address it, so he contacted 404 Media to make it public.

404 Media confirmed the vulnerability has been patched, and has now shared details on how it worked, since it can no longer be exploited. Hide My Email is a paid iCloud+ feature that lets users create an anonymous email address for website sign-ups and email correspondence.

Sending a targeted Hide My Email user a message that got rejected as spam caused the person's real email address to appear in email logs.

"We don't know how often hidden email addresses were leaked in email logs. For many major email hosts, the leak was triggered simply by an email being automatically rejected as spam, even if it was a legitimate message. Such emails probably didn't make it to your inbox, so you can't review your spam folder to learn whether you were affected," Murphy and EasyOptOuts co-founder Ben Weiner said in a new statement.

"The bug that caused Apple's Hide My Email to leak hidden email addresses to senders has been fixed. However, we don't think the risk to Hide My Email users has been eliminated. Because non-malicious emails could bounce, revealing your hidden email address, and because mail transfer logs are often retained, we'd assume that any hidden email address linked to a Hide My Email address created before July 7, 2026, may have been exposed and could still be in third-party logs," they added.

While the bug has now been addressed, email logs that pre-date the fix could still expose user email addresses.

Apple has been sued over the Hide My Email flaw, and the plaintiffs are seeking class action status. The lawsuit says Apple violated California's false advertising law and other consumer protection statutes because Apple knew Hide My Email did not work as advertised.
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Apple today highlighted the SOS feature in the Apple Watch, publishing a short video featuring a man named Phil, who crashed while mountain biking.


Phil was biking with his two young children when he had an accident and was knocked unconscious. His Apple Watch detected the fall, calling emergency services and alerting his wife.

He ended up breaking his collarbone and seven ribs, but was able to receive help quickly because his watch gave emergency services his location. Phil was in the hospital for a week, and at the end of the video, he said "Just really glad that I had my Apple Watch on."

The Apple Watch is able to detect serious falls and vehicle crashes, getting help when the wearer is unconscious or unable to get help on their own. It calls emergency services automatically, and alerts a person's emergency contacts.
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After launching a new "Apple Upgrade" program next week, Apple plans to stop accepting new iPhone Upgrade Program sign-ups, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

It remains to be seen if existing iPhone Upgrade Program members will be able to remain enrolled in the program beyond their current terms, or if they will be migrated to the Apple Upgrade program at some point. One key difference, according to the report: Apple Upgrade will not bundle in AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss coverage, which should result in a lower monthly payment. AppleCare+ will remain available separately, with upfront, annual, and monthly payment options.
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Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" leasing program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during the term, upgrade early to a newer device, or keep or return the existing device after the term.

The report said some lower-priced devices, including the Apple Watch SE, the entry-level iPad, the iPhone 16, and the MacBook Neo, will not be eligible.

Klarna is a popular "buy now, pay later" service, similar to Affirm. Apple Upgrade will require a soft credit check, and additional fees may apply in some cases.

Apple plans to stop accepting new iPhone Upgrade Program sign-ups once the new Apple Upgrade program launches, the report added. Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program, however, Apple Upgrade will apparently not include AppleCare+ coverage.

Apple plans to advertise the program as a way to have lower monthly payments compared to current financing programs, according to the report, so it sounds like Apple Upgrade will be a rebranded, all-in-one program that replaces the iPhone Upgrade Program and some other standard financing options that the company has offered.
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Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable iPhone are less than two months away from being unveiled, with the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 expected to follow in spring 2027 as part of the company's new split-launch strategy. We've looked back at everything we know so far, and ranked the most consistent rumors, followed by the more speculative ones.

Solid Rumors

• iPhone Air 2 With Two Cameras – The second-generation iPhone Air is reportedly in advanced testing with an Ultra Wide camera joining the existing Main camera. The overall design is expected to remain largely unchanged apart from the additional lens.


• New iPhone 18 Pro Colors – Dark Cherry is expected to be this year's signature finish, accompanied by Light Blue, Silver, and a Dark Gray option. The four colors have appeared in dummy-model images that corroborate earlier reports.


• iPhone 18 Pro Variable Aperture Lens – Both Pro models are expected to gain a variable aperture for the 48-megapixel Main camera. This would let the camera adjust how much light reaches the sensor and provide users with greater control over exposure and depth of field.


• More RAM for iPhone 18 – Reports disagree over whether the standard iPhone 18 will have 9GB or 12GB of RAM, but both amounts would be an increase over the iPhone 17's 8GB. The additional memory would support some of the more advanced on-device Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 27.


• iPhone 18 Pro Battery Life – Leaked capacities suggest larger batteries for Apple's premium models, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max potentially reaching around 5,567mAh outside of China. A more efficient 2nm A20 Pro chip and LTPO+ display could deliver a more noticeable improvement in actual battery life.


• Book-Style Foldable Design – Apple's first foldable is consistently described as a short, wide, book-style device with an approximately 5.5-inch outer screen and 7.8-inch inner display. It is expected to use a 4:3 aspect ratio and resemble a small iPad when unfolded. It has been compared to "two titanium iPhone Airs side by side."


• New Apple-Designed Modems – The foldable iPhone and at least international versions of iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to use Apple's faster second-generation C2 modem, which could come with support for 5G satellite connectivity. However, if the C2 lacks mmWave capability (which is not a feature of the C1 or C1X), Apple is expected to opt for a Qualcomm modem instead for the U.S. market.


• Higher Prices – Rising memory and storage costs make price increases likely across the iPhone 18 lineup. Analysts estimate that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could start at $1,299 and $1,399, respectively – $200 more than their predecessors – while the foldable iPhone is expected to cost north of $2,000.

Possibly, Maybe

• iPhone Air 2 Battery Life – One leaker claims the iPhone Air 2 will have a 3,500 mAh battery, an increase of around 11 percent over the current model. The 2nm A20 chip and a potentially thinner display could provide further efficiency or make room for the larger cell.


• Only Two Foldable Colors – Some reports point to only two understated finishes for the foldable iPhone. White or silver appears most likely, while the darker option has variously been described as indigo, space gray, or black.


• Smaller Dynamic Island – Alleged prototypes, screen protectors, and CAD images of the iPhone 18 Pro depict a Dynamic Island around 35 percent narrower than on current iPhone 17 models. Other reports say Apple considered both designs or may have postponed the change until next year's models due to challenges with Face ID components, so this rumor remains ambiguous.


• Thicker Camera Plateau – Dummy models suggest the iPhone 18 Pro Max's camera plateau could increase from 11.23mm to 11.54mm. A separate report says the smaller iPhone 18 Pro's camera housing will also become thicker, but no precise measurement has been shared.


• Simplified Camera Control – Apple is reportedly removing the capacitive sensing layer from Camera Control in future iPhones and instead relying solely on pressure sensitivity. The change could eliminate swipe gestures and accidental adjustments while reducing manufacturing and repair costs.


• Crease-Free Foldable Display – Apple is said to have reduced the inner display's crease to less than 0.15mm deep, making it almost invisible during normal use. More recent rumors appear to acknowledge that some physical crease may be unavoidable, so "nearly crease-free" is probably more realistic than completely crease-free.


• iPhone Ultra Naming – Recent rumors have increasingly referred to the foldable as the "iPhone Ultra," which would suit its expected position above the Pro Max. There is still no firm evidence of the final name, and "iPhone Fold" remains another, albeit outside possibility.

Seems Unlikely

• iPhone 18 Pro Teleconverter – A single report claims Apple has evaluated a teleconverter that would increase the camera's effective focal length. The claim comes from a relatively new Apple leaker, and it remains unclear how such a system would work inside an iPhone.


• Hole-Punch Selfie Camera – An early report from The Information said the iPhone 18 Pro would abandon the Dynamic Island for a top-left hole-punch camera. Subsequent reports instead point to either a smaller centered Dynamic Island or no change, making the hole-punch design look increasingly doubtful.


• iPhone 18 Downgrades – One leaker claims Apple will reduce the standard iPhone 18's display and chip specifications to control costs, potentially sharing more components with the iPhone 18e. The report has little corroboration and conflicts with expectations for a 2nm A20 chip and additional RAM.


• Foldable UDC Front Lens – The foldable's inner display has been rumored to contain a 24-megapixel under-display camera (UDC), but other information suggests the technology will not be ready this year. Apple may instead use visible hole-punch cameras on both the inner and outer displays.


• Goodbye, SIM Tray – The foldable iPhone itself is widely expected to be eSIM-only, but the SIM tray does not appear ready to disappear from the entire lineup. Battery capacity rumors still list physical-SIM variants of the iPhone 18 Pro for China, Hong Kong, and other markets.

What are you most looking forward to in the iPhone 18 lineup? Let us know in the comments below. For more rumors, check out our iPhone 18, iPhone Fold, iPhone Air, and iPhone 18 Pro roundups, which we update regularly.
This article, "iPhone 18 Rumor Reality Check: 20 Claims Ranked by Likelihood" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $449.00. This is now the best price we've seen on the iPad since Apple's price hikes in June.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Additionally, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $499.00 ($50 off) and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad for $699.00 ($50 off). Free delivery estimates are placed around July 26 for most of these iPad models, but Prime members should be able to get same-day delivery in many locations.





If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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iOS 27 includes a rebuilt search architecture for Siri AI. As a result, iPhones running the iOS 27 beta go through a re-indexing process that can take many days to be completed, but iOS 26.6 should help to speed things up for users who skip the beta.

iOS 26.6 "optimizes the Spotlight index to prepare for iOS 27," according to Apple's release notes for the update, which will likely be released next week. iOS 26.6 also fixes various bugs and security vulnerabilities.
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Apple's principal chipmaker TSMC plans to raise prices by as much as 10 percent starting in 2027, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia.


The Taiwan-based foundry has reportedly held talks with clients about base price increases of 5 to 10 percent, covering both mature nodes and the more advanced processes at 7-nanometers and below that Apple relies on for its A-series and M-series chips. Negotiations began in June and were finalized this month, according to the publication's sources, with the new pricing set to take effect at the start of 2027.

Customers placing additional high-performance computing orders beyond their original forecasts will face a further 10 to 15 percent premium, which could lead to some advanced chip orders costing more than 10 percent extra overall.

The increased prices are said to reflect rising costs for materials, manufacturing equipment, and construction of new overseas chip plants.

TSMC reportedly decided to delay the hikes until 2027 to give customers time to adjust after negotiations concluded. The company declined to comment on the reported prices, but told Nikkei Asia that its general market approach was "strategic, not opportunistic."

Apple is TSMC's largest customer, and the timing means higher chip costs would come in the same year that Apple is rumored to launch additional iPhone 18 models as well as its 20th anniversary iPhone models. Whether Apple absorbs the increases or passes them along to customers remains to be seen. Apple last month dramatically increased device prices across multiple product lines, which CEO Tim Cook called "unavoidable," citing the soaring cost of memory and storage chips.
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Apple is reportedly prototyping a larger iPhone display measuring roughly 6.96 inches, which would likely be marketed as a 7-inch panel if it reaches production.


According to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing the display internally in preparation for the 20th anniversary iPhone, which is expected to launch next year. The leaker said that the screen ratio is the same as the current iPhone 17 Pro Max, but whether the display is ultimately used in the iPhone 20 Pro Max remains unconfirmed at this stage.

Last month, Bloomberg reported that Apple had started ramping up work on two sizes of the 20th anniversary iPhone. Multiple rumors have suggested the device will have an edge-to-edge display with curved glass at all sides for a nearly borderless visual effect.

This year's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max models are expected to be the same dimensions as the current iPhone 17 Pro models, which are available in 6.3- and 6.9-inch sizes.

Apple last increased the size of its premium iPhone displays with the iPhone 16 Pro lineup in 2024. The iPhone 16 Pro grew from 6.1 to 6.3 inches, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max increased from 6.7 to 6.9 inches, thanks to slimmer bezels and slightly larger chassis dimensions.

Today's rumor is the first time that we have heard of any plans to increase the display size for Apple's 2027 commemorative iPhone.
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Samsung today announced the launch of its first credit card in the United States, debuting the Samsung Galaxy Card in partnership with Barclays.


The Samsung Galaxy Card works as a standard Visa card and offers special financing options for Samsung Galaxy devices purchased through Samsung. Apple Card has a similar financing option for Apple devices.

There is no annual fee for the Samsung Galaxy Card, and cardmembers earn 5% cash rewards on in-store or online purchases made directly from Samsung in the U.S. There are 3% cash rewards on purchases made using Samsung Wallet, 2% cash rewards on streaming service purchases like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify, and 1% on everything else.

New users can earn $200 in cash rewards after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of opening an account, and get a 20% discount on the Samsung VIP Advantage membership when using a Galaxy Card. ‌Apple Card‌ has 3% cash back for Apple purchases and purchases from select merchants, 2% for Apple Pay purchases, and 1% for everything else, so Samsung is offering higher cash back amounts.

‌Apple Card‌ is built around Apple's Wallet app, and the same is true for the Galaxy Card. It is integrated into Samsung Wallet, and the app can be used for account management. Samsung Wallet also houses passes, IDs, and digital keys, much like the Apple Wallet app.

Barclays says the Samsung Galaxy Card is its first digital wallet-native credit card, with no separate banking app. Apple worked with Goldman Sachs for the ‌Apple Card‌, but Goldman Sachs is exiting the partnership and JPMorgan Chase is taking over as issuer in a transition that will run through 2027.

After a user applies for the Samsung Galaxy Card and is approved, it is available for use immediately in Samsung Wallet. Samsung will ship out a physical version of the card, which is black metal, the inverse of the white titanium ‌Apple Card‌.

Samsung users can apply for the card online or in Samsung retail stores starting on July 22, which is the date of the Samsung Unpacked event. Samsung is expected to introduce its latest Galaxy foldables at the event.
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Apple is continuing to tweak iOS 27 ahead of its September launch, and the fourth developer beta is available as of today. There are fewer changes than in prior betas, but Apple is still adding new features.

TV App

In the Settings section of the Apple TV app, there's a new Automatic Downloads toggle. Turning it on will automatically download the next two episodes of shows you start in Continue Watching. They'll be deleted when you finish the episodes.

Photos

There is a "Zoom Photos to Fill" toggle in the ‌Photos‌ section of the Settings app. It slightly zooms photos that nearly match the screen's aspect ratio, and it is turned on by default.

Wallpaper

Apple has removed the wallpaper feature that it added in the Notification Center in beta 3. When swiping, you would see a cutout of the subject of your wallpaper on the Home Screen, but that's no longer available.

Siri Voices

The Siri Voice selection interface has changed. On devices without the option to set a customizable voice, it has the custom voice look with voices and accents to select. On devices with custom ‌Siri‌ selections, there are more voices options, which Apple says are coming soon.


The customizable voice for ‌Siri‌ is limited to the iPhone 17 Pro, ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, and iPhone Air right now.

Siri Settings

In the ‌Siri‌ section of the Settings app, there's a new option to adjust the length of previews in the ‌Siri‌ app. You can choose up to five lines, or none.


In Accessibility, there's a new "Always Show Request" toggle that shows a transcription of what you say to ‌Siri‌ on the screen.

Siri Search or Ask

When you swipe down to get to the ‌Siri‌ Search or Ask interface, there's now a splash screen that explains it.

ProRes Log Format

In the Camera section of the Settings app, there's an option to choose a ProRes log format if you toggle Apple ProRes on. You can tap on ProRes Log Video Encoding and select Log or Log 2.


Log 2 is the latest format and retains more information in the file for additional flexibility when editing color and making adjustments after the video is captured.

Wi-Fi Assist

There's an option to enable or disable Connectivity Assist for each Wi-Fi network, regardless of whether the Connectivity Assist master toggle is on.

AirPods

Apple changed the look of AirPods options in Control Center, including adding more options for Adaptive mode.

Dual Battery iPhone References

Code in the fourth beta of ‌iOS 27‌ references an iPhone with two batteries, with strings like "The batteries in this iPhone are performing as expected."



It may hint at the foldable iPhone Ultra, which is expected to have a dual-battery design.

This article, "Everything New in iOS 27 Beta 4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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With the Apple Watch Series 12 now just two months away, we have created a recap of rumored new features, with some more likely than others.


Below, we have outlined everything rumored so far for the Apple Watch Series 12.

More Likely

New Chip After One-Year Hiatus

While the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 all contain the same S10 chip as the previous year's models, leaked Apple code showed the Apple Watch Series 12 will get a new chip. It is unclear if the chip will have S11 or S12 branding, but performance improvements are expected either way after a one-year hiatus.

Longer Battery Life

With the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple is focused on longer battery life, according to a known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Apple says the Series 11 lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.

Less Likely

Touch ID

Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch Series 12, according to leaked Apple code.

Touch ID would likely be built into the Apple Watch's side button, enabling users to unlock the device with their fingerprint instead of a passcode.

Even though new Touch ID references were discovered in the code, there is no guarantee that Apple will move forward with this plan. One leaker has denied the rumor, and credible sources such as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have yet to mention Touch ID coming to the Apple Watch this year.

Band Sensors

Another sketchy rumor from a leaker known as Kosutami claimed that the Apple Watch Series 12 will have a band with at least one health sensor in it, which would be a first. Health sensors are built into the Apple Watch directly on all existing models.
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Apple today provided developers with the fourth beta of an upcoming visionOS 27 update for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after Apple released the third beta.


visionOS 27 can be installed by opening the Settings app, going to Software Updates, and opting into Beta Updates.

visionOS 27 introduces Siri AI, the smarter and more capable version of ‌Siri‌ that's similar in capability to chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude. On the Vision Pro, ‌Siri‌ can answer questions about anything the wearer is looking at, and there's a new ‌Siri‌ orb that can be placed anywhere in wearer's virtual space.

Panorama photos can be turned into spatial environments, and there's a new Icelandic Thórsmörk environment that features dramatic mountains, valleys, and glaciers, along with the northern lights. Web Environment support allows developers to create 360-degree environments in Safari for a more native Vision Pro browsing experience.

App windows are now curved to provide a more immersive workspace, and Control Center has been reorganized to make system controls easier to find. Apple added a smaller widget size, and notifications automatically expand when the wearer looks at them.

More on what's new in visionOS 27 is listed in our Vision Pro roundup.
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The fourth developer beta of iOS 27 has references to an iPhone with two batteries, according to Macworld. New Battery Health strings include mentions of multiple internal batteries, instead of a single battery. MacRumors confirmed the mentions are in the beta.

• "The batteries in this iPhone are performing as expected."


• "The health of the batteries in this iPhone has significantly degraded. An Apple Authorized Service Provider can replace the batteries to restore full performance and capacity."


• "The health of the batteries in this iPhone has significantly degraded, and one of the batteries could not be verified as a genuine Apple battery. An Apple Authorized Service Provider can replace the batteries to restore full performance and capacity."

All of the wording in the Settings app on current iPhone models references a single battery, so the plural phrasing is curious.

Macworld speculates the wording references the foldable "iPhone Ultra" Apple is working on. Prior rumors suggest the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ will use two battery cells with 1,921mAh and 2,962mAh capacities for a total of 4,883mAh. Foldable smartphones typically have two batteries, with one located in each half of the device. Apple is likely to use the same design.

The ‌iOS 27‌ strings suggest the batteries in the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ could be serviceable separately, so a single failing cell could be swapped on its own. An option to replace a single degraded cell could lower repair costs.

Apple's ‌iPhone Ultra‌ is expected to debut this September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models.
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Apple today seeded the fourth beta of watchOS 27 to developers, with the update coming two weeks after the launch of the third beta.


The beta can be downloaded through the Watch app on the iPhone with a free developer account. The Apple Watch will need to be on the charger, connected to Wi-Fi, and have a battery level of 50 percent or above for new software to be installed. The beta is available for all Apple Watch models compatible with ‌watchOS 27‌ except for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

‌watchOS 27‌ gains Siri AI, the smarter, more capable version of ‌Siri‌. ‌Siri‌ can hold back-and-forth conversations, plus it has access to general world knowledge and your personal data to answer questions and find information. ‌Siri‌ AI on Apple Watch requires an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, including the iPhone 15 Pro and later.

There's a new Dynamic app grid that highlights ‌Siri‌ suggested apps, and more intuitive Smart Stack Suggestions. You can find your parked car, see pinned messages, get noise alerts, and view identity and transit cards.

Liquid Glass has been updated to improve legibility, and Workout Buddy works on the Apple Watch even when an iPhone isn't nearby. Workout Buddy also gains new metrics like progressive increases to distance, pace, or duration. Apple added a new all-in-one Find My app with support for Precision Finding, and there are performance optimizations that improve battery life.

More on what's new in ‌watchOS 27‌ is available in our watchOS 27 roundup.
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Apple today provided developers with the fourth beta of macOS Golden Gate, with the update coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third beta.


Developers can download ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ by going to System Settings > General > Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

‌macOS Golden Gate‌ includes multiple design improvements. Liquid Glass opacity has been improved to increase readability, there's a slider for controlling the level of transparency, and changes to shadowing make it easier to tell when a window is active. Apps now have uniform toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, and less rounded corners, plus there are fewer icons in menu bars.

Siri has been transformed into ‌Siri‌ AI, a chatbot-style assistant that combines general world knowledge, your personal data, and onscreen awareness to answer questions about anything and find information for you. ‌Siri‌ lives in Spotlight, and you can ask questions with the new Search or Ask interface.

There's also a ‌Siri‌ app where you can chat with ‌Siri‌ and view past conversations, and on newer Macs, you can set a custom voice for ‌Siri‌ with personalized pace and expressivity. Visual Intelligence is now on the Mac so ‌Siri‌ can answer questions about what's on your screen, and a Write with ‌Siri‌ feature lets ‌Siri‌ generate text or give feedback on your writing.

There are AI photo editing tools in the Photos app, AI tab organization in Safari, an option to use AI to automatically update weak passwords in the Passwords app, and a revamped Image Playground app that can generate photorealistic images.

More on all of the new features in ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ can be found in our macOS Golden Gate roundup.
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Apple today seeded the fourth betas of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after Apple released the third betas.


Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

‌iOS 27‌ introduces Apple's smarter version of Siri, ‌Siri‌ AI. ‌Siri‌ AI is a chatbot similar to ChatGPT, incorporating general world knowledge, personal data from apps like Messages and Mail, and onscreen awareness to answer questions and find information for you.

There are new Apple Intelligence features in apps like Photos, Safari, Shortcuts, Wallet, and Passwords, plus Apple added a standalone ‌Siri‌ app that houses ‌Siri‌ conversations. Write with ‌Siri‌ is available systemwide for generating text or offering feedback on your writing, and Visual Intelligence has been relocated to the Camera app with a new ‌Siri‌ mode.

Apple improved the look of Liquid Glass and added a slider for customizing transparency. There are multiple performance improvements to speed up iOS, so everything feels faster, even on older iPhones. Apps launch quicker, AirDrop transfers are faster, the keyboard pops up more quickly, and devices are better at transitioning between Wi-Fi and Cellular to keep you connected.

For more on what's new in ‌iOS 27‌, we have a dedicated iOS 27 roundup.
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Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple seeded the fifth betas. The RCs represent the final version of the software that will be released soon should no additional bugs be found.


Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

With iOS 27 set to launch in September, Apple is wrapping up work on iOS 26. According to Apple's release notes, the update includes security fixes and optimized the Spotlight index to prepare for ‌iOS 27‌.
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Apple today provided the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.6 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple seeded the fifth beta. The release candidate marks the final version of ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6 that will be released to the public if no major bugs are found.


Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

With macOS Golden Gate launching in just a couple months, Apple is likely focusing most of its attention on the new software. We are not expecting any major new features in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6.
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Apple today seeded the fourth beta of tvOS 27 to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after Apple released the third beta.


The beta can be downloaded and installed through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A free developer account is required.

tvOS 27 has few new features compared to the other 27 software updates, but it does add a redesigned Podcasts app, options for larger text, and a more responsive Control Center.

AirPlaying to an ‌Apple TV‌ from another Apple device is faster, and apps and animations are smoother. You can also now see AppleCare coverage details in the Settings app.

More on the features in tvOS 27 can be found in our Apple TV roundup.
This article, "Apple Seeds tvOS 27 Beta 4 to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today provided developers with the release candidate versions of upcoming watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6, and visionOS 26.6 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple seeded the fifth betas. The RCs are the final version of the software that will be released to the public as long as no bugs are found during this final testing period.


The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.

There's no word on what's in the software as of yet. watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS often get few features in each new beta, with updates primarily focusing on bug fixes and performance improvements.
This article, "Apple Seeds watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6 and visionOS 26.6 Release Candidates" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Four of Apple's retail stores in the U.S. are moving this month, although all of them will only be a short distance from their existing locations.


Apple Queens Center in Elmhurst, New York already moved to a temporary location in the shopping mall on Friday, July 17 while the existing store is remodeled. Apple did not indicate when the existing store will reopen.

Apple Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland, Mississippi is moving to a new spot within the same shopping center on Friday, July 24 at 10 a.m. local time. Apple's new storefront will be located right in front of the Show Fountain.

Apple Briarwood in Ann Arbor, Michigan will be relocating to a new space at the mall on Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. local time. The entrance to the new, larger store will be in front of The Lawn, a new outdoor space at the mall.

Also on July 31 at 10 a.m. local time, Apple The Promenade Shops at Briargate in Colorado Springs, Colorado is moving six doors down to the left.
This article, "Four Apple Stores in the U.S. Are Moving This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Sports was updated today with support for additional soccer leagues in Asia and Europe, plus the ability to see formations across most soccer leagues. The update arrives just one day after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.


The new leagues available in the app:

• Belgian Pro League (Belgium)


• Superliga (Denmark)


• Eredivisie (Netherlands)


• J1 League (Japan)


• Ekstraklasa (Poland)


• Scottish Premiership (Scotland)


• Swiss Super League (Switzerland)

In the latest version of the app, you can now view formations across most soccer leagues, making it easier to see the starting lineup for each match.

Apple Sports remains available on the iPhone only, with version 4.2 rolling out now.
This article, "Apple Sports App Updated With Additional Soccer Leagues Following 2026 FIFA World Cup" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple's decision not to name its former design chief Jony Ive in its trade-secret lawsuit against OpenAI was likely a deliberate one, shaped in part by the company's relationship with Laurene Powell Jobs.


Apple's roughly 40-page complaint refers only to unnamed "former Apple leaders" rather than calling out Ive, even though he leads design on OpenAI's hardware lineup through his firm LoveFrom, built on the back of OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition of his startup io Products. The allegations instead center on former iPhone executive Tang Tan, now OpenAI's chief hardware officer, whom Apple accuses of coaching recruits to bypass security measures and bring Apple hardware into interviews for "show-and-tell" sessions.

In the latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman notes that Apple's decision likely reflects, at least in part, a genuine absence of evidence against Ive, who is reportedly not closely involved in OpenAI's day-to-day recruiting or engineering. He argues, however, that the relationship between Powell Jobs and Ive was also a significant factor. The two are described as close friends, with Ive having delivered a tribute at Steve Jobs' memorial service in 2011. Powell Jobs was an investor in io Products and remains a supporter of LoveFrom. According to Gurman, naming Ive in the complaint risked straining Apple's relationship with a figure who continues to carry considerable influence within the company.

Gurman cites Apple's June Worldwide Developers Conference as an illustration of that influence, noting that Powell Jobs sat in the front row alongside CEO Tim Cook and his successor John Ternus. He characterizes her placement as a visible show of support for Apple's leadership transition.

Gurman further suggests that the optics of naming Ive directly would have worked against Apple. Tan, he notes, is not widely known outside the industry, whereas Ive spent decades as one of Apple's most recognizable figures. Naming him could have generated public sympathy for Ive and invited criticism that Apple's lawsuit was motivated as much by past grievances as by trade-secret concerns. The lawsuit comes as more than 400 former Apple employees are now reported to work at OpenAI, whose first hardware product is expected to be a portable smart speaker aimed at competing with the iPhone in the long term.
This article, "Apple Likely Left Jony Ive Out of Its OpenAI Lawsuit on Purpose" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's AirPods Max 2 have hit $449.00 on Amazon today, down from $549.00. This sale is available in four colors and it's the best price we've seen on the headphones since Prime Day.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Free delivery has the AirPods Max 2 arriving around July 25, but Prime members should see same-day delivery options in many locations. We haven't seen the AirPods Max 2 hit their all-time low price since June, so if you've been waiting for a solid deal, today's your chance to save on the headphones.



If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "Get $100 Off AirPods Max 2 With Amazon's New Sale" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's AirTag 2 is available for the all-time low price of $89.00 this week, down from $99.00. This sale is on the 4-Pack of the AirTag 2, and it's a match of the record low price we last tracked during Prime Day.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The new AirTag is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, enabling the Precision Finding feature to work up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous-generation model.



If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "AirTag 2 Returns to Best-Ever Price of $89 for 4-Pack" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple developed two Mac Pro models in recent years that never made it to market, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman revealed that Apple internally developed two unreleased Mac Pro projects codenamed J170 and J190 before ultimately discontinuing the machine altogether.

As for new Mac Pro hardware, there were two additional models developed by Apple that never saw the light of day: J170 and J190. The former was a new Intel Corp. Mac Pro (yes, even when Apple was making its own silicon) to address certain uses. The latter was an M3 Ultra version that was supposed to launch alongside the M3 Ultra Mac Studio in early 2025.

J170 was apparently a new Intel-based Mac Pro, which is notable because Apple had already completed its transition to Apple silicon by the time the project was in active development. Gurman did not specify what "certain uses" the Intel model was meant to address, but its existence suggests Apple explored keeping an x86 option alive for specific professional workflows even years into the Apple silicon era.

J190, meanwhile, was said to be an M3 Ultra-equipped Mac Pro that was supposed to launch alongside the M3 Ultra Mac Studio in early 2025, but Apple shelved it before release. It would have paired the same chip found in that ‌Mac Studio‌ with the Mac Pro's unique-to-the-lineup PCIe expansion slots.

Neither model shipped, and Apple discontinued the Mac Pro entirely this year, ending its 20-year run. The Mac Pro had been left on the aging M2 Ultra chip from 2023 while the ‌Mac Studio‌ continued to receive refreshes, and it was priced roughly double that of a similarly configured ‌Mac Studio‌ despite offering essentially the same performance.

The J170 and J190 cancellations add to a growing list of shelved Mac Pro plans. Apple had also developed "Extreme" chip variants, processors with twice the CPU and GPU cores of Apple's Ultra chips, for a future Mac Pro before winding down those projects over cost and demand concerns.

Gurman said he does not expect Apple to bring back the Mac Pro "anytime soon — if ever." Apple is instead expected to refresh the ‌Mac Studio‌ with M5 Ultra chips as early as this fall.
This article, "Apple Shelved Two Mac Pro Models, Including an Intel-Based One" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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