Apple is planning to reintroduce its striking ceramic Apple Watch casing as soon as this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.


Writing in his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the ceramic case option is expected to return either this year or in 2027. Apple first introduced a ceramic Apple Watch Edition with the Series 2 in September 2016, replacing the original gold Edition model and bringing the line's price down from thousands of dollars to a comparatively modest $1,249.

The white ceramic finish, made from a compressed zirconia and alumina powder polished with a diamond slurry, was marketed as being four times as hard as stainless steel. Apple expanded the material a year later with a gray ceramic option alongside the Series 3, but the Edition line disappeared entirely for the Series 4 in 2018, with Apple dropping ceramic and offering no high-end case option at all that year.

The white ceramic finish returned for the Series 5 in 2019 alongside an all-new titanium option, before Apple discontinued it for good when the Series 6 launched in 2020. The material has been absent from the Apple Watch lineup for six years since. It has since become one of the more sought after finishes among collectors on the resale market.

Beyond the reintroduction of the ceramic casing option, the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 will apparently continue "the trend of modest upgrades," with "under-the-hood improvements" including a meaningful increase in performance. This likely refers to the introduction of a new chip. The previous two Apple Watch generations have featured the same S10 chip, which is effectively unchanged from the previous S9 chip introduced in 2023.

Gurman added that this year's new Apple Watch models will also offer new color and band options, alongside a number of new health and fitness-related upgrades. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected to be introduced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and first foldable iPhone next month.
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Apple is already making plans for its third-generation foldable iPhone, with launch expected as early as 2028, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said the first foldable iPhone is about to get what he called the device's first "truly revolutionary design change" this year, and that Apple already has a roadmap extending two generations beyond it. A second-generation model is planned for 2027, Gurman says, with a third version following as early as 2028.

The third-generation foldable will apparently feature slightly larger displays on both the inside and the outside compared to its predecessors, though he did not provide specific screen sizes. The first foldable iPhone is expected to launch with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, so any increase would build on those dimensions. This is the first report to lay out plans for a third-generation model, extending Apple's foldable roadmap a year beyond where it previously stood.

The first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive this year with an ultra-thin design, Touch ID instead of Face ID, the A20 chip, C2 modem, and the moniker "iPhone Ultra," at a price around or above $2,000. The second-generation foldable, meanwhile, is reported to have already received the go-ahead for development, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Digital Chat Station," who said the "‌iPhone Ultra‌ 2" project has been formally approved and will likely reuse the first-generation model's display. That model is expected to launch in fall 2027 alongside the 20th-anniversary iPhone.



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Apple is re-evaluating the Apple Watch lineup and considering a host of radical new designs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In today's edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman compared plans for the Apple Watch's evolution to the "revolutionary design change" that the foldable iPhone represents. It will be "something that transforms the product for a new era." Apple's industrial design team has reportedly been "exploring a broader rethink of its smartwatches" for some time, with several directions under evaluation.

The company is apparently taking the resurgence of fitness bands without screens and smart rings seriously. As a result, the company is considering new Apple Watch-style devices with no display, as well as new Apple Watches with different types of screen and various new sizes.

Apple has also contemplated giving the Apple Watch a round display, but Gurman cautioned that such a device is unlikely to be released. The company has also considered introducing new premium variants designed to sit above the Ultra and Hermès models, alongside even more affordable options in addition to the Apple Watch SE.

The company has not yet settled on a direction for the product line, but it is said to be "determined to reinvent the lineup in response to growing competition." It also plans to make its wearables more AI-focused, with ambitious long-term plans to revamp the Health app.

Gurman believes that the Apple Watch revamp "could be as significant as the iPhone's transformation from a slab design into a foldable device." Apple purportedly hopes to reinvigorate its Wearables, Home and Accessories segment, which has struggled to generate growth over recent years.
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New images of camera protector accessories for the "iPhone Ultra" suggest Apple's first foldable iPhone will launch in silver and dark blue finishes.


Leaker Sonny Dickson yesterday shared images of two third-party camera protectors designed to fit over the ‌iPhone Ultra‌'s camera bump, with one in silver and one in a dark blue finish. Dickson has a track record of accurate accessory and dummy model leaks, including his early look at this year's iPhone 18 Pro colors.

The images back up a May report that cited a Macworld supply chain source describing a classic silver and white model alongside an indigo option similar to the iPhone 17 Pro's Deep Blue finish. A silver finish was separately described as the first "confirmed" color in June, and a report the same week suggested the darker option might not be black. Dickson's accessories now offer the clearest visual confirmation yet of that silver and dark blue offering.



The restrained approach stands in contrast to the iPhone 18 Pro, which is rumored to add a Dark Cherry finish and a Light Blue option alongside Silver this year. A black option for the Pro models was also rumored initially, though a subsequent report suggested Apple decided not to include it this year.

The leaked accessories also clearly show the widely rumored design of the camera plateau on the back of the foldable iPhone, featuring two horizontally arranged lenses alongside a pill-shaped flash and a LiDAR scanner. The foldable ‌iPhone Ultra‌ is expected to be announced alongside the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max next month.
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Amazon this weekend 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 a match of 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 August 13 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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Apple's annual September iPhone event is just about a month away, and things are going to be a little bit different this year with Apple moving to a split launch for the iPhone 18 lineup, so make sure you're up to date on everything we may see at the event.


This week also saw word that Apple is experiencing shortages of the MacBook Air due to the ongoing memory crunch, while the software side saw a significant issue with iCloud Private Relay disclosed and progress from Apple on a cross-platform clipboard, so read on below for all of the details!

Top Stories

Everything Apple Is Expected to Announce in September

Apple is going to announce at least five new devices next month at its annual iPhone-centric event, though it's possible we'll also get devices that were waiting on Siri AI, so check out our overview of what we might see. There's even a late-breaking wild card in the form of camera-equipped AirPods, which were previously thought to be a 2027 launch.


Apple is gearing up for the big iPhone event, which should take place in the first half of September with Apple currently holding a lottery for its U.S. retail employees to come to Apple Park and help staff the event.

iPhone 18 Pro Models Could Be Up to $300 More Expensive, Says Analyst

Following recent price increases across the Mac and iPad lineups, most observers are expecting the iPhone lineup to follow suit as part of next month's launch of new models. It remains unknown just how much iPhone prices will increase compared to current models, but analyst Jeff Pu believes the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could see increases of $250–$300 due to component shortages.


Apple is reportedly still scrambling to secure sufficient memory supplies for the upcoming iPhone models, and the company reportedly has around $1 billion worth of unpackaged processors sitting idle as they wait for their accompanying memory chips. The issues could lead to shortages of the new iPhone models at launch.

MacBook Air Experiencing 'Major' Shortage Despite $200 Price Increase

Despite receiving a price increase in June, the MacBook Air is currently experiencing a "major" shortage, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


"Retail store sources say Apple is struggling to keep the laptop in stock and that shipments of new units are more constrained than they can ever recall," he said.

In the U.S., the MacBook Air is facing a 2–6 week delivery estimate on Apple's online store, with configurations with higher amounts of RAM delayed the longest.

Bigger Displays Rumored for Next Year's iPhone Models

Apple is prototyping a second new iPhone display, this one measuring around 6.4 inches, that could be destined for the 20th anniversary iPhone, according to a Chinese leaker.


In a recent post on Weibo, the leaker known as "Digital Chat Station" said Apple is currently sampling two new display panels. One measures roughly 6.4 inches and has a chance of being used in the "‌iPhone 20 Pro‌," while the other is the approximately 7-inch panel previously reported for the larger ‌"iPhone 20 Pro Max‌." (Even though next year's models should be in the iPhone 19 family, many expect Apple to jump to iPhone 20 or iPhone XX in recognition of the device's anniversary.)

Apple is planning a significant revamp of its pro iPhone models in 2027, with more of an all-glass design that wraps the display around all four edges of the device, a smaller display cutout, and more.

Apple's iCloud Private Relay is Leaking Users' Real IP Addresses

Apple's paid Safari protection feature that promises to keep your IP address masked doesn't always work, according to security researchers Tommy Mysk and Talal Haj Bakry. It turns out iCloud Private Relay can expose your real IP to websites that use or pretend to use passkeys.


‌iCloud‌ Private Relay is a service included with paid ‌iCloud‌+ plans. It is supposed to hide your IP and DNS information when you browse the web using Safari, but it is not a VPN that masks all traffic from a device. Passkeys use the WebAuthn standard, which stores a private key on your device, not the Safari browser. The request the system sends to the website isn't protected by Private Relay and can leak your IP address.

Apple Plans iPhone-to-Windows Copy and Paste in EU After Microsoft Request

Apple is working on a new feature that will support cross-device copy and paste between iOS devices and Windows PCs. Microsoft asked for the feature using Apple's EU interoperability request system for developers, which Apple implemented to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple began evaluating the request in March, and on June 26, proposed a project plan.


Apple says introducing cross-device copy and paste is a significant engineering effort, with work expected to be complete by fall 2027. It will be shipped first in a developer beta for testing ahead of a public release. If the feature is added toward the end of fall 2027, it could be early 2028 before the public gets access.

It is likely that cross-device copy and paste will be limited to iPhone and Windows users in the European Union, though it is possible Apple could implement it worldwide.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, "Top Stories: Apple's September Announcements, MacBook Air Shortages, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Anthropic has updated Claude Code so that separate coding sessions can message each other directly, removing the need to manually copy context between Terminal windows.


The company shipped the feature in Claude Code version 2.1.224, released on Friday for macOS and Linux. Two new tools power it: ListAgents, which finds other active sessions running on the Mac, and SendMessage, which delivers the message. A session that receives one shows it as a labeled card with a link back to the sender.

According to Anthropic's documentation, only text passes between sessions, not conversation history, files, or permissions. One session can warn another when a change breaks something it depends on, or pass along an answer another session is waiting on, and Anthropic says an incoming message can't approve a permission request or change a session's settings on its own.



The feature sits alongside Claude Code's existing subagents and Agent Teams tools, but connects sessions a user is already running separately on their Mac rather than ones Claude spawns and manages itself. Messages between sessions on the same Mac stay local and never reach Anthropic's servers. Between different machines, messaging works only as a reply through Remote Control, the feature that connects a Mac terminal to the Claude apps for iOS and Android.

Cross session messaging requires macOS or Linux with Claude Code 2.1.224 or later and isn't available on Windows. It was released alongside 31 other changes in the same release, including a new claude self-hosted-runner command for Team and Enterprise plans.
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Apple could raise iPhone 17 prices as soon as Monday, August 10, according to a new rumor, well before the wider round of increases expected with next month's iPhone 18 Pro launch.


Weibo leaker "Fixed Focus Digital" said in a post yesterday that rumors are circulating about an ‌iPhone 17‌ price change taking effect on August 10. The leaker was noncommittal about whether prices will actually move, though the post claimed with more certainty that Apple has called off plans to raise production capacity on some lines from 15% to 30%. It's not clear from the post which components or products that capacity change refers to.

Apple raised prices on Macs, iPads, and most other devices in June, citing soaring memory and storage costs, but left the iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, Studio Display, and accessories untouched. Apple's next round of pricing changes is widely rumored to center on the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌.

Apple is expected to launch the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and its first foldable iPhone next month, with the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e not arriving until spring 2027. The ‌iPhone 17‌ is set to remain Apple's mainstream option well into next year, which could give Apple sufficient reason to adjust its pricing independently of the new lineup.

If Apple does raise ‌iPhone 17‌ prices this Monday, it remains to be seen whether the increase would apply across the whole lineup, including the iPhone 17e ($599), ‌iPhone 17‌ ($799), iPhone Air ($999), iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099), and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max ($1,199), or whether only select models will be affected.
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OpenAI today said it is "pausing" activities involving its upcoming AI model Astra, because its cyber capabilities are potentially too dangerous. OpenAI says its newest internal evaluations show "significant advancements in agentic coding and cybersecurity," and it cannot rule out "critical cyber capabilities." Prior OpenAI models, including GPT–5.6 Sol, were labeled as "High."


Astra triggers stricter guidelines in OpenAI's "Preparedness Framework." The guidelines call for caution when developing frontier AI capabilities that create risks of severe harm, and the cybersecurity portion of the framework says OpenAI will implement extra safeguards for models that "create new risks of scaled cyberattacks and vulnerability exploitation."

The "Critical" threshold Astra may have hit is defined by an ability to identify and develop functional zero-day exploits of all severity levels in many hardened real-world critical systems without human intervention, or devise and execute end-to-end novel strategies for cyberattacks.

OpenAI says it is increasing its safeguards and security controls before deploying Astra, including limiting work on the model until new safeguards are in place. The company plans to use isolated testing environments with restricted network and tool access, along with adding sandboxed execution and more monitoring capabilities. OpenAI says it will work with relevant government agencies and AI safety organizations to test Astra.

"We're committed to working alongside governments, safety institutes, and civil society to ensure that the frontier capabilities of models like Astra, and those that follow, are deployed responsibly and broadly for the benefit of all humanity," writes OpenAI.

Astra wasn't formally announced, but OpenAI shared details on its next major model in a recent post outlining its mathematical advancements. Astra solved 10 open problems in math and theoretical computer science for around $2,000 (in Sol API rates).

Advancements in AI are changing cybersecurity for major tech companies like Apple by unearthing an unprecedented number of bugs. Apple recently limited its bug bounty program submissions because it is having trouble handling the volume.

Models like Claude Mythos are able to suss out critical vulnerabilities, and Apple is one of Anthropic's Mythos partners. Mythos is limited to select companies because in addition to finding vulnerabilities, it has the potential to exploit them.

OpenAI made headlines in July because GPT–5.6 Sol and a "more capable pre-release model" (not Astra) autonomously hacked Hugging Face during internal benchmark testing. Anthropic found Claude had done something similar. Meta this week said it too had an AI model hack another company during a cybersecurity evaluation.
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After 326 days, iOS 26 has received its first jailbreak, thanks to the developers behind the popular Dopamine jailbreak.

Lars Fröder, better known as opa334, today released Dopamine 3.0, which adds support for a number of newer firmware versions, including iOS 26.0 and iOS 26.0.1 on devices with A12 or A13 chips.

Another major addition in today's release is support for all devices running iOS 16.5.1 through iOS 17.3.1, significantly expanding the range of devices and software versions compatible with Dopamine.

A full breakdown of supported devices and iOS versions can be found on AppleDB, a database that tracks jailbreak compatibility.
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According to various reports from sources such as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Macworld's Filipe Espósito, Apple is planning to release up to three new products with "Ultra" branding between late 2026 and early 2027.


The long-rumored foldable iPhone is expected to be called the "iPhone Ultra." Rumored features include a 7.7-inch inner display, a 5.3-inch outer display, two rear cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and more. The device's large inner screen will be ideal for watching videos and multitasking.

Apple is expected to release the "iPhone Ultra" this September, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. In the U.S., it has been estimated that the device will have a starting price of anywhere from $1,999 to $2,499.

"AirPods Ultra" are reportedly set to be released as early as this year — it would be fitting for them to be unveiled alongside the "iPhone Ultra" this September.


"AirPods Ultra" are essentially rumored to be AirPods Pro with tiny infrared cameras that serve as eyes for Siri. The cameras will help to enhance the Visual Intelligence feature on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, and a small LED light on the earbuds will indicate when the cameras are active, according to Gurman's reporting.

On iOS 27, Visual Intelligence is accessible through the Camera app via a new "Siri" mode. "AirPods Ultra" would provide a more hands-free experience.

"The idea is to let users ask questions about an item they might be looking at," he said. If someone is looking at ingredients on their kitchen countertop, for example, they could ask Siri for dinner ideas.

Last month, Apple's code for the second iOS 27 developer beta seemingly hinted at AirPods with cameras, so a launch could be fast approaching.


Finally, Apple is reportedly planning a "MacBook Ultra" with an OLED display that doubles as a touch screen. Other rumored features include M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a Dynamic Island, a thinner design compared to the latest MacBook Pro models, and potentially even an Apple-designed C2 modem for built-in 5G/LTE cellular connectivity.

Apple plans to release this new MacBook by early 2027, according to Gurman.

All in all, Apple is expected to release an iPhone Ultra, AirPods Ultra, and a MacBook Ultra over the course of the next six to seven months or so.
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The iPhone Air reaches one year on sale next month, and Apple is now closer to launching its successor than it is to the original's debut. On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss what's next for the device.


The first-generation model has had a difficult run. A KeyBanc Capital Markets survey found virtually no demand for the device within weeks of its September 2025 launch, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that suppliers were asked to cut capacity by more than 80% between launch and early 2026, and Luxshare and Foxconn both wound down production, leaving the phone believed to be entirely out of manufacture. Apple discounted it heavily in March, and SellCell data put its ten-week depreciation at 44.3% on average, against 34.6% for the iPhone 17 series. The Weibo leaker known as "Digital Chat Station" said in May that the device had barely surpassed 700,000 activations even after multiple rounds of price cuts.

A single rear camera left a $999 phone looking less capable than the cheaper ‌iPhone 17‌, which has two, and the absence of the iPhone 17 Pro's vapor chamber cooling means the Air runs warmer under load. It also lacks stereo speakers. Battery life falls short of a full day for many users, mitigated in part by the dedicated MagSafe battery accessory Apple sells alongside it. With the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ starting at $1,099, the Air occupies a $100 gap that gave buyers little reason to stop there.

Almost every change rumored for the second-generation model targets one of those points. Bloomberg reported in June that Apple will add an Ultra Wide lens alongside the existing 48-megapixel Fusion camera, and that the dual-lens design has reached advanced testing with the same exterior as the current model save for the extra lens.

Almost everything other than the battery sits inside the ‌iPhone Air‌'s camera plateau, and Apple has reportedly asked suppliers for an ultra-thin Face ID module to free up space. The company also plans to adopt Samsung's CoE display technology, which is thinner and brighter than the current panel and debuts first on the foldable iPhone. Digital Chat Station expects a 3,500mAh battery, up from 3,149mAh, and The Information reported that Apple wants the device to be lighter and to gain vapor chamber cooling despite the added hardware.

The device will also likely feature the A20 Pro chip, binned in some form like its predecessor, along with Apple's second-generation N2 wireless networking chip, the C2 modem, and 12GB of RAM, unchanged from the current model. Externally, little is expected to change beyond the additional rear camera, but Pu expects a slightly smaller Dynamic Island, in line with the wider iPhone 18 lineup. A lavender color option could replace Sky Blue.

Pricing is the biggest open question. The Information reported that Apple is considering a lower price for the second model, but the surrounding lineup is moving too. Pu expects the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to cost $250 to $300 more than the current Pro models owing to 2nm silicon and memory costs, and the foldable iPhone is rumored to start somewhere between roughly $2,000 and $2,500. A widened gap between the Air and the Pro tier could change the calculation that undermined the original, particularly once the camera disparity with the standard iPhone disappears.

The leaker "Fixed Focus Digital" claimed in April that Apple will push through at least two generations of the device no matter how poorly it sells, a position consistent with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who expects the Air 2 in spring 2027 alongside the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e. Nikkei Asia reported in January that no second-generation Air was expected before 2027 at the earliest.

Apple's confidence in the fall lineup appears to be growing in the meantime. The company reportedly told suppliers to prepare roughly 10 million foldable iPhones this year, up from an earlier forecast of seven to eight million, and has booked parts for around 80 million smartphones in the second half of 2026. Samsung, meanwhile, says the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 drew 1.44 million pre-orders in South Korea across seven days, a company record, with the redesigned Z Fold 8 accounting for close to half of them.

The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and foldable iPhone are expected in September, and Apple has already begun preparing for the event, opening a lottery for U.S. retail employees to staff it. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about the iOS 27 beta, talking through our experiences with Siri AI, Liquid Glass refinements, and more.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
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Apple has told a federal court that it hasn't heard from Jon Prosser's legal team in a month, as discovery drags on in its trade secret lawsuit against the leaker.


In a joint status report filed on Wednesday in the Northern District of California, Apple's attorneys said they had made repeated attempts to reach Prosser's counsel about outstanding discovery issues without success. From the filing:

Apple and Mr. Prosser have worked to advance this case through limited discovery. Mr. Prosser provided documents and communications to Apple, and sat for a deposition on June 16, 2026. Unfortunately, Apple last heard from Mr. Prosser's counsel on July 6th, 2026, despite repeated attempts to communicate and follow up on outstanding discovery issues. There still appear to be deficiencies in Mr. Prosser's productions, and Apple has notified Mr. Prosser's counsel of those issues.

Shortly before the report was filed, Prosser's attorney told Apple's legal team that the delay likely stems from Prosser welcoming his second child and attending to the newborn's care. The attorney indicated he would find dates for Prosser to provide the remaining discovery materials.

Co-defendant Michael Ramacciotti, who Apple says accessed the confidential device at the center of the case, has continued cooperating throughout the case. He agreed to supplement his interrogatory responses and sit for a second deposition.

Apple sued Prosser and Ramacciotti in July 2025, accusing them of misappropriating trade secrets tied to then-unreleased iOS 26 software, including the Liquid Glass redesign, by accessing a development iPhone belonging to Apple engineer Ethan Lipnik.

Ramacciotti cooperated with the case from the outset, but Prosser initially missed several deadlines to respond, leading the court to enter a default against him in October 2025 that barred him from contesting Apple's allegations. Prosser's attorney successfully petitioned to have that default set aside in June 2026, and Prosser filed a formal answer in the case on July 2. In it, he admitted joining a FaceTime call in which Ramacciotti showed him unreleased iOS features running on the development device, but denied that what he saw constituted trade secrets and denied knowing the device belonged to Lipnik.

Apple is seeking damages as well as a permanent injunction barring Prosser from disclosing its trade secrets again. Such an order could stop him from covering unreleased Apple products at all, which forms a significant part of his YouTube channel. Ramacciotti's second deposition is set for September, and all three parties expect to file another status update with the court on October 7.
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Apple captured 65% of the global premium smartphone market in the first half of 2026, as the wider premium segment's share of overall smartphone sales climbed to a record 29%.


That's according to Counterpoint Research's Handset Model Sales Tracker, which tracks smartphones with a wholesale average selling price of $600 or more. Apple's premium segment revenue grew 9% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, which Counterpoint attributed to strong sales of the iPhone 17 lineup, particularly the base model.

Even with that growth, Apple's share of the premium segment has slipped from 74% in the first half of 2022. Counterpoint pins the decline on intensifying competition in China, the largest premium smartphone market, where Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo have all sharpened their flagship offerings, pulling more Chinese consumers toward domestic premium brands.

Across the broader premium segment, unit sales grew 5% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, with the segment's overall market share up from 25% in the first half of 2025 and 20% in the first half of 2022. Counterpoint says the latest gains stem largely from rising memory and component costs, which have hit low- and mid-tier phones harder than flagship models.


Premium brands, including Apple, were better positioned to absorb the higher costs through wider margins and fewer promotions, helping sustain demand even as the broader market grew more challenging. The share gains between the first half of 2022 and the first half of 2025, by contrast, were driven mainly by a broader premiumization trend as consumers traded up to higher-end devices.

Counterpoint Research said the narrowing price gap between mid-tier and premium phones is accelerating that shift, making flagship devices, including older or discounted iPhones, a more attractive upgrade for consumers:

As mid-segment Android smartphone prices rise, the price gap with premium devices, especially older or discounted flagship models, is narrowing. This trend makes flagship smartphones a better upgrade option for consumers. To support this shift, OEMs are expanding financing, trade-in and buyback programs to improve affordability. Samsung has also expanded its Galaxy Forever program to several markets to make flagship devices more accessible.

Samsung remains the only other brand in Apple's league, holding 19% of the premium segment after 3% year-over-year growth, despite a later launch for the Galaxy S26 series. Behind the two leaders, Chinese brands showed the sharpest growth off a much smaller base: OPPO grew 69% on the strength of its Find X9 series, while vivo grew 20% as the X300 series outperformed its predecessor.

Counterpoint expects Apple to keep its lead alongside Samsung, citing Apple's strength in developed markets, its integrated ecosystem, and its brand value, even as Huawei and Xiaomi are seen as well positioned to keep gaining share in China. Counterpoint added that premiumization "will be the key strategy in the smartphone industry as the focus shifts from shipment volumes to value and profit maximization."
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Apple's software engineers are internally testing iOS 26.6.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs.

Apple already released macOS 26.6.1 yesterday with a fix for a security vulnerability affecting the Screen Sharing app. iOS 26.6.1 would likely include bug fixes and/or security fixes as well, should Apple move forward with releasing the update in the coming days.

For example, iOS 26.6 appears to have introduced a bug in the Shortcuts app, so hopefully that would be addressed in iOS 26.6.1.
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Some of the best Apple deals of the summer arrived this week, including the AirPods Pro 3 for $189.99, up to $500 off select MacBook Pro models, and the lowest iPad Air prices since Apple's price hike. Additionally, you'll find a solid offer on the MacBook Neo at Best Buy this weekend.

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.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take $100 off AirPods Max 2, $59 off AirPods Pro 3, and more


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week had a big collection of discounts across the AirPods lineup, highlighted by the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for $189.99, down from $249.00. This is now the best price we've seen on the AirPods Pro 3 since Prime Day, and one of the overall best prices we've tracked so far in 2026, and it's accompanied by a solid deal on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2.

MacBook Neo

• What's the deal? Get a $25 Best Buy gift card with purchase


• Where can I get it? Best Buy

Best Buy recently kicked off a new Apple shopping event, with a few solid deals across products including AirPods, iPads, and more. One of the best offers during the event is on the MacBook Neo, which isn't discounted itself, but when you purchase any model you'll get a $25 Best Buy digital gift card.

MacBook Pro

• What's the deal? Take up to $500 off 2026 MacBook Pro


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has kept discounting Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro in recent days, with steep markdowns available for both 14-inch and 16-inch devices. We're still tracking solid deals on every model of this computer, with up to $500 available on select models.

iPad Air

• What's the deal? Take up to $69 off M4 iPad Air


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has brought back notable discounts on the M4 iPad Air, with a trio of markdowns on the tablet. This includes both 11-inch and 13-inch models of the brand new 2026 M4 iPad Air.

Apple Watch Series 11

• What's the deal? Take $100 off Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 2


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 2, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatches. This sale includes a handful of 42mm and 46mm GPS Series 11 aluminum models, but cellular devices are a bit more rare this time around.

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 this week expanded support for its Apple Account Card in the Wallet app to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta. The Apple Account Card option for Wallet started rolling out in 2022, and Apple has been gradually expanding the feature to more countries since then.

What is the Apple Account Card?

So what is it, exactly? The card displays the balance associated with a user's Apple Account (formerly Apple ID), and it can be used to make purchases in any brick-and-mortar Apple Store and online at Apple.com. It can also be used to buy apps in the App Store, as well as subscriptions and other Apple services.

It's also where the credit goes if you use it to redeem an Apple Gift Card. An Apple Account Card can also be topped up using a linked debit or credit card (via the "Add Money" option in Wallet).

It's NOT an Apple Credit Card

Note that an Apple Account Card is different from Apple Card, the latter of which is a straightforward digital and physical credit card for making financial transactions at contactless payment terminals (via Apple Pay), as well as in stores, restaurants, and other locations where Apple Pay isn't yet accepted.

Comparatively, an Apple Account Card is a digital-only card for money available in your Apple Account balance. There's no credit line, no interest, and no rewards attached. Neither is there a physical version of the Apple Account Card. You can't send money to a friend with it, and the balance isn't something you can cash out.

Apple Account Card – Supported Regions

As well as the regions mentioned at the start of this article, Apple Account Cards are supported in the following countries:

One thing to note: Paying in person at an Apple Store with an Apple Account Card (by double-clicking the side button and holding your iPhone to the reader) isn't available in every country or region, and neither are all of the card's other features. Apple hasn't yet said whether the four new regions that it most recently expanded to will get the full range of usage options.

Add an Apple Account Card to Wallet

To add an Apple Account Card to your iPhone's Wallet app, open Wallet, tap the plus (+) button, then tap Add Apple Account. Tap Continue, then give it a few moments while it's linked to your Apple Account. Once it's in your Wallet, your balance and any recent transactions will appear below the card.
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Apple announced the original Mac Pro 20 years ago today, with the anniversary landing five months after the company discontinued the machine for good.


On August 7, 2006, Apple unveiled the first Mac Pro, powered by two dual-core 64-bit Xeon processors that Apple said made it up to twice as fast as the Power Mac G5 it replaced. It was the last Mac to complete Apple's transition from PowerPC to Intel chips, and it launched with PCI Express expansion slots and a $2,499 starting price.

The Mac Pro quickly became the machine of choice for video editors, audio engineers, and other creative professionals, particularly those running Final Cut Studio, the editing suite Apple positioned squarely at the same audience. Its four internal drive bays, tool-free case, and PCIe expansion slots made it easy to configure for demanding workloads, and Apple kept the pace of updates brisk in its early years, adding an eight-core configuration in April 2007 and following with a refreshed base model in January 2008. That steady cadence of upgrades continued through 2012, a sharp contrast to the long droughts that would define the machine's later years.

The Mac Pro remained as Apple's professional flagship for almost the next two decades since its launch. That positioning kept the machine niche, and Apple's attention to it was inconsistent.

The clearest example came in 2013, when Apple replaced the classic tower with a radically redesigned cylindrical model nicknamed the "trash can" Mac Pro, built around a single central "unified thermal core." The trash can went unrefreshed for six years, a lifetime in computing terms, before Apple apologized to its pro user base and essentially admitted the design was a mistake.

In a 2017 interview, Craig Federighi said Apple had "designed ourselves into a bit of a thermal corner," having built the machine around GPU workloads that never materialized as broadly as the company expected. A more conventional tower, with eight PCIe slots, arrived in 2019.

Even after that redesign, the Mac Pro's position kept eroding. The Mac Studio delivered nearly identical performance in a smaller, far cheaper package. Once the Mac Pro moved to Apple silicon with the M2 Ultra chip in June 2023, add-in cards like the Afterburner lost support, leaving PCIe expansion as close to its only remaining edge over the Studio, a slim advantage for a machine that started at $6,999.

Apple discontinued the Mac Pro on March 26, 2026, pulling it from its website. The company said it has no plans to design a new version, and no future model is coming.

The announcement landed three months before Apple raised prices on 14 products, including Macs and iPads, to offset the rising cost of memory chips. The ‌Mac Studio‌'s M3 Ultra configuration jumped $1,300, from $3,999 to $5,299, while the entry-level MacBook Pro rose $300, from $1,699 to $1,999.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said that "price increases are unavoidable," adding that Apple had tried to shield customers from rising memory costs but "the situation has become unsustainable." Cook likened the shortage to "a hundred-year flood," saying he had "never seen anything like it in any area in over 40 years."

Applying that same roughly 33% jump seen on the M3 Ultra ‌Mac Studio‌ to the Mac Pro's $6,999 starting price would have pushed a base configuration above $9,300, with no extra RAM, storage, or GPU cores factored in, a price unlikely to move many units of a machine that was already selling in small numbers.

With the Mac Pro gone, the Mac Studio is now Apple's most powerful desktop, though it lacks the tower's internal PCIe expansion slots. Apple's next ‌Mac Studio‌ refresh is expected to bring the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips to the machine.
This article, "Mac Pro Turns 20 Today, Five Months After Apple Killed It" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In iOS 26, Apple let you stretch the Lock Screen clock down your iPhone's display until it dwarfed everything else. In iOS 27, Apple has a new clock option that does the opposite, with the introduction of a compact mode that shrinks the time to roughly the size of the date and tucks it into the row at the top of the screen.


The result is a Lock Screen that genuinely shows off your wallpaper, while still displaying the time and date. If you picked a photo that looks better in its complete framing, this is the first time iOS gives you the opportunity to see more of it unobstructed.

How to Switch to the Compact Clock

The following steps show you how it's done.

1. Touch and hold the Lock Screen, then tap Customize.


2. Tap inside the currently set clock frame to open the Font & Color panel.


3. Tap the new icon made of two horizontal bars in the top-right corner of the panel to set the clock to compact mode.


4. If you're happy with the new look, tap anywhere else on the wallpaper, then tap Done in the top-right corner of the screen.

You'll see that the clock shrinks immediately and moves up beside the date, so you can judge the effect against your wallpaper before saving. To go back, simply tap the same icon in the Font & Color panel again. The clock will return to its previous position and size.

Customizations

The new compact clock keeps your existing clock customizations like font, weight, and color, and these can still be adjusted, but you do lose access to the Liquid Glass slider in compact mode.

Bear in mind that the option applies to individual Lock Screens rather than being a global setting, so you can have a compact clock on one wallpaper and a full-size one on another – for a Focus mode, for example. iOS 27 is currently in public beta with general availability expected in September.
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The iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra" could be in short supply this year, leading to long wait times and an initial sellout during preorders.


Semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan says Apple is having trouble getting enough DRAM to finish production of the new iPhone models, and chip supplier TSMC has $1 billion worth of unpackaged processors waiting on memory chips.

Apple's new A20 Pro chips are built on TSMC's 2nm process and use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging to integrate the processor and DRAM at the wafer level. Unfortunately, that means TSMC needs to have the DRAM on hand for assembly, and it can't be added at a later step. Apple is not able to stockpile finished dies and then add DRAM when it becomes available.

Apple and its assemblers think they can meet initial demand, but retail inventory could sell quickly, leading to prolonged delivery estimates. The chip backlog will delay main logic board assembly and final device assembly, which could impact production at Foxconn and other assemblers.

DRAM has been in short supply for months and has led to long wait times for the Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. Companies that make memory are prioritizing chips for AI data centers because those chips are more profitable, leaving little capacity available for manufacturing chips for consumer devices.

We've had ongoing rumors about manufacturing issues with the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ due to the complexity of the design, and supplies of the new foldable could be the most limited of the three iPhone models. Some reports suggest the foldable iPhone could be introduced in September and then launch later, in October or November, but others say it will be available at the same time as the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and Pro Max.

The ‌iPhone Ultra‌ is going to cost as much as $2,500, but the novel form factor and Apple's new Apple Upgrade pricing option could lead to more people being willing to shell out for the device. Apple is also expected to raise prices for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and analysts believe the devices could be up to $300 more expensive because Apple is paying more for RAM.

Last year, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max sold out during the preorder period, and shipping times extended into October. Along with potential production delays impacting supply, there will be no lower-cost iPhone 18 for people to choose this year, putting more pressure on ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ supplies. Apple is not planning to launch the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ until early 2027.

If you're looking to get one of the new iPhone models in September, it's a good idea to preorder right when the devices become available for purchase to have the best chance of getting one on launch day.
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T-Mobile retired its 2G GSM network on Monday, August 3, which means all three major carriers in the United States have now ended 2G service.


T-Mobile kept its 2G network active because it still had some legacy customers who were using it. Some customers visiting the United States and using international roaming carrier agreements for connectivity also needed 2G for voice calling, but T-Mobile worked with carriers globally to prepare for the end of its 2G network.

Customers who were still on T-Mobile's 2G network were warned well ahead of time about the shutdown and given time to transition. Smartphones, alarm panels, payment terminals, and other IoT accessories that used 2G will no longer function.

AT&T ended support for 2G almost a decade ago in 2017, and Verizon stopped supporting 2G in 2020. Now that no carriers in the U.S. support 2G, legacy devices like the original iPhone will not be able to connect to any cellular network. The iPhone technically lost cellular support in 2017 when AT&T sunset its 2G network, and now the last workaround is gone.

All three carriers also ended support for 3G back in 2022, and have also abandoned early LTE iPhones without VoLTE support.
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Google today added new agentic capabilities to the Gemini-powered "Ask Maps" assistant in the Google Maps app.


Ask Maps can complete multi-step tasks, such as ordering a meal for you on your way home. Google says you can simply say something like "order spicy pad kee mao with seafood for me to pick up on my way home," and Maps will find open restaurants along your route, let you pick one, and add the dish you asked for to your cart so you can review it and check out.

Food ordering is rolling out today with partners like Square and Toast, with Uber Eats integration coming soon.

Ask Maps can also look up information about hotels and events when you're traveling, comparing prices in real time and checking availability for a hotel, then offering up ideas on things to do nearby.

Google says its live updates are coming to transit. A transit widget in Ask Maps offers up-to-the-minute information about delays for bus, train, subway, and ferry rides.

A new Personal Intelligence option in Ask Maps allows the feature to connect to Gmail to factor in upcoming plans without needing specific instruction. Connecting to Gmail is opt-in and off by default. Ask Maps can also remember prior conversations for context if history settings are turned on.

There's a conversational edits option for suggesting new details for the Ask Maps feature. You can tell Maps about an insider tip and Ask Maps will offer the information to others in the community.

Ask Maps is also expanding to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and Mexico, along with over 150 countries and territories in English.

The live transit widget, personalized responses, and conversation memory are rolling out everywhere Ask Maps is available. Food ordering, discovering hotels and events, and conversational contributions are rolling out in the U.S., with more countries set to be added later.

Ask Maps is available on the web and in the Google Maps app for iOS.
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Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is available on Apple Arcade starting today. It's a full Madden NFL game that does not include ads or in-app purchases, and it is available exclusively on Apple devices.


Users can lead and coach teams through every stage of the NFL season, controlling games, making strategic decisions, and aiming for the championship.

Apple says the game has controls designed for mobile devices, authentic football gameplay, and guided tutorials. It includes Franchise and Quick Play modes, with updates for current NFL teams and dynamic player ratings built on real-world performances.


Retro Bowl College+, Everyday Puzzles: Mini Games+, and Water Sort Puzzle: Get Color+ are also new on Apple Arcade this week. ‌Apple Arcade‌ is Apple's gaming service, priced at $6.99 per month in the U.S. ‌Apple Arcade‌ titles can be played on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro.

Separately, Big Walk, a new game from the makers of Untitled Goose Game, launched for the Mac. Big Walk is a cooperative multiplayer adventure game that supports 2 to 12 players. Players are tasked with working together to complete challenges and puzzles. Big Walk is priced at $14.99 and is available from the Mac App Store.
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BMW has enraged customers by sending ads for Spider-Man: Brand New Day directly to in-car infotainment systems. An ad appears as a notification when starting the car, and when tapped, it plays a full-screen 19-second animation with music and a light show.


The ad started going out on July 27, and it is set to continue through August 10. Cars built after July 2020 with BMW Operating System 7 or newer are displaying the Spider-Man promo in more than 70 markets.

BMW owners on Reddit are understandably unhappy with the unsolicited ad showing up in their vehicles. One user said it's "classless and tacky" for a car that costs over $100,000, and another said it was "disgusting." Others asked for an opt-out button, and predicted more ads would be shown in the future.

Some users compared it to the U2 album "Songs of Innocence" that Apple pushed out to all iTunes users back in 2014. Apple did not allow users to decline or delete the album, leading to widespread backlash. Apple ultimately did add a tool for deleting the album.

BMW sent out a press release highlighting the ad campaign in late July, claiming it was an "exclusive Spider-Man animation" that was a "special surprise" for BMW owners.

To celebrate the partnership with Spider-ManTM: Brand New Day, BMW has a special surprise for its drivers. [...] Starting the car brings up a special banner in the Control Display. Clicking on it then activates the Spider-ManTM animation, comprising a full-screen festive animation in the Control Display with aptly chosen backing music and an accompanying light show courtesy of the ambient lighting system.

The notification for the Spider-Man ad is going out to compatible vehicles automatically, but owners can avoid the ad by not tapping to play it after receiving the notification. It's also been added to the Festive app on the in-car system.

In response to complaints, BMW told The Autopian the Spider-Man animation is not an ad and is "part of a broader brand partnership with the film." BMW vehicles also appear in the Spider-Man movie.

BMW has pushed similar animated videos for holidays in the past, but car owners found the Spider-Man video to be too close to a commercial. As Daring Fireball points out, BMW said in late 2023 that it would not sell advertising on its in-car displays.

BMW was one of the first companies to adopt Apple's CarPlay system, and it has long been an Apple partner. The BMW notification is part of the default in-car operating system, and it does not appear as part of ‌CarPlay‌.
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OpenAI's upcoming AI device is a hockey-puck-sized, doughnut-shaped smart speaker with no display, reports Bloomberg. The product is meant to be easy to carry around with one hand, and it will have "moving parts that help give it personality," along with a price tag around $300 to $400.


Bloomberg describes it as an AI-centric device that will stand out from current smart speakers. There are speaker grilles and microphones for voice-based chats with ChatGPT, and the AI model used will have human-like responses and will learn more about the user over time.

Moving components will help show when the speaker is responding, and lights will show that it is listening. A camera system and sensors will feed the product information about the user's environment. It is battery-powered so it can be moved from room to room, and it will reportedly use a premium metal material. In its theft of trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, Apple claimed the company misled an Apple supplier into developing a metal finishing technique similar to what Apple uses.

Former Apple design chief Jony Ive is designing the device for OpenAI. OpenAI acquired Ive's io device startup last year, adding multiple former Apple design team members to its hardware teams.

Bloomberg says the portable speaker "is not something Apple has come close to launching," which supports OpenAI's claim that it has no interest in Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI said today that it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." Apple maintains OpenAI has developed its hardware using information sourced from Apple.

Apple is working on a home hub that's supposed to come out as soon as this year, but it has a display and square form factor. Apple also has the HomePod mini speaker, but it is corded and not easily moved. Apple is also developing a tabletop robot that may share more similarities with OpenAI's device. It's said to have a display and a motorized arm for movement, but the robot isn't going to launch until 2027 at the earliest.

OpenAI has not stopped development on its new hardware product, and hopes to introduce it later this year ahead of a 2027 launch.
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OpenAI today said it is making GPT–5.6 Luna the default model for Free and Go ChatGPT users, giving them access to a newer, more capable model to replace GPT–5.5 Instant. The company is letting Free and Go users access unlimited text chats, with no text-based rate limits. Limits will still apply for file uploads, images, and other ChatGPT tools. There's also a new Think button coming that turns on higher reasoning.


For Plus and Pro users, GPT–5.6 Sol is more reliable with facts and gives more focused answers. OpenAI added a slider to let users select how much thought ChatGPT puts into a response, plus the company tweaked the detail the model offers for each question to prevent it from giving extra information when it's not needed.

OpenAI says GPT–5.6 Sol will avoid unnecessary formatting and will offer a "helpful correction when simply agreeing wouldn't be useful." It is also supposed to make fewer mistakes, especially when answers depend on dates, numbers, sources, rules, or assumptions. The Sol update is only for Chat, and the version for Work and Codex is unchanged.

ChatGPT's Instant and Thinking experiences have a more consistent tone and behavior so it doesn't feel like switching to a model with a different tone or style.

Plus and Pro users have access to the updated GPT–5.6 Sol and the slider in ChatGPT starting today. GPT–5.6 Luna is becoming the default model for Free and Go users this week, with unlimited text chats and the Think button coming next week.

The changes apply to the ChatGPT app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
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Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.6.1, an update to the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ operating system that came out last year. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6.1 comes a little over a week after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.6.


Mac owners can download the software by opening the System Settings app and then navigating to the Software Updates section.

According to Apple's security support document, ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6.1 fixes a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to authenticate to Screen Sharing without valid credentials. Apple fixed the issue with improved state management.

Apple also released updates for macOS Sonoma 14.8.9 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.9 with the same fix.
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Samsung's newest line of smartphones and smartwatches launches tomorrow, making today your last chance to get pre-order discounts on these devices. While you can find some offers on Samsung's website, we're tracking better savings on Amazon this week.

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.

If you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 or the Fold8 Ultra you can get a $350 Amazon gift card. The new Galaxy Z Flip8 comes with a $200 Amazon gift card. These offers are for unlocked models of each smartphone and don't require trade-ins, although you can deepen your savings if you do trade in an older phone.




On Samsung.com, you'll get a $200 Samsung gift card with the pre-order of the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra, and a $150 gift card for the Galaxy Z Flip8. You can also increase savings with the addition of a smartphone trade-in.

Amazon is also offering straight cash discounts on pre-orders for the new Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2. The 40mm Galaxy Watch9 is available for $379.99 with a $50 Amazon gift card, and the 44m model is available for $409.99 with a $50 gift card.




For the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, Amazon has this model for $699.99 with a $100 Amazon gift card for pre-orders. Over on Samsung, you'll find the same smartwatch prices and Samsung gift card credits if you prefer shopping directly from the retailer.

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 today updated its U.S. trade-in estimates, raising values for most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models and adding several Android phones to the list for the first time.



As first noted by 9to5Mac, some devices gained nearly 30% in estimated value compared to the last update in May.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max now tops Apple's iPhone estimates at up to $720, up from $695, and increases run all the way down the lineup to some of Apple's oldest supported models:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: $695 to $720


• iPhone 16 Pro: $560 to $630


• iPhone 16 Plus: $465 to $485


• iPhone 16: $460 to $480


• iPhone 15 Pro Max: $490 to $530


• iPhone 15 Pro: $410 to $420


• iPhone 15 Plus: $325 to $340


• iPhone 15: $320 to $335


• iPhone 14 Pro Max: $375 to $405


• iPhone 14 Pro: $320 to $335


• iPhone 14: $225 to $235


• iPhone SE (3rd generation): $80 to $85


• iPhone 13 Pro Max: $320 to $340


• iPhone 13 Pro: $260 to $285


• iPhone 13: $195 to $205


• iPhone 13 mini: $150 to $155


• iPhone 12 Pro Max: $220 to $240


• iPhone 12 Pro: $180 to $195


• iPhone 12: $125 to $135


• iPhone 12 mini: $85 to $90


• iPhone 11 Pro Max: $150 to $160


• iPhone 11 Pro: $135 to $145


• iPhone 11: $100 to $110


• iPhone XS Max: $90 to $95


• iPhone XS: $65 to $70


• iPhone XR: $80 to $90


• iPhone 8: $35 to $40

Unchanged models include the iPhone 16e, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone X, and iPhone 8 Plus. Every current ‌iPad‌ also gained value:

• iPad Pro: $690 to $720


• iPad Air: $460 to $490


• iPad mini: $265 to $300


• iPad: $235 to $260

The Mac saw some of the largest percentage increases in today's update, led by the Mac mini's roughly 28% jump:

• MacBook Pro: $690 to $855


• MacBook Air: $520 to $580


• Mac mini: $375 to $480


• iMac: $355 to $380


• Mac Studio: $1,045 to $1,305


• Mac Pro: $2,045 to $2,195

The iMac Pro remains unchanged. Apple Watch estimates rose across most of the lineup:

• Apple Watch Series 10: $150 to $165


• Apple Watch Series 9: $130 to $135


• Apple Watch Series 8: $90 to $95


• Apple Watch Series 7: $65 to $70

Unchanged models include the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch Series 6, and Apple Watch SE (1st generation).

Android trade-in values were more mixed. Apple added several newer Samsung, Google, and OnePlus phones to the list for the first time, while some existing estimates fell:

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: $130 to $125


• Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G: $80 to $85


• Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: $80 to $85


• Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: $95 (new)


• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: $315 (new)


• Google Pixel 9 Pro: $305 (new)


• Google Pixel 9: $210 (new)


• Google Pixel 8 Pro: $165 to $155


• Google Pixel 7 Pro: $95 to $90


• Google Pixel 7: $65 to $60


• OnePlus 13: $250 (new)


• OnePlus 13R: $165 (new)

Unchanged models include the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, Google Pixel 8, Google Pixel 8a, OnePlus 12, and OnePlus 12R.

As always, Apple's listed values are estimates, with the company noting that final offers can vary based on a device's condition and configuration, and that not all devices are eligible for trade-in credit.
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It is now August, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are just a month away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more.


Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable "iPhone Ultra" in the first half of September, and the devices should be released in the second half of the month. The regular iPhone 18, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air will reportedly be announced around March 2027.

It has been estimated that the U.S. starting prices of the iPhone 18 Pro models could be $200 to $300 more compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of August:

• Smaller Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that Face ID's flood illuminator will be moved under the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro models, paving the way for a smaller Dynamic Island on the devices.


• LTPO+ Displays: The next Pro models are expected to have the same overall design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, including 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras. However, the displays will reportedly use so-called LTPO+ display technology, which should contribute to longer battery life.


• Variable Aperture: The main 48-megapixel Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models is rumored to have a variable aperture, which would allow users to control the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor. This would provide greater control over depth of field. However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to smartphone size constraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be.


• A20 Pro Chip: Apple's next-generation A20 Pro chip is expected to use TSMC's first-generation 2nm process, whereas the A19 Pro chip is 3nm. With a 2nm architecture and a new packaging design, the A20 Pro chip should deliver solid year-over-year performance and power efficiency gains.


• C2 Modem: Apple's custom C1 cellular modem for 5G and LTE debuted in the iPhone 16e last year, and that was followed by a C1X chip in the iPhone Air. Apple says the C1X modem is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem, and the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone ever. The improvements should continue with Apple's third-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models.


• 5G via Satellite: With the C2 modem, the iPhone 18 Pro models will reportedly support 5G via satellite for web browsing without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity.


• N2 Chip: Most of the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air are equipped with an Apple-designed N1 chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says the N1 chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to have Apple's next-generation N2 chip, but it is not yet known what improvements would come with this upgrade.


• Dark Cherry: The special color for the iPhone 18 Pro models will reportedly be Dark Cherry, alongside Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. The existing Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue colors are expected to be discontinued.


• Simplified Camera Control: Apple is expected to simplify the Camera Control button on the iPhone 18 Pro models, by removing touch sensitivity and haptic feedback. The redesigned button will only have pressure sensitivity.


• Redesigned Rear Ceramic Shield: The rear Ceramic Shield area for MagSafe is rumored to feature a more frosted and seamless appearance on the iPhone 18 Pro models compared to the current two-tone design.


• Larger Battery (iPhone 18 Pro Max): According to alleged Chinese regulatory database filings, the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have nearly a 10% larger battery compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.


• Thicker Design (iPhone 18 Pro Max): It has been rumored that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be thicker than both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 18 Pro.

Bookmark our iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro roundups to stay up to date with more rumors.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Month With These 12 New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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