It's been a little over a week since the iPhone 18 Pro models launched, and we want to hear from MacRumors readers. What do you think of Apple's newest iPhones?


If you upgraded from an older phone, was it worth it? What about upgrading from an iPhone 17 Pro? What problems are you running into? Anything you love so far?

MacRumors readers have already been sharing early opinions on the MacRumors forums, and there are interesting discussion threads to read through. For early reviews and hands-on images, make sure to check out the first impressions and photos thread.

People have been taking excellent photos with the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and sharing results in a dedicated image thread. If you're still thinking about getting the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and want to know how the new variable aperture lens performs, the thread includes useful real-life examples.





Curious about battery life? There's a whole thread for that with early data. Readers have also shared how heavy the iPhone 18 Pro Max feels in the hand, and we've seen the reasons why some 17 Pro Max owners decided to upgrade to the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The new iPhones aren't perfect, and a few people have run into heat issues, speaker bugs, and problems with Face ID. Apple just released iOS 27.0.1 with a Face ID fix, so if you're having that bug, let us know if the new software solves it.

For easy navigation, here are all the threads linked above, along with other suggested reading.

• iPhone 18 Pro Max is here! First impressions and photos thread


• Photos taken with iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max – Worldwide (2026–2027)


• iPhone 18 Series + Duo Battery Mega-Thread


• Did anyone with a 17 Pro Max upgrade to the 18 Pro Max?


• How really heavy is the 18PM?


• iPhone 18 Pro Max speaker issue?


• New 18 Pro - "Face ID not available"?


• 18 Pro Max rebooting


• Extreme heating up on 18 PM


• iPhone 18 Pro TLC vs QLC NAND modules


• iPhone 18 Pro Unlocks - Even If I'm Not Looking Directly at It?

Holding out for the iPhone Duo instead of the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌? You're not alone. Lots of MacRumors readers are discussing Apple's foldable, weighing possible downsides, and mulling where to order for the best chance of getting one at launch.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro First Impressions: What Do You Think So Far?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 26.7.1, iPadOS 26.7.1, macOS Tahoe 26.7.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.8.1 address a major vulnerability that Apple believes was used against a small number of people.


Apple's security support pages say there was a CoreGraphics out-of-bounds write issue that could be exploited with a maliciously crafted file, allowing for arbitrary code execution. It has been fixed with improved bounds checking.

Apple says the flaw was exploited in an "extremely sophisticated attack" on targeted individuals running older versions of iOS. Apple's latest operating systems don't appear to be affected, and the iOS 27.0.1, iPadOS 27.0.1, and macOS Golden Gate 27.0.1 updates that came out today have no published CVE entries.

While the attack wasn't widespread, if you're still running a version of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, or macOS Sequoia, you should install the new updates as soon as possible. Now that the vulnerability is public, it could be further exploited against users who aren't protected.
This article, "iOS 26.7.1 Fixes Vulnerability Used in Targeted Attacks" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Anker and Jackery have introduced big discounts across their most popular portable power stations, both of which are in preparation for Prime Big Deal Days next week. We're tracking Anker's best deals at both its own website and on Amazon, while Jackery's discounts can be found on the retailer's website.

Anker SOLIX

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

Anker's SOLIX brand is hosting an early Prime Day sale with early bird deals, free gifts, and more. This sale is focused on Anker's high-end SOLIX portable power stations, with options that range from 1-2 days of backup to 3-5 days of backup.



For cheaper options, Amazon has notable markdowns on lower-cost SOLIX batteries, like the popular SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station with Lantern for $199.99 ($50 off). If you're shopping on Anker's website, be sure to make your purchases before October 5, when the sale ends.

• SOLIX C200 - $129.98, down from $169.99


• SOLIX C300 with Lantern - $199.99, down from $249.99


• SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 - $499.99, down from $599.00


• SOLIX S2000 - $679.99, down from $1,199.00


• SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 - $899.99, down from $1,499.00


• SOLIX F3000 - $1,399.99, down from $1,699.00


• SOLIX E10 Whole-Home Backup System - $4,299.00, down from $4,599.00

Jackery

Over on Jackery's website, you'll find up to 65% off a wide array of portable power stations, solar generators, add-on batteries, and more. This is another Prime Big Deal Days early access event, and is set to run through October 3.

• Explorer 300D - $209.00, down from $249.00


• Explorer 2000 v2 - $899.00, down from $999.00


• Battery Pack 2000 Plus - $799.00, down from $1,399.00


• Battery Pack 3600 - $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00


• HomePower 3000 Solar Generator - $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00


• Explorer 2000 v2 + Dual 200W Solar Panels - $1,399.00, down from $1,639.00


• HomePower 3000 Solar Generator + Dual 200W Solar Panels - $1,799.00, down from $2,139.00


• HomePower 3600 Plus Solar Generator - $2,469.00, down from $2,729.00


• Explorer 5000 Plus - $4,639.00, down from $5,159.00

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, "Early Prime Day Deals Offer Up to 65% Off Anker and Jackery Power Stations" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released macOS 27.0.1, the first update to the macOS Golden Gate operating system that came out in mid-September.


Mac users can download the new ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ software by using the Software Update section in System Settings.

Apple says ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.0.1 fixes unspecified bugs. Apple has also released macOS 26.7.1 and macOS 15.8.1 security updates.
This article, "Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.0.1 With Bug Fixes" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released iOS 27.0.1, the first update for the iOS 27 update that came out two weeks ago.


iOS 27.0.1 can be downloaded over the air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 27.0.1 and visionOS 27.0.1 updates, as well as iOS and iPadOS 26.7.1 updates for devices not updated to iOS and iPadOS 27.

According to Apple's release notes, iOS 27.0.1 addresses an issue that could cause Face ID not to work properly on the iPhone 18 Pro.

Some iPhone 18 Pro users have complained that authentication can fail to work for things like unlocking a locked app. In some cases, the device freezes up and then reboots. Other users have seen a "‌Face ID‌ is Not Available" message when attempting ‌Face ID‌ setup, and others have experienced issues with the Require Attention for ‌Face ID‌ setting. Apple's release notes for the update are below.

This update provides bug fixes for your iPhone, including fixes for the following issues:

- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may unexpectedly restart when Face ID fails to authenticate
- A color artifact may appear on photos captured at 2x under certain lighting conditions at f/1.48 on a small number of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max devices
- Opening Notification Center and Control Center simultaneously may cause the touchscreen to become unresponsive

The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models have an infrared camera that's under the display for the first time, but it's unclear if the hardware has been causing a problem. Apple said last week that it would be able to address the ‌Face ID‌ bugs with a software update.

While the iOS 27.0.1 update has multiple ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ bug fixes, it is available for all iPhones able to run ‌iOS 27‌.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 27.0.1 With Face ID Bug Fix" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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MacRumors has partnered with OWC to bring our readers big savings on the retailer's best Thunderbolt docks, USB-C cables, and external storage enclosures. These exclusive deals will run through this Wednesday, September 30 at 12:00 a.m. CST, so you have just a few more days to shop.

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

All discounts have been applied automatically, so all you need to do is follow the links below and add one of the accessories to your cart to see the savings. To be clear, many of these products are already on sale, but you need to add them to your cart and then go to your cart or checkout page to see the extra MacRumors discount.

There are 13 total items on sale, including docks, hubs, enclosures, and USB-C cables.




Notable accessories on sale include the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock for $179.99 ($119 off), and the OWC ThunderBay 4 External Storage Enclosure for $299.00 ($99 off). For anyone looking to upgrade their desktop setup, there are six total enclosures on sale for our readers, with as much as $104 in savings.

External Storage Enclosures

• OWC Express 1M2 80GB Portable Enclosure - $149.00, down from $219.00


• OWC Express 4M2 USB4 External Storage Enclosure - $154.00, down from $239.99


• OWC Express 4M2 USB4 Enclosure with SoftRAID - $274.00, down from $379.99


• OWC ThunderBay 4 External Storage Enclosure - $299.00, down from $399.99


• OWC Express 1M2 1TB Portable Enclosure - $398.00, down from $469.99


• OWC ThunderBay 4 Enclosure with SoftRAID - $429.00, down from $549.99

Cables

• 3.6 Meter HDMI 2.0 Cable - $3.50, down from $9.99


• Philips 60W 2-Port GaN Charger - $9.99, down from $39.99


• 0.8 Meter OWC Thunderbolt 5 USB-C Cable - $19.00, down from $27.99

Hubs and Docks

• HyperDrive 6-in-2 USB-C Hub - $17.99, down from $39.99


• OWC Thunderbolt Dual DisplayPort Adapter - $29.00, down from $79.99


• OWC Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter - $158.00, down from $199.99


• OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock - $179.00, down from $299.99

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, "Last Chance: OWC's Best Mac Accessories Are on Sale Just for MacRumors Readers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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October will be an especially busy month for Apple this year, with the company set to release the iPhone Duo, both iOS 27.1 and iOS 27.2, and a new Mac Studio configuration with 512GB of RAM. In addition, up to six more Apple products may be unveiled next month, such as new iPad mini, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K models.


Below, we have outlined 12 new things to expect from Apple this October.

Confirmed

• iPhone Duo: The foldable iPhone Duo launches on Friday, October 23. Pre-orders begin Friday, October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time.


• iOS 27.1: Apple said the iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1, so the software update is expected to be released before October 23.


• iOS 27.2: Apple jumped ahead to an iOS 27.2 beta because iOS 27.1 is dedicated to the iPhone Duo. iOS 27.2 adds support for the five additional Siri AI languages that Apple promised would be coming in October, so accordingly we can expect iOS 27.2 to be released at some point during the month.


• Mac Studio (512GB RAM): While the new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips was released last week, Apple said a high-end configuration with the M5 Ultra and 512GB of RAM will be available in late October.

Rumored

• iPad mini 8: OLED display, A20 Pro chip, landscape front camera, redesigned speaker system, and water-resistant design.


• 24" iMac: M6 chip and new color options.


• 14" MacBook Pro: M6 chip.


• 14" and 16" MacBook Pro models with OLED displays: A major MacBook Pro redesign in late 2026 with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, an OLED display, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and a thinner design.


• Apple TV 4K (4th Generation): A19 or A19 Pro chip, an increased 8GB to 12GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence and Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and an updated Siri Remote. A leak revealed the new Apple TV will look the same as the existing model.


• HomePod mini 2: Newer chip, Siri AI support, improved sound quality, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and new color options, including pink and green. No major design changes.


• Home hub: An all-new Apple smart home hub featuring Siri AI, a 6-inch to 7-inch square display, an A18 chip or newer for Apple Intelligence, FaceTime, and more. A new operating system will feature clock faces, widgets, and more. There will be a tabletop version with a speaker base and a wall-mounted version.


• homeOS: Apple's smart home hub is expected to run an all-new operating system that may be named homeOS, according to trademark filings.

This article, "12 New Things to Expect From Apple This October" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's AirPods 5 bring Active Noise Cancellation to its $129 earbuds for the first time. The $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add longer battery life, volume controls on the stems, and a case speaker for Find My. The AirPods Pro 3 cost $249.



The ‌AirPods 5‌ arrived in September 2026, a year after the AirPods Pro 3. They continue to narrow the feature gap between the devices, but the Pro model still offers a sealed in-ear fit, substantially better noise cancellation, and hearing and workout features. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you.

‌AirPods 5‌ (2026)	‌AirPods 5‌ with Wireless Charging Case (2026)	‌AirPods Pro 3‌ (2025)
Open-ear fit without ear tips	Open-ear fit without ear tips	In-ear fit with foam-infused silicone ear tips in five sizes
Optical in-ear sensor	Optical in-ear sensor	Skin-detect sensor
Open-ear Active Noise Cancellation	Open-ear Active Noise Cancellation	In-ear Active Noise Cancellation; up to 3x more effective than ‌AirPods 5‌
Force sensor controls	Force sensor controls with volume swipe	Touch controls with volume swipe
		Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, Hearing Protection, Automatic Conversation Boost, and Loud Sound Reduction
		Heart rate sensing during workouts
Up to 4 hours of listening time on one charge with ANC	Up to 5 hours of listening time on one charge with ANC	Up to 8 hours of listening time on one charge with ANC
Up to 20 hours of listening time with ANC using the case	Up to 22 hours of listening time with ANC using the case	Up to 24 hours of listening time with ANC using the case
Case charges via USB-C	Case charges via USB-C, Apple Watch charger, or Qi charger	Case charges via USB-C, Apple Watch charger, Qi charger, or MagSafe charger
	Speaker in case for ‌Find My‌	Speaker in case for ‌Find My‌
		Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in case for Precision Finding with a compatible iPhone
Charging case is 1.97 inches (50.1 mm) wide	Charging case is 1.97 inches (50.1 mm) wide	Charging case is 2.45 inches (62.2 mm) wide and has a lanyard loop
Starts at $129	Starts at $149	Starts at $249

The ‌AirPods 5‌ with Wireless Charging Case are the best choice for most buyers. For $20 more than the base model, you get an extra hour of listening time per charge with ANC, volume swipes on the stems, wireless charging, and a speaker that makes a misplaced case easier to find. Choose the $129 model if the lowest price matters most and you are content with its shorter battery life and USB-C-only charging case.

However, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are worth the extra $100 over the higher-end ‌AirPods 5‌ if noise cancellation is your priority and you prefer a snug in-ear fit. Apple says they provide up to three times as much ANC as the ‌AirPods 5‌, since the ear tips create a physical seal. Their eight-hour listening time per charge is particularly useful on long journeys. In our hands-on testing, the ‌AirPods 5‌ sounded muddier than the Pro 3, particularly in the lower midrange.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are also the clear choice if you want their hearing health features or heart rate sensing during workouts without relying on an Apple Watch. Their charging case adds Precision Finding, too. If you dislike silicone ear tips, the ‌AirPods 5‌ let you keep the open-ear fit while getting nearly all of the everyday listening features shared by the Pro model.

AirPods frequently receive discounts from third-party retailers, which can narrow the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌'s $100 list-price premium over the $149 ‌AirPods 5‌. Check the latest prices using our Deals roundup before buying.
This article, "AirPods 5 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has been ordered to pay $5.7 billion in damages to Taction Technology after a federal jury found it had infringed two of the haptics company's patents, reported CNBC over the weekend.


Taction sued Apple in 2021, arguing that Apple's Taptic Engine in the company's Apple Watches and iPhones uses its inventions without proper license or authority. Apple initially had the case dismissed in 2023, but the Federal Circuit later revived it.

The jury trial began September 14, and seven jurors deliberated for two days after proceedings concluded. They returned on Friday and delivered the verdict in favor of Taction.

"We're happy the jury found for Taction and vindicated its patent rights," the company's lead counsel, Lance Yang, told CNBC. "Taction waited five and a half years for this case to get to trial, so it was a long time coming."

Apple said it intends to appeal the decision.

"While we thank the jury for their consideration, we strongly disagree with today's verdict and the damages awarded, which are entirely unsupported by the facts," Apple told CNBC in a statement. "Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial. Apple does not use Taction's technology, and we will appeal."

In Friday's verdict at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, jurors did not find that Apple had infringed the patents willingly.
This article, "Apple Ordered to Pay $5.7 Billion Over Haptic Patent Infringement" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is working on a "completely revamped" Vision Pro headset that could go in any of four directions and likely won't arrive before late 2028 or early 2029, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple's Vision team is exploring four concepts for the device, codenamed N224, including designs that offload internal components in a similar way to Meta's latest VR Glasses, which are expected to launch next spring.

An external computing module on Meta's device houses the battery and main processor, and can be clipped to the user's waist. Gurman, who has previewed Meta's headset, says the module is about the same size and weight as the current Vision Pro's battery pack, but with a grippy exterior.

Gurman reports that regardless of the Vision team's work, senior Apple decision-makers still consider the external puck concept as a "poor user experience" and want the company to stick with "something closer to an all-in-one design."

If any of this sounds familiar, that's because Gurman reported in June that Apple was still working on a cheaper, lighter successor to its Vision Pro headset. (The device-in-development is distinct from the long-rumored "Vision Air," which was cancelled last year.)

Apple knows it needs to come up with ways to simplify the design and make something cheaper and lighter, and it is said to be actively exploring ways to reduce the headset's weight by experimenting with plastic, titanium, other metals and various materials.

Still, Gurman has been told the work is on "life support" as the company focuses more on smart glasses, which it aims to release in late 2027. Despite the Vision Pro's most senior leaders "pressing their bosses to keep the category alive, funded and growing at Apple," Gurman says there's still no guarantee a new headset will ever launch.
This article, "New Vision Pro Headset: Apple Considering Four Different Concepts" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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