Apple today released a new version of iOS 26 (23A345) that's available for the iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max. Reviewers who already have a device will be able to update now, while new iPhone 17 owners will need to update when receiving their devices starting tomorrow.


The new version of ‌iOS 26‌ that Apple released today appears to be limited to the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, but the ‌iPhone 17‌ and iPhone Air will have a launch day update too.

All four iPhones have ‌iOS 26‌ pre-installed, but they have ‌iOS 26‌ 23A330, and not the launch version of ‌iOS 26‌ that came out on Monday. The ‌iPhone 17‌ and the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will need to be updated to ‌iOS 26‌ version 23A341 tomorrow.

The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max will need to be upgraded to ‌iOS 26‌ version 23A345, which is the update that Apple just released.

It's not clear what's in the new version of ‌iOS 26‌ for the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.

The ‌iPhone Air‌, ‌iPhone 17‌, ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max will start arriving to customers on Friday, September 19.
This article, "Day One iOS 26 Updates Required for All iPhone 17 Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has released a new version of iOS 26 that’s exclusive to its new iPhone 17 line arriving in users’ hands tomorrow. Here’s what you should know.

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Gemini in Chrome for Mac and Windows will no longer require an AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription, while Google today also announced a number of upgrades.

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Chance got review units of all the new phones, so we take the opportunity to talk about his hands-on experiences with iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air and the new AirPods Pro 3. Just how good is Apple’s new lineup? Also, Benjamin has eSIM woes in preparation of his iPhone Air delivery. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, we react to the initial impressions of iOS 26 now that the redesigned OS is available to a wider audience for the first time. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Over the past few months, there have been rumors about a more affordable MacBook powered by an iPhone processor launching in late 2025 or early 2026. However, it is not entirely clear yet whether the laptop will have an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip.


In June, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the lower-cost MacBook would be equipped with the A18 Pro, which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro models last year. Soon after, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris also discovered evidence that pointed towards the laptop being powered by the A18 Pro, and DigiTimes reported the same.

It is quite possible that Apple has already finalized specs for the lower-cost MacBook, so it very well might be the A18 Pro in the first-generation model.

However, in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo last week, an account known as "Mobile Phone Chip Expert" claimed that Apple is considering using the A19 Pro chip in the lower-cost MacBook. If so, it is unclear if it would be the 6-core GPU version in the iPhone 17 Pro models, or the 5-core GPU version in the iPhone Air.

"Mobile Phone Chip Expert" was one of the sources who said at least one iPhone 17 model would be equipped with 12GB of RAM, so they have a bit of a track record.

Obviously, the A19 Pro would be faster than the A18 Pro, which has similar performance as the M1 chip. It would also be good news for RAM, as the A19 Pro has 12GB of unified memory, whereas the A18 Pro has 8GB. The entire new Mac lineup has started with at least 16GB of RAM since last year, with the only option with 8GB being the five-year-old MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is sold exclusively by Walmart for $599.

Both the A18 Pro and A19 Pro lack Thunderbolt support, so the MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports. They would look the same as Thunderbolt ports, but data transfer speeds would be limited to up to 10 Gbps. Plus, only a single external display would be natively supported, but DisplayLink adapters allow for more.

Kuo expects the lower-cost MacBook to have a 13-inch display, and he said potential color options for the laptop included silver, blue, pink, and yellow.

Apple often announces new Macs in October, so perhaps the lower-cost MacBook will debut next month. Otherwise, March 2026 is the next likely timeframe.
This article, "Will the Rumored Lower-Cost MacBook Use an A18 Pro or A19 Pro Chip?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Travel photographer Austin Mann always publishes a fun review of the latest iPhone camera advancements, and this year is no exception: here’s Mann’s latest review of the iPhone 17 Pro cameras, including write-ups on every tentpole new feature.

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Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions.


The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said.

It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. Casey said some of the photos he took with the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max at a concert contained "small blacked-out portions" and "white squiggles."

A spokesperson for Apple told Casey that this issue can happen in "very rare cases when an LED light display is extremely bright and shining directly into the camera." Apple has identified a fix and will be releasing it in an "upcoming software update," the spokesperson said, and hopefully that proves to be iOS 26.0.1.

It is unclear if iOS 26.0.1 will include any other bug fixes or enhancements.

It is also not known when Apple plans to release iOS 26.0.1, but given the new iPhones launch tomorrow, getting the fix out is likely an urgent priority.

watchOS 26.0.1 was already released for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 last week, enabling satellite connectivity on that device in Mexico.
This article, "iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple released iOS 26 to the general public this week with its new Liquid Glass design and a ton of other new features and changes. Now, the company is working on its first bug fix for this year’s software: iOS 26.0.1.

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One of the flagship new features of Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 (review here) is hypertension notifications. But in a welcome surprise, watchOS 26 brings the new hypertension feature to select older Apple Watch models too. Here’s how to set it up, and which models are compatible.

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While we have already rounded up a Apple Watch Ultra 3/, there are some other more rare standout offers to discuss in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break. Firstly let’s start off with MacBook – we spotted a very rare deal on the 12-/16-Core 24GB model (the most affordable 24GB/1TB M4 Pro you can buy) at $300 off as well as another option for a 32GB M4 MacBook Air at $200 off the list price. Those offers also join a now even lower price Apple’s new 2025 model 25W Qi2 MagSafe Charger at nearly 30% off and a Amazon Renewed Premium discount on the most most affordable iPhone 15 Pro at $430 less than iPhone 17. All of that sits alongside ongoing offers on Beats USB-C cables, Mac mini, and more down below. 

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iOS 26 is here, bringing a Liquid Glass redesign and lots of new features for popular apps. The Maps app got some big updates last year, but even more changes have just arrived. Here are the new Apple Maps features available in iOS 26.

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In iOS 26, you can use AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3 as a wireless microphone with supported camera apps. Think of it as turning your AirPods into a lapel mic – you get professional-quality audio capture as well as the freedom to move around during recording. Here's how it works.

Setting Up AirPods as Your Camera Microphone

Using AirPods as a microphone in iOS 26 requires just a few quick steps through Control Center. Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad before you begin. Note that using AirPods as a camera microphone isn't available in all countries or regions.

1. With your AirPods in your ears, open the Camera app.


2. Switch to Video mode in the Camera app.


3. Open Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner of the screen.


4. Tap Camera Controls at the top.


5. Under "Audio & Video," tap Input, then select your AirPods from the pop-up menu. (Note: You might also see Same as System as an option.)

Mic Mode Options

From the same Camera Controls screen, you can also choose from four different microphone modes to suit your recording environment:

• Automatic: Lets your device choose the optimal setting.


• Standard: Default audio processing.


• Voice Isolation: Reduces background noise and emphasizes speech.


• Wide Spectrum: Captures a fuller range of ambient sounds.

Start Your Recording

When you're ready, press the stem on your AirPods to begin recording video. You now have hands-free control over your recording session while your AirPods capture the audio. When you're done, press your AirPods stem again to end the shoot.
This article, "iOS 26: Use AirPods as Microphone When Shooting Video" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone 18 Pro rumors have already started, including one that says Apple may be changing the most polarizing design element of iPhone 17 Pro: the glass cutout on the back of the device.

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Amazon this week has low prices on nearly every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this sale.

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.

You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00 and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $699.00, both $100 discounts and available in all colors. In total, these sales are solid second-best prices on the iPad mini 7, coming in just about $20 higher when compared to the all-time low prices we saw during Prime Day over the summer.





Deals on cellular models are a bit rarer on Amazon, with one color of the 128GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $549.00 and a few colors of the 256GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $649.00, both $100 off.

You can also pair a new iPad mini with the Apple Pencil Pro for $99.00 on sale right now on Amazon, down from $129.00.



Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

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This article, "Amazon Takes $100 Off iPad Mini 7, Starting at $399" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's AirPods Pro 3 offer the first redesign of the popular earbuds and add dedicated fitness features, but how do they compare to the previous generations and should you upgrade?


The AirPods Pro were introduced in 2019 as a high-end version of AirPods, offering a new design, touch-sensitive controls, and active noise cancellation (ANC). The second-generation improved ANC and introduced the H2 chip, Precision Finding, and much more. Apple refreshed it with USB-C a year later. This year, Apple debuted the third generation, featuring a new design and heart-rate monitoring. Each generation has added better sound quality and a range of new features.

The second-generation AirPods Pro have now been discontinued by Apple, but they can still be found for reduced prices at third-party resellers and second-hand. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to purchase second-generation AirPods Pro for a reduced price or the third-generation version.

The different AirPods Pro generations many of their features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the second-generation AirPods Pro to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to see all the differences that the new AirPods Pro bring to the table.

AirPods Pro (2019)	AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning, 2022)	AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C, 2023)	‌AirPods Pro 3‌ (2025)
Optical IR sensors for in-ear detection	Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection	Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection	Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection
			Refined earbud design
Three silicone ear tips (S, M, and L)	Four silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, and L)	Four silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, and L)	Five silicone ear tips (XXS, XS, S, M, and L)
Force sensor controls	Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment	Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment	Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment
Mechanical pairing button	Mechanical pairing button	Mechanical pairing button	Capacitive pairing button
	Lanyard loop	Lanyard loop	Lanyard loop
IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds	IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds	IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging case	IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging case
H1 chip	H2 chip	H2 chip	H2 chip
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
2.4GHz connectivity	2.4GHz connectivity	2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity	2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity
		Lossless audio with Vision Pro	Lossless audio with Vision Pro
	U1 chip in charging case	U1 chip in charging case	U2 chip in charging case
	Precision Finding	Precision Finding	Precision Finding (1.5x further)
Active Noise Cancellation	Active Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)	Active Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)	Active Noise Cancellation (4x stronger)
Transparency	Transparency and Adaptive Transparency	Transparency and Adaptive Transparency	Transparency and Adaptive Transparency
	Hearing Test	Hearing Test	Hearing Test
	Hearing Aid	Hearing Aid	Hearing Aid
	Automatic Conversation Boost	Automatic Conversation Boost	Automatic Conversation Boost
	Hearing Protection	Hearing Protection	Hearing Protection
	Live Translation	Live Translation	Live Translation
			Heart rate sensing during workouts
Lightning port	Lightning port	USB-C port	USB-C port
	Compatible with Apple Watch charger	Compatible with Apple Watch charger	Compatible with Apple Watch charger
Up to 4.5 hours of listening time with ANC enabled	Up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled	Up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled	Up to 8 hours of listening time with ANC enabled
24 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case	30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case	30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case	24 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case

Overall, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ offer a relatively significant upgrade over the previous generation with valuable enhancements across the board, such as better fit, longer battery life, and improved dust and water resistance. Users who heavily use their AirPods Pro may be able to justify upgrading to the third-generation model due to the wide range of improvements, but this will not be the case for all existing users.

Those who recently purchased the AirPods Pro 2 may not be able to justify upgrading to the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ at the current time, unless they particularly want features like enhanced ANC and heart-rate monitoring, or hope for a better fit. The AirPods Pro 2 continue to get new features such as Live Translation and share the same chip as the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌; they are still a solid device in 2025.

Users who purchased their AirPods Pro in 2022 or earlier will almost certainly see more of a reason to upgrade, especially if the batteries in their existing device have significantly degraded and they want to transition to USB-C. First-generation AirPods Pro users, in particular, should consider upgrading. These customers will certainly benefit from the plethora of refinements that the third-generation model offers.

If you've been interested in purchasing the AirPods Pro for a while, now is still a good time to pick up the second-generation model for a hefty discount. Likewise, it is worth bearing in mind that the AirPods Pro are among the most-commonly discounted Apple products, so check out our Apple Deals Roundup for significant savings.
This article, "AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Taiwan's Commercial Times this week reported that Apple's Vision Pro headset will be updated next year with Apple's R2 chip. The report said the chip — along with A20 chips for iPhones, and M6 chips for Macs — will be fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process.


The current Apple Vision Pro is equipped with Apple's M2 chip, which serves as the device's main processor, along with an R1 chip for input processing.

Apple's description of the R1 chip:

M2 delivers unparalleled standalone performance, while the brand-new R1 chip processes input from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones to ensure that content feels like it is appearing right in front of the user's eyes, in real time. R1 streams new images to the displays within 12 milliseconds — 8x faster than the blink of an eye.

By moving to a 2nm process — the R1 chip is likely 3nm — the R2 chip would have even better performance for input processing.

According to previous rumors, the Apple Vision Pro will be updated as soon as this year, with an M4 chip or M5 chip, a new head strap that improves comfort, and potentially a Space Black color option. This report is the first to mention an R2 chip for a future model, but it is unclear if the 2026 timeframe for that upgrade is accurate.
This article, "Apple Vision Pro Rumored to Receive R2 Chip Next Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and iPhone Air all arrive in stores tomorrow, September 19. Now, Apple has begun notifying the first pre-order customers for the new iPhones that their devices have shipped.

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Pre-orders for iPhone 17 are about to come to a close ahead of delivery day tomorrow, alongside pre-sale listings on the new , Apple Watch Ultra 3, and , but there are a ton of notable deals live right now across the Apple lineup. From M4 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models through to M4 Mac mini, we are also tracking solid price drops across the M3 iPad Air and iPad mini lineups, not to mention some notable accessory offers – Apple’s new 2025 model 25W Qi2 MagSafe Charger, and more. Everything has been collected for you down below.

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Apple TV+ has a huge fall lineup ahead, including the return of one of its best shows next week. Over the coming weeks, Apple TV+ has several brand new crime thriller series debuting, and one of them—The Last Frontier—just got its first trailer.

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Tom's Guide this week published the results of its iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max battery life test, which involves continuous web browsing over 5G. Each model was set to 150 nits of display brightness.


Here is how long each iPhone model lasted on a full charge:

• iPhone Air: 12 hours and 2 minutes


• iPhone 17: 12 hours and 47 minutes


• iPhone 17 Pro: 15 hours and 32 minutes


• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 17 hours and 54 minutes

For this specific usage, the highest-end iPhone 17 Pro Max lasted 48.5% (nearly 1.5×) longer than the ultra-thin iPhone Air.

The results are similar to Apple's figures, which show the Pro Max offering up to 44.5% longer battery life than the Air for offline video playback.

Here are Apple's offline video playback figures for each model:

• iPhone Air: Up to 27 hours


• iPhone 17: Up to 30 hours


• iPhone 17 Pro: Up to 33 hours


• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Up to 39 hours

Of course, most people are not using their iPhones to browse the web or watch videos for an entire day or two nonstop, without using the device for any other purpose. So, these battery life tests do not reflect typical real-world usage. Still, they help to set expectations, and plenty of additional tests will follow over the coming days.

All of the new iPhone models launch this Friday.
This article, "iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Life Compared in New Test" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A slew of people are reporting that the Starbucks app is completely broken. With too-perfect irony, the thing that is breaking it is an app satisfaction survey …

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Mobile carriers are very slowly getting better at detecting and blocking scam texts, but it seems the fraudsters may still be staying ahead of the game.

Scammers are now using a technology known as SMS blasters, backpack-sized devices that can trick smartphones into thinking they are cell towers …

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WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature on iPhone that lets you set reminder alerts for specific messages that you want to come back to later.


Available in version 25.25.74 of WhatsApp, the feature allows you to long press on any message in a conversation thread and select a new "Remind me" option in the popup menu. You can then choose between 2 hours, 8 hours, and 24 hours, or set a custom duration after which you will be alerted about it.

The new feature is useful for keeping track of important details that might otherwise get lost in busy chats. It's also a simple way to make sure you don't forget to reply to a message at a later time. Here's how to set your first message reminder in WhatsApp:

How to Set a Message Reminder in WhatsApp

1. Open a WhatsApp conversation thread and long press on a message bubble that you want to be reminded about later.


2. Tap More... in the popup menu.


3. Select Remind Me.


4. Select in 2 hours, in 8 hours, in 24 hours, or choose Custom to set a more specific reminder time and date.

A bell symbol appears in the corner of the message bubble to indicate a reminder has been set. When the reminder alert comes through as a notification, depending on your message preview settings you may see the message content, the conversation in which it's located, and a preview of any accompanying media.

The ability to schedule a reminder about a message should be a lot more convenient and foolproof than, say, starring a message or taking a screenshot of it and hoping you'll remember to come back to it.

How to Cancel a WhatsApp Message Reminder

If you want to cancel a reminder that you've set, simply long press a message showing the bell symbol, tap More... then choose Cancel Reminder.
This article, "WhatsApp: How to Set a Message Reminder" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The Apple Watch Hermès has always seemed to serve as nothing more than a way for Apple to separate fashionistas from their money. But the Series 11 model comes with the ultimate new feature for longtime Apple enthusiasts …

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