Apple today confirmed that iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 are on the way. The updates will likely be released this week, so keep an eye out as early as today.


watchOS 26.2.1 was mentioned in Apple's press release for the new AirTag today, and iOS 26.2.1 is mentioned in fine print on the new AirTag's product page.

While these will be minor software updates, they do include a few things:

• The new AirTag requires an iPhone running iOS 26.2.1 or later.


• watchOS 26.2.1 expands the Precision Finding feature to the Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later. We have not yet confirmed if this is only for the new AirTag, or if it also works with the original AirTag.

Here is what Precision Finding looks like on the Apple Watch:


Beyond that, iOS 26.2.1 might include bug fixes and/or patch security vulnerabilities.
This article, "iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 Are Coming Soon, Here's What's New" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Two laptops with the latest Intel chips have beaten out the MacBook Pro with M5 chip – but it’s already clear that this will be an extremely short-lived victory.

Benchmark results show impressive multi-core scores for the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 in laptops from MSI and Lenovo …

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Alongside the new AirTag, Apple this morning announced its new Black Unity Apple Watch band. The Apple Watch Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop honors Black History Month and “celebrating the power of connection.”

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Apple has announced a brand new AirTag 2 that’s available to order now, here are the details on the update.

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Apple today introduced the next-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker.


With the new AirTag, Apple says the Precision Finding feature works up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous-generation model. The new AirTag also features an upgraded Bluetooth chip for improved overall range.

An updated internal design results in the new AirTag having a 50% louder speaker compared to the previous-generation model, according to Apple.

The new AirTag requires an iPhone running an incoming iOS 26.2.1 update or later.

watchOS 26.2.1 is also coming, and it expands Precision Finding to the Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later. We have not yet confirmed if this is for the new AirTag only or also works with the original model.


The new AirTag is available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting today, and it will be available at Apple Store locations later this week. In the U.S., pricing remains set at $29 for an individual AirTag, while a four pack continues to cost $99.
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Apple today introduced a vibrant new Black Unity Apple Watch band called the "Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop."



The band features the colors of the Pan-African flag, containing multiple shades of red, green, and black. It is made by weaving recycled polyester yarn filaments around ultrathin silicone threads using precision-braiding machinery. It is soft with a textured feel, and is sweat and water resistant.

The Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop honors Black History Month and celebrates "the power of connection," according to Apple.

Aligned with this theme, Apple is proud to support organizations that inspire connection and promote creativity through impactful programs in under-resourced communities around the world. This includes grants to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Urban Arts in New York City, Youth Music in London, Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, and Enactus México in Mexico City. These new grants build upon Apple's long-standing commitment to advancing economic, educational, and creative opportunities in communities globally.

This band, along with previously released Black Unity bands, was designed by Black creatives and allies at Apple.

The new special edition band is available in 42mm and 46mm case sizes, in band sizes from zero to 12. It is available to order now, and will arrive at Apple Stores starting later this week. Apple continues to sell two other Black Unity bands: Unity Bloom and Unity Rhythm.
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After CalDigit TS5, which only sports 15 ports.

Although not as powerful as the TS5 Plus, after trying the regular TS5 for the last month, I’d recommend it over its bigger brother for most Mac users. Like the TS5 Plus, it provides 64 GB/s max PCIe bandwidth, up to 140W of Power Delivery, and a heaping helping of I/O. But it also features an additional Thunderbolt 5 downstream port, and it’s $100 cheaper than the TS5 Plus.

Is the CalDigit TS5 the dock you should consider for your Mac? Watch our hands-on video walkthrough as we take a closer look, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more.

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A database containing 149 million account logins has been found sitting unsecured on a cloud service. The records include 900,000 usernames and passwords for Apple accounts.

It was discovered by the same security researcher who found a similar database of 184 million records last year …

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The EU has opened its own investigation into the Grok chatbot generating child sexual abuse material. It’s estimated that Grok generated 23,000 CSAM images in just 11 days.

Despite multiple calls for Apple and Google to temporarily remove both X and Grok from the App Store, neither company has yet done so …

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Confirmation that Microsoft handed over BitLocker keys to the FBI for three Windows laptops is being contrasted with Apple standing up to the same agency back in 2015.

However, the comparison isn’t actually fair, and there is a simple way for Windows users to ensure their encrypted data remains secure …

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Strava appears to be rolling out full route navigation and mapping to its watchOS app, bringing the long-awaited functionality to runners, hikers, and cyclists with Apple Watch for the first time.


The feature, which remains in beta, allows users to select a pre-loaded route, view elevation details, and follow directions directly from their wrist without having to look at their iPhone. Strava users on Reddit noted the feature began appearing over the weekend.

Since this time last year, Strava users have been able to share an Apple Fitness+ workout directly to the Strava app, but the ability to get turn-by-turn directions on an outdoor walk/run or bike ride feels like more of a game-changer for users of the fitness service.

Both paying and non-paying Strava users currently seem to have access to the beta feature, but it's unclear whether it will be reserved for paying subscribers when finalized. Strava has yet to officially comment on the rollout.
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2026 promises to be yet another busy year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements over the coming months.


Beyond the usual updates to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple is expected to release its all-new smart home hub, which was reportedly delayed until the more personalized version of Siri is ready. Other unique products rumored for this year include a foldable iPhone, a lower-cost MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, and more.

Here is what to expect from Apple this year, according to rumors.

First Half of 2026

The following products are rumored to launch before the end of June.

• iPhone 17e: A spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e, with rumored upgrades including an A19 chip, MagSafe, and a Dynamic Island.


• iPad Air: M3 chip → M4 chip.


• iPad: A16 chip → A18 chip or A19 chip.


• MacBook Pro: M4 Pro and M4 Max chips → M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and PCIe 5.0 support for faster SSD speeds.


• MacBook Air: M4 chip → M5 chip.


• Lower-Cost MacBook: A18 Pro chip, 12.9-inch display, and fun color options.


• Mac Studio: M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips → M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.


• Studio Display: Mini-LED backlighting, ProMotion support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and either an A19 chip or A19 Pro chip.


• Home Hub: An all-new smart home hub featuring the more personalized version of Siri, a 6-inch to 7-inch square display, an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence, FaceTime, and more. Place it on a table or mount it on a wall.


• Security Camera: Apple-designed, HomeKit-enabled security camera accessory to be sold alongside the new smart home hub.

Second Half of 2026

The following products are rumored to launch between September and December.

• iPhone 18 Pro: A20 Pro chip, a narrower Dynamic Island, a simplified Camera Control, variable aperture for at least one rear camera, web browsing via satellite, Apple-designed C2 modem for 5G, and more.


• iPhone 18 Pro Max: The same features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro, but the Pro Max model might be slightly thicker.


• Foldable iPhone: 7.7-inch inner display with a virtually "crease-free" design, 5.3-inch outer display, two rear cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and more.


• Apple Watch Series 12: A new chip, design changes, and potentially Touch ID.


• Apple Watch Ultra 4: The same changes listed above for the Apple Watch Series 12.


• MacBook Pro: A major redesign later in 2026, with M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, an OLED display, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, a thinner design, and an Apple-designed C2 modem for built-in cellular connectivity.


• Higher-End AirPods Pro 3: Infrared camera for AI features.

Timing Less Clear

These products are rumored to be unveiled at some point in 2026:

• Apple Glasses: Augmented reality glasses with speakers for music playback, cameras for photos and video, voice control, and potentially health features.


• Face ID Doorbell: A video doorbell with Face ID and HomeKit Secure Video, wirelessly connects to a compatible deadbolt lock.


• iPad mini: A17 Pro chip → A19 Pro or A20 Pro chip, an OLED display, a vibration-based speaker system, and a water-resistant design.


• Mac mini: M4 and M4 Pro chips → M5 and M5 Pro chips.

The following products were rumored to be updated in 2025, but none of them were, so hopefully they will finally arrive at some point in 2026:

• Apple TV: A17 Pro chip with support for the more personalized Siri, and Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model.


• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for the more personalized Siri, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and potentially new color options like red.

For more details, read our Upcoming Apple Products Guide: What's Coming in 2026.

Update: A new AirTag was initially included on this list, but it has now been removed, as Apple has officially announced the next-generation AirTag.
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Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display models in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman added that redesigned MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen "should be hitting toward the end of 2026," meaning that the MacBook Pro line would be upgraded twice this year.

First up will be MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which should be coming soon. Then, the MacBook Pro is expected to receive a major redesign in late 2026 (but 2027 is still not fully ruled out), with rumored features including an OLED touch screen, a Dynamic Island, M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, a thinner design, and built-in cellular connectivity.

Apple updated the MacBook Pro twice in one year in the past, with the M2 Pro and M2 Max models debuting in January 2023 and the M3 Pro and M3 Max models following in October 2023, so there is precedent for such a thing.

Apple's Creator Studio bundle of apps launches on Wednesday, January 28, and it has been speculated that Apple might use the opportunity to unveil the MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips this week.

As for the MacBook Air, it is expected to get the M5 chip, while the Mac Studio should get higher-end M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.

There have been reports about a new Studio Display being in the works, with rumored features including mini-LED backlighting, ProMotion support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and either an A19 or A19 Pro chip. Last month, the next-generation Studio Display was potentially spotted in a Chinese regulatory database.

Apple also plans to release a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip and an updated Mac mini at some point this year, according to Gurman. The lower-cost MacBook is expected to be powered by a version of the iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip.


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Fernando and Jeff discuss the future of Siri and Apple Intelligence after learning it will be powered by Google Gemini models.

9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more.

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There has been increasing discussion about Tim Cook eventually stepping down as Apple's CEO, but reports have offered differing timelines.


A few months ago, the Financial Times reported that Apple was preparing for Cook to step down as soon as early 2026. In his Power On newsletter today, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that timeframe "seems unlikely."

Gurman previously said he would be "shocked" if Cook stepped down before the middle of 2026, so he might remain CEO through WWDC in June at a minimum.

There has been speculation that Cook might become the chairman of Apple's board of directors after he steps down as CEO, but it seems like that transition will not happen imminently, as Apple's current chairman Arthur D. Levinson is up for re-election at the company's annual shareholders meeting on February 24.

Apple has a guideline stating that directors generally may not stand for re-election after age 75, but the company asked shareholders to make an exemption for 75-year-old Levinson, due to his significant experience and expertise.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, is widely viewed as Cook's most likely successor. Earlier this week, Gurman reported that Cook gave oversight of Apple's design teams to Ternus at the end of last year, and he said this move makes it "crystal clear" that Ternus is the leading CEO candidate.

Cook has been Apple's CEO since August 2011, and he reached the typical retirement age of 65 last year. It is sounding more and more likely that his time in charge of the company is inching towards the end, but Gurman seems confident that a passing of the baton is still many months away at least, rather than something that is imminent.


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Across the computing industry, computer memory (both in the form of RAM and flash storage) has only been getting more and more expensive – largely due to supply shortages caused by AI datacenter buildout. Memory prices have up to quadrupled in recent months, and it’s likely going to worsen.

That leaves the question: will Apple be adjusting its own memory prices?

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Amazon this weekend is offering discounts across the M5 iPad Pro lineup, including both 11-inch and 13-inch models. The highlight this time around is a return of a low price on the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M5 iPad Pro, which is on sale for $899.00, down from $999.00.

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.

Many of the deals in this sale match — or beat — the record low prices we tracked during the holiday season. Amazon provides an estimated delivery date around January 30 for free delivery, but Prime members should see earlier delivery dates in many cases.




There are fewer 13-inch M5 iPad Pro models on sale this time around, but the ones that are on sale have steeper discounts compared to last week. You'll find $149 off two Wi-Fi models (both all-time low prices), plus a new record low price on the 1TB Wi-Fi 13-inch M5 iPad Pro at $202 off the original price.

11-Inch M5 iPad Pro

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $899.00 ($100 off)


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($100 off)


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,499.99 ($99 off)


• 1TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,576.00 ($123 off)


• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,851.00 ($148 off)


• 2TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,999.00 ($100 off)

13-Inch M5 iPad Pro

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,149.99 ($149 off)


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,349.99 ($149 off)


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,696.91 ($202 off)

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 plans to unveil a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google Gemini next month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


"The company has been planning an announcement of the new Siri in the second half of February, when it will give demonstrations of the functionality," he wrote, in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter today.

Gurman does not yet know if Apple plans to hold a full-out event to demonstrate the Siri upgrades, or if it will hold private briefings with the media.

The more personalized Siri will be part of iOS 26.4, which will be available in beta in February and released to the general public in March or early April, according to Gurman. Based on that timeframe, the new-and-improved Siri should be available to all customers with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer in just a few more months.

As previewed by Apple, the assistant "should be able to tap into personal data and on-screen content to fulfill tasks," according to Gurman.

Apple first announced the more personalized version of Siri all the way back at WWDC 2024, but it was eventually delayed. At the time, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps, as one example of a new capability.

The revamped Siri reportedly experienced issues inside Apple, leading the company to turn to Google Gemini. The revamped Siri will technically still run on a new Apple Intelligence model that has Gemini's technology baked in.

Siri will reportedly get even better on iOS 27, as Apple is said to be planning to turn the assistant into a full-out chatbot, allowing users to have sustained, back-and-forth conversations with the assistant. This will essentially turn Siri into ChatGPT or Gemini, except it will be built right into the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with no app required.

Gurman said the Siri chatbot will be "competitive with Gemini 3," and "significantly more capable" than the more personalized Siri coming with iOS 26.4.

Siri's chatbot might run directly on Google's servers.


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Since the launch of Apple Intelligence over a year ago, Apple has added very few new AI features to its apps. Some recent additions are Apple Music’s AutoMix and Apple Watch’s Workout Buddy. However, that is set to change this year.

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Apple reportedly has an exciting plan for the Mac lineup for 2026. That includes new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro refreshes, a massive MacBook Pro redesign, new Mac desktops, an all new budget MacBook offering, as well as a second generation Studio Display.

We’ll be delving into what’s expected for all of these new Mac products right here.

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Earlier this month, Apple and Google officially announced that they’d be partnering together. Apple has long struggled with its own model development, so now, Google Gemini models will power future Apple Intelligence features, using Apple’s private cloud compute servers.

Today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that this partnership is on track to debut in iOS 26.4 beta as soon as next month, and Apple plans to demonstrate the features to the public in some capacity. He also reports some interesting new details on how this partnership came to be.

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If you’re in the market for an excellent 3-in-1 charging stand to use with your Apple devices, Anker’s new 3-in-1 Prime MagSafe charger could be an excellent pick. It offers 25W MagSafe charging with Qi2.2 support for iPhone, as well as support for Apple Watch and AirPods – making it an excellent pick for Apple users.

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Early last year, Apple agreed to settle a class action lawsuit regarding ‘unlawful and intentional recording’ of conversations with Siri. The issue dates back to 2019, and the company denies any wrongdoing. Since then, Apple has taken efforts to improve Siri privacy, but it still settled this case to go forward.

Claims started being accepted mid last year, and now users are starting to receive their payouts.

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It’s long been rumored that Apple will be redesigning the MacBook Pro as soon as this fall. This’ll mark the first redesign in around five years. While there is a lot rumored for this redesign, I’ll be highlighting the upgrades that feel the most exciting.

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