Apple just released new firmware for AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2, but the installation process isn’t as straightforward as with other products. Here’s how to know when new AirPods firmware is actively updating on your iPhone.

Hit Apple TV thriller Down Cemetery Road just aired its season finale this week, but fans didn’t have to wait long to learn the series’ fate. Apple just confirmed that the show is coming back for season 2. Here are the details.

Apple is facing antitrust scrutiny in Switzerland over access to the NFC chip inside iPhone. The Swiss Competition Commission announced this week that they are “investigating whether Apple’s terms and conditions for granting access could raise competition law concerns.”

“Among other things, it seeks to clarify whether other providers of mobile payment apps can effectively compete with Apple Pay for contactless payments with iOS devices in shops,” the commission says.

After a long run in movie theaters and digital buy/rent windows, the blockbuster F1: The Movie is finally available to stream for free on Apple TV. If you aren’t an Apple TV subscriber yet, you can get a seven day free trial here for new accounts.

F1 stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, an elder racing driver who comes out of retirement to try help a fictional F1 racing team called APX GP win a race to secure their future in the sport. Damson Idris plays the plucky young teammate, Joshua Pearce.

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In my time with managing Apple devices in the enterprise, macOS has always been known for its reliability in terms of not getting to a state where it can’t boot, but even the most stable systems have the occasional bad day due to a software update issue, etc. With macOS 26, Apple introduced Recovery Assistant, a built-in utility designed to help when that happens. Instead of forcing users to boot into recovery mode and guess at what went wrong, Recovery Assistant automatically launches when the Mac fails to start, diagnoses the problem, and tries to fix it.

Deadline reports that Apple has acquired the pitch for a feature adaptation of the 2024 bestseller “The Teacher”. Here are the details.

Planning holiday travel or a winter getaway? Your iPhone already has everything you need for reliable, flexible, instant, and global connectivity wherever you travel. You just need the right travel companion to unlock it.

Nomad eSIM is your best travel companion for seamless connectivity in over 190 countries. 9to5Mac readers can save 30% with promo code MAC30. The offer is valid only until December 16, so be sure to act quick!

iOS 26.1 recently introduced a big change for how you turn off alarms and timers, replacing the ‘Stop’ button with a new ‘Slide to stop’ action. Here’s how to get the button back.

VSCO is rolling out an AI-powered upscaling tool as part of its recently announced AI Lab set of features. Here’s how to try it for free.

Benjamin and Chance talk about two more Apple executive departures since last week’s episode, and a rumored third that appears to be staying for now. There’s also exciting details about the next Apple Studio Display, Apple might be able to enlist Intel to manufacture Apple Silicon chips, Fitness+ is using AI for language dubbing, and more. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, the duo talk about Netflix’s attempt to acquire Warner Bros, and why Apple would never interested in a deal like this. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 

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Apple has defeated the total ban on charging a commission on web-based purchases that originate from links inside iOS apps. However, a fair rate will need to be established or agreed upon before Apple can resume charging a commission on linked-out purchases.

This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: iPhone 18’s Face ID upgrade, AirTag 2 rumors, the latest on Apple’s new Studio Display, and more. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.

Following a period of limited waitlist access, Opera Neon, the company’s subscription-based AI-powered browser, is now generally available. Here’s what it can do.

Apple has just released brand new firmware updates for AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2. Here are the details.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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OpenAI has officially announced its GPT-5.2 upgrade to ChatGPT. This is the so-called “code red” reaction to Google Gemini that OpenAI calls its “most capable model series yet for professional knowledge work.”

Apple’s Always On Display has been fairly consistent since it debuted on iPhone 14 Pro. With iOS 26, Apple quietly changed how it works in a way that may not be obvious.

Google Labs today announced “Disco” as an experiment to “shape the future of web browsing.” The first flagship feature of this AI browser is the Gemini 3-powered “GenTab.”

A new AirTag was long rumored to launch in 2025, but that hasn’t happened yet. When the upgraded AirTag 2 product does arrive though, a new leak has revealed five improved features it could bring.

Whether you’re a music creator or simply a fan, you might be interested to learn which moments in a song grab the most user attention. That’s exactly what Shazam’s newly launched ‘Popular Segments’ feature reveals.

Apple Watch Series 11 is all-time low at $199 shipped! Stock has been coming and going, but Amazon keeps bringing back the deal so get in there while you can. 

Apple is likely done launching new products this year, but the company has plenty in the works for 2026, including four new iPhone models—one of which is expected to arrive very soon.

App age verification isn’t just a theoretical concept being debated in Congress. A number of laws have already passed that require platforms to verify age for users in select states.

For example, the Twitter/X alternative Bluesky went offline for me in August rather than comply with an age verification law where I live. This week, I can use the app again — as long as I share a bit of personal information with a third-party service I’ve never heard of.

This is likely a preview of what to expect for more apps in more places going forward.

There are plenty of holiday deals for AirPods shoppers this year, but the standout offer by far right now is on AirPods Pro 3.

Amazon has now dropped the price on AirPods Pro down to their lowest ever at $199, a whopping $50 off the regular price of $249. That’s an incredible, unprecedented savings on Apple’s latest-generation headphones.

Plus, we’re tracking deals on AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Max, and various Beats products. Head below for all the details.