ConnexionApple Pay promo offers 20% off at Adidas
Apple has announced a new limited-time Apple Pay promotion. The company says you can save 20% on online orders from Adidas when you check out with Apple Pay.
more…Vue lecture
These are Apple TV’s top 10 shows that are coming soon
Apple TV had its biggest year ever in 2025, but there’s a stacked lineup of new and returning shows premiering in early 2026. Here are the top 10 Apple TV shows coming soon.
more…Deals: 24GB M4 MacBook Air $300 off, Apple Pencil Pro, 240W Apple USB-C cable, final Best Buy 48-hr. flash sale, more
This close to Christmas, after basically months of incredible deals on Apple gear, I didn’t expect to be telling folks we have one of the best deals of the year on an M4 MacBook Air today. The most affordable 24GB M4 MacBook Air is headlining today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break at $300 off the list price to undercut all of the best Black Friday deals that surfaced this year. That offers joins a chance to save on Apple Pencil Pro, Apple’s iPhone Air Bumper, official 240W USB-C cables, and Best Buy’s final 48-hour holiday flash sale. Scope it all out down below.
more…iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
- The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras
- Under-screen Face ID
- Front camera in top-left corner of the screen
- Variable aperture for at least one rear camera
- A20 Pro chip manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process and new packaging technology
- A simplified Camera Control button with no swipe gestures
- Design changes to the rear Ceramic Shield for MagSafe charging, potentially including a more frosted glass appearance
- Apple-designed C1X or C2 modem for 5G/LTE cellular connectivity
- Apple-designed N1 chip or newer for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread
- Web browsing via satellite
- New color options under consideration: burgundy, brown, and purple
- iPhone 18 Pro Max may be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, perhaps to accommodate a larger battery
Related Roundup: iPhone 18
Related Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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iOS 26 lets you customize Liquid Glass on your iPhone, here’s how
iOS 26 launched in the fall, but with 26.1 and 26.2 updates it added more tools for customizing the new Liquid Glass design. And now that a new wave of users is upgrading to iOS 26 for the first time, here’s an overview of two ways to personalize your iPhone’s Liquid Glass style.
more…iOS 26.2 adds new features in six iPhone apps, details here
iOS 26.2 is available now, and it’s packed with a bunch of new features. Many of those features are additions to Apple’s built-in iPhone apps. Here’s everything new across six Apple apps in iOS 26.2.
more…Apple to Allow Alternative App Stores and More on iOS in Brazil by April
Due to regulatory action, Apple has agreed to allow alternative app stores, third-party payment systems for in-app purchases, and in-app links to external offers on iOS in Brazil, according to legal news website MLex and Brazilian blog Tecnoblog.
This means that iPhone users in Brazil would gain access to options beyond Apple's App Store, such as the AltStore from Riley Testut and Shane Gill.
The changes must be implemented within 105 days, so Apple has until early April to roll them out. That timeframe might align with the release of iOS 26.4.
Apple has already allowed alternative app stores and/or third-party payment systems on iOS in the EU, Japan, and South Korea, and it will likely be forced to do so in the UK and Australia too, due to similar regulations across those regions.
AltStore
Apple has opposed alternative app stores due to privacy and security concerns.
"If you prefer using apps that have met all of Apple's App Review Guidelines, including Apple's standards for privacy, security, and quality, you can use the App Store," says Apple, in a support document about alternative app distribution.
This article, "Apple to Allow Alternative App Stores and More on iOS in Brazil by April" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
This means that iPhone users in Brazil would gain access to options beyond Apple's App Store, such as the AltStore from Riley Testut and Shane Gill.
The changes must be implemented within 105 days, so Apple has until early April to roll them out. That timeframe might align with the release of iOS 26.4.
Apple has already allowed alternative app stores and/or third-party payment systems on iOS in the EU, Japan, and South Korea, and it will likely be forced to do so in the UK and Australia too, due to similar regulations across those regions.
AltStoreApple has opposed alternative app stores due to privacy and security concerns.
"If you prefer using apps that have met all of Apple's App Review Guidelines, including Apple's standards for privacy, security, and quality, you can use the App Store," says Apple, in a support document about alternative app distribution.
Tag: App Store
Related Forum: iOS 26
This article, "Apple to Allow Alternative App Stores and More on iOS in Brazil by April" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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iPhone 18 Pro: Six new features are coming next year
Next year’s iPhone 18 lineup will bring a brand new foldable option, but the most popular models will no doubt be the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Here are six new features rumored for iPhone 18 Pro.
more…The Lowfree Flow84 is the mechanical keyboard Apple would make today [U: New model]
The Lowfree Flow84 is the latest episode in my on-again, off-again love affair with mechanical keyboards. I describe it as the mechanical keyboard Apple would make for a mix of good and bad reasons, but we’ll get to that! Update: There is a new version with touch sliders for volume and brightness – see the Pricing & conclusions section at the end.
It’s one of a relatively new breed of low-profile mechanical keyboards, something that would have seemed a contradiction in terms just a few years earlier …
more…Apple 2025 Review of the Year
Benjamin and Chance reflect on another year in Apple news. We cover all the big headlines from across the months, including the fallout of the Siri delays, the early iOS 26 redesign leaks, and the launch of all the new 2025 hardware like the iPhone 17 series.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the pair check in on who won their annual prediction picks. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
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What would you think of these iPhone Fold aspect ratios? [Poll]
We’ve so far been assuming that the iPhone Fold would have a familiar aspect ratio on the exterior display, opening out into an interior screen which is taller than it is wide.
However, a recent report suggested that the interior screen will be wider than it is tall, and some physical mockups give us an indication of how this might look …
more…Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the iPhone mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led some people to wonder why Apple would settle on such a compact form factor.
Using The Information's reported dimensions, content creator Ben Geskin has shared some images and video of a printed version of the device (embedded below) that help envision what it could look and feel like in the hand. They also hint at Apple's design strategy, suggesting it is related to an unavoidable trade-off between the outer and inner displays of a book-style foldable.
A taller, phone-like outer screen generally leads to a more square inner panel once unfolded, which can be awkward for many types of content, like videos and two open windows in Split View. Conversely, a more rectangular inner display that better supports multi-window use inevitably forces the outer display to become wider or smaller, making it less comfortable to hold and less conventional in use.
Reports suggesting Apple has opted for a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display strongly suggest Apple is favoring the latter approach. A 4:3 inner display would allow Apple to more easily transfer established multitasking features from iPadOS into a foldable form. Here the unfolded state becomes the main mode of use, prioritizing a lightweight, ultra-portable iPad experience over a stretched-out smartphone.
That said, the iPhone Fold in its closed state is likely to feel more like a smaller everyday phone than other foldables on the market. Compare the rumored 5.3-inch outer screen size with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has a 6.5-inch front display, or the Google Pixel Pro Fold, whose cover screen comes in at 6.3 inches. Indeed, the iPhone Fold's front display would be smaller than almost all current major foldables, suggesting Apple is deliberately diverging from the "outer screen as primary phone" philosophy.
When choosing size, Apple will of course have a very deliberate product strategy in mind. While Samsung and Google largely treat the cover display on their foldables as a full-time smartphone screen, Apple may see the device's folded state as a secondary experience, suited to notifications, quick replies, and other glanceable interactions, while reserving the main experience for when the device is unfolded.
However, software too has its limits. If users expect to browse, type extensively, or use third-party apps in the folded state, no amount of interface refinement will fully overcome a physically smaller canvas. That's what makes the comparison to the iPhone mini so notable – especially for a device expected to command a price premium of anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500, which would make it Apple's most expensive ever iPhone.
Ultimately, the rumored dimensions suggest Apple is betting on the value of the unfolded experience rather than the comfort of the folded one. The company seems willing to accept a smaller, less conventional outer display if it ensures the inner display can shine at the system and app level. If users come to think of the device not as a larger iPhone, but as an iPad that happens to fold into a pocket, the design trade-offs start to look far more intentional, and far more Apple-like.
What do you think of the alleged dimensions of Apple's rumored foldable iPhone? Let us know in the comments. The "iPhone Fold," which some are calling it, is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.
This article, "Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Using The Information's reported dimensions, content creator Ben Geskin has shared some images and video of a printed version of the device (embedded below) that help envision what it could look and feel like in the hand. They also hint at Apple's design strategy, suggesting it is related to an unavoidable trade-off between the outer and inner displays of a book-style foldable.
A taller, phone-like outer screen generally leads to a more square inner panel once unfolded, which can be awkward for many types of content, like videos and two open windows in Split View. Conversely, a more rectangular inner display that better supports multi-window use inevitably forces the outer display to become wider or smaller, making it less comfortable to hold and less conventional in use.
Printed a passport-style foldable phone to see how comfortable this form factor is in real life.
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) December 18, 2025
5.3-inch cover display
7.7-inch main display pic.twitter.com/5ae58Bc2Cq
Reports suggesting Apple has opted for a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display strongly suggest Apple is favoring the latter approach. A 4:3 inner display would allow Apple to more easily transfer established multitasking features from iPadOS into a foldable form. Here the unfolded state becomes the main mode of use, prioritizing a lightweight, ultra-portable iPad experience over a stretched-out smartphone.
That said, the iPhone Fold in its closed state is likely to feel more like a smaller everyday phone than other foldables on the market. Compare the rumored 5.3-inch outer screen size with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has a 6.5-inch front display, or the Google Pixel Pro Fold, whose cover screen comes in at 6.3 inches. Indeed, the iPhone Fold's front display would be smaller than almost all current major foldables, suggesting Apple is deliberately diverging from the "outer screen as primary phone" philosophy.
When choosing size, Apple will of course have a very deliberate product strategy in mind. While Samsung and Google largely treat the cover display on their foldables as a full-time smartphone screen, Apple may see the device's folded state as a secondary experience, suited to notifications, quick replies, and other glanceable interactions, while reserving the main experience for when the device is unfolded.
Comparison with the iPhone 17 Pro Max pic.twitter.com/MpJ80AwHXw
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) December 18, 2025
However, software too has its limits. If users expect to browse, type extensively, or use third-party apps in the folded state, no amount of interface refinement will fully overcome a physically smaller canvas. That's what makes the comparison to the iPhone mini so notable – especially for a device expected to command a price premium of anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500, which would make it Apple's most expensive ever iPhone.
Ultimately, the rumored dimensions suggest Apple is betting on the value of the unfolded experience rather than the comfort of the folded one. The company seems willing to accept a smaller, less conventional outer display if it ensures the inner display can shine at the system and app level. If users come to think of the device not as a larger iPhone, but as an iPad that happens to fold into a pocket, the design trade-offs start to look far more intentional, and far more Apple-like.
16:9 video playback on 7.7-inch display vs. 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max display (image credit: @BenGeskin).
What do you think of the alleged dimensions of Apple's rumored foldable iPhone? Let us know in the comments. The "iPhone Fold," which some are calling it, is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.
Tag: Foldable iPhone
This article, "Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Pirate group says it has scraped almost the whole of Spotify
Pirate site Anna’s Archive, which describes itself as “the largest truly open library in human history,” says that it has scraped 99.6% of all the music people listen to from Spotify.
It says the total data downloaded is a little under 300TB in size and that it will be making this available for torrenting …
more…EU takes credit for iOS 26.3 features, says it encourages innovation
The European Union has taken credit for new interoperability features in iOS 26.3. The bloc says that this will create a market for new innovative products and services.
The latest beta release has a strong focus on making iOS more open, including much better support for third-party smartwatches …
more…Apple @ Work Podcast: Inside the 2026 Mac Admin Survey and what it means for Apple IT
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.
In this episode of Apple @ Work, Alexander Tatarchuk joins the show to talk about MacPaw’s Mac Admins Survey 2026.
Track a Flight on Your iPhone
Flight tracker apps are a popular way to keep tabs on planes in the sky, because when you're preparing to fly or when someone you know is on board a flight, you can use them to check that things are still on schedule. But if you have an iPhone, you don't need to download and install a third-party app to track a flight – it's a handy built-in feature of the operating system.
The ability to track flights in iOS is thanks to the data detectors that Apple has integrated into the system for quite a few years now. Data detectors recognize things like times, dates and addresses, and in the right context, turns these into tappable links. Here's how it works.
If someone sends you a flight number (U2502, say) in Messages, you can press and hold the underlined number to get a real-time view of the flight's progress plotted on a map.
You also get the option to learn more by tapping Preview Flight, which will give you information like departure and arrival times, delays, and for some airports, baggage claim details. You'll find links to the airline website and Apple Maps at the bottom of the information card.
To increase the chances that iOS detects the flight number, it's best to include the full airline name along with the number (EasyJet U2502, for example).
On iPhone and iPad, you can also track flights in Search.
Swipe down from the middle of the Home screen and simply input the flight number into the search field to get departure and arrival information. Tap the information card to get the additional details mentioned above.
Apple has included the same data detectors into macOS, meaning you can track flights on your Mac, too. Simply invoke Spotlight with the Command-Spacebar key combination and type the flight number into the input field.
Select the flight data in the results, and you'll see the same information card that appears in iOS, complete with the flight's live trajectory shown on a map and other details.
This article, "Track a Flight on Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
The ability to track flights in iOS is thanks to the data detectors that Apple has integrated into the system for quite a few years now. Data detectors recognize things like times, dates and addresses, and in the right context, turns these into tappable links. Here's how it works.
Track Flights in Messages
If someone sends you a flight number (U2502, say) in Messages, you can press and hold the underlined number to get a real-time view of the flight's progress plotted on a map.
You also get the option to learn more by tapping Preview Flight, which will give you information like departure and arrival times, delays, and for some airports, baggage claim details. You'll find links to the airline website and Apple Maps at the bottom of the information card.
To increase the chances that iOS detects the flight number, it's best to include the full airline name along with the number (EasyJet U2502, for example).
Track Flights in Spotlight Search
On iPhone and iPad, you can also track flights in Search.
Swipe down from the middle of the Home screen and simply input the flight number into the search field to get departure and arrival information. Tap the information card to get the additional details mentioned above.
Tracking Flights on a Mac
Apple has included the same data detectors into macOS, meaning you can track flights on your Mac, too. Simply invoke Spotlight with the Command-Spacebar key combination and type the flight number into the input field.
Select the flight data in the results, and you'll see the same information card that appears in iOS, complete with the flight's live trajectory shown on a map and other details.
This article, "Track a Flight on Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple lands third in Cloudflare’s global Internet Services rankings for 2025
Cloudflare has released the 2025 Cloudflare Radar Year in Review, highlighting the trends it observed throughout the year as one of the world’s largest internet infrastructure providers. Here’s how Apple did.
more…ChatGPT Now Has a 2025 Year-End Summary Feature Like Spotify Wrapped
OpenAI added a year-end summary feature to ChatGPT, allowing users to get a personalized overview of their 2025 ChatGPT usage. The summary is similar to year-end wrap-ups from companies like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other services.
ChatGPT offers up an overview of themes discussed and chat stats, such as busiest chatting day, number of overall chats, messages sent, and more. ChatGPT provides each user with a chat style based on writing or speaking habits, along with an "archetype" based on what ChatGPT is used for.
The year-end update also provides a poem, a personalized pixel painting, a 2025 "award," and predictions for 2026.
ChatGPT users can get their year-end summary by asking ChatGPT to "Show me my year with ChatGPT" in the ChatGPT app or on the web. Summaries are available for Free, Pro, and Plus users who have chat history and memory enabled for ChatGPT.
Countries where the feature is available include the United States, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
This article, "ChatGPT Now Has a 2025 Year-End Summary Feature Like Spotify Wrapped" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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ChatGPT offers up an overview of themes discussed and chat stats, such as busiest chatting day, number of overall chats, messages sent, and more. ChatGPT provides each user with a chat style based on writing or speaking habits, along with an "archetype" based on what ChatGPT is used for.
The year-end update also provides a poem, a personalized pixel painting, a 2025 "award," and predictions for 2026.
ChatGPT users can get their year-end summary by asking ChatGPT to "Show me my year with ChatGPT" in the ChatGPT app or on the web. Summaries are available for Free, Pro, and Plus users who have chat history and memory enabled for ChatGPT.
Countries where the feature is available include the United States, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
This article, "ChatGPT Now Has a 2025 Year-End Summary Feature Like Spotify Wrapped" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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OpenAI rolls out a fun ‘Your Year with ChatGPT’ feature in select countries
OpenAI has joined the Spotify Wrapped-style personalized year-end recap trend with “Your Year with ChatGPT,” which is rolling out to users in the U.S. and select additional countries. Here’s how to see yours.
more…iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers.
The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS 26.3, EU wearable device makers can now test proximity pairing and improved notifications.
Here are the new capabilities that Apple is adding:
The European Commission says that developers can test third-party TVs, smart watches, and headphones with the new features in iOS 26.3, with the functionality to be "fully available in Europe" in 2026.
iOS 26.3 offers "another step towards a more inter-connected digital ecosystem to the benefit of all EU citizens," according to the European Commission. iOS 26.3 is expected to launch at the end of January.
The changes to proximity pairing and notifications are only available for device makers and iPhone and iPad users in the European Union.
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The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS 26.3, EU wearable device makers can now test proximity pairing and improved notifications.
Here are the new capabilities that Apple is adding:
- Proximity pairing - Devices like earbuds will be able to pair with an iOS device in an AirPods-like way by bringing the accessory close to an iPhone or iPad to initiate a simple, one-tap pairing process. Pairing third-party devices will no longer require multiple steps.
- Notifications - Third-party accessories like smart watches will be able to receive notifications from the iPhone. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is functionality normally limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications can only be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications to an Apple Watch.
The European Commission says that developers can test third-party TVs, smart watches, and headphones with the new features in iOS 26.3, with the functionality to be "fully available in Europe" in 2026.
iOS 26.3 offers "another step towards a more inter-connected digital ecosystem to the benefit of all EU citizens," according to the European Commission. iOS 26.3 is expected to launch at the end of January.
The changes to proximity pairing and notifications are only available for device makers and iPhone and iPad users in the European Union.
This article, "iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple Offers Free Two-Hour Delivery for Last-Minute Holiday Shopping
Apple has started offering free two-hour delivery on eligible, in-stock products for those who still need to do some last-minute gift shopping. The two-hour delivery upgrade is available through December 24 in most metro areas of the U.S. and Canada. Three-hour delivery is also available in Australia.
Two-hour delivery is provided through courier companies that Apple partners with, like Uber Eats or Postmates, and it typically costs $9. Items are delivered from a local Apple retail store, so whatever you're ordering needs to be in stock at a nearby location.
The offer is available for in-stock purchases of iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, and Beats headphones. It is not available for custom Macs or engraved orders, nor is it applicable to accessories. Some accessories and products are also still available for December 24th delivery with express shipping.
Apple is still providing an extended return policy, so items purchased now can be returned through January 6, 2026.
This article, "Apple Offers Free Two-Hour Delivery for Last-Minute Holiday Shopping" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Two-hour delivery is provided through courier companies that Apple partners with, like Uber Eats or Postmates, and it typically costs $9. Items are delivered from a local Apple retail store, so whatever you're ordering needs to be in stock at a nearby location.
The offer is available for in-stock purchases of iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, and Beats headphones. It is not available for custom Macs or engraved orders, nor is it applicable to accessories. Some accessories and products are also still available for December 24th delivery with express shipping.
Apple is still providing an extended return policy, so items purchased now can be returned through January 6, 2026.
This article, "Apple Offers Free Two-Hour Delivery for Last-Minute Holiday Shopping" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple reiterates long-term commitment to China in meeting with commerce ministry
In a meeting with Li Chenggang, China’s International Trade Negotiator and Vice Minister of Commerce, Apple Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan said Apple plans to continue its long-term development and investment in China. Here are the details.
more…Apple warns some employees not to leave the U.S. amid return delays
As reported by Business Insider, a law firm representing Apple has cautioned some visa-holding employees against international travel, citing extended and unpredictable delays when returning to the U.S. Here are the details.
more…WhatsApp is working on quiz-based interactions for channels
The latest WhatsApp beta for iOS includes a new quiz tool designed to drive engagement in channels. Here are the details.
more…