Connexion
While Tesla may be the last automaker anyone expected to consider CarPlay, there’s an even more unlikely vehicle maker that could adopt Apple’s infotainment feature in the future.
more…Vue lecture
HomePod 2 Now Over 3 Years Old, With No Sign of New Model
Apple's second-generation HomePod is now over three years old, with no sign of a refresh or third-generation model on the horizon.
The original HomePod was announced at WWDC in 2017 and launched in 2018 after a heavily delayed release. The device was met with mixed reviews; critics praised its outstanding sound quality but pointed out its high price, missing features, and limited functionality compared to rivals.
Apple dropped its price from $349 to $299 in April 2019 and, in March 2021, the company announced that it was discontinuing the first-generation HomePod, instead shifting its focus to the HomePod mini, which launched the previous year. The decision left a gap in Apple's product lineup for a full-sized smart speaker until the company introduced the second-generation model via a press release on January 18, 2023. It launched on February 3, 2023.
The second-generation HomePod looks virtually identical to the original, although it is 0.2 inches shorter and has a larger edge-to-edge LED touchscreen on top. It also boasts a range of upgrades and changes compared to its 2018 predecessor, including the S7 chip, a U1 ultra wideband chip, a removable power cable, a temperature and humidity sensor, and sound recognition. However, it features two fewer microphones and horn-loaded tweeters.
Apple is widely rumored to be planning a wave of new smart home devices, including a home security camera, over the next few years, but it is not clear if the HomePod is part of that. Apple appeared to be exploring a new HomePod with a touchscreen display at the top of the device around 2024, ostensibly proven by leaked prototype images, but there have been no further reports of such a device or any third-generation HomePod for over a year.
Rumors about Apple's plans for the smart home now center on an all-new smart home hub device, which has been described as a HomePod with a square iPad-like 7-inch screen and an A18 chip, with support for the next-generation version of Siri. It is expected to launch this year. A new HomePod mini is also rumored to be released this year.
This article, "HomePod 2 Now Over 3 Years Old, With No Sign of New Model" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
The original HomePod was announced at WWDC in 2017 and launched in 2018 after a heavily delayed release. The device was met with mixed reviews; critics praised its outstanding sound quality but pointed out its high price, missing features, and limited functionality compared to rivals.
Apple dropped its price from $349 to $299 in April 2019 and, in March 2021, the company announced that it was discontinuing the first-generation HomePod, instead shifting its focus to the HomePod mini, which launched the previous year. The decision left a gap in Apple's product lineup for a full-sized smart speaker until the company introduced the second-generation model via a press release on January 18, 2023. It launched on February 3, 2023.
The second-generation HomePod looks virtually identical to the original, although it is 0.2 inches shorter and has a larger edge-to-edge LED touchscreen on top. It also boasts a range of upgrades and changes compared to its 2018 predecessor, including the S7 chip, a U1 ultra wideband chip, a removable power cable, a temperature and humidity sensor, and sound recognition. However, it features two fewer microphones and horn-loaded tweeters.
Apple is widely rumored to be planning a wave of new smart home devices, including a home security camera, over the next few years, but it is not clear if the HomePod is part of that. Apple appeared to be exploring a new HomePod with a touchscreen display at the top of the device around 2024, ostensibly proven by leaked prototype images, but there have been no further reports of such a device or any third-generation HomePod for over a year.
Rumors about Apple's plans for the smart home now center on an all-new smart home hub device, which has been described as a HomePod with a square iPad-like 7-inch screen and an A18 chip, with support for the next-generation version of Siri. It is expected to launch this year. A new HomePod mini is also rumored to be released this year.
Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)
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Hands-on: this tiny SSD is the most iPhone-friendly external drive yet
Storage on Apple devices has always been a sensitive subject. Whether it’s for an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you always pay the highest premium when upgrading the internal storage. An iPhone 17 Pro Max can go from $1199 for its 256GB entry-level model to $2000 for the 2TB model. That’s an additional $800 just for storage on your iPhone. So, for anyone shooting photos, working with large files, or recording Apple ProRes video on iPhone, those storage limits show up fast. I always recommend people get external storage rather than internal storage, since you can get 16TB for $800 these days! But external storage, specifically with iPhones, poses other challenges, like cables, mounts, and setups that can make things feel clunky. So when I saw the new Planck SSD and how tiny, compact, and purpose-built it was for iPhone, I had to check it out.
more…Apple Begins Selling Refurbished iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Models at Lower Prices
Apple today began selling certified refurbished iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models on its online store in the U.S., with prices discounted by 12% to 22% compared to Apple's current or former pricing for the devices.
Here were Apple's starting prices when the devices launched in September 2024:
Apple's refurbished iPhones are unlocked, and they come with a new battery, a new outer shell, and a plain box with a USB-C cable. The devices are also covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty, and they are eligible for extended AppleCare+ or AppleCare One coverage. Apple says its refurbished products are thoroughly cleaned and tested, and generally they are virtually indistinguishable from brand new devices.
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models feature 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, up from the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max. Other new features included a Camera Control button, an A18 Pro chip optimized for Apple Intelligence, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, support for 4K at 120 FPS video recording, longer battery life, faster charging over MagSafe, and improved microphones.
The lower-end iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus also have a Camera Control and Apple Intelligence.
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Here were Apple's starting prices when the devices launched in September 2024:
- iPhone 16: $799
- iPhone 16 Plus: $899
- iPhone 16 Pro: $999
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199
- iPhone 16: $699
- iPhone 16 Plus: $799
- iPhone 16: $619
- iPhone 16 Plus: $699
- iPhone 16 Pro: $759
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: $929
Apple's refurbished iPhones are unlocked, and they come with a new battery, a new outer shell, and a plain box with a USB-C cable. The devices are also covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty, and they are eligible for extended AppleCare+ or AppleCare One coverage. Apple says its refurbished products are thoroughly cleaned and tested, and generally they are virtually indistinguishable from brand new devices.
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models feature 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, up from the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max. Other new features included a Camera Control button, an A18 Pro chip optimized for Apple Intelligence, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, support for 4K at 120 FPS video recording, longer battery life, faster charging over MagSafe, and improved microphones.
The lower-end iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus also have a Camera Control and Apple Intelligence.
Related Roundup: iPhone 16
Related Forum: iPhone
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Spotify upgrades lyrics support with three new features
Spotify has announced three big updates rolling out to its lyrics feature. The company says that lyric translations are now available worldwide. It’s also rolling out support for offline lyrics, plus an updated design for previewing lyrics right on the Now Playing view in the Spotify app.
more…Samsung's Super Bowl Sale Has Up to $1,200 Off The Frame TV and Much More
Samsung recently kicked off a sale across its most popular monitors and TVs, with notable markdowns on products like The Frame and the Smart Monitor series. These deals have all been applied automatically on Samsung's website, and many match all-time low prices on these products.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In regards to TVs, there are quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including all-time low prices on The Frame models from 2025. You can get the 2025 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,199.99 ($600 off), as well as the 75-inch Frame Pro for $1,999.99 ($1,200 off), a match of the all-time low price.
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.
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
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Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In regards to TVs, there are quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including all-time low prices on The Frame models from 2025. You can get the 2025 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,199.99 ($600 off), as well as the 75-inch Frame Pro for $1,999.99 ($1,200 off), a match of the all-time low price.
TVs
- 55-inch QLED QEF1 Smart TV - $349.99, down from $599.99
- 55-inch QLED Q7F Smart TV - $399.99, down from $529.99
- 55-inch QLED Q8F Smart TV - $599.99, down from $749.99
- 75-inch Vision AI Smart TV - $599.99, down from $1,199.99
- 50-inch The Frame - $799.99, down from $1,099.99
- 75-inch Neo QLED QN70F Smart TV - $999.99, down from $1,599.99
- 65-inch The Frame - $1,199.99, down from $1,799.99
- 55-inch OLED S95F Smart TV - $1,899.99, down from $2,299.99
- 75-inch The Frame Pro - $1,999.99, down from $3,199.99
- 85-inch The Frame Pro - $3,299.99, down from $4,299.99
- 85-inch Neo QLED QN90F Smart TV - $2,299.99, down from $4,499.99
Monitors
- 32-inch ViewFinity S70A UHD Monitor - $299.99, down from $459.99
- 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 - $359.99, down from $499.99
- 34-inch ViewFinity S6 Monitor - $429.99, down from $699.99
- 40-inch Odyssey G7 Gaming Monitor - $749.99, down from $1,199.99
- 49-inch Odyssey OLED G91SD Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,299.99
- 49-inch Odyssey G95C Gaming Monitor - $849.99, down from $1,299.99
Galaxy Products
- Galaxy XR - Save up to $1,140 with the Explorer Pack
- Galaxy Z Fold7 - Save up to $1,000 in instant trade-in credit
- Galaxy S25 Ultra - Save up to $700 in instant trade-in credit
- Galaxy Ring - Get up to $150 trade-in credit
- Galaxy Watch Ultra - Save up to $250
- Galaxy Watch 8 - Save up to $200
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Alexa+ launches for all US users, here’s how to upgrade (or skip it for now)
Alexa+ is Amazon’s new AI-infused version of its popular assistant. Following a slow initial rollout, Amazon has just made Alexa+ available to all users in the US. Here’s how to upgrade to Alexa+, or skip it for now.
more…iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of 35 smartphones tested
Battery life tests carried out by CNET reveal that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of any of the smartphones tested, and that Apple heads the brand rankings across its models.
Apple’s flagship model took first place, ahead of several models with substantially higher battery capacity, with the base model iPhone 17 in equal second place …
more…
Apple Sports Now Supports Golf and More
The Apple Sports app now supports men's and women's golf, along with improvements to soccer and tennis coverage.
Version 3.7 of the app introduces support for every PGA and LPGA tournament, with live leaderboards, round-by-round scorecards for every golfer, and real-time updates in the app, widgets, and Live Activities. The app already supported the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, NASCAR, F1, Premier League, and more.
Apple has also expanded the soccer lineup with support for Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Coupe de France, and DFB-Pokal. In addition, tennis coverage now supports real-time stats, making it easier to keep up with the action.
The Apple Sports app launched in 2024, offering a convenient way to glance at live scores and statistics. It is available on the iPhone in the U.S., the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and select other European countries.
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Version 3.7 of the app introduces support for every PGA and LPGA tournament, with live leaderboards, round-by-round scorecards for every golfer, and real-time updates in the app, widgets, and Live Activities. The app already supported the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, NASCAR, F1, Premier League, and more.
Golf fans can follow along as each tournament unfolds with access to live scores for all official PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events, including the majors, starting this weekend with the PGA’s WM Phoenix Open.
Fans can track their favorite players through each event with hole-by-hole results and individual scorecards alongside live leaderboards, plus scores from every round during each tournament throughout the year.
Apple has also expanded the soccer lineup with support for Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Coupe de France, and DFB-Pokal. In addition, tennis coverage now supports real-time stats, making it easier to keep up with the action.
The Apple Sports app launched in 2024, offering a convenient way to glance at live scores and statistics. It is available on the iPhone in the U.S., the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and select other European countries.
Tag: Apple Sports
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Apple Sports for iPhone updated with PGA, LPGA, and more
Apple is rolling out another update to its Apple Sports app for iPhone. This update adds support for Men’s and Women’s golf, as well as expanded support for soccer and tennis matches.
more…iOS 26.2.1 causing crashes, freezes, and severe battery drain for some
iOS 26.2.1 was released last week, adding support for AirTag 2, alongside bug fixes. However, a small minority of users are reporting that it has introduced bugs rather than removed them.
Among the problems being reported are apps crashing, freezing, or lagging; connectivity failures; and severe battery drain …
more…Apple Teaching Swift and Robotics Across Its India Supply Chain
Apple today announced a new Education Hub in Bengaluru as part of an expanded effort to provide technical training and skills development for employees across its supply chain in India.
Apple said the new Apple Education Hub in Bengaluru will serve as a centralized training and coordination facility for supplier employees in India, marking the company's first education hub of its kind in the country. The hub will begin offering courses in March and operates in collaboration with Manipal Academy of Higher Education, which will provide faculty and curriculum support focused initially on digital literacy and Swift programming.
In parallel with the Bengaluru hub, Apple is broadening its suite of development courses at more than 25 supplier facilities across the country. The updated curriculum will be introduced starting with Tata Electronics and is designed to cover digital literacy, Swift coding, robotics, automation technology, and smart manufacturing practices. Apple said these offerings are funded through its global $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund, which supports education and skills training initiatives across the company's supply chain.
The company said the new courses build on an existing portfolio of more than 75 programs currently available to supplier employees in India. The offerings span technical skills, professional development, health education, and rights awareness training, which Apple says are designed to ensure workers are informed about workplace standards and protections. Apple works with international organizations and local partners to deliver these programs.
Apple's expanded training effort also includes plans to scale its robotics education program, which launched in India in December 2024. The initiative focuses on training factory educators in dedicated robotics labs, after which those educators adapt the material and conduct hands-on sessions within their own facilities. Apple said it plans to extend the robotics program to additional supplier sites in India later this year.
Apple also announced plans to grow its Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities program in India. The program recently launched with Salcomp and seeks to provide employment and professional development opportunities for people with disabilities within Apple's supply chain, as well as improve safety, accessibility, and inclusivity practices at manufacturing facilities. To date, the program has supported more than 18,000 supplier employees around the world and builds on Apple's partnership with Enable India.
This article, "Apple Teaching Swift and Robotics Across Its India Supply Chain" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple said the new Apple Education Hub in Bengaluru will serve as a centralized training and coordination facility for supplier employees in India, marking the company's first education hub of its kind in the country. The hub will begin offering courses in March and operates in collaboration with Manipal Academy of Higher Education, which will provide faculty and curriculum support focused initially on digital literacy and Swift programming.
In parallel with the Bengaluru hub, Apple is broadening its suite of development courses at more than 25 supplier facilities across the country. The updated curriculum will be introduced starting with Tata Electronics and is designed to cover digital literacy, Swift coding, robotics, automation technology, and smart manufacturing practices. Apple said these offerings are funded through its global $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund, which supports education and skills training initiatives across the company's supply chain.
The same spirit of innovation that drives our products also guides our commitment to supporting people across our global supply chain. We are thrilled to expand our technical training courses in India, giving thousands of employees the opportunity to learn valuable new skills and explore new paths for career growth.
The company said the new courses build on an existing portfolio of more than 75 programs currently available to supplier employees in India. The offerings span technical skills, professional development, health education, and rights awareness training, which Apple says are designed to ensure workers are informed about workplace standards and protections. Apple works with international organizations and local partners to deliver these programs.
Apple's expanded training effort also includes plans to scale its robotics education program, which launched in India in December 2024. The initiative focuses on training factory educators in dedicated robotics labs, after which those educators adapt the material and conduct hands-on sessions within their own facilities. Apple said it plans to extend the robotics program to additional supplier sites in India later this year.
Apple also announced plans to grow its Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities program in India. The program recently launched with Salcomp and seeks to provide employment and professional development opportunities for people with disabilities within Apple's supply chain, as well as improve safety, accessibility, and inclusivity practices at manufacturing facilities. To date, the program has supported more than 18,000 supplier employees around the world and builds on Apple's partnership with Enable India.
Tag: India
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New Roadmap Outlines What's Next for NFC on iPhone
Apple could benefit from a new wave of NFC technology upgrades after the NFC Forum this week published a roadmap outlining faster data transfers, new security standards, and expanded capabilities.
The NFC Forum is the global standards body for Near Field Communication technology. Apple is a board member of the organization. The latest multi-year Technology Roadmap identifies six development priorities that will shape future NFC standards.
One of the most significant changes outlined is work toward substantially faster NFC data rates, up to eight times higher than current levels. The roadmap also places emphasis on improving NFC reader mode interoperability through end-to-end application testing.
The roadmap continues to highlight multipurpose tap functionality, which would allow a single NFC tap to support multiple actions depending on context. The NFC Forum says this would enable readers to request specific credentials needed for a given action.
The NFC Forum said it is beginning work on next-generation NFC wireless charging specifications, with goals that include higher power levels and support for devices with multiple charging receivers. While NFC charging is currently limited to low-power accessory use, expanded standards could influence future devices.
Security enhancements are another major focus, with plans to publish the first NFC Controllers Security Profile, establishing baseline security requirements for NFC hardware. The roadmap includes work toward future-proofing NFC protocols against post-quantum computing threats and strengthening protection against relay-based attacks.
Digital keys remain an active area of development as well, with plans to explore new digital key experiences to support a wider range of industry requirements.
The NFC Forum last published a technology roadmap in 2023, with several goals delivered as part of NFC Release 15 in June 2025.
Last year, Apple expanded its use of NFC notably by rolling out Tap to Pay on iPhone in many new countries, allowing merchants to accept contactless payments directly on an iPhone without additional hardware using the device's NFC capabilities. At the same time, under the European Union's regulatory regime, Apple continued to open broader third-party access to the iPhone's NFC chip so that third-party developers can use NFC for contactless transactions, enabling Apple Pay competitors such as Curve and PayPal to offer NFC-based payment options on iOS in Europe.
This article, "New Roadmap Outlines What's Next for NFC on iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
The NFC Forum is the global standards body for Near Field Communication technology. Apple is a board member of the organization. The latest multi-year Technology Roadmap identifies six development priorities that will shape future NFC standards.
One of the most significant changes outlined is work toward substantially faster NFC data rates, up to eight times higher than current levels. The roadmap also places emphasis on improving NFC reader mode interoperability through end-to-end application testing.
The roadmap continues to highlight multipurpose tap functionality, which would allow a single NFC tap to support multiple actions depending on context. The NFC Forum says this would enable readers to request specific credentials needed for a given action.
The NFC Forum said it is beginning work on next-generation NFC wireless charging specifications, with goals that include higher power levels and support for devices with multiple charging receivers. While NFC charging is currently limited to low-power accessory use, expanded standards could influence future devices.
Security enhancements are another major focus, with plans to publish the first NFC Controllers Security Profile, establishing baseline security requirements for NFC hardware. The roadmap includes work toward future-proofing NFC protocols against post-quantum computing threats and strengthening protection against relay-based attacks.
Digital keys remain an active area of development as well, with plans to explore new digital key experiences to support a wider range of industry requirements.
The NFC Forum last published a technology roadmap in 2023, with several goals delivered as part of NFC Release 15 in June 2025.
Last year, Apple expanded its use of NFC notably by rolling out Tap to Pay on iPhone in many new countries, allowing merchants to accept contactless payments directly on an iPhone without additional hardware using the device's NFC capabilities. At the same time, under the European Union's regulatory regime, Apple continued to open broader third-party access to the iPhone's NFC chip so that third-party developers can use NFC for contactless transactions, enabling Apple Pay competitors such as Curve and PayPal to offer NFC-based payment options on iOS in Europe.
Tag: NFC
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Apple’s search deal with Google could face renewed scrutiny as DOJ appeals antitrust ruling
Last year, a federal judge ruled that Google had illegally maintained a search monopoly, but allowed the company to keep paying to be the default search engine on Apple devices (with very few caveats). Now, the Department of Justice and a group of states are appealing the overall decision. Here are the details.
more…xAI accused of destroying evidence in antitrust case against Apple and OpenAI
As OpenAI accused xAI of systematically destroying internal communications, the court also shut down xAI’s bid to add a high-ranking former OpenAI researcher to discovery. Here’s the latest on this increasingly messy lawsuit.
more…M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro Launch Imminent as Reseller Stock Dwindles
New M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are slated to launch in the near future, according to information shared with MacRumors by an Apple Premium Reseller.
The third-party Apple retailer said that MacBook Pro stock is very low currently because there is an imminent new product introduction. Apple typically coordinates supply with retail stores ahead of a new model launch to avoid leaving resellers with too many outdated machines.
Over the weekend, Bloomberg said that the new MacBook Pros are going to launch alongside macOS Tahoe 26.3 during the February/March timeframe, and we are getting closer to the software's release date. Today's Xcode 26.3 release candidate launch also suggests that a debut isn't far off.
It's atypical for Apple to introduce an Xcode release candidate without also providing iOS and macOS release candidates, and we haven't seen the iOS 26.3 or macOS 26.3 RCs yet. Holding back a macOS release candidate is sometimes an indication that the RC contains information that Apple doesn't want to leak. If the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are going to come out alongside macOS Tahoe 26.3, it's possible that the macOS Tahoe 26.3 RC includes new model identifiers that would give away the upcoming launch.
Apple has most commonly held macOS release candidates for a few days to a week. Prior to when new M3 Macs came out in October 2023, for example, Apple provided the iOS 17.1 and accompanying Xcode release candidate on October 17, but held the macOS 14.1 release candidate. New Macs were introduced on October 23, and then the macOS 14.1 RC came out on October 24. Apple followed the same pattern ahead of the first M1 Macs in November 2020, and the M2 Mac mini in October 2022. In each case, Apple held the macOS RC while launching the iOS and Xcode RCs.
What's different in this situation is that we haven't seen the iOS 26.3 RC either, so the hold time is less clear. Apple could debut new MacBook Pro models as soon as tomorrow, then release both RCs. There's also a possibility we have to wait a week or two before new MacBook Pro models come out, especially if the RCs aren't quite ready to go and another beta update is planned.
It's not entirely clear why Apple released the Xcode 26.3 RC now instead of holding it, but it does include agentic coding tools that Apple worked with Anthropic and OpenAI to implement, so Apple may have committed to a specific schedule for the functionality.
All signs suggest that we're going to get the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models soon. Apple already released the standard 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, but higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models have yet to be refreshed.
The reseller that spoke to MacRumors also said that HomePod mini supplies are drying up with many models sold out, but there is no official word on whether that's because of supply chain issues or because of an imminent update. HomePod mini stock has been dwindling since October 2025, so stock continuing to be low doesn't give us new information on the HomePod mini 2, unfortunately.
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The third-party Apple retailer said that MacBook Pro stock is very low currently because there is an imminent new product introduction. Apple typically coordinates supply with retail stores ahead of a new model launch to avoid leaving resellers with too many outdated machines.
Over the weekend, Bloomberg said that the new MacBook Pros are going to launch alongside macOS Tahoe 26.3 during the February/March timeframe, and we are getting closer to the software's release date. Today's Xcode 26.3 release candidate launch also suggests that a debut isn't far off.
It's atypical for Apple to introduce an Xcode release candidate without also providing iOS and macOS release candidates, and we haven't seen the iOS 26.3 or macOS 26.3 RCs yet. Holding back a macOS release candidate is sometimes an indication that the RC contains information that Apple doesn't want to leak. If the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are going to come out alongside macOS Tahoe 26.3, it's possible that the macOS Tahoe 26.3 RC includes new model identifiers that would give away the upcoming launch.
Apple has most commonly held macOS release candidates for a few days to a week. Prior to when new M3 Macs came out in October 2023, for example, Apple provided the iOS 17.1 and accompanying Xcode release candidate on October 17, but held the macOS 14.1 release candidate. New Macs were introduced on October 23, and then the macOS 14.1 RC came out on October 24. Apple followed the same pattern ahead of the first M1 Macs in November 2020, and the M2 Mac mini in October 2022. In each case, Apple held the macOS RC while launching the iOS and Xcode RCs.
What's different in this situation is that we haven't seen the iOS 26.3 RC either, so the hold time is less clear. Apple could debut new MacBook Pro models as soon as tomorrow, then release both RCs. There's also a possibility we have to wait a week or two before new MacBook Pro models come out, especially if the RCs aren't quite ready to go and another beta update is planned.
It's not entirely clear why Apple released the Xcode 26.3 RC now instead of holding it, but it does include agentic coding tools that Apple worked with Anthropic and OpenAI to implement, so Apple may have committed to a specific schedule for the functionality.
All signs suggest that we're going to get the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models soon. Apple already released the standard 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, but higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models have yet to be refreshed.
The reseller that spoke to MacRumors also said that HomePod mini supplies are drying up with many models sold out, but there is no official word on whether that's because of supply chain issues or because of an imminent update. HomePod mini stock has been dwindling since October 2025, so stock continuing to be low doesn't give us new information on the HomePod mini 2, unfortunately.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro
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ChatGPT is down for many users in major OpenAI outage [U: Fixed]
It’s not just you: ChatGPT is down for many users right now. Here’s the latest on OpenAI’s outage.
Update: the problem was resolved with all elements of the service back online by February 4.
more…9to5Mac Daily: February 3, 2026 – iPhone 18 rumors and pricing
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.
Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year.
Apple TV unveils Anya Taylor-Joy’s first big series since The Queen’s Gambit
Apple TV is hosting a major media event today, and it just unveiled the highly-anticipated series Lucky, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy in her first big show since The Queen’s Gambit.
more…A deep dive into Genstore.ai, a powerful tool for e-commerce entrepreneurs
Anyone looking to launch an online shop runs into the same questions: Do I need to code? How do I choose the right products? And what about inventory, suppliers, and customer support?
Even with traditional online shop platforms and site-building tools, you still need to do most, if not all, of the heavy lifting. That’s where Genstore.ai comes in.
more…Apple hosts Apple TV media event, here’s everything that’s been announced
Apple is hosting a special media event today called the ‘2026 Apple TV Press Day.’ Here’s everything that’s been announced at the event so far.
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