You wouldn’t imagine that buying an iPod could remain a memorable part of a trip in which I fulfilled a childhood dream, and yet that is the case.

November 2001 saw me fly from London to New York on Concorde, and it was during my five-day stay that the original iPod first went on sale …

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Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could drop the current two-tone look of the rear casing found on the iPhone 17 Pro in favor of a more seamless aesthetic, if a Chinese leaker is reporting correct information.


On existing iPhone 17 Pro models, Apple has used a glass cutout at the back for MagSafe charging, and there is a color difference between the aluminum frame of the iPhone 17 Pro and the Ceramic Shield 2 cutout, giving the iPhone 17 Pro models a two-tone look.

That's set to change for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, according to known Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital. For the next-generation models, Apple has apparently updated the back-glass "replacement process" to minimize the color difference between the glass and the aluminum frame, resulting in a more unified appearance.

The claim could well dovetail with a separate rumor, also originating out of China, that said the Ceramic Shield will feature a "slightly transparent design." The latter description came in September courtesy of leaker Digital Chat Station, who also said the iPhone 18 Pro models will feature an otherwise similar design to the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Instant Digital, the author of today's rumor, has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, the account does not have a perfect track record.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are reported to feature A20 Pro chips, fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process, and Apple's C2 modem rather than a Qualcomm modem. Both models are expected to launch alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone in September 2026.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro May Drop Rear Two-Tone Appearance for a Unified Look" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It’s been a couple of years since Snapchat made the shift to 3D avatars. The company said at the time that it gave users more ways than ever to represent themselves. Two years later, the complaints kept coming, so following a petition 2D avatars are now being reintroduced …

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Some owners of first-generation AirPods Max headphones have reported experiencing “the three amber lights of death.” This is when the headphones fail to connect and a standard reset doesn’t resolve the problem.

While the headphones might appear to be bricked, as this indicates a hardware failure, there are a couple of potential solutions which may at least keep them going for a while …

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Apple's reported delay of the second-generation iPhone Air will be used to work on a redesign of the device that could include a second rear camera, according to a news brief from The Information.


A redesign that includes a second camera is said to be one way that Apple thinks it can address user complaints that the iPhone Air, while an impressive design feat, has led to too many hardware compromises, especially given the high price tag.

Apple priced it starting at $999, and that appears to have put off customers, leading to reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts. The ‌iPhone Air‌ is only $100 cheaper than the $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro, which has a triple-lens rear camera and much better battery life. Adding a second camera to the ultra-slim device would also make it look more feature-equivalent to the standard iPhone 18 and therefore more appealing to consumers.

The report claims that some Apple engineers want to release the redesigned version with a second camera in spring 2027, which is when Apple is expected to release the regular iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, as part of a new split launch cycle. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an all-new foldable iPhone are expected to launch in fall 2026, which was when the iPhone Air 2 was originally expected. The Information reported on the delay earlier this week.

The report seemingly corroborates a leak out of China last week that claimed Apple's second iPhone Air model is in development and could feature two rear cameras instead of one, with a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera joining the existing 48MP Fusion Main camera. Multiple technologies are housed in the plateau of the iPhone Air to maximize space for the battery, so Apple would presumably need to redesign the internals considerably to fit in another camera.

Previous reports have said Apple's work on a second-generation version of the ‌iPhone Air‌ is aimed at reducing the weight, adding vapor chamber cooling, and improving the battery capacity.
This article, "Report: Apple Considers Adding Second Camera to Delayed iPhone Air 2" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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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, Jordy Witteman from Root3 joins the show to talk about the latest updates to SupportApp.

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Last night, The Information reported that Apple had delayed the iPhone Air 2 launch, from its original schedule of fall 2026. In a follow-up post, The Information reports the second-generation model is now aiming for a spring 2027 release, which would be alongside updates to the base model iPhone 18 (as Apple is shifting the release of that model to the spring going forward).

The reason for the delay is apparently Apple is redesigning the product to address customer complaints, most notably by adding a second camera lens to the back. However, it’s currently unclear if spring 2027 is an achievable deadline.

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Apple has teamed up with Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE to launch iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted limited edition accessory designed to carry an iPhone, AirPods, and other everyday items.


The accessory is like a stretchy pocket, not unlike an iPod Sock, but elongated to form a strap made of a ribbed, elastic textile that fully encloses an iPhone yet allows you to glimpse the display through its open structure. ISSEY MIYAKE's design director Yoshiyuki Miyamae said it is inspired by the concept of "a piece of cloth," and described it as exploring "the joy of wearing iPhone in your own way." (For what it's worth, the brand's founder designed Steve Jobs' iconic black mock-turtleneck.)


iPhone Pocket comes in two versions. There's a short strap design available in eight colors for $149.95, and a long strap design in three colors for $229.95. The short strap comes in lemon, mandarin, purple, pink, peacock, sapphire, cinnamon, and black, while the long strap comes in sapphire, cinnamon, and black. Both lengths fit any iPhone model.

Apple says the color palette was created to mix and match with all iPhone models, and that the iPhone Pocket can be worn in a variety of ways – handheld, tied onto bags, or worn directly on the body.

"Apple and ISSEY MIYAKE share a design approach that celebrates craftsmanship, simplicity, and delight," said Molly Anderson, Apple's vice president of Industrial Design. "This clever extra pocket exemplifies those ideas and is a natural accompaniment to our products. The color palette of iPhone Pocket was intentionally designed to mix and match with all our iPhone models and colors — allowing users to create their own personalized combination. Its recognizable silhouette offers a beautiful new way to carry your iPhone, AirPods, and favorite everyday items."

The limited-edition release will be available from November 14 on Apple's online store in France, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the U.S. It will also be available to buy at 10 flagship Apple Store locations worldwide, including Apple Regent Street in London, Apple SoHo in New York, and Apple Ginza in Tokyo.
This article, "Apple Debuts iPhone Pocket, a Limited Edition iPod Sock-Style Accessory" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has launched a limited edition accessory for the iPhone, called the iPhone Pocket. It evokes a modern day iPod sock, using a single 3D-knitted cloth to create a wearable pocket. The accessory was designed in collaboration with renowned designer Issey Miyake. The Pocket is kind of like a high-end version of the iPhone Crossbody Strap.

Unlike the 2004-era iPod Socks, the iPhone Pocket is not cheap. Available this Friday, the short strap Pocket will cost $149.95, and the long strap design will cost $229.95.

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The first-generation iPod came out on November 10, 2001, making today the 24th anniversary of the device's launch. Apple announced it in late October, but November 10 was the first day customers were able to get their hands on it.


Even way back in 2001, there were leaks and fake leaks before the iPod launched. In one rumor article, Apple's upcoming device was dubbed the "iWalk" and described as a PDA with a high-color TFT-screen with handwriting recognition, which did not prove to be true. CNET suggested that it was too sophisticated to be an MP3 player, and was instead a component for a home digital stereo system, while a German website said it was "like a standalone CD-writer" that looks like "a Hifi component." The site did accurately predict that it would make it possible to "have all the music in the house stored on one place," but described it as a sort of AirPlay-enabled speaker.

More reliable rumors accurately pegged it as a digital music device able to sync with a computer, and in the days leading up to the launch, the iPod name leaked. Even with the info that came out, much of the iPod's introduction was a surprise because 2001 leaks were much less detailed than 2025 leaks.

Some MacRumors readers lined up to buy one on launch day, kicking off a tradition of long lines at Apple Stores that continued well into the iPhone launch days. As with any Apple product launch, there were some mixed reactions to the iPod, and of course a slew of early complaints. Here's what the forums had to say:

• At $399, the iPod is way too expensive


• The shiny backplate attracts too many fingerprints


• Sound quality isn't good enough compared to CDs


• It gets warm when charging


• It was Mac only, cutting out PC users

There were plenty of MacRumors readers thrilled with the iPod, and as we well know, it was a wildly popular device that spurred several subsequent models and eventually led to the launch of the ‌iPhone‌.

It was impressive to be able to have a 5GB FireWire drive in your pocket at the time, and iPod owners used it as a hard drive for file transfers. MP3 players existed, but nothing with the storage capacity and design of the iPod.

With the ‌iPhone‌ that does everything an iPod does, there's no longer a need for the iPod. The very last iPod was the iPod touch, which Apple updated sporadically and then didn't touch after 2019. It was officially discontinued in 2022, marking the end of the iPod line. Apple almost never announces when a product has been discontinued, but the iPod was an exception given its history.

In a statement, Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak said that the "Spirit of the iPod lives on" across all of the company's products, from the ‌iPhone‌ to Apple Watch to HomePod.

The iPod will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year. Apple has revived old products in the past, but people have little use for a music-only device in 2025. Apple is, however, working on a home hub that can play music, run apps, and control smart home products, and it's described as a small, square device with a display. It's possible Apple could reference the iPod when unveiling the device, or even borrow a part of its name like it did when naming the ‌HomePod‌.
This article, "Happy 24th Anniversary, iPod" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Samsung announced an update today that will help “bring peace for mixed OS households”. Here’s what’s new.

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Mophie today announced the launch of new Juice Pack charging cases designed for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.


The Juice Pack for ‌iPhone Air‌ was designed to be slim so it doesn't add too much bulk to Apple's thin and light iPhone. It includes a 2,400 mAh battery that Mophie says provides up to 60 percent more power. The ‌iPhone Air‌ case is 15mm thick, but it is the thinnest of the three Juice Pack cases.

The Juice Pack for ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ has a 3,000 mAh battery, while the Juice Pack for ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max has a 3,600 mAh battery. Both cases provide 50 percent more battery for Apple's Pro iPhones and are just over 19mm thick. All three cases weigh 98 grams, according to Mophie.

Along with additional power, the cases provide protection for the iPhone 17 lineup. There are raised edges to keep the screen from getting scratched or cracked, and high-impact protection shields the ‌iPhone‌ from drops and bumps. An included lanyard loop port allows for a lanyard to be attached.

Mophie's Juice Pack cases offer passthrough charging, so plugging them into USB-C will charge the ‌iPhone‌ first and then the case. There's also support for passthrough USB-C audio for those who prefer wired headphones.

All three Juice Pack cases are priced at $99.99 and can be purchased from the Mophie website as of today.
This article, "Mophie Launches Juice Pack Charging Cases for iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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If you’re in the market for a HomePod mini, it may pay off to hold on for just a little longer, as a refresh looks increasingly imminent. Here’s why.

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If you’ve just purchased a new Mac, like the new M5 MacBook Pro, you might also be looking into some of the best display options.

Here are my recommendations, covering multiple product categories, price points, and more.

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Apple product retailer B&H is listing all HomePod mini models as discontinued, and no longer offering them for sale. Some other retailers are also listing the HomePod mini as out of stock or on backorder, which suggests that an update isn't too far off.


Adorama lists the ‌HomePod mini‌ as backordered, and select colors are out of stock at Target. Walmart doesn't have any stock that's not from resellers, Staples has no HomePod minis available online, and at least one color is sold out from Verizon. The Midnight color option is unavailable for shipping from Best Buy, though other colors are in stock. Apple is still selling all colors of the speaker, with options available for both immediate shipping and pick up.

Apple is rumored to be working on a new version of the ‌HomePod mini‌, and Bloomberg said it could come as soon as this month. It's possible that the waning stock at third-party retailers is a sign that we'll get a new version of the ‌HomePod mini‌ before the end of 2025.

Apple held an event in September and did a series of product releases in October, casting some doubt that a new model is still on the immediate horizon.

The next ‌HomePod mini‌ is expected to have an upgraded S-series chip inside and Apple's N1 networking chip, but there are no design changes rumored except for refreshed color options.
This article, "B&H Lists HomePod Mini as Discontinued Amid Refresh Rumors" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Last week Apple shipped the first iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2 betas with a big change to Sleep Score’s grading system. After nearly a week with the new Sleep Score, here’s how I’m feeling about the updates.

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Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro.


The ‌M1‌ chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only improved since then. We've had five total generations of Apple silicon chips, with the M5 unveiled in the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ just last month.

Here's how the M5 measures up to the ‌M1‌, per Apple's M5 specs:

• 6× faster CPU/GPU performance


• 6× faster AI performance


• 7.7× faster AI video processing


• 6.8× faster 3D rendering


• 2.6× faster gaming performance


• 2.1× faster code compiling

Geekbench comparison scores:

• ‌M1‌ single-core - 2,320


• M5 single-core - 4,263


• ‌M1‌ multi-core - 8,175


• M5 multi-core - 17,862


• ‌M1‌ Metal - 33,041


• M5 Metal - 75,637

Both CPU and GPU performance have increased significantly over the past five years, and Apple has boosted AI and gaming performance too with add-ons like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and an ever-improving Neural Engine.

‌M1‌ Chip	M5 Chip
Made with TSMC's 5nm process (N5)	Made TSMC's third-generation 3nm process (N3P)
Based on A14 Bionic Pro chip from iPhone 12	Based on A19 Pro chip from iPhone 17 Pro
8-core CPU, 8-core GPU	10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
3.2 GHz CPU clock speed	4.61 GHz CPU clock speed
No integrated Neural Accelerators	Integrated Neural Accelerator in every GPU core
No ray tracing engine	Third-generation ray tracing engine
No dynamic caching	Second-generation dynamic caching
Support for up to 16GB unified memory	Support for up to 32GB unified memory
68.25 GB/s unified memory bandwidth	153 GB/s unified memory bandwidth

Apple sold Apple silicon Macs alongside Intel Macs for three years, but phased out the final Intel Mac in June 2023 when the 2019 Mac Pro was discontinued. Now all of Apple's devices have Apple chips, and we're even hitting the end of the road for Intel Mac software support. Intel Macs won't get software updates after macOS Tahoe.

Over the next five years, Apple silicon chip technology will continue to evolve. Apple supplier TSMC is already working on 2nm chips that could make an appearance as soon as 2026, offering a 10 to 15 percent speed improvement and a 25 to 30 percent power reduction. 1.4nm chips could follow as soon as 2028 for even more power and efficiency.
This article, "Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The famed Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul showrunner has made it clear that AI has no place in his new Apple TV series.

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Samsung today updated its SmartThings app for the iPhone, adding several new features for those who own Samsung products or devices connected to the SmartThings ecosystem. Samsung says that the changes are helpful for households with both Galaxy and Apple devices.


Device groups created in the SmartThings app are available, and those groups can be viewed and controlled with the accompanying SmartThings Apple Watch app. Apple Watch users can view their full SmartThings device list, send commands, and trigger routines from the wrist.

SmartThings is also gaining support for Siri Shortcut controls of SmartThings Routines. With this capability, SmartThings automations can be launched with ‌Siri‌ voice commands. The automations work similarly to HomeKit automations, so users can do things like create a "Good Morning" routine that turns on the lights, opens the blinds, and starts the coffee machine, or a "Leaving Home" routine that locks the doors, turns off the lights, and activates a home alarm.

The app already supported Live Activities, but it is expanding to support up to five recently used devices at a glance, including air conditioners, robot vacuums, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and more.

The SmartThings app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
This article, "Samsung SmartThings for iPhone Gets Siri Shortcuts Support and Enhanced Apple Watch Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Last week Eddy Cue said that Apple has “no plans” for an ad-supported tier of Apple TV, but a new report today highlights the growing trend of ‘pause ads’ at other major streamers.

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The thin, light iPhone Air sold so poorly that Apple has decided to delay the launch of the next-generation ‌iPhone Air‌ that was scheduled to come out alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, reports The Information.


Apple initially planned to release a new ‌iPhone Air‌ in fall 2026, but now that's not going to happen.

Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts. Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has reportedly dismantled all but one and a half of its production lines for the ‌iPhone Air‌, and all production is expected to be stopped at the end of the month. Luxshare, another supplier, stopped production at the end of October.

Apple was counting on the novel look of the device to spark interest, because it features the first substantial design update that we've seen to the iPhone lineup since the ‌iPhone‌ X added Face ID and an all-display design in 2017. Creating a super thin 5.6mm ‌iPhone‌ required compromises, so the ‌iPhone Air‌ has a smaller battery and a single-lens rear camera, but it still has a high price tag. Apple priced it starting at $999, and that appears to be more than customers are willing to pay for style without substance. The ‌iPhone Air‌ is only $100 cheaper than the $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro, which has a triple-lens rear camera and much better battery life.

Apple has not been able to land on a fourth ‌iPhone‌ that will sell well alongside the standard ‌iPhone‌ and Pro ‌iPhone‌ models. Apple experimented with a smaller 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ mini that suffered from disappointing sales, then moved on to the larger "Plus" ‌iPhone‌ that served as a more affordable version of the Pro Max. Plus models also failed, leading to the ‌iPhone Air‌.

Apple has already been planning for a split launch for the ‌iPhone‌ starting with the ‌iPhone 18‌ models. The ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro, ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max, and foldable ‌iPhone‌ are planned for fall 2026, while the ‌iPhone 18‌ and ‌iPhone‌ 18e will be held until early 2027. It's possible that the next-generation ‌iPhone Air‌ will come out alongside the ‌iPhone 18‌ in the spring.

Apple has been working on a second-generation version of the ‌iPhone Air‌ with a lighter weight, vapor chamber cooling, and a larger battery capacity, but Apple could rethink the design.
This article, "iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Update, November 11: The Information now reports that Apple is delaying the iPhone Air 2 in order to “work on a redesign of the device and make it more appealing to consumers.” This reportedly includes adding a second camera.

“Some Apple engineers are hoping to release a redesigned version with a second camera lens in spring 2027 alongside existing plans to release the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e at that time,” the report says. However, it is “still too early to tell” whether that is actually doable.

More here.

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Apple is reportedly delaying the launch of the iPhone Air 2. The Information reports that Apple recently “notified engineers and suppliers that they were taking the next iPhone Air off the schedule without providing a new release date.” The report cites “three people involved in the project.”

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Apple just launched AirPods Pro 3 this fall, but rumors for the next model of AirPods Pro are already coming, highlighting three unique changes Apple may have on the horizon.

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