Tony Tan, a Google shareholder, has obtained and published a set of letters the Trump administration sent to multiple tech companies, essentially saying: don’t worry about the law, the president has your back, keep TikTok online.

However, Mr. Tan disagrees. And he’s taking legal action to prove it.

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's apparent plan to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip.


Earlier this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is set to launch an all-new "affordable" MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors first spotted evidence of such a device in backend code related to Apple Intelligence last summer, and subsequently confirmed its use of the A18 Pro chip. The machine features the identifier "Mac17,1."

This would be the first Mac powered by an ‌iPhone‌ chip. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series chips, which offer higher core counts, support for larger amounts of memory, and better external display support. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year.

With the A18 Pro chip, the device is highly unlikely to feature Thunderbolt ports, more than 8GB of unified memory, and support for more than one external display. In line with how Apple tends to handle its other low-cost devices, the new MacBook could re-use the design and chassis of an older machine like the M1 MacBook Air to keep costs down and differentiate it from the MacBook Air. Apple could also revive the simple "MacBook" moniker, separating it from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and mirroring the iPad lineup, which simply has the iPad as the entry-level model.

According to Kuo, the new MacBook is expected to enter mass production late in the fourth quarter of 2025 or early in the first quarter of 2026, which situates launch in the first half of next year.

We also discuss Apple's broader low-cost device strategy, how it seems to be positioning its device lineups going forward, and more. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear is talk through through the changes introduced in the second developer beta of iOS 26.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Apple's Plan to Launch Low-Cost MacBook With iPhone Chip" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today is Independence Day in the United States, and many Americans will be gathering to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with friends and family. If you are headed to a backyard BBQ, we have a fun iPhone party trick to share with you.


If you have a compatible iPhone model with a LiDAR Scanner (see the list below), you can measure a person's height in Apple's built-in Measure app. This way, you can see how much your nieces and nephews have grown since you last saw them, or find out if your favorite uncle is as tall as he claims he is. This might sound silly (it totally is!), but many people have no idea that iPhones offer this neat little feature.

Steps

1. Open the Measure app.


2. Make sure the person is visible on your iPhone's screen from head to toe.


3. Wait a moment, and a line should appear at the top of the person's head with their height measurement.


4. To take a photo of the measurement, tap the shutter button (white circle in the bottom-right corner).

You can save and share the photo of the person with their height measurement if you prefer.

Tips

• The app measures a person's height from the ground to the top of their head or hair. However, if the person is wearing a hat, the height measurement will be from the ground to the top of the hat.


• You can also measure a person's seated height.


• You can switch between imperial (feet and inches) and metric (centimeters) in the Settings app under Measure → Measure Units.

Compatible iPhones

The feature requires an iPhone model with a LiDAR Scanner:

• iPhone 12 Pro


• iPhone 12 Pro Max


• iPhone 13 Pro


• iPhone 13 Pro Max


• iPhone 14 Pro


• iPhone 14 Pro Max


• iPhone 15 Pro


• iPhone 15 Pro Max


• iPhone 16 Pro


• iPhone 16 Pro Max

The feature is not available on any other iPhone models.
This article, "Try This Fourth of July Party Trick on Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Here is your collection of the best Apple deals up for grabs for the July 4th 2025. While we are still a few days away from the start of the major summer sales, including , there are some seriously notable discounts live right now on current-generation iPads, $150 off the M4 MacBook Air lineup, Apple Pencil Pro, AirPods Max, and more. You’ll also find a collection of discounts across other products categories waiting down below as well, from accessories and storage gear to EVs, and more all up for grabs today. Check it all out after the jump.

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Looking for something new to stream this weekend? JustWatch has released its latest rankings of the most-watched Apple TV+ titles last month, based on viewer data from June 1 to 30. See the two full lists below.

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Apple saw its first year-over-year iPhone sales growth in China in two years during the second quarter of 2025, according to new data from Counterpoint Research, marking a temporary reversal of a prolonged decline in one of its most strategically critical markets.


The data indicates that ‌iPhone‌ sales in mainland China grew 8% year-over-year between April 1 and June 22, 2025. This period represents Apple's first quarterly sales increase in the region since the second quarter of 2023. The growth is attributed primarily to aggressive price adjustments in May, ahead of the country's mid-year 618 shopping festival, and bolstered by a national subsidy program that supported smartphone purchases.

In May, Chinese e-commerce platforms such as JD.com and Tmall started offering heavy discounts on the iPhone 16 lineup, in some cases offering up to 2,530 yuan ($351) off retail prices. Simultaneously, Apple increased the value of trade-in credits for older ‌iPhone‌ models to incentivize upgrades. Select devices priced below 6,000 yuan purchased directly from Apple also qualified for up to 500 yuan in government subsidies, with certain Mac models eligible for discounts of as much as 2,000 yuan.

Apple's rebound in China follows a prolonged downturn. From the third quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of 2025, Apple experienced year-over-year revenue declines in China for all but one quarter. Contributing factors included persistent trade tensions, regulatory pressure, restrictions on ‌iPhone‌ use in government-linked workplaces, and competition from resurgent domestic brands. In the first quarter of 2025, Apple was the only major smartphone manufacturer to report a shipment decline in China.

During the second quarter of 2025, Huawei led all manufacturers in China by growth and market share, posting a 12% year-over-year sales increase, followed by Vivo, which experienced a 9% decline. Apple ranked third in overall unit shipments.

Apple also faces competition from Xiaomi and Oppo, which continue to target price-sensitive segments with hardware offerings that are broadly comparable with Apple's, but at a lower cost. Counterpoint claims that the Chinese smartphone market as a whole grew by approximately 1% during the quarter.

Still, Counterpoint analysts warn that Apple's growth in the second quarter may not persist into the second half of the year, partly because the national subsidy on smartphones is likely to be scaled back during the second half of 2025.

China is a crucial market for Apple. The country is believed to account for around 20% of global ‌iPhone‌ sales. Apple is scheduled to report its fiscal third-quarter earnings on July 31, which should include final figures for the April to June period covered in the Counterpoint analysis. The results ought to provide a fuller picture of the company's performance in China and other global markets.
This article, "iPhone Sales Finally Bounce Back in China" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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For the past two years, Apple has been having a tough time in China. Just recently, the U.S. trade war and local incentives from the Chinese government really got in the way of iPhone sales. However, Apple seems to be regaining control of the situation.

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Apple has announced that it will share earnings results for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year on Thursday, July 31. Apple's earnings reports are typically released at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, shortly after the stock market has closed in New York.


Apple's CEO Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh will discuss the results on a live-streamed conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time that day. While the call is primarily intended for Apple shareholders and Wall Street analysts, anyone can listen live for free on Apple's Investor Relations website, with no registration required.

The call should last around one hour. Cook and Parekh will read their prepared remarks, and then they will take questions from analysts.

If you miss the call, a recording will be available for replay on the page later in the day.

Apple's fiscal third quarter ran from March 30 through June 28. Apple did not launch any new devices during that period, but it did release a few accessories, such as a new Pride Edition band for the Apple Watch and Beats charging cables. Apple also held its annual developers conference WWDC from June 9 through June 13.

Analysts may press Apple about tariffs, as well as intensifying regulatory scrutiny that Apple is facing in many regions, including the U.S. and Europe.
This article, "Here's How to Listen to Apple's Upcoming Earnings Call With Tim Cook" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Vacation season is here, and for many, this could be the first time traveling since Apple gave AirTag a brand new feature in iOS 18.2. Here’s how that feature works, and why it’s perfect for your upcoming trip.

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Today, Apple announced that it will report its quarterly results for April, May, and June on July 31st. Here’s what to expect.

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iOS 26 adds new functionality to the AirPods, which will be available this fall when Apple releases ‌iOS 26‌ and new AirPods firmware to the public.

Camera Remote

The AirPods can be used as a camera remote for the Camera app or third-party iOS camera apps. Just connect your AirPods to your iPhone, open the Camera app, and then press and hold on the AirPods stem to take a photo or start a video recording.

When you're finished, a second press and hold gesture will stop the recording. If you have an Apple Watch, you can already control your ‌iPhone‌ remotely from your wrist, but the AirPods have the potential to be even quicker since it's a physical gesture rather than a series of steps that include opening an Apple Watch app.

Studio-Quality Recording

The AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 support recording studio-quality audio for interviews, podcasts, songs, videos, and more. Apple says that the feature can be used to record high-quality vocals while on the go, with background sounds filtered out thanks to Voice Isolation.

You can record higher-quality audio when making videos or using your devices to do things like record a podcast.

Improved Audio Quality

The H2 chip in the ‌AirPods 4‌ and ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 brings more natural vocal texture and clarity to ‌iPhone‌ calls, FaceTime calls, and all CallKit-enabled apps like Zoom.

Studio-quality audio recording and improved call quality are available across ‌iPhone‌, iPad, and Mac, and support the Camera app, Voice Memos, Messages dictation, third-party camera apps, and video conferencing apps.

Beta Updates

With ‌iOS 26‌, Apple is adding an option to more easily install beta updates on AirPods. There's a new update interface when you connect your AirPods to your ‌iPhone‌ and tap into them in the Settings app.

Pause Audio for Sleep

If you're listening to music, a podcast, or a book while you're in bed and you're wearing AirPods, the AirPods will pause your audio when you fall asleep if you toggle on the new "Pause Media When Falling Asleep" option.

You'll find it in the AirPods settings after connecting your AirPods to your ‌iPhone‌, but you'll need the new AirPods firmware and ‌iOS 26‌. In addition to saving your spot in an audiobook or podcast, it will also preserve battery by turning your AirPods off so they're not running all night.

This feature also works with Beats earbuds.

Keep Audio in Headphones

‌iOS 26‌ addresses an irritating issue that happens with CarPlay and AirPods. There's a new "Keep Audio in Headphones" option that prevents audio from switching to car speakers or Bluetooth speakers when you're listening to music through the AirPods.

With the option on, your music will continue playing in your AirPods when you get in the car. You can turn it on in ‌iOS 26‌ by going to Settings > General > AirPlay and Continuity.

Read More

We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.
This article, "6 AirPods Changes Coming in iOS 26" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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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: rumors of a cheaper ‘MacBook’ coming soon, Vision products roadmap, iPad Pro redesign, and more. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.

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Apple’s Messages app got a lot of new features last year, but iOS 26 continues the trend of big upgrades, including a handy solution for all those unwanted spam texts you keep getting.

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The Information is out with an interesting report about how Apple has considered spinning up its own developer cloud services, in a move that would put it against some of its competitors’ biggest revenue streams. Here are the details.

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Apple in recent years has considered competing with Amazon Web Services (AWS), according to The Information's Aaron Tilley.


In a paywalled report today, Tilley said that Apple was actively discussing the idea into the first half of 2024, but he does not know whether the talks have continued. A supposed key backer of the idea, Michael Abbott, left Apple in 2023.

Apple's potential cloud service would allow developers to rent servers powered by the M-series chips used in Macs. A service like this allows developers to power cloud-based app features without purchasing and maintaining their own servers.

According to the report, some Apple executives believed that the power efficiency of M-series chips would make its cloud service more affordable for developers compared to AWS and other similar platforms. This belief is apparently backed by Apple's own use of the servers for the likes of Apple Music and Apple Wallet.

If such a service were ever to launch, perhaps it would have iCloud branding, and it would help to boost Apple's services revenue.
This article, "iCloud vs. AWS: Apple Has Considered Competing With Amazon in Cloud" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As promised last month, Apple Arcade has just added four new titles to its growing subscription-based collection of ad-free games. Here’s the full list

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Bank of America has released its latest App Store performance data, and observed that while revenue is growing faster than downloads, users are shifting how they spend their money.

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Spigen is one of my favorite Apple accessory companies because they know how to evoke nostalgia. Last year I picked up their and Magsafe wallet that themed my iPhone 16 Pro Max like the old school iMac G3 that I grew up using in school. I loved every part of that experience, and it was a great conversation starter! This year, they have added to their C1 lineup with their that isn’t just themed after the iMac G3, but looks like a tiny G3 iMac. Here is what you should know.

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Samsung recently opened up pre-orders for its newest collection of monitors, including the new 32-inch Smart Monitor M9 (M90SF), and the updated 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (M80F) and 32-inch/43-inch Smart Monitor M7 (M70F). When you pre-order these monitors at Samsung or Amazon, you'll receive up to $300 in credit from each retailer.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Specifically, pre-ordering the 32-inch Smart Monitor M9 at $1,599.99 grants you a $300 Samsung gift card. If you pre-order the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 at $699.99, you'll receive a $150 Samsung gift card, and if you pre-order the 32-inch Smart Monitor M7 at $399.99, you'll receive a $100 Samsung gift card.



All three monitors have received advanced AI features, while the flagship M9 model features a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED panel to deliver deep contrast and vibrant color. It also includes a glare-free display to minimize reflections and Samsung Vision AI, which Samsung says will enhance picture and sound quality in real time based on content and surroundings.

• 32-inch Samsung Smart Monitor M9 - $1,599.99 ($300 Samsung gift card/$300 Amazon gift card)


• 32-inch Samsung Smart Monitor M8 - $699.99 ($150 Samsung gift card/$100 Amazon gift card)


• 32-inch Samsung Smart Monitor M7 - $399.99 ($100 Samsung gift card/$100 Amazon gift card)

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "Pre-Order Samsung's New Smart Monitors and Get Up to $300 in Credit" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple still has plenty of new product launches coming through the rest of the year, including at least two Macs. But today, a new report has outlined Mac models coming not only in 2025, but even those expected through 2026.

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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 Bitwarden: Check out Bitwarden Password Manager, featuring a new Apple Watch authenticator integration, secure autofill on Safari and iOS apps, and enterprise-grade security tools that help you manage credentials with confidence.

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Benjamin and Chance discuss the intriguing rumor from Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple is readying a new cheaper MacBook Air powered by an A18 Pro CPU. Also, Apple befuddles everyone with a new byzantine set of App Store rules in the EU, and Apple seems open to powering AI Siri using third-party models.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance walks through some tech updates after another big move. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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A new Apple Store is opening later this month in Japan, and alongside the first details, the company has released beautiful new wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac featuring custom artwork.

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AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic today shared a list of alleged identifiers for future Mac models, which should roll out over the next year or so.


The report does not reveal anything too surprising, but it does serve as further evidence that Apple is seemingly working on new models of every Mac, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.

Apple is expected to release new MacBook Pro models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips later this year. Just like in 2024, the report suggests that updated Mac mini and iMac models with M5 chips could launch at the same time.

The next MacBook Air and Mac Studio models are expected to launch next year, and an updated Mac Pro desktop tower allegedly remains in development, but it is not entirely clear if it will be released later this year or next year.

No major design changes have been rumored for any of Apple's next Macs. Later next year, though, the MacBook Pro models with the M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max chips are expected to feature OLED displays and a thinner design.

The chart below provides a summary of the identifiers, and the upcoming Mac models that they may correspond with, according to AppleInsider.

Identifier	Potential Model
J873s	Mac mini (M5 Pro)
J833ct	iMac (M5)
J714c	14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max)
J714s	14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)
J716c	16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max)
J716s	16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)
J775c	Mac Studio
J775d	Mac Studio
J813	15-inch MacBook Air (M5)
J815	13-inch MacBook Air (M5)
K114c	14-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Max)
K114s	14-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Pro)
K116c	16-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Max)
K116s	16-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Pro)
J704	Mac Pro
J804	Mac Pro
J700	MacBook (A18 Pro)?

This article, "Apple's Upcoming Macs Listed in New Report" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As I pointed out recently, while Whisper is top of mind and still a pretty good transcription model, OpenAI has moved away from it. That said, the fact that Apple’s new transcription API is faster than Whisper is great news. But how accurate is it? We tested it out.

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To kick off today’s best Apple deals, we have all colors/configs of Apple’s latest M4 MacBook Air with at least $150 in savings starting from $849. The same goes for the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro at $200 off with select configs as much as $299 off the list price. But we also spotted the 15W Apple MagSafe charger from just $13 a pop (25W models from $33) alongside these Find My-equipped Key Organizer multi-tools, and loads more 4th of July deals waiting below. 

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Apple TV+ has been on a hot streak for a while now, with 2025 so far being its best year ever. And there are plenty more likely hits on the way. Here’s what’s coming.

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Four more games were added to Apple Arcade today, including a new Angry Birds title.


Angry Birds Bounce is a new take on the iconic Angry Birds game, which has received more than a billion downloads over the years. The new edition combines classic Angry Birds slingshot gameplay with arcade-style brick-breaker mechanics.

Here is how Apple describes Angry Birds Bounce:

Join Red, Chuck, Bomb, and the rest of the gang on a brand-new adventure. Angry Birds Bounce combines the classic charm of Angry Birds with an innovative arcade brick-breaker twist. When the pigs take over their islands, the birds must bounce back — literally — combining into powerful flocks and launching themselves to defeat an army of piggies and reclaim their home. With strategic rogue-lite gameplay, each level is a new challenge where players will master precision shots, unlock exciting power-ups, and build unique combos during each run.

The other three games added to Apple Arcade today:

• Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD+


• Suika Game+


• Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets+

More details about those games were outlined in Apple's announcement last month.

Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All of the games are free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans.

Apple Arcade can be accessed through the App Store and the new Apple Games app.
This article, "Apple Arcade Adds Four More Games, Including Angry Birds Bounce" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today is taking up to $65 off Wi-Fi and cellular models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a second-best price on this model.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Additionally, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00 ($50 off) and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad for $594.95 ($55 off). These are also both solid second-best prices on the 11th generation iPad.





There are also numerous discounts on cellular models, starting at $449.00 for the 128GB model. Amazon is providing an estimated delivery of around July 8 for free shipping, while Prime members should be able to get the tablets a bit faster in most cases.





The 11th generation iPad is mainly a spec bump for the tablet line, now featuring the A16 chip and more storage, with the same design as the 10th generation iPad. The new ‌iPad‌ starts with 128GB of storage, and is also available in 256GB and a new 512GB configuration. The previous model was only available in 64GB and 256GB configurations.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "Amazon Takes Up to $65 Off 11th Gen iPad, Starting at $299" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Only a few Google services offer Apple Watch clients, with Google Calendar unexpectedly becoming the fourth app today.

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Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research.


The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by revenue and brand recognition, the report suggests that volume growth will be led by lower-priced models under $50 from other brands, driven by emerging markets and replacement demand.

Counterpoint attributes Apple's continued strength to the introduction the AirPods Pro 3, which is expected to see strong demand among existing users. The new model is rumored to include enhanced immersive audio and health-related features.

However, due to the AirPods Pro's relatively high price point compared to competitors in the market, they're unlikely to drive growth. In fact, Apple is expected lose market share very slightly this year. "A more noticeable increase in volume is expected around 2027, when the standard AirPods and a new ANC-equipped version are released," Counterpoint added.

Counterpoint notes that while Apple remains unmatched in the premium segment, its unit volume growth is increasingly threatened by value-oriented brands such as Xiaomi and JBL, both of which are projected to record double-digit year-over-year shipment growth in 2025. Xiaomi's success is credited to its low-cost pricing strategy and broad global distribution network, while JBL has gained traction in markets like India by offering trusted mid-tier products with aggressive pricing and discounts.

Counterpoint believes that the broader TWS market now mirrors the trajectory of the smartphone sector, with replacement cycles lengthening and demand increasingly tied to ecosystem features and regional price dynamics.
This article, "AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has announced that it will be opening an all-new store at the Grand Front shopping complex in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday, July 26.


To celebrate the occasion, Apple has shared a wallpaper for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

This will be Apple's first store in Umeda, a busy mixed-use district of Osaka with two major train stations, shops, restaurants, and more.

Apple has another store in Osaka, in the Shinsaibashi district.
This article, "Apple Celebrates All-New Store With iPhone, iPad, and Mac Wallpaper" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple will announce its iPhone 17 lineup in September, and rumors indicate the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get thicker and heavier to gain a larger battery this year. But just today, we might have found out how much larger that battery will be.

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The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital."


In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh:

• iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh


• iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh


• iPhone 13 Pro Max: 4,352mAh


• iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4,323mAh


• iPhone 15 Pro Max: 4,422mAh


• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676mAh


• iPhone 17 Pro Max: ~5,000mAh

The battery life of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max is 33 hours, according to Apple. This is up from 29 hours on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max, and 28 hours on the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro Max had a battery life of just 20 hours. With an extra 300mAh of battery capacity, the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max could be on course to offer around 35 hours of battery life, or perhaps even more. Efficiency improvements from the A19 Pro chip and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem should also contribute significantly to enhanced battery life.

Instant Digital has a mixed track record for Apple rumors, but has provided some strikingly accurate information, such as the imminent launch of 2023's Yellow iPhone 14, the frosted back glass of the iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus, the Apple Watch Series 9 as a minor refresh, spatial video capture on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro's landscape front-facing camera, the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌'s nano-texture display option, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌'s battery capacities, and continued Apple Watch band compatibility through the Apple Watch Series 10. As a result, their reports are worth taking seriously.
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhones and Android smartphones started to play more nicely together after Apple finally opted to support the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard. Prior to this, messages between the two platforms had to use the ancient and insecure text messaging service.

Not all RCS features are supported as yet, with the all-important strong encryption waiting for RCS 3.0 support in iOS 26. Another RCS 3.0 feature is the ability to edit outgoing messages after sending them, and that one has started a limited one-way rollout …

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A pair of market intelligence reports show that the Apple Watch and AirPods continue to dominate the global market in their respective categories.

However, Apple’s long-held lead in the smartwatch market is now being challenged by Huawei, according to the latest estimates …

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A alarming new study has found that som teen drivers in the US spend as much as 21% of their time at the wheel looking at their phones, creating a substantial risk of distracted driving crashes.

While much of this was brief glances, more than 5% of driving time comprised looking at their phone for 2+ seconds a time, long enough to qualify as dangerous …

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I’ve been reviewing one of XREAL’s more recent releases of AR glasses: the . These are certainly the most versatile pair of AR glasses I’ve tried out so far, and they actually really come to life somewhere you wouldn’t expect: the M4 iPad Pro running iPadOS 26. come in at just under 3 ounces (84 grams), making them easy to just carry around.

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Apple appears to have joined Meta-owned social media site Threads, two years after Threads first launched. Apple has a verified Threads profile and the @apple handle, but has yet to make any posts. Apple's account has 4.8 million followers, because of its existing followers on Instagram.


It's not clear why Apple has opted to make a Threads account, and there's no word on whether it will actually see use. Apple also has the @apple handle on X, but it uses the account for advertising and does not share content there (though it does on other specific feature accounts). Apple has a similar unused Facebook account.

Apple does have an active @apple Instagram account where it regularly posts Shot on iPhone videos, and an @apple TikTok account for sharing Apple product tips.

(Thanks, Matthew!)
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When you're not using your iPhone, the Lock Screen is what you see most often. Liquid Glass is everywhere in iOS 26, and it starts right when you pick up your device. The Lock Screen got a Liquid Glass overhaul, plus a few other new features.


Here's what you'll see first when you upgrade to ‌iOS 26‌.

Liquid Glass

The two customizable control buttons on the Lock Screen are larger and have a floating, glass-like appearance like the other Liquid Glass interface options in ‌iOS 26‌. The clock has a frosted glass appearance with the new "Glass" option, using lighting effects to make it look like glass in the real world.


Glass can be selected for any of the clock fonts, and you can choose a color to tint the glass. Apple has multiple preset options, or you can select your own.

When you tilt your ‌iPhone‌, light reflects and glints with the movement, for a realistic glass effect.


Notifications that are on your Lock Screen have a Liquid Glass aesthetic with a frosted glass look that leaves your wallpaper visible behind them.

Clock

In addition to having a Liquid Glass aesthetic, the clock can be resized to better match your ‌iPhone‌'s wallpaper using a new adaptive feature. When you're customizing your Lock Screen, you can grab the corner of the time and drag it down to expand it.


Adjusting the size of the time only works with the first font option, and only with the standard Arabic, Western numbering.


With photo wallpapers, the time can automatically expand to fill in missing space, and it can change based on the image if you have Photo Shuffle set. The subject in photo wallpapers is meant to always be visible, and can overlap the time in unique ways in ‌iOS 26‌.


There is a Photos watch face for the Apple Watch that also supports time that changes size and position based on the wallpaper.

Wallpaper

There is a new default wallpaper that was designed for ‌iOS 26‌. It's multiple shades of blue, with the same floating glass aesthetic that the rest of ‌iOS 26‌ features. The wallpaper can subtly shift with ‌iPhone‌ movement.


It's a small detail, but the icons for selecting different wallpaper categories have been updated to better match the Liquid Glass design.

Spatial Scenes

Aside from the Liquid Glass time, Spatial Scenes are the biggest change to the Lock Screen. 2D photos that you set as wallpaper can be turned into 3D spatial images that separate the subject of the photo from the background using depth information.


When you move your ‌iPhone‌, Spatial Scenes shift and move along with it, making the images feel alive. Spatial Scenes is a feature in the ‌Photos‌ app too, and it can be added to any image that you've taken with your ‌iPhone‌, including older ones.

Tap on the small icon with a mountain and a sun to activate the Spatial Scenes setting when choosing a photo wallpaper.

Widgets

Lock Screen widgets can be placed on the top of the display under the time, or at the bottom of the display. In earlier versions of iOS, you could only put widgets at the top of the screen. With the adaptive clock and new wallpaper options, widgets can also shift down automatically to ensure the subject of an image is always visible.

Apple Music

Apple added a new Lock Screen widget for Apple Music search, but there are no other new Lock Screen widget options. What is new, though, is a new full screen Now Playing interface that shows album art. Artwork expands and animates right on the Lock Screen.

Read More

We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.
This article, "iOS 26: New Lock Screen Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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