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

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

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Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21.


There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS 26.2, which is being beta tested and is close to release.

The firmware could be related to that upcoming functionality, or it could add bug fixes and performance improvements.

To install the new firmware, make sure your AirPods are in range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. From there, put your AirPods in the Charging Case and connect the Charging Case to power. Keep the case closed and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware update to install.
This article, "Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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

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The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products.


Here's what's supposedly coming:

• An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. ‌AirTag‌ pairing is already fairly simple, but there's room for improvement with the naming and emoji selection.


• Detailed battery level reporting.


• An "Improved Moving" feature that Macworld speculates will allow users to find the precise location of an ‌AirTag‌ when it's moving. Precision Finding in the current ‌AirTag‌ can't handle movement well.


• A feature for improving tracking in crowded places.

We've been hearing rumors about a new version of the ‌AirTag‌ for years now, and it's supposedly getting upgraded tracking with a new Ultra Wideband chip. The new chip will improve Precision Finding range, and it could also add these new tracking capabilities.

So far, there have been no rumors of a redesign, so the ‌AirTag‌ 2 will presumably look like the original ‌AirTag‌. It will continue to feature a replaceable battery, though it could also get upgraded speakers that are harder to remove.

The ‌AirTag‌ is apparently labeled "2025AirTag" in the ‌iOS 26‌ code, which suggests that Apple might have been planning to release it in 2025. At this point, it's not clear when it will launch, but it's looking like we might get it in early 2026.

Macworld also spotted signs of the next-generation HomePod mini with S10 chip, a smarter version of Siri, and references to the home hub device that Apple is working on. We've previously seen extensive rumors about all of these products, and rumors suggest we'll see them around the March or April timeframe.
This article, "Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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

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

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

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

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

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Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon.


Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week.

iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted eight new features in particular.

Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen

A new slider in the Lock Screen customization menu lets you adjust the opacity of Liquid Glass for the clock, allowing you to decide how clear or frosted it appears.

This comes after iOS 26.1 added "Clear" and "Tinted" options for Liquid Glass overall.

Offline Lyrics in Apple Music

iOS 26.2 adds offline lyric support to Apple Music, allowing you to view a song's lyrics even when you are not connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Sleep Score Revisions

iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2 have revised Sleep Score ranges:

• Very Low: 0-40 (previously 0-29)


• Low: 41-60 (previously 30-49)


• OK: 61-80 (previously 50-69)


• High: 81-95 (previously 70-89)


• Very High: 96-100 (previously 90-100)

Apple says sleep scores are calculated based on how long you slept, the consistency of when you fell asleep, and the frequency and duration of waking up during the night. The feature is available in the Health app on all iPhone models compatible with iOS 26, and in the Sleep app on all Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 26.

Alarms for Reminders

iOS 26.2 lets you set alarms for reminders in Apple's Reminders app.

When adding a reminder, selecting a time and then toggling on the "Urgent" option will cause an alarm to go off at the designated time.

Apple Podcasts Enhancements

Apple's Podcasts app has three new features on iOS 26.2, including automatic chapters for episodes, timed links on the screen, and the ability to view other podcasts that a podcast mentions right from the audio player and the transcript.

Apple News Revamp

In the Apple News app, there is now a dedicated "Following" tab, and buttons for quick access to topics like sports, puzzles, politics, business, and food.

iPhone Screen Flash for Notifications

Starting with iOS 26.2, your iPhone's screen can flash when you receive a notification. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED camera flash on the back of the iPhone.

In the Settings app, under Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Flash for Alerts, there are now options for LED Flash, Screen, and Both. Or, you can keep the setting turned off.

AirPods Live Translation in EU

iOS 26.2 makes Live Translation on AirPods available in the EU.

Live Translation allows you to understand someone who is speaking a different language than you. For example, if you speak English, and someone is speaking to you in French, Siri can tell you what they are saying in English through your AirPods.

The feature works best when both participants in a conversation are using Live Translation on AirPods. If you are talking with someone who is not wearing AirPods, you can display a live transcription in the other person's language on your iPhone.

Live Translation is available on the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and higher-end AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The feature launched in the U.S. and select other countries with iOS 26, but it was not available in the EU until iOS 26.2, as Apple said it needed additional time to ensure compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act.

• iOS 26: Use Live Translation With AirPods

In addition to compatible AirPods, users need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with Apple Intelligence turned on and Apple's Translate app installed.

As of iOS 26.1, Live Translation on AirPods supports the following languages:

• English (U.S.)


• English (U.K.)


• French (France)


• German (Germany)


• Portuguese (Brazil)


• Spanish (Spain)


• Chinese — Simplified (China)


• Chinese — Traditional (China)


• Japanese


• Korean


• Italian

iOS 26 also has a built-in Live Translation feature in the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps, with no AirPods required.
This article, "iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Shazam today announced it is rolling out a new Popular Segments feature that reveals exactly which part of a song is most popular with listeners.


For example, the image above shows that the given song was most discovered around 30 to 35 seconds into the track during the preceding week. This was the moment in the song when the most people asked Shazam to identify the song.

More details about the feature:

Popular Segments spotlights the key moments within a track that drove the most Shazam activity within the past week. Available for top tracks ranking on Shazam's charts and based on Shazam tag volume, this interactive feature displays relative segment popularity throughout a song, allowing users to hover over the graph and reveal precise time markers and corresponding segments.

Shazam says Popular Segments will provide both listeners and artists with helpful insights into what makes songs resonate.

The feature will begin rolling out today on the Shazam.com website across desktop and mobile platforms, according to Apple. The announcement did not indicate if the feature will be coming to the Shazam app on the iPhone and iPad.

Shazam is a popular music identification service that Apple acquired back in 2018, and it has Apple Music integration. In addition to being available on the web and as an app, Shazam powers a Recognize Music control in Control Center on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can also use Shazam via Siri voice commands.

Last month, the Shazam app for iPhone was updated with a Liquid Glass design.
This article, "New Shazam Feature Will Reveal the Most Popular Moment of a Song" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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DJI has made flying a drone feel a whole lot more futuristic. With a brand-new firmware update, the DJI Neo 2 now supports Apple Watch remote control, letting you steer, track, record, and manage your drone right from your wrist. And here’s the kicker: the original DJI Neo is getting the same Apple Watch compatibility soon, making this upgrade a big win for every buyer in the Neo lineup. If you’re an Apple user who’s been flirting with the idea of buying a drone, this is the moment DJI clearly wants you to jump in.

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Apple's AirPods Pro 3 have hit a new record low price of $199.00 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This deal beats the Black Friday price we saw last month by about $20.

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.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ have 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.



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.

Update: This deal has been fluctuating today, sometimes disappearing and reappearing in the span of a few minutes. If you don't see it when you visit Amazon, it may be worth trying again later in the day.

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This article, "AirPods Pro 3 Drop to New $199 Low Price on Amazon [Updated]" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week is discounting a collection of Beats headphones and speakers, including a low price on the Powerbeats Pro 2. You can get this new 2025 model for $199.95 in four colors, down from $249.99. This deal on the Powerbeats Pro 2 is being matched at Best Buy, along with a few other Beats deals.

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.

This sale also includes discounts on products like the Beats Pill, which has hit $109.99 on Amazon, down from $149.95. This is a second-best price on the speaker.



Additionally, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds+ for $149.95, down from $169.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $179.95, down from $349.99, and some markdowns on Beats iPhone 17 cases.

• Beats Studio Buds+ - $149.95, down from $169.95


• Beats Pill - $109.99, down from $149.95


• Beats Solo 4 - $149.95, down from $199.95


• Beats Studio Pro - $179.95, down from $349.99


• Powerbeats Pro 2 - $199.95, down from $249.99


• Beats USB-A to USB-C Woven Cable - $9.89, down from $18.99


• Beats iPhone 17 Case - $18.80 with on-page coupon, down from $45.00


• Beats iPhone 17 Pro Case - $22.45, down from $45.00


• Beats iPhone 17 Pro Max Case - $28.17, down from $45.00

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, "Powerbeats Pro 2 Available for $199.95 Low Price, Plus More Beats Deals on Headphones and Cases" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Samsung is hosting a new holiday event this week, and you can find great deals on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and home appliances. Many of these deals are the exact same all-time low prices we tracked during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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.

A new highlight of this event is Samsung's 4TB Portable SSD T7 Shield for $349.99 ($115 off). Samsung is also discounting the 2TB model to $229.99 ($20 off), and both are great portable storage options for Mac computers, with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance and read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s.



Regarding TVs, there are quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including a new all-time low price on The Frame Pro models. You can get the 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,299.99 ($700 off), as well as The Frame Pro for $1,999.00 ($1,200 off).

Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset also has a few notable offers during this event, including up to $1,140 in savings with the Explorer Pack. This features various content at no extra cost with the purchase of the Galaxy XR, like one year of YouTube Premium, one year of Google AI Pro, and more.

For even more potential savings, eligible shoppers have the chance to get additional discounts through Samsung offer programs. These programs provide extra discounts for students, military, and employees of select businesses, and they provide up to 30 percent extra savings on Samsung's website, so be sure to check whether you're eligible for any of these programs.

TVs

• 55-inch Neo QLED TV - $649.99, down from $1,299.99


• 75-inch Vision AI Smart TV - $679.99, down from $1,199.99


• 65-inch The Frame - $1,299.99, down from $1,999.99 (extra $100 off available through offer programs)


• 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 (extra $660 off available through offer programs)


• 65-inch OLED S90C TV - $1,699.99, down from $2,699.99


• 65-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $1,799.99, down from $2,699.99


• 77-inch OLED S90F TV - $1,999.99, down from $3,499.99


• 75-inch Neo QLED QN90D TV - $1,499.99, down from $3,299.99

Storage

• 2TB Portable SSD T9 - $199.99, down from $239.99


• 4TB Portable SSD T9 - $329.99, down from $439.99


• 4TB Portable SSD T7 Shield - $349.99, down from $464.99


• 8TB Portable SSD T5 EVO - $629.99, down from $689.99

Monitors

• 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 - $389.99, down from $699.99


• 40-inch Odyssey G7 G75F Curved Monitor - $749.99, down from $1,199.99


• 49-inch Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor - $777.99, down from $1,299.99


• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Monitor - $899.99, down from $1,799.99

Appliances

• Bespoke Smart Dishwasher - $899.99, down from $1,299.00


• Large Capacity Side-by-Side Fridge - $999.00, down from $1,666.00


• 4-Door French Door Fridge - $1,799.00, down from $2,999.00


• Bespoke All-in-One Combo Washer/Dryer - $2,099.00, down from $3,299.00


• Mega Capacity 3-Door French Door Fridge - $2,499.00, down from $3,499.00


• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $2,050.00, down from $4,099.00


• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $3,399.99, down from $4,999.00

Galaxy Products

• Galaxy XR - Save up to $1,140 with the Explorer Pack


• 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.

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This article, "Samsung's Holiday Sale Has Low Prices on The Frame TV, Portable SSDs, Monitors, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is opening a new store tomorrow at The Shops at Blackstone Valley, an open-air shopping center in Millbury, Massachusetts, near Worcester.


The store is set to open this Friday, December 12, at 12 p.m. local time. Apple is located next to fashion retailer Coach at the shopping center.

The new store is a replacement for Apple's previous location at Solomon Pond Mall, in nearby Marlborough, Massachusetts. That location permanently closed on Wednesday, after more than 10 years of operations. When it relocates a store, Apple typically gives all employees the opportunity to transfer to the new location.

Apple has yet to reveal the new store, but the photo below from local resident Steve Stearns provides a sneak peek at the facade.


Apple's newer stores typically feature a dedicated counter for customers to pick up orders they placed online, and the Genius Bar has become a prominent element again in recent years. There will also be free "Today at Apple" creative sessions.
This article, "New Apple Store Opening in Massachusetts Tomorrow" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple CEO Tim Cook was yesterday spotted in Washington, D.C. during a visit to lobby against a proposed App Store age verification policy.

But the very argument the company uses to oppose the proposal is in fact the strongest argument in favour of it …

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One of Apple TV’s best thriller series, Hijack, is coming back for a highly anticipated season 2 next month, and the newly released trailer reveals what to expect.

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