MacRumors readers have a chance to get 20 percent off a collection of Anker's best chargers, power banks, cables, hubs, and docks this week. In order to get this deal, head to Anker's website and add an accessory to your cart, then enter the code Ankermacrumors2025 at checkout to see the discount.

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

Our exclusive 20 percent off code works on most accessories sitewide, including Anker's new "high power" charging accessories. This exclusive discount code does not stack with existing discounts on Anker's website, but it can be used on multiple items in the same cart.



In the lists below, we've collected a few examples of the best products available at a discount with our exclusive promo code, but remember that it works sitewide. You'll have until April 30 to take advantage of this promotion, so be sure to browse Anker's best products on its website before the end of the month.

Portable Chargers

• MagGo 10,000 mAh Power Bank - $60.00, down from $74.99


• 25,000 mAh Power Bank - $88.00, down from $109.99


• Prime 20,000 mAh Power Bank - $100.00, down from $129.99

Wall Chargers

• 67W 3-Port Wall Charger - $48.00, down from $59.99


• 140W 4-Port Charger with USB-C Cable - $80.00, down from $99.99

Charging Stations

• MagGo 3-in-1 Foldable Charging Station - $72.00, down from $89.99


• MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Stand - $84.80, down from $110.99


• 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe - $100.00, down from $129.99

Hubs

• 200W 6-Port Prime Charger with USB-C Cable - $79.20, down from $103.99


• 250W 6-Port Prime Charger - $128.00, down from $169.99

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.

---

This article, "Anker Offers MacRumors Readers 20% Off Collection of Chargers, Hubs, Batteries, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple has confirmed that it will be permanently closing its retail store in the heart of Bristol, England, and there is no replacement in sight.


Apple Bristol will be closing its doors on Saturday, August 9, due to redevelopment plans at the Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, and the adjacent Bristol Shopping Quarter. According to news reports, and a building application, the owner of the property is planning to reconfigure the retail space along Philadelphia Street, where Apple is located. The plans call for a mix of residential buildings, medical facilities, restaurants, and more.

Ahead of redevelopment, the shopping area has faced increasing vacancy rates. A few years ago, Cabot Circus lost a large movie theater.

In a statement shared with MacRumors, Apple said employees impacted by the store closure will be able to continue their roles at the company.

"At Apple, we're always focused on providing an exceptional experience for all of our customers," said Apple. "Due to the redevelopment plans at Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, which include the closure of the section where our store is located, Apple Bristol will close on August 9, 2025. We've loved serving the Bristol community for over 15 years, and our valued team members will continue their roles at Apple."

Apple Bristol first opened in 2008, with the location formerly known as Apple Cabot Circus. The two-floor store still had a classic design that was due for a facelift. The lower level serves as a product sales area, while the upper level provides space for Genius Bar appointments and Today at Apple creative sessions.


The company has two other stores in the surrounding areas, including Apple Cribbs Causeway on the outskirts of Bristol, and Apple SouthGate in Bath.

Apple is also permanently closing its store at a dying mall in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook later this month, and it permanently closed its Infinite Loop and Royal Hawaiian stores last year. On the other hand, Apple continues to open new stores, including one at the Miami Worldcenter, and another coming soon in Downtown Detroit.
This article, "An Apple Store in the UK is Permanently Closing Later This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

To celebrate 10 years of the Apple Watch's Activity ring feature this month, Apple today revealed a limited-edition "Global Close Your Rings Day" award.


Apple wants users to "do something they love, push themselves further, or try something new" with an Apple Watch workout, and share what they did using the hashtag #CloseYourRings.

The original Apple Watch launched on April 24, 2015; Activity rings were a feature from day one. Apple's press release today highlights the impact of the Apple Watch on health and fitness over the past decade. Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams said:

Apple Watch has changed the way people think about, monitor, and engage with their fitness and health. A decade ago, we introduced Activity rings — and since then, Apple Watch has grown to offer an extensive set of features designed to empower every user. People write to us almost every day sharing how Apple Watch has made a difference in their life, from motivating them to move more throughout the day, to changing the trajectory of their health.

To obtain the exclusive digital award, users must close all three of their Activity rings on April 24. 10 animated stickers for the Messages app will also become available.

Customers can also obtain a special physical pin inspired by the award at Apple Stores around the world starting April 24, while supplies last.
This article, "Apple Celebrates 10 Years of Activity Rings With Limited-Edition Award and Pin" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple took the number one position in global smartphone sales during the first quarter of 2025, according to new data from Counterpoint Research. It's the first time Apple has taken the top spot during a first quarter, capturing 19% of the global market.


The iPhone maker's success came despite economic uncertainties, with Apple benefiting from the iPhone 16e launch and strong performance in emerging markets. Starting at $599, the iPhone 16e was released by Apple in March to replace the iPhone SE, the most affordable device in the company's lineup.

Samsung followed in second place with 18% market share, continuing its gradual decline from 21% in Q1 2023. The Korean manufacturer experienced a slow start due to the late launch of its S25 series, but saw sales improve in March.

Xiaomi kept tight to its growth trajectory to secure third position with 14% of the market, up from 13% a year earlier. The Chinese company's expansion benefited from growth in its domestic market, where its entry into electric vehicles has enhanced its brand presence. Meanwhile, vivo and OPPO rounded out the top five.

The global smartphone market grew 3% year-over-year in Q1 2025, but Counterpoint has revised its annual forecast and now expects a slight decline for the full year. The adjustment is due to rising economic uncertainties, particularly related to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.


Counterpoint believes that economic volatility could lead consumers to postpone smartphone purchases, which could potentially disrupt the supply chain and increase trade risks.

Apple's performance was notably regional in nature. While sales remained flat or declined in the U.S., Europe, and China, the company achieved double-digit growth in Japan, India, Middle East and Africa, and Southeast Asia.
This article, "iPhone 16e Helps Apple Take Q1 Top Spot in Global Smartphone Market" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The next major Apple Watch software update arriving this year will only feature some of the new UI design changes that Apple is preparing for iOS 19, but watchOS 12 won't get a complete interface overhaul like Apple's iPhone software, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.


Writing in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that the Apple Watch will receive "new interface elements here and there," but the changes won't be on the same scale as what's coming in iOS 19. The latter is said to be inspired by visionOS, which has an emphasis on translucency, glassy UI elements, subtle lighting effects, and includes rounded icons and buttons.

The Verifier previously reported that watchOS will eventually have "elements" of visionOS, including a look that is bolder, slightly transparent, and with a floating aesthetic. Buttons, menus, icons, and other user interface elements will reportedly also be refreshed, and Apple is said to be "working on several ideas" for the Home Screen. The report did not say when the changes would be implemented, but Gurman seems confident that they will arrive as part of watchOS 12 later this year.

Gurman reports that Apple is also planning to bring a new set of features to Apple Watch that it is branding as "powered by Apple Intelligence." Unlike iOS 18, Apple Watch does not currently have Apple Intelligence because of the high amount of local storage required by the underlying large language models, and Apple is set to keep it that way – with the watch relying on the paired iPhone to deliver AI features. Gurman did not specify what the new features are.

Apple typically releases new versions of its software for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV in the fall, around September, when new products in these categories are launched.
This article, "Apple Watch to Get 'Some' of the UI Design Changes Coming in iOS 19" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple CEO Tim Cook is "hell bent" on bringing true augmented reality glasses to market before Meta can achieve the same feat, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that upcoming new versions of Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset are a "stepping stone" towards Cook's ultimate decade-long goal of making AR glasses – lightweight spectacles that users can wear all day and which overlay graphics on the real world.

Cook has apparently made the glasses a "top priority" for the company. "Tim cares about nothing else," Gurman quotes a person with knowledge of the matter as saying. "It's the only thing he's really spending his time on from a product development standpoint."

Meta is currently developing true AR glasses, and has already prototyped a version of the device it envisions bringing to mass market, dubbed Orion.

Gurman notes that it will take "many years" for true AR glasses to be ready, with several technologies still needing to be perfected, including high-resolution displays, a high-performance chip, and a tiny battery that can provide all-day power.

Meta's non-AR Ray-Ban glasses have reportedly been a surprise hit. These glasses are for taking pictures and conversing with an AI assistant. Apple is said to have discussed the possibility of making similar glasses to compete in the same space. Apple's rationale seems to be that creating smart glasses could be a precursor to developing true AR glasses further in the future.

Apple is also said to be adding AI-enabled cameras to the Apple Watch and AirPods over the next couple of years.

There have been rumors about Apple's work on AR glasses – aka Apple Glass – for almost 10 years now, and the Vision Pro headset is what Apple built because the technology doesn't yet exist for the kind of augmented reality glasses that Apple is aiming for.

Gurman has previously reported that Apple is conducting user studies at its offices to gauge the appeal of features and interfaces, and that the company is working on a version of visionOS that will run on glasses. Codenamed "Atlas," the studies are being led by Apple's Product Systems Quality team, part of the hardware engineering division.
This article, "Apple CEO 'Hell Bent' on Launching True AR Glasses Before Meta" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold") will feature two screens as part of its book-style design, and a Chinese leaker claims to know the resolutions for both of them.


According to the Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station, the inner display, which is approximately 7.76 inches, will use a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution and feature "under-screen camera technology." Meanwhile, the 5.49-inch outer display will use 2,088 x 1,422 resolution, and this screen will allegedly have a punch-hole camera.

Digital Chat Station previously claimed that the inner folding display will have a 4:3 aspect ratio, and they also earlier revealed the alleged display dimensions of the iPhone Fold. Reputable Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since corroborated these dimensions, additionally describing the inner screen as "crease-free." However, talk of the device using under-screen camera technology has not been claimed up until now.

That said, rumors have suggested Apple is also working on a foldable iPad, and Digital Chat Station has previously claimed that this device will use under-display Face ID technology, so it could be that Apple is seeking design parity between the two foldable devices. Additionally, Kuo believes the rear-facing camera on the foldable iPhone will use dual lenses and that the device will forgo Face ID authentication, instead using a Touch ID side button as a means to save precious internal space.

Apple will launch its long-rumored foldable iPhone next year with a ~$2,000 premium price tag attached, expects well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. According to analyst Jeff Pu, the device recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn, with mass production slated to begin in the second half of 2026.

• Foldable iPhone: All the Rumored Features So Far

According to Gurman, the device will take advantage of the display, battery, modem, and chip advances that Apple has made in its development of the iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to replace the "Plus" model in Apple's smartphone lineup this year.
This article, "Foldable iPhone Resolutions Leak With Under-Screen Camera Tipped" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon and Best Buy are both discounting numerous models of Apple's M4 iPad Pro this weekend. This time around, deals at both retailers have been applied automatically and are available to all shoppers, so you won't need to clip any on-page coupons or be a My Best Buy Plus/Total member.

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.

In total, there are more 13-inch iPad Pro tablets on sale than 11-inch models during this sale. We've collected every device being discounted in this lists below, and they include a few models with Nano-Texture Glass options as well.




These iPad Pro models feature Apple's M4 chip, OLED displays, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard.

11-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $899.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,499.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]

13-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,299.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,699.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,799.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 2TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $2,199.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]

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.

---

This article, "Get the M4 iPad Pro for Up to $200 Off This Weekend" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.


Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025:

• Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a stainless steel frame. The back of the devices will supposedly have a new "part-aluminum, part-glass" design.


• Rectangular camera bump: iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to have a large rectangular camera bump with rounded corners. Apple apparently plans to stick with a triangular arrangement for the rear camera lenses.


• More scratch-resistant display: iPhone 17 Pro screens are rumored to have a new anti-reflective coating that increases scratch resistance compared to previous models.


• Larger battery: The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to have a slightly thicker design that allows for a larger battery.


• A19 Pro chip: iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to use Apple's next-generation A19 Pro chip, which will reportedly be manufactured with TSMC's newer third-generation 3nm process. Like usual, expect modest year-over-year performance gains and power efficiency improvements compared to the current iPhones.


• Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip: All four iPhone 17 models are rumored to get a Wi-Fi 7 chip designed by Apple rather than Broadcom.


• 24-megapixel front camera: All four iPhone 17 models are said to feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, whereas all iPhone 16 models are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.


• 48-megapixel rear Telephoto camera: An upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto camera is rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, up from the 12-megapixel Telephoto camera on iPhone 16 Pro models.


• Dual video recording: According to Jon Prosser, of the YouTube channel Front Page Tech, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will allow users to record video with the front and rear cameras simultaneously in the Camera app.


• 8K video recording: Apple allegedly tested 8K video recording on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but such functionality is still not available. With the iPhone 17 Pro models expected to have entirely 48-megapixel rear cameras, perhaps 8K video recording will debut on those devices.


• 12GB of RAM: An increased 12GB of RAM was initially rumored exclusively for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but later the iPhone 17 Pro as well. This upgrade should help to improve the performance of Apple Intelligence and multitasking. All four iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM.


• Improved cooling: All four iPhone 17 models are rumored to feature internal design changes that result in better heat dissipation. A vapor chamber cooling system has been rumored for the Pro models.

Bookmark our iPhone 17 Pro roundup to stay up to date with more rumors.
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is working on a new version of the Vision Pro with two key advantages over the current model, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Specifically, in his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said Apple is developing a new headset that is both lighter and less expensive than the current Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499 in the U.S. and weighs up to 1.5 pounds.

Gurman said Apple is also working on another version of the Vision Pro that can have a wired connection with a Mac, for an ultra-low-latency experience.

"The idea is to create an ultra-low-latency system for streaming a user's Mac display or for connecting to high-end enterprise applications," said Gurman. "Some customers have been using the Vision Pro for things like viewing imaging during surgery or for flight simulators. Those are two areas where a user would want the least amount of lag possible — something that can't be guaranteed by a fully wireless system."

It is unclear when Apple plans to release either of these headsets. The current Vision Pro was released in February 2024.

Gurman added that one of Apple CEO Tim Cook's top priorities remains true augmented reality glasses, but such a product likely remains "many years" away.
This article, "Vision Pro 2 Rumored to Have Two Key Advantages Over Current Model" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

A common complaint about the iPad Pro is that the iPadOS software platform fails to fully take advantage of the device's powerful hardware.


That could soon change.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS."

Gurman said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like a Mac" in three ways:

• Improved productivity


• Improved multitasking


• Improved app window management

"I'm told that this year's upgrade will focus on productivity, multitasking and app window management — with an eye on the device operating more like a Mac," said Gurman, in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. "It's been a long time coming, with iPad power users pleading with Apple to make the tablet more powerful."

Gurman did not provide any specific details.

iPadOS 19 will be announced alongside iOS 19, macOS 16, and other software updates during the WWDC 2025 keynote on Monday, June 9.
This article, "iPadOS 19 Will Be 'More Like macOS' in Three Ways" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple and other electronics manufacturers have received a break from Trump's reciprocal tariffs, with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency sharing a long list of products excluded from the levies last night.


iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watch, and other Apple devices will not be subject to the 125 percent tariffs that have been put in place on imported Chinese goods, nor will Apple have to pay the 10 percent reciprocal tariffs that are in place for goods from other countries.

All manner of electronic devices have been exempted, including computer components such as GPUs from Nvidia, semiconductors and the equipment used to make them, SSDs, displays, many TVs, and more. Some other electronic devices including video game consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 are still subject to the tariffs.

As Bloomberg points out, the exemptions could be temporary and the Trump administration could be planning for new, lower tariffs on electronics and other goods from China. The order also does not exempt companies from the 20 percent "fentanyl" fee imposed on China, which was an earlier penalty, so there is still a fee that Apple will need to pay.

With the back and forth over tariffs and the 90-day pause Trump put in place in some countries, Apple stock has been volatile for the last week and has dropped more than 20 percent before recovering somewhat. As of market close yesterday, Apple's stock was down 11 percent from early April.

Update: This article previously stated that AirPods and HomePod were not covered by the exemptions, but it appears they in fact are.
This article, "iPhones, Macs, and Other Apple Devices Exempted From Trump Tariffs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon today has all-time low prices on the new M4 MacBook Air, with up to $70 off the 13-inch version of the computer. Right now these discounts are only available on Amazon, and most of them have estimated delivery windows of mid April.

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

This time around, there are two 13-inch configurations on sale, reaching up to $70 off the original price. You can get the 256GB 13-inch M4 MacBook Air for $949.00, down from $999.00, and the 24GB RAM/512GB 13-inch M4 MacBook Air for $1,329.00, down from $1,399.00. Both of these deals are available in two colors on Amazon.




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.

---

This article, "Amazon Takes Up to $70 Off New M4 MacBook Air, Available From $949" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

It was a big week for leaks and rumors in the Apple world, with fresh claims about iOS 19, the iPhone 17 Pro, and even the 20th anniversary iPhone coming a couple of years from now.


Sources also spilled the tea on the inner turmoil at Apple around the Apple Intelligence-driven Siri revamp that has seen significant delays, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

iOS 19 Leak Reveals Alleged New Design With Rounder App Icons, Floating Tab Bar, and More

YouTuber Jon Prosser is back with some more claims on his Front Page Tech channel regarding design updates coming in iOS 19, and according to information he's seen, we could be in for some major changes.


Sources within Apple have shown Prosser a more glass-like interface inspired by visionOS, including rounder icons, a new floating pill-shaped tab bar at the bottom of many built-in apps, and some additional design tweaks.

For an overview of everything we've heard so far about potential design changes for iOS 19 with just about two months ago until its official unveiling at WWDC, check out our recap article.

iPhone 17 Pro's New Rear Camera Bar 'Same Color as Rest of Device'

Leaks have shown the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models will have a much larger rear camera bump spanning the entire top of the device, and a new claim from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the bump will be the same color as the rest of the device rather than being a distinct black color seen on some renderings.


On the feature front, Jon Prosser has said the iPhone 17 Pro models will include native support for simultaneous video recording from both front and rear cameras, something that so far has only been available through select third-party apps.

We've also recapped a number of other significant changes rumored to be coming to the iPhone 17 Pro later this year.

Apple Planning 'Bold' New 20th Anniversary Design for 2027 iPhone Pro

We're still a couple of years away from the 20th anniversary of the iPhone's debut, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple is planning something special for the milestone: a "major shake-up" that will include not only the much-rumored foldable iPhone but also a "bold" new look for the Pro-level iPhone models.


Gurman says the 2027 iPhone Pro models will make more extensive use of glass in their construction, but little else is known about what Apple has in the works.

Report Reveals Internal Chaos Behind Apple's Siri Failure

The Apple Intelligence-powered revamp of Siri has hit a number of stumbling blocks, leading to Apple uncharacteristically announcing a delay in some of the upcoming features. An extensive new report from The Information this week reveals details of the turmoil that has gone on behind the scenes at Apple.


According to the report, indecision and repeated changes in direction from Apple leadership about how to deploy Apple Intelligence frustrated engineers working on the project, with Siri in particular being a "hot potato" that bounced between teams without significant progress being made.

Sources indicate that some of the most impressive Siri features demoed in Apple's Intelligence's unveiling at WWDC 2024 were effectively fictitious, with the functionality not even working on test devices at that point. The demo even apparently came as a surprise to members of the Siri team.

Waiting for the Perfect MacBook Pro? 2026 Might Be the Year

We're expecting an update to the MacBook Pro later this year with a new M5 chip and some other upgrades, but for a much more substantial revamp, you might want to wait until 2026.


Rumors indicate the 2026 MacBook Pro could see a design overhaul with OLED displays, a smaller pinhole camera cutout replacing the current notch, and perhaps even a thinner and lighter design and 5G connectivity.

In addition to the MacBook Pro overhaul, 2026 may also see the launch of Apple's rumored large foldable device, which reportedly features an 18.8-inch display when unfolded.

iOS 18.4.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

iOS 18.5 remains in early beta testing, but Apple appears to have an interim iOS 18.4.1 update on the way, and it should be arriving within the next week or two.


It's unclear what fixes will be included in the update, but these updates typically focus on security issues. It's possible it could also address a few problems that popped up in the iOS 18.4 update such as CarPlay connectivity issues some users have been experiencing, though that's merely speculation at this point.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, "Top Stories: iOS 19 and iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, Siri Revamp Turmoil, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then.



We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025.

1. iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get new iPhones every September so it's not a surprise that updated models are coming, but this year should be exciting because the rumored iPhone 17 Air will have an all-new ultra-thin form factor, plus the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are getting a new rear camera design.


2. Apple Watch Series 11 - There's an updated Apple Watch coming, and it could get blood pressure monitoring and other health features, though that's not a guarantee yet. An update for watchOS has also been rumored, so it could get a new look.


3. Apple Watch Ultra 3 - Apple didn't update the Apple Watch Ultra last year, but we're supposedly getting a new model this year.


4. Apple Watch SE - We also didn't get an Apple Watch SE in 2024, so Apple's low-cost Apple Watch is due for an update. There were some rumors about a new plastic casing, but that might be scrapped.


5. AirPods Pro 3 - It's finally time for the AirPods Pro to get an update, and it sounds like it'll be a big one. The ‌AirPods Pro‌ will have a new design, and the case could get an update too. We're expecting better audio quality, Active Noise Cancellation improvements, a faster chip, and possibly health features like temperature and heart rate monitoring.


6. Mac Pro - The Mac Pro is Apple's last Mac that doesn't have an M4 chip inside, and it's going to be refreshed before the end of the year.


7. MacBook Pro - The MacBook Pro was last updated in October 2024, but when October 2025 rolls around, it'll be due for another refresh. No major design changes are planned, but it will get a spec boost in the form of the faster M5 chip.


8. Apple TV 4K - It's been quite some time since the Apple TV was refreshed, and a new model is in the works. It'll have a faster processor, perhaps even one that can support Apple Intelligence and console-quality games. No design changes are expected.


9. HomePod mini - The HomePod mini could get its first update with a faster S-series chip, an Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip for improved performance, and new color options.


10. AirTag 2 - There's a new version of the AirTag in the works, and it's slated for launch sometime in 2025. There are no signs of a design update, but it will get a new Ultra Wideband chip for improved range, plus there could be other improvements like a new, louder speaker.

Bonus: New Software

In two months, Apple is going to show off new software at its June Worldwide Developers Conference. We'll see the new features in iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, tvOS 19, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3.

New software is fun because if you've got a modern Apple device, you don't even need to buy anything new to get the new functionality that Apple will be showing off. While we'll get a June preview, the software updates are slated for September.

Read More

We keep track of all of the products that Apple has coming both in the near future and in the more distant future in our upcoming products guide. It's updated regularly, so it's worth keeping an eye if you're interested in what Apple has in the works.
This article, "10 Products Still Coming From Apple in 2025" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

ColorWare today introduced a clever new range of custom Apple Pencils that have been designed to look like crayons. ColorWare is known for its custom-painted Apple accessories and products like AirPods, and the company sometimes does unique limited edition designs.


The ColorWare Apple Crayon Pro is available in seven colors, including black, mint, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. Each one has a custom colored tip and a matching wrapper, all of which is painted on a standard Apple Pencil Pro. ColorWare previously did a custom ‌Apple Pencil‌ designed to look like a number 2 pencil, but the custom crayons in multiple colors are even more fun. With the attention to design, the Apple Crayon Pro does indeed look quite a bit like an actual crayon.


ColorWare has been customizing Apple devices for more than a decade, and it has perfected the process for a lasting finish. ColorWare uses a multi-step coating system, including a primer, a proprietary color formula, and a liquid plastic coating to protect the color. All products are warrantied for 12 months.


Because ColorWare is using a standard ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro, all of the functionality of the ‌Apple Pencil‌ remains intact. The ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro works with the M4 iPad Pro models, the M2 and M3 iPad Air models, and the A17 Pro iPad mini.

ColorWare is selling the Apple Crayon Pro for $215, and all colors are available from the ColorWare website as of today. Orders ship out in about two weeks.
This article, "Check Out ColorWare's Custom Apple Pencil Pro With a Crayon Design" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Chinese company Anker is one of many companies that will be raising prices due to the tariffs put in place by U.S. President Donald Trump, and prices are already starting to go up on Amazon.


As noted by Reuters, Anker has increased pricing on about a fifth of its products since Thursday of last week. Prices are up approximately 18 percent, and there is a possibility for further increases. A power bank that was $88 is now $110, for example, and a charging station that was $250 is now $270.

The tariffs on China are at 145 percent as of yesterday, which means items imported into the United States are significantly more expensive. U.S. customers and companies buying from China need to pay a 145 percent tax on the declared value of an item that is brought into the country. China has also put a 125 percent reciprocal tariff in place on U.S. goods coming to China.

China does not plan to raise its tariffs beyond 125 percent, and in a statement, China's Finance Ministry said that if U.S. tariffs go higher, it no longer makes sense to increase to match. "Even if the U.S. continues to impose even higher tariffs, it would no longer have any economic significance and would go down as a joke in the history of world economics," reads the Finance Ministry's statement.

China also said that the tariffs are an act of bullying, with the country planning to fight "to the end." From the Ministry's statement:

The U.S. side's imposition of excessively high tariffs on China seriously violates international economic and trade rules, runs counter to basic economic principles and common sense, and is simply an act of unilateral bullying and coercion.

Earlier this week, Anker told investors that it was able to raise prices because many of its rivals are Chinese and are facing similar tariff pressure. The company also said that it plans to explore non-U.S. markets like Europe and Southeast Asia.

Anker's prices fluctuate regularly due to the numerous sales that the company offers, but e-commerce site SmartScout says that there has been a "concerted effort" to raise prices since last week. Anker is still offering some discounts, and it has a site-wide sale right now for MacRumors readers. Any product on the Anker website is discounted by 20 percent with the promo code Ankermacrumors2025.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This article, "Anker Raises Prices on Amazon Due to Tariffs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air have had fairly recent updates, and there are quite a few similarities between them that might leave you wondering which one is the best to meet your needs. In our latest video, we go over the similarities and differences, and the use cases that might make you choose one over another.


The M3 ‌iPad Air‌ is priced starting at $599, while the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ is $999, so there's a notable difference in terms of cost. There are 11-inch and 13-inch size options for both models, and performance is not too far off between them.

With the ‌iPad Pro‌, you essentially get an improved display, a faster chip, Face ID support, better audio, ProRes video recording, and the option to use the higher-end keyboard case. There are few things you can do on an iPad that stress the M3 chip, and most people won't notice the difference in performance from M3 to M4 for day to day tasks.

Where you might see a small difference is apps that are system intensive, like Final Cut Pro or Photoshop, but both handle those tasks just fine. It's actually the display that's the biggest differentiating factor. The ‌iPad Pro‌ has an OLED display that's much brighter, supports HDR, offers ProMotion, and has deeper blacks and more vivid colors. If you're doing something where color is a factor, or if display quality is important, that's where you would want to consider the ‌iPad Pro‌.

Make sure to watch our full video where we go into much more depth about the differences, and show off the two tablets side-by-side.
This article, "M4 iPad Pro vs. M3 iPad Air: Which One is Best For You" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

This week's best Apple deals include discounts on AirPods Max, iPad, and Apple Watch SE. We're also tracking a big sitewide sale at OWC, including savings on docks and hubs for your Mac, plus external drives and more.

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.

AirPods Max

• What's the deal? Take $49 off AirPods Max


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon discounted the AirPods Max (USB-C) to $499.99 in every color this week. This is the first time in a few weeks that we've tracked a deal on every color of the AirPods Max.

OWC

• What's the deal? Save on Mac docks, hubs, and more


• Where can I get it? OWC


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

OWC's "Spring Savings Celebration" kicked off this week, offering big discounts on docks, hubs, memory cards, external drives, and more. Many of these deals won't be applied until you add the items to your cart, at which time an automatic coupon will be applied to your order.

Apple Watch SE

• What's the deal? Take $79 off Apple Watch SE


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

You can get $79 off the Apple Watch SE this week on Amazon, starting at just $169.97 for the 40mm GPS model. Overall, these are both the best prices we've seen so far in 2025.

iPad

• What's the deal? Take up to $49 off the new iPad


• Where can I get it? Amazon

Amazon has a few new discounts on Apple's 11th generation iPad this week, including $49 off the 512GB Wi-Fi model of the tablet. Prices start at $327.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00.

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.

---

This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Apple Watch SE Hits Best Price of the Year So Far, Plus Save on the New iPad and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Your iPhone has multiple touch and gesture capabilities that can enhance how you interact with apps. Some, like pinch and zoom, are well known enough to be considered second nature, but others are less obvious, like the one we're about to explain.

Two-Finger Drag to Select Items

If you have apps where you habitually tap on each individual item in a list to select them – emails in your Mail inbox, for example – it's time to dial in some efficiency and embrace this faster method.

This gestural feature allows you to easily select (or deselect) multiple items in apps like Contacts, Mail, Messages, Voice Memos, Notes, and indeed any Apple app that lists multiple items. Here's how it works.

1. Open an app where multiple item selection is supported.


2. Touch and hold the screen with two fingers at the same time.


3. While keeping both fingers on the screen, drag them down (or up) to select multiple items. As you drag, items will be highlighted to indicate they are selected.


4. Once the desired items are selected, you can perform actions such as moving, deleting, or organizing them.

That's all there is to it. This simple yet powerful feature streamlines your workflow, saving you time and effort when handling multiple items. Looking to speed up your iPhone text editing skills? Check out our favorite hidden trick by following the link.
This article, "Select Faster on iPhone With This Two-Finger Trick" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we catch up on the latest iOS 19 and watchOS 12 rumors, upcoming devices, and more.


Detailed new renders from leaker Jon Prosser claim to provide the best look yet at the complete redesign rumored to arrive in ‌iOS 19‌, showing more rounded elements, lighting effects, translucency, and an all-new pill-shaped tab bar with an elongated search bar. This visonOS-style redesign is also now rumored to come to the Apple Watch, and a sketchy report claims that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will tout exclusive AI features for Genmoji, Siri integration with activity information and sleep tracking, health monitoring, and more.

We look at the first iPhone 17 Pro cases, which emphasize just how large the new full-width camera bump is set to be, as well as exclusive camera features rumored for the device. We also discuss the report about the second-generation Vision Pro now being in mass production, the delay of Apple's smart home hub product to 2026, and Sir Jony Ive's work on a smartphone without a screen for OpenAI. The MacRumors Show also 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 our in-depth discussion about the announcement of WWDC 2025, key iOS 18.4 features, and more.

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 Mark Gurman, Kevin Nether, 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, John Gruber, 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: New iOS 19, iPhone 17, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Leaks" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple plans to release its delayed Apple Intelligence Siri features in the fall, according to a new report by The New York Times.


In early March, Apple said that it was going to take longer than expected to roll out the more personalized ‌Siri‌ experience, and that these features would be rolled out "in the coming year." Subsequently, Reuters reported that the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features have been delayed until 2026.

However, NYT reports today that its sources within Apple are still confident of a fall release. From the report:

Apple hasn't canceled its revamped Siri. The company plans to release a virtual assistant in the fall capable of doing things like editing and sending a photo to a friend on request, three people with knowledge of its plans said.

The ‌Siri‌ features in question were demonstrated at WWDC when introducing ‌iOS 18‌, and they were expected to come out in an update to ‌iOS 18‌. The functionality includes personal context, onscreen awareness, and improved app integration. Here's a quick summary:

Personal Context

Siri will be able to track emails, messages, files, photos, and more – learning from your interactions to help you stay organized and complete tasks.

• Show me the files Sam sent me last week.


• Find the email where Sam mentioned ice hockey.


• Find the books Sam recommended to me.


• Where's the recipe Sam sent me?


• What's my passport number?

Onscreen Awareness

Siri will understand what's on your screen and act on it. For example, if someone texts you an address, you can ask Siri to add it to their contact card. Or, if you're viewing a photo, you can ask Siri to send it.

Deeper App Integration

Siri will handle more complex tasks across apps – things it currently can't do. Apple shared a few examples of what to expect:

• Move files between apps.


• Edit a photo and send it.


• Get directions home and share the ETA with Sam.


• Send the draft email to Sam.

Already, Siri has gained Type to Siri, a refreshed interface, ChatGPT integration, and improved natural language understanding.

Apple demonstrated many of the above missing Siri features in WWDC previews, and went on to advertise them on its website. It also promoted them in a since-pulled TV ad for iPhone 16 starring actor Bella Ramsey, as well as elsewhere. Apple has been sued at least three times over the delayed Siri features in California.
This article, "Apple Plans to Release Delayed Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ Features This Fall" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple plans to release its delayed Apple Intelligence Siri features in the fall, according to a new report by The New York Times.


In early March, Apple said that it was going to take longer than expected to roll out the more personalized ‌Siri‌ experience, and that these features would be rolled out "in the coming year." Subsequently, Reuters reported that the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features have been delayed until 2026.

However, NYT reports today that its sources within Apple are still confident of a fall release. From the report:

Apple hasn't canceled its revamped Siri. The company plans to release a virtual assistant in the fall capable of doing things like editing and sending a photo to a friend on request, three people with knowledge of its plans said.

The ‌Siri‌ features in question were demonstrated at WWDC when introducing ‌iOS 18‌, and they were expected to come out in an update to ‌iOS 18‌. The functionality includes personal context, onscreen awareness, and improved app integration. Here's a quick summary:

Personal Context

Siri will be able to track emails, messages, files, photos, and more – learning from your interactions to help you stay organized and complete tasks.

• Show me the files Sam sent me last week.


• Find the email where Sam mentioned ice hockey.


• Find the books Sam recommended to me.


• Where's the recipe Sam sent me?


• What's my passport number?

Onscreen Awareness

Siri will understand what's on your screen and act on it. For example, if someone texts you an address, you can ask Siri to add it to their contact card. Or, if you're viewing a photo, you can ask Siri to send it.

Deeper App Integration

Siri will handle more complex tasks across apps – things it currently can't do. Apple shared a few examples of what to expect:

• Move files between apps.


• Edit a photo and send it.


• Get directions home and share the ETA with Sam.


• Send the draft email to Sam.

Already, Siri has gained Type to Siri, a refreshed interface, ChatGPT integration, and improved natural language understanding.
This article, "Apple to Release Delayed Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ Features 'in the Fall'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's current struggles with Apple Intelligence and Siri began in early 2023 when AI head John Giannandrea sought approval from CEO Tim Cook to purchase more AI chips for development, according to a new report from The New York Times.


Cook initially approved doubling the team's chip budget, but CFO Luca Maestri reportedly reduced the increase to less than half that amount, and instead encouraged the team to make existing chips more efficient.

The lack of adequate GPU resources meant Apple's AI team had to negotiate for computing power from providers like Google and Amazon.

At the time, Apple's data centers had about 50,000 GPUs that were more than five years old – far fewer than the hundreds of thousands of chips being purchased by competitors like Microsoft, Google, and Meta.

The NYT report goes on to cover the leadership conflicts within the company, describing a power struggle between Robby Walker, who oversaw Siri, and Sebastien Marineau-Mes, a senior executive with the software team. The two reportedly battled over who would spearhead Siri's new capabilities, with both ultimately receiving pieces of the project.

Apple Intelligence faced significant delays after internal testing revealed Siri was inaccurate on nearly a third of requests. Apple subsequently admitted that it would take longer than expected to roll out the more personalized ‌Siri‌ experience, and that these features will be rolled out "in the coming year."

However, according to the report, Apple still plans to release its enhanced Siri experience this fall. The functionality includes personal context, onscreen awareness, and improved app integration. Some Apple executives reportedly aren't concerned about the delay, and believe competitors haven't perfected AI either, giving Apple time to get it right.

Following the delay, software chief Craig Federighi reorganized executives, removing responsibility for the new Siri from Giannandrea and reassigning it to Mike Rockwell, who leads the Vision Pro division. The details of Apple's Siri team changes and the delayed Siri revamp were previously reported by Bloomberg and The Information.

For more details on Apple's internal issues, including political infighting, budget constraints, and talent drain, see The New York Times' full report.
This article, "NYT: Apple's AI Struggles Began with 2023 Chip Budget Dispute" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

On a Mac that has a top row of function keys, Apple includes volume and brightness controls that can be used to make adjustments in stepwise increments. However, there may be times when you want to make more fine grained adjustments to these settings than the default increments allow – in which case, read on.


Whenever you tap the volume or brightness controls on your keyboard, you'll see an indicator appear on your Mac's screen with 16 fixed increments separated by lines. With the help of a keyboard modifier, it's actually possible to make more nuanced quarter-step changes to sound volume and screen brightness using a total of 64 increments.


Before you press the volume or brightness controls, hold down the Option and Shift keys together on your keyboard. Now go ahead and make your adjustments, and you should see the onscreen indicator move forwards and backwards in smaller increments (four over each segment).


It's a simple tip, but it's really useful for when just tapping the control on its own feels like too much of a jump, and you'd prefer more accurate control over, let's say, how quiet or loud your headphone audio output is, for example.
This article, "How to Adjust Mac Volume and Brightness More Precisely" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Bluesky is rolling out a new update introducing features that might ease the transition for social media users coming over from X (Twitter).


First up, version 1.100 adds emoji reactions to Bluesky's direct messaging system. Users can now respond to messages with quick emoji reactions by holding down on a message and selecting from common options like hearts, thumbs up, and laughing faces. For those wanting more expression, the three-dot menu provides access to a full emoji keyboard.

The app's search page has also been completely revamped and renamed "Explore." This new discovery hub prominently displays trending topics labeled with tags like "Hot" or "New," along with timestamps showing when topics started gaining traction.


Beyond trends, the Explore page now recommends accounts to follow across various interest categories such as Art, Sports, Music, and Politics. Users can also personalize their experience by selecting specific interests that inform what appears on their Explore page.


Meanwhile, for newcomers, Bluesky has added curated "Starter Packs," or pre-made lists of accounts focused on specific topics that users can follow with a single tap.


The features are designed to make the transition easier for users migrating from other platforms while improving content discovery within Bluesky.

Bluesky has over 34 million active users, according to the company. That's still a lot less than Meta's Threads in total users, but the platform continues to gain popularity as an alternative to X. The update is available now on the App Store [Direct Link] for iPhone users running iOS 15.1 or later.
This article, "Bluesky Gains Twitter-Like Message Reactions and New Search Page" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Razer today announced the official launch of Razer PC Remote Play, which is designed to allow Razer PC users to stream their games directly to mobile devices like the iPhone and the iPad.


According to Razer, the platform provides ultra-smooth, high-fidelity gameplay on smartphones and tablets, with support for all iOS-compatible gaming controllers for a PC gaming experience on the go. On the ‌iPad‌, there's also support for keyboards, mice, and trackpads.

PC users can browse through, configure, and launch PC games from an ‌iPhone‌ or an ‌iPad‌, as well as customize controls, record and share gameplay, and more. Razer PC Remote Play is able to automatically optimize games to match the maximum resolution and refresh rate of a mobile device without having a fixed aspect ratio.

On an ‌iPhone‌ or an ‌iPad‌ running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18, users will need to install Razer Nexus and Razer PC Remote Play, and on a PC running Windows 11 or later, Remote Play needs to be enabled in Razer Cortex. More information is available on Razer's website.
This article, "Razer Launches PC Remote Play for Streaming Games to iPhones and iPads" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

OpenAI today updated ChatGPT with an improved memory feature that allows the chatbot to remember more about your conversations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says that ChatGPT can "reference all your past conversations," allowing for a more personalized experience.


ChatGPT will remember context from previous conversations, such as preferences and interests, using that information to tailor the responses that it provides. You can add something directly to ChatGPT's memory by telling it to "remember" a fact.

The option to reference saved memories is opt-in, and can be toggled off in the ChatGPT settings under Personalization. There is an option to manage all of the memories that ChatGPT has stored, including deleting them all or deleting just one or two. ChatGPT will save memories indefinitely, but they can be removed at any time.

The updated memory features are rolling out to all Plus and Pro tier users, but the functionality is not available in the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
This article, "ChatGPT Gets Better at Remembering Info About You With Memory Improvements" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is continuing to add support for carrier-based satellite services, with au customers in Japan and One NZ customers in New Zealand now able to use the satellite connectivity offered by those carriers on compatible iPhone models.


Both au and One NZ have partnered with SpaceX to provide their customers with Starlink Direct satellite service, joining T-Mobile in the U.S. in offering Starlink connectivity as an alternative to the satellite messaging features built into Apple's ‌iPhone‌ 14 and later models. Japan and New Zealand both have large swathes of land where traditional cellular coverage is unavailable due to terrain limitations.

For au customers, Starlink Direct covers all of Japan, providing connectivity in remote areas where cellular towers are not available. au does not charge for the service, which allows users to send and receive text messages, get emergency earthquake alerts, and share their location with friends and family.

In New Zealand, One NZ customers can use Starlink Direct to send and receive texts anywhere in the country, with the functionality included in eligible mobile plans.

Starlink Direct is available when cellular signal is not, as long as there is a clear line of sight to the sky. While an open space not obstructed by buildings helps with connectivity, users do not need to hold their smartphone up to the sky to connect, which is a requirement for Apple's built-in satellite service offered through its partnership with Globalstar.

Carrier-based satellite services are supported on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 models and later, and customers who have access to carrier satellite options can use those in addition to the satellite connectivity that is included in Apple's modern iPhones.

(Thanks, Dhinak!)
This article, "Apple Continues Rolling Out Support for Carrier Satellite Services" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple has been hit with at least two more proposed class action lawsuits over its delayed personalized Siri features for iPhones.


In the U.S., a complaint filed in a California federal court this week alleges that Apple violated false advertising and unfair competition laws by marketing Apple Intelligence upgrades for Siri that are still not available. The two named plaintiffs said they never would have purchased or been willing to pay as much for an iPhone 16 had they known that Apple's marketing surrounding the features was false and misleading.

Apple advertised the Siri features in product presentations, on its website, in a TV commercial starring actor Bella Ramsey, and elsewhere.

Apple was already sued over the delayed Siri features in California last month, and the class action lawsuits could eventually be merged if they proceed.

A similar complaint was filed against Apple last week in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Apple first previewed the personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote last June, as part of a wide range of Apple Intelligence features that it said would be rolling out over the course of the following year. That gave Apple until WWDC 2025 this June to roll out the Siri features, but last month the company announced that it needed more time and anticipated rolling out the features at some point "in the coming year" from then.

The features were initially expected to launch in iOS 18.4 last week, but they are now expected to arrive at some point during the iOS 19 cycle. Many well-connected Apple reporters and observers believe the features will not be available until 2026.

Whenever they launch, the Siri upgrades will include understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, during its WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.

The class action lawsuits in the U.S. and Canada are both seeking damages from Apple, in an amount to be proven at trial, so class members who purchased an iPhone 16 in order to use the personalized Siri features could eventually receive a payout from Apple, if the judges presiding over each case find that the company broke the law.

Apple's lawyers have yet to respond to any of the lawsuits.
This article, "Apple Hit With More Class Action Lawsuits Over Delayed Siri Features in U.S. and Canada" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

A new report from The Information today reveals much of the internal turmoil behind Apple Intelligence's revamped version of Siri.


Apple apparently weighed up multiple options for the backend of ‌Apple Intelligence‌. One initial idea was to build both small and large language models, dubbed "Mini Mouse" and "Mighty Mouse," to run locally on iPhones and in the cloud, respectively. ‌Siri‌'s leadership then decided to go in a different direction and build a single large language model to handle all requests via the cloud, before a series of further technical pivots. The indecision and repeated changes in direction reportedly frustrated engineers and prompted some members of staff to leave Apple.

In addition to Apple's deeply ingrained stance on privacy, conflicting personalities within Apple contributed to the problems. More than half a dozen former employees who worked in Apple's AI and machine-learning group told The Information that poor leadership is to blame for its problems with execution, citing an overly relaxed culture, as well as a lack of ambition and appetite for taking risks when designing future versions of ‌Siri‌.

Apple's AI/ML group has been dubbed "AIMLess" internally, while employees are said to refer to ‌Siri‌ as a "hot potato" that is continually passed between different teams with no significant improvements. There were also conflicts about higher pay, faster promotions, longer vacations, and shorter days for colleagues in the AI group.

Apple AI chief John Giannandrea was apparently confident he could fix ‌Siri‌ with the right training data and better web-scraping for answers to general knowledge questions. Senior leaders didn't respond with a sense of urgency to the debut of ChatGPT in 2022; Giannandrea told employees that he didn't believe chatbots like ChatGPT added much value for users.

In 2023, Apple managers told engineers that they were forbidden from including models from other companies in final Apple products and could only use them to benchmark against their own models, but Apple's own models "didn't perform nearly as well as OpenAI's technology."

Meanwhile, ‌Siri‌ leader Robby Walker focused on "small wins" such as reducing wait times for ‌Siri‌ responses. One of Walker's pet projects was removing the "hey" from the "hey ‌Siri‌" voice command used to invoke the assistant, which took over two years to achieve. He also shot down an effort from a team of engineers to use LLMs to give ‌Siri‌ more emotional sensitivity so it could detect and give appropriate responses to users in distress.

Apple started a project codenamed "Link" to develop voice commands to control apps and complete tasks for the Vision Pro, with plans to allow users to navigate the web and resize windows with voice alone, as well as support commands from multiple people in a shared virtual space to collaborate. Most of these features were dropped because of the ‌Siri‌ team's inability to achieve them.

The report claims that the demo of ‌Apple Intelligence‌'s most impressive features at WWDC 2024, such as where ‌Siri‌ accesses a user's emails to find real-time flight data and provides a reminder about lunch plans using messages and plots a route in maps, was effectively fictitious. The demo apparently came as a surprise to members of the ‌Siri‌ team, who had never seen working versions of the capabilities.

The only feature from the WWDC demonstration that was activated on test devices was ‌Apple Intelligence‌'s pulsing, colorful ribbon around the edge of the display. The decision to showcase an artificial demonstration was a major departure from Apple's past behavior, where it would only show features and products at its events that were already working on test devices and that its marketing team had approved to ensure they could be released on schedule.

Some Apple employees are said to be optimistic that Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell can turn ‌Siri‌ around. Federighi has apparently instructed ‌Siri‌ engineers to do "whatever it takes to build the best AI features," even if that means using open-source models from other companies in its software products as opposed to Apple's own models.

For more details on Apple's ‌Siri‌ debacle, see The Information's full report.
This article, "Report Reveals Internal Chaos Behind Apple's Siri Failure" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon today has the USB-C AirPods Max on sale for $499.99 in every color, down from $549.00. While not an all-time low price, this is the first time in a few weeks that every color of the USB-C AirPods Max has been on sale on Amazon, and it's still a solid markdown for anyone who's been waiting for a sale.

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.

Colors available on sale include Blue, Midnight, Orange, Starlight, and Purple. All colors are available to be delivered by mid April, with most providing a delivery estimate around April 15 for free shipping options. Prime members in certain cities should be able to see same-day delivery options.



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.

---

This article, "Apple's USB-C AirPods Max Drop to $499.99 on Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

WhatsApp has announced a laundry list of new features aimed at enhancing the user experience across chats, calls, and channels, with some of the features available now or currently rolling out.


Among the most notable additions is a new "Online" indicator for group chats, which shows how many people are currently active in a conversation without revealing specific names. The feature makes it easier to see whether members are available or if you're messaging into a quiet group.

For users overwhelmed by group notifications, WhatsApp has introduced customizable alert settings. The new "Notify for" option allows users to choose between receiving all notifications or only "Highlights" – which includes @mentions, replies, and messages from saved contacts.

The encrypted chat platform has also expanded its Events functionality, which was previously limited to groups. Users can now create events in one-on-one conversations, add RSVP options including "maybe," invite plus-ones, and pin events directly in chats.

Elsewhere, communication has been made more interactive with tappable reactions. When someone reacts to a message, users can simply tap on that reaction to add their own or to "+1" the existing emoji, similar to platforms like Slack.

Video calling has received several improvements, including a more reliable connection system designed to reduce freezing and dropped calls. WhatsApp says it has optimized its routing system to find the best connection path and improved bandwidth detection to upgrade video quality to HD faster when internet speed allows.

Meanwhile, iPhone users are set to gain some platform-specific features, including the ability to pinch-to-zoom during video calls, and document scanning directly from the attachment menu. As previously reported, users can also now set WhatsApp as their default call and messaging app on iPhone.

Lastly, for Channels, WhatsApp is rolling out tools for admins to record and share short video clips up to 60 seconds long, generate unique QR codes for easy channel sharing, and provide transcripts of voice messages for followers who can't listen to audio updates.

Most of these features are now available in the latest stable build of WhatsApp for both iPhone and Android, although some users may need to wait a few weeks as the rollout completes.

This article, "WhatsApp Gets Updates to Group Chats, Events, Calls, Channels, More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again.


Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small performance boost for the 2025 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with the introduction of new M5 chips, while the "true overhaul" for the laptop will come in 2026. So if you are planning to skip this year's ‌MacBook Pro‌, or you're just plain curious about what's two generations away, here are the biggest changes rumored to be coming to Apple's premium laptop line next year.


OLED Display

Goodbye, mini-LED

Several rumors have indicated that the first ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with OLED displays will be released in 2026. Research firm Omdia claims Apple is "highly likely" to introduce new MacBook Pros featuring OLED displays next year, while display analyst Ross Young has said that Apple's supply chain is expected to have sufficient notebook-optimized OLED display production capacity in 2026 to bring the technology to MacBook Pro. Compared to current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models that use mini-LED screens, the benefits of OLED technology would include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.

Thinner, Lighter Laptop

Major Redesign

The switch to OLED displays could allow future ‌MacBook Pro‌ models to have a thinner design, and rumors suggest that is indeed what Apple intends. When the M4 iPad Pro was unveiled in May 2024, Apple touted it as the company's thinnest product ever. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman subsequently called the ‌iPad Pro‌ the "beginning of a new class of Apple devices," and said Apple was working to make the ‌MacBook Pro‌ thinner over the "next couple of years." Apple is reportedly focusing on delivering the thinnest possible device without compromising on battery life or major new features.

Notably, the ‌MacBook Pro‌ got thicker and heavier with its most recent redesign in 2021. A major highlight was the reintroduction of several ports that were removed in previous iterations in favor of chassis thinness. How Apple will make its 2026 ‌MacBook Pro‌ thinner without removing the functionality it reintroduced fairly recently is the big question.

Punch-Hole Camera

No More Notch

If you are fed up of the notch intruding on your Mac display, here's some good news. Apple plans to remove the notch from the ‌MacBook Pro‌ in 2026, according to a roadmap shared by research firm Omdia. The roadmap indicates that 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models released next year will have a hole-punch camera at the top of the display, rather than the notch we've become accustomed to. A ‌MacBook Pro‌ without a notch would offer additional visible pixels on the screen, creating a more uninterrupted and cohesive display design.

5G Modem

Cellular Connectivity

Early in 2025, Apple plans to introduce the custom-built 5G chip that it's had in the works for years now. The modem chip will be added to the iPhone SE, low-cost iPad, and iPhone 17 "Air," giving Apple an opportunity to test the technology before rolling it out to flagship devices. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will then consider bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac lineup for the first time. The company is said to be "investigating" the possibility of adding a second-generation modem chip to a future Mac as soon as 2026, teasing the potential for a cellular ‌MacBook Pro‌ in the same year. The first Apple modem chip will be limited to sub-6GHz 5G speeds, but the second-generation version will support faster mmWave technology, according to Gurman.

M6 Series Chip

2nm Process

Assuming Apple follows a similar timeframe to its M4 chip rollout, Apple will update the ‌MacBook Pro‌ lineup in October this year with M5 series chips. The chips will be manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P, resulting in typical year-over-year performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the M4 series of chips. M6 chips, on the other hand, could adopt a completely new packaging process for Apple's 2026 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

According to one rumor, Apple's A20 chip in next year's ‌iPhone‌ 18 models will switch from the previous InFo (Integrated Fan-Out) packaging to WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging. WMCM integrates multiple chips within the same package, allowing for the development of more complex chipsets. Components such as the CPU, GPUs, DRAM, and Neural Engine would therefore be more tightly integrated. While we don't know for sure, this could see Apple develop the M6 using the 2nm process while taking advantage of WMCM packaging to make even more powerful versions of its custom processor.
This article, "Waiting for the Perfect MacBook Pro? 2026 Might Be the Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Moving iPhone production from China to the United States could increase manufacturing costs by up to 90%, analysts at Bank of America warned on Wednesday (via Bloomberg).


According to BofA analysts led by Wamsi Mohan, shifting iPhone assembly to America is technically possible, however it would dramatically increase production expenses and create logistical complications.

"iPhone cost can increase 25% purely on higher labor cost in the U.S.," the analysts wrote in a note to clients. They explained that even if Apple finds domestic workers for final assembly, a "significant portion" of iPhone components would still need to be manufactured in China and imported to the States.

Assuming Apple faces reciprocal tariffs on those imported components, the total manufacturing cost could rise by 90% or more, the analysts estimated.

The analysis follows statements from President Trump earlier this week calling Apple's manufacturing in China "unsustainable." According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump "absolutely" believes Apple could manufacture iPhones in the United States. During a recent media briefing, Leavitt said the President believes "we have the labor, we have the workforce, we have the resources to do it."

Trump's aggressive trade policies singled out China on Wednesday, pausing reciprocal tariffs on 185 countries for 90 days but increasing duties on Chinese imports to 125%. In response, China has imposed 84% retaliatory levies on American goods. It's becoming increasingly difficult to assess where the stand-off goes from here.

Uncertainty caused by the trade war has battered Apple's stock, which has fallen 14% since Trump's April 2 tariff announcement, erasing approximately $479 billion in market capitalization. Despite a recent 10% rebound, Apple shares remain down 23% year-to-date.

For Apple to make U.S. assembly economically viable, Mohan suggests the company would need tariff waivers on components and subassemblies manufactured outside the country. However, he doesn't believe this is likely to happen.

"Unless it becomes clear as to how permanent the new tariffs are, we do not expect Apple to take the step of moving manufacturing into the U.S.," Mohan stated. Instead, he anticipates Apple will "continue to diversify its supply chain, and also increase production of iPhones in other countries such as India."

Apple has not officially commented on how it plans to address the current tariff situation. Apple will need to pay the 125% tariff on all goods coming to the United States from China, but it can import devices from other countries like India, Taiwan, and Vietnam at the lower 10% rate.
This article, "Bank of America: US-Made iPhones Would Face 90% Cost Surge" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Along with an iPhone "Fold," Apple is believed to be working on a larger foldable device that's somewhere around 19 inches, and one analyst suggests it could arrive as soon as late next year alongside Apple's rumored foldable iPhone.


In a new research note covering likely post-tariff scenarios for Apple, investment firm GF Securities' lead analyst Jeff Pu says that both 18.8-inch and 7.8-inch foldable devices have seen development progress and are forecast to enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Pu said as much last month, when he claimed that Apple's first two foldable devices had recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn. Depending on exactly when mass production begins in the second half of 2026, the devices could launch either later next year, or at some point in 2027.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple is working on a foldable ‌iPad‌ with a 20-inch display that will come out in 2028, while analyst Ross Young has said that he expects a foldable tablet-like device in 2026 or 2027, so it's safe to say there's uncertainty about a launch date. There also appear to be conflicting reports about what kind of device the larger foldable will be.

Pu believes the foldable device that Apple is working on will be a MacBook-iPad hybrid with a touch-based screen and support for macOS. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also referred to Apple's larger foldable device as a MacBook, while Ross Young has also written about Apple's work on a notebook with an 18.8-inch display. The Wall Street Journal said in December that Apple is working on a 19-inch MacBook with a foldable screen.

However, Gurman has referred to Apple's large-screened foldable device as an ‌iPad‌, as has research firm Omdia. Whether the large-screened foldable is ultimately an ‌iPad‌ or a Mac will come down to the operating system that Apple is planning to use. If the device runs macOS, it'll be in the Mac family, and if it runs iPadOS, it'll be in the ‌iPad‌ family. Gurman has claimed that some of the design updates that Apple is making in iOS 19 and macOS 16 to unify the operating systems will pave the way for foldable devices and touchscreen Macs, so a hybrid is also a possibility.

• Foldable iPhone Expected Next Year: All the Rumored Features So Far

All in all, the details of Apple's larger foldable device remain murky. That's in contrast to rumors about Apple's smaller book-style foldable iPhone, which have recently been converging on a 2026 release.
This article, "Apple's 18.8-Inch Foldable Device to Enter Mass Production in Late 2026" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

This summer, Samsung plans to launch Ballie, an AI companion robot that it has been working on since 2020. Samsung showed off Ballie at CES in January 2020, demoing a robotic ball that could roll around, record video, respond to voice commands, and more.


Over the years, Ballie has gotten more capable, and now Samsung is partnering with Google to add AI features. Ballie is adopting Google Cloud's generative AI technology, and Samsung says that it will be able to engage in natural, conversational interactions, providing help at home by anticipating personal needs.

Ballie will be able to adjust lighting and control smart home products, greet people at the door, learn personalized schedules, set reminders, and more. In an animated video showing off Ballie, the robot is depicted finding an entertaining video for a child to watch, offering styling advice, telling a man to wear a coat because it's cold outside, and getting people off to work and school on time.

Using Google's Gemini AI, Ballie will be able to interpret audio and voice, visual data from its camera, and sensor data from the environment, plus it will be able to provide recommendations to improve user health and wellbeing.

Samsung has not announced pricing for Ballie, nor a specific launch date, but the company says it is coming in the summer. Customers can pre-register to order Ballie on the Samsung website.
This article, "Samsung Launching AI-Powered 'Ballie' Robot This Summer" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Smart home company Aqara today announced plans to further integrate Matter into its product offerings. Aqara is bringing its Advanced Matter Bridging feature to all Aqara Matter controllers and bridges, rather than limiting the functionality to just the Hub M3. With the change, users can more easily connect Aqara devices to third-party Matter platforms.


Advanced Matter Bridging can be used to convert Scenes and Signals created in the Aqara app to virtual plugs and sensors that can be shared to other platforms, which means that advanced Aqara features that used to be limited to the Aqara ecosystem can be used in HomeKit. Advanced Matter Bridging is available across all existing and upcoming Matter Controllers from Aqara with the 4.3.4 firmware.

The Aqara platform is also gaining support for over 50 unique types of Matter-enabled devices, including third-party Matter devices from other manufacturers. Aqara Home integrates with robot vacuums, dimmable plugs, smoke alarms, sensors of all kinds, air purifiers, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners and heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, water heaters, and more. Matter devices that are not yet supported by a platform like Apple Home can be added to Apple Home through Aqara's platform.

Support for additional Matter device types is available in Aqara home version 5.1.9 and firmware version 4.3.5 for Matter Controllers, which is coming out later this month.
This article, "Aqara Expands Advanced Matter Bridging to Older Hubs, Adds Support for New Device Types" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Instagram seems to be testing locked reels that require viewers to enter a keyword or a code to be able to see the hidden content. It's a feature that creators could use to increase engagement or to share content with their most loyal fans.


TechCrunch noticed that the Instagram Design account recently shared a locked reel with a hint provided to unlock the reel. Entering the code displays an animated banner with the "coming soon" wording, which seems to reference the Instagram Design team's announcement that it will soon have a Threads account.

As noted by TechCrunch, a creator could share a locked reel that requires a specific word to open, for example, providing a hint that only a follower would know such as a pet's name, which would be a way to share exclusive videos.

Instagram already has a feature that allows users to share a hidden story that can be unlocked with a DM, but the locked reel option does not require direct engagement. Instagram has not commented on the locked reel feature, and it is not clear if and when it will roll out to users.
This article, "Instagram Tests Reels You Can Only Watch With a Secret Code" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The an upcoming version of watchOS will bring a visionOS-like redesign to the Apple Watch, much like the design updates coming in iOS 19 and macOS 16, claims Israeli site The Verifier.


watchOS will eventually have "elements" of visionOS, including a look that is bolder, slightly transparent, and with a floating aesthetic. Buttons, menus, icons, and other user interface elements will reportedly be refreshed, with Apple "working on several ideas" for the Home Screen. The Verifier does not know when these design changes will come, as the features are allegedly still being developed.

The site also claims that Apple is working on Apple Intelligence features for the Apple TV and the Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch Ultra will allegedly get a new, exclusive chip that will allow it to run ‌Apple Intelligence‌, though this is a questionable claim because Apple has been bringing ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features to as many devices as possible, not restricting the functionality to its higher-end products.

Of all the devices announced since WWDC 2024, only the most recent low-cost iPad does not support ‌Apple Intelligence‌. Everything else, including the mid-budget iPhone 16e, features ‌Apple Intelligence‌. Allegedly, the Apple Watch Ultra will get ‌Apple Intelligence‌ first, with the feature set to come to other Apple Watch models "a year later."

As of right now, the Apple Watch models only have 1GB RAM, and ‌Apple Intelligence‌ requires 8GB RAM at a minimum, so that is another red flag with The Verifier's claims. The site says that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features on Apple Watch will include notification summaries, the ability to create Genmoji, and a "new Siri" that understands user behavior and garners information from "sports activity, AI medical monitoring, sleep tracking, heart rate activity, and more."

It is worth noting that The Verifier doesn't have the best track record when it comes to rumors. Last year, the site said iOS 18 would get a visionOS redesign, which didn't happen. Other rumors that have not panned out have included Touch ID for the Apple Watch, a kids mode for the ‌Apple TV‌, the launch date for a new Apple Pencil, and several incorrect predictions about different versions of iOS dropping support for older devices.
This article, "Apple Watch Could Get visionOS-Like Redesign, Apple Intelligence Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today updated its support document for Apple Maps on the web to add a mention that the feature now works on the iPhone, which appears to be relatively new.


A prior version of the support document listed only Macs, iPads, and PCs as being compatible with ‌Apple Maps‌ on the web, but now there is a new mobile devices section that lists both iOS and iPadOS. Maps.apple.com also loads on the ‌iPhone‌ rather than redirecting maps URLs to the ‌Apple Maps‌ app.

When the ‌Apple Maps‌ on the web feature launched last year, it was not available on the ‌iPhone‌, and it only worked in select browsers. Apple has since expanded support, and it is available for Safari on Mac, Safari on ‌iPhone‌ and iPad, and also Edge, Chrome, and Firefox on Macs, PCs, and mobile devices.

It's possible that ‌Apple Maps‌ on the web support for ‌iPhone‌ was tied to iOS 18.4 and the option that allows EU users to select a new default mapping app. With a different Maps app set, ‌Apple Maps‌ links that an EU user receives are still be able to be opened via the ‌Apple Maps‌ website.
This article, "Apple Adds Maps on the Web Support to iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today shared a minute-long video promoting the Emergency SOS feature on the Apple Watch, highlighting the rescue of Australian man Rick Shearman, who was swept out to sea last July.


Shearman was swimming in Byron Bay when rough seas pushed him away from shore, with the current carrying him over 1.5 kilometers from the beach. He couldn't get past the waves, and after about 20 minutes of trying to get to shore, he realized he needed help.

He called emergency services using the Emergency SOS feature on his Apple Watch, with the call played back in Apple's ad spot in a dramatic reenactment of the event. He was able to source help, and stayed on the line with emergency crews for an hour to direct them to his location. He was ultimately rescued by helicopter.

Emergency SOS on Apple Watch can be activated by holding down the Side Button to call the local emergency services for the area that you're in.
This article, "Apple Shares Emergency SOS Apple Watch Success Story" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Several months ago, accessory company Hyper introduced a set of three USB chargers designed with travel in mind, featuring compact designs based on GaN technology and interchangeable charging heads for convenient international travel.


I've spent some time testing out the 70W ($59.99) and 100W ($89.99) versions of the new HyperJuice charger line, and Hyper has more recently added an even more powerful 145W version ($119.99) to the family. All three of the chargers are currently part of Hyper's spring sale that knocks 20% off the usual prices.

All three chargers feature essentially the same plastic design in either white or black with subtle Hyper branding and a pattern of tiny "+" icons reminiscent of the company's logo on the largest sides to provide some visual and tactile interest. A small LED beneath the USB-A port on each model shines blue to indicate when the unit has power, but it's not overly distracting in a dark room.

Charger size unsurprisingly increases as the wattage goes up, and while the 100W and 145W versions each include three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, the 70W version scales back to two USB-C ports and one USB-A port.


Given the wattages involved, there's also a good bit of heft to them, but the 70W model is still fairly light at just under half a pound. The 100W at three quarters of a pound is a definite step up in size and weight, while the 145W model weighs nearly a pound.

With even Apple adopting GaN technology on its higher-powered chargers over the past few years, moving to a third-party solution doesn't always deliver a lot of size or weight savings, and that's the case here. Hyper's 70W model is actually 30–40% larger and heavier than Apple's corresponding charger, while Hyper's 145W model is around 20% larger and 50% heavier than Apple's 140W charger, but unlike Apple's chargers, Hyper's deliver more than one port which is certainly an important travel consideration.

While these chargers aren't the most compact ones I've seen for their wattages, they are reasonably sized and make for solid travel companions. They come with a two-prong US-style Type A charging head with folding prongs preinstalled, which makes them great for tossing in a bag.


But for those who need other options for plugging in the charger, Hyper provides these right in the box. European-style Type C, UK-style Type G, and Australian-style Type I charging heads are included and can be swapped onto the charger in just a few seconds thanks to a quick-release button. The prongs on these heads aren't foldable as they are on the US charging head, but that's not unusual given the US design is most amenable to folding mechanisms.


I haven't yet had the opportunity to travel internationally with these chargers, but I appreciate the inclusion of interchangeable charging heads so I'll have everything I need the next time I go abroad as this set of adapters provides for functionality in over 150 countries.


Beyond the international charging heads, there's also a C8 head included, allowing you to connect a power cable (sold separately for $5.99 or you can provide your own) if you prefer to use the charger on a desktop, somewhere you can't plug the charger directly into a socket, or in any other situation where you need some additional cable length.


All three chargers feature intelligent power distribution, dynamically allocating power to each device based on what's been connected. For example, on the 70W model, each of the USB-C ports support up to 70 watts of charging power while the USB-A port supports up to 18 watts, but with multiple devices connected, the charger's total 70W output will be divided among the various ports.

On the 100W model, the top two USB-C ports are capable of providing the full 100 watts of power if used alone, while the third USB-C port supports up to 27 watts and the USB-A port provides up 18 watts. And on the largest 145W model, the top two USB-C ports can provide up to 140 watts with the third USB-C port supporting up to 45 watts and the USB-A port again maxing out at 18 watts.


With three or four ports on each of these chargers, there are obviously a number of different combinations of ports, and the wattage distribution varies for each scenario, but on the 70W model, using both USB-C ports simultaneously results in a split of 45 watts to port C1 and 25 watts to port C2. Adding a device to the USB-A port drops the distribution to 35 watts for C1, 20 watts for C2, and 12 watts for the USB-A port.

Ultimately, which charger model you opt for will likely depend greatly on which devices and how many of them you plan on powering. For example, if you're a MacBook Air user, the 70W model might be enough for you, as Apple provides only a 30-watt or 35-watt adapter in the box with those machines so you can charge your Mac through the C1 port on Hyper's charger and still have some power left over for some combination of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or other devices. But if you're a MacBook Pro user and/or you're looking to charge lots of devices at relatively fast speeds, you'll want to step up to one of the higher-wattage models.

Note: Hyper provided MacRumors with the 70W and 100W HyperJuice chargers for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Hyper. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This article, "Review: Hyper's USB Chargers Pack Lots of Power for International Travelers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pause some of the exorbitant tariffs that he put in place earlier today, he spoke to the press at the White House and provided some commentary that could be a positive for Apple.


When asked whether he would consider exempting some U.S. companies from the tariffs in the future, Trump said that he would. "As time goes by, we're going to take a look at it," he said. "There are some that by the nature of the company get hit a little bit harder, and we'll take a look at that," he added, claiming that he will "show a little flexibility."

During Trump's first term, Apple CEO Tim Cook was able to persuade Trump to exempt Apple devices from the tariffs that Trump put in place, but Cook has not been successful this time around. Trump has not yet agreed to grant any companies a reprieve from the tariffs yet.

Trump announced the unexpectedly high tariffs last Wednesday, sending the stock market spiraling downward and causing Apple shares to drop close to 20 percent. Losses continued until today when the temporary pause was announced, and the market closed with Apple stock back at almost $200 a share after opening at $172.

Trump announced a 90-day pause on all of the special "reciprocal" tariffs that were in place, such as the 46 percent tariff on Vietnam and the 32 percent tariff on Taiwan. The 90-day pause does not apply to goods from China, and there is a 10 percent base tariff in place while the higher tariffs are on hold. Trump raised tariffs on China to 125 percent, effective immediately, and said that he put the other tariffs on hold because "people were getting a little queasy."

When speaking to the press, Trump reiterated his aim of bringing manufacturing to the United States, and he claimed that Apple "building" in China is unsustainable.

If you look at Apple, Apple is going to spend $500 billion building a plant. They wouldn't be doing that if I didn't do this. They'd just keep building them in China. And that's unsustainable.

While Apple is indeed investing in the United States to build Apple Intelligence servers at a facility in Houston, Texas, the bulk of device manufacturing will remain overseas. It is not possible for Apple to move its incredibly complex supply chain to the U.S., due to costs and a lack of workers skilled in advanced manufacturing.

Apple will need to pay a 125 percent tariff on all goods coming to the United States from China, but it can import devices from other countries like India, Taiwan, and Vietnam at the lower 10 percent rate.
This article, "Trump: Apple Building in China is 'Unsustainable,' Could Exempt Some Companies From Tariffs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple stock is on the rise after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to pause most tariffs for a 90-day period. Tariffs are immediately on hold in countries that have not enacted retaliatory tariffs, which means this pause does not apply to China, but it is applicable in other countries where Apple suppliers operate like India, Vietnam, and Taiwan.


While Trump has paused tariffs in most countries, he raised tariffs on incoming Chinese goods to 125 percent, up from 104 percent earlier today. The 125 percent tariff is effective immediately, and comes after China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 84 percent this morning.

Apple stock is up five percent since the tariffs were paused and 11 percent today, but the market is volatile right now with Trump's tariff back and forth, and it could see further shifts downward. It is not clear if it was immediately apparent that the pause did not apply to China.

Apple will still be impacted by tariffs on goods coming from China, but a reprieve on tariffs from other countries will allow Apple to bring more devices to the U.S. with little in the way of extra fees. The pause applies to all higher "reciprocal" tariffs that went into effect today, though there is still a 10 percent tariff in place.
This article, "Apple Stock Jumps as Trump Pauses Some Tariffs for 90 Days" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon is discounting the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE to $169.97 today, down from $249.00. This is the best price we've tracked so far in 2025, and it's available in Starlight and Midnight Aluminum color options.

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.

Amazon has three 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE at this price, including multiple sizes of the Sport Band model. Most are in stock and available to be delivered by mid April.



Additionally, you can get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE at an all-time low price of $199.97 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This one is available in Midnight and Silver Aluminum colors, and multiple band sizes.



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.

---

This article, "Amazon Takes $79 Off Apple Watch SE, Available From $169.97" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's iPhone continues to be incredibly popular with U.S. teens, according to Piper Sandler's latest biannual teen survey. 88 percent of teens surveyed said that they own an ‌iPhone‌, and 88 percent said they intend to purchase an ‌iPhone‌ as their next device.


Teen ‌iPhone‌ ownership numbers have increased three percent since April 2024, and are near record highs. The ‌iPhone‌ has long been the most popular smartphone among teens in the United States, and there has been steady growth in teen ownership. 10 years ago in April 2015, 66 percent of teens surveyed owned an ‌iPhone‌.

Though teen interest in the ‌iPhone‌ is high, other Apple products and services are not as popular. Apple has not made inroads with Apple TV+, and it continues to trail Spotify as the most popular music service among teenagers.

45 percent of teens surveyed have a paid Spotify subscription, while Apple Music is the second most popular streaming service with 30 percent of teens reporting an ‌Apple Music‌ subscription. Because Spotify has a free tier, it's still the most popular service overall, with 65 percent of teens using it. ‌Apple TV‌+ is not popular with teens, and less than one percent say they watch ‌Apple TV‌+ shows. Netflix and YouTube were most popular with 31 percent and 26 percent of teens reporting usage, respectively.

Approximately 31 percent of teens own a virtual reality device, but most of those have an Oculus (25 percent). Just one percent of teens have an Apple Vision Pro, which is not a surprise given the price of Apple's device. Of teens that have a VR device, 60 percent said that they seldom use it, with just four percent reporting being a frequent daily user.

Piper Sandler surveyed 6,455 teens across 43 states for the spring 2025 report.
This article, "Teen iPhone Ownership Continues to Soar" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple will be permanently closing its store at the Northbrook Court shopping mall in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook on April 26, the company has announced.


Apple has added the following notice to the store's web page:

Thank you Northbook. Apple Northbrook is closing on April 26 at 7pm. We're still here for you. Please visit apple.com/retail to find your nearest store.

Apple Northbrook opened in 2005, and the store moved to a larger space in the mall in 2017.

Apple previously said affected employees would be able to continue working for the company, but a closing date had yet to be announced.

"At Apple, we're always focused on providing an exceptional experience for all of our customers," said Apple. "With the evolving redevelopment plans at Northbrook Court Mall and the departure of several retailers, we have made the difficult decision to close our store there. We've loved serving the Northbrook community for nearly 20 years, and our valued team members will continue their roles at Apple. We look forward welcoming customers at one of our eight Chicagoland locations, as well as on Apple.com and the Apple Store app."

Northbrook Court is considered to be a dying mall, as it has lost several major retailers over the past few years, including Lululemon earlier this year.

Apple's closest location for Northbrook customers will be at the Westfield Old Orchard mall.

Apple also permanently closed its Infinite Loop and Royal Hawaiian stores early last year, but it has also opened several new stores around the world since then, including at the Miami Worldcenter, The Exchange TRX in Malaysia, and elsewhere. Apple also announced that it will soon be opening a store in Downtown Detroit.
This article, "Apple Store in Chicago Area Permanently Closing Later This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The iPad Air costs at least $250 more than the entry-level iPad, so is choosing the pricier model worth it? Or should you save the money and buy the 11th-generation ‌iPad‌? This guide helps you to understand the differences between the two models and decide which is best for you.


The 11th-generation ‌iPad‌ is positioned as an entry-level model with essential features for basic use, while the ‌iPad Air‌ is for users who need more from their tablet, such as students, creatives, or anyone who wants a future-proof device with newer, more advanced features. All of the differences between the entry-level ‌iPad‌ and the ‌iPad Air‌ are listed below:

‌iPad‌ (11th generation)	‌iPad Air‌ (seventh generation)
11-inch display	11- or 13-inch display
500 nits max SDR brightness	11-inch: 500 nits max SDR brightness 13-inch: 600 nits max SDR brightness
sRGB	Wide color (P3)
	Fully laminated display
	Anti‑reflective coating
	Apple Intelligence support
	Stage Manager support
A16 chip (introduced with iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, made with TSMC's 4nm N4P process)	M3 chip (introduced with iMac in 2023, made with TSMC's N3B process)
16 billion transistors	25 billion transistors
5-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 3 efficiency cores	8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
4-core GPU	9-core GPU
	Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
	Hardware-accelerated 8K HEVC, 4K H.264, ProRes and ProRes RAW
	Video decode engine
	Video encode engine
	ProRes encode and decode engine
	AV1 decode
16-core Neural Engine (17 TOPs)	16-core Neural Engine (18 TOPs)
6GB memory	8GB memory
51.2GB/s memory bandwidth	100GB/s memory bandwidth
Wi-Fi 6 connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture	Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera with ƒ/2.0 aperture
Weighs 477 grams (1.05 pounds)	11-inch: 460 grams (1.01 pounds) 13-inch: 616 grams (1.36 pounds)
7 mm (0.28 inches) depth	6.1 mm (0.24 inches) depth
Smart Connector (side)	‌Smart Connector‌ (back)
Supports Magic Keyboard Folio	Supports Magic Keyboard for ‌iPad Air‌
Supports Apple Pencil (USB‑C) and ‌Apple Pencil‌ (first generation)	Supports ‌Apple Pencil‌ (USB‑C) and ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro
	‌Apple Pencil‌ hover
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage
Available in Blue, Pink, Silver, and Yellow	Available in Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray
Starts at $349	11-inch: Starts at $599 13-inch: Starts at $799

The entry-level ‌iPad‌ is best for people who mainly use their ‌iPad‌ for light, everyday tasks. If your typical day includes browsing Safari, watching YouTube or Netflix, reading articles, messaging friends, and maybe doing some basic schoolwork or light gaming, the 11th-gen ‌iPad‌ has more than enough power and suitable features.

The A16 chip is still very capable, and the device still has ‌Apple Pencil‌ support for casual note-taking or drawing. However, the display is not laminated, which means there's a slight air gap between the glass and the screen content—something most users won't notice unless they're drawing or writing precisely. The entry-level ‌iPad‌ also lacks the anti-reflective coating, so it can be more reflective in bright lighting, as well as wide color support.

It's a great choice for students or casual users who don't need advanced multitasking features or professional apps. The starting price of $349 makes it especially appealing for families, kids, or those upgrading from an older ‌iPad‌. For many users, the extra $250 to buy the ‌iPad Air‌ is not justified.

On the other hand, the ‌iPad Air‌ is for users who want noticeably more performance and versatility. Its M3 chip is noticeably faster and supports things the A16 doesn't, such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing and ProRes video encoding/decoding. That makes it far more suitable for video editing, high-end gaming, working with large documents, running creative apps like Affinity Photo or Logic Pro, or even writing code. It also supports ‌Apple Intelligence‌, so if you want the latest AI features such as writing tools or Genmoji, as well as anything Apple brings to ‌Apple Intelligence‌ in the future, the Air is the better choice.

The display is fully laminated, which eliminates the gap between your ‌Apple Pencil‌ and the screen, making writing and drawing feel more natural—especially important if you're using ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro, which also brings extra features like barrel roll and haptic feedback. The 13-inch model offers significantly more screen real estate for multitasking, side-by-side apps, or content creation. It also supports ‌Stage Manager‌, allowing true multi-window multitasking with resizable windows and external display support.

If you're planning to use the ‌iPad‌ for productivity tasks or want something that feels more like a laptop alternative, the ‌iPad Air‌ is likely the better choice. Its starting price is $599 (or $799 for the 13-inch), so it is a more substantial investment—but one that makes sense for users who will take advantage of its more advanced capabilities.
This article, "iPad 11 vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: 30+ Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple employees are testing iOS 18.4.1 for iPhones, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update will likely be released in a week or two, if not sooner.


As the version number implies, iOS 18.4.1 will obviously be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities.

There are no developer or public betas for minor updates like iOS 18.4.1.

iOS 18.4.1 will be a stop-gap update ahead of iOS 18.5, which remains in beta testing. iOS 18.5 will likely be released to the general public in May, and so far the update includes only two minor changes in the Mail and Settings apps.

The first iOS 19 beta should be released following the WWDC 2025 keynote on June 9.
This article, "iOS 18.4.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple this week made iPhone 16e parts available to order through its self-service repair store in the U.S. and many European countries.


There are parts and tools available for repairing an iPhone 16e's display, battery, cameras, back glass, speakers, and more. Apple also allows customers to rent an iPhone toolkit for seven days, with U.S. pricing set at $49.

Apple offers a comprehensive iPhone 16e repair manual on its website, and now the necessary parts for the device are available.

Launched in 2022, Apple's self-service repair program provides customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to repair select iPhones and Macs, Studio Displays, and Beats Pill speakers. Apple says the program is "intended for individuals who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices."

Apple previously announced that the self-service repair program would expand to Canada in 2025, but we are still waiting for that to happen.
This article, "Apple Releases iPhone 16e Parts for Do-It-Yourself Repairs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

OWC kicked off a new "Spring Savings Celebration" this week, offering solid discounts on a variety of USB-C docks, memory cards, external drives and enclosures, and Mac accessories. Many of these deals won't be applied until you add the items to your cart, at which time an automatic coupon will be applied to your order.

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

There are a few notable deals in this sale, including $100 off the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock for Mac, available for $179.99. If you purchase a qualifying new or used Mac at the same time as this dock, you can get an additional $20 off the accessory at checkout.

Docks and Hubs

• OWC USB-C Travel Dock - $29.99 when added to cart, down from $49.99


• Atlas Dual SD Card Reader - $63.99 when added to cart, down from $89.99


• Thunderbolt Mini Dock - $99.99, down from $129.99


• Thunderbolt Hub - $128.99, down from $149.99


• 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock - $179.99, down from $279.99


• Thunderbolt Go Dock - $199.99 when added to cart, down from $349.99

Memory Cards

• 128GB SD V60 Atlas Pro - $23.99 when added to cart, down from $29.99


• 128GB SD V90 Atlas Ultra - $79.99 when added to cart, down from $99.99


• 256GB SD V90 Atlas Ultra - $159.99 when added to cart, down from $199.99


• 1TB SD V60 Atlas Pro - $207.99 when added to cart, down from $259.99

External Drives and Enclosures

• Mercury Elite Pro Dual with 3-Port Hub - $149.99 when added to cart, down from $179.99


• 2TB Envoy Pro FX SSD - $329.99, down from $379.99

Memory

• 32GB Memory Upgrade Kit - $59.99, down from $89.98


• 64GB Memory Upgrade Kit - $119.99, down from $179.96

Miscellaneous

• 2M USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable - $3.99, down from $14.99


• 2M Thunderbolt 4 Cable - $44.99 when added to cart, down from $57.99


• Matias Wireless Multi-Pairing Keyboard - $47.99, down from $69.00

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.

---

This article, "OWC's Spring Savings Sale Includes Big Discounts on Mac Docks, Memory, Accessories, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple supplier Luxshare is weighing the possibility of manufacturing some products in the United States as it seeks to address the implications of new tariffs on goods exported from China, Reuters reports.


The comments were made by Luxshare chairwoman Wang Laichun during a telephone call with analysts, the transcript of which was seen by Reuters. Luxshare is one of Apple's key suppliers and plays a major role in the production of high-end iPhone models, AirPods, Apple Watches, and the Vision Pro.

In the call, Wang noted that while the United States' newly imposed tariffs would have limited short-term financial impact due to the small volume of finished goods Luxshare currently exports directly to the U.S., the company is nonetheless examining its global investment strategy with an eye toward reducing exposure to future trade disruptions. She said that the company may idle certain investment plans in China while evaluating new facilities elsewhere, including in the United States.

In addition to its operations in China, Luxshare has manufacturing and research facilities in several countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, and the United States. Its presence in the U.S. remains limited, and the company did not provide further detail about where or when any potential expansion in American manufacturing might occur. However, Wang emphasized that any move to develop new production lines in countries where the company already operates would take approximately 12 to 18 months.
This article, "Key Apple Supplier Eyeing Production Move to US in Response to Tariffs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple has lost its position as the world's most valuable public company to Microsoft following a dramatic four-day slide in its stock price, driven largely by concerns over President Donald Trump's escalating tariff war with China, where most of its iPhones are assembled.


Apple's market capitalization fell to $2.59 trillion as of Tuesday's close, while Microsoft now sits at $2.64 trillion, reclaiming the top spot after briefly holding it earlier this year.

Apple shares have plummeted approximately 23% over just four trading sessions, shaving $700 billion off its value, as panicked investors dump stock due to the company's exposure to China for manufacturing and sales. Apple relies heavily on Chinese manufacturing for its flagship products, making it especially vulnerable to Trump's aggressive tariff policies.

The broader market has been shaken by Trump's announcement of substantial tariffs on imports from more than 100 countries, with the Nasdaq dropping 13% over the same four-day period. However, Apple's decline has outpaced other tech companies due to its particular vulnerability to U.S.-China trade tensions.

UBS analysts have predicted that the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max could increase by as much as $350 in the United States as a result of the tariffs. The potential price hike raises questions about how consumers might respond to significantly more expensive Apple products.

Apple has been exploring manufacturing diversification in countries like India and Vietnam in recent years, but analysts suggest it would be nearly impossible for the company to quickly shift its complex supply chain away from China. That's despite President Trump saying he "absolutely" believes that Apple could manufacture its iPhones and other devices in the United States. Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously said that China's manufacturing expertise and scale are unmatched globally.

Both Apple and Microsoft, along with chipmaker Nvidia, had recently achieved market valuations exceeding $3 trillion before the current market turbulence began.

Microsoft appears somewhat insulated from the worst effects of the tariffs, with Jefferies analysts recently including the company among those they view as better positioned to weather the current uncertainty.

The two tech giants have traded the "most valuable company" title several times in recent years, with Microsoft claiming the top spot in early 2024 before Apple regained it – only to lose it again during this week's market volatility.

According to one report, Apple earlier this week urgently requested suppliers to ship as many premium devices as possible to the U.S. by air freight before Trump's falsely-described "reciprocal" tariffs of 104% on China came into effect Wednesday. China has since retaliated by slapping 84% tariffs on U.S. goods.
This article, "Apple Dethroned by Microsoft As Top-Valued Company Amid Tariff Fears" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is offering a limited-time promotion for its streaming service, giving new and eligible returning subscribers access to Apple TV+ for just $2.99 per month for three months.


The deal runs until April 24, 2025, and offers a decent discount from the regular $9.99 monthly subscription price, saving viewers $21 over the promotional period.

The offer comes as Apple TV+ has been boosted in popularity with hit shows like "Severance," which recently surpassed "Ted Lasso" as the platform's most-watched series. Seth Rogen's "The Studio" has also been receiving positive reviews from critics and viewers.

The streaming service also includes sports content with "Friday Night Baseball" and select Major League Soccer matches from MLS Season Pass.

After the three-month promotional period ends, subscriptions will automatically renew at the standard $9.99 monthly rate unless canceled. The deal excludes Apple device customers who are already eligible for a free three-month trial and subscribers who get Apple TV+ through third-party providers or mobile wireless carriers.

Interested readers can check their eligibility through the Apple TV+ website or via the Apple TV app.
This article, "Apple TV+ Offers Limited-Time Discount, $2.99 Monthly for 3 Months" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple urgently requested suppliers to ship as many premium devices as possible to the United States by air freight, especially those priced above $3,000, in response to President Donald Trump's announcement of "reciprocal" tariffs of up to 104% on trading partners (via Nikkei).


Apple, along with Dell, Microsoft, and Lenovo, reportedly scrambled to mitigate the impact of the tariffs by accelerating shipments before April 9, the day the tariffs came into effect.

"We got a call from clients to make as many consumer electronics as possible and to ship as many of them by air as possible," said an executive at a supplier to Apple, Microsoft, and Google. "But the biggest challenge is that we don't have so many components and materials in stock."

The last-minute rush has created logistical challenges, with suppliers struggling to fulfill orders due to component shortages and tight shipping deadlines. All customs clearances had to be completed before midnight on April 8, U.S. time, creating what one international air shipping manager described as "a race against the clock."

The action comes as Chinese exports on Wednesday faced their biggest U.S. tariff of 104%. This is a combination of 20% levied earlier, 34% announced last week, and 50% imposed by Trump hours earlier following Beijing's refusal to withdraw a retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods.

Apple has been evaluating various strategies to minimize the impact of Trump's tariffs. The company has been diversifying its manufacturing base for years, with India becoming an increasingly important production hub.

A recent report suggests Apple plans to source more iPhones for the U.S. market from India, where tariffs are set at 26% compared to the 104% tariff on goods from China. The company expects to produce approximately 25 million iPhones in India this year, potentially meeting around 50% of U.S. iPhone demand in 2025.

The tariff situation has already had a substantial impact on Apple's stock, which has fallen nearly 23% since last Wednesday, as investors worry about the potential effects on the company's profits and global supply chain.

Apple CEO Tim Cook successfully secured exemptions for Apple devices during Trump's first term, but he faces bigger challenges this time around. The company now appears to be pursuing a dual strategy of short-term logistics adjustments while seeking longer-term political solutions.
This article, "Report: Apple Airlifted Premium Devices to US to Beat Tariff Deadline" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Serial leaker Sonny Dickson is back today with a new image of some protective cases for Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, and the large camera hole is certainly the standout feature on show.


The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are expected to debut a major redesign of the rear camera bump, replacing the traditional square module with a horizontal, rectangular bar that stretches across the back of the device. This new layout resembles the runway-style camera panel seen on Google Pixel phones.

Apple's iPhones have maintained the same front-facing design language for several years, and the rear is one of the few remaining areas for meaningful visual evolution. Based on CAD renders and leaked parts, the updated bump retains the triangular triple-lens setup on the left, but now the LiDAR scanner, microphone, and flash are repositioned to the right, creating a more symmetrical design.

It's not clear what Apple's rationale is for the design shift, but it may allow for larger or more thermally efficient components, improved spatial separation of sensors for more accurate depth mapping, or simply more efficient internal packaging as Apple continues to shrink the main logic board.

The bump's uniform color, which is reportedly matched with the rest of the chassis, suggests Apple is aiming for a more unified and visually subdued design language than previously thought. Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max alongside the regular iPhone 17 and an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air around mid-September. For all the details, check out our regularly updated iPhone 17 Pro roundup.
This article, "Leaked iPhone 17 Pro Cases Show Huge Cutout for New Camera Bump" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Meta-owned social network Instagram is developing an app for the iPad, according to a report from The Information. An Instagram employee with insight into Instagram's recent moves to take advantage of the situation with TikTok shared the tidbit about the company's work on an app for tablets.


Instagram users have wanted an Instagram app since the social network launched in 2010, but Instagram has only been an iPhone-only app. Instagram hasn't wanted to put the time or effort into ‌iPad‌ app development, and in 2022, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in 2022 that there were no plans for an ‌iPad‌ app because there is "not a big enough group of people" calling for it to make it a priority. In 2020, Mosseri blamed a lack of employees, saying that the company has a limited number of employees and "lots to do," and an ‌iPad‌ app was not the "next best thing to do yet."

While there is no Instagram app for the ‌iPad‌, the ‌iPad‌ is able to run the iPhone version of Instagram. It's not ideal because the app is not optimized for the larger ‌iPad‌ display.

Not much is known about the ‌iPad‌ version of Instagram, and there's no word on when it might launch. It is part of the company's plan to capitalize on the looming TikTok ban, which has also seen Instagram attempting to lure popular TikTok creators to Instagram.

Yesterday, Instagram invited creators to New York City to use a new video app called Edits, which is meant to replace the ByteDance-owned CapCut video editing app that was removed from App Stores in January. Edits has video editing tools for creators, and it is aimed at those who produce short-form videos on mobile devices.

Instagram has also increased the length of reels from 90 seconds to three minutes to match TikTok's video upload length, and made interface tweaks to make the app more closely resemble TikTok.
This article, "Instagram is Working on an iPad App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is going to unveil iOS 19 in just about two months at its June WWDC event, and rumors suggest that it's going to bring a big change to the iPhone's design. It's been described as the most notable design overhaul since iOS 7, so it should be an exciting update.


We've rounded up everything we've heard so far about the design changes coming to ‌iOS 19‌.

• visionOS-like design with translucency - ‌iOS 19‌ is inspired by visionOS, which has an emphasis on translucency and UI elements that kind of fade into the background to put the focus on content. ‌iOS 19‌ could lean heavily into that translucency, with Apple also opting for a floating look for navigation bars, windows, and other parts of the UI.


• A glassier look - Remember the Aqua Mac interface? ‌iOS 19‌ has been described as having glass effects or as being glossy, with menu elements that can "reflect" light based on ‌iPhone‌ tilt.


• Subtle lighting effects - The "glassy" look involves subtle lighting changes, such as a slight glint for some UI elements when you move the ‌iPhone‌. The Flashlight and Camera controls on the Lock Screen reportedly have a glass-like sheen that shimmers with movement, for example.


• More rounded, expanding buttons - Along with a soft, floating look, navigation bars and buttons could have more rounded edges that blend better with the content behind them. In the Photos app, for example, photos could be full screen with controls in a slimmed down menu bar at the bottom rather than a full navigation strip. Haptic Touch menus, Control Center options, and permission prompts apparently have more rounded corners, too.


• Pill-shaped tab bars - Many apps like the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, ‌Photos‌, Phone, and more have been described as having pill-shaped tab bars at the bottom for accessing controls. There's also less transitioning. Search, for example, doesn't have its own dedicated interface, and instead expands out from the tab bar.


• Round app icons, maybe - Leaker Jon Prosser says that Apple is going to make the ‌iPhone‌'s icons rounder, though he is unclear if they will be entirely circular or some kind of cross between a circle and the current squircle.


• Simplified navigation and controls - Apple wants to make it easier to navigate through apps, System settings, and more, so expect a more streamlined experience.


• Cross-platform cohesiveness - These design changes aren't just coming to iOS - iPadOS and macOS will also get the same overhauled look, so it will be less jarring going from a Mac to an ‌iPhone‌ and vice versa.

Read More

We're keeping track of the ‌iOS 19‌ rumors in our dedicated iOS 19 roundup, which also has details on Apple Intelligence features, new app capabilities, compatibility, and more.
This article, "All the Design Changes Rumored for iOS 19 So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums