General

In a recent interview with the tech podcast TBPN, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed that Apple was initially "going to rebuild Siri around Claude," the large language model and chatbot developed by the company Anthropic. In the end, though, Apple announced that it had decided to use Google's Gemini platform instead. According to Gurman, Apple went with Google due at least in part to money. "Anthropic was holding them over a barrel," said Gurman, in a podcast clip shared by TBPN. "The

Following a January that saw Apple release a new AirTag and the Creator Studio bundle of creative apps, it is now time to shift our attention to February. Below, we have outlined some key items to expect from Apple in February. Of course, these are only the things that are known, so stay tuned for even more. iOS 26.3 iOS 26.3 remains in beta testing, but the update should be released soon. We expect the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to be seeded as early as next week, and the upd

A newly surfaced resale operation is seemingly offering Apple Store–exclusive display accessories to the public for the first time, potentially giving consumers access to Apple-designed hardware that the company has historically kept confined to its retail environments. Apple designs a range of premium MagSafe charging stands, display trays, and hardware systems exclusively for displays in its global retail stores. They have never been made available through Apple's online store or physi

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's newly launched AirTag 2 and Apple Creator Studio. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Earlier this week, Apple announced the second-generation ‌AirTag‌, marking the first major update to its item tracker since the product's introduction in 2021, with improvements focused on tracking range, audio output, and device support rather than changes to its physical design. The new ‌AirTag‌ uses a sec

Apple today shared a short film to usher in the Chinese New Year, aka Lunar New Year, which begins February 17 and will be celebrated through March 3. "A girl, a talking dog, and a meticulously thought out scheme make up this heartwarming tale about finding family," says Apple. "Apple joins forces with director Bai Xue for an imaginative blend of cinematography and stop-motion to usher in Chinese New Year." The video was shot on the iPhone 17 Pro, and there is also behind-the-scene

Apple Creator Studio now has an official Instagram account, as spotted by Scott Buscemi. Apple Creator Studio is a new subscription bundle that provides access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac and/or iPad, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A subscription also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium content" in apps like Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, plus the Freeform app later this year. If yo

A second-generation iPhone Air is "not expected this year," according to a Nikkei Asia report today that cites people familiar with Apple's supply chain. The report said Apple plans to release an iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone later this year, followed by the base model iPhone 18 in the first half of next year. The report said Apple does have a revamped iPhone Air in the pipeline, but the publication does not expect it to launch until at least 2027. While one

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 returned to their all-time low price of $199.00 this week on Amazon, accompanied by other solid discounts like $60 off AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, $29 off AirTag 4-Pack, and a few deals across Anker and Nomad charging accessories. 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 What's the deal? Take up to

Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday reiterated the structure of its partnership with Google to use Gemini AI models for the next generation version of Siri. During the company's Q1 2026 earnings call yesterday, Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ and CFO Kevan Parekh were asked several questions about Apple Intelligence and the company's recently announced deal with Google to power the personalized version of ‌Siri‌ using Gemini. That description closely matches language from Apple and Google's ear

Apple CEO Tim Cook believes that his company will have opportunities to deliver "innovations that have never been seen before" this year. "As I said at the beginning of my remarks, this was, in so many ways, a remarkable quarter for Apple, and we're excited for all the opportunities we'll have in the year ahead to deliver innovations that have never been seen before and enrich the lives of users every step of the way," said Cook, on an earnings call on Thursday. Cook hypes up Apple'

Google Maps now lets you talk to Gemini while following walking or cycling directions. The latest update is an extension to the AI chatbot's existing conversational navigation feature in driving mode that rolled out in November. You can now ask Gemini hands-free questions without leaving the navigation screen. While walking, for example, you can ask things like "Tell me more about this neighborhood" or "Are there cafes with a bathroom along my route?" Cyclists can also check their ETA wi

Apple has discontinued the iPhone Upgrade Program in the United Kingdom, moving to a more traditional financing system. The change appears to be related to Apple ending its partnership with Barclays bank, which supported the ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program in the UK. The iPhone Upgrade Program webpage in the country now says: The ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program allows customers to get a new ‌iPhone‌ annually with AppleCare+ included for a monthly fee. It essentially provides a 0% APR, 20 or

Apple's rumored plan to split its iPhone launch cycle beginning this year has gained additional credibility, with a new report from Nikkei Asia corroborating earlier claims from The Information, Bloomberg, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to Nikkei's sources, Apple will prioritize its first foldable iPhone along with iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models for the second half of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 will ship in the first half of 2027. An updated iPhone 18

AirPods Pro 3 demand was so strong after they launched in September last year that Apple's CEO Tim Cook said the company was caught off guard. "AirPods Pro 3 were supply-constrained during the quarter, and we think we would have grown year over year if we would not have been constrained," Cook told The Wall Street Journal, in a report published alongside Apple's record-breaking earnings results for the fourth quarter of the 2025 calendar year. AirPods Pro 3 no longer have any extend

On an earnings call with equity analysts today, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to fast-rising RAM and SSD storage prices in the supply chain. Cook said that rising memory chip prices had a "minimal impact" on Apple's gross margin in the fourth quarter of the 2025 calendar year, but he does expect a "bit more of an impact" on the company's gross margin in the current quarter. Cook added that Apple is aware of the rising prices and "will look at a range of options to deal with that" ove

There are now more than 2.5 billion active Apple devices, the company announced today. "We are also excited to announce that our installed base now has more than 2.5 billion active devices, which is a testament to incredible customer satisfaction for the very best products and services in the world," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a press release announcing the company's record-breaking earnings results. Apple said it had more than 2.35 billion active devices in the year-ago quarter, a

Apple today reported earnings results for the fourth quarter of the 2025 calendar year, including record-breaking $143.8 billion revenue that was up 16% year-over-year. These results were driven in part by exceptionally strong iPhone sales. iPhone revenue in the quarter was $85.2 billion, a new all-time high. That is up from $69.1 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 23% increase. "iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geog

Apple today announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2026, which corresponds to the fourth calendar quarter of 2025. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $143.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $42.1 billion, or $2.84 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $124.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $36.3 billion, or $2.40 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Apple set all-time records during the quarter for total revenue, earnings per share, iPhon

The non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today launched an "Encrypt It Already" campaign that calls on tech companies such as Apple, Google, Meta, and others to implement or expand end-to-end encryption on their platforms. iCloud already provides end-to-end encryption for more than a dozen data categories by default. For users looking for additional protection, Apple offers an optional feature called Advanced Data Protection, which extends end-to-end encryption to iCloud Backu

The launch of Apple Creator Studio on Wednesday would have been a fitting opportunity for Apple to unveil new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, but unfortunately it looks like that was nothing more than wishful thinking. For now, all we have is a broad timeframe from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who expects new MacBook Pro models "in the first half of the year." The next window for Apple to update the MacBook Pro might be tied to the upcoming release of macOS 26.3. In Oct

Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has developed technology that can "analyze facial expressions" to understand "silent speech," accordin

Apple's new AirTag introduces a series of small improvements, so how does it compare to the original model from 2021? The second-generation ‌AirTag‌ arrives five years after the original, bringing improvements to tracking range, speaker output, and internal design while retaining the same outward design and accessory compatibility. At the same time, first-generation AirTags remain available from some retailers at reduced prices, raising the question of whether the newer model is worth ch

Following a quiet start to 2026, the final week of January has been a busy one for Apple so far. There are new versions of the AirTag and the Black Unity band for the Apple Watch, and the Apple Creator Studio bundle is now available. Apple also released iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 updates, and iOS 26.3 beta testing continues. While the launch of Apple Creator Studio would have been a fitting opportunity for Apple to unveil new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, unfor

Amazon this week has a few notable sales from popular brands like Anker, Ecovacs, and Jackery. These include discounts on everything from MagSafe-compatible chargers to portable power stations and robot vacuums. 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. Amazon has discounts on multiple Anker charging accessories, including products like the 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatib

Following the launch of Apple Creator Studio this week, Apple has quietly stopped selling its valuable "Pro Apps Bundle for Education" (archived link). "Pro Apps Bundle for Education" included one-time-purchase versions of Apple's Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps at a steep discount, with U.S. pricing set at $199.99. Purchasing each of the included apps separately costs $629.95, so the bundle provided more than $400 in savings. While the bundle was so

Lockdown Mode is an optional security feature designed by Apple to provide maximum protection against highly sophisticated digital threats. When enabled on your Apple device, it greatly reduces exposure to complex attacks by restricting certain features and network connections. Keep reading to learn how to use it across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. For most users of Apple devices, the standard iOS, iPadOS, and macOS security protections should be sufficient, whereas Lockdown Mode is aimed at u

Apple's iconic Fifth Avenue store in New York City is normally open 24/7, but it will be closed overnight on some days next week. According to Apple's website, the store will be closing at 10 p.m. local time each night on Monday, February 2 through Wednesday, February 4. The store will re-open each morning at 8 a.m. local time during this period. Apple is closing the store to complete maintenance on the signature glass cube entrance, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Apple this week got sued in a New Jersey Federal court by the maker of mobile video app Camo, alleging Apple stole its technology when the company integrated its Continuity Camera feature into iOS 16 in 2022. Released by London-based Reincubate in 2020, the Camo app enables iPhone and Android smartphones to be used as webcams for desktop-based video calls. Apple's Continuity Camera serves a similar function within its own ecosystem, allowing an iPhone to be used as a wireless webca

Apple has released a carrier settings update for Telstra customers in Australia that resolves the issue affecting iPhones running iOS 16.7.3, which was released and then made unavailable to download by Apple earlier this week. The fix is delivered via a carrier bundle update, which adjusts network-related settings such as connectivity and calling features, without requiring an iOS update. Affected users who updated to iOS 16.7.3 before Apple stopped signing it can install the bundl

Apple's iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone globally in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research's latest report. Apple and Samsung devices dominated the top 10 list for the fourth consecutive year, accounting for 19% of overall smartphone sales. Apple claimed seven of the top 10 spots, while Samsung captured the remaining three. Launched in September, the iPhone 17 series achieved 16% higher sales than its predecessor during its first full quarter, driven by strong demand in

AI-powered browsing features have become a battleground among browser makers in recent months. OpenAI launched its Atlas browser in October, while Microsoft Edge and Opera have also introduced AI assistants and automated browsing capabilities. And now Google is upping the ante. The company has announced a slew of new AI features fro Chrome, including a persistent sidebar for the Gemini chatbot and "auto browse" capabilities that can perform web tasks on your behalf. The update moves Gemi

Apple has signed a deal with popular fantasy author Brandon Sanderson for film and TV rights to Sanderson's "Cosmere" universe, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sanderson has a large body of work, but some of his most popular fantasy books could be adapted first. Mistborn could be turned into a movie series, while The Stormlight Archive is being considered for television. Mistborn is a book series that's split into two eras, with the first three books featuring a group of magic-using

Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the popular iPhone camera app Halide, today announced that he has joined the Human Interface Design team at Apple. "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," he said. This marks a return to Apple for de With, who previously worked on things such as iCloud, MobileMe, and the Find My app. He has also completed design work for other companies, such as Sony, Mozilla, Oracle, HP, and EA, in the past. de With i

Users of Apple's latest iPhone and iPad Pro models who have been beta testing iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 may want to hold off on updating to the third betas released earlier this week, as several Continuity-related features are currently broken on these devices. Apple has updated its developer release notes for the third betas of iOS and iPadOS 26.3 to outline the devices and features that are affected:Apple has not provided any details on why these features are not working on the latest b

Apple today announced that its hit comedy-drama series "Ted Lasso" is returning for a fourth season in "summer 2026," but it did not share a specific date. "Ted Lasso" is one of the most popular shows ever released on the Apple TV streaming service. The eponymous character Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, starts off as a small-time football coach from Kansas who is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer. In the fourth s

Apple has set a new deadline of November 1, 2026 for all Patreon creators to switch from Patreon's legacy billing system to the App Store's in-app purchase system in the Patreon app on the iPhone and iPad, as reported by TechCrunch. Note: This image has been edited to include a pile of cash. Patreon is a platform where creators such as YouTubers can receive payments from fans, which can be a valuable revenue stream alongside ads and sponsorships. Apple initially told Patreon that its

Apple's latest Apple Pay promotion is offering Apple users in the U.S. a discount on flowers ahead of Valentine's Day. Customers can get $20 off of a 1-800-Flowers purchase of $49.99 or more when using ‌Apple Pay‌. The discount is available from now until February 12, and it is available when ordering flowers from the 1-800-Flowers website or app. To get the deal, use ‌Apple Pay‌ when checking out, and enter the promo code APPLEPAY. 1-800-Flowers is able to provide flower deliveries

Apple today launched its latest subscription service, a software bundle called Creator Studio. Creator Studio provides access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage for one $12.99 per month fee, with a $129 per year purchase option also available. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We checked out the Creator Studio bundle to see if it's worth what Apple is charging. Creator Studio includes Apple's pro image, audio, and

Apple today released Pixelmator Pro for the iPad, complete with a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, and all of the powerful editing tools from the Mac version. Pixelmator Pro is a popular image editing app that was acquired by Apple last year. There is already a more basic Pixelmator app available for the iPad and iPhone, but Apple says that app is "no longer being updated." To receive new features going forward, iPad user

Apple today updated its Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro apps, and there are many new features in both the one-time purchase and Apple Creator Studio versions. Here is what is new in all versions of Final Cut Pro on the Mac, regardless of whether you have an active Apple Creator Studio subscription:Here is what is new in Final Cut Pro on the iPad, which is now only available with an Apple Creator Studio subscription for new customers:Here is what is new in all versions of Logic Pro on the Mac

Apple has made a series of notable internal changes with the second-generation AirTag, according to a teardown video by Joseph Taylor. Externally, the second-generation ‌AirTag‌ itself is effectively indistinguishable from the original and continues to use a standard CR2032 coin cell. The only visual differences are slight changes to the text on the back, which is now all in capital letters and lists IP67 water and dust resistance, as well as NFC and Find My support. The main PCB in

Apple today updated its Keynote, Numbers, and Pages apps with many new features across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but some of the additions are limited to users that are subscribed to the new Apple Creator Studio bundle that launched today. Apple Creator Studio is a subscription bundle that provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps on Mac and/or iPad, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A subscript

Amazon is continuing to discount a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini this week, starting at $499.00 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $130 off in these sales, and there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. In terms of the 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a solid second-best pri

WhatsApp is rolling out a new optional security feature called Strict account settings, which is designed to protect users who may be targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks. Similar in spirit to Apple's Lockdown Mode for iPhone, the feature is aimed primarily at journalists, activists, and public-facing figures. Once enabled, the setting locks various account options to their most restrictive settings. For example, WhatsApp will automatically block attachments and media from senders

Apple today launched the new Creator Studio that was initially unveiled two weeks ago, providing content creators with access to six Apple apps for $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Creator Studio includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro on Mac and iPad, along with Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac. Final Cut Pro is Apple's video editing software, Logic Pro is for audio editing and creation, and Pixelmator Pro is an image editing app that Apple purchased in 2024.

Apple has lost its long-held position as TSMC's largest customer in 2026 amid surging demand for AI chips, CNBC reports. Nvidia is expected to overtake Apple as the single largest source of revenue for TSMC. Analyst estimates suggest Nvidia will generate approximately $33 billion in revenue for TSMC during 2026, representing roughly 22% of the foundry's total revenue, compared with an estimated $27 billion, or about 18%, attributable to Apple. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang reported

In an age of digital ubiquity, knowing how to easily keep track of your online transactions is crucial, especially as an Apple user who frequently downloads apps, music, movies, and more from various Apple services. Your Apple Account purchase history is a comprehensive log of all the content you've bought using your account, not just on your iPhone, but across all your Apple devices. Knowing how to access this information on your device can give you valuable insights into your digital

Apple has stopped signing several iOS updates released earlier this week, preventing users from installing them even if they still appear in Software Update. The affected versions include iOS 12, iOS 15, iOS 16, and iOS 18. On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhone models, along with iPadOS 15.8.6, iPadOS 16.7.3, and iPadOS 18.7.4 for iPad models. The updates were intended to keep core system services functioning on devices that

Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker. Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026. A variable aperture would give users manual contr

Apple CEO Tim Cook has responded to events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after two people were shot and killed by U.S. federal immigration agents this month. In an internal memo to Apple employees, obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Cook said he is "heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis." "This is a time for deescalation," added Cook. "I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or whe

Apple today announced that it has renewed "Shrinking" for a fourth season, just ahead of the beloved comedy-drama series returning for a third season tonight. "Shrinking" follows a grieving therapist (Jason Segel) who starts to be unconventionally candid with his clients. Harrison Ford plays Segel's mentor, Dr. Paul Rhoades, and other cast members include Christa Miller and Jessica Williams. Guest stars in the third season will include Cobie Smulders, Michael J. Fox, Jeff Daniels, B

Apple today said that hypertension notifications are now available for Apple Watch and iPhone users in Australia, Malaysia, Colombia, Indonesia, South Korea, Brazil, and Turkey. Introduced last September, the hypertension detection feature uses the health sensors on the Apple Watch and custom-designed algorithms to determine if a user seems to be regularly experiencing high blood pressure. If hypertension is detected over a 30-day period, the Apple Watch is able to send an alert sugge

DRAM shortages are set to impact smartphone manufacturers like Apple in 2026, but the company is going to try to keep iPhone 18 prices steady despite having to pay more for components, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that Apple negotiates memory prices with suppliers on a quarterly basis, so price increases are expected in the second quarter of 2026. The upcoming price hike will be similar to the first quarter increase that has already seen Apple paying more for memory.

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 updates to public beta testers, with the updates coming a day after Apple provided the third beta to developers. Anyone can download and install public betas, and all that's required is to sign up on Apple's beta site. Once you've opted in, the software can be downloaded through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device. The latest iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.

Apple today provided public beta testers with the third release of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a day after Apple provided the third beta to developers. After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the System Settings app. We don't know about any new features in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 as of yet, but Apple might introduce new capabilities in late

Google today announced that it is expanding its more affordable Google AI Plus subscription plan to 35 countries and territories, including the United States. In the U.S., Google AI Plus is priced at $7.99, giving Google Gemini users a more affordable option for accessing upgraded AI services. Prior to now, Google AI Pro was the most affordable AI subscription plan at $19.99 per month. Google AI Plus includes Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro in the Gemini app, as well as AI filmmaki

Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPad 16 years ago today, marking over one and a half decades of the company's "revolutionary" tablet. Jobs unveiled the first-generation ‌iPad‌ at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on January 27, 2010. Designed to fill the gap between smartphones and laptops, the original ‌iPad‌ featured a 9.7-inch LED-backlit multitouch display, Apple's first custom designed chip, a 30-pin dock connector, and up to 64GB storage. With a starti

Samsung aims to produce around 1 million units of its upcoming "Wide Fold" device, in an attempt to directly rival Apple's rumored foldable iPhone expected later this year. Samsung Wide Fold mockup (Image credit: UniverseIce) According to Korea's ETNews, the Wide Fold will see Samsung's largest initial production run for a special model in the past three years. The device is said to feature a 7.6-inch foldable OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, and a 5.4-inch cover screen

The second-generation AirTag is available to order now in the U.S. and dozens of other countries, but it is launching later in some other countries. According to Apple's website, the new AirTag will be launching at a later date in these countries: Brazil Indonesia Malaysia The Philippines Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand VietnamIn South Korea, Apple will begin accepting orders for the new AirTag on January 28 (local time), so orders should begin im

On the heels of the launch of its newest Stratos Band for Apple Watch with an icy blue glow color, Nomad this week has an overstock sale going on with major discounts across a few different product categories. This includes iPhone 17 cases, MagSafe-compatible charging stations, iPad folios, and much more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. All discounts in t

iOS 26 adoption now hovers at around 50%, according to StatCounter, but some users are still cautious about updating. New data published by SellCell provides a look at how users have responded to the push to update to ‌iOS 26‌. The findings are based on a January 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S.-based adult iPhone users and focus on adoption status, update behavior, and perceived risks associated with installing ‌iOS 26‌. 78% of SellCell's respondents say they have updated their ‌iPhone‌

A new Apple support document and our own testing has confirmed that Precision Finding on the Apple Watch Series 9 and later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later works with the AirTag 2, but the original AirTag is not supported. Precision Finding can lead you to the exact location of an item with an AirTag attached to it, by showing you a directional arrow and your distance away from the item on a compatible iPhone, and now on a compatible Apple Watch too. Precision Finding already exi

Amazon today has a match of the record low price on the AirPods Pro 3, available for $199.00, down from $249.00. This is only the second time in 2026 that we've tracked the AirPods Pro 3 at this low price on Amazon, which matches the best deal we saw over the holiday season. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. This model of the AirPods Pro la

Anthropic has announced new interactive tools in Claude that let users open and interact with other services and apps directly within the AI chat interface via the web and Mac app. The update offers real-time collaboration with third-party apps like Asana, Slack, Figma, Canva, and more without requiring users to switch between tabs or apps. The feature is powered by MCP Apps, a new extension to the Model Context Protocol that lets any MCP server deliver an interactive interface with

A reporter for The Washington Post has put ChatGPT's new optional Apple Health integration feature to the test by feeding it ten years of their Apple Watch data. The results were not encouraging, to say the least. Earlier this month, OpenAI announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a dedicated section of ChatGPT where users can ask health-related questions completely separated from their main ChatGPT experience. For more personalized responses, users can connect various health data service

Meta plans to test premium subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, the company has told TechCrunch. The subscriptions will reportedly include exclusive features to aid creativity, productivity, and expanded AI capabilities. Meta says each app will have its own distinct set of premium features, giving users "more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free." However, it sounds as if Meta hasn't yet settled on what each sub will of

After a five year wait, Apple finally unveiled the next-generation version of the AirTag earlier today. The AirTag 2 looks exactly like the original ‌AirTag‌, and the functionality is similar, but there are still some differences worth knowing about. Here's everything new. UWB 2 - The ‌AirTag‌ 2 adopts Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip. Longer Range - UWB upgrades mean that Precision Finding works from 1.5x further away than before. Precision Finding is the fe

It's been four months since Apple launched the new iPhone 17 models, and MacRumors' videographer Dan Barbera has an updated review with his thoughts on the iPhone 17 Pro after getting to spend a good chunk of time with it. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Dan covers how the new aluminum frame has held up, whether the updated display has been as resistant to scratching as promised, the usefulness of the upgraded front-facing camera, and what he thinks of the

TikTok last week finalized a deal to hand over its U.S. operations to a majority American-owned venture, and things aren't exactly running smoothly for the new U.S. company so far. Over the weekend, some U.S. TikTok users were unable to upload videos, which TikTok attributed to a power outage at a U.S. data center. TikTok users found they were unable to upload videos related to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Saturday shooting in Minneapolis, leading to concerns over cens

Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released. iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the ‌iPhone‌ 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The ‌iPhone‌ 5s came out in September 2013, while the ‌iPhone‌ 6 launched in September 2014. According to Apple's release notes for the

The iOS 26.2.1 update that Apple released today further addresses an issue preventing some older mobile phones from being able to make emergency calls. In an updated support document, Apple says that iPhone users with an ‌iPhone‌ 12 or earlier should install the latest software updates to ensure that their mobile devices are able to make emergency 000 calls. Apple released iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhones today. Back in December, there was a tec

With iOS 26.3, Apple is adding a new "limit precise location" setting that reduces the location data available to mobile networks to increase user privacy. Mobile networks determine location based on the cellular towers that a device connects to, but with the setting enabled, some of the data typically made available to mobile networks is being restricted. Rather than being able to see location down to a street address, carriers will instead be limited to the neighborhood where a device

Apple CEO Tim Cook visited President Donald Trump at the White House over the weekend to attend the premier of "Melania," a documentary that's set to be released in the near future. According to The Hollywood Reporter, several tech CEOs attended the screening, which also included a VIP dinner. Along with Cook, other attendees included Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon chairman Jeff Bezos, and AMD CEO Lisa Su. Films are typically screened in the East Wing of the White

Apple today provided the third beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a little over a week after the launch of the second beta. Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required. There's no word yet on what's included in ‌macOS Tahoe

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the release of the second betas. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting the Software Update option. iOS 26.3 adds a new tool for transitioning from an ‌iPhone‌ to an Android device. Transfers can be initiated during the device setup proc

Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple provided the second betas. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. We don't know what new features might be added in watchOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and tvOS 26.3, and nothing new has been discovered so

Best Buy today kicked off a new 48-hour flash sale with sitewide discounts on a huge collection of products. This includes some notable markdowns on Apple products like the 11-inch iPad and AirPods Max, both of which are seeing their lowest prices of 2026 so far during this event. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically, you can get the AirPods Ma

Apple offers a Share Item Location feature in the Find My app that allows you to temporarily share the location of an AirTag-equipped item with others, including employees at participating airlines. This way, if you put an AirTag inside your bags, the airline can better help you find them in the event they are lost or delayed at the airport. Given that Apple announced the AirTag 2 today, we have resurfaced a list of airlines that support the feature, but keep in mind that it also works w

Apple today released watchOS 26.2.1, a minor update to the watchOS 26 update that came out last year. watchOS 26.2.1 comes six weeks after Apple released watchOS 26.2. watchOS 26.2.1 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.2.1 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on

Apple today released iOS 26.2.1 and iPadOS 26.2.1, minor updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems. The new software comes a month after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iOS 26.2.1 adds support for the next-generation AirTag that Apple introduced today. The AirTag 2 features a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, improving the Pr

Apple is developing a much thinner Face ID hardware module in an effort to reduce the space its facial authentication system takes up in the iPhone Air, a known leaker on China's Weibo social media platform today suggested. According to Instant Digital, Apple has requested an "ultra-thin" Face ID component from suppliers that will allow the device to accommodate an ultra wide-angle lens in addition to the existing single main lens. A redesign that includes a second camera is said t

The new AirTag that Apple unveiled today features a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, enabling the Precision Finding feature to work up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous AirTag, according to Apple. However, you need a compatible iPhone model in order to take advantage of this improvement. The improved Precision Finding requires one of these iPhone models: iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus

Apple considered introducing a new Apple Intelligence feature that would dynamically re-arrange apps on the Home Screen. The detail emerged in a report last week from The Information, which said that subordinates of software chief Craig Federighi approached him with proposals for an AI-powered iPhone ‌Home Screen‌. The feature would dynamically change the locations of apps on the ‌Home Screen‌ according to users' needs. Federighi reportedly rejected the idea, believing that it would diso

Apple's AirTag 4-Pack is available for $69.99 today on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Free shipping options have a delivery estimate around January 31, while Prime members should be able to get it delivered a few days sooner. 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. Overall, this is a solid second-best price on the AirTag 4-pack that's within $7

Apple today confirmed that iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 are on the way. The updates will likely be released this week, so keep an eye out as early as today. watchOS 26.2.1 was mentioned in Apple's press release for the new AirTag today, and iOS 26.2.1 is mentioned in fine print on the new AirTag's product page. While these will be minor software updates, they do include a few things: The new AirTag requires an iPhone running iOS 26.2.1 or later. watchOS 26.2.1 expands the Prec

Apple today introduced the next-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker. With the new AirTag, Apple says the Precision Finding feature works up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous-generation model. The new AirTag also features an upgraded Bluetooth chip for improved overall range. An updated internal design results in the new AirTag having a 50% louder speaker compared to the previous-generation model,

Apple today introduced a vibrant new Black Unity Apple Watch band called the "Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop." The band features the colors of the Pan-African flag, containing multiple shades of red, green, and black. It is made by weaving recycled polyester yarn filaments around ultrathin silicone threads using precision-braiding machinery. It is soft with a textured feel, and is sweat and water resistant. The Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop honors Black History Month and

Strava appears to be rolling out full route navigation and mapping to its watchOS app, bringing the long-awaited functionality to runners, hikers, and cyclists with Apple Watch for the first time. The feature, which remains in beta, allows users to select a pre-loaded route, view elevation details, and follow directions directly from their wrist without having to look at their iPhone. Strava users on Reddit noted the feature began appearing over the weekend. Since this time last yea

2026 promises to be yet another busy year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements over the coming months. Beyond the usual updates to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple is expected to release its all-new smart home hub, which was reportedly delayed until the more personalized version of Siri is ready. Other unique products rumored for this year include a foldable iPhone, a lower-cost MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, and more. He

Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display models in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman added that redesigned MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen "should be hitting toward the end of 2026," meaning that the MacBook Pro line would be upgraded twice this year. First up will be MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which should be coming soon. Then, the

There has been increasing discussion about Tim Cook eventually stepping down as Apple's CEO, but reports have offered differing timelines. A few months ago, the Financial Times reported that Apple was preparing for Cook to step down as soon as early 2026. In his Power On newsletter today, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that timeframe "seems unlikely." Gurman previously said he would be "shocked" if Cook stepped down before the middle of 2026, so he might remain CEO through WW

Amazon this weekend is offering discounts across the M5 iPad Pro lineup, including both 11-inch and 13-inch models. The highlight this time around is a return of a low price on the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M5 iPad Pro, which is on sale for $899.00, down from $999.00. 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. Many of the deals in this sale match — or beat

Apple plans to unveil a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google Gemini next month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "The company has been planning an announcement of the new Siri in the second half of February, when it will give demonstrations of the functionality," he wrote, in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter today. Gurman does not yet know if Apple plans to hold a full-out event to demonstrate the Siri upgrades, or if it will hold private brie

Apple rumors are starting to pick up now that we're a few weeks into 2026, and this week saw some potential clarity around conflicting iPhone 18 Pro rumors, plus some new word on Apple's plans for Siri. This week also saw a report that Apple is working on some sort of AI pin while also making progress toward a major MacBook Pro revamp, so read on below for all the details! Top Stories iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Smaller Dynamic Island, No Top-Left Camera Cutout Over the last few month

This week saw a wide range of Apple-related deals, including some of the lowest prices we've seen in months on the Apple Studio Display, plus solid discounts on the M4 Mac mini, Mac-compatible monitors from Samsung, popular desktop accessories from Satechi, and even 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. Amazon Sale What's the deal? T

Apple is planning to upgrade Siri twice in the coming year, adding personalization features in iOS 26.4 before turning the personal assistant into a full chatbot in iOS 27. As long as timelines don't change, we'll see the ‌Siri‌ chatbot as soon as June 2026. Here's everything we know so far. SiriBot With iOS 27, Apple will change the way that ‌Siri‌ works. Right now, ‌Siri‌ can answer basic questions and complete simple tasks, but you can't engage it in a back and forth conversat

Canadian carrier Public Mobile has launched a limited-time flash sale that offers 50% off its 5G Canada — U.S. — Mexico plans for a two-year period. Here are the discounted plans available to new customers through January 26, with each also including unlimited calling and text messaging:60GB of 5G data for $20 per month (regularly $40 per month) 80GB of 5G data for $25 per month (regularly $50 per month) 100GB of 5G data for $30 per month (regularly $60 per month)Public Mobile says

iOS 26.3 is shaping up to be a relatively minor update, with only a couple of notable new features, but iOS 26.4 is expected to be much more significant. We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a few weeks away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public at some point in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.4 features so far. Personaliz

Apple today began notifying Apple Cash users about an upcoming fee increase for the Instant Transfer feature. Starting on February 18, 2026, choosing the Instant Transfer option will cost 1.7 percent of the transaction amount, with a minimum of $0.25 and a maximum of $25. Instant Transfer is the Apple Cash option that allows you to transfer money from Apple Cash to your bank account with no waiting period. The current fee is 1.5 percent of the transaction amount, with the same $0.25 mini