Tag: Top Stories

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 months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro’s front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely.

According to frequent Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital, however, early reports from Chinese and Korean sources about the possible relocation of an infrared Face ID component were later mistranslated in some English-language coverage, leading to incorrect claims of a hole-punch camera. In fact, the Dynamic Island will remain on the iPhone 18 Pro and simply be roughly 35% narrower. That smaller Dynamic Island interpretation has also been corroborated by respected display analyst Ross Young.

Apple’s OLED MacBook Pro Launch Moves Closer With Panel Production

Rumors have been pointing toward Apple launching a revamped MacBook Pro with OLED displays late this year or early next year, and things appear to have taken a step forward this month with a report claiming that Samsung’s production line that will produce displays for the new laptop has gone into operation.

The MacBook Pro is just one of five Apple products expected to gain OLED displays in the next few years as Apple continues to adopt the more advanced display technology.

Before the MacBook Pro gets OLED displays, there’s still another update to the current version in the works to add M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. with rumors and shipping delays suggesting a launch could be coming fairly soon.

A Siri Chatbot is Coming in iOS 27

Apple plans to turn Siri into a chatbot that will rival Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Bloomberg reported this week. Apple did not initially plan to introduce a chatbot, but their popularity forced Apple executives to reconsider.

Codenamed Campos, the ‌Siri‌ chatbot will be integrated into iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, replacing the current version of ‌Siri‌. It will have the same natural language conversation functionality as chatbots like ChatGPT, and it will be accessible by using the “‌Siri‌” wake word or by holding down the side button on an iPhone or iPad.

The chatbot version of Siri arriving in iOS 27 later this year will follow the initial upgrade to a more personalized version of the current Siri that we expect to arrive in just a few months with iOS 26.4.

Apple’s Next iPhone: What to Expect From the 2026 iPhone 17e

We’re likely just weeks away from Apple’s next iPhone launch, with the company set to introduce the ‌iPhone‌ 17e. The ‌iPhone‌ 17e is a follow-up to the iPhone 16e that came out in February 2025, and rumors suggest that it could have some welcome improvements.

Check out our recap of all the rumors we’ve heard about the next version of Apple’s cheapest iPhone model to help decide if it might be the right one for you.

Apple Developing AirTag-Sized AI Pin With Dual Cameras

Apple is working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, and microphones, reports The Information. If it actually launches, the AI pin will likely run the new Siri chatbot that Apple plans to unveil in iOS 27.

The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape. It has an aluminum and glass shell, and two cameras at the front. There is a standard lens and a wide-angle lens that are meant to capture photos and videos, while three microphones are designed to pick up sound around the wearer. An included speaker allows the pin to play audio, and there is a physical control button along one edge. The device is able to wirelessly charge like an Apple Watch.

iPhone 18 Rumored to Feature Much Brighter Display

Apple’s iPhone 18 will feature a significantly brighter display, according to a Chinese leaker.

In a post this week on Weibo, the user known as Instant Digital said that Chinese supplier BOE has little hope of making panels for the ‌iPhone 18‌ because Apple’s brightness requirements for the next-generation device are unprecedentedly high. This suggests that the ‌iPhone 18‌’s display will see a considerable leap forward in terms of brightness.

While the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to launch in the usual September time frame, the regular iPhone 18‌ isn’t expected to launch until early 2027.

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!

We’re just two months away from WWDC where we’ll get our first glimpses of iOS 19 and related updates, but this week saw the public release of iOS 18.4 with a number of changes and improvements including some audio improvements for the USB-C AirPods Max.

This week also saw the first beta of iOS 18.5, a new rumor about iOS 19 compatibility, and Apple’s work on haptic buttons that have yet to surface on the iPhone, so read on below for all the details!

iOS 18.4 Released: Here’s Everything New

Apple this week released iOS 18.4 to the general public, following more than a month of beta testing. While the personalized Siri features that were originally expected to debut in iOS 18.4 have been delayed, the software update still includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, so be sure to check out our list of everything new.

Apple also released iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, watchOS 11.4, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, and a few other updates, and the iWork apps Keynote, Numbers, and Pages have received new features too.

iOS 19 Rumored to Drop Support for These iPhones

A private account on X that accurately shared iOS 18 compatibility details last year is back with a list of iPhone models that iOS 19 will allegedly support.

Unlike iOS 18, which maintained compatibility with the same iPhone models that can run iOS 17, the upcoming iOS 19 update is expected to drop support for three older iPhone models, so be sure to check out the list to see if the device that you use might be affected.

The first iOS 19 beta should be available on June 9, and the update should be released to the general public in September.

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Max With Lossless Audio Support

After a false alarm, Apple has followed through with releasing an AirPods Max firmware update that enables support for lossless audio and ultra low-latency audio on the over-ear headphones.

These features are only available on the newer version of the AirPods Max with a USB-C port, with the older version of the headphones that still have the Lightning port unfortunately missing out on these free upgrades.

Apple Reportedly Hasn’t Given Up on Haptic Buttons for a Future iPhone

Apple is still exploring solid-state buttons with haptic feedback for future iPhones, according to information shared recently by a known leaker.

It was widely reported that Apple intended to introduce solid-state buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro models in 2023, but it canceled the plan at a late stage. The buttons were again rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models, before being shelved indefinitely. They are not expected on the iPhone 17 Pro models, but it seems like the project is still alive.

Everything New in the iOS 18.5 Beta

Following the release of iOS 18.4 earlier this week, Apple has already moved on to the next version, with the first iOS 18.5 beta already available to developers for testing. So far, iOS 18.5 includes only a few minor changes, as outlined in our list of everything new.

iOS 18.5 could gain new features and other changes in later betas, but it is currently shaping up to be a minor update, as Apple starts shifting its focus towards iOS 19.

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!

The first of a number of imminent Apple product updates arrived this week with the seventh-generation iPad mini, but what else is still in store and when can we expect to see them?

On the software side, the public release of iOS 18.1 and related updates with the first Apple Intelligence features is drawing ever closer, and we can expect more of those features to arrive with iOS 18.2 before the end of the year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence

Surprise! While we were expecting an update for the iPad mini at some sort of Apple event toward the end of the month, Apple dropped the announcement via press release this week sooner than expected.

With the iPad mini having received a design overhaul in the last generation released in 2021, this year’s design remains the same, but there are number of internal upgrades led by an A17 Pro chip to add support for upcoming Apple Intelligence features.

The update also includes a number of smaller changes such as faster USB-C data speeds, so be sure to check out our full buyer’s guide comparison to see what’s changed between the sixth- and seventh-generation iPad mini models.

Is an Apple Event Still Likely This October Following This Week’s Surprise iPad Mini 7 Announcement?

The new iPad mini launching via press release this week is just one sign calling into question whether Apple is going to hold its rumored October product event at all.

While we hadn’t heard many specific rumors, another product on the potential event docket had been an 11th-generation iPad, but with Apple cutting the price of the 10th-generation model in Europe and removing the power adapter from the box there this week, a near-term update for that product now appears unlikely.

Yet, we are expecting a host of M4-based Mac updates to arrive very shortly, including a major redesign for the Mac mini, so there still seems to be enough for Apple to show off in a short virtual event if it chooses to do so.

iOS 18.1 Includes Option to Set ‘Primary’ Email Address and Change iCloud Email

As we continue to inch toward a public release for iOS 18.1 and related updates, we’re still discovering new features and tweaks in the update. One of the latest is a new option to change the main email address associated with your Apple Account, which is particularly handy for those who do a lot of document collaboration and other tasks that make your Apple Account address visible to other people.

Apple seeded the seventh iOS 18.1 beta this week as it reportedly aims for a public release on Monday, October 28.

iOS 18.2 Expected to Add These Additional Apple Intelligence Features

With the first round of Apple Intelligence features coming later this month in iOS 18.1, there’s plenty more yet to come in future updates.

iOS 18.2 is up next, with a release expected sometime in December, and it should bring a number of new Apple Intelligence features including support for localized English in a several countries beyond the United States, image generation capabilities with Image Playground and Genmoji, Visual Intelligence for pulling up information on the world around you via the iPhone 16’s camera, and integration with ChatGPT.

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Introduce These 5 New Features

Yes, the iPhone 16 lineup has only been out for a month, but some users are wanting to hold off for another year and are looking ahead at what they might be able to expect with next year’s iPhone 17 lineup.

So far there are at least five key changes rumored to be coming to the iPhone 17 and/or iPhone 17 Pro models, including upgraded front cameras, an improved Telephoto rear camera and increased RAM on one or both Pro models, and more.

We’re also expecting a slimmed-down “iPhone 17 Air” to replace the current Plus model in the lineup, and we’re continuing to hear rumors about what features that new model may include.

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!

Apple’s hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year.

We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things are going with the iPhone 15 Pro now that it’s halfway through its flagship lifecycle, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Macs to Get AI-Focused M4 Chips Starting in Late 2024

Apple plans to release its first Macs with the M4 series of chips in late 2024, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.

The report says that the MacBook Pro and iMac lines will be the first to be updated with the M4 series of chips later this year, while other models like the MacBook Air, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro are expected to be updated with M4 series chips throughout 2025.

Gurman said the chips are “designed to highlight artificial intelligence” capabilities on the Mac.

New iPads Likely to Launch During Second Week of May

In the latest edition of his newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said new iPad Pro and iPad Air models will likely launch during the second week of May, following reported manufacturing delays.

He also said Apple is working on new iPad mini and entry-level iPad models, but he does not expect those devices to launch until later this year.

It has been nearly 18 months since Apple last released new iPads.

Review: Six Months With the iPhone 15 Pro

It’s been a bit over six months since the iPhone 15 lineup came out in September, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using an iPhone 15 Pro Max sans case since launch. Over on our YouTube channel, Dan did a long-term review to demo how his phone has held up and his thoughts on the Action button, battery life, and camera features.

If you’re an ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ owner, let us know how your battery life is holding up, whether you’re regularly using the Action button, and anything else you’ve found interesting about your experience with Apple’s latest high-end flagship phone!

Here Are All the Rumored iPhone 16 Colors

We recently recapped all rumored color options for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, so be sure to check out the list to learn about the new options expected.

At least two new color options are rumored for the lower-end iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, including Purple and White, while the Pro models could gain new Space Black and Rose Gold titanium finishes.

iOS 18 May Feature All-New ‘Safari Browsing Assistant’

One of the new generative AI features rumored to be coming to the iPhone with iOS 18 could be a browsing assistant in Safari, according to backend code discovered on Apple’s servers.

While no specific details about the browsing assistant are known, the feature could allow Safari to better compete with other AI-infused web browsers available on the iPhone, such as Microsoft Edge and Arc Search.

The MacRumors Show: Apple Shortcuts and iOS 18 ft. Matthew Cassinelli

Matthew Cassinelli, one of the minds behind Workflow, joined Dan and Hartley on this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show to talk Apple Shortcuts and potential improvements and AI features coming to the app in iOS 18.

Last week’s episode included discussion of Apple’s potential foray into robots, along with discoveries made in the iOS 17.5 beta, rumors about a new Apple Pencil, and more.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show channel on YouTube, and listen to the podcast in Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.

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!