Withings has announced the Body Scan 2, a new smart scale that the French health tech company says can track over 60 longitudinal biomarker measurements that enable the early detection of health issues and can even predict longevity.
Unveiled at CES 2026, the Body Scan 2 builds on its 2023 predecessor by adding several advanced features including Impedance Cardiography (ICG) to monitor heart pumping efficiency, and Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS) to assess cellular health and metabolic function. This version of the device also adds hypertension risk notifications.
Withings says the all-in-one "longevity station" gets around the need for blood tests to track metabolic health, instead using foot sweat stimulation and cellular membrane analysis, though the company is keen to note that the features are meant to be early warning signs rather than being diagnostic.
Body Scan 2 users receive a Health Trajectory score that synthesizes all of this biomarker data into a single metric representing predicted years of healthy life. The scale also tracks heart age, patterns of glycemic dysregulation – a potential precursor toward prediabetes – and artery elasticity. Users can customize what to monitor, and the tracking then happens automatically when they step on the scale, though the most extensive scans can take up to 90 seconds.
One notable design change from the original moves the color display from the scale's base into the retractable handle, which houses four electrodes. Combined with eight EKG-capable electrodes on the scale's glass surface, the device creates a full-body circuit for what Withings claims are more accurate measurements than typical foot-only smart scales.
The Body Scan 2 costs $600 and will launch in the second quarter of 2026, pending FDA clearance for its hypertension risk and atrial fibrillation detection features, with a launch also planned in the U.K., Australia and Europe. The original Body Scan remains available at $399. Withings says the device complies with GDPR and HIPAA privacy standards, with all health data encrypted.
In time for CES 2026, gaming company 8BitDo is teasing a new controller designed for smartphone users who want to play games exclusively in portrait mode.
The FlipPad connects to iOS and Android devices via the USB-C port, and snaps onto the bottom half of the screen via a hinge mechanism, reminiscent of a classic flip phone keyboard.
The controller features a black D-Pad, red ABXY buttons, Start and Select buttons, and six white buttons along the top and on the bottom corners that are likely to be custom-assignable.
Where mobile play unfolds.
Introducing 8BitDo FlipPad — a flip-style gamepad designed for mobile gaming. Compatible with iOS and Android devices. Officially supported by Apple.
Coming Summer 2026. Experience it first at @CES 2026. LVCC Central Hall · Booth #15641#FlipPad… pic.twitter.com/snddY5OaMx
— 8BitDo (@8BitDo) January 4, 2026
8bitDo says the FlipPad is "officially supported by Apple" and will arrive in the summer, though the company has not yet revealed pricing information.
Last month, 8bitDo teased the unveiling of a new "Pro" controller at CES 2026, so we might also get more details about the FlipPad in the coming week as the tech event in Las Vegas gets underway.
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users.
UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring
The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging speeds, modular designs, and broader device compatibility. Most of the products are scheduled to launch across the first half of 2026. The key product announcements included:
UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring ($99.99): A compact 10,000 mAh power bank supporting up to 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging and 30W wired USB-C charging simultaneously, featuring a secondary magnetic ring that allows accessories like wallets, grips, or stands to remain attached while charging. Includes pass-through charging, a built-in kickstand, and a digital display. Launches February 2026.
UltraCharge Modular Charging Dock ($64.99): A Qi2.2-powered 3-in-1 charging dock that wirelessly charges a phone at up to 25W, earbuds on a secondary pad, and a smartwatch using a bring-your-own charging puck system with included spacers for the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Google Pixel Watch models. Powered by a 45W USB-C adapter and designed for compact travel use. Launches Q1 2026.
UltraCharge Modular Charging Dock
BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank with Stand (5K) ($59.99): An ultra-slim magnetic power bank delivering up to 15W Qi2 wireless charging and 20W via USB-C, with a built-in stand for hands-free viewing, pass-through charging support, and a pocket-friendly design. Launches Q2 2026.
BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank with Stand (10K) ($84.99): A higher-capacity slim magnetic power bank offering up to 15W Qi2 wireless charging and 30W USB-C output, while maintaining a thin, travel-ready form factor with an integrated stand and soft-touch exterior. Launches Q2 2026.
UltraCharge Pro Laptop Power Bank 27K ($149.99): A high-capacity 27,000 mAh portable battery delivering up to 240W of total output, including a single USB-C output capable of up to 140W for fast-charging laptops such as a MacBook Pro, alongside an integrated braided USB-C cable, smart battery display, and airline-compliant design. Launches March 2026.
UltraCharge Pro Laptop Power Bank 27K
UltraCharge Pro 2-in-1 Convertible Charger ($99.99): A compact, foldable wireless charger that powers an iPhone at up to 25W via Qi2 while simultaneously fast-charging an Apple Watch using an integrated MFi-certified watch puck, with a 45W power adapter and 5 ft. USB-C cable included. Launches March 2026.
ConnectAir Wireless HDMI Display Adapter ($149.99): A plug-and-play wireless HDMI solution that allows USB-C devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs that support DisplayPort Alt Mode, to mirror or extend displays at 1080p/60Hz with under 80ms latency, without requiring Wi-Fi, apps, or drivers. Supports up to eight transmitters for multi-user screen sharing. Launches Q1 2026.
Connect 8-Port Dual Display USB-C Hub ($99.99): A productivity-focused USB-C hub for MacBooks and other laptops, supporting up to 100W power delivery passthrough, Ethernet, USB peripherals, and external displays, with dual 4K output on Windows or a single 4K display on macOS, plus a built-in monitor privacy button for instant screen disabling. Launches Q2 2026.
UltraCharge Pro 2-in-1 Convertible Charger
Availability will vary by market, and several products will ship in stages through the first and second quarters of 2026. Belkin says further details on regional availability and compatibility will be provided closer to launch via its website and retail partners.
Now that the calendar has flipped over into January, steep discounts on popular Apple products have become more rare after the holidays. However, if you didn't get a new pair of AirPods recently and are looking for a model on sale, Amazon does have a few solid second-best prices this week.
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 includes the AirPods 4 for $99.00, down from $129.00, the AirPods Pro 3 for $219.99, down from $249.00, and the AirPods Max for $449.99, down from $549.00. Most of these AirPods will arrive around January 9 with free shipping options, but Prime members should see delivery dates within the next few days in most cases.
It's also worth noting that if you prefer to shop at Best Buy, you'll find all of these sales being matched at that retailer right now. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light.
The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281 trillion colors, and it supports 1000K to 10000K light temperature range.
LuminBlend+ is a color management system that offers accurate, true-to-life colors across any setting thanks to proprietary Gamma calibration. It supports an ultra-wide spectrum of lighting moods, and will be coming to additional Govee lights in 2026.
Govee's 21-inch Matter-compatible Ceiling Light Ultra has a 616-LED matrix that can render detailed patterns and scenes. Visuals can be created with up to eight distinct layers of motion, color, and shapes, plus there are 20+ presets to choose from. Govee says that it provides sufficient illumination for family areas while also offering a natural, true-to-life appearance across objects and skin tones. The light offers 5000 lumen brightness for spaces between 200 and 300 square feet, and there is a 2700K to 6500K tunable white range that can shift throughout the day.
The 21-inch Sky Ceiling Light is meant to mimic natural daylight using a custom-engineered LED and gradient illumination to recreate sky tones from daytime blue to warm sunset gradients. It offers calming blue light that Govee says feels like looking up into a clear sky, with edge-mounted LEDs so that it looks like an architectural skylight. The light provides up to 5200 lumens of brightness, and it is designed to light spaces between 200 and 300 square feet. Like Govee's other lights, it supports Matter so it can be added to the Apple Home app.
Govee is also announcing AI Lighting Bot 2.0, which uses generative models to create lighting that is more "expressive, intuitive, and emotionally responsive." Light strips and permanent lights are able to react to mood or context in real-time and learn behaviors.
Graphic lighting can use AI Lighting Bot 2.0 to generate animated visuals, with the AI capabilities available across a range of Govee products.
A new DaySync circadian lighting feature is also being incorporated into Govee lights. DaySync matches indoor lighting to the time of day with preset options that automatically adjust brightness, color, and color temperature for more natural home lighting.
More information is available on Govee's website, with pricing and availability of the new devices set to be announced at a later date.
Amazon this weekend has the Apple Watch SE 3 on sale at all-time low prices, starting at $199.00 for the 40mm GPS model. These prices are matching the Black Friday discounts we tracked in November, but stock is low, particularly on the 40mm GPS 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.
You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE 3 on sale for $229.00, down from $279.00. The 44mm GPS device is available in Midnight and Starlight Aluminum at this price, while the 40mm GPS model is only available in Starlight.
In addition to the Apple Watch SE 3 discounts, Amazon has $100 off the Apple Watch Series 11 right now, which are record low prices on the wearables. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2026 with a look at everything we're expecting to see from Apple this year, including several new product categories, although hopefully Apple also has some surprises in store for us.
We also went hands-on with a speculative 3D-printed mockup of one of those key new products, the so-called "iPhone Fold," while this week also saw Fitness+ updates for those New Year's resolutions, some unreleased early prototype AirPods cases in fun colors, and more, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Top Stories
Everything Apple Is Releasing in 2026: iPhone Fold, LLM Siri, Low-Cost MacBook and More
If rumors are accurate, 2026 is going to be a huge year for Apple. We're expecting the first foldable iPhone, an all-new home hub device, updated displays, and possibly, the first OLED MacBook Pro and the first AI smart glasses.
Got a New iPhone 17? How to Use All the New Features
Apple's iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max have been available to buy since September, and a fair few will have been gifted over the holidays.
Apple is rumored to be introducing a foldable iPhone in September 2026, and since it will bring the biggest form factor change since the iPhone was introduced in 2007, curiosity about the design is high. A 3D designer created an "iPhone Fold" design based on rumors, and we printed it out to see how it compares to Apple's current iPhones.
The foldable iPhone is going to be smaller than any current iPhone when it's closed, and it'll be shorter than Samsung's Galaxy foldables. Rumors suggest it'll be somewhere around 5.4 inches, which would make it as small as the now-discontinued iPhone 13 mini.
When unfolded, the upcoming iPhone Fold will be bigger than any iPhone to date, and not too far off in size from the original iPad mini. The current iPad mini has an 8.3-inch screen size, but the first models had a 7.9-inch display.
Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account this week teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+.
On Friday, Apple announced a series of updates for Fitness+ and Apple Watch activity tracking, including a New Year's activity challenge, a "Quit Quitting" challenge in the Strava app, new multi-week Fitness+ programs to help users stick to their fitness resolutions for 2026, new artist spotlights for workouts, and new Time to Walk episodes.
Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases.
They seem close to some of the color options offered for the iPhone 5c, which came in blue, green, pink, yellow and white. Apple has only ever released AirPods in white.
Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026
The speculative report argues that market sentiment toward AI spending is beginning to show signs of skepticism, with questions emerging over whether large investments by the likes of OpenAI, Google, and Meta can be justified by near-term revenue. Against that backdrop, Apple's decision to limit AI-specific capital expenditures has left it with more than $130 billion in cash and marketable securities, giving the company the option to pursue acquisitions or partnerships if valuations of AI startups fall.
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.
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far.
Size
Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 inches in size. The MacBook Air has a 13.6-inch display, so the more affordable MacBook will likely be slightly smaller. It's sounding like it won't be too far off from the 13-inch MacBook Air, though.
There are no details on how thick it might be, but Apple probably won't prioritize a thin design for a machine optimized for a low price, even though some people are hoping that it will also be ultra thin. Ultra thin usually means more engineering work and higher-cost components for the display and other parts, but it can also sometimes be achieved by removing features. A thinner enclosure isn't entirely out of the question if Apple cuts features to reduce costs, but at the same time, reducing size leads to lower battery life, and Apple probably wants to have decent battery to compete with or outmatch cheap Windows laptops.
Since the MacBook Air can run fine with an M-series chip and no fan in an enclosure that's 0.44 inches thick, there's no real reason for the MacBook to be any thicker than that, unless Apple wants to add a bigger battery.
Design and Display
The low-cost MacBook will have a standard LCD display with no mini-LED technology or ProMotion refresh rate. It won't be able to compete with higher-end laptops in terms of brightness or HDR support. It's probably best to think of it like the low-cost iPad, which offer excellent performance but uses much older display technology.
Apple could make the low-cost MacBook in bright colors like the iMac to appeal to children and to clearly position it as a lower-cost device. There are no rumors of this, but it would also make some sense for Apple to return to the plastic casing of some of its original MacBook models.
Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook Pro could come in colors like silver, blue, pink, and yellow.
A-Series Chip
Apple is planning to use its A18 Pro chip in the MacBook, which is a chip that was first used in the iPhone 16 Pro. The A18 Pro is built on Apple's second-generation 3-nanometer process, featuring 8GB RAM and support for Apple Intelligence.
It's fast and efficient, and more than capable of handling day-to-day tasks. In Geekbench 6 benchmarks, the A18 Pro offers single-core CPU performance scores at the level of the M3 Ultra, and multi-core performance scores higher than the M1 chip that Apple used in the first Apple silicon MacBook Air. Metal scores that measure GPU performance are also similar to the M1 chip Metal scores.
The A18 Pro will be equivalent to the M1 for some tasks, and faster for other tasks. Apple no longer sells the M1 MacBook Air from its own store, but it has offered the machine through Walmart at a $599 price point.
Capabilities
With the A18 Pro chip, the low-cost MacBook would be able to do anything that can be done on an iPhone 16 Pro. It would be a suitable replacement for the low-cost iPad paired with a keyboard, and it would also support Apple Intelligence features.
As of now, an iPad is essentially the only option for a low-cost portable device that can serve as a computer, but the low-cost MacBook will add a solution that runs macOS instead of iPadOS.
Tasks like browsing the web, watching videos, creating documents, editing photos, and even light video editing would be no problem. A low-cost MacBook with A18 Pro chip could play all of Apple's iPad and iPhone games, including Apple Arcade titles, but it would not work well with high-end system intensive games.
It would also likely run apps like Final Cut Pro, but speeds for things like exporting video would not be as quick as with a more powerful Mac.
Apple probably won't go all out on ports, and the MacBook is likely to get just a single USB-C port, though two like the MacBook Air is also possible.
The A18 Pro chip is efficient, and there's a lot of space inside a 13-inch enclosure for a battery, so we could be looking at MacBook Air-level battery life or better. The MacBook Air's battery lasts for up to 18 hours when watching videos, or 15 hours when browsing the web.
Price
There are no specific details on price as of yet, but Bloomberg claims it will cost "well under $1,000." The MacBook Air is priced starting at $999, so the MacBook will need to be priced lower than that.
Apple has a 13-inch iPad Air that has a display in the same range rumored for the low-cost MacBook, and it's priced at $799. The iPad Air has a higher-end M-series processor though, so the low-cost MacBook could be priced below the iPad Air.
The closest iPad approximation for the chip is the iPad mini, which has an A17 Pro and is priced at $499. A price somewhere between $499 and $799 could make sense looking at Apple's existing product lineup.
Launch Timing
Apple is expected to launch the low-cost MacBook in the first half of 2026. Updates are planned for the MacBook Air in early 2026, and the low-cost model could launch sometime in that same timeframe.
If you're thinking about picking up a computer for lightweight tasks like document editing, web browsing, watching videos, and doing homework, you might want to wait to see what Apple has in store before buying a MacBook Air, an iPad, or a more affordable Windows machine or Chromebook.
Pebble today announced that it is bringing back the Pebble Time Round, one of its most iconic smartwatches from a decade ago. The new Pebble Round 2 builds on the Pebble Time Round, eliminating some of the compromises that had to be made with the original model.
The Pebble Round 2 features a bezel-free 1.3-inch color e-paper display, and it comes in matte black, brushed silver, and rose gold. Advances in Bluetooth technology mean that it lasts for up to two weeks before needing to be recharged, and it remains as thin as the original.
The device runs the open-source PebbleOS operating system, and it is designed to work with iOS and Android smartphones. It supports basic sleep tracking and activity tracking, but it is not a fitness watch, so there is no heart rate tracking.
Pebble creator Eric Migicovsky brought back the Pebble brand earlier this year after Google released the source code for PebbleOS. After going bankrupt in 2016, Pebble was sold to Fitbit, and then Fitbit was bought by Google.
Migicovsky has been vocal about how Apple's restrictions for third-party smartwatches limit how the Pebble works with an iPhone. He has complained that Apple makes it "nearly impossible" for third-party wearable developers to create an experience that mirrors the Apple Watch experience.
The Pebble Round 2 can be pre-ordered from the rePebble website for $199, and it is set to ship out to customers in May.
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines.
According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option.
Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that the feature cannot be used to display ads or promotions. From Apple's developer website:
Don't use a Live Activity to display ads or promotions. Live Activities help people stay informed about ongoing events and tasks, so it's important to display only information that's related to those events and tasks.
Apps that violate Apple's interface guidelines can be pulled from the App Store.
We were not able to replicate the Live Activity ad, so it's possible that Duolingo stopped displaying it after user complaints.
Birdfy today debuted two new products, the Birdfy Feeder Vista and the Birdfy Hum Bloom, which join the company's line of camera-equipped accessories designed for bird watching.
The Birdfy Feeder Vista is a 360-degree smart bird feeder that features two cameras able to capture 14-megapixel panoramic images and record 6K HD video. The Vista is a pole-based camera option that offers a bottom-up feeding system. There's an air pump that feeds seed into a sealed lower container to the feeding tray, so there is no seed hopper that blocks the view of the camera.
Users are able to switch between the 360-degree perspective and a more traditional wide-angle view. As with other Birdfy feeders, the AI will identify birds that visit, but the Vista includes 120-fps slow-motion video for bird landings and flights. The camera is triggered via weight sensors instead of motion, so bird visits aren't missed. The Vista uses an LLM-powered AI that uses contextual understanding and biological reasoning to identify birds with greater accuracy.
Birdfy says that the included air pump feeding system is able to control feed speed and portion size to cut down on waste and encourage healthier feeding habits. Seed is stored in an antibacterial seed container to minimize contamination and to cut down on refill frequency. The feeder is made from a high-strength nylon that is reinforced with glass fiber, and there is a snap-on modular system for adding accessories to attract more kinds of birds.
Along with the Vista, Birdfy is debuting the Birdfy Hum Bloom, a feeder designed for hummingbirds. The feeder is able to capture 8-megapixel images or 120 fps slow-motion videos, and like the Vista, the Hum Bloom is designed not to obstruct the camera's view.
A flower-shaped nectar bulb delivers nectar in a shape that's familiar to birds, with no visible feeding tray in images. Included sensors can track nectar level, sending an alert when a refill is needed. There's an included ant moat, and a solar panel for continuous power.
Birdfy says that the feeder uses an AI model that's trained specifically on hummingbirds, a feature that sets it apart from other camera-equipped hummingbird feeders.
More information about the feeders will be coming later this year.
It's 2026, and we're kicking off the New Year with all of the best Apple-related discounts you can find online this week. Many of these are matching the low prices we saw over the holidays, including AirTags, Apple Pencil Pro, and Apple Watch Series 11.
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.
Apple Watch
What's the deal? Take up to $100 off Apple Watch SE 3 and Series 11
The New Year is a great time to invest in an Apple Watch and all of its activity tracking features, and this week Amazon has record low prices on multiple Apple Watch Series 11 models.
Apple's AirTag 4-Pack returned to the low price of $64.98 this week on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. If you're shopping for a single AirTag, Amazon has the AirTag 1-Pack for $19.00, down from $29.00.
Jackery and Anker
What's the deal? Take up to 65 percent off Jackery and Anker accessories
Anyone shopping for portable power stations can find up to 65 percent off Anker and Jackery's best accessories this week. Each retailer is hosting a New Year's sale for its most popular charging accessories, with major savings on these high-priced power stations that match Black Friday prices in many cases.
Apple Pencil Pro is still available for its all-time low holiday price of $94.97 this week on Amazon, down from $129.00. This has been one of the more consistent deals of the holiday season, and we aren't sure how long it will stick around into the new year.
Samsung
What's the deal? Save sitewide on Samsung TVs, monitors, and more
Samsung is holding a New Year's sale this week, introducing great deals on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and home appliances. Many of these deals are the exact same all-time low prices we tracked during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce.
In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing."
TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more affordable MacBook, which is expected to be equipped with a version of the iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip. Apple is expected to release the laptop by March or April of this year.
In the U.S., the entry-level MacBook is expected to have a starting price between $599 and $899, with $699 or $799 being most likely. It would slot in below the MacBook Air, which starts at $999 (but is frequently on sale on Amazon for as low as $749).
A18 Pro specs include a 6-core CPU, a 6-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The chip's performance is similar to the M1 chip, so this new MacBook could effectively be a replacement for the old MacBook Air with the M1 chip, which Apple still sells through Walmart for $599 and even as low as $549 during a recent Black Friday sale.
With an A18 Pro chip, this MacBook might have only 8GB of RAM, whereas all current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models start with at least 16GB of RAM. The chip also lacks Thunderbolt support, so the new MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports, with slower data transfer speeds and external display limitations.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was first to reveal that Apple is allegedly planning a more affordable MacBook. In June, he said the laptop will have around a 13-inch display, and the A18 Pro chip. Kuo said potential color options include silver, blue, pink, and yellow, so it could come in bright colors like the iMac.
Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes later exclusively reported that this MacBook will be equipped with a 12.9-inch display like some current or past iPad Air and iPad Pro models, whereas the MacBook Air has a slightly larger 13.6-inch display.
TrendForce appears to be siding with the 12.9-inch display size.
The lower-cost MacBook could have a lot in common with the discontinued 12-inch MacBook, including an ultra-thin and lightweight design. Hopefully, it is announced within the next few months, following endless rumors from several sources.
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch.
The key announcements include:
New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January.
"Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an Apple Watch badge in the app.
New multiweek programs: From January 5, the "Make Your Fitness Comeback program" will be available for Strength, HIIT, and Yoga. Each week builds on the previous one to help users progress.
Fitness+ Artist Spotlight returns: New workouts featuring music from KAROL G and, from February 5, Bad Bunny.
New Time to Walk episodes: Starting January 19, new episodes feature actor and producer Penn Badgley, Spice Girls member, singer, songwriter, and TV personality Mel B, and actor Michelle Monaghan.
Apple added that many people abandon New Year's fitness resolutions by the second Friday of January, known as "Quitter's Day," but Apple Watch users appear far more likely to stay on track. An analysis of four years of data from around 100,000 participants in the Apple Heart and Movement Study found that, after a seasonal dip in activity during November and December, average daily exercise minutes rise sharply in January and continue increasing into spring.
More than 60% of users boosted their exercise by over 10% in the first two weeks of January compared with December levels. Nearly 80% of those users maintained the increase through the rest of January, and 90% of that group sustained higher activity levels through February and March. The findings are based on participants who consistently wore an Apple Watch and shared Activity data as part of the long-running study conducted with major U.S. health institutions.
Apple's Vision Pro headset is still failing to see appeal among consumers, according to a new report from the Financial Times.
Data from IDC claims that Apple shipped 390,000 Vision Pro units in 2024. IDC expected Apple to ship just 45,000 new Vision Pro units in the latest quarter of 2025. The Financial Times stressed that this compares to millions of iPhones, iPads and MacBooks sold each quarter. Luxshare, the Vision Pro's assembler, apparently halted production of the headset at the start of 2025.
According to Sensor Tower, Apple has apparently reduced digital advertising spending for the Vision Pro by more than 95% over the past year in key markets including the United States and United Kingdom. The report also noted that Apple did little to expand the device's international rollout in 2025.
Morgan Stanley analysts told the Financial Times that "the cost, form factor and the lack of VisionOS native apps are the reasons why the Vision Pro never sold broadly." Since the device's debut in 2024, critics have highlighted practical shortcomings such as the device's weight, discomfort during extended use, and limited battery life.
Apple is said to be struggling with a platform adoption problem, with an insufficient number of users to motivate developers and insufficient apps to attract users. Apple says around 3,000 apps are designed specifically for Vision Pro, a figure that lags far behind the rapid growth of the iPhoneApp Store after its launch in 2008. Appfigures notes that this total likely includes niche and industry-specific software.
The challenges facing the Vision Pro reflect broader weakness in the virtual reality market. According to Counterpoint Research, global VR headset shipments declined 14% year on year. Meta still dominates the sector, accounting for around 80% of sales with its Quest headsets, which are significantly cheaper than the Vision Pro but less technologically advanced. Even so, Meta has reportedly scaled back its own marketing spend for VR hardware, suggesting limited consumer momentum across the category.
The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, and Gmail directly on the home screen.
"Communicator is to a smartphone what a Kindle is to an iPad," said Jeff Gadway, Chief Marketing Officer at Clicks Technology, in a press release. "It's a complementary product that stands on its own, optimized for a specific purpose. In the case of Clicks Communicator, that means communicating with confidence in a noisy world."
"The two-phone lifestyle is becoming more common," added Michael Fisher, co-founder of Clicks Technology and host of the tech-focused YouTube channel MrMobile. "Some people need a second phone for work, others want to be more intentional about how they use technology. At a time when everything is fighting for our attention, your phone should excel at helping you take action, not feeding distraction."
Like the Clicks Keyboard, the Clicks Communicator device itself has a physical keyboard. The device also features a so-called "Prompt Key" button on the side of the device that you can press and hold to dictate a text message.
The device is equipped with a USB-C charging port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 4,000 mAh battery, 256GB of built-in storage, a microSD slot for up to 2TB of additional storage, a 50-megapixel rear camera, a 24-megapixel front camera, and more. It has both a physical SIM card tray and eSIM support, with global support for 5G and LTE.
In the U.S., the Clicks Communicator will be available in the colors Smoke, Clover, and Onyx for an introductory price of $499. However, if you make a $199 deposit before February 27, you can lock in a discounted $399 price. Clicks Communicator is expected to begin shipping later this year, according to the press release. However, we strongly recommend exercising caution with pre-ordering a device like this prior to shipments beginning.
Clicks Communicator will be showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas next week.
As we shared in our annual What to Expect Guide yesterday, 2026 is going to be a busy year for Apple. There are a lot of firsts in development, including the first foldable iPhone and the first OLED MacBook, plus an all new home hub device that will kick off Apple's major expansion into smart home devices and robotics.
We'll get new M5 Macs and new iPads early in the year, along with an updated iPhone 17e. In the spring, we're expecting iOS 26.4 with the revamped version of Siri, and the home hub, a new Apple TV, and a new HomePod mini could launch in that same timeframe.
We're aware of what's likely to launch based on rumors and past release information, but we'd love to hear from the MacRumors community. What do you want to see Apple release this year?
Are you excited for the new version of Siri? Planning to get an iPhone Fold? What do you want to see from iOS 27 and macOS 27?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and take a look at our What to Expect guide for an overview of the current rumors. We'll be hearing a lot more about Apple's 2026 plans in the coming months, and you can count on us to have in-depth coverage of every rumor that surfaces.
If you want to discuss Apple's 2026 products, our MacRumors forums are an excellent resource, plus they're a great place to get help on current Apple products and software, or to find like-minded folks in the Apple community.
Our readers and our forum members continue to make MacRumors the number one source for Apple news, rumors, and advice, so thank you for being here! MacRumors celebrated its 25th birthday this year, thanks to the MacRumors community. We're looking forward to another year of rumors and product launches in 2026, and we hope you are too. Happy New Year!
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle.
Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest standard model for over 18 months. This would mark the first time Apple skips an entire calendar year without releasing a new generation of its flagship non-Pro iPhone.
For more than a decade, Apple has introduced its mainline iPhone lineup in the fall, with all core models launching simultaneously in September. That pattern is expected to change this year, when the company is widely rumored to split its upcoming iPhone releases across two distinct release windows rather than unveiling the entire lineup at once. Under this strategy, Apple is expected to prioritize higher-end models in the fall while delaying lower-cost or standard models until the following year.
As a result, Apple is not expected to ship the iPhone 18 in 2026. Instead, reports indicate that Apple plans to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone in the usual fall timeframe, while holding the standard iPhone 18 back until the spring of 2027, where it will launch alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.
The rumored change is tied to Apple's expanding iPhone lineup. With the introduction of the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air in 2025, the expected debut of the first foldable iPhone in 2026, and the continued presence of older models like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, there could be at least eight distinct iPhone models on sale from Apple by the end of 2026. A staggered release schedule would allow the company to further differentiate its models, give them a longer sales window without internal competition, and spread iPhone launches more evenly across the year.
Supply chain analysts have also pointed to manufacturing and logistics benefits as a factor behind the rumored shift. By spacing out launches, Apple could reduce production bottlenecks, better manage component supply for advanced technologies, and smooth revenue recognition across fiscal quarters rather than concentrating iPhone sales in a single period.
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