A science project that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs built for his 8th-grade science fair sold at auction for $34,375.
Jobs was attending Cupertino Jr. High when he designed the project, which is titled "What is the SCR?" The lot includes a display board built from plywood with three explanatory panels and a 10-page report with the same title.
The left panel has a wooden model of a "typical silicon-controlled rectifier with its four alternate layers of P- and N-Type semiconductor material," while the center test circuits demonstrate the basic principles and characteristics of the silicon-controlled rectifier, as well as how it is most widely used. The right panel has a diagram and description of a 25-amp silicon-controlled rectifier.
The project is labeled with Jobs' name, and the accompanying report is titled "What is the Silicon-Controlled Rectifier by Steve Jobs, Science, Mrs. Yakel, Feb. 29, 1968."
A note included on the project instructs judges to plug in Circuit II and the oscilloscope to see it operate, and it asks them to "please unplug!" the device after testing it.
Jobs' science fair project came from John Chovanec, Jobs' stepbrother. Chovanec's mother, Marilyn, married Paul Jobs in 1990 and continued to live in the Jobs family home in Los Altos. After Paul Jobs died in 1993, Steve Jobs declined to collect some of his personal belongings that remained in the home. Chovanec apparently asked Jobs to collect the items several times and at one point said he would keep the items himself instead. "Fine, but I don't want to be bothered about it again," Jobs reportedly responded.
Chovanec previously sold other items from Jobs' early years, including posters, magazines, bow ties, a desk, and more. A 1977 Apple Computer poster sold for $659,900, while an Apple–1 Byte Shop wooden case owned by Jobs sold for $254,375. The bow ties sold for $113,580.
In May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and eligible iPhone users could receive up to a $95 payout. Today, a new court document revealed when customers will likely be able to begin submitting claims.
If the dates proposed by Apple's lawyers are approved by the judge, eligible customers would begin to be notified about the settlement on Monday, September 21 this year, and claim submissions would likely begin around that date. The claims period would end on Monday, December 21, giving customers around 90 days to take action.
Earlier this month, the judge set the final approval hearing for February 24, 2027, so payments to customers are not expected to begin until next year. For now, no action is required from customers, as the settlement website with a claims form has yet to go live. We will continue to provide updates on the case as they become available.
Below, we have answered some key questions regarding the lawsuit.
Why Was Apple Sued?
In June 2024, Apple previewed new Siri capabilities powered by Apple Intelligence, including understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.
In a statement, Apple touted a range of other Apple Intelligence features it had already released. Nevertheless, Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit "to stay focused" on "delivering the most innovative products and services to our users."
Apple finally announced "Siri AI" at WWDC 2026 in June, and the revamped assistant is available to test on the iOS 27 beta ahead of a September release.
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible to submit a claim, you must reside in the U.S. and have purchased any iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 model between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025.
The full list of eligible iPhone models:
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 16
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
It is unlikely that individuals who submit a claim will still need to have physical possession of an eligible iPhone model. However, there is a possibility that proof of purchase or other information will be required, such as the device's serial number. Exact requirements will be outlined on the settlement website, which is still not live.
How Much Will Apple Pay Me?
According to the terms of the settlement, each person who files an eligible claim will receive a per-device payment of $25, but this amount could increase up to $95 if the total number of claims submitted is lower than anticipated.
Where and When Can I Submit a Claim?
Later this year, a settlement website is expected to go live with an online claims form.
Apple announced new Mac mini machines this week, and the lower-end models include the first M6 chip. The M6 era will be a little complicated, because few Macs are going to get it. We won't have M6 Pro or M6 Max chips, which shakes up the Mac lineup for the next couple of years.
The Mac mini is the first Mac with an M6, but the chip is going to come to a couple of other products in the lineup.
MacBook Pro - The 14-inch entry-level MacBook Pro could be updated with an M6 chip in October 2026.
iMac - The 24-inch iMac is also expected to get the M6 chip, likely around the time the MacBook Pro is updated.
MacBook Air - The MacBook Air could get the M6 chip in early 2027.
iPad Pro - The next iPad Pro could get the M6 chip.
iPad Air - A future version of the iPad Air is likely to adopt the M6. Apple usually keeps the iPad Air processor one generation behind the iPad Pro.
M6 Pro and M6 Max
Apple isn't going to make M6 Pro or M6 Max chips, according to Bloomberg, so the M6 will be the first standalone Apple silicon chip that won't have more powerful variants.
Instead of manufacturing M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, Apple is speeding up its chip development timeline to bring the M7 Pro and M7 Max to market more quickly. The M7 Pro and M7 Max will have technologies that support on-device AI and GPU-intensive software, so they better meet growing demand for processors with those capabilities.
M5 Makes Up the Gap
Macs that would have used an M6 Pro or M6 Max chip are going to be stuck with the M5 Pro and M5 Max until the M7 family is ready. That means the high-end OLED "MacBook Ultra" we're expecting in late 2026 or early 2027 is going to use the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips that are in the current MacBook Pro models. It's also possible it will get the M5 Ultra.
The new Mac mini also got the M5 Pro instead of an M6 Pro chip. The new Mac Studio announced alongside the Mac mini uses M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.
Short Life Span
The M6 isn't going to be around for long, because Apple plans to launch the M7 in the first half of 2027. The M7 Pro and M7 Max will follow at the end of the year.
M6 Features
The M6 is Apple's first chip built on a new 2-nanometer process that increases transistor density on a smaller die. The process change improves performance and efficiency.
It has a 12-core CPU with what Apple says is the world's fastest CPU core, a larger 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators for each core, a new Dual 16-core Neural Engine, and up to 170GB/s memory bandwidth.
The GPU has updated shader core architecture, Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and 50 percent higher geometry rates for complex graphics.
"Afterglow is an emulator built specifically for running After Dark modules -- the original 68k module code, not a remake or port -- with no dependencies on ROMs or classic Mac OS," said Halter, who has several fun nostalgic projects, such as After Dark space shooter Lunacy and HyperCard player Stacks.
It's been an unusually big week for Apple announcements. On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the new Mac mini and Mac Studio, the M6 and M5 Ultra chips, and invites to Apple's September event.
Apple confirmed on Wednesday that its annual iPhone event will take place on Wednesday, September 9 at Apple Park, starting at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with select members of the media invited to attend. The event's tagline is "Surprise and Shine." Apple is expected to introduce at least six new products, including the the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone. Pre-orders should follow shortly after, and along with release dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Apple announced the new Mac mini on Tuesday, offering M6 and M5 Pro chip options. The machine gains an N1 networking chip, bringing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and moves to 2.5Gb Ethernet as standard, up from 1Gb, with a 10Gb option. Thunderbolt 5 is restricted to the M5 Pro model, which gets three Thunderbolt 5 ports while the M6 model keeps Thunderbolt 4. Genlock support over USB-C also helps to sync a display's refresh timing to a camera such as the iPhone 17 Pro. Pricing starts at $899 with 16GB and 256GB, rising to $1,699 for the M5 Pro at 24GB and 512GB. Pre-orders are now open, with launch on September 22.
The M6 is Apple's first 2nm chip. Its 12-core CPU is split into 2 super cores, 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, making it the first Apple chip to combine all three core types in one design. Super cores are Apple's top tier, optimized for single-threaded speed. The 12-core GPU features a Neural Accelerator in each core for the first time in a Mac mini. The GPU also adds an updated shader architecture, Dynamic Caching, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while an all-new Dual 16-core Neural Engine doubles peak compute over the previous generation, with system frameworks able to drive both engines at once. Memory starts at 16GB and tops out at 32GB, running at up to 170GB/s. M5 Pro scales further, to an 18-core CPU, a 20-core GPU and up to 64GB at 307GB/s.
The new Mac Studio arrived alongside the Mac mini, with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options. The M5 Max offers an 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores, an up-to-40-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core, and up to 128GB of memory at 614GB/s, with the GPU running up to 50% faster than the previous generation. Both configurations move to a next-generation SSD architecture on PCIe Gen 6 for up to twice the storage performance, and gain up to six Thunderbolt 5 ports at 120Gb/s, and the same genlock support as the Mac mini. Apple's N1 chip also brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the Mac Studio. Pricing starts at $2,499 for the M5 Max at 36GB and 512GB, and $5,499 for the M5 Ultra at 96GB and 1TB, with the 512GB memory option not arriving until late October.
The M5 Ultra is Apple's first quad-die chip, using a next-generation version of UltraFusion to join two dual-die M5 Max chips into a single processor. The result is a CPU with up to 36 cores, 12 super and 24 performance, delivering 1.25x the single-threaded and 1.3x the multithreaded performance of the M3 Ultra. Its up-to-80-core GPU is the most powerful Apple silicon GPU ever made and the first on an Ultra chip to feature Neural Accelerators. Second-generation Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading and third-generation ray tracing lift graphics up 40% over the M3 Ultra, and the chip features a 32-core Neural Engine. Memory reaches 512GB at 1.2TB/s, which is a 50% bandwidth increase.
Other announcements this week included a new, softer Apple Polishing Cloth at $9, down from $19, and refreshed U.S. Magic Keyboards for the Mac, now featuring glyphs instead of edge text. Apple Support's 1-800-APL-CARE line is also now answered by a generative AI assistant in the U.S. and Canada.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion with YouTuber Michael Fisher about key rumors about the "iPhone Ultra" and how the device could compare to rivals.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Apple TV has bought the worldwide rights to "Small Prophets," breaking with how it normally operates in acquiring an existing English-language hit rather than commissioning a show of its own from the start.
Apple TV has typically developed or, at the very least, commissioned shows in-house and given them their premiere on the service, regardless of where they may eventually end up. This was the model behind the BBC's "Trying," which Apple TV+ produced first and later licensed to the BBC once its own run had finished.
Apple has also picked up individual foreign-language titles in the past, such as the French-Japanese drama "Drops of God." "Small Prophets" marks new ground since it is an English-language series and it had already become a broadcast hit elsewhere before Apple stepped in.
The acquisition, reported by Deadline, follows a run on BBC Two that produced the strongest 28-day launch numbers for a comedy on the channel since 2022, a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the International Panorama award at this year's Series Mania festival.
"Small Prophets" will stream on Apple TV worldwide starting on October 7, with the exception of the UK, where the show debuted on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two earlier this year. Viewers in the UK will be able to continue watching it on iPlayer before it eventually moves to Apple TV.
The show is written, created, and directed by Mackenzie Crook, best known for appearing in "The Office" and "The Detectorists."
Small Prophets follows Quigley as the eccentric Michael Sleep, an ordinary man who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has worked in a DIY store, while visiting his elderly dad Brian and hoping for Clea to return. One day, Brian shares an old recipe for a potion so a skeptical Michael can create homunculi – magical spirits that can predict the future – to learn if he will see Clea again.
Michael gets help from his young DIY store co-worker Kacey and their unlikely friendship blossoms through a dislike of store manager Gordon, while his nosy neighbors obsess about what Michael is doing in the garden shed.
The show, set in and around suburban Manchester and is seeped in Crook's trademark gentleness... includes animated elements to show the more magical elements of the story.
Deadline compared "Small Prophets" to "Ted Lasso," which recently began its fourth season as Apple TV's biggest premiere ever, favoring a gentler, more serialized storytelling style over a traditional sitcom.
Pre-orders of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro may not open until Saturday, September 12, a day later than the company's usual schedule, according to a new report.
Apple is set to hold its annual iPhone event on Wednesday, September 9, where the iPhone 18 Pro models, its first-ever foldable iPhone, and the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are all expected to be announced.
Under Apple's typical launch plan, pre-orders begin the Friday immediately following the event, with devices shipping the following Friday. This year, that would place pre-orders on Friday, September 11, but Macworld reports that its German sister publication, Macwelt, has heard from a reliable source that Apple will instead push pre-orders back to Saturday, September 12.
There is precedent for this as the shift is reportedly tied to the date itself. September 11, 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and Apple has moved pre-orders away from that date before. In 2015, when the standard pre-order Friday also landed on September 11, Apple delayed iPhone 6S and 6S Plus pre-orders to Saturday, September 12.
The timing within the day is also said to be changing. Apple's pre-orders traditionally open at 5 a.m. PT, but the source says this year's window will instead start at midnight PT on Saturday.
The delayed pre-order date is expected to apply to the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4, alongside any other hardware Apple introduces at the event. Apple's foldable iPhone could follow at a later date, with pre-orders potentially not opening until late September.
Earlier this year, Macwelt reported that Apple would announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, but that announcement didn't actually come until March 2. That being said, Saturday, September 12 looks like a solid bet for the iPhone 18 Pro's pre-order date, though the reported midnight PT start time is worth taking with a pinch of salt for now. Apple's iPhone event takes place in just under two weeks, on September 9.
Apple's annual fall event takes place on Wednesday, September 9, when it is expected to unveil new iPhone 18 Pro models, the first foldable iPhone, an Apple Watch Series 12, a fourth-generation Apple Watch Ultra, and potentially AirPods 5. Apple may also make some additional new products available at its "Surprise and shine" event, but there are a handful of rumored upcoming devices that we don't expect to make an appearance this month.
To help set expectations ahead of Apple's "Surprise and shine" event, here are the products that Apple is unlikely to announce in September, but rather later on in the year or in 2027.
iPhone 18
Strange as it sounds, Apple's fall event this year will be missing a new regular iPhone. The successor to the iPhone 17 isn't expected until spring next year, as part of Apple's reported split-launch strategy. Going forward, Apple will dedicate its annual September event to its more expensive Pro-model iPhones and successive generations of its upcoming foldable iPhone.
The iPhone 18 could adopt Apple's upcoming 2-nanometer A20 chip. As for memory, information is mixed. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the device to have 9GB of RAM, 1GB more than the iPhone 17, while analyst Jeff Pu believes Apple will upgrade it with 12GB. If the iPhone 18 is limited to 9GB RAM, it will not support all Apple Intelligence features.
The iPhone Air that came out in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 lineup didn't sell as well as expected, and a second version is no longer believed to be coming in September 2026. Despite some debate about the future of the iPhone Air, the latest rumors suggest a new model is still in development, and will likely arrive in spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.
Apple is said to be adding a second camera to the next iPhone Air to make it more appealing to consumers and to justify its $999 starting price. Apple also wants to improve battery life, either through an increased battery size or improvements to efficiency. Given that the design of the new model is similar to the current design, there may not be room for a larger battery. The device will use an A20 Pro chip built on Apple's new 2nm process, so it could feature better efficiency.
New Apple Watch SE 4
The current Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple's most affordable Apple Watch option. Apple updated it in September 2025, but we are not expecting a new model in 2026, and there's no word yet on when a new version is coming.
New Macs
Apple reportedly plans to release an updated 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip in late 2026, followed by a major high-end MacBook Pro redesign in late 2026 or early 2027. Reportedly dubbed "MacBook Ultra," the new 14-inch and 16-inch models are expected to feature M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, an OLED display, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and a thinner design.
Apple is also said to be readying new iMac models with an upgraded chip and new color options. The new version is likely to be an updated 24-inch model with an M6 chip, replacing the existing M4 model that arrived in October 2024.
While it isn't impossible, we're unlikely to see any Macs debut on September 9. Apple typically uses its fall event to focus on new iPhone and Apple Watch models. The company usually unveils new Macs in October via press release or a separate event.
Possibly, Maybe
In addition to new iPhone 18 Pro models, Apple Watch models, and AirPods, Apple is expected to prepare other products for release this year. Still, the company is unlikely to draw too much attention away from its flagship smartphones, and may choose to save the following products for a separate event or launch them via press release in October or November:
In the U.S., for example, the Apple One Individual plan now costs $21.95 per month, up from $19.95 per month. Apple One Family and Apple One Premier are not affected, but those plans already went up in price last month alongside an Apple Music price increase.
Today's Apple TV and Apple One price increases affect the U.S., Brazil, Chile, and Mexico only.
Apple today informed MacRumors and others that the Apple TV streaming service is receiving a price increase in the U.S. starting today.
As a result of the Apple TV price increase, the Apple One Individual bundle has also gone up in price, with all of today's changes outlined below.
Apple TV (Monthly): $14.99 per month (up from $12.99 per month)
Apple TV (Annually): $119 per year (up from $99 per year)
Apple One (Individual): $21.95 per month (up from $19.95 per month)
Apple TV also received a price increase in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico today, according to Apple, but no other countries are affected.
The higher prices are effective immediately for new subscribers, while existing subscribers will be notified approximately one month prior to being charged the new price, according to Apple. Existing subscribers should look out for an email from Apple over the coming days and weeks ahead of their next subscription renewal.
Apple TV initially cost just $4.99 per month in the U.S. when it launched in 2019, but the price has increased four times. The monthly price rose to $6.99 in 2022, to $9.99 in 2023, to $12.99 in 2025, and now to $14.99.
You can get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE for just $199.99 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is a steep discount on the wearable that beats the previous all-time low price by about $30, and matches the record low price of the 40mm GPS model of the smartwatch.
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.
This is the Apple Watch SE with the Midnight Aluminum Case and Midnight Sport Band in the Medium/Large size. As of writing, this is the only model we're tracking on sale, and this is a very rare deal so anyone interested should check it out before Amazon takes it away.
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 CEO Tim Cook today pledged that the company will make a donation toward relief and rebuilding work in Nepal and Tibet, where flash floods and mudslides have killed hundreds of people.
On Wednesday, part of a Himalayan glacier collapsed, briefly damming a river before a surge of water and mud hit communities downstream. Many people are dead or missing, and roads, bridges, and homes near the Nepal–Tibet border have been destroyed.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic flash floods and mudslides in Nepal and Tibet. Apple is making a donation to support relief and rebuilding efforts on the ground.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 28, 2026
Cook makes this pledge in the final days of his tenure as CEO. John Ternus takes over the role on September 1, when Cook will shift into the newly created executive chairman position, where he is expected to continue representing Apple on policy matters.
Amazon today has introduced the first cash discounts on Apple's brand new Mac mini, with discounts including two of the M6 models as well as the M5 Pro model. All of these deals are pre-order discounts on the 2026 Mac mini, which officially launches on September 22.
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 get the 16GB RAM/256GB SSD Mac mini for $879.99, down from $899.00, and the 16GB RAM/512GB SSD model for $1,069.99, down from $1,099.00. Both of these devices come with the new M6 chip, and Amazon also has $29 off the M5 Pro Mac mini right now.
In terms of upgrades, Apple said the Mac mini with the M6 chip delivers up to 40% faster CPU performance, up to 4× faster performance for AI tasks in particular, up to 2× faster graphics performance, and up to 2× faster storage speeds compared to the previous-generation model with the 10-core M4 chip, 32GB of unified memory, and 2TB of storage.
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!
Tim Cook shared an inside look at the work he is doing behind the scenes as he prepares to step down as Apple's CEO next week. Cook has been preparing incoming CEO John Ternus for the transition over the last several months, and today he introduced Ternus to popular Pokémon character Pikachu.
Cook said he and Ternus met with the Pokémon team to talk gaming. The accompanying video features Pikachu exploring the Apple Park campus, including dancing under the rainbow arch and picking an apple from the orchard.
Today's agenda at Apple Park: Introduce the @Pokemon team to John, talk gaming, and politely ask Pikachu to stay out of the pond. Two out of three were accomplished. pic.twitter.com/KzirV3VX8U
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 27, 2026
It's not clear why the Pokémon team was at Apple Park, but Cook first met Pikachu in September 2025 on a trip to Japan for the reopening of Apple Ginza in Tokyo.
There are several Pokémon-themed games available on Apple's platforms, including Pokémon GO, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, Pokémon UNITE, and Pokémon Champions.
Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO in just five more days, with the company's hardware engineering chief John Ternus set to take over.
Below, we have surfaced some of Cook's notable quotes over his 15 years leading Apple.
August 2011, in an email to Apple employees upon becoming CEO:
I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple's unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that - it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.
May 2012, on Apple's secrecy:
We're going to double down on secrecy on products. I'm serious.
September 2012, in a public apology about the botched launch of Apple Maps:
At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.
December 2012, when asked if it is true that he wakes up at 3:45 a.m. every morning:
Yes, every morning.
The thing about it is, when you love what you do, you don't really think of it as work. It's what you do. And that's the good fortune of where I find myself.
October 2014, in a public essay:
I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.
March 2015, the month before the Apple Watch launched:
Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it. We can't wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before.
October 2015, on privacy:
We see that privacy is a fundamental human right that people have.
June 2017, expressing his excitement about augmented reality:
I think it is profound. I am so excited about it, I just want to yell out and scream.
March 2018, on what he would do if he were Mark Zuckerberg, amid a Facebook privacy scandal:
I wouldn't be in this situation.
March 2020, in response to COVID-19:
There is no mistaking the challenge of this moment. The entire Apple family is indebted to the heroic first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, public health experts and public servants globally who have given every ounce of their spirit to help the world meet this moment.
August 2022, on Apple's legacy:
I think that when we look back one day and ask, what's been Apple's greatest contribution, it will be in health.
September 2022, in response to a customer asking why the iPhone did not support RCS, when Android smartphones already did at the time:
Buy your mom an iPhone.
June 2023, in Apple's Vision Pro announcement:
Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing. Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing. Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations.
April 2026, upon announcing he is stepping down as CEO:
It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.
And a list of Cook quotes would not be complete without:
Good moooorning!
Cook will remain at Apple as executive chairman on the company's board of directors. In this role, Apple said he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world."
Note: This discussion thread is located in our Political News forum with special rules.
Apple this week announced a new Mac Studio with the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, discontinuing the M4 Max and M3 Ultra models that had been on sale since March 2025.
The machine's design is unchanged for a fifth consecutive year, with all of the upgrades being internal. The table below details everything that changed regardless of whether you choose a Max or an Ultra chip. The two tables that follow break down the differences within each tier.
What Changed Across Both Models
Here's everything that differs between the 2025 and 2026 Mac Studio irrespective of configuration:
Mac Studio (2025)
Mac Studio (2026)
Baseline SSD read and write speeds
Next-generation SSD architecture built on PCIe Gen 6, with up to twice the read and write speeds
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) via the Apple-designed N1 chip
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 6
Genlock over USB-C
With the latest model, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 arrive on the Mac Studio for the first time, facilitated by the same N1 chip Apple introduced in the iPhone 17 lineup. Apple also says the new machine is made with 35% recycled content overall, including 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets.
Mac Studio M4 Max vs. M5 Max
Here's everything that differs between the M4 Max and M5 Max configurations:
Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025)
Mac Studio (M5 Max, 2026)
M4 Max chip
M5 Max chip
14-core CPU, configurable to 16-core, with 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores
32-core GPU, configurable to 40-core
32-core GPU, configurable to 40-core, with Neural Accelerators built into every core and enhanced shader cores
Second-generation hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Third-generation hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Up to 546GB/s memory bandwidth
Up to 614GB/s memory bandwidth
36GB unified memory with the 32-core GPU, or 64GB with the 40-core GPU (128GB option withdrawn in May 2026)
36GB unified memory with the 32-core GPU, or 48GB, 64GB, or 128GB with the 40-core GPU
Weighs 6.1 pounds (2.74 kg)
Weighs 6.0 pounds (2.7 kg)
Now discontinued
Starts at $2,499
The most immediately useful change is at the entry level. The M4 Max started with a 14-core CPU and could be configured up to 16 cores, whereas the M5 Max has an 18-core CPU as standard with no CPU upgrade to buy. Apple has also changed its core architecture, dropping the performance and efficiency split in favor of 6 super cores and 12 performance cores.
Mac Studio M3 Ultra vs. M5 Ultra
The table below outlines every difference between the two Ultra configurations:
Mac Studio (M3 Ultra, 2025)
Mac Studio (M5 Ultra, 2026)
M3 Ultra chip
M5 Ultra chip
28-core CPU, configurable to 32-core, with 24 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores
30-core CPU, configurable to 36-core, with 12 super cores and 24 performance cores
60-core GPU, configurable to 80-core
64-core GPU, configurable to 80-core, with Neural Accelerators built into every core and enhanced shader cores
First-generation hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Third-generation hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Dynamic Caching
Second-generation Dynamic Caching
819GB/s memory bandwidth
1.2TB/s memory bandwidth
96GB, 256GB, or 512GB unified memory (512GB option withdrawn in March 2026 and the 256GB option withdrawn in May 2026)
96GB or 256GB unified memory, or 512GB with the 80-core GPU
Now discontinued
Starts at $5,499
Across both generations, the maximum GPU still contains 80 cores, the Neural Engine still contains 32 cores, display support and media engine is identical, storage still maxes out at 16TB, and maximum unified memory is still 512GB. The 1.2TB/s of bandwidth feeding that memory, which is 50% higher than before, and the Neural Accelerators for each GPU core, are among the key changes.
How Big Are the Upgrades?
Apple's own comparisons against the outgoing chips are heavily weighted toward AI and graphics. For the M5 Max against the M4 Max, Apple claims:
Up to 3.9x faster LLM prompt processing in LM Studio
Up to 3.5x faster text-to-image performance
Up to 3x faster Magic Mask performance in Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio
Up to 1.9x faster basecalling for DNA sequencing in Oxford Nanopore MinKNOW
Up to 50% faster graphics performance
For the M5 Ultra against the M3 Ultra, Apple claims:
Up to 4.3x faster text-to-image performance
Up to 4x faster LLM prompt processing in LM Studio
Up to 3.3x faster CopyCat ML training performance in Foundry Nuke
Up to 1.8x faster graphics performance
Up to 1.7x faster scene rendering performance in Maxon Redshift
Up to 1.3x higher multithreaded CPU performance
On either chip, tasks that use matrix multiplication can run three to four times faster thanks to new Neural Accelerators in each GPU core.
Which to Choose?
Apple no longer sells the M4 Max or M3 Ultra models, which became relatively poor value for money by the end of their run. The M4 Max cost $2,499 with a 14-core CPU and up to 64GB of memory. For the same price, the M5 Max has an 18-core CPU, 614GB/s memory bandwidth, up to 128GB of memory, twice-fast storage, and Wi‑Fi 7. The M3 Ultra ended at $5,299 with a 96GB memory limit. For $200 more, the M5 Ultra brings back 256GB and 512GB options and adds 50% more memory bandwidth.
Current M4 Max and M3 Ultra owners generally do not need to upgrade after only 17 months. Launch buyers paid $1,999 or $3,999, so replacing their machine now costs 25–38% more for the same design, ports, Ultra core limits, storage limit, and Media Engine. The main exception is AI-heavy work. Local LLMs, on-device image or video generation, and demanding machine-learning tasks in applications like DaVinci Resolve or Nuke can benefit substantially from the new Neural Accelerators. The M5 Ultra's 1.2TB/s memory bandwidth can also improve large-model token generation.
The upgrade makes more sense for M1 or M2 Mac Studio owners. Apple says the M5 Max can process prompts up to 10.7× faster than the M1 Max, while the M5 Ultra can train ML models up to 15.4× faster than the M1 Ultra. Older models also lack Thunderbolt 5, AV1 decoding, and the newer Media Engine. If you already skipped the 2025 refresh, this is a more meaningful step forward.
The 2025 models are mainly worth considering used or refurbished at a steep discount. Apple raised prices in June, so lightly discounted older stock is often too close in price to a new model. One notable exception is an M3 Ultra with 256GB or 512GB of memory, since those configurations were unavailable new for much of 2026 and M5 Ultra equivalents will not ship until later this year.
When configuring, buyers should remember that memory and graphics are linked. The M5 Max always has an 18-core CPU, so the key choices are GPU and memory. More than 36GB of memory requires the 40-core GPU. With the M5 Ultra, 512GB of memory requires the 80-core GPU. If memory is your limit, as it often is for local AI tasks, you may need to pay for more GPU cores too. Apple says the 512GB M5 Ultra arrives in late October, with pricing expected to start above $10,000.
The M5 Ultra is now Apple's highest-end Mac. Apple discontinued the Mac Pro in March, seemingly with no plans for a replacement. There is no higher end Mac to wait for and no internal expansion path beyond adding a second machine.
Pre-orders are now open, with all but the 512GB model arriving on September 22. All M5 Ultra configurations now show a shipping time of 10–12 weeks in the United States.
LG is hosting a Labor Day sale on its website this week, with deals on monitors, TVs, home appliances, and more. LG's discounts have been automatically applied and do not require any discount codes or special memberships.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with LG. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Highlights of the event include up to $700 off select LG monitors and up to $2,700 off LG's best TV sets. Regarding the TVs, discounts include big savings on the new 2026 LG OLED evo AI sets, like the 65-inch LG OLED evo AI C6 4K Smart TV for $1,799.99 ($900 off) and the 65-inch LG OLED evo AI G6 4K Smart TV for $2,999.99 ($400 off).
This sale has been running for a few days now, and we're seeing stock running low on a few of LG's TVs. You can opt in to be notified if a TV is out of stock, and LG will send you an email when they've returned and are available to purchase.
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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Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with LG. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
