MacRumors

Apple is now aiming to release its first smart glasses in "late 2027," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

He previously said that Apple planned to begin shipping the glasses by early 2027, but he said the product has faced development delays.

The glasses will feature "oval-shaped cameras, unique colors, and multiple frame styles," according to Gurman. "Over time, Apple believes the glasses could evolve into a health device and eventually incorporate augmented reality technologies capable of improving how people see," he said, but this technology is likely years away.

According to Gurman's sources, Apple's CEO Tim Cook views the glasses as his "top priority" before he hands the reigns to John Ternus on September 1.

The glasses will compete with products in the $200 to $500 range in the U.S., he said.

Like the Meta Ray-Bans, Apple's glasses will have built-in cameras that let users capture photos and videos. There would also be speakers and microphones for music, phone calls, and notifications announced by Siri, he said.

The glasses could offer turn-by-turn walking directions.

As for build quality, he said Apple is designing its own plastic frames, with the company allegedly testing at least four potential designs:

• A larger rectangular frame, similar to Ray-Ban's Wayfarers
• A slimmer rectangular design, similar to the glasses worn by Apple CEO Tim Cook
• Larger oval or circular frames
• Smaller oval or circular frames

Apple is exploring a range of color options, including black, ocean blue, and light brown, and the glasses may have vertically-oriented oval camera lenses, he said.

Meta uses frames from the popular glasses brand Ray-Ban.

Unlike the latest generation of Meta Ray-Bans, Gurman does not expect Apple's first smart glasses to have an in-lens augmented reality display. He does not expect Apple's glasses to gain such a feature for at least a few years.

New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said.

"I am told the hardware for the next Apple TV set-top box and HomePod mini has been done for months and that both devices are already in active use among employees at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California," wrote Gurman.

If you have been closely following Apple TV and HomePod mini rumors, this is a familiar narrative.

The revamped Siri is finally expected to launch as part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, which will be unveiled during the WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8. Following beta testing, the software updates should be widely released in September, so the new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models should be available to purchase by then. In other words, the devices are hopefully around 3-4 months away at the latest.

The current Apple TV 4K was unveiled in October 2022, while the HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020, so there has been a long wait for the devices. Nevertheless, Gurman said "don't expect much" in terms of new features for both devices, aside from newer chips that support the more personalized version of Siri.

The current Apple TV 4K has an A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 series, while the HomePod mini uses the S5 chip from the Apple Watch Series 5.

Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which is the oldest chip that supports Apple Intelligence. The device is also expected to feature Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Gurman expects the next Apple TV to have a similar design as the current model.

There is one new twist, as he was told that the Apple TV's Siri Remote may be "refreshed in some form," but he did not provide any specific details or guarantee that there will be any outward-facing design changes to the accessory.

As for the HomePod mini, it is expected to use an Apple Watch's S9 chip or newer, but it is unclear if or how that chip would fully support the new Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Other previously-rumored features for the speaker include the N1 chip, improved sound quality, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and a red color option.

Apple is also expected to update the full-sized HomePod and release an all-new smart home hub this year, with those devices held up by Siri too.

Ahead of the upcoming World Cup, football superstar Lamine Yamal has arrived at training camp for the Spanish national team sporting what seems to be the unreleased over-ear headphones that appeared in a U.S. Federal Communications Commission database last week. As suspected, the new headphones are a Beats product rather than an Apple product.

In a post on his Instagram account, Yamal shared several photos and a video clip showing him arriving to training camp with the new headphones in a pink color.

We don't know any other details on the upcoming headphones, and it's unclear whether they are a next-generation version of the Beats Studio Pro or if they will carry a new name. They feature a distinctly different design than the Beats Studio Pro, with flatter exteriors on the ear cups and a completely different headband design that appears to include tubular telescoping arms rather than the wider and flatter arms of the Beats Studio Pro.

A release date for the new Beats headphones is currently unknown, but it shouldn't be too far in the future given that they've already received FCC approval and are being seeded to key influencers like Yamal.

Amazon today has the AirPods 4 available for $99.00, down from $129.00. This is a second-best price on the AirPods 4, which is the base model without Active Noise Cancellation, and it's accompanied by a solid deal on the AirPods Max 2.

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

Amazon provides a June 4 estimated delivery date for free shipping, with faster delivery options for Prime members. We haven't tracked an all-time low price on the AirPods 4 in a few months, so Amazon's deal this weekend is a solid option if you've been waiting for a sale.

Additionally, you can get the AirPods Max 2 on sale for $509.00 right now on Amazon, down from $549.00. This one is available in Blue and Starlight, with similar June 4 delivery estimates as the AirPods 4. This is a match of the all-time low price on the AirPods Max 2.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

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WWDC 2026 is coming up very quickly now and we're continuing to learn more about what to expect in iOS 27 and other updates, so make sure to check in to see the latest as we head toward Apple's big week, which kicks off with the traditional keynote on Monday, June 8.

While we may not see anything on the hardware side at WWDC, Apple does have plenty of products in the pipeline, and this week gave us an opportunity to check in on where things stand with the high-end "MacBook Ultra," the long-rumored foldable iPhone, and more, so read on below for all the details!

Top Stories

iOS 27's Siri App and 'Search or Ask' Feature Shown in Leaked Images

With less than two weeks to go until the official unveiling of iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has shared some new re-created screenshots showing off what the revamped Siri will look like, in both standalone app form and a pop-up "Search or Ask" version associated with the Dynamic Island. Additional re-created screenshots show how Siri and AI will be more integrated into the Camera and Photos apps.

The revamped Siri will use a dark color scheme similar to that seen on WWDC 2026 promotional artwork, and iOS 27 will include other enhancements such as revamped AirPods settings, quality improvements for Genmoji and Image Playground creations, and more.

MacBook Ultra: 5 Features That Could Justify the Name

Reports and rumors suggest the next MacBook Pro that Apple will release might not be a ‌MacBook Pro‌ at all. It could actually be something altogether new and more exciting – a "MacBook Ultra" – positioned above the Pro as Apple's top-tier laptop, suggesting that the current M5 Pro and M5 Max models will remain on sale when it launches.

In a recent recap, we listed the key features we are expecting in the MacBook Ultra, which is likely to go on sale either later this year or in early 2027. As things stand, the latter time frame is now looking more likely, owing to the global memory chip shortage.

Apple Watch for Diabetes: The Latest on Apple's Plans for Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitoring

For many years now, it has been rumored that the Apple Watch will eventually gain non-invasive blood sugar monitoring capabilities, which would enable millions of people with diabetes to track their blood glucose levels without needing to prick their skin with a needle or wear a dedicated continuous glucose monitor.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple recently shifted oversight of the project from its platform architecture chief Tim Millet to Zongjian Chen, a senior engineer overseeing advanced technologies within the company. He framed this change as positive news for the project, which has apparently been in development for more than 15 years.

Apple Seeds First iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 Betas to Developers

Even though WWDC is right around the corner, Apple still has another iOS 26 update in the works to tide us over until iOS 27 is ready for prime time, and that's iOS 26.6, which saw its first beta release this week.

We haven't spotted much new in this update yet other than potentially a new alert that will pop up when you've reached the maximum number of blocked contacts, but with that limit into the thousands, most users won't ever hit the cap.

Ferrari Reveals $640,000 EV Co-Designed by Jony Ive

Despite billions of dollars in investment, the Apple Car never came to fruition, but the just-unveiled Ferrari Luce may offer a glimpse of some things we might have seen had Apple's project panned out.

The $640,000 Luce is Ferrari's first all-electric car, and former Apple design chief Jony Ive and his LoveFrom collective were heavily involved in the design of the vehicle.

First Cases for Apple's Foldable iPhone Surface Online

Foldable smartphones present special challenges for case manufacturers looking to offer protection for the devices while still allowing them to fold and unfold properly, so third-party companies are already hard at work designing options for Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone.

Case makers routinely begin mass producing accessories ahead of a new iPhone announcement, working from dummy units or leaked CAD files to size their molds. Their designs are speculative, but they have historically proven accurate to the millimeter, since accessory makers cannot afford to be left without product on launch day.

Meanwhile, we continue to hear about hiccups as Apple seeks to ramp up toward mass production on the new device, with the latest being that Apple's supply chain is seeing issues with early-stage assembly procedures affecting production yields. This comes after word that issues with hinge reliability were also cropping up. Apple is, however, reportedly still aiming for a release later this year, though supplies may be very limited to start.

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.

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Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has seen a surge in demand for its "No AI" search option in the wake of Google's May 19th I/O announcements. Google debuted a new "intelligent" search box reimagined with AI. It features AI suggestions as an upgrade to autocomplete, support for follow-up questions, expanded Personal Intelligence for connecting Gmail and Google Photos, and Search agents.

DuckDuckGo told MacRumors that visits to its No AI search page more than tripled after Google's announcement. Traffic hit the 3x mark on May 28th, and has continued to climb. Visits have averaged around 84 percent above baseline consistently since May 19.

DuckDuckGo is embracing demand for No AI search options, and it is promoting new extensions available for Chrome and Firefox that set No AI search as the default.

No AI search has no AI-assisted answers, no chat interface, and it surfaces fewer AI images. DuckDuckGo can be set as the default search engine on Apple devices, but not the specific No AI page. DuckDuckGo has its own AI tools, but they are turned off for people who opt for the No AI experience.

DuckDuckGo plans to add No AI search settings to its original extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera in the near future.

Along with DuckDuckGo, there are other privacy-focused search engine options that minimize AI results. Paid search engine Kagi is one example, with no visible AI information unless you opt for AI tools. Kagi is $5 per month for a limited number of searches, and $10 a month for unlimited searches.

Because it is a paid search engine, it does not have ads and it does not collect and sell user data.

Back at CES in January, LG unveiled its UltraGear evo GX9 (39GX950B) display, which it claims is the world's first 39-inch ultrawide 5K2K OLED gaming monitor, offering a large curved canvas in the increasingly popular 21:9 aspect ratio with the added benefit of OLED technology for enhanced contrast with true blacks, standard refresh rates of up to 165Hz, and more.

While LG began taking pre-orders for the UltraGear evo GX9 last month and a few early orders have already trickled out through various channels, LG says that the official kickoff of order shipments starts next week.

LG touts the gaming prowess of the UltraGear evo GX9, but its specs mean it can deliver a premium experience across a variety of use cases, from productivity to media consumption and more.

OLED technology delivers a contrast ratio of 1,850,000:1 across the ultrawide display's 5,120 x 2,160 resolution. At a large 39-inch display size with a 1500R curve, this translates to a density of 143 pixels per inch, which is solid but not enough for true retina-level quality. Still, the large, curved display means many users will often be sitting further from the display than usual to be able to take in the full scope of content on the display, and that should prove plenty sharp in most situations.

The Tandem OLED panel in the UltraGear evo GX9 supports up to 335 nits of typical brightness, which is likely sufficient for most uses but does lag behind some other displays including ones in Apple products. The OLED contrast, color fidelity at up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 spectrum, and HDR support that can push brightness to 1,500 nits at 1.5% APL and 600 nits at 10% APL should, however, all help to offer a quality viewing experience.

For those who do want to game on this display, the UltraGear evo GX9 features AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-SYNC support, as well as 0.03ms response times to keep up with fast-moving content.

On the connectivity side, the UltraGear evo GX9 offers a USB-C port with 90-watt power delivery to a connected computer, as well as DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1.

We'll be looking to go hands-on with the LG UltraGear evo GX9 as soon as we can, and we'll report back on how well it works for Mac users, but for now LG is taking orders on its own site priced at $1,799.99, and it's also available at Amazon for the same price with delivery quotes starting around June 8.

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

Apple's digital driver's license feature in the Wallet app is set to expand to Virginia, according to a person familiar with the matter.

In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature has rolled out to 14 states so far, including Arkansas earlier this week, and it is also available in Puerto Rico.

The other states are Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, California, Iowa, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Illinois.

Now, Apple is preparing for the feature to go live in Virginia, the person said. However, we do not have an exact timeframe for availability. Towards the end of 2025, Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles said it planned to support the Apple Wallet's digital ID feature in the coming months, so hopefully it goes live soon by this point.

When the feature goes live, Virginia residents will be able to set it up by opening the Wallet app on the iPhone and tapping on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, they will tap on Driver's License and ID Cards, select Virginia from the list once it is added, and follow the on-screen steps to complete the process.

Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints at hundreds of U.S. airports for domestic travel. Given that Apple Wallet IDs are not accepted by law enforcement, and lack many other use cases, carrying a physical ID is still necessary.

If you live in a state that does not yet offer Apple Wallet IDs, you can create a Digital ID based on your U.S. passport, and present it at the same participating TSA checkpoints, for age and identity verification purposes during domestic travel. It is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel.

The passport feature requires iOS 26.1 or watchOS 26.1 and later.

OpenAI is developing a smartphone intended to compete directly with the iPhone, in what appears to be a significant departure from the company's previously stated hardware strategy. Here's everything we know so far.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published his findings in late April following supply chain checks, describing the device as an "AI agent phone" built around a continuous, context-aware interface rather than individual apps. Kuo argued that the smartphone is the only device that captures a user's full real-time state, including location, activity, communication, and context, making it uniquely suited to AI agent inference.

He said fully controlling both the operating system and the hardware is the only way for OpenAI to deliver a comprehensive AI agent service, and that AI agents will fundamentally shift how people interact with a phone, moving the focus from launching individual apps to completing tasks through a seamless interface.

Specifications

OpenAI's phone is said to use a customized version of MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 processor, built on TSMC's N2P node in the second half of 2026. Kuo initially named both MediaTek and Qualcomm as chip partners but has since said MediaTek appears "better positioned to become the sole processor supplier."

Luxshare Precision Industry is believed to be the exclusive manufacturing partner. Separately, Kuo reported that Sunny Optical has secured component orders for two OpenAI devices, including the smartphone. This is likely for the camera module.

The device's headline known hardware specification today is its image signal processor, which includes an enhanced HDR pipeline intended to improve real-world sensing through the camera. It is also said to use two AI processors for handling different tasks simultaneously, such as vision and language processing, along with fast memory and storage and security features to isolate processes.

What About Jony Ive's Devices?

The phone represents a notable reversal in OpenAI's publicly stated strategy. The company's hardware ambitions had previously been described as centered on non-phone form factors developed with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, whose startup io Products OpenAI acquired for $6.5 billion in May 2025. Ive and CEO Sam Altman had specifically said they did not want to build a device with a screen, with Altman describing a prototype to employees as "the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen."

The first product from that collaboration was delayed out of 2026 and has since been identified as a smart speaker with an integrated camera, priced between $200 and $300 and expected to launch in early 2027. Other devices reportedly in development include smart glasses, a smart lamp, and potentially earbuds, though those products are further out on the roadmap and some could be cancelled.

OpenAI has also been aggressively recruiting from Apple's hardware ranks, hiring over 40 former Apple employees. The hires include former Apple designers Evans Hankey, Tang Tan, and Scott Cannon, prompting Apple to offer its iPhone Product Design team retention bonuses of up to $400,000 in restricted stock units to counter the poaching.

Timeline

Mass production of OpenAI's smartphone was originally believed to be targeted for 2028, but Kuo has since revised that expectation to the first half of 2027. The accelerated timeline is said to reflect OpenAI's planned IPO, where a compelling hardware product could strengthen the company's investor narrative, as well as intensifying competition in the AI agent phone category. Kuo projects combined 2027 and 2028 shipments could reach around 30 million units if development stays on track.

What Does It Mean for Apple?

If the broader hardware lineup ships, OpenAI will be a direct competitor to Apple across several product categories. Apple is rumored to be developing smart glasses, AirPods with cameras, an AI pendant, and a smart home hub with enhanced Siri capabilities. On the day Kuo published his initial report, Altman posted on X that it "feels like a good time to seriously rethink how operating systems and user interfaces are designed."

A few months ago, Apple released the MacBook Neo, its most affordable MacBook ever. At the time, an ASUS executive admitted that the laptop came as a "shock" to the Windows PC industry, which is now in the process of responding.

Acer today introduced a Swift Air 14 laptop, with U.S. pricing starting at $699. By comparison, the MacBook Neo starts at $599 with a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM, or at $499 for college students and educational staff. However, the MacBook Neo costs an equal $699 when configured with a doubled 512GB of storage and a Touch ID button.

Powered by a new Intel Core Series 3 processor, the Swift Air 14 features a 14-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1,920 × 1,200 pixels, up to a 512GB SSD, up to 16GB of RAM, an all-aluminum enclosure, and quad speakers with DTS:X Ultra audio. Like the MacBook Neo, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E.

The laptop is equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Acer says a 70 Wh battery provides up to 19 hours of battery life for video playback and up to 16 hours of battery life for web browsing.

Like the MacBook Neo, the Swift Air 14 is available in colorful finishes, including sage green, frost blue, blossom pink, and lilac purple.

Acer said the Swift Air 14 will be available in North America starting in August.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm this week announced the Snapdragon C, a new processor designed for "entry-tier laptops" priced at "$300 and up." Qualcomm said the processor delivers "responsive everyday performance" with "breakthrough power efficiency." The first laptops powered by the Snapdragon C are expected to launch later this year, with committed brands including Acer, HP, and Lenovo, according to Qualcomm.

Indeed, Acer has previewed the Aspire Go 15, the first laptop powered by the Snapdragon C processor. The laptop will have an "affordable" price point, but Acer did not provide specific pricing or a release date. Key specs include a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080 pixels, up to a 512GB SSD, up to 8GB of RAM, a 1080p webcam, two speakers, two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Acer said the Aspire Go 15 is made from 100% recyclable materials and has some components made from recycled plastic, so it sounds like the laptop will not have an all-aluminum enclosure like the MacBook Neo and the Swift Air 14.

Finally, ASUS commented on the MacBook Neo again during its annual shareholders meeting today. According to Taiwan's Economic Daily News, ASUS's chairman Jonney Shih said that the company can learn from Apple's cost-efficient strategy with the MacBook Neo and views it as an opportunity. Stay tuned, he said.

On an earnings call last month, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said that customer response to the MacBook Neo had been "off the charts" since its launch.

Apple was very optimistic about the MacBook Neo before announcing it, but the company still "undercalled" the level of enthusiasm that the laptop would generate, according to Cook. He said that MacBook Neo demand exceeded Apple's expectations and helped to drive a record number of first-time Mac buyers last quarter.

"We could not be happier with how things are going at the moment," said Cook.

As for the Windows PC industry, perhaps not so much.

The M5 MacBook Air hit new all-time low prices this week, with $199 off nearly every model of the computer on Amazon. We're also tracking an ongoing low price on the AirPods Max 2, plus great discounts from Anker and Samsung.

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.

M5 MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Take $199 off M5 MacBook Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has sweetened its deal on the 512GB 13-inch M5 MacBook Air this week, dropping the price of the notebook down to $899.99, from $1,099.00. This is a new record low price on the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, and you'll find $199 off every 13-inch model right now on Amazon.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker charging accessories
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Anker's new Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station has been marked down to $109.99 on Amazon, down from $149.99. This is one of Anker's newest accessories, and Amazon's sale today is just $5 higher compared to the all-time low price.

Samsung

• What's the deal? Save on Samsung's new 2026 monitors
• Where can I get it? Samsung
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Samsung's newest monitors are now available to purchase this week, including the Odyssey G8, ViewFinity S8, and Movingstyle Essential. All of these are available with a $50 launch discount, plus your choice of extras including up to $300 in Samsung credit on a future purchase, a free Music Studio speaker, or free Galaxy Buds4 Pro.

AirPods Max 2

• What's the deal? Take $40 off AirPods Max 2
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has a record low price on the AirPods Max 2, now available for $509.00, down from $549.00. This sale is available in two colors of the headphones.

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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Leaker Sonny Dickson today shared images of iPhone 18 Pro dummy models in the device's four rumored colors, offering the first real-world look at what to expect from the lineup visually.

Corroborating previous rumors, the dummies show the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max in Light Blue, Black, Silver, and Dark Cherry. Dickson said "Cherry will probably be the next hit, orange did very well." Cosmic Orange was the signature color of the iPhone 17 Pro and proved popular with customers.

Dark Cherry is expected to serve as the headline new color for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models this year. The color has been in the rumor mill since at least February 2026, when Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was testing a deep red finish for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max. At the time, Gurman described the shade as a deep red, and separate reporting from a Chinese leaker later suggested the color was very likely to make the cut, partly because Android rivals were already prototyping the same shade.

The picture sharpened in April, when Macworld reported that the color would be called Dark Cherry and would be closer to wine than a brighter red, and considerably more muted than Cosmic Orange. The leaker known as "Instant Digital" subsequently corroborated that name, characterizing the shade as a combination of burgundy, coffee, and deep purple. "Instant Digital" has a good track record on Apple color leaks, having accurately predicted the yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.

Macworld's reporting also identified the full four-color lineup, with internal Pantone codes said to be in use at Apple: Light Blue (Pantone 2121), described as resembling the current iPhone 17's Mist Blue; Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076); Dark Gray (Pantone 426C); and Silver (Pantone 427C), said to be similar to the current generation.

The latest images are significant because they mark the first time the rumored colors have been depicted in physical, real-world form rather than renders or supply chain descriptions. That said, dummy models are typically made from plastic or low-quality metals and are not finished to the same standard as production units, meaning the tone and saturation of each color could vary from what Apple ultimately ships. With that caveat, the dummies are consistent with the earlier rumors, suggesting that this will indeed likely be the final color palette of the device.

The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to be announced in the fall alongside the first foldable iPhone.

The iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max's all-new variable aperture lens will cost Apple 50% more than the camera unit used in current models, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Variable aperture has been one of the most persistent iPhone camera rumors of the past few years. Kuo first flagged the feature in late 2024, and it has since been corroborated by multiple reports and apparently entered production earlier this year.

Unlike the fixed f/1.78 aperture found on every iPhone Pro from the 14 Pro through to the 17 Pro, a variable aperture will physically adjust the size of the lens opening to control how much light reaches the sensor, offering better exposure control and greater flexibility over depth of field.

Kuo said that the component has an average selling price roughly 50% higher than the seven-element plastic lens Apple currently uses in the iPhone 17 Pro's main camera. Sunny Optical set to supply Apple between 40 and 50% of orders

Sunny Optical has also become a new compact camera module (CCM) supplier for Apple, initially producing the camera for the MacBook Neo. ‌MacBook Neo‌ shipments have come in significantly better than expected, with Kuo doubling his 2026 forecast from 5 million to 10 million units, a notable upward revision as the entry-level Mac has materially exceeded early expectations.

Looking further ahead, the 2028 iPhone's ultra wide camera module is expected to move away from flip-chip packaging in favor of an improved COB (chip-on-board) design, with Sunny Optical well positioned to become a supplier at that point. A COB ultra-wide module could be thinner or smaller, leaving more room for other components, or simply deliver better image quality from the same physical footprint.

Beyond Apple, Kuo says Sunny Optical has secured component orders for two OpenAI devices, including a smartphone and a pocket or mobile device.

The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to launch in the fall alongside the first foldable iPhone.

Anthropic today announced the launch of its latest AI model, Claude Opus 4.8. Anthropic claims the model is a "more effective collaborator" with improvements in agentic coding, multidisciplinary reasoning, agentic computer use, knowledge work, and agentic financial analysis.

Testers have found Opus 4.8 to be "more reliable and sharper in its judgement" when doing agentic tasks, and the model also made gains in honesty.

Early testers report that Opus 4.8 is more likely to flag uncertainties about its work and less likely to make unsupported claims. This is borne out in our evaluations, which show that Opus 4.8 is around four times less likely than its predecessor to allow flaws in code it has written to pass unremarked.

Alignment assessments suggest the model hits new highs on measures of prosocial traits like supporting user autonomy and acting in the user's best interest. Rates of misaligned behavior like deception are lower than Opus 4.7 and similar to the Claude Mythos Preview.

Anthropic benchmarks indicate Opus 4.8 scored a 69.2% on SWE-Bench Pro, outperforming GPT–5.5 and Gemini 3.1 Pro on the test and several other benchmarks, though GPT–5.5 leads on the terminal-coding benchmark.

Opus 4.8's fast mode also runs at 2.5x the speed, and it is now three times cheaper than prior models.

Along with Opus 4.8, Anthropic is adding new features to its product lineup.

• Dynamic workflows (research preview) - Claude can complete bigger tasks in Claude Code. It is able to plan work and run hundreds of parallel subagents in a single session. It is able to complete codebase-scale migrations across hundreds of thousands of lines of code. The feature is available for Claude Code for Enterprise, Team, and Max plans.
• Effort control - In Claude.ai and Cowork, users can choose how much effort Claude puts into a response. With a lower setting, Claude will respond faster and use up rate limits more slowly. Opus 4.8 defaults to high effort, which Anthropic says is the best balance of quality and user experience.
• Messages API - The Messages API accepts system entries inside the messages array, so developers can update Claude's instructions mid-task.

Claude Opus 4.8 is available everywhere today. Pricing for regular use has not changed compared to Opus 4.7.

Anthropic is working on models that have the same capabilities as Opus 4.8 at a lower cost, and a new class of model that's even more intelligent than Opus. Anthropic says it has been developing safeguards for the Claude Mythos model it is testing with a small number of organizations, and it expects to be able to bring Mythos-class models to all customers "in the coming weeks."

Apple today provided public beta testers with the first betas of iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6, watchOS 26.6, and tvOS 26.6, with the software coming two days after Apple seeded the betas to developers.

After signing up to beta test the software updates on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the new software using the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.

iOS 26.6 has a feature that will let you know when you have blocked too many contacts, but the limit is in the thousands so most users may not ever see the messaging.

No other major new features have been found in any of the software updates, with Apple likely focusing on bug fixes and security improvements. We're nearing the end of the "26" software cycle, with Apple planning to unveil iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and more in 11 days.

Apple has started preparing for its annual Back to School promotion in the U.S. and Canada, according to backend Apple code seen by MacRumors.

Apple holds a Back to School sale each June, providing teachers and students with free accessories or gift cards when purchasing a Mac or an iPad. The added bonus is in addition to Apple's educational discount.

Back to School sales typically start around the middle of the month, but we don't yet know the start dates for this year's sale. The sale continues through the end of September, so students do not need to rush to prepare to return to school.

Apple's Back to School promotions have varied. Last year, Apple offered eligible students, educators, and parents accessories worth up to $199 when purchasing a Mac or an ‌iPad‌. Free options included the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Apple Pencil Pro, and more.

Looking back at Apple's past Back to School dates gives us an idea of when this year's sale will take place.

• 2021 - June 17 to September 27, free AirPods
• 2022 - June 24 to September 26, gift card up to $150 U.S.
• 2023 - June 5 (U.S.)/June 26 (Canada) to October 2, gift card up to $150 U.S.
• 2024 - June 20 to September 30, gift card up to $150 U.S.
• 2025 - June 17 to September 30, free accessory worth up to $199

The Back to School sale typically takes place around WWDC, and in three of the last five years, it has started 8 to 10 days after the WWDC keynote. With the 2026 keynote set to take place on June 8, we're likely to see the sale start the week of June 15.

Students who are planning to purchase a new Mac or ‌iPad‌ may want to hold off until Apple's Back to School sale begins to get an added accessory or gift card.

In past years, MacBooks, iPads, and iMacs have been eligible for a free add-on with purchase.

Apple holds the promotion through its online education store and Apple retail locations. Students attending or accepted to a higher-education institution, parents purchasing on behalf of an eligible student, and employees at K–12 schools and higher-education institutions are eligible.

Earlier this year, Apple began requiring UNiDAYS verification for educational discounts in the United States and Canada. Educational purchases now require academic status verification through an email address from an educational institution, a student or staff photo ID, or another valid educational document.

Apple actually holds two Back to School sales per year, with one aimed at students in Australia, New Zealand, and other Southern Hemisphere markets. This year's January Back to School sale saw Apple offering students free AirPods, Apple Pencils, and other accessories.

After the U.S. and Canada Back to School sales launch, Apple typically extends them to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia a few weeks later.

On the latest episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, Rivian's software chief Wassym Bensaid explained why the EV maker still refuses to offer Apple CarPlay.

In short, Bensaid said Rivian does not want CarPlay to fully take over the software experience.

"The challenge with screen mirroring solutions is that they take over every single pixel in the car," he said.

Instead, Rivian prefers to offer its own interface with "end-to-end integration."

Bensaid added that "deep AI integration into the car" will eventually make the debate over offering CarPlay in vehicles "completely obsolete." He believes that Rivian owners will be able to access the core functionality of many apps through an AI agent, rather than needing to rely on CarPlay or Android Auto.

"I really believe that the way you interact with apps which are mono-threaded, single buttons, single icons, a lot of that will be now completely reshaped into a world where it will become an agentic integration that presents itself into a wholesome user experience to the user," Bensaid explained. However, he admitted that an AI agent becoming an "alternative solution" to CarPlay apps will take time to materialize.

Already, Rivian owners are increasingly less interested in CarPlay, according to Bensaid. He said that Rivian's internal statistics showed that more than 70% of customers wanted CarPlay when their vehicles first launched around five years ago, but he said a recent survey showed that figure is apparently less than 25% now.

"With the level of features that we have shipped to customers, with the level of end-to-end integration, with the level of convenience that we are bringing, CarPlay is, or Android Auto to that extent, is no longer the topic of discussion," he said.

Oura today unveiled the Oura Ring 5, a significantly smaller smart ring with new health-monitoring capabilities including blood pressure trend detection, nighttime breathing analysis, and tools for GLP-1 medication tracking.

The Oura Ring 5 is 40% smaller than its predecessor, measuring 6.09mm wide and 2.29mm thick compared to 7.99mm and 2.88mm on the previous model. Oura says the reduction was achieved by redesigning the mechanical, electrical, optical, battery, and sensing architectures, and the company claims the new form factor more closely resembles a traditional wedding band. Despite the smaller size, Oura says battery life remains at approximately one week per charge.

The ring's sensing system has also been overhauled. A new signal architecture uses precision-engineered sensor domes for better skin contact, more powerful LEDs, and twelve signal pathways that Oura says deliver greater accuracy across more finger types and skin tones.

The headline software addition is "Health Radar," a proactive health-monitoring feature that builds on the company's existing Symptom Radar tool, which launched in 2024 to flag early signs of illness. Health Radar includes two initial capabilities: Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing.

Blood Pressure Signals continuously monitors for patterns that may indicate cardiovascular strain, surfacing nighttime blood pressure trends. Nighttime Breathing provides a 30-day rolling view of sleep-related breathing disturbances, with guidance on when to seek further evaluation.

A new Health Records feature allows U.S. users to import diagnosed conditions, medications, lab results, and allergies directly into the app. Oura has also partnered with Counsel Health, an AI-powered virtual care platform, to let eligible users in 43 U.S. states ask health questions and connect with licensed physicians from within the app for an additional fee.

New GLP-1 Insights tools let users track medication dosing, side effects, weight changes, and biometric data in one place. A Lab Uploads feature lets users import blood biomarker results alongside Oura's biometric data.

Other new features include live workout tracking with real-time pace, distance, and heart rate via a connected device, a Brain Health Study through Oura Labs pairing cognitive assessments with biometric data, and a time-based Data Deletion tool allowing users to erase data from specific periods without affecting their full history.

An optional new Charging Case accessory provides one month of battery and supports wireless charging, priced at $99. Oura is also introducing a Locate feature to track misplaced rings and charging cases.

The Oura Ring 5 is priced at $399 in Silver and Black, with Gold, Stealth, Brushed Silver, and Deep Rose finishes priced at $499. The Oura Ring 4 in ceramic remains available at $349. An Oura Membership is required for full functionality at $5.99 per month or $69.99 annually. Global pre-orders open today, with shipping beginning June 4.