Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day.
We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements today, headlined by a reset on Apple's push into AI that should see a significant overhaul for Siri plus quite a few new AI-driven features.
Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV and Developer apps across its platforms. We will also be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
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The first developer betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 should be available today, and the first public betas typically follow in July.
Apple's WWDC 2026 begins today, with the event kicking off at 10:00 am Pacific Time via the traditional opening keynote. We know that some MacRumors readers who can't follow the event as it's being broadcast are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until the event video is available for on-demand viewing so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.
For those individuals, we've posted this news story, which will be updated with a direct link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.
Replays of Apple's recent events have been made available to view almost immediately following the conclusion of the broadcasts, and we expect similar timing for today's event. Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events as they occur refrain from making any posts about Apple's announcements in this thread.
Ahead of the WWDC 2026 keynote at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today, Apple CEO Tim Cook has shared a short video in which country singer Lainey Wilson, actress Rhea Seehorn, DJ and producer Zedd, and other celebrities say "good morning" in various ways.
"I think I'll say it the way I always say it," concludes Cook.
Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus becomes CEO on September 1, so this WWDC will likely be Cook's final event running the company.
"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," said Cook, back when the CEO transition was announced in April. "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."
Apple is set to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote today, and there are many rumored features and changes for iPhones.
The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September.
Below, we outline 12 new features that are rumored to be coming with iOS 27:
Siri App: A dedicated Siri app will allow users to have back-and-forth conversations with Siri, similar to other chatbots like ChatGPT.
Search or Ask: Swiping down on the Dynamic Island area will open a new "Search or Ask" interface powered by the revamped Siri.
"Create a Pass" in Apple Wallet: iOS 27 will reportedly let users create their own digital passes for physical items like a gym membership card.
Apple Cash Bill Splitting: In the Wallet and Messages apps, a person who paid a bill in full will be able to take a photo of the receipt, assign individual items to certain people, and then generate Apple Cash payment requests for the purpose of reimbursement. Apple Cash is currently available in the U.S. only.
As was the case with iOS 26, it is likely that anyone with an Apple Developer account will be able to install the iOS 27 developer beta for free, with Apple Developer Program membership for $99 per year no longer required. After registering, restart your iPhone and open the Settings app. Next, tap on General → Software Update → Beta Updates and select the iOS 27 Developer Beta once it is seeded later today.
To install a public beta, first sign up at beta.apple.com. After enrolling, restart your iPhone and open the Settings app. Next, tap on General → Software Update → Beta Updates and select the iOS 27 Public Beta once it is available.
iOS beta versions can have bugs and performance issues. Backing up your iPhone before installing beta software is highly recommended.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the real test of today's WWDC keynote is whether Apple can deliver better AI experiences than Google using the same Gemini models.
Apple is using Google's Gemini to underpin the revamped version of Siri and new Apple Intelligence features. The key takeaway from WWDC, Kuo argues in a new post on X, will not be the short-term market reaction after the event. It will be whether Apple, using the same Gemini models, can deliver better AI applications, agentic workflows, and on-device and cloud hybrid experiences than Google.
If the answer is yes, it would help extend Apple's "bull" case. If the answer is no, the implication is that Apple's ceiling is set by a model it does not control. Kuo raised the point arguing against the market sentiment that "Even if Apple is temporarily behind on AI, it will ultimately catch up and come out ahead."
Nevertheless, Kuo believes Apple's business momentum will stay strong through year-end based on his latest supply-chain checks, which he expects observers to spin as "If Apple is doing this well without AI, just imagine once it has AI." Other reports suggest Apple's longer-term advantage could lie in on-device AI, with the company expected to show how its custom silicon lets it process more AI queries directly on the device rather than in the cloud.
Kuo expects today's announcements to have little bearing on the direction of Apple's stock price in the second half of the year. Regardless of what Apple says at WWDC, he argues, the positive second half of 2026 share-price trend is unlikely to change as long as the core narrative stays intact.
The longer-term risk is more pointed. Should Apple fail to outdo Google with Gemini, Kuo says the stock would not necessarily turn bearish, but the assumption that Apple "will ultimately come out ahead" would begin to face growing scrutiny. How much longer the bull narrative can last beyond 2026, in his view, is what makes the keynote worth watching closely.
WWDC 2026 has officially arrived, with Apple set to kick off its annual developer conference with its opening keynote at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today.
Apple will announce its latest software updates, including iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27. Could there also be a surprise or two in store?
Below, we recap five key talking points heading into WWDC 2026:
Apple could announce new hardware at this year's conference – reportedly, it even has a couple of new devices "ready to go" – but we are keeping our expectations in check. Apple is believed to be holding back new additions to the company's hardware lineup until the new version of Siri and other Apple Intelligence upgrades are released to the general public later this year. The global memory shortage is also making Mac upgrades less likely for now.
Apple may gate access to new Siri features via a waitlist when iOS 27 arrives in September, similar to the initial launch of the Apple Intelligence platform two years ago. Apple is still internally labeling the long-delayed revamped Siri as a "beta," suggesting it won't be marketed as finished when it arrives later this year. Today's preview of the software should clarify what still needs work.
macOS 26 Tahoe will be the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs, Apple revealed at last year's WWDC. That means macOS 27 will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, so you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. Dropping support for the legacy chips also means Apple can focus on honing new features exclusively for Apple silicon.
WWDC 2026 will be Apple CEO Tim Cook's last as keynote speaker. The opening keynote of WWDC has been presented by Cook every year since 2012, but the 65-year-old is stepping down as Apple's chief executive officer, and hardware engineering chief John Ternus is set to take over on September 1. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman anticipates that Cook will kick off the keynote, but software chief Craig Federighi will be the most prominent figure for the majority of the presentation as he introduces the new AI-centric features.
This year, macOS Emerald and macOS Big Bear have emerged as two speculative possibilities for the name of macOS 27, which Apple has yet to announce. Meanwhile, Little Finder Guy has re-appeared, this time in WWDC swag bags! The tiny anthropomorphized version of the Mac Finder icon went viral earlier this year after appearing in Apple's MacBook Neo marketing campaign. Could we see the character return during the macOS 27 preview? Fingers crossed!
The 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference will take place this week from June 8 through June 12, and like the last six years, it will be an online event, although select developers and students will be invited to Apple Park. To kick things off, Apple holds a keynote event on the Monday to announce new software, which is what makes it of interest to the general public.
During the keynote event on Monday, June 8, Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27. (The "27" represents the September 2026 to September 2027 release season.)
You can watch the WWDC 2026 keynote event using one of the methods outlined below. The live stream is set to start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time from Apple Park in Cupertino, California. We have a full list of when the event will begin in other time zones in the United States and around the world.
Honolulu, Hawaii -- 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska -- 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona -- 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado -- 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas -- 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada -- 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- 2:00 p.m. BRT (no DST)
London, United Kingdom -- 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa -- 7:00 p.m. SAST
Helsinki, Finland -- 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey -- 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India -- 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia -- 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China -- 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore -- 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia -- 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong -- 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea -- 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan -- 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia -- 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia -- 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand -- 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
Watch the Keynote on YouTube
Watching the WWDC keynote on YouTube may be one of the quickest and easiest ways to catch the event because YouTube is generally available on most devices, including TV sets and consoles.
The YouTube live stream above will be accessible on June 8 when the event kicks off.
Watch the Keynote on Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro
You can watch the WWDC keynote on any Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro using Apple's native Safari browser or another browser. iOS devices must be running iOS 10 or later, and Macs need to be running macOS Sierra 10.12 or later to access the stream. Launch Safari from your chosen device and follow this link to the WWDC 2026 Keynote.
Watch the Keynote Using the Apple TV App
You can watch the WWDC keynote via Apple's TV app on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, and Apple TV, with the link in the TV app becoming available on the day of the event or just before.
Open the TV app on your chosen device.
Scroll down the Watch Now category and select WWDC 2026. Alternatively, type "WWDC" into the Search field and select WWDC 2026 from the results.
Click Play.
The app may tell you to tune in at your local time to watch the event live prior to when the WWDC keynote begins.
Watch the Keynote on a Windows PC
If you don't have an Apple device handy, you can still watch the WWDC 2026 keynote on a PC running Windows 10 or later. Open Microsoft Edge browser and follow this link to the WWDC 2026 Livestream.
While Apple offers no guarantees, other platforms may also be able to access the WWDC 2026 keynote using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC codecs/extensions must be installed).
Watch in the Apple Developer App or Developer Website
For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive X (Twitter) account, so make sure to follow.
Just hours away from WWDC's opening keynote, some developers have been sharing the contents of their conference swag bags on social media. The bags are given to attendees when they register for the event, and typically contain limited-edition Apple gifts.
This year, developers have been registering early at Apple's Infinite Loop campus, where they have been gifted a black tote bag emblazoned with the WWDC 2026 logo, along with a water bottle, a selection of stickers, and collectible enamel pins.
There are four pins in the bag, including the Apple skull and crossbones, an Apple 50 pin, Clarus the Dogcow, and Little Finder Guy – the tiny anthropomorphized version of the Mac Finder icon that went viral after appearing in Apple's recent online marketing campaign for the MacBook Neo.
MacRumors will be in attendance at the keynote, with live coverage of the event beginning shortly after 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Stay tuned to MacRumors.com and our @MacRumorsLive account on X (Twitter). We've also put together a guide explaining all the ways you can watch Apple's WWDC 2026 Keynote live as it happens.
Amazon is set to host its annual Prime Day event later in June, but you can already find massive discounts across popular accessories right now. This includes year's best prices on Anker chargers, Samsung monitors, Sonos audio products, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
An ongoing highlight of these deals is Anker's Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station, available for $109.99 for Prime members this week, down from $149.99. This is one of Anker's newest accessories, and Amazon's sale today is a solid second-best price on the device.
The Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station features Qi2.2 support, which lets a compatible MagSafe iPhone charge at up to 25W. It's the same speed as Apple's MagSafe charger, and it is 10W faster than the standard Qi2 MagSafe chargers. You can also simultaneously charge an Apple Watch and AirPods with the device.
We're also tracking big discounts from brands like UGREEN, Sony, Samsung, Sonos, and more in the lists below. Accessories on sale include USB-C wall chargers, MagSafe-compatible wireless chargers, portable batteries, headphones, soundbars, and monitors.
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!
Sonny Dickson today shared detailed images of a foldable iPhone dummy unit with what appears to be a finalized design, providing the best look yet at the device's look, with the suggestion that the device may only be available in white.
Dummy units are non-functional units intended primarily for display purposes and accessory manufacturers, who need a high level of physical accuracy to mass produce cases and other accessories ahead of a device's announcement. Dickson first shared early-production dummy models of the foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in April, providing the first real visual confirmation of the foldable's passport-style form factor.
The latest foldable iPhone dummy is markedly more detailed than those that have previously circulated. Earlier this week, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" shared what appeared to be an image of a white foldable iPhone dummy, but Dickson's unit offers a substantially clearer view of the design and display.
First look at the iPhone Fold dummy unit. It doesn't look like Apple will offer multiple colors, with white currently appearing to be the only option. What do you think? pic.twitter.com/olMzm6t6Ts
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) June 7, 2026
The images align with the wider body of design rumors accumulated so far. The device is expected to feature a book-style, passport-shaped design with a 4:3 aspect ratio, wider than it is tall and unlike any foldable currently on the market, with a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner OLED panel that would make it just slightly smaller than the iPad mini when open.
The latest dummy models reveal several new design aspects, such as the fact that the cover display will be edge-to-edge and slightly curved at the edges, the camera flash will be located below the rear microphone in the camera plateau, the rear microphone has a new design consisting of seven drilled holes, and the front-facing camera on the inner display is located on the top left. This will almost certainly have implications for the Dynamic Island.
On the device's color, Dickson's observation corroborates a report from Friday, in which the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital" suggested that there may be no black finish, with white potentially being the only option. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple planned to avoid bold colors and stick to traditional finishes.
It is worth noting that several new high-end products such as the Apple Watch Ultra and Vision Pro only launched with one color option. The approach would be broadly consistent with how Apple has handled generationally significant launches before. The iPhone X debuted in November 2017 in just two colors, Silver and Space Gray, at a then-record starting price of $999. The iPhone XS that followed a year later added Gold to the lineup, and Apple may take the same incremental approach with the iPhone Ultra over time.
The foldable iPhone is expected to be announced in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, at a starting price Gurman says will cross the $2,000 threshold.
This week's best Apple deals included a new all-time low price on the AirPods Max 2, which have now hit $499.00 thanks to a $50 discount at Amazon and Best Buy. You'll also find great deals on AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and LG accessories below.
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's AirPods Max 2 hit a new record low price of $499.00 this week on Amazon and Best Buy, down from $549.00. On Amazon, you'll find four colors of the headphones on sale at this price.
AirPods deals were in abundance this week, with the AirPods Pro 3 also on sale at an all-time low price on Amazon. You can still get this model for $199.00, down from $249.00.
AirTag
What's the deal? Take $40 off first gen AirTag 4-Pack
Woot has Apple's first generation AirTag 4-Pack for $59.99 this week, down from $99.99. The AirTag 4-Pack is in new condition and comes with a 90-day Woot limited warranty.
Apple Watch Series 11
What's the deal? Take $100 off Apple Watch Series 11
Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. This sale includes a handful of GPS aluminum models on sale at record low prices.
LG is hosting a big savings event on its website this week, with deals on monitors, TVs, home appliances, and more. Highlights of the event include up to $500 off select LG monitors and up to $1,500 off LG's best TV sets.
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's big week for developers is just around the corner, and that means WWDC 2026 will also be giving everybody else their first peek at what Apple has in store for iOS 27, macOS 27 and more later this year.
Other notable Apple news this week included the popularity of the budget MacBook Neo, the status of new Apple TV and HomePod mini models, iOS 26.5.1 and macOS 26.5.1 bug-fix updates, and more, so read on below for all the details!
Top Stories
What to Expect From WWDC 2026: Gemini-Powered Siri, iOS 27, macOS 27 and More
Apple this week teased the event with a new "All systems glow" tagline, a play on the phrase "all systems go," and it likely hints at Siri's rumored new design on iOS 27. Both a dedicated Siri app and a new "Search or Ask" feature in the iPhone's Dynamic Island will reportedly have a dark color scheme with glowing elements, as shown in leaked images last week.
Apple has also shared new WWDC 2026-themed wallpapers, an Apple Music playlist, and a "Get Ready" video to help developers prepare to get the most out of next week's conference.
MacBook Neo is So Popular That Apple Reportedly Doubled Production
On an earnings call in late April, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said that customer response to the MacBook Neo was "off the charts," and the popularity of the laptop has reportedly led the company to significantly boost production.
The MacBook Neo is quickly reshaping the low-cost laptop segment, with companies like Acer, ASUS, and Dell reacting to the shift and in some cases already introducing their own competing products.
New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored
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.
Apple Releases iOS 26.5.1 to Fix Charging Issue on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Models
Apple this week released iOS 26.5.1, a bug fix update that is only available for the iPhone Air and all models in the iPhone 17 lineup. According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes a previously documented charging issue with iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models.
macOS Tahoe also got a 26.5.1 release this week, and it fixes an issue that can affect certain enterprise users on Macs equipped with the latest M5 chip.
First 'Confirmed' iPhone Ultra Color Allegedly Revealed in Leaked Image
Posted on Weibo by the Chinese leaker known as Ice Universe, the image purportedly offers a first glimpse of Apple's foldable in white. The device is believed to have entered early mass production, but the model shown is likely a dummy. Regardless, fellow leaker Instant Digital has said white is so far the only "confirmed" finish that the device will be available in.
The iPhone Ultra will reportedly feature vapor chamber cooling and a liquid metal hinge, with production efforts said to be ramping up now following reports of some delays due to various challenges with the complicated high-end device.
iPhone 18 Pro Battery Capacities Allegedly Leaked
Battery capacities for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro have allegedly surfaced, and the numbers suggest only a modest increase over the iPhone 17 Pro.
According to prolific Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing the iPhone 18 Pro with different battery capacities for the China and U.S. versions of the device, similar to last year's iPhone 17 Pro models. The Chinese model is said to have a roughly 4,056 mAh battery, while the U.S. model is said to have a roughly 4,288 mAh battery.
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's 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference is just days away, and it's going to be an interesting event because it will give us a look at Apple's AI plans. We'll see how Apple is going to compete with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google in the months to come with an AI version of Siri and new AI features for its apps.
Big changes are coming in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, and Apple employees haven't been able to keep quiet. We've heard details on a long list of AI updates Apple has planned, with enough detail that screenshots could be recreated by Bloomberg. Much of what's rumored relates to AI features and changes.
New Siri Features
Based on Apple's promises and rumors about what's coming in the new version of iOS, Siri in iOS 27 will be nothing like Siri in iOS 26. In 2024, Apple showed us three ways that Siri will improve, but two years have passed and extra work has been done, so we're expecting even more than what Apple demonstrated back then.
Siri is going to be able to draw on user data and information from Apple devices, with access to personal data for completing tasks. The assistant is also going to be able to do more with apps, and it will be able to tell what's on the screen to answer questions.
Personal Context
Siri will be able to access emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning all about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent. Apple offered some examples of how personal context will work:
Show me the files Eric sent me last week.
Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.
Find the books that Eric recommended to me.
Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?
What's my passport number?
Onscreen Awareness
Onscreen awareness will let Siri see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, you can tell Siri to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask Siri to do it for you.
App Integration
Siri will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what Siri will be capable of, but Apple gave a few examples of what to expect.
Moving files from one app to another.
Editing a photo and then sharing it with someone.
Getting directions home and sending the ETA in the Messages app.
Drafting and then sending an email.
Siri will be able to complete tasks in Apple apps and in third-party apps, with developers able to expose app capabilities to Siri.
Siri Chatbot
Apple needs a Siri app because Siri is becoming a chatbot. Siri will be like ChatGPT or Claude, able to draw on information from the web to provide answers to questions.
Siri will be deeply integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS at the system level, and can draw on device information. It will know more personal context than before, and will be able to access emails, texts, photos, calendar information, contacts, notes, and other personal data. Some of what Siri will be able to do:
Search the web for information
Generate images
Generate content
Summarize information
Analyze uploaded files
Use personal data to complete tasks
Ingest information from emails, messages, files and more
Write emails, notes, and texts
Analyze open windows and on-screen content to take action
Control device features and settings
Search for on-device content, replacing Spotlight
Siri will be integrated into Apple apps like Mail, Messages, Photos, and Apple TV.
Siri Design
With Siri's chatbot transition, Apple will be making multiple Siri-related design changes. Siri will largely live in the Dynamic Island, and Bloomberg says there will be new ways to access Siri.
Swiping down from the center of the iPhone's display from the Home Screen or any app will bring up a new "Search or Ask" feature in the Dynamic Island. A glowing, pill-shaped animation will be displayed in the Dynamic Island to indicate that Siri is processing a request.
When Siri has an answer, the Dynamic Island will expand into a transparent card with the result, incorporating images, info from the web, notes and other information relevant to the query or request. Swiping on the results card will bring up a conversation mode that looks similar to an iMessage chat, and there will be an option to transition to the full Siri app.
Search or Ask replaces Siri Suggestions and will let users launch apps, start text messages, ask about the weather, add calendar appointments, trigger shortcuts in apps, and search the web using Apple's new AI web search feature. Search or Ask queries can also be sent to third-party chatbot services like ChatGPT instead of Siri.
While Siri can be accessed through a swipe in iOS 27, Apple is keeping the "Hey Siri" wake word and Siri activation through the Side button. With the new center swipe, accessing the Notification Center will be done with a swipe down on the left side of the display. Swiping down on the right side will continue to bring up Control Center. With the change to how Notification Center is accessed, notifications will now slide in from the left side of the iPhone instead of the top of the display.
Apple will also integrate an "Ask Siri" button into the menus of its apps, giving users a way to send content directly to Siri alongside a request.
The new Siri interface uses dark colors with no light mode available. Siri UI elements have a dark background with color accents that mirror the options Apple is using in WWDC imagery. Apple's WWDC website features a white Swift bird with subtle highlights in pink, dark blue, purple, and orange.
Standalone Siri App
Bloomberg recently shared a mockup of what the standalone Siri app will look like, and it's similar to other chatbot apps like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.
Siri will support text or voice-based conversations. The app will open with an "Ask Siri" bar where users can type in a question. A paperclip icon will be available for attaching images, PDFs, and other documents. Apple will provide prompts with suggestions on what users can ask.
Questions will resemble iMessage chat bubbles, with Apple adopting a design that is familiar to users. Responses will include links, images, and other information.
A section of the app will be dedicated to past conversations that can be shown in a card-style interface with conversation summaries, or a list view. Users will be able to tap into a conversation to continue it.
Siri Privacy
Apple plans to lean into privacy as a central principle of its approach to AI, giving it a way to distinguish Siri from other chatbot options. Apple will likely aim to keep as much processing on-device as possible to limit the amount of data that leaves a user's device.
Apple said that Apple Intelligence features will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute.
Apple will have limits around memory, including restrictions on the information that can persist and how long it is kept. Users will be able to auto-delete Siri chats and requests after a set period of time, like 30 days or one year. There will also be an option to keep chats permanently, and chats will sync across Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.
Siri can be turned off right now, as can Apple Intelligence, and there's no sign that's going to change in iOS 27. Users who don't want to enable Siri or use the new features will not have to.
Siri Extensions
Apple is letting rival chatbots integrate with Siri in iOS 27, expanding on the OpenAI partnership that currently allows Siri to hand off requests to ChatGPT, Bloomberg says Apple plans to allow other chatbots like Claude and Gemini to work with Siri, so users will be able to send questions to their favorite chatbot instead of Siri.
iPhone users will be able to select which services they want to use inside Siri through "Extensions" options coming to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The options will be available in the Apple Intelligence and Siri section of the Settings app, with Apple providing download links for chatbot apps. There will be a dedicated Extensions section in the App Store that will serve as a way to choose a third-party AI app.
Siri will be the default for the Search or Ask interface, but rumors suggest users will be able to select other chatbots to speak with. Users will also be able to choose third-party AI services as the default for Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Image Playground, expanding Apple Intelligence integration beyond ChatGPT.
Apple also plans to let users choose voices from third-party AI to use instead of Siri, so there will be a distinct audio difference between a response from Siri and a response from the user's chatbot of choice. Siri would use one voice, while responses from third-party AI options would use another voice.
Google Gemini Backbone
To get Siri up and running, Apple partnered with Google to use Gemini AI models instead of using its own AI models. Apple signed a multi-year deal to use Google's Gemini models and cloud technology for its Apple Foundation Models, and it's costing Apple somewhere around $1 billion a year.
Google and Apple said that the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google Gemini models, with Gemini used to power future Apple Intelligence features and the more personalized version of Siri.
Apple said Google's AI technology offered the most capable foundation for its models.
iOS 27 Apps and Feature Updates
Camera
Apple is moving Visual Intelligence from the Camera Control button to the Camera app in iOS 27. Bloomberg has shared images of the new interface, featuring a Siri mode that's available alongside the existing Photo, Video, Portrait, and Panorama modes. When in Siri mode, the existing Camera app shutter button will feature the Apple Intelligence logo, letting users know the Siri features are available.
Siri mode is a renaming of Visual Intelligence, and it will make the feature more visible. Accessing Visual Intelligence in iOS 26 requires users to hold down the Camera Control button or assign the feature to the Action button, and many people may not even know it exists.
Visual Intelligence can identify objects, plants, animals, art, books, and more, searching for whatever the user snaps on Google Image Search. In iOS 27, Siri will be able to answer questions about what a user is looking at, providing information from the web.
Apple is adding new Visual Intelligence capabilities in iOS 27, and they will be available through the Camera app Siri mode.
Nutrition - Users can scan nutrition labels on food packaging for calorie and macronutrient tracking using the Health app.
Contacts - Visual Intelligence will let users scan phone numbers and addresses on business cards and other print media, adding the information to the Contacts app.
Apple plans to make the Camera app more customizable in iOS 27. iPhone users will be able to replace the top row of camera shortcuts with options of their choosing, selecting features like flash, exposure, timer, depth of field, photo styles, and resolution.
Camera controls, now labeled as widgets, can be placed at the top of the Camera interface in any order. Users can select widgets from a transparent widget tray that comes up from the bottom of the app and organizes widgets into categories like basic, manual, and settings.
The Camera app will have the same default layout that's available now with quick tap buttons for flash, Live Photos, and Night Mode, but the customizable widget interface will be added as an advanced layout that will appeal to professional users.
iPhone users can currently tap on an icon at the top right of the Camera app to access all of the Camera controls, but Apple is moving that view to the right of the shutter button in iOS 27.
The Camera app is also going to get new grid and level options that will join the existing features.
Extend - Extend generates additional image content beyond the original frame of the photo, filling in scenery when changing the crop of an image. This tool will support expanding the edges of an image with zoom gestures.
Reframe - When used with spatial photos, Reframe will let users change the perspective of an image after it's captured.
Apple is also testing an AI photo editing feature that lets users request edits using natural language. Users would be able to tweak color, lighting, cropping, and other image parameters without having to use manual tools. The natural-language editing feature may not arrive in the first version of iOS 27.
Shortcuts
The iOS 27 Shortcuts app will support using natural language to create a shortcut with AI. Users will be able to tell Siri what they want to accomplish with a multi-step shortcut, and Siri will generate it.
The Shortcuts app will open with a prompt that says "What do you want your shortcut to do?" with a text field to enter a description. Shortcuts that are created using AI are then automatically installed and immediately available for use.
Wallet
The Wallet app is getting a "Create a Pass" option so users can generate digital passes from scans of physical items like movie tickets, concert passes, and gym membership cards.
Users can tap on the "+" button in the Wallet app and then scan a QR code on a pass or ticket if one is available. If there is no QR code available, there will be an option to create a custom pass.
There are three pass types in Create a Pass, each with a different color. Apple is using purple for events, blue for memberships, and orange for other types of passes. Users can customize images, colors, style, and text on the digital passes.
Apple is also adding an AI bill-splitting feature that will work with Apple Cash. iPhone users will be able to take a photo of a receipt and generate Apple Cash payment requests for different people.
Image Playground and Genmoji
Apple is updating the Image Playground app. The interface for generating a new image has fewer controls and a "describe a change" option for editing images that are created. Previously created images are displayed in a grid with more rounded edges, and instead of a New Image button, there's a "+" button.
Apple has also been testing new models that produce more lifelike images, so we could see new image generation capabilities in iOS 27 with better image quality.
Genmoji is also getting an update so it will use fewer resources, causing less battery drain and fewer heat problems. Genmoji will be better quality with a new Genmoji model, and a Suggested Genmoji feature will bring up custom emoji ideas based on your media and text history.
Writing Tools
Apple is testing an expanded version of Writing Tools that will do more rewriting and text generation than the current version. There is a "Write with Siri" toggle at the top of the keyboard, according to Bloomberg, along with a "Help Me Write" option that comes up when Siri is activated while a text field is open.
Apple is going to add a dedicated AI grammar checker that will work alongside the current spell check. When writing in Messages, Mail, and other apps there will be a translucent menu that slides up from the bottom of the iPhone's screen, and it will show suggested revisions next to the original written text.
Users can go through the suggestions and accept or reject them one by one, approve all of the changes at once, or ignore the changes.
Other Features
Wallpaper - There will be an option to generate custom wallpapers with the Image Playground app, with the feature built into the interface for selecting a new wallpaper.
Safari - Safari will get an updated start page with four tabs for switching between favorites, bookmarks, Reading List, and history.
Calendar - Rumors suggest the Calendar app will incorporate new AI features. Siri will also be able to draw on information in the app.
Health - With a new calorie scanning feature coming to the Camera app, calorie tracking will be more prominent in the Health app. Apple was also planning a Health+ subscription service, and while that's been scaled back, there could be other AI health app changes.
Weather - The Weather app will have a new Conditions panel for switching between temperature, rain, and wind from the main interface, without the need to tap into a weather module.
AirPods settings - The AirPods interface in the Settings app will be simplified, with options featuring better organization. Major features like hearing health will be easier to find.
AirPlay Alternatives - Apple is adding a feature that will let users beam content to AirPlay alternatives like Google Cast. It could be limited to iPhone users in the EU because it is being implemented as a Digital Markets Act requirement.
iOS 27 System-Wide Design Changes
There are system-wide design changes coming in iOS 27. The separate tab bar in apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, News, and Apple TV will be adjusted to combine search with the other navigation options. Apple separated search in many apps when introducing Liquid Glass, but it's reverting to the original look.
When using the on-screen keyboard, there's a new animation that shows the keys sliding up from the bottom of the iPhone interface, and Apple is adding redo and undo controls for easier customization of the Home Screen's icon and widget layouts.
Apple doesn't plan to make major changes to the Liquid Glass aesthetic in iOS 27, but the company is mulling a system-wide setting that would precisely adjust the look of the interface. In iOS 26.2, Apple added a slider that lets users adjust the opacity of Liquid Glass for the Lock Screen's clock, and that setting could be expanded to the entire operating system.
iOS 27 Updates for Foldable iPhone
The first foldable iPhone will be introduced in September. Rumors suggest that it will feature a 5.5-inch display when folded, and a 7.8-inch display when it's opened up like a book.
An iPhone with a larger display will require major updates to iOS, and iOS 27 will focus on building new interfaces and experiences made for a larger smartphone display.
The iPhone Fold will operate like a cross between an iPhone and an iPad, but it will run iOS, not iPadOS, and it won't support iPad apps. When unfolded, the iPhone will have an iPad-like layout that supports multitasking with two apps side-by-side. Many of Apple's iPhone apps will have sidebars on the left of the display, with Apple providing developers with tools to easily adapt their apps to the new layout.
Apple is using a wider design for the iPhone Fold than most foldable smartphone makers have used, and it is rumored to have an iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio. When the iPhone is closed, it will have a standard iPhone layout that looks like the version of iOS we have now.
iOS 27 Satellite Features
Apple is working on several new satellite features for the iPhone, and it's possible some features could be introduced as soon as 2027.
Satellite connectivity without the need for a view of the sky
iOS 27 Accessibility Updates
Each May, Apple previews new accessibility features that are coming later in the year. This year, Apple showed off some new options that are expected in the iOS 27 update.
Apple is adding new Apple Intelligence features to VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Accessibility Reader.
VoiceOver Image Explorer uses Apple Intelligence for detailed descriptions of images throughout the system, including photographs, scanned bills, and personal records. Users can press the Action button on the iPhone to ask questions about what the camera viewfinder sees, with follow-up questions supported in natural language.
Magnifier brings Apple Intelligence-powered visual descriptions to its high-contrast interface for users with low vision, with support for spoken commands like "zoom in" or "turn on flashlight."
Voice Control gains natural language input so users can describe onscreen elements conversationally, such as "tap the guide about best restaurants" or "tap the purple folder," rather than memorizing exact label names or numbers. Apple says the feature can also help when users want to access on-screen elements that don't have clear accessibility labels.
Accessibility Reader gains support for more complex document layouts including scientific articles with multiple columns, images, and tables, plus on-demand summaries and built-in translation that retains a user's custom font, color, and formatting preferences.
Generated Subtitles use on-device speech recognition to automatically transcribe spoken audio in uncaptioned video content, including clips recorded on iPhone, received from friends and family, or streamed online, across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. The feature will be available in English in the U.S. and Canada at launch.
iOS 27 Performance and Stability
Bloomberghas described iOS 27 as a "Snow Leopard" update, suggesting that Apple will focus on improving underlying performance and quality.
Apple is prioritizing cleaning up the iOS code and removing anything that's outdated, which could mean upgrading apps to improve performance and rewriting some existing features to be more efficient. The code updates could provide a more responsive, faster version of iOS.
Apple is also aiming for efficiency improvements that could translate into tangible battery life gains.
iOS 27 Compatibility
iOS 27 is expected to drop support for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and second-generation iPhone SE. It will be available on all other iPhones that support iOS 26.
iPadOS 27
Many of the features that are coming in iOS 27 will also extend to the iPad, including all of the new Siri capabilities. We haven't heard rumors of iPad-specific features as of yet.
macOS 27
Like iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, macOS 27 will adopt the new version of Siri with chatbot capabilities, personal context and the ability to access data on your Mac, and improved integration in and between apps. A standalone Siri app for the Mac is likely.
We've heard a lot about what Siri will look like on the iPhone, with it set to be integrated into the Dynamic Island, but no detail on how Siri will look on the Mac. The Siri Mac interface will be more of a surprise.
The Photos app feature for AI reframing and extending an image will be available, as will the text-based option to create a Shortcut with natural language commands. Grammar checking capabilities will be added to Writing Tools, and Image Playground and Genmoji will see improvements to the underlying models. Apple is experimenting with more realistic models, so Image Playground might be able to generate content that's not so cartoonish.
Safari is expected to have a new feature that uses AI to automatically group tabs that are similar to one another, expanding on the tab groups feature.
In iOS 27, we're getting some minor tweaks to Liquid Glass, including tab bars that do away with the standalone search option and possibly a slider for adjusting the overall look of Liquid Glass, but we know less about what to expect for Liquid Glass on the Mac. There has been criticism of the Mac's Liquid Glass interface in particular, so Apple could have changes planned.
Bloomberg claims Apple is working on a "slight redesign" for macOS 27, with plans to address "quirks" with shadows and transparency.
Apple is working on an OLED MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, so there could be new touch-based interface options hidden in macOS 27. The OLED MacBook Pro likely isn't launching until early 2027, so it's not something we're expecting to see in the launch version of macOS 27.
macOS Naming
We don't know what Apple is going to call macOS 27, but it will likely continue to have a California landmark name. The filename of Apple's hashmoji for WWDC 2026 on X is "Project Big Bear," leading to speculation that Apple might go with macOS Big Bear.
The filename could be unrelated to macOS 27, and it's possible Apple will choose something else entirely. Apple has trademarked multiple California-themed names in the past, including Diablo, Grizzly, Mammoth, Miramar, Pacific, Redtail, Redwood, Shasta, Skyline, and Tiburon.
Performance Improvements
Apple has been working on refinements to macOS that will include bug fixes, performance improvements, and tweaks to boost battery life.
No More Intel Macs
Apple is dropping support for Intel Macs with macOS 27, so if you have an Intel Mac, it's not going to be able to run the new Mac software. macOS Tahoe is the last version of macOS that will work on Intel Macs.
Apple is also phasing out Rosetta 2 support, and macOS 27 will be the last version of macOS that includes it. Rosetta 2 lets Apple silicon Macs run apps built for Intel Macs, so older apps that still have the outdated architecture will no longer work in macOS 28.
Current Intel Macs that run macOS Tahoe but won't run macOS 27 include the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020, the 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019, the 27-inch iMac from 2020, and the 2019 Mac Pro.
watchOS 27
In watchOS 27, Apple plans to introduce new watch faces, including a variant of the Modular Ultra face. The new watch face will have a large time readout with three complications, and it will be available for all Apple Watch models.
We haven't heard anything else about new watchOS 27 features, and Apple Watch software updates tend to be on the smaller side. With Apple planning to add an option for generating a wallpaper using AI on the iPhone, it's possible there could be some Apple Watch equivalent feature.
Some of the new Siri features could work on the watch, and some of the AI features might transition, like grammar correction when writing or dictating on the watch.
tvOS 27
We haven't heard anything about tvOS 27, and Apple TV updates are usually not super exciting. With the Apple TV expected to be refreshed with a chip that works with Apple Intelligence later this year, we could see Apple introduce some AI features for the Apple TV.
Better TV and movie recommendations are a possibility, as is a more capable Siri that is better at handling requests. There could also be new smart home integrations that will work alongside a centralized smart home hub Apple is rumored to be launching this year. One feature we do know about is larger text, which is an Accessibility option Apple is adding.
visionOS 27
visionOS 27 will apparently be "light on new features," but it could get the same AI app updates and Siri changes that are coming to Apple's other platforms.
New Hardware?
There are several products that Apple is still expected to launch in 2026, but it's not looking like any of them are going to be unveiled at WWDC. With several new software updates to cover and an all-new version of Siri, Apple may not want to take the focus away from its software announcements.
We are expecting M5 Mac Studio and Mac mini updates at some point, plus there could be a new iMac. Unfortunately, high RAM costs and chip shortages mean delayed Mac refreshes, and new models aren't expected until later in the year.
The low-cost iPad still hasn't been refreshed, and updates for the HomePod mini and Apple TV are apparently ready to go. There's also a new smart home hub tied to the new version of Siri, but it's not likely to come out until Siri sees an official launch in the fall.
How to Watch
WWDC 2026 begins at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 8. Apple plans to stream the WWDC keynote on YouTube, the Apple TV app everywhere it's available, and the Apple Events website.
Betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 will be seeded to developers after Apple's keynote event. Public betas will come out in July, and after several months of testing, the updates will launch to the public in the fall.
This is the first time the Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 have been available through Apple's online refurbished store since the devices launched last September.
Refurbished pricing on the 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $369, down from $429, while Apple Watch Ultra 3 pricing starts at $699, down from $799. Apple Watch SE 3 40mm models start at $209, which is $40 less than the standard $249 price.
Apple has limited colors and sizes available for the Apple Watch Series 11, but refurbished stock changes regularly. If you're looking for a specific color, you can check back later to see if it's in stock. Both Apple Watch Ultra 3 colors are available, and there are also several SE 3 options in stock.
Refurbished devices go through a rigorous cleaning and inspection process prior to sale, according to Apple. Refurbished products feature the same one-year limited warranty as newly purchased devices, and they are eligible for AppleCare+.
Apple offers around a 15 percent discount on its refurbished products, but you can get even better prices from third-party sellers. Amazon has the Apple Watch Series 11 available starting at $299 this week.
Google's Chrome browser hit new records on browser benchmarking tools Speedometer 3.1 and JetStream 3, Google said today.
Chrome earned a score of 61 on Speedometer, a five percent improvement since last year. It earned a 469 on JetStream 3, a 10 percent improvement since the beginning of 2026. Tests were done on an M5 MacBook Pro running macOS 26.0.1.
Google says it holds a dual record across all browsers, beating every other Mac browser, including Safari.
Google reworked JavaScript handling to boost its benchmarking scores, skipping unnecessary execution steps and inlining asynchronous operations. Inlining "fast paths" for common operations resulted in speed gains across multiple daily tasks.
Improvements were also implemented for WebAssembly workloads and the Blink rendering engine, with details available on Google's Chromium blog.
Google says the benchmarking wins translate into a "meaningfully faster" browsing experience for Chrome users.
The event's tagline, "All Systems Glow," is widely seen as a hint at Siri's new design. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is rebuilding Siri as a full chatbot to compete with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, complete with a dedicated app, Dynamic Island integration, and a new system-wide search interface wrapped in a dark, glowing aesthetic that matches the WWDC branding. The dedicated Siri app for back-and-forth conversations is said to be modeled on iMessage, with voice input and the ability to attach images and documents. Users will reportedly be able to set conversation history to auto-delete after 30 days, one year, or never.
A new system-wide interface called "Search or Ask" purportedly replaces Siri Suggestions entirely, triggered by swiping down from the top center of the screen. From there, users can launch apps, start texts, set reminders, trigger Shortcuts, or query Apple's new AI web search, which Gurman says Apple is positioning as a Perplexity competitor. Results apparently appear as a translucent card in the Dynamic Island, and swiping further opens the full Siri app. Notification Center moves to a top-left swipe, while Control Center stays top-right.
The new Siri will reportedly be able to answer multi-part questions, maintain conversational context, summarize uploaded documents, generate images, and draw on personal data across first-party apps like Mail, Messages, Photos, Notes, Contacts, Calendar, and Reminders. Apple is powering its new AI features with a custom model based on Google's Gemini, after its own models reportedly fell short. Gurman says the personalized Siri still carries a "beta" label in internal builds, and there is a "strong chance" it ships that way.
iOS 27 will also purportedly introduce an "Extensions" feature letting users choose which AI service powers Siri, with a dedicated App Store section for third-party integrations. Users will reportedly be able to set ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and others as the default for Writing Tools, Image Playground, and more, with third-party responses using a distinct voice so users can tell which is speaking. Apple has also reportedly held talks with developers about deeper agentic integrations, and is said to be replacing Core ML with a new Core AI framework.
Apple is reportedly giving the Camera app a major overhaul, moving Visual Intelligence from the Camera Control button into a dedicated Siri mode inside the app. Apple is also purportedly making the interface fully customizable via a widget tray, letting users arrange controls like flash, exposure, timer, and depth of field. Visual Intelligence will allegedly also gain the ability to scan nutrition labels for Health app tracking and read contact details from business cards.
Photos is said to be getting three new AI editing tools alongside the existing Clean Up feature. "Extend" generates content beyond the original frame, "Reframe" changes the perspective of spatial photos, and "Enhance" applies automatic color and lighting adjustments. Writing Tools are reportedly getting a grammar checker with per-suggestion accept and reject controls, and keyboard autocorrect is said to be gaining Grammarly-style alternative word suggestions.
Apple is reportedly redesigning Image Playground with a simpler interface and new models producing more lifelike images. Genmoji is allegedly getting a new model that improves quality and reduces battery drain, with a Suggested Genmoji feature drawing on the user's media and messages. AI-generated wallpapers are also reportedly coming, with Image Playground built into the wallpaper picker.
The Wallet app is purportedly gaining a "Create a Pass" feature for digitizing physical tickets and membership cards, and Apple Cash is reportedly getting a bill-splitting feature that lets users photograph a receipt, assign items to individuals, and send payment requests via Wallet or Messages. Shortcuts is said to be getting a natural language interface for building automations by description.
Apple also previewed a wide range of accessibility improvements ahead of WWDC, including AI-powered descriptions in VoiceOver and Magnifier, an upgraded Accessibility Reader for complex document layouts, automatic video captions generated on-device, and a new FaceTime API for live sign language interpretation. For visionOS, Apple is adding Power Wheelchair Control using Vision Pro's eye-tracking, Vehicle Motion Cues for users in moving vehicles, and face gesture support for system actions.
Leaker "Instant Digital" claims iOS 27 will drop support for the iPhone 11 lineup and second-generation iPhone SE, requiring at least an iPhone 12, with Apple Intelligence continuing to require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. macOS 27 is said to share the same Siri and Apple Intelligence upgrades, with refinements to Liquid Glass and the same performance focus. It will reportedly be Apple silicon only, dropping all remaining Intel Macs, and is said to be the last release to include full Rosetta support.
Gurman described iOS 27 overall as a "Snow Leopard" update, with Apple prioritizing stability, code cleanup, and battery life gains alongside the new features. The keynote begins June 8 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with developer betas expected the same day and a public release in September. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote date, the sweeping Siri redesign coming in iOS 27, Apple's latest accessibility feature previews, and the hinge troubles reportedly plaguing the foldable iPhone ahead of its expected launch in the fall.
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.
CalDigit is best known for its docks and hubs, and it has two options designed for Apple's latest Macs. I reviewed the larger $500 20-port TS5 Plus last summer, and for the last couple of weeks, I've been testing the $400 15-port TS5 that launched a bit later than the premium model, and the smaller $250 Element 5 Hub.
TS5
The TS5 is probably the Thunderbolt 5 dock that I would recommend if someone on the street came up to me and asked which Thunderbolt 5 dock to buy. It's smaller and takes up less space on a desk than the TS5 Plus, it has no fans like some competing docks, and it has a useful port selection. With some exceptions, it'll meet the needs of most people.
Thunderbolt 5 docks are ideal for Apple's Thunderbolt 5 Macs (the M4 Pro, M4 Max, M5 Pro, and M5 Max), but they're also backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 Macs, so you can use the TS5 with almost any Mac to add ports for displays and accessories.
Ports on the front:
Audio jack
USB-C with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W
USB-C with 10Gb/s speeds and 20W
MicroSD card slot (UHS-II)
SD card slot (UHS-II)
Ports on the back:
Audio in/out
USB-C port with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W
USB-A port with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W
USB-A port with 480Mb/s speeds and 7.5W
2.5 GbE
Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports with 15W charging
One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port with 140W charging
The TS5 does not have dual USB controllers like the TS5 Plus, it has 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet instead of 10GbE, it doesn't have DisplayPort, and it has three fewer USB-A ports and two fewer USB-C ports than the TS5 Plus. The TS5 has three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports instead of two, so it beats the TS5 Plus (which only has two), but the higher-end TS5 Plus has more charging power. The front USB-C port on the TS5 Plus is 36W, as are the two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports at the back.
The TS5 has the same general design that CalDigit has used for its last several docks. It's made from a space gray aluminum material with ribbing on the top and sides for dissipating heat. Though it has no fan, it never got beyond lukewarm in my testing, and I was surprised at how cool it stayed. The TS5 Plus ran much warmer when I tested it, but the smaller TS5 wouldn't keep me cozy on a freezing night.
The dock's design blends in well with a desk setup, but like most Thunderbolt 5 docks, it's not going to turn any heads. I don't have space gray equipment so the color doesn't match my MacBook or my Studio Display, but it doesn't look too out of place. I wish accessory makers would adopt bolder, brighter colors, but I'm guessing gray and black are what sell.
CalDigit's TS5 dock is about 5.5 inches tall, 4.5 inches wide, and a little under two inches thick. It fits well under a display, and it can be positioned either upright or on its side. There is a separate 240W power brick, and that's typical for most Thunderbolt 5 docks. Along with the power supply, CalDigit includes a braided 1-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable, and I appreciate the cable upgrade because not all docks come with nice cables.
One thing I appreciate about CalDigit over some other dock makers is the info the website provides. I think the average person probably finds hubs and docks somewhat confusing, especially when it comes to determining which displays and how many external displays a dock supports with a given Mac. CalDigit has an extensive chart with all Apple silicon Macs listed, so it's fairly easy to see what your Mac will support. Thunderbolt 5 supports up to 80Gb/s speeds with bandwidth boost up to 120Gb/s for displays, twice that of Thunderbolt 4.
The TS5 supports up to four 6K 60Hz displays, but only if you're using a Mac with an M5 Max chip. It'll also run dual 8K 60Hz displays, dual 4K 240Hz displays, or four 4K displays with up to a 144Hz refresh rate. When used with an M5 Pro Mac, the dock supports up to three 6K 60Hz displays, and for Macs with earlier Pro/Max chips, the dock is limited to dual displays. You can power dual 8K 60Hz displays using the TS5 with an M4 Max or M5 Max Mac, while other machines cap out with two 6K 60Hz displays. The base M-series chips have different support depending on generation too. The M4 and M5 chips can support two external displays up to 6K at 60Hz with the TS5, but M1 and M2 chips only support one. The M3 is a special exception because it supports two displays when the Mac is in clamshell mode, or one with the display open.
I tested with a Studio Display and a Studio Display XDR, both of which are 5K displays. I also tested with a Studio Display and a 32-inch 120Hz OLED display, and I didn't run into any issues with either setup.
There is one 5K display limitation that potential buyers should be aware of, and that's support for the LG UltraFine 5K monitors. The dock does not support dual LG UltraFine 5K displays unless used with an M5 Max MacBook Pro.
I used every port at once and performance was as expected, but I did run into an issue with the TS5 not recognizing SSDs. SSDs that I plugged into the two USB-C ports weren't popping up, but a Thunderbolt 5 SSD was fine. Unplugging the dock and plugging it in again didn't work, but restarting my Mac did. I've had the same problem intermittently, but after the first time, unplugging the dock and then plugging it back in seemed to work. It doesn't happen every time, but losing SSD connectivity through the USB-C ports is a hassle.
The TS5 has 140W host charging, which is more than enough for all of Apple's notebooks. The Thunderbolt 5 ports and the 10Gb/s USB-C and USB-A ports have offline charging so you can charge accessories with the dock when your Mac isn't connected.
Element 5 Hub
I also spent a short amount of time with CalDigit's $250 Element 5 Hub, which is an impressive little device. It's as small as the 180W power brick it comes with, and it's the Thunderbolt 5 option to get if you need minimal ports.
The Element 5 Hub has four Thunderbolt 5 ports (one upstream, three downstream), two USB-C ports, and three USB-A ports. 90W host charging is available for a connected Mac, which is enough to keep my 16-inch MacBook Pro charged. The downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports have 15W for accessories, and the USB-C ports offer 7.5W. Like the TS5, the ports work even when the hub isn't connected to a host computer.
Since there are three Thunderbolt 5 ports, the Element 5 Hub can drive the same number of displays as the TS5. It doesn't have as many USB-C ports, no SD card slots, and no audio jack, but if all you need is Thunderbolt and a couple of USB-C/USB-A ports, this is the way to go.
I love how little space the Element 5 takes up on my desk, so much so that I may adopt one for long-term use. I do use SD card slots, but the smaller size may be worth the sacrifice. The Element 5 is 2.75 inches wide, 4.5 inches long, and an inch thick. It's about the same size as my Thunderbolt 5 SSD, and smaller than an iPhone. If you want compact, get this dock.
Bottom Line
I prefer the TS5 over the TS5 Plus because of the extra Thunderbolt 5 port on the TS5. I can connect two displays and still have a port for a Thunderbolt 5 SSD, which isn't the case with the TS5 Plus. Unfortunately, I'm continually running into problem where SSDs connected to the USB-C ports on the dock don't work, and that makes it hard to recommend to someone who needs to use it for storage purposes. I can just restart the dock, but I shouldn't have to. TB5 SSDs are fine, so are USB-C SSDs connected through a Thunderbolt port.
CalDigit's more expensive TS5 Plus is a better option than the TS5 if you need DisplayPort 2.1, 10GbE, or an absurd number of USB-A ports (five for the TS5 Plus vs two for the TS5). The TS5 Plus also has dual 10Gb/s USB controllers, which is useful if you want to run multiple high-speed SSDs or drives at the same time.
If you only need a limited number of ports, I'd definitely recommend checking out the Element 5 Hub. It's compact, but still includes four Thunderbolt 5 ports, three USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. I didn't seem to have the same SSD problem with the TS5 Plus or the Element 5.
I like CalDigit's Thunderbolt 5 docks over competing docks from Anker and Satechi, mainly because CalDigit doesn't include fans and its docks operate silently. The SSD problem might be my particular dock or my MacBook Pro, but if you pick up a TS5, get it from a place with a return policy just in case.
I like all of the docks I've tried so far, though, and they've all been good options with no major problems. I'd pick Anker's Prime Thunderbolt 5 dock if I wanted a dock with no external power supply, or Satechi's CubeDock if I wanted a built-in SSD or had a Mac mini and wanted to match it.
Thunderbolt 4 docks are cheaper than Thunderbolt 5 options, but if you have a Thunderbolt 5 Mac or are planning to get one in the next year or two, it's worth going for Thunderbolt 5 for the upgraded bandwidth.
Apple's 
Apple's 
