Apple today updated its free Sports app for the iPhone with several new features and changes, including Live Activities support.
The latest version of the Apple Sports app on iOS 18 and watchOS 11 introduces Live Activities support for all teams and leagues available within the app. This feature enables live scores and play-by-play information on the iPhone's Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island on newer models, and on the Apple Watch starting with watchOS 11.
Apple previously said Live Activities are no longer available in the Apple TV app on iOS 18.
Apple Sports provides scores and more for the following leagues:
NFL
NCAAF
MLS
MLB
NBA
WNBA
NCAA basketball (men's and women's)
NHL
NWSL
Premier League
Bundesliga
LaLiga
Liga MX
Ligue 1
Serie A
Here's what else is new in Apple Sports version 2.0, including a new drop-down menu and search page, according to Apple's release notes:
• Added a new drop-down menu that makes it faster and easier to jump between your leagues and a new search page to browse the ones you want to check in on. • With new optimizations for the WNBA and MLB playoffs, Apple Sports is the best place to stay up to speed all postseason. • Follow live as last year's MLS and Liga MX champions compete for Campeones Cup.
MacRumors readers have a chance to get 20 percent off a collection of Anker's best chargers, power banks, cables, hubs, and docks this week. In order to get this deal, head to Anker's website and add an accessory to your cart, then enter the code akmacrumors20ch at checkout to see the discount.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Our exclusive 20 percent off code works on most accessories sitewide, including Anker's new line of MagSafe-compatible products. Anker does have an offer running to buy two MagGo accessories and get 15 percent off your order, but if you enter our code at checkout you'll be able to override that discount and get a better deal.
We've collected all of the MagGo accessories compatible with our code below, but don't forget that the code works with even more devices sitewide on Anker's website. This also includes Anker's new brand of Prime chargers, which launched last month and include high-capacity portable batteries, USB-C charging stations, and more.
There are some exclusions to the code, including Anker's portable power stations from the SOLIX brand. If you're shopping for those generators, our post from last week has a list of power stations on sale at Amazon from Jackery and Anker.
The first AirPods 4 reviews surfaced today, providing us with a closer look at Apple's latest earbuds before they launch on Friday.
There are two types of AirPods 4, including ones with active noise cancellation for $179 and those without active noise cancellation for $129. As discovered last week, the pairing button and charging status light are now hidden on both AirPods 4 charging cases, and some of the review videos offer a quick demonstration of these changes.
Marques Brownlee showed the new capacitive button starting at the 3:48 mark of his video:
Dave Lee touched on the button starting at the 3:20 mark of his video:
As noted in both reviews, both AirPods 4 charging cases no longer support MagSafe. This means that while the cases can be wirelessly charged, they lack magnets for a precise locked-in position or use with upright charging stands. There is one exception: the cases can still be magnetically attached to the Apple Watch's charging puck.
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder in which a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts while they sleep.
Apple last week announced that sleep apnea detection would be available on the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. and more than 150 other countries and regions later this month. Apple's fine print says the feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea for people 18 years old or older who have not already been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
The sleep apnea detection feature uses the Apple Watch's accelerometer to "monitor small movements at the wrist that are associated with interruptions in normal respiratory patterns," according to Apple. If these disturbances occur frequently over multiple nights, they may be associated with sleep apnea, according to Apple.
Apple Watch users can view their nightly Breathing Disturbances in the Health app on the iPhone, with disturbances classified as "elevated" or "not elevated."
Apple says the feature was developed using "advanced machine learning" and an "extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests," and then validated in a "clinical study."
Various media outlets and YouTube channels today shared their first impressions of the AirPods 4, reviewing the changes Apple has made to enhance comfort, sound, and functionality.
Image via The Verge
The AirPods 4 introduce a more refined design, improved sound quality, and, for the first time, optional active noise cancellation (ANC). Priced at $129 for the standard model and $179 for the ANC version, the AirPods 4 revamp the lineup at two different price points and bridge the gap between Apple's entry-level wireless earbuds and the AirPods Pro.
The AirPods 4 are now available for pre-order, with in-store availability starting on Friday, September 20.
Design
The AirPods 4 feature a more refined design. The earbuds have a slightly narrower shape for a more secure fit and Apple claims they're designed to fit a wider range of ear shapes. The charging case is also 10% smaller. Despite these tweaks, the AirPods 4 retain their signature open-ear design, which means they may still feel less secure compared to models with in-ear tips like the AirPods Pro. Engadget's Billy Steele writes:
The revised shape does indeed lead to a better fit for my ears. The AirPods 4 are more comfortable and stay in place better than their predecessor. I never once felt like they were going to fall out when I was moving around, unless I turned my head completely to the side to lay down. Open-fit earbuds typically don't feel the most secure in my ears, but these do, and one less worry contributed to a better overall experience wearing them. Of course, the most secure fit remains with the AirPods Pro.
Sound Quality
The AirPods 4 deliver improved sound performance with an 11mm low-distortion driver and a high dynamic range amplifier. Apple has apparently fine-tuned the audio experience by redesigning the driver's positioning to direct sound more precisely into the ear, reducing internal reflections and enhancing clarity. Reviewers claim that bass is richer, highs are crisper, and overall instrument separation is better compared to the AirPods 3. CNET's David Carnoy:
Apple has upgraded both buds with a new acoustic architecture and amp. Also, it's slightly changed the angle of how the drivers are pointed into your ears, which is supposed to improve sound quality. The combo of the new drivers and the upgraded H2 chip's processing power for Apple's Adaptive EQ -- a feature that optimizes audio quality on the fly as the position of the buds changes ever so slightly in your ears -- gives the AirPods 4 better sound than the AirPods 3. And needless to say, because these are open earbuds, the sound does have an open quality to it.
Overall, the sound is a little cleaner (improved treble), and you get a bit more bass, so there's a touch more depth and fullness to whatever you're listening to. They're still a notch below the AirPods Pro 2's, but they're close, and these are easily among the best-sounding open earbuds out there. You're still not going to get as much bass as you do with the AirPods Pro 2, but the gap has narrowed. I didn't feel as if I was making much of a sound quality sacrifice compared with the AirPods Pro 2, at least when I was listening in a quiet room.
The AirPods 4 do sound better than the previous generation. And the AirPods 4 with ANC sound even better by nature of the fact that they so successfully remove outside sounds from the sonic canvas… They do indeed have prodigious bass with a significant amount of punch. Vocals were open, clear, uncongested… When an earbud is too sharp, you'll hear it with the consonant T on a lot of recordings, and I didn't get that.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
AirPods 4 bring ANC to the standard AirPods lineup for the first time, and while it's not as powerful as the AirPods Pro 2, the ANC in the AirPods 4 is said to be surprisingly effective for an open-ear design. It excels at reducing lower-frequency noises like engine hums and general city commotion, allowing users to enjoy music at lower volumes without the need for complete ear sealing. However, it does struggle with higher-frequency sounds and may not offer complete silence in very noisy environments. Digital Trends's Caleb Denison writes:
For an earbud that offers far inferior passive noise isolation compared to one with an eartip that seals up your ear, this is straight-up astounding. The ANC in the AirPods Pro is more effective, but if you can't do eartips, I don't think there's better noise-canceling available in an open design like this.
The AirPods 4 have done a shockingly good job dampening noise. From quieting the hordes of chatty journalists at Apple's recent California launch event to putting up a strong fight against the New York City subway… More difficult-to-muffle noise such as piercing construction drills made me miss the tight seal of my AirPods Pro, but the AirPods 4 largely proved to be a good Pro substitute when it comes to drowning out the chaos.
It's that time of year again. Apple is about to release iOS 18, which promises to bring a range of new features and improvements to iPhones worldwide. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and the company is expected to release it sometime today – Monday, September 16.
Based on past releases, the update is likely to drop at around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To give iPhone users globally an idea of when iOS 18 should available as an over-the-air update, below we've compiled a list of time zone conversions for several countries. This list isn't exhaustive, so please verify the exact time for your specific location, and bear in mind that there could always be a delay as Apple prepares its servers for rollout.
Australia West - 1:00 a.m. AWST (Tues)
Australia East - 3:00 a.m. AEST (Tues)
Austria - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Belgium - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Canada West - 10:00 a.m. PDT
Canada East - 1:00 p.m. EDT
China - 1:00 a.m. CST (Tues)
Denmark - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Finland - 8:00 p.m. EEST
France - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Germany - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Guernsey - 6:00 p.m. BST
Hong Kong - 1:00 a.m. HKT (Tues)
Ireland - 6:00 p.m. IST
Isle of Man - 6:00 p.m. BST
Italy - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Japan - 2:00 a.m. JST (Tues)
Jersey - 6:00 p.m. BST
Luxembourg - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Netherlands - 7:00 p.m. CEST
New Zealand - 5:00 a.m. NZST (Tues)
Norway - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Portugal - 6:00 p.m. WEST
Puerto Rico - 1:00 p.m. AST
Saudi Arabia - 8:00 p.m. AST
Singapore - 1:00 a.m. SGT (Tues)
South Korea - 2:00 a.m. KST (Tues)
Spain - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Sweden - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Switzerland - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Taiwan - 1:00 a.m. CST (Tues)
UAE - 9:00 p.m. GST
United Kingdom - 6:00 p.m. BST
United States West - 10:00 a.m. PDT
United States Mountain - 11:00 a.m. MDT
United States Central - 12:00 p.m. CDT
United States East - 1:00 p.m. EDT
US Virgin Islands - 1:00 p.m. AST
Be Prepared to Wait
When iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 become available as an over-the-air update, make sure your device is fully charged before you start the process over Wi-Fi, as it may take some time to complete. To check that the update is available, go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update, and wait a moment for your device to contact Apple's servers. If you're in no rush, you can wait for iOS 18 to be delivered to your iPhone when you next plug it into your computer.
On that note, a word of caution: During the initial rollout of major software updates like iOS 18, Apple users may experience slower download speeds and sluggish performance when trying to update their devices. This is largely due to the high demand on Apple's servers, as millions of users worldwide attempt to download the update simultaneously.
The surge in traffic can overwhelm network capacity, leading to delays in downloading or installing the update. To avoid these potential issues, you may want to wait a day or two before installing the update, allowing server congestion to subside and ensuring a smoother upgrade experience.
Apple's latest iPhone operating system, iOS 18, brings a host of new features and improvements to iPhones new and old. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and the company is expected to release it sometime on Monday, September 16, likely at around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, based on past releases. Keep reading to learn if Apple's upcoming mobile operating system will run on your particular iPhone model.
Note that iOS 18 will come pre-installed on new iPhone 16 models when they launch on Friday, September 20. If you're unsure which iPhone or iPad model you have, go to Settings -> General -> About, and you'll find the Model Name listed there.
For a detailed rundown of everything we expect in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup by clicking the tag at the bottom of this article.
Apple Intelligence Features
While iOS 18 brings numerous improvements at launch, Apple has also announced several AI-powered features under the banner of Apple Intelligence, which will be released in future updates.
Among these upcoming additions is an AI-powered writing assistant that can help you rewrite text in different styles, proofread your writing, and generate summaries of longer content. A new Image Playground app will allow you to create and edit AI-generated images based on text descriptions or existing photos.
Siri is set to receive a significant upgrade, gaining the ability to understand personal context from your emails, messages, and photos, providing more accurate and personalized responses. Additionally, Apple plans to introduce AI-powered features in the Photos app, including a "Clean Up" tool to remove unwanted elements from your pictures.
The first set of these Apple Intelligence features, while not available in the initial version of iOS 18, should arrive when iOS 18.1 is released in October, with a roll out continuing in iOS 18.2 in December, and beyond.
It's important to note that Apple Intelligence features require different device compatibility requirements compared to the initial version of iOS 18. For all the devices that support Apple Intelligence, check out our dedicated article on the topic.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said demand for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max has been "lower than expected" since the devices became available to pre-order in the U.S. and dozens of other countries on Friday. Kuo said his data is based on a "supply chain survey" and shipping estimates listed on Apple's online store.
Kuo estimated that sales of all four iPhone 16 models reached about 37 million units in the first weekend after Apple began accepting pre-orders, which is down nearly 13% compared to first-weekend sales of the iPhone 15 series last year. The analyst said a key factor for the decline is the lower demand for the Pro models, with first-weekend sales of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max estimated to be down 27% and 16%, respectively, compared to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max sales during the equivalent period last year.
The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have seen higher demand than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus during the first weekend of sales, but this has not been enough to offset the lower demand for the Pro models, according to Kuo.
Kuo said a major reason for the iPhone 16 Pro models having lower-than-expected demand is that Apple Intelligence will not be available on the devices when they launch on Friday. Instead, the first Apple Intelligence features are rolling out with iOS 18.1 in October. In addition, the analyst said the iPhone is facing "intense competition" in China.
You can get Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad for the all-time low price of $199.99 this weekend on Best Buy, down from $329.99. This deal is part of Best Buy's ongoing three day sale, which will end later tonight. We've already covered other discounts in the sale, including savings on M2 iPad Pro, M4 iPad Pro, and MacBook Pro.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Best Buy has nearly every model of the 9th generation iPad on sale right now, including the 256GB Wi-Fi model and the 64GB cellular model. All of these devices are being discounted by $130 and represent all-time low prices for each tablet. Amazon does have matching prices, but only for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad.
The 64GB cellular iPad is on sale for $329.99. Just like the Wi-Fi iPads, this deal represents a $130 discount on this model. Although these iPads are a few years old at this point, today's ultra-low prices should make them perfect for anyone looking for a simple and cheap iPad for daily Internet browsing.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Following over three months of beta testing, iOS 18 will finally be widely released to the public this Monday, September 16. The update should be available to install starting at around 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time) in the Settings app under General → Software Update on the iPhone XS and newer.
iOS 18 allows you to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, and there are new "Dark" and "Tinted" customization options for recoloring app icons. You can also set app icons to appear larger, without text labels below them.
Redesigned Control Center
Control Center has been redesigned on iOS 18. Like the Home Screen, it is now more customizable, allowing you to rearrange and resize controls across multiple pages. You can easily add more controls from the all-new controls gallery.
iMessage Enhancements
iMessage received a wide range of new features on iOS 18, including the ability to use any emoji as a Tapback reaction, text effects like "Shake" and "Explode," formatting options like bold and underline, the ability to schedule messages to be sent later, RCS support for improved messaging with Android devices, and more.
Redesigned Photos App
Apple says the Photos app received its biggest redesign ever on iOS 18, with tabs removed in favor of an all-in-one layout. The changes have been controversial, leading Apple to tweak the app's design throughout the iOS 18 beta testing period.
Locks Apps Behind Face ID
iOS 18 introduces the ability to lock any app behind Face ID, Touch ID, or an iPhone's passcode for privacy and security purposes. In addition, you can now hide an app, which moves it to a hidden apps folder that is locked.
Passwords App
iOS 18 includes an all-new Passwords app that surfaces many features previously available through the iCloud Keychain in the Settings app. The app makes it easier to manage passwords, passkeys, two-factor authentication codes, and more.
Distraction Control
Built into Safari, the new Distraction Control feature can be used to hide some website elements, such as newsletter sign-up forms and cookie permission prompts. However, Apple says the feature is not designed to be an ad blocker. If you hide an ad banner, it will become visible again if and when the content of the ad refreshes.
Game Mode
First introduced on the Mac, Game Mode is now available on the iPhone. Apple says Game Mode "minimizes background activity to sustain consistently high frame rates" during gameplay, "dramatically reduces" audio latency with AirPods, and makes wireless game controllers "incredibly responsive."
Read our iOS 18 roundup to learn about even more features.
Apple has increased its out-of-warranty battery replacement fee for iPhone 16 Pro models, according to its iPhone repair and service page.
Apple Stores can replace the battery inside an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max for $119 in the U.S., which is up from $99 for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This is a 20% increase to the fee, which includes the cost of a new battery and service by an Apple Store. The fee may vary at third-party Apple Authorized Service Providers.
The fee remains $99 for the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.
Customers with AppleCare+ can still get an iPhone 16 Pro battery replaced for free, but only if the battery retains less than 80% of its original capacity.
Apple says all four iPhone 16 models are equipped with larger batteries, and all of the devices received an internal redesign for improved heat dissipation, according to the company. A metal enclosure was rumored for at least some iPhone 16 batteries, but we are still waiting for teardowns to get a proper look inside of the devices.
An even more affordable Apple Watch SE with a colorful plastic design could be appealing to parents who are looking to purchase an Apple Watch for their children. In the U.S., the current Apple Watch SE from 2022 starts at $249.
The next Apple Watch SE is also likely to offer a new chip with faster performance.
Apple will likely hold another event in October this year to announce new Macs and iPads. If so, it would be the fourth time in the last five years that Apple has held an event in October. Last year, Apple held a virtual event on Monday, October 30 to announce new MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M3 series of chips.
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Apple plans to announce the first M4 Macs and new lower-end iPads at its next event "in the coming weeks." He expects the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini to be updated with the M4 series of chips this year, followed by the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro throughout 2025. He said some of the first M4 Macs are already shipping from factories.
Gurman expects the following products to be updated at Apple's next event, which he previously said would take place in October.
MacBook Pro
Apple plans to announce updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips at its next event, according to Gurman. No design changes have been rumored for the laptops this year, with improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
Apple last redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021, and the latest models with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips were released last October.
iMac
Apple also plans to update the iMac with the M4 chip at the event, according to Gurman.
Will the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad trio of accessories for the iMac finally switch from Lightning to USB-C this year?
Gurman previously said he expects a seventh-generation iPad mini to be unveiled at the event.
Rumored features for the next iPad mini include a faster chip, upgraded front and rear cameras, a fix for "jelly scrolling" screen tearing in portrait orientation, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, and new color options.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the next iPad mini would enter mass production in the second half of 2024, so there is agreement from multiple credible sources about the device being updated later this year.
Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with new features at the time including a larger 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and more.
Entry-level iPad
Gurman today said "new, lower-end iPads" plural will be unveiled at the event, so there may be an iPad 11 too.
One of the busiest weeks of the year for Apple news has drawn to a close following Monday's event that saw the unveiling of new iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods models and Friday's start of iPhone pre-orders in dozens of countries around the world.
Read on below for the biggest announcements of this week as we take a brief break ahead of a flood of software updates early next week and all of the new hardware making its way into customers' hands a few days later!
Everything Apple Announced at Monday's Event in 13 Minutes
Apple's "It's Glowtime" event on Monday was a ~100-minute whirlwind of announcements, but we've condensed it down to a 13-minute highlight reel to give you a quick way to catch up on everything.
We've also pulled together all of our news coverage from the big day in one place, so make sure to check it out and read up on your favorite Apple products that got some fresh updates.
Apple Announces iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with Larger Displays, New Camera Control, and More
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display—the biggest iPhone display ever. The borders around the display are the thinnest of any Apple device, while the titanium frame now features a new blasted finish and comes in a refreshed selection of color options: a darker Black Titanium, brighter White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and a new Desert Titanium.
Apple Announces iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus With Action Button, Camera Control, and More
Apple also announced the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus, with a key new feature being the Camera Control on the side of the devices. As rumored, the Camera Control is positioned below the power button, and you can control various features in the Camera app by pressing or swiping on it.
Other features include the Action button introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, a "big boost" in battery life, brighter and more durable screens, Wi-Fi 7 support, and an A18 chip with up to a twice as fast 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence. The devices have color-infused back glass, with vibrant Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black finishes available.
Apple Announces Thinner Apple Watch Series 10 With Bigger Screen Than Ultra
Apple at its event announced the Apple Watch Series 10, featuring a wide-angle OLED display that is larger than the Apple Watch Ultra's, with the company describing the new Series 10 as the "biggest display and thinnest design ever."
The Series 10 is 9.7 mm thick, which is nearly 10% thinner than Series 9, and it weighs 20% less than the Stainless Steel Series 9. The Aluminum cases also weigh up to 10% less, while the Series 10 also comes in Grade 5 titanium, replacing stainless steel.
While we didn't get updated Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch SE models, we did get a new black finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as an Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 2. Apple also introduced a new Titanium Milanese Loop for both colors of the Ultra.
Apple Unveils AirPods 4 With Two Models Featuring Improved Fit, USB-C, and More
As expected, Apple introduced two AirPods 4 models on Monday, a base model at $129 to replace the AirPods 2 and a higher-end model with Active Noise Cancellation and a case that supports wireless charging and features a speaker for Find My capabilities.
Apple also revealed updated AirPods Max headphones at the event, but the only changes are new colors and a move from Lightning to USB-C for charging and connectivity. No other hardware updates are included.
iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and More Launching on September 16
With all of Apple's new hardware set to become available on Friday, September 20, the company is sticking to tradition and releasing its major new operating system versions a few days earlier.
iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and more will all be available on Monday, September 16. It's important to note, however, that Apple Intelligence features will not be coming in this round of updates and will instead start rolling out in follow-on updates likely targeted for late October.
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.
iOS 18 will be released to the public on Monday, but the first Apple Intelligence features will not be available until iOS 18.1 is released in October.
Apple Intelligence features will continue to roll out in iOS 18.2 and beyond, with the expected roadmap outlined below per Apple's website and rumors.
Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro model or any iPhone 16 model, and it will initially require device and Siri language being set to U.S. English.
iOS 18.1
Here are some of the key Apple Intelligence features in the iOS 18.1 beta so far:
A few Siri enhancements, including improved understanding for both follow-up requests and when you stumble over your words
Writing tools for rewriting, summarizing, and proofreading text
Notification summaries for Messages, Mail, and many other apps
Suggested replies in the Messages and Mail apps
A new "Clean Up" tool in the Photos app that can remove unwanted people or objects from photos and use generative AI to fill in the background
The ability to create a Memories movie in the Photos app by typing a description
Phone call recording and transcription
A new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions that surfaces important notifications only
Article summaries when using Reader Mode in the Safari app
Apple has been internally testing iOS 18.2 for at least a few months now, based on evidence of the software version in our website's analytics logs.
iOS 18.2 will likely be released in December, as that is when Apple said that it will be making Apple Intelligence available in more English-speaking countries.
Apple Intelligence in More Countries
As mentioned, iOS 18.2 should expand Apple Intelligence to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. for the first time.
Image Playground and Genmoji
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said two more Apple Intelligence features that were previewed earlier this year will be added in iOS 18.2, including Image Playground for generating images and Genmoji for generating custom emoji.
Here is how Apple describes Image Playground:
Produce fun, original images in seconds with the Image Playground experience right in your apps. Create an entirely new image based on a description, suggested concepts, and even a person from your Photos library. You can easily adjust the style and make changes to match a Messages thread, your Freeform board, or a slide in Keynote.
Here is how Apple describes Genmoji:
Make a brand-new Genmoji right in the keyboard to match any conversation. Provide a description to see a preview, and adjust your description until it's perfect. You can even pick someone from your Photos library and create a Genmoji that looks like them.
ChatGPT Integration With Siri
Apple said that ChatGPT will be available through Siri before the end of the year, so this integration will likely go live with iOS 18.2.
With user permission, Siri will be able to show ChatGPT answers directly in response to questions and other prompts. ChatGPT will also be an option for Apple's system-wide Writing Tools feature, allowing users to generate text and images. Apple said ChatGPT will be powered by OpenAI's latest GPT-4o model on its platforms.
iPhone, iPad, and Mac users will be able to use ChatGPT for free, without creating an account, and ChatGPT Plus subscribers will be able to connect their accounts to access paid features on these devices. Apple said OpenAI will not store ChatGPT requests made from its devices, and it said users' IP addresses will be obscured.
iOS 18.3
iOS 18.3 is likely to be a minor update released shortly after the U.S. holiday season. It is unclear if this version will add any new Apple Intelligence features.
iOS 18.4
Siri: Personal Context, On-Screen Awareness, and Deeper Per-App Controls
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Thursday reiterated that Siri's ability to provide more personalized and contextual responses will not be available until March. He previously said that Siri's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls will be available as part of iOS 18.4, which is expected to be released to the public in March.
Apple Intelligence in Even More Countries
Apple said Apple Intelligence will gain support for additional languages — such as Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish — next year. This timeframe suggests these languages will be added in iOS 18.4. Another possibility is iOS 18.3, but that update is likely to be a minor one that is released shortly after the U.S. holiday season.
Today we're tracking big discounts across the entire M4 iPad Pro lineup as part of Best Buy's new weekend sale, with a few additional discounts available at Amazon. At Best Buy, My Best Buy Plus/Total members can get $150 off nearly every M4 iPad Pro model right now, with many hitting new all-time low prices because of this member exclusive discount.
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's discounts are mainly focused on the high-capacity 1TB and 2TB models for both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro. The biggest discount in the entire sale is the 13-inch 2TB M4 iPad Pro with Nano-Texture Glass for $2,214.00 at Amazon, down from $2,599.00.
The fourth-generation 11-inch iPad Pro with the M2 chip, sixth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M2 chip, and fifth-generation iPad Air with the M1 chip are each available in a variety of storage capacities and color options. The refurbished models are discounted by between 15% and 20% compared to the original pricing of these iPads.
Apple first introduced this particular iPad Air model in March 2022, and the iPad Pro models followed in October of that year.
Apple says its refurbished iPads include a new battery and outer shell, a new white box, and all manuals and accessories, including a USB-C charging cable and power adapter. Apple says it puts refurbished devices through a "thorough cleaning process and inspection," and it performs full functionality testing to ensure there are no defective units.
All refurbished iPads are covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty and 14-day return policy, and eligible for AppleCare+ coverage.
While some savings can be had here, these are obviously two-year-old iPad models with fewer remaining years of iPadOS support.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with iMazing to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Apple's new iPhone 16 Pro models. For those unfamiliar with iMazing, it is Mac and PC software that gives you a quick, simple way to manage everything on your iPhone. You can transfer data, make backups, manage media, save content like messages, and more.
Apple has the built-in Finder on the Mac for managing the iPhone, and an app for PCs, but iMazing goes above and beyond what Apple's simple tools can do.
Creating and managing backups is simple with iMazing's backup tools. You can set up automatic backups for hassle-free protection, plus the app supports snapshots so you can browse through your backups to find something specific that you're looking for. Backups are encrypted and can be saved to any computer, a local storage setup, or an external drive.
The Device overview provides detailed information on your iPhone in one spot, and it gives you a quick way to make a backup and access other iMazing capabilities. You can see information like serial number, model number, device ID, and stored data, plus there's a section for battery management that shows details on temperature, max charge, and charge cycles.
iMazing can be used to transfer photos, music, movies, and other media and files from your computer to your iPhone and vice versa. It's a great way to move photos from one device to another, and it's ideal if you have music files rather than a streaming service. With Quick Transfer, you can even drag and drop files and folders to your iPhone and choose an iOS app to transfer the file to.
Apple has no way to get your messages off of your iPhone, but iMazing can create an entire archive from the Messages app or WhatsApp, and it works for SMS/MMS messages and iMessages. You can save your messages into a PDF, an Excel document, or use other file formats.
With so many iPhone management tools available, iMazing can be overwhelming, but the app has a Discover Section that offers quick access to the features that iMazing has to offer. There's also an in-app product tour and the simple interface makes tasks easy.
iMazing can be used by businesses for advanced device management too, and it supports provisioning, configuring, and streamlining MDM enrollment for fleets of Apple devices. The Devices screen offers an organized view of all of your Apple devices, and it provides bulk control options.
iMazing was overhauled with an updated design earlier this year, along with Vision Pro support. You can use iMazing to manage iPhones, iPads, and Apple's headset. The app can be downloaded from the iMazing website at prices starting at $35, and there are both one-time purchase options and yearly subscriptions. iMazing also offers free trials, and some functions are free even without a purchase.
iMazing is offering an iPhone 16 Pro for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (September 13) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 20. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after September 20 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
