Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times.
The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said.
While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to explain that an announcement early in the year would allow for a smooth leadership transition, ahead of Apple's annual developers conference WWDC in June and iPhone event in September.
No final decisions have been made, and the timing could change, the report said.
Cook has been Apple's CEO since August 2011. He turned 65 this year, which is a common age for retirement in the United States, but he has yet to publicly announce any plans to step down. Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, is widely viewed as Cook's most likely successor when the time comes.
Ternus joined Apple in 2001. At 50, he is one of Apple's younger senior executives, so he could potentially have a lengthy run as CEO.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman pushed back on the report. "I don't get the sense anything is imminent as the [Financial Times] is claiming," he said, in a post today.
In any case, the report said Apple's succession plans are not related to the company's current performance. Apple reported record revenue in the September quarter, and the company expects the current December quarter to be the best quarter in the company's history. In addition, Apple's stock price is near its all-time high.
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This is the price that the 42mm GPS model is typically discounted to, and represents the biggest markdown we've tracked to date on any Apple Watch Series 10 model. We aren't currently tracking any similar deals on the 42mm GPS models on Amazon, but if they appear we'll update this article with those deals.
Apple Watch deals are some of the best early Black Friday deals we've seen so far this month, with all-time low prices available for Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch SE 2. We've provided a quick list of the best deals below.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find this holiday season? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Williams joined Apple in 1998, and was promoted to Chief Operations Officer (COO) in 2015. He held the role until July of this year, when he was succeeded by Sabih Khan, who was previously Apple's Senior Vice President of Operations.
As part of a planned transition, Williams remained at Apple as Senior Vice President of Design, Watch, and Health until this Friday.
For a decade, Williams oversaw Apple's entire worldwide operations, as well as customer service and support. He also led Apple Watch engineering and health initiatives at the company, and he took over Apple's design team in 2023.
Williams was one of the top executives at Apple, so his departure is very notable. At one point, he was even considered a potential candidate for CEO.
Here is what Williams said about his retirement plans back in July:
I have a deep love for Apple. Working with all of the amazing people at this company has been a privilege of a lifetime, and I can't thank Tim enough for the opportunity, his inspirational leadership, and our friendship over the years. June marked my 27th anniversary with Apple, and my 40th in the industry. Beginning next year, I plan to spend more time with friends and family, including five grandchildren and counting. I've had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years and I think he's the most talented operations executive on the planet. I have tremendous confidence in Apple's future under his leadership in this role.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, in July:
Jeff and I have worked alongside each other for as long as I can remember, and Apple wouldn't be what it is without him. He's helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world; launched Apple Watch and overseen its development; architected Apple's health strategy; and led our world class team of designers with great wisdom, heart, and dedication. I am and will always be beyond grateful for his numerous contributions to Apple over the years and his loyal friendship. Jeff's true legacy can be seen in the amazing team he's created and, while he'll be greatly missed, he leaves the work of the future in incredible hands.
A U.S. federal jury has ruled that Apple owes medical technology company Masimo $634 million for patent infringement related to the blood oxygen-sensing technology in the Apple Watch, reports Reuters. Apple will appeal the verdict.
"We are pleased by this outcome, and appreciate the time and attention given to our case by the court and the jury," said Masimo in a press release." This is a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property, which is crucial to our ability to develop technology that benefits patients. We remain committed to defending our IP rights moving forward."
"Over the past six years (Masimo has) sued Apple in multiple courts and asserted over 25 patents, the majority of which have been found to be invalid," an Apple spokesperson told Reuters. "The single patent in this case expired in 2022, and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology from decades ago."
Apple Watch models in the U.S. remained unable to support blood oxygen monitoring for over a year and a half before Apple introduced a workaround in August 2025 with blood oxygen data being processed and displayed on a paired iPhone rather than on the Apple Watch itself, a change that satisfied U.S. Customs regulators that had been charged with enforcing the original ban.
Apple's workaround did not sit well with Masimo, which filed another lawsuit in an attempt to overturn the U.S. Customs decision and once again prevent Apple from selling Apple Watch models with the blood oxygen feature in the U.S., but there has yet to be a ruling in that lawsuit.
It's hard to believe we're halfway through November already, as 2025 rapidly draws to a close with no firm signs of several smaller hardware updates we've been hoping to see before the end of the year, although we did get one surprising new iPhone accessory this week.
This week also saw the fifth anniversary of the very successful Apple silicon effort on the Mac, contrasted with the future of the iPhone Air seeming shakier than ever. On the software side, Apple made some more tweaks with the second beta of iOS 26.2 and released the Digital ID feature to allow users to add their U.S. passports to the Wallet app, so read on below for all the details!
Top Stories
Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison
This week marked the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020, and it debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
The M1 chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only improved since then. We've had five total generations of Apple silicon chips, with the M5 unveiled in the 14-inch MacBook Pro just last month, so check out our look at how Apple's latest M-series chip compares to the first one.
Apple Debuts iPhone Pocket, a Limited Edition iPod Sock-Style Accessory
While Apple branched out into the crossbody strap accessory market with the iPhone 17 lineup, the company has now gone a step further with the release of the special-edition iPhone Pocket, a knitted accessory much like a stretchy pocket or sock that can hold an iPhone, AirPods, or other everyday items.
Available in a number of vibrant color options, the iPhone Pocket comes in both short strap ($149.95) and long strap ($229.95) options, although it almost immediately sold out in the United States upon launch. The iPhone Pocket was created in a partnership between Apple and Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE, whose namesake founder was the designer of the iconic black turtleneck worn by Steve Jobs.
iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version
The thin and light iPhone Air has sold so poorly that Apple has decided to delay the launch of the next-generation version that was scheduled to come out alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone in Fall 2026, reports The Information.
Apple has not necessarily canceled the second-generation iPhone Air, but the company is reportedly looking at ways to improve it such as by adding a second rear camera to try to improve its appeal, and a revamped version could appear in Spring 2027 alongside the regular iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e as Apple moves to split up its flagship iPhone launches across the year.
Another report this week claims that the iPhone 16e has similarly "failed" at its $599 price point that marked a significant increase compared to its iPhone SE predecessor, though there have been no reports of a potential delay beyond the rumored Spring 2026 time frame for a follow-up iPhone 17e model.
New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?
Delayed releases for HomePod mini and Apple TV updates could be tied to ongoing delays with Apple's revamped Siri that will drive an expansion of the company's smart home platform with new hardware such as a home hub device and cameras, but it's unclear what might be holding up the release of a second-generation AirTag with greater range and other improvements.
Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 2
Apple this week provided developers with the second beta of iOS 26.2, which adds a few new features worth knowing about.
Changes since the first beta include a new Liquid Glass look for the Measure app, an option to turn off pinned conversations in the Messages app when in CarPlay, improvements to animations and the Games app, and more.
The Digital ID can be used for domestic air travel at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports, and in the future it will be able to provide identity and age verification at select stores, in compatible apps, and on supported websites.
The Digital ID does not, however, fully replace a physical passport, as it can not be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.
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.
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio.
MacBook Air (Early 2026)
The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook Air will get the same M5 chip that Apple introduced with the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple might also add the same SSD upgrades that it included in the M5 MacBook Pro.
Low-Cost MacBook (Early 2026)
Apple is going to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026 that's cheaper than the $999 MacBook Air. The low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 inches in size, so it could be slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air.
Apple is planning to use its A18 Pro chip in the MacBook. We first saw the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro models. The chip is built on Apple's second-generation 3-nanometer process, featuring 8GB RAM and support for Apple Intelligence.
The low-cost MacBook will have a standard LCD display with no mini-LED technology or ProMotion refresh rate. It could come in bright colors like the iMac, with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting Apple will offer it in silver, blue, pink, and yellow. The low-cost MacBook won't replace the MacBook Air, and will instead join the Mac lineup as a new affordable option.
Apple is expected to debut the low-cost MacBook in the first half of 2026.
MacBook Pro (Early 2026)
Apple already introduced the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, but higher-end models with faster M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected around the same timeframe as the MacBook Air and low-cost MacBook.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max will have more CPU cores and better GPUs for improved performance, with the chips available in both 14-inch and 16-inch machines. Apple is also expected to add faster SSDs.
Mac Displays (Early to Mid-2026)
Apple hasn't released a new display since the Studio Display launched in 2022, but there are apparently two new models that are in development and slated for release in 2026.
The next-generation version of the Studio Display could feature the same 27-inch screen size, but with mini-LED technology instead of LCD. mini-LED means better HDR, brightness, contrast, and colors. The current Studio Display has an A-series chip inside, and the next-generation version could get the A19 Pro that Apple used in the iPhone 17 Pro.
There are actually two displays in development, but it's unclear if that's the next Studio Display in two sizes, or a Studio Display and a more expensive Pro Display XDR successor. It's also possible Apple designed two Studio Displays and will only launch one model.
Mac mini (Mid-2026)
An updated version of the Mac mini could come out sometime around mid-2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The Mac mini will get M5 and M5 Pro chips, but there are no design changes rumored as of now.
Mac Studio (Mid-2026)
The Mac Studio could come out during the same timeframe as the Mac mini. Apple didn't release an M4 Ultra chip so there was never an M4 Ultra Mac Studio, but there will be an M5 Ultra model.
Sometime around the middle of 2026, the Mac Studio will get M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip technology. The M5 Max will offer much faster CPU and GPU performance than the M5, and the M5 Ultra will double the M5 Max.
We haven't heard any other rumors about the Mac Studio, so it may only get internal updates.
OLED MacBook Pro (Late 2026)
While there's an M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro refresh planned for early 2026, there's another update in the works. Apple is developing a revamped OLED MacBook Pro that uses next-generation M6 chip technology and also features a touch screen. It's not yet clear if the machine will come out in late 2026 or early 2027, but 2026 remains a possibility.
If Apple does debut the OLED MacBook Pro in 2026, it will be a year with two MacBook Pro refreshes. Apple has done that once before in 2023, but it is rare.
Rumors suggest that the OLED MacBook Pro will feature a hole-punch camera without a notch, maximizing the available display area. Touch integration will be added to the Mac's screen for the first time, and Apple plans to adopt a reinforced hinge that stays stationary when the display is touched.
The design of the MacBook will also be updated, and it will have a thinner, lighter chassis. There will be a keyboard and trackpad as usual, with the touch gestures augmenting existing functionality.
The M6 could be built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process, introducing speed and efficiency improvements for impressive gains in battery life without compromising power. The OLED MacBook Pro could also be the first MacBook to incorporate 5G connectivity, with Apple including a C2 chip in the device. The C2 chip is Apple's rumored second-generation in-house modem that will support mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G speeds.
Mac Pro (Timing Unknown)
Apple is probably going to release a new Mac Pro at some point, but it's unclear when. Bloomberg originally said a Mac Pro would come before the end of 2025 with some kind of M4 chip, but that didn't happen, so now 2026 or later is the only option.
It's possible the Mac Pro will get a refresh with the M5 Ultra chip when the Mac Studio does, but we haven't heard confirmation of that.
The next Mac Pro will get Thunderbolt 5, and it will likely support at least 512GB RAM and 16TB storage, because that's what the M3 Ultra chip supports.
iMac (Timing and Status Unknown)
The iMac is expected to get an M5 update in 2026, but timing isn't clear. We haven't heard anything about the iMac in some time, and there are no rumors of design changes or major updates on the horizon.
There have been nebulous rumors of an iMac with a larger display, but there's no sign that such a Mac is still in active development.
Early Black Friday deals are in full swing this week, with best-ever prices available on AirPods 4, iPhone 17, M5 MacBook Pro, and much more. We're recapping all these deals below and more, also including great sitewide sales at Anker and OWC, plus Woot's popular steep discounts on Apple Watch bands.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This week Amazon introduced a new record low price on the AirPods 4, available for $84.99, down from $129.00. This is a deal for the base model without Active Noise Cancellation.
Best Buy this week introduced a low price on the previous generation M2 13-inch MacBook Air, available for $699.00, down from $799.00. Although this is a few years old at this point, it will be a great option for anyone looking for a computer that can handle day-to-day tasks, especially at this price.
iPhone 17
What's the deal? Take up to $1,100 off iPhone 17 models
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.
M5 MacBook Pro
What's the deal? Take up to $234 off M5 MacBook Pro
Amazon this week dropped the price of the new M5 MacBook Pro to $1,478.00, down from $1,599.00. This is the 10-Core model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD in Space Black, and it's a new all-time low price on the M5 MacBook Pro.
If you're shopping for any other models of the M5 MacBook Pro, you'll want to take a look at our exclusive offers at Expercom. In regards to both 1TB models, as well as a few custom higher-end models, you'll find the best prices here, and our discount has been applied automatically to every computer. Some examples of deals are listed below.
(Note: Safari users may need to open these links in a new tab/window or manually copy and paste them in order to see the discounted pricing.)
OWC kicked off a Black Friday sneak peek sale this week, offering big discounts on a variety of USB-C docks, external drives and enclosures, and Mac accessories. Some of these deals won't be applied until you add the items to your cart, at which time an automatic coupon will be applied to your order.
Anker recently kicked off an early Black Friday sale, which is set to run through November 20. This sale includes notable discounts on portable chargers, USB-C hubs, cables, and more.
Woot this week is back with a big sale on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands for Apple Watch, with as much as 70 percent off these accessories. Additionally, Woot has sweetened this deal and is offering 35 percent off when you buy two or more, 50 percent off three or more, and 65 percent off four or more.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Fans of new Apple TV series Pluribus can download a chapter of historical (and fictional) romance novel "Bloodsong of Wycaro" from the Apple Books app today. Written by Pluribus main character Carol Sturka, Bloodsong of Wycaro recounts the adventures of Lucasia as she sails on the Mercator, dreaming of her lost love Raban.
Played by Rhea Seehorn, Carol Sturka is a fantasy romance author who hates writing non-serious books and can't stand the fans obsessed with her characters, but the Winds of Wycaro series pays the bills.
Bloodsong of Wycaro plays an important role in the first two episodes of Pluribus, and Apple is using the fake book excerpt to promote the show. The excerpt features eight pages from the middle of Carol's book, along with a letter from the author.
The first two episodes of Pluribus debuted on November 7, and the third episode is available as of today. It is the latest Apple TV series, created by Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan. In the series, Carol Sturka is one of the sole survivors of a mysterious virus that infects the world's population.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV, Apple's streaming service. Apple TV pricing starts at $12.99 per month, but there is a free 7-day trial available.
Popular iPhone accessory maker Belkin has issued a recall for three of its products, including the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro, the Belkin BoostCharge USB-C PD Power Bank 20K, and the Playa USB-C PD Power Bank 20K.
The Auto-Tracking Stand Pro has a model number of MMA008, the BoostCharge Power Bank has a model number of BPB2002, and the Playa Power bank has a PB0003 model number. Model numbers are located on the back or side of each product. The charging stand and both power banks were sold in black, while the Playa model was also available in white. Affected devices were sold on the Belkin website and through third-party retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
Belkin says that a manufacturing defect can cause the lithium-cell batteries in the devices to overheat, resulting in fire and burn hazards to customers. The recall is also listed on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.
There were approximately 83,500 units sold in the U.S., along with 2,385 in Canada, but the CPSC does not include international sales. There has been one report of a fire in the United States, and 15 reports internationally. Two people received minor burn injuries, and property damage totaling $37,765 was reported outside the U.S.
Customers who own an affected model should stop using the protect, disconnect it from power, and contact Belkin. The devices should be kept in a safe, dry location away from anything flammable or anything that can damage the power bank, and they should not be placed in waste or recycling bins.
Belkin is offering full refunds or store credit, and is asking for copies of receipts and proof of ownership. An image of the product showing its serial number is required, and if a receipt is provided, the purchase price on the receipt will be refunded. If no receipt is available, Belkin will offer the average sales price for the model. Customers can also opt for a Belkin store credit worth 20 percent more than the average sales price of the device.
Walmart's Black Friday sale has officially kicked off today, with an online shopping event that's also seeing some matching deals in retail locations. There are quite a few major discounts in this sale, including savings on headphones, TVs, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Walmart's Black Friday Schedule
The first part of Walmart's Black Friday sale has begun online for all shoppers, and it was available five hours early for Walmart+ members. The second event will run from November 25 through November 30 and be online only for the first two days. Once Black Friday hits on November 28, the sale will switch to include retail locations for the remainder of the duration. Walmart+ members get five hours early access beginning November 24 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Friday 11/14: First event begins online and in retail stores
Monday 11/24: Second event begins online at 7 p.m. Eastern Time for Walmart+ members
Tuesday 11/25: Second event opens for all shoppers
Friday 11/28: Black Friday begins in stores at 6 a.m. local time
Monday 12/1: Cyber Monday begins
Walmart+ Membership
If you aren't a Walmart+ member, you can get 50 percent off a membership for a limited time during this event. You'll pay $49 for one year of Walmart+, and this offer will run through December 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Like many retailers, Walmart's Black Friday offerings are wide and varied. You'll find major markdowns on video games, appliances, TVs, smart home products, speakers, headphones, and more. We've divided up some of the major discount categories in the sections below.
Walmart is coming out of the gate with some heavy-hitter Apple deals, including a new record low price on the Apple Watch Series 10. You can get the 42mm GPS device for $249.00 and the 46mm GPS device for $279.00, both $150 discounts and best-ever prices.
For audio deals, Walmart has the AirPods Pro 2 for $139.00, down from $249.00. This isn't quite an all-time low price, but so far it's one of the best deals we've seen on the headphones this holiday shopping season. There's also the Beats Solo Buds for the record low price of $39.00, down from $69.00.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's new iPhone Pocket accessory, the future of Apple Fitness+, and the iPhone Air 2's delayed launch.
Apple this week announced the iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted limited edition accessory made in collaboration with Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE. The accessory is like a stretchy pocket, similar to an iPod Sock, but elongated to form a strap made of a ribbed, elastic textile.
The iPhone Pocket comes in two versions. There's a short strap design available in eight colors for $149.95, and a long strap design in three colors for $229.95. The iPhone Pocket can be used in a variety of ways – handheld, tied onto bags, or worn directly on the body. The limited-edition release is now available on Apple's online store and at select flagship Apple Store locations worldwide, although it is rapidly selling out.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurmanrecently reported that the future of Apple Fitness+ is "under review." The service apparently suffers from high churn and little revenue, remaining one of the company's "weakest digital offerings."
As a result, Fitness+ is now said to be in the process of receiving new management, with Apple health vice president Sumbul Desai taking control of the service. The health division, now including Apple Fitness+, will report directly to services chief Eddy Cue. The reorganization is likely to lead to added pressure to improve the service.
In other news, it emerged this week that Apple's second-generation iPhone Air is to be delayed on account of the device's low sales, pushed back from the original target launch of fall 2026. Since the iPhone Air launched in September, there have been a multitude of reports of poor sales and significant production cuts. Apple has responded by scaling back shipments and winding down the supply chain, with all production expected to cease by the end of this month.
Apple now plans to introduce a more substantially redesigned iPhone Air 2 model in the future, perhaps alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone 18 in the spring of 2027. The new device could feature an additional rear camera with an ultra-wide lens, vapor-chamber cooling, reduced weight, a larger battery, and a new chip.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Apple's AirTag 4-Pack has been available at an all-time low price thanks to early Black Friday deals this month, and today the 1-Pack has finally joined in on the savings. You can get the AirTag 1-Pack for just $18.00, down from $29.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This is a new record low price on the solo AirTag, and it beats past Amazon sales by about $6. Both AirTag models have a November 19 estimated delivery date for free shipping, but Prime members should see same-day delivery in many locations.
You can get the AirTag 4-Pack for $64.99, down from $99.00. This is a match for the best price we've ever seen on the AirTag 4-Pack.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone.
iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United States, and many size and color combinations are quickly running out in the other countries too.
The accessory can also be purchased at the following Apple Store locations, while supplies last:
Apple Canton Road, Hong Kong
Apple Ginza, Tokyo
Apple Jing'an, Shanghai
Apple Marché Saint-Germain, Paris
Apple Myeongdong, Seoul
Apple Orchard Road, Singapore
Apple Piazza Liberty, Milan
Apple Regent Street, London
Apple SoHo, New York City
Apple Xinyi A13, Taipei
The accessory is offered in short and long sizes, in a variety of colors:
Short: Lemon, Mandarin, Purple, Pink, Peacock, Sapphire, Cinnamon, and Black
Long: Sapphire, Cinnamon, and Black
In the U.S., pricing ranged from $149.95 to $229.95.
iPhone Pocket is designed to be versatile. It can fully enclose an iPhone, but you can stretch it to peek at your screen and/or fit additional items. The accessory can be held in your hand, tied onto a bag, or worn directly on you.
Here is how Apple describes the iPhone Pocket:
Crafted in Japan, iPhone Pocket features a singular 3D-knitted construction that is the result of research and development carried out at ISSEY MIYAKE. The design drew inspiration from the concept of "a piece of cloth" and reinterpreted the everyday utility of the brand's iconic pleated clothing. The development and design of iPhone Pocket unfolded in close collaboration with the Apple Design Studio, which provided insight into design and production throughout.
Given it is a limited-edition accessory, it is unclear if there will ever be additional inventory of the iPhone Pocket once it is fully sold out worldwide.
Rockstar Games has announced that acclaimed open-world game Read Dead Redemption and its Undead Nightmare expansion pack are coming to iOS and Android early next month.
The December 2 release on mobile is part of a larger rollout for the epic Western on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and Netflix.
Red Dead Redemption launched in 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It follows John Marston, a former outlaw forced by federal agents to track down the remaining members of his old gang. Its successor, Red Dead Redemption 2 – released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One – acts as a narrative prequel.
Step into the events immediately following the blockbuster Red Dead Redemption 2, in the critically acclaimed tale of John Marston's journey to bury his blood-stained past. In its zombie-horror companion Undead Nightmare, fight to find a cure for the zombie plague that has overrun the frontier.
According to Rockstar, the new versions feature the complete single-player experiences of both games with mobile-friendly control options, and they also include bonus content from the Game of the Year Edition. It's not clear yet what the hardware requirements are or how much the games will cost to buy.
Red Dead Redemption earned multiple Game of the Year awards when it was released, and it is widely regarded as one of the best open-world games ever.
WhatsApp is close to rolling out third-party chat support across the European Union, as part its compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA).
WhatsApp parent company Meta is required by the DMA to make its messaging platform interoperable with other third-party services, and Meta says the first apps that WhatsApp will support are BirdyChat and Haiket, following successful testing over recent months.
WhatsApp users on iOS and Android who choose to make use of the interoperability support will be able to share messages, images, voice messages, videos, and files. Meta says there will also be an option to create groups with third-party users, once its partners are ready to support the feature. Meta did not mention web apps or desktop apps, suggesting this will be mobile-only interoperability.
According to Meta, third-party messaging apps must use the same level of end-to-end encryption as WhatsApp to maintain security standards.
Meta's partnerships with BirdyChat and Haiket is a result of more than three years of work with European messaging services and the European Commission to build a solution to third-party chats that meets the requirements of the DMA, while preserving privacy and security for users as much as possible.
This follows three core principles:
Protecting user security and privacy: In line with DMA requirements, third-party messaging apps must use the same level of E2EE as WhatsApp.
Clear and simple experience: We've provided users with a simple onboarding experience, while ensuring they understand the main differences between chats on WhatsApp and third-party chats.
Available to European users: In line with DMA requirements, third-party chats will be available to people in the European Region.
Meta says that over the coming months, WhatsApp users in the European Region will begin seeing a notification in the app's Settings tab that will explain how they can opt-in to connect with people on third-party apps. Meta intends to "expand our interoperability offerings" as required by the DMA, and will provide updates on its progress as it rolls out further features in time.
In February 2024, WhatsApp claimed it had been working on interoperability for years, and that its work was only partially motivated by the DMA.
Apple and OpenAI were not able to get a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk's xAI startup dismissed, reports Bloomberg. Texas District Judge Mark Pittman said today that Apple and OpenAI will need to continue on with the lawsuit and submit filings arguing their case.
xAI sued Apple and OpenAI in August 2025, accusing the two companies of conspiring to dominate the AI market. The lawsuit came after Musk complained that his apps X and Grok had not been featured in the App Store's "Must Have" apps section.
The lawsuit claimed that Apple was "blindsided by major innovations in AI," leading it to team up with OpenAI in a "desperate bid to protect its smartphone monopoly." It referenced Siri's ChatGPT integration, because Apple has not established deals with other companies for Siri integration. xAI said that if iPhone users want to access a generative AI chatbot, "they have no choice but to use ChatGPT, even if they would prefer to use more innovative and imaginative products like xAI's Grok."
iPhone users can, of course, download any chatbot app from the App Store, but xAI said that apps do not have the same "functionality, usability, and integration" as ChatGPT does with Siri. The lawsuit also accused Apple of "deprioritizing" the apps of competing generative AI chatbots, and depriving Grok of data from billions of iPhone users because Grok isn't integrated with Siri like ChatGPT. The lawsuit claims that xAI "sought an integration" with Apple Intelligence, and was denied.
In a filing earlier this month, Apple and OpenAI both argued that the lawsuit is flawed because there is no exclusivity deal that prevents Apple from integrating other chatbots into Siri.
xAI has asked the court to put a stop to Apple and OpenAI's "anticompetitive scheme," and help it "recover billions in damages."
Apple today provided public beta testers with the second beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a day after Apple provided the beta to developers.
After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the System Settings app.
macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 2 adds an Edge Light feature for video calls. Edge Light provides a light border around the edges of the Mac's display, mimicking the look of a physical ring light to improve lighting in darkened rooms.
Edge Light uses the Neural Engine for positioning, so it is optimally placed around your face in the video frame. Light color can be adjusted from warm to cool, and the feature is available in video conferencing apps alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, and Voice Isolation. It is available on Macs that support Apple silicon.
The macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta is limited to developers and public beta testers right now, but it won't be a long testing period. We'll likely see Apple release the update right around mid-December given past launch timelines.
Satechi today announced the launch of a new OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter, which provides access to seven ports in a pocket-sized enclosure that's ideal to bring along when traveling.
The hub is similar in size to a hockey puck, and it includes a magnet so it can be attached to the back of a MagSafe iPhone or to a magnetic iPad case. Along with a USB-C port that offers up to 100W of passthrough charging, Satechi's adapter has the following ports:
HDMI 4K/60Hz
USB-A (5Gb/s)
USB-A (5Gb/s)
SD card reader (up to 104MB/s, up to 2TB)
microSD card reader (up to 104MB/s, up to 2TB)
Gigabit Ethernet
With the magnetic connection, the adapter can be connected to the back of an iPhone and used to access storage on an SD card or connected USB-A storage device. The adapter is compatible with iPhones, iPads, Macs, PCs, Android devices, and more.
For devices that don't have an included magnet, there is an adhesive ring to attach the adapter to the product, keeping it out of the way. Satechi includes a braided USB-C cable that wraps around the adapter.
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