MacRumors

Signs are continuing to point to some imminent Apple hardware updates, while the company is also making tweaks during beta testing for iOS 26.1, keeping us on our toes for the month of October.

This week also saw a look at a likely shakeup of Apple's senior leadership in the coming years, as well as some more rumors about Apple's foldable iPhone expected next year, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories

5+ New Features Your iPhone Will Get in iOS 26.1

Apple is currently beta testing iOS 26.1, which will be the first major update to the iOS 26 operating system. It's not going to bring the new version of Siri that we've been waiting for, but it does include useful new features and interface changes.

With the second round of betas this week bringing a number of changes including improvements to the mechanism for turning off alarms and timers and a partial return of Slide Over on the iPad, we've now recapped all of the additions and changes we've discovered so far in iOS 26.1.

Gurman: Major Apple Leadership Shakeup Impending With John Ternus as Next CEO

In this week's edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revisited Apple's succession plans ahead of Tim Cook's 65th birthday and following Jeff Williams' announcement in July that he would be stepping down as Chief Operating Officer before fully retiring later this year.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus is seen as the likely successor to Cook at the helm of Apple, and he has been gradually becoming more visible in recent years.

There are a number of other Apple senior executives such as Phil Schiller and Luca Maestri who have been phasing themselves out, and others like AI chief John Giannandrea and chip boss Johny Srouji who will likely be winding things down in the not too distant future, so Apple's long-running era of relative stability among its executive ranks will likely be coming to an end in the next few years.

M5 MacBook Pro Could Launch in October as M4 Model Faces Supply Constraints

While we're definitely expecting some new Apple products before the end of the year, rumors have been unclear about whether we'll see any Macs in that group or if they'll make their appearance sometime in early 2026.

A couple of recent hints have, however, suggested that at least one Mac might be coming sooner rather than later, and that's the base M5 MacBook Pro. Supplies of the current M4 model in Apple's online stores are currently constrained, and FCC documents leaked within the past couple of weeks included only a single model rather than a complete set spanning M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips across the two available sizes.

As a result, there has been speculation that we could see the base M5 MacBook Pro appear alongside the already-leaked M5 iPad Pro as soon as later this month, with more powerful MacBook Pro models following later. We'll just have to wait and see!

Next iPad Pro to Have Two Key Features, But One Rumor Still Uncertain

Speaking of that already-leaked iPad Pro, it certainly appears that it will come with an M5 chip and a bump to 12GB minimum memory, but questions remain about whether it will gain a previously rumored second front camera to better support both landscape and portrait orientations.

Video leaks out of Russia have been split about whether a second camera is present, but video footage certainly makes it look like there is an ambient light sensor at the expected location as on current models, rather than a second camera.

iOS 26: Switch Back to the Classic Phone App Layout

One of the more controversial changes in iOS 26 has been a new unified view for the Phone app that puts recent calls, favorite contacts, voicemails, and search all on a single screen. Fortunately for those who dislike the new organization, it's easy to switch back to the classic tabbed view.

iOS 26 also lets you quickly view an extended call history with any of your contacts, potentially going back years depending on how much history is stored on your device. With iOS 26, you can also have your iPhone wait on hold for you, screen your calls by asking the caller their name and reason for calling, or even serve as a real-time translator for your calls.

Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Rumored to Use Titanium and Aluminum Frame

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will have a frame that's made from a mix of titanium and aluminum, analyst Jeff Pu said this week in a note shared with investors.

Pu suggested that Apple will expand its use of titanium, with the material set to be used in both the 2026 ‌"iPhone‌ Fold" and iPhone Air models. The foldable ‌iPhone‌ is rumored to be as thin as 4.5mm when opened up, which would make it even thinner than the ‌iPhone Air‌. so it would need the strength of a titanium frame to prevent bending issues.

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Recent reports suggest that there are now no redesigned Apple Vision headsets in active development, with the company's focus pivoting decisively to smart glasses.

When Apple announced the Vision Pro in mid-2023, it described the device as the dawn of "spatial computing," a new paradigm that would eventually rival the iPhone in importance. With a $3,499 starting price, intricate design and brand new operating system, and a clear focus on premium early adopters, the headset was never expected to be mass-market from day one. Yet even by Apple's standards, enthusiasm cooled far faster than anticipated, and the company's once-ambitious multi-year roadmap has now all but collapsed, according to rumors.

Apple's Original Plan

Soon after the launch of the Vision Pro, Apple is believed to have shifted focus to the "Vision Air," designed to bring spatial computing to a wider audience thanks to a lighter, thinner, and dramatically cheaper headset.

The target was to cut both weight by over 40% and price by around 50%, finally making mixed-reality viable for mainstream buyers. The Vision Air would use lower-cost display panels and simplified optics, while dropping some non-essential aspects and improving ergonomics.

At the high end, Apple reportedly envisioned a redesigned Vision Pro 2 to be launched sometime after the Vision Air's debut, and that timeframe eventually slipped to 2028. This second-generation flagship would have featured a lighter, more comfortable design, more advanced displays, longer battery life, and a lower price point. The Air and Pro models together would establish a two-tier product structure, mirroring the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and AirPods product lines.

The Roadmap Changes

By mid-2024, momentum around the Vision Pro seemed to be shifting, with plans for future products being reorganized.

An essential report from The Information claimed that Apple had suspended development of the Vision Pro 2, redirecting its engineering resources to the cheaper Vision Air in hopes of accelerating its release. The company ostensibly recognized that the Pro's combination of high cost, bulk, discomfort, and limited use cases had narrowed its appeal even among early adopters.

At the time Apple began work on the device, it sought to release it at the end of 2024, but it still did not have a firm prototype by the middle of the year. The company was said to have struggled to find ways to reduce the model's costs without sacrificing too many features, with the target release date slipping to the end of 2025.

Meanwhile, by October, supply-chain leaks suggested Apple was winding down production of the original Vision Pro, citing weak demand and excess component stockpiles. The first-generation Vision Pro is believed to have ceased production at the end of the year.

Pausing Headset Development Entirely

This month, a bombshell report from Bloomberg said that Apple has also paused work on the lower-cost headset, the "Vision Air." Apple apparently wants to speed up development on a glasses product to better compete with Meta.

If reports from Bloomberg and The Information are true, development of both the Vision Air and the redesigned Vision Pro are paused, with no headset-class hardware in active development. While the company is unlikely to abandon spatial computing altogether, its next steps will almost certainly look very different from the headset it launched in 2024.

The M5 Vision Pro

Apple is about to debut its M5 family of chips, but today's Vision Pro still uses an M2 chip from 2022.

Apple is believed to have taken the decision to simply refresh the existing hardware with the M5 chip, potentially a second-generation coprocessor "R2" chip, and a new "Dual Knit" headband. This would enable it to keep the existing device up to date for a few more years, while making use of the stockpile of components left over from the first-generation model. This device is expected to launch in the next few weeks, even being leaked by FCC filings.

What Next?

The M5 Vision Pro should offer a reasonable update for users who like the device or potential customers who haven't yet tried it, but it is still unlikely to enjoy mass appeal or a radically different experience. The device is likely to support the headset product line for a period of time, but it will eventually become an outdated model if Apple offers no successors.

Apple is expected to launch its first smart glasses product as soon as next year, and it is possible that the company could resume work on the Vision Air and Vision Pro 2 once the glasses initiative is established. Nevertheless, Apple's headset is likely to enter a peculiar place around 2027 to 2028, with old hardware on sale and no sign of a refresh or replacement model.

For now, visionOS 26 and the upcoming M5 refresh show that Apple is still committed to mixed reality headsets, but where the product line goes further in the future amid a sudden pivot to smart glasses and artificial intelligence is anyone's guess.

Apple is planning to release a base MacBook Pro with a standard M5 chip before higher-end models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, according to AppleInsider's sources with "knowledge of macOS Tahoe development and hardware testing."

The report said a MacBook Pro with an M5 chip is "nearing release," and Apple has apparently been testing this model with an unreleased macOS 26.0.2 version.

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026, with macOS 26.3 preinstalled, the report added. Following beta testing, macOS 26.3 will likely be released in January.

There is precedent for a decoupled launch. Apple updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 chip in November 2020, but 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips did not debut until October 2021. Then, the 13-inch MacBook Pro was updated with the M2 chip in June 2022, with 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips following in January 2023.

That trend stopped once the 13-inch MacBook Pro was discontinued. The entire 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro lineup was updated with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips all at once in October 2023, and 14-inch and 16-inch models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips debuted simultaneously in October 2024.

Last month, U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) documents surfaced for only a single unreleased MacBook Pro model, which further suggests that Apple might be planning to release a base 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 chip soon, followed by higher-end models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips early next year.

In fact, this split launch could explain why rumors flip flopped between late 2025 and early 2026 timeframes. Ultimately, it sounds like it will be both.

Other devices expected to be updated with the M5 chip this year include the iPad Pro and the Vision Pro. It is still not clear if Apple plans to host an October event, or if it will announce new products with press releases and shorter videos only.

An early unboxing video for the next iPad Pro already revealed that the M5 chip will offer up to 12% faster multi-core CPU performance, and up to 36% faster graphics performance, compared to the M4 chip in the current iPad Pro. The chip still has a 9-core CPU, and it is manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process.

Bigger changes to the MacBook Pro are expected with the two-generations-away models, with rumored upgrades including an OLED display, touchscreen capabilities, a thinner design, built-in cellular connectivity, and M6 chips manufactured with TSMC's advanced 2nm process, for even greater year-over-year performance gains.

New models of the MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio are not expected to launch until next year, but the report did not mention the Mac Pro desktop tower.

This week was Prime Big Deal Days, and although the event is officially over, we're still tracking great leftover discounts on Amazon. This includes ongoing low prices on AirPods 4, MacBook Air, iPads, 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.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take up to $120 off AirPods Max, AirPods 4, and more
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Numerous AirPods models have been discounted this week, with the most notable being the AirPods 4 for $89.00, down from $129.00. The AirPods Pro 2 are also at a solid $79 discount right now.

Apple Accessories

• What's the deal? Get record low prices on AirTag, iPhone 17 cases, and more
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

There are a few accessories on sale for Prime Day, including a new all-time low price on the iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case, now available for $44.00, down from $59.00. You'll also find great deals on Apple Pencil Pro, MagSafe Charger, and the AirTag 4-Pack.

Sony, Samsung, and Best Buy

• What's the deal? Get low prices during sitewide sales
• Where can I get it? Sony, Samsung, and Best Buy
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Prime Day competitor sales popped up this week, and all of these events are still going on today, with great deals found at Sony, Samsung, and Best Buy. This includes deals on Sony's popular noise-canceling headphones, Samsung's TVs, and much more.

iPads

• What's the deal? Take up to $150 off iPads
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days saw big markdowns on iPads, and we're still tracking all-time lows for the 11-inch iPad. You can also find a steep $150 discount on the M3 iPad Air today.

MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Take $200 off M4 MacBook Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Prices on the M4 MacBook Air start at $799.00 for the 13-inch 256GB model, down from $999.00. If you're looking for the larger model, you can get the 15-inch 256GB computer for $999.00, down from $1,199.00. Both of these are record low prices.

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.

---

A selection of Los Angeles Lakers games during the 2025-26 season will be live streamed in the Apple Immersive format on the Apple Vision Pro.

The 3D games will be streamed in the forthcoming Spectrum SportsNet app on the Vision Pro, starting early next year, according to Apple. A schedule will be shared later this year. A subscription to a Spectrum internet plan or Spectrum SportsNet+ is needed to watch the live broadcasts, and visionOS 26 or later is also required.

The live broadcasts are only available within Lakers broadcasting territory, which includes Southern California, parts of Southern Nevada, and Hawaii.

Apple Immersive videos are 180-degree 8K recordings, captured with Spatial Audio.

"Viewers will feel the intensity of each game as if they were courtside, with perspectives impossible to capture in traditional broadcasts," says Apple.

Apple Immersive footage of the games will be captured with Blackmagic Design's new URSA Cine Immersive Live camera, which will be available for purchase next year.

Full game replays and highlights in the Apple Immersive format will be available on demand in both the Spectrum SportsNet and NBA apps on the Vision Pro, one to three days after the conclusion of each game, according to Apple.

More details were shared by TechRadar.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with ColorWare to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a pair of custom-painted AirPods Pro 3. It's been under a month since Apple released the AirPods Pro 3, so ColorWare didn't waste any time getting started on custom options.

If you're not familiar with ColorWare, it's a company that's been customizing Apple products for over two decades now, and if you want AirPods in a color other than white, ColorWare can make it happen.

ColorWare products are available in hundreds of unique colors and finishes. You can get any color of the rainbow in a gloss, matte, metallic, or metallic matte finish. Want ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ in a glossy black? No problem. Bright orange, shiny gold, or dusky, matte blue? ColorWare has all of those options.

There's also a neon hi-vis color, and a set of illusion shades that have iridescent, shifting colors. You can get the AirPods and the case all the same color or choose separate, custom colors for each earbud and the case.

Aside from the custom color, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ work just like the stock version from Apple. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ offer improved Active Noise Cancellation, better audio quality, a new fit with foam-infused ear tips, and heart rate sensing.

Custom ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ from ColorWare are priced at $439, and that's the same price ColorWare has charged for prior versions of the AirPods too. The price includes the earbuds and the case, but you can also get customized earbuds for $389. And for another $20, you can get any text or symbol you want engraved on the AirPods.

You can also get other custom Apple products from ColorWare, like the Apple Pencil, AirPods 4, Mac mini, AirPods Max, and AirTags.

ColorWare uses a multi-step coating process that includes primer, a proprietary color formula, and an X2 liquid plastic coating that protects the color. Custom painting is guaranteed for 12 months.

ColorWare's ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ have only been available for a couple weeks, but they've proven so popular that they're backordered until January. If you want custom-colored AirPods, you might want to order now before the wait gets longer. MacRumors readers who win our giveaway will get to skip the line.

We have three sets of ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ to give away to MacRumors readers. 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 MacRumors Facebook 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.

ColorWare Giveaway

The contest will run from today (October 10) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 17. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after October 17 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.

Apple's retail store at The Forum in Carlsbad, California will be receiving an all-new design.

The store will be temporarily closed for renovations starting Wednesday, October 15, according to Apple's website. The location will be updated with a modern design and amenities, with a dedicated Apple Pickup station for online orders likely to be added.

Apple has not indicated when the original store will reopen, but these remodeling projects often take many months to be completed.

In the meantime, Apple will be opening a temporary store in the same plaza in Carlsbad, with a grand opening set for Saturday, October 18, at 10 a.m. local time. Apple says the temporary store will be located "just down to the right" from the original location, with the store's address set to shift from 1923 Calle Barcelona to 1925 Calle Barcelona.

Carlsbad is a coastal city in the County of San Diego. Apple opened its store there in 2008.

On this episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through Apple's plan to unveil three new entry-level devices early next year.

The iPhone 17e is expected to be a minor upgrade over this year's 16e, launching in early 2026. The main upgrade is likely to be the A19 chip from the iPhone 17, with few other changes expected. It is possible that the device could get the Dynamic Island and an iPhone 15-style design, but realistically that is likely to occur on a subsequent generation.

The 12th-generation iPad is finally due to support Apple Intelligence thanks to an upgrade to the A18 chip, arriving in the Spring.

The biggest launch in terms of entry-level devices next year is an all-new low-cost MacBook. It is rumored to be the first consumer Mac to feature an A-series chip designed for the iPhone, adopting the A18 Pro from 2024's iPhone 16 Pro models. It is expected to feature a 13-inch display and come in the same silver, blue, pink, and yellow color options like the ‌iPad‌.

To meet its lower price point, the device is likely to make compromises such as using an older design or display components, 8GB of memory, or even just a single USB-C port, compared to the MacBook Air. The machine is expected to launch in early 2026 with a price point somewhere below the $999 ‌MacBook Air‌, but above the ‌iPad‌.

We discuss the importance of each of these new devices, who they are likely to appeal to, and how they're likely to launch. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about the latest leaks regarding the next-generation iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Studio Display, and Vision Pro.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌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.

In a statement shared with 9to5Mac this week, Apple announced that it will be launching its Emergency SOS via satellite feature in Mexico later this year.

Apple's satellite features are available on all iPhone 14 models and newer. The features include Emergency SOS via satellite, Find My via satellite, Messages via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, with availability of each varying by country.

• Emergency SOS via satellite: Text emergency services via satellite.
• Find My via satellite: Update your location in the Find My app via satellite.
• Messages via satellite: Send and receive iMessage and SMS messages via satellite.
• Roadside Assistance via satellite: Text select roadside service providers via satellite.

The features are powered by Globalstar's network of satellites in low Earth orbit.

The features are available to use when you are in an area without Wi-Fi or cellular coverage — otherwise, there is only a demo mode. To access the features, open Control Center and scroll down to the page with "Satellite." Tap on that to open Apple's Connection Assistant, which lists all of the satellite features available in your country.

Apple has yet to charge a fee for any of its satellite features. Last month, the company announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to the entire suite of satellite features on those devices.

Below, we have outlined where the satellite features are available.

Emergency SOS via satellite

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Luxembourg
• Mexico (Later this year)
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Portugal
• Spain
• Switzerland
• U.K.
• U.S.

Find My via satellite

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Portugal
• Spain
• Switzerland
• U.K.
• U.S.

Messages via satellite

• Canada
• Mexico
• U.S.

Roadside Assistance via satellite

• Australia
• U.K.
• U.S.

The minimum iOS version required for each feature varies by country.

International travelers who visit a country where the features are available can use the feature while visiting, except if they bought their iPhone in Armenia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Russia, according to Apple.

iOS 26 beta code included references to Weather via satellite, but Apple has yet to announce such a feature, and it is unclear if it remains in development.

Apple has announced a major overhaul of its bug bounty program that doubles the top reward to $2 million for exploit chains that can match the sophistication of mercenary spyware attacks.

With bonuses for Lockdown Mode bypasses and vulnerabilities found in beta software, Apple says its total payouts could exceed $5 million. The company claims this represents "the largest payout offered by any bounty program."

The program now places greater emphasis on complete exploit chains rather than individual vulnerabilities, reflecting the reality that real-world attacks typically chain multiple bugs together. The rewards for remote-entry vectors have also been substantially increased, although categories not commonly seen in actual attacks will receive lower payouts.

As part of the overhaul, Apple is introducing "Target Flags," which are inspired by capture-the-flag games. When a researcher successfully exploits a vulnerability, they can capture a specific flag that proves exactly what level of access they achieved, such as code execution or arbitrary read/write capabilities.

These flags can be verified by Apple, so researchers who submit reports using them can receive notification of their bounty award immediately after Apple validates the captured flag. The payment is also issued in an upcoming payment cycle, meaning researchers won't have have to wait until Apple releases a software fix, which can take months. Previously, researchers often had to wait for Apple to patch a vulnerability before receiving payment.

The updated program comes into effect from November 2025. Apple is also expanding categories to include one-click WebKit sandbox escapes worth up to $300,000 and wireless proximity exploits over any radio worth up to $1 million. A complete Gatekeeper bypass on macOS now earns $100,000.

More information on the changes can be found on Apple's Security Research website. Apple says it has paid out over $35 million to more than 800 researchers since launching the public program in 2020.

Apple is set to reorganize its health and fitness divisions under its Services group, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The move comes as longtime chief operating officer Jeff Williams prepares to depart at the end of this year.

Services chief Eddy Cue will reportedly gain oversight of Apple's health and fitness teams, with the groups being consolidated under health lead Sumbul Desai. Meanwhile, Fitness+ head Jay Blahnik will report to Desai in the new structure. Both teams had previously reported to Williams.

Gurman suggests the reorganization is being timed with Apple's plans to launch a new Health+ subscription service, which he first reported on in March. The offering is said to feature an AI assistant providing personalized recommendations on nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Apple plans to launch the new service next year.

Elsewhere, Gurman reports that Craig Federighi will add watchOS to his software oversight, while hardware chief John Ternus – tipped to eventually succeed Tim Cook in the CEO role – will assume sole control of Apple Watch hardware engineering.

Cue already manages Apple's streaming services, iCloud, Maps, and other digital offerings, and placing health and fitness under his Services umbrella suggests Apple wants to transform its wellness initiatives into a more significant revenue stream.

Williams has been transferring his responsibilities since announcing his retirement in July, with supply chain and operations duties moving to new operating chief Sabih Khan.

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has taken some inspiration from Apple's Liquid Glass design language for its latest operating system update, OriginOS 6. Unveiled this week, OriginOS 6 has the same rounded buttons and translucent glass look as iOS 26.

In a demo video, a Vivo smartphone features an interface that could be easily mistaken for ‌iOS 26‌. There's a Liquid Glass clock, Control Center, squircle icons, glass-like rounded buttons, translucent app folders and dock, translucent notifications, and even wallpapers that shift with a 2D to 3D effect like Apple's Spatial Scenes.

There is no mistaking the Liquid Glass design influence even though Vivo references water when describing the operating system. "With OriginOS 6, every swipe, scroll, and tap flows like never before. No lags. No stutters. Just effortless motion built for the way you move," reads some of the marketing material for the update.

Vivo is a Chinese smartphone maker that sells its devices in China, India, and other countries. Most Vivo smartphones are not available for purchase in the United States, but Vivo recently received certification for the Vivo X300 FE, which it will sell in the U.S.

Belkin today announced the launch of the Stage PowerGrip, an accessory that pairs a camera grip with a power bank.

The PowerGrip includes a 9,300 mAh battery that can provide a full charge to Apple's iPhones. Included magnets allow it to attach to the back of a MagSafe-compatible iPhone.

It can charge at 7.5W wirelessly, but plugging an iPhone in with the included retractable USB-C cable speeds up charging. With the wireless charging capabilities, the included cable, and an extra USB-C port, up to three devices can be charged at one time. The charger is limited to 15W total, so it's best used to charge an iPhone and smaller devices like an Apple Watch or AirPods.

The PowerGrip connects to an iPhone over Bluetooth, and a button on it can be used as a camera shutter button for snapping photos. It can be used in multiple orientations for filming, or it can serve as a stand. There's also a connector so it can be attached to a tripod mount. A digital display provides a readout on remaining capacity.

Belkin's Stage PowerGrip can be purchased from the Belkin website or from Amazon.com for $80.

Sora, OpenAI's app for creating AI-generated video, has been downloaded more than one million times. OpenAI's Sora lead, Bill Peebles, shared the information on social media network X last night.

Peebles said that Sora hit one million app downloads even faster than ChatGPT did, with interest in the app soaring despite the fact that it's invite only and only available in the U.S. and Canada at the current time.

Sora was released at the end of September. It's designed to generate AI videos using realistic videos of real people and their friends. Each user uploads a "cameo" or short video, which they can then use with AI prompts.

The app includes an option for users to share their cameos, allowing select people or anyone on Sora to generate AI video with their likeness. Sora has been criticized for producing AI slop, but that hasn't affected its popularity. It continues to be the top free app on Apple's App Store.

Sora uses OpenAI's Sora 2 video generation model that can handle complex movements for realistic, cinematic, and anime-style video. Sora 2 supports generating audio, so all the video creations on Sora are accompanied by sound.

OpenAI designed Sora to display content based on people the user follows or interacts with, and the app polls users regularly on their wellbeing. There are controls to modify what's displayed in a feed, and OpenAI says that it is meant to be used with friends, which is why it's invite only.

Sora is free to download, and OpenAI is not restricting video generation to subscribers for now. [Direct Link]

Apple has invited a group of social media influencers to Colorado this week for an unusual event involving group hiking, trail running, and other outdoor activities designed to showcase the company's recently launched iPhone 17 Pro Max, AirPods Pro 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

An invitation was shared on X (Twitter) by photographer Johnny Hawk, featuring a simple message: "Hi Johnny. We're so excited to welcome you to Colorado. Please enjoy this bag of essentials to use during your time here. See you soon!" The card is accompanied by a black backpack emblazoned with Apple's logo and a white flask.

When news of the mysterious Colorado gathering first surfaced, there was some speculation online that it might relate to Apple's anticipated October product refresh, which is expected to include new iPad Pro models with M5 chips and an updated Vision Pro, with potentially other updates also coming. Apparently, that's not the case at all.

The Rocky Mountain gathering appears to be just another aspect of Apple's marketing campaign for its been-and-gone iPhone 17 fall event. In follow-up posts on X and Instagram, Hawk revealed that he had been brought to Colorado's rugged terrain by Apple to test how the new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watch perform in demanding outdoor conditions.

• Apple Event This October? Here's the Latest on What to Expect

Apple has occasionally held regional events for influencers to preview products in unique settings, but these have usually occurred in major metropolitan centers like New York City. So far we've not heard rumors of anything in that vein taking place this month.

Apple today released new beta firmware that's designed for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 8B5014c.

The firmware comes as Apple is testing the iOS 26.1 update. It likely adds support for Live Translation in new languages, including Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese (both Mandarin Traditional and Simplified).

With iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates beta testing.

Developers can use the beta option to turn on beta downloads.

Apple today shared a short teaser video for Pluribus, an upcoming sci-fi drama series hailing from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan.

Pluribus stars Emmy-nominated actress Rhea Seehorn, who also starred in the Breaking Bad spinoff series Better Call Saul. In the "genre-bending" series, Apple says "the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness."

In the teaser video, which is shrouded in mystery, Seehorn plays a woman named Carol. A fictional U.S. government official appears on her TV screen, promising to "figure out" what makes her "different" from the others, so that she can "join" them.

"Join us, Carol," reads the description for the YouTube video.

The first two episodes of the nine-episode first season will be released on Apple TV+ on Friday, November 7, and a new episode will follow every Friday through December 26. Apple has already picked up the series for a second season, too.

Pluribus is produced by Sony Pictures Television, and Gilligan serves as one of the executive producers and as a writer for some episodes.

Over the past few months, Apple has shared several mysterious clips from the show.

P.S. If you dial 202-808-3981, an automated message related to the show will play, and there is an option to sign up for promotional Apple TV+ text messages.

MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been testing all four of Apple's new iPhones for the last few weeks, so if you're still thinking about getting one an iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max, or iPhone Air, you'll want to watch his latest video.

Dan walks through the features that set each iPhone apart, and he goes over what factors you'll want to consider when choosing a new device.