MacRumors

The AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max are Apple's highest-end headphone options, so which should you choose?

Apple just debuted the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, adding new features like improved active noise cancellation, the U2 chip, and heart rate monitoring. The AirPods Pro 2 were already more advanced than the AirPods Max, which have not been meaningfully refreshed since their introduction in 2020, so the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ take an even bigger leap ahead of their over-ear siblings. Nevertheless, there is still a good case for buying the AirPods Max against the AirPods Pro.

Both the AirPods Max and the AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, volume controls, "Hey Siri" commands, and automatic switching. As the two highest-end AirPods options, should you consider purchasing the $249 ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, or do you need the AirPods Max, which still sell for $549? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these AirPods are best for you.

‌AirPods Pro 3‌ (2025)	AirPods Max (2020, 2024)
Plastic design	Aluminum, stainless steel, and silicone design
IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging case
Available in White only	Lightning: Available in Silver, Space Gray, Sky Blue, Pink, and Green USB-C: Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, and Orange
In-ear fit	Over-ear fit
Clip-on silicone/foam ear tips (five size options)	Magnetic fabric ear cups
Skin-detect sensors	Optical IR sensors
~10mm custom high-excursion Apple drivers and high dynamic range amplifiers	40mm dynamic Apple drivers and more powerful high dynamic range amplifiers
Dual beamforming microphones and inward-facing microphones	Nine microphones (eight used for Active Noise Cancellation, three used for voice pickup)
H2 chips	H1 chips
Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.0
2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity	2.4GHz connectivity
Lossless audio support with Apple Vision Pro	Lossless audio via USB-C
"Hey ‌Siri‌" and "‌Siri‌" voice commands	"Hey ‌Siri‌" voice commands
Force sensor for media and listening mode controls	Noise control button for listening mode controls
Touch controls for volume adjustment	Digital Crown for media controls and volume adjustment
Transparency and Adaptive Transparency	Transparency
Adaptive Audio
Loud Sound Reduction
Hearing Protection
Hearing Test
Hearing Aid
Automatic Conversation Boost
Conversation Awareness
Live Translation
Heart rate sensing during workouts
Lanyard loop
U2 chip for Precision Finding
Speaker in charging case for Find My
Up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge	Up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge
5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time	5 minutes of charge time provides around 1.5 hours of listening time
Charge with Apple Watch charger, MagSafe charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C	Charge via USB-C or Lightning only (depending on model)
‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case	Smart Case to preserve battery charge in ultra-low-power state
$249	$549

While there is some overlap between the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max with features like Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency, the entirely different fit and form factor of the headphones should make it easier for most customers to decide which device they prefer. Some users will even buy and use both.

The AirPods Max offer a wide range of color options and a premium design, making them more of a fashion accessory. They also feature much longer continuous battery life from a single charge. If you dislike the in-ear design of the AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max may also be more comfortable, especially for longer listening sessions.

Owing to its over-ear design and significantly larger drivers, the AirPods Max deliver markedly better audio quality than the AirPods Pro, so if your main priority is audio quality, the AirPods Max will undoubtedly be the best choice. They also support Lossless Audio via USB-C.

On the other hand, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ offer a high-level of convenience and portability due to their small size and charging case. The audio quality of the AirPods Pro cannot rival the AirPods Max, but features like Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, Conversation Boost are ideal for when you're on the go.

Due to their lightweight, in-ear design and sweat and water resistance, the AirPods Pro are perfect for outdoors use and fitness activities. They also now feature heart-rate monitoring during workouts.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are much more versatile when it comes to charging, with four different ways to charge, compared to the AirPods Max's obligatory USB-C port. Due to their size, weight, less durable design, and limited portability, the AirPods Max are best used at home for high-fidelity, prolonged listening sessions, while the AirPods Pro offer a more balanced experience with a high level of convenience and portability.

It is also worth noting that the AirPods Pro have many more features than the AirPods Max, such as "‌‌Siri‌‌" voice commands, Precision Finding, Bluetooth 5.3, wireless lossless audio with the Vision Pro, Live Translation, and Hearing Test.

AirPods frequently see hefty discounts on Amazon and other third-party retailers, so stepping up to the Max version may be more worth it if you can take advantage of one of those deals. Both sets of AirPods often see solid discounts, so it is always worth seeking the best price using our Deals roundup.

On this episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the latest leaks about the next-generation iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Studio Display, and Vision Pro.

Earlier this week, an apparent unboxing video of an updated ‌iPad Pro‌ with the M5 chip was shared online. The same YouTube account leaked the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with the M4 chip before it was announced by Apple last year. The new ‌iPad Pro‌ does not have any noticeable external design changes compared to the current models with the M4 chip, with the chip being the only difference.

Meanwhile, documents leaked from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reveal the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌, ‌MacBook Pro‌, and Vision Pro are imminent. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also recently detailed Apple's plan to release two new external monitors either later this year or in early 2026.

Gurman this week revealed that Apple has stopped work on a cheaper, lighter version of the $3,499 Vision Pro. There were rumors that Apple was developing a a much lighter, more affordable "Vision Air" for launch in 2027, but Apple is now apparently transitioning engineers from that project to its smart glasses project to compete with Meta. Last year, The Information reported that suspended its work on the true second-generation Vision Pro. This means that the only new Vision product in the pipeline is the impending refresh of the existing product to upgrade to the M5 chip.

We discuss the wave of product leaks and our expectations for the new releases, as well as the implications of Apple seemingly halting work on new Vision headsets. 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 first impressions of the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 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.

While it is unclear if Apple will host an October event this year, or stick to press releases, rumors suggest it will announce several new products this month.

In any case, Apple will likely provide the public with advanced notice. The table below outlines when Apple teased its October launches over the past four years.

Year	Announcement/Teaser	Event/Tagline	Event/Press Releases
2021	Tuesday, October 12	"Unleashed" Event	Monday, October 18
2022	Tuesday, October 18	"Take Note" Teaser	Tuesday, October 18
2023	Tuesday, October 24	"Scary Fast" Event	Monday, October 30
2024	Thursday, October 24	"Mac Your Calendars" Teaser	Monday, October 28 to Wednesday, October 30

A handful of Apple products are expected to be updated as early as October, with the following new features and changes rumored:

• iPad Pro: M5 chip and potentially two front cameras, allowing for photos and video calls in both portrait and landscape orientations.
• Vision Pro: A faster M4 chip or M5 chip, a new head strap that improves comfort, and potentially a Space Black color option.
• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model specifically.
• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for proximity features, and potentially new color options like Red.
• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.

What about Macs? Apple's next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips will reportedly enter mass production soon, but they apparently might not be announced until early 2026. While new Macs are often unveiled in October, there is precedent for a launch earlier in a year too, as Apple announced MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in a January 2023 press release.

Apple is reportedly also planning a lower-priced MacBook with an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip, but the rumored launch timeframe for that is late 2025 or early 2026, so it is unclear if it would be announced this October. This model would likely be the spiritual successor to the MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is still sold by Walmart in the U.S. for $599.

Apple recently announced its next quarterly earnings call will be held on Thursday, October 30, so any new products this month will likely be unveiled by Wednesday, October 29 at the latest, so Apple can recap the announcements on the call.

Apple is working on a set of smart glasses to rival the Meta Ray-Bans, and now that Meta has debuted glasses that include a display, Apple wants to speed up development on its first-generation model. Work has stopped on the next Vision Pro so that Apple can prioritize getting the glasses to market.

They'll Be Fashion Forward

Like the initial versions of the Apple Watch, the Apple Glasses will be a fashion accessory rather than clunky frames with limited style availability.

Apple is planning to offer multiple frame and temple material options for a personalized look. There needs to be space for a battery, a chip, and multiple cameras, so it's not clear how slim Apple can get the glasses, but different color, size, and shape options are likely.

Meta had limited color and style options for its Ray-Bans to begin with, but over the last few years, it's added more shapes and colors, and expanded to Oakley frames.

Siri Will Play a Major Role

Apple can't release smart glasses until it has a functional, next-generation version of Siri. Controls will be largely voice based, which means ‌Siri‌ needs to be intelligent enough to understand what you want and act on it.

Apple rearchitected ‌Siri‌ with large language models, and a smarter ‌Siri‌ that's more like Claude, Gemini, or ChatGPT is coming in spring 2026.

You should be able to ask ‌Siri‌ all kinds of questions, and with cameras integrated into Apple's glasses, ‌Siri‌ could be able to do things like provide feedback on what you're seeing, look things up for you, translate foreign languages, remember where you parked or put your keys, offer instructions to help you with tasks, play music, send messages, and more.

Apple will want to match many of the features of the Meta Ray-Bans, and Meta AI can do all of the above.

Rumored Apple Glasses Features

Apple's first-generation glasses won't include a display like Meta's latest Ray-Ban Display glasses, but they will have the same AI features, cameras, and audio capabilities of Meta's less expensive Ray-Bans.

We don't know everything about Apple's glasses yet, but we've heard rumors about some of the capabilities that will be included.

• Take photos
• Record video
• Play audio, including podcasts, music, and audiobooks
• Offer directions
• Answer questions
• Describe your surroundings
• Identify plants, animals, landmarks and more with Visual Intelligence
• Make phone calls
• Send messages
• Translate languages

You'll Still Need Your iPhone

The Apple glasses will have an Apple-designed chip that's based on the chip in the Apple Watch, but you're still going to need an iPhone to use them. They won't be able to operate standalone, and will need a connection to an iPhone for AI processing and other features.

We don't know what the battery life will be like, but handing tasks off to the iPhone should help extend battery life.

We Could See the Glasses as Soon as 2026

Apple is speeding up development on the smart glasses, and current rumors suggest Apple could show them off in late 2026. It sounds like Apple might announce them in 2026 and then launch them in early 2027.

There is no word yet on how much the glasses might cost, but Meta Ray-Bans start at $380 and Apple may want to price its version competitively.

Read More

We have an Apple Glasses guide that aggregates all of the rumors that we've heard so far. We update it regularly when new info comes out.

As noted by the French blog WatchGeneration, the Apple Watch and Mac mini are no longer advertised as "carbon neutral" products on Apple's website.

The term "carbon neutral" means that, on a net basis, a product does not add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Apple achieves this by reducing emissions and through projects that offset carbon, including working with Forestal Apepu to develop fast-growing eucalyptus forests for timber production on deforested lands in Paraguay.

When paired with select bands, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models were Apple's first carbon-neutral products, and the Apple Watch Series 10 and the latest Mac mini with M4 chips were also advertised as being carbon neutral.

In 2023, Apple said each carbon neutral Apple Watch model met the following strict criteria: 100% clean electricity used for manufacturing and product use, at least 30% recycled or renewable material by weight, and at least 50% of shipments occurring without air transportation. Apple said these combined efforts resulted in at least a 75% reduction in product emissions for the new Apple Watch models, and it said it would use "high-quality carbon credits" to address the "small amount of remaining emissions."

However, starting with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple no longer includes a "carbon neutral" label on its product pages or packaging worldwide. Apple also removed the label from its Mac mini product pages. This change took effect worldwide following Apple's iPhone event in September.

There are a few reasons why.

In August, Apple's vice president of environment Sarah Chandler told Fast Company that this change was not the result of a change in the company's environmental efforts. Instead, a new law in the EU taking effect in September 2026 will ban companies from using claims like "carbon neutral" or similar across packaging, ads, and product pages.

Second, a German court ruled the Apple Watch could no longer be advertised as "carbon neutral," after a local environmental group accused Apple of "greenwashing" with misleading carbon neutrality claims. According to Reuters, some ecologists said carbon offsetting plantations can actually harm biodiversity and require high water usage.

Apple likely still considers the Series 11 and Ultra 3 to be carbon neutral internally, but it is getting ahead of laws and rulings that prevent it from advertising it. Apple removed the label worldwide to avoid potentially confusing customers.

Given the Mac mini received no changes last month, it likely remains carbon neutral too.

Apple is still aiming for carbon neutrality across its global footprint by 2030.

"We're proud of our carbon neutral products and on track to achieve carbon neutrality throughout our entire supply chain by 2030," said Apple, in a statement shared with Fast Company. "Every Apple product is designed with the environment in mind, and that commitment will continue, regardless of new EU rules restricting how we can talk about it."

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple's Beats brand has a new set of fitness-focused earbuds available, the Powerbeats Fit. We picked up a set of the Powerbeats Fit to see how they compare to the prior-generation Beats Fit Pro and Apple's AirPods Pro 3.

The Powerbeats Fit are designed for working out, playing sports, and other activities where in-ear security is important. The earbuds have silicone tips and a soft silicone wingtip that tucks up against the concha of the ear, holding them in place even during vigorous movement.

At $200, the Powerbeats Fit are $50 cheaper than the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ and the same price as the prior-generation Beats Fit Pro, but they are targeted at a different market. The AirPods Pro can be used for working out, but aren't necessarily designed specifically for that purpose.

Apple made the wingtip of the Powerbeats Fit more flexible than the wingtip of the Beats Fit Pro, for a more secure fit in a wider range of ear sizes. There are ear tip sizes from extra small to large to fit different sized ear canals. There's an IPX4 water resistance rating, so they're sweat resistant.

The Powerbeats Fit include Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and an Apple-designed acoustic platform with proprietary drivers. The sound is similar to the sound you get with the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, and it feels more bass heavy than before. ANC is about on par with the AirPods Pro 2, and it does a good job blocking out low frequency sounds.

You won't get the newer H2 chip, though, as the Powerbeats Fit are still using the H1. The H1 allows for quick pairing, automatic switching between devices, Audio Sharing, Hey Siri integration, and Find My support. There are on-device controls to swap songs, change listening modes, and adjust volume.

The USB-C charging case is smaller than the Beats Fit Pro case, so it's easier to carry in a pocket. You'll get around seven hours of playback per charge from the earbuds, and then another 30 hours from the case. Beats earbuds support a 5-minute Fast Fuel charge that gets you an hour of listening time.

What the Powerbeats Fit offer that the AirPods don't is better cross-platform compatibility. The Powerbeats Fit work just as well on Android devices, with customizable features enabled through a dedicated Beats app.

The Powerbeats Fit are $200 and come in four colors, including a bright orange that matches Apple's latest iPhone 17 Pro models. They're available for purchase starting today.

Apple this week provided troubleshooting steps for iPhone owners who are unable to activate iMessage with a phone number in iOS 26.

According to Apple, some customers might not be able to activate iMessage with a phone number if there is an inactive SIM or eSIM with the same phone number as an active SIM on the iPhone.

Customers who are experiencing this problem will see a "Not Delivered" alert for sent iMessages, and iMessages won't be able to be received. Messages will be sent and received via RCS or SMS, and will have green bubbles instead of blue bubbles. Alternatively, iMessages might be sent using an email address instead of a phone number.

To get iMessage to work in that situation, users should remove the inactive SIM and attempt to reactivate iMessage. Deleting a SIM that's not in use can be done by going to the Cellular section of the Settings app, and deleting the inactive SIM if there are two displayed with the same phone number.

If the inactive SIM is a physical SIM, it should be removed from the iPhone. If the inactive SIM is an eSIM, it can be deleted from the Cellular interface. After the inactive SIM has been removed, iMessage can be activated by going to Messages, tapping on Send and Receive, and tapping on the displayed phone number.

Best Buy recently kicked off a Member Deals Days sale, with exclusive discounts available only to My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members. With Amazon Prime Big Deal Days approaching, many retailers have begun introducing their own discount events, and Best Buy's is set to end this Sunday, October 5.

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.

During Member Deals Days, you can save on computers, tablets, home appliances, smartphones, speakers, headphones, TVs, and much more. You'll need to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, which start at $49.99 per year.

One of the most notable offers during this event is on the AirPods Pro 3, which come with a $20 Best Buy credit with purchase. While not a straight cash discount, this is still one of the best offers we've tracked for the new AirPods Pro 3.

Otherwise, some of the best deals in this sale are on TVs, including $50 in Best Buy credit when spending $499 or more on select TVs. Popular TVs on sale include brands like LG and Samsung, with multiple major discounts on Samsung's The Frame TVs.

Be sure to head to Best Buy's website to shop the full sale before it ends on Sunday. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Nearly two weeks after the iPhone 17 series launched, analysts at investment banking firm Morgan Stanley said demand for the devices has been "modestly stronger than we originally expected," based on a combination of extended shipping estimates on Apple's online store and information it gathered from Apple's supply chain.

There has been strong early demand for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to the analysts. However, they said the ultra-thin iPhone Air has faced "relative weakness" in demand so far.

"Our supply chain checks suggest an iPhone 17 build increase is likely imminent," wrote Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring, in a research note today. In the second half of 2025, Apple's supply chain might increase its production of the new iPhones to more than 90 million units, up from 84 million to 86 million units currently, the note said.

Morgan Stanley has raised its price target for Apple shares to $298. However, analysts believe the company's stock price already reflects strong demand for the iPhone 17 series, and they would need to see even more upside "to argue for more sustained near-term stock outperformance." Apple's shares are trading for around $256 at the time of writing.

The analysts are bullish about iPhone shipments in 2026 and 2027, as Apple is widely expected to release its first foldable iPhone model in September next year.

"iPhones are getting old and Apple's biggest innovation in years less than 12 months away," the analysts wrote, in reference to the long-rumored foldable iPhone.

Earlier this year, Apple released the $599 iPhone 16e – a budget-friendly late addition to its iPhone 16 series and a replacement for its long-running entry-level iPhone SE line. Given the iPhone 17 lineup has now launched, can we expect an iPhone 17e anytime soon?

If you're holding out for a more affordable device with the 17 moniker attached, here's everything we know so far about the next-generation iPhone 17e.

Release Schedule

Several reports from reputable sources have indicated that Apple will launch a next-generation iPhone 17e model in 2026. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in May that Apple would release an iPhone 17e in the first half of next year as part of a switch to an annual update strategy for its entry-level ‌iPhone‌. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also reported that an iPhone 17e is coming early next year.

An earlier rumor from April suggested Apple's next-generation ‌iPhone‌ 17e was already nearing the trial production stage, though the leaker behind the claim suggested a May 2026 release for the device rather than February, which was when the iPhone 16e launched.

Display

Korean outlet The Elec in July said Apple plans to launch a second-generation ‌iPhone‌ 17e that will use the same OLED panel as that found in the ‌iPhone 16e‌ – a panel that originally debuted in the ‌iPhone‌ 14 – as part of its efforts to use lower-cost components based on established production lines.

The iPhone 16e has an OLED Super Retina XDR display with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio for blacker blacks and brighter whites, along with 800 nit typical max brightness and up to 1200 nits peak brightness for HDR photos, videos, TV shows, and movies. It has a resolution of 2532 by 1170 with 460 pixels per inch, and is a slightly lower resolution than the 2556 by 1179 resolution of the iPhone 16 display.

Processor

According to Gurman, the new phone will include the same A19 chip as the iPhone 17. The A19 is built on an upgraded 3-nanometer process. It features a 6-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores. There's a 5-core GPU, offering performance and efficiency improvements over the A18.

There's an updated display engine, image signal processor, and 16-core Apple Neural Engine. Each GPU core includes a Neural Accelerator that boosts daily workflows and the performance of local AI models, like on-device Siri. Meanwhile, hardware-accelerated ray tracing enables console-quality gaming with improved frame rates and visual effects. The A19's efficiency improvements bring a significant battery life boost.

Dynamic Island or Notch?

According to the leaker known as "Digital Chat Station," the iPhone 17e will feature a Dynamic Island and a "new design." For context, the iPhone 16e features a "notch" at the top of the display, similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 14.

The ‌iPhone 16e‌ is based on the design of 2022's ‌iPhone‌ 14, so it's possible that the ‌iPhone‌ 17e could be based on 2023's ‌iPhone‌ 15, which gained the ‌Dynamic Island‌ and a noticeably more rounded frame. However, this would seem to go against reports that the device will use the same OLED panel as the iPhone 16e, so there's reason to be skeptical.

Looking Ahead

Looking further ahead, Kuo says a third-generation "e" device will be released alongside the standard iPhone 18 in the first half of 2027. That's because Apple is now said to be launching the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ and ‌iPhone‌ 18e in the spring – a full six months after the ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro models – as part of its switch to a split ‌iPhone‌ yearly launch strategy.

Apple's two big yearly events, WWDC and the iPhone launch, are done and over with, but there are still some new products that we're expecting to see before the end of the year.

Apple TV

The Apple TV hasn't been updated since 2022, so it's due for a refresh. It doesn't look like Apple is going to change the design of its set-top box, but we can expect a faster chip

Apple code suggests that the upcoming ‌Apple TV‌ will use the A17 Pro chip, which Apple first debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro models. The A17 Pro is in the iPad mini 7, and it supports Apple Intelligence. We could see some new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features for the ‌Apple TV‌ for improving search and content recommendations.

There's a new version of Siri that will likely be integrated into the ‌Apple TV‌ at some point, but the revamped version of ‌Siri‌ isn't coming until spring 2026 and we're expecting the ‌Apple TV‌ before the end of 2025.

The A17 Pro has more advanced GPU capabilities like hardware-accelerated ray tracing for console-quality games, so we could see the ‌Apple TV‌ able to support higher-quality gaming titles.

Rumors suggest the ‌Apple TV‌ will get an Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip, and we now know that the chip is called the N1. It's already in the new iPhone models, so it makes sense for Apple to incorporate it in other devices coming this year.

Apple could potentially lower the price of the ‌Apple TV‌ or sell an older model at a more affordable price to better compete with products like the Amazon Fire Stick that provides 4K streaming for less than $50.

M5 iPad Pro

Apple is working on an updated iPad Pro with a new M5 chip, and we already know quite a bit about it since it leaked in an unboxing video earlier this week.

We're expecting 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the ‌iPad Pro‌, with the same design as the current M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ models. Based on benchmarks, the M5 offers up to 12 percent faster multi-core CPU performance compared to the M4 chip, and up to 36 percent faster GPU performance. Like the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro models, the next ‌iPad Pro‌ will have 12GB RAM, up from 8GB.

Rumors have suggested the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ will have a second front camera so that it can be used for video calls in portrait and landscape orientations. A second front camera is not visible in the video, but it's not out of the question.

Updated Vision Pro

Apple is also going to use the M5 chip in an updated version of the Vision Pro, replacing the M2 chip. So far, it sounds like the Vision Pro refresh will focus solely on the chip, with no design changes planned.

While the headset isn't being updated, Apple might introduce a more comfortable head strap to reduce neck strain and head pain.

The FCC accidentally leaked the next Vision Pro and several other devices earlier this week, so we know a new model isn't too far off. Rumors have said that the revamped Vision Pro will launch sometime in 2025.

HomePod mini

The HomePod mini hasn't been updated since it came out in 2020, but 2025 will supposedly be the year that it gets a refresh.

It looks like the next ‌HomePod mini‌ will get an updated S-series chip, likely the same S10 chip that's in the Apple Watch Series 11. The original ‌HomePod mini‌ has the S5 chip that was used in the Apple Watch Series 5, but Apple did make some HomePod-specific tweaks to it, like including Ultra Wideband capabilities.

The S10 chip will provide faster performance for any underlying processing that the ‌HomePod mini‌ does. The ‌HomePod mini‌ uses computational audio for real-time tuning, so that will see an improvement, and it could support more on-device ‌Siri‌ processing.

More recent Apple Watch chips have an altimeter that could come in handy for positioning and audio orienting on a ‌HomePod mini‌, and the S9 and later chips have a four-core Neural Engine that might also add new functionality.

Like the updated ‌Apple TV‌, the new ‌HomePod mini‌ is expected to use Apple's N1 networking chip for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, with support for connecting to 6GHz networks.

Along with these internal changes, we're also expecting new color options for the ‌HomePod mini‌.

AirTag 2

The AirTag 2 is yet another product that's supposed to be updated before the end of 2025, but with no major design changes. Rumors suggest the shape of the ‌AirTag‌ isn't going to change, but Apple will make under-the-hood improvements.

It will be harder to get the speaker out of the ‌AirTag‌ 2, preventing tampering for hidden tracking without sound alerts. AirTags could also be trackable from further distances, with Apple adding a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that supports three times the range.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the AirTags are going to get a rechargeable battery or design options like a slim wallet version.

MacBook Pro

The FCC's leak included a MacBook Pro, but there weren't multiple variants in the database like we would expect if a refresh of the entire ‌MacBook Pro‌ line was coming soon.

It's possible that Apple will announce a lower-cost ‌MacBook Pro‌ that has an M5 chip, saving M5 Pro and M5 Max variants for a later date. There is precedent for that kind of staggered launch, and it would make sense because other M5 devices like the ‌iPad Pro‌ and Vision Pro are rumored to be debuting in 2025.

Rumors about the launch timing of the M5/M5 Pro/M5 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models have changed throughout the year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman first said the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models would be refreshed in late 2025, before saying Apple was "internally targeting" an early 2026 launch. Last weekend, Gurman claimed that the new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models would come out sometime between late 2025 and early 2026, so the timeline isn't clear.

If Apple does wait until early 2026 to unveil all or most of the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, it might make for a confusing year. Apple is developing an OLED version of the ‌MacBook Pro‌ that's supposed to come out in late 2026, so there would be an early 2026 launch and perhaps a late 2026 launch if the OLED technology isn't later delayed until 2027.

Since there is a major 2026 refresh in play, Apple might want to get all of the M5 models out in 2025.

Will There Be an October Event?

After its September event, Apple sometimes holds a second fall event in October or November. This year, a new event is a possibility, but it's not guaranteed.

Most of the product refreshes that are rumored for the last few months of 2025 will feature internal updates with no major flashy additions. For that reason, Apple could announce new devices through press releases. Apple's last October event was in 2023, when it shared a short "Scary Fast" Mac-focused presentation. In 2024, Apple released new M4 Mac models with press releases, so it could go either way.

Apple does like to unveil new versions of the Apple silicon chip at events, and we haven't seen the M5 yet. The M1 came out at an November 2020 event, the ‌M2‌ was unveiled at WWDC, the M3 came out in an October 2023 event, and the M4 was introduced at a May 2024 event.

For the last two years, Apple's October announcements have come toward the end of the month, so if there is an event, we could hear about it in the next couple of weeks.

Apple has decided to stop work on a cheaper, lighter version of the $3,499 Vision Pro to instead focus its resources on smart glasses, reports Bloomberg. Apple wants to speed up development on a glasses product to better compete with Meta.

There were rumors that Apple was developing a a much lighter, more affordable "Vision Air" for launch in 2027, but Apple is now transitioning engineers from that project to its smart glasses project.

Apple is working on a set of smart glasses that will rival Meta's AI-equipped Ray-Bans. The glasses will include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities. Apple could introduce the glasses as soon as next year, and then launch them in 2027.

There won't be a display in the first version of the glasses, but Apple is developing another model that will include an integrated display. Apple wanted to debut the version with a display in 2028, but it is now aiming to speed up development because Meta just recently announced the Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses.

The Meta-Ray Ban Display glasses include a full-color, high-resolution display in one of the lenses. The display is able to display messages, photos, and information from Meta AI. Meta's glasses look similar to regular glasses despite the added screen, and they are the first step toward Meta's "Orion" augmented reality glasses. Meta unveiled its AR glasses last year, showing off thick pair of glasses with dual AR displays. Both Apple and Meta are aiming to launch lightweight augmented reality glasses in the future.

Meta has come out with several variations of the Meta Ray-Bans since 2023, and the company has a more advanced AI product than Apple does. Apple's smart glasses will rely on AI and voice-based commands, which will require the next-generation version of Siri.

Apple delayed ‌Siri‌ after the assistant didn't meet expectations for promised Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18, but an updated version of ‌Siri‌ built on new architecture is expected in spring 2026.

Apple plans to release its first smart glasses with multiple material and frame options, turning them into a fashion accessory. Buyers will be able to choose their preferred color and frame style. The glasses will have an Apple-designed chip inside, but will still be reliant on a connected iPhone. Other features will include cameras, microphones, and health tracking capabilities.

While work on a lighter version of the Vision Pro has been paused for now, Apple still plans to refresh the current model with an M5 chip later this year.

Google today announced the launch of a new Google Home Speaker, which has a more HomePod mini-like design than prior versions of the smart speaker.

Priced at $100, the speaker has a squat, rounded shape with a 3D knit fabric covering and a colorful light ring at the bottom so you know when the speaker is listening. It comes in Jade, Berry, Porcelain, and Hazel. Google says the speaker offers richer, 360-degree sound, balanced acoustics, and the ability to pair multiple speakers together.

The speaker's design is reminiscent of the HomePod mini, but it isn't quite as round. Google is targeting the same price point, as Apple sells the ‌HomePod mini‌ for $99. It's been some time since Apple upgraded the ‌HomePod mini‌, but we could get a refresh as soon as this year.

The new Google Home Speaker integrates with Gemini for Home and a new Google Home Premium service that's powered by Google's Gemini AI. Natural voice chat is supported for AI conversations, and all the AI features you might expect are available like conversational context. You can ask questions about cooking, trips, planning, explore ideas, study, manage calendars, learn languages, get advice, learn skills, play music, and more.

Google added a physical toggle to turn off the microphone for a privacy mode that ensures the speaker isn't listening to conversations.

The Google Home Premium service is a key part of the updated Google Home Speaker, and it is meant to integrate with speakers, cameras, displays, and more, providing AI oversight and simple, conversation-based automation. If you have connected cameras, Google Home Premium can analyze footage and let you know what happens when you're away, plus it powers smart alerts for detecting packages, people, doors left open, and smoke alarms. Google's Gemini AI integration gives its speaker capabilities that the ‌HomePod‌ and the ‌HomePod mini‌ currently lack.

Google's new speaker is set to come out in spring 2026, and it will be priced at $100. Google Home Premium Standard is priced at $10 per month or $100 per year for Gemini Live and home automation features, while Google Home Premium Advanced is priced at $20 per month or $200 per year for daily summaries and video history search options. Access is also included in Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra.

Google Home Premium replaces Nest Aware. Google Home Speaker owners can ask Gemini questions at no cost because Gemini for Home is included, but Gemini Live (the voice-based chat feature), AI automations, sound detection, AI-powered notifications, Home Brief, video history search, and daily briefings require Google Home Premium.

Google also debuted new Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, and Nest Doorbell cameras with 2K HDR video, improved low-light performance, and Google Home Premium integration.

T-Mobile is expanding its T-Satellite with Starlink service, adding satellite data connectivity to multiple popular apps. That means T-Mobile users who don't have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection will be able to use Starlink satellite connectivity to access supported apps.

Apps that will work over a T-Mobile satellite connection include Google Maps, AllTrails, AccuWeather, CalTopo, X, WhatsApp (texts, voice, and video chat), onX, and T-Life.

Some native device apps like Google Messages, Find Hub, Pixel Weather, Apple Music, Apple Weather, and Apple Fitness were already able to be used with T-Mobile's U.S. satellite service.

T-Mobile subscribers with access to T-Satellite will see the satellite connection kick in whenever cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity are unavailable. Apps will offer tailored, critical content instead of full data-heavy experiences.

T-Satellite works on Apple's iPhones, and it can be used alongside the native satellite connectivity available in the iPhone 14 and later. The satellite service is included in T-Mobile's Experience Beyond and Go5G Next plans, and T-Mobile customers with other plans can get access for $10 per month. Smartphone users who do not have T-Mobile can subscribe to T-Satellite as a standalone service for $10 per month.

If you've been using Meta AI in Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Messenger, you might want to stop. Starting later this year, Meta plans to use your generative AI conversations to personalize content and tailor ad recommendations.

Text exchanges and voice conversations with Meta AI will be used to personalize posts, reels, ads, and more. Meta says that incorporating AI conversations will help the company improve its recommendations so that people are "more likely to see content they're actually interested in."

Meta likens using AI conversations to tailoring recommendations based on the content that people interact with on Facebook and Instagram. If you converse with AI about hiking, for example, Meta will show ads for hiking boots, as it would if you liked a hiking-related page.

There is no way to opt out of Meta's AI-based ad targeting, but Meta claims that users can adjust the content and ads they're seeing with Ad Preferences and feed controls. With Ad Preferences, you can limit ads from specific topics or block advertisers one by one, but you can't choose not to let Meta access your AI conversations. Interactions with Meta AI are used across Meta products that have been added to the same Accounts Center.

With no opt-out feature, the only way to prevent Meta from using your AI conversations for content and ad targeting purposes is not to use the AI in the first place.

Meta says that sensitive topics like sexual orientation, political views, health, racial or ethnic origin, philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership are not used for ad targeting purposes. Conversations that take place before December 16 won't be used.

Meta plans to start using AI for personalization on December 16, 2025, and customers will receive in-product notifications and emails before it happens. Data will be used for personalization in most countries around the world, though not in the EU, UK, and South Korea for the time being.

Logitech this week announced the MX Master 4, the latest version of its popular mouse for Macs and PCs. The new model offers haptic feedback for certain actions, includes a new Actions Ring for quick access to on-screen shortcuts next to the cursor, has a harder plastic finish that is less prone to stains, and more. In the U.S., the MX Master 4 for Mac is priced at $119.99, with shipments beginning this month.

Given the MX Master has now received an update, you may be wondering when Apple plans to release a new Magic Mouse. Below, we outline rumors about the so-called Magic Mouse 3, which is expected to be released in 2026 at the earliest.

The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design.

Rumored Features

Relocated Charging Port

While the Magic Mouse switched from Lightning to USB-C last year, the charging port is still located on the bottom of the mouse, which prevents it from being used while charging. This is only a minor inconvenience, as charging the mouse is a quick and infrequent process, but it sounds like Apple will finally relocate the port.

In December 2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was working on a redesigned Magic Mouse with a relocated charging port.

More Ergonomic Design

In addition to having a relocated charging port, Gurman said the next Magic Mouse would be more ergonomic and comfortable to use.

While no specific design details about the next Magic Mouse were shared, perhaps Apple will take some inspiration from popular alternatives for the Mac, like the MX Master series. That mouse features an ergonomic design with a thumb rest, a front-facing USB-C charging port, precision tracking, two scroll wheels, and more.

The overall look of the Magic Mouse has not changed much since 2009, so a redesign has been a long time coming. Notable changes over the years include the mouse switching from AA batteries to a built-in rechargeable battery in 2015, new color-matching options with the iMac in 2021, and the switch from Lightning to USB-C last year. Overall, the Magic Mouse has not received much attention from Apple over the past decade.

Magic Mouse vs. MX Master 4

A key selling point of the Magic Mouse is multi-touch gesture support, for actions such as swiping between web pages, scrolling through documents, and zooming. However, unlike the MX Master 4, the existing Magic Mouse lacks haptic feedback.

Overall, the MX Master 4 is a far more sophisticated mouse than the Magic Mouse for power users, as it offers multiple programmable buttons, an option for ultra-fast scrolling, and more. With haptic feedback, the MX Master 4 gets even better.

Fortunately, the rumors about the Magic Mouse 3 featuring a relocated USB-C charging port and a more ergonomic design should help it to better compete with the MX Master 3 and MX Master 4, but Logitech's mouse will likely remain more advanced.

Release Timing and Pricing

The new Magic Mouse will be released in 2026 at the earliest, according to Gurman's report last year. However, he has not commented on the mouse in many months.

The current Magic Mouse is priced at $79 in the U.S., on a standalone basis, and it is included at no additional cost with the purchase of an iMac or a Mac Pro.

There is no word yet on how much the Magic Mouse 3 will cost.

iFixit today disassembled the AirPods Pro 3, giving us a look at what's inside and how the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ have changed in comparison to the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple designed the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ with a new foam-infused tip, and the design change is mainly visible under a microscope. You can see a small layer of foam at the top of the earbud where it meets the ear.

The AirPods have a 0.221 Wh battery cell inside, while the case has a single 1.334 Wh battery. The AirPods Pro 2 had two battery cells inside the case, and the change explains why we're down to 24 hours of battery life from the case instead of 30 hours like the AirPods Pro 2.

The case has fewer rare earth magnets inside, but they've been placed in different locations to ensure that MagSafe and Qi 2 charging still works as expected.

To get a look at other components inside the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, iFixit essentially had to destroy them because Apple didn't design them to be repaired.

Since the first version of the AirPods launched, they've included a battery that is sealed shut with glue, and that hasn't changed with the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌. iFixit says battery replacements are so difficult that many repair shops won't even attempt to do it. The AirPods Pro Charging Case has the same glued-in battery.

There's no way to attempt a battery repair without causing blemishes on the plastic of the earbuds and the casing, because they have to be pried open. Heat needs to be used to melt the adhesive, and there's no easy way to disconnect the flex cable that's inside each earbud.

With the need for specialized equipment and the inability to repair the earbuds and the case without causing damage, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ earned a 0 out of 10 repairability score from iFixit.