Last week, we listed eight new AirPods Pro 3 features, including a U2 chip in the charging case. The addition of the U2 chip has been receiving a lot of attention since then, so we wanted to single out its inclusion and discuss it in more detail.
Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip debuted a few years ago, in all iPhone 15 models and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The chip allows the Precision Finding feature in the Find My app to work at longer distances compared to Apple's first-generation U1 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 charging case, AirTag, and more.
Accordingly, the main benefit of the U2 chip in the AirPods Pro 3 case is up to 1.5× longer Precision Finding range compared to the U1 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 case, according to Apple's website. This improves the ability to find your AirPods Pro 3 case, in the unfortunate event that you lose or misplace it somewhere around you.
Apple says the increased Precision Finding range requires both AirPods Pro 3 and any of the new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air models.
The long-rumored AirTag 2 is also expected to be equipped with the U2 chip.
AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, and they launch on Friday.
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19.
As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the "coming months."
In late 2025 to early 2026, Gurman expects Apple to release 10 products, including an iPad Pro with an M5 chip "as early as October":
iPhone 17e: The successor to the iPhone 16e is expected to launch around March with the same A19 chip as in the iPhone 17.
MacBook Pro:Multiplesources, including Gurman, have indicated that MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips might not launch until early 2026, and it is unclear if any other Macs with M5 chips like an iMac or Mac mini would debut this year as a result. Perhaps we will see another MacBook Pro announcement in January.
MacBook Air: New models with the M5 chip are expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Studio Display: A new version of the Studio Display with mini-LED backlighting is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026. If no new Macs launch this year, then early 2026 is the more likely timeframe.
It is not yet known if Apple plans to host another special event this year, or if these products would be announced with press releases on the Apple Newsroom website only. If the M5 chip debuts in 2025, then it is likely that Apple would host an event, as the M1 chip through to the M4 chip were all unveiled during events.
Apple's all-new, ultra-thin iPhone Air launches on Friday, and there are some smaller details about the device that you might have missed.
Below, we outline five things to know about the iPhone Air:
As rumored, the iPhone Air only has a single speaker. The earpiece at the top of the device doubles as a speaker, but there is no speaker on the bottom of the device. The holes to the left and right of the USB-C port are for microphones. For stereo audio, use AirPods or a capable external speaker.
On the iPhone Air, the Dynamic Island is positioned slightly lower on the screen compared to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models. This was likely necessary due to the device's ultra-thin frame necessitating internal design changes.
While the iPhone 17 Pro models support USB 3.2 Gen 2, for data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, the iPhone Air is limited to USB 2 speeds of up to 480 Mbps.
Apple says the iPhone Air can be charged to 50% in approximately 30 minutes, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro models can be charged to 50% in approximately 20 minutes. A higher-wattage charger and cable is required to achieve these speeds. In addition, MagSafe wireless charging on the iPhone Air is limited to up to 20W, compared to 25W for the iPhone 17 Pro models.
In the iPhone 17 Pro models, the A19 Pro chip has a 6-core GPU. In the iPhone Air, it has a 5-core GPU, so graphics performance will take a slight hit.
Apple's next-generation iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max models will be equipped with a slightly smaller Dynamic Island, but the devices will not feature under-screen Face ID, according to the Weibo account Instant Digital.
There were conflicting rumors about whether the iPhone 17 Pro models would have a smaller Dynamic Island, but its size did not change. Now, the rumor is back on the table for the iPhone 18 series, and there is a decent chance it will be true this time around, as it would be a stepping stone towards the rumored 20th-anniversary all-glass iPhone.
Under-screen Face ID has been rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro models, so it feels like one of those features that is always a year or two away. Indeed, if the latest information shared by Instant Digital is accurate, under-screen Face ID will not debut until the iPhone 19 Pro models or later. The cycle repeats.
None of the iPhone 18 models will feature an under-screen front camera, the account added. Instead, the devices will have a smaller Dynamic Island and a visible front camera, according to the information they shared on Weibo today.
iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air pre-orders began on Friday in the U.S. and many other countries. iPhone 17 Pro Max delivery estimates quickly slipped beyond the Friday, September 19 launch day for those who had yet to place an order, and now the rest of the new models have started to follow suit.
As of shortly after 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time today, select iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air configurations on Apple's online store in the U.S. are facing an additional 1-3 week shipping delay beyond launch day, with delivery estimates pushing into late September to mid-October. However, for some configurations, delivery or in-store pickup at select Apple Store locations on launch day is still an option at the time of writing.
We do not know how much supply Apple has for each new iPhone configuration, but if extended delivery estimates generally align with strong demand, then Cosmic Orange for the Pro models and Cloud White for the iPhone Air are proving to be especially popular color options so far. For the regular iPhone 17, Sage and Black are in demand.
On a related note, there is some good news for customers who placed a pre-order as soon as possible on Friday, as some customers who initially received a September 25 delivery estimate have now seen their orders bumped up to September 19.
Need help with making your pre-order decision? Check out our helpful buyer's guide below:
In case you missed it, Apple's event this week included another heartwarming video about the Apple Watch's genuine life-saving potential.
The video is titled "Dear Apple," in reference to the emails the company receives from Apple Watch customers who were alerted to health conditions, or were helped by features like Emergency SOS and Crash Detection at critical moments.
"Real people share how Apple Watch has changed and even helped save their lives—a fitness story in New York, a teen's struggle with mental health in the UK and powerful health and safety stories from the U.S., Japan, and Canada," said Apple.
The latest iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models are equipped with Apple's all-new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. However, the chip has a Wi-Fi 7 bandwidth limitation.
According to FCC documents reviewed by MacRumors, the N1 chip in all of the new iPhone models supports up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, short of the standard's 320 MHz maximum. This limitation means the devices cannot achieve the peak theoretical speeds possible with Wi-Fi 7, but real-world performance is typically already bottlenecked by internet service providers and other factors.
For the vast majority of customers, this is a non-issue, but some iPhone users had wantedto know if the N1 chip offered 160 MHz or 320 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, so we combed through FCC documents to find the answer.
FCC document showing Wi-Fi specs for iPhone 17 Pro Max
Wi-Fi 7 is still very fast. The standard allows for data transmission over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and/or 6GHz bands simultaneously, with a compatible router, resulting in faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity.
All of the iPhone 16 models — excluding the iPhone 16e — also support Wi-Fi 7 with up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth. Those devices are equipped with a Broadcom chip for wireless networking, though, leading to hopes that Apple's N1 chip might raise the limit to 320 MHz. Evidently, that is not the case.
There are other benefits, though. Apple said the N1 chip improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop, and it also contributes to power efficiency improvements in the latest iPhone models.
The entry-level iPhone 17 model looks very similar to the equivalent iPhone 16 model, but it is reportedly proving popular in at least one country so far.
On the popular Chinese shopping website JD.com, the standard iPhone 17 with 256GB of storage received the most pre-orders of any of the new iPhone models after pre-orders began on Friday, according to the South China Morning Post.
There is one caveat: Apple delayed pre-orders for the all-new, ultra-thin iPhone Air in China due to eSIM regulatory approval issues in the country. However, on Apple's online store in the U.S., most iPhone Air configurations are still available for September 19 launch day delivery, so it is quite possible that the entry-level iPhone 17 would have proved popular in China even if the iPhone Air had also been available to pre-order.
Why is the regular iPhone 17 proving popular, despite being the "boring" choice? It almost certainly comes down to the device's perceived value, as the device starts at the same $799/5,999 yuan price as the regular iPhone 16 did when it launched, despite featuring a larger 6.3-inch display with thinner bezels, ProMotion support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, a doubled 256GB of base storage, and many other upgrades. The display improvements in particular finally bring the base iPhone more in line with the Pro models.
So while the iPhone 17 does not have a flashy new design, nor is it the thinnest iPhone ever, it appears to be an unassuming hit so far.
Apple's annual flagship iPhone event has come and gone for 2025, but we're still digesting all of the details from this week's big announcements.
There was lots to unpack with eight major new products plus related accessories and other announcements, so read on below for all the details on this week's debuts!
Top Stories
Everything Apple Announced at This Week's Event in 13 Minutes
Apple this week held its "Awe Dropping" fall event to debut new iPhone 17 models, the super-thin iPhone Air, three new Apple Watch models, new AirPods Pro 3, and more. It took Apple more than an hour to introduce the new devices, but we've recapped everything in a quick 13-minute video for our readers who want a short but detailed overview of what's new.
We've also rounded up our full event coverage, so make sure to take a look at our articles to avoid missing any key details about Apple's updated devices.
It features a titanium frame with a polished mirror finish, Ceramic Shield 2 with 3x better scratch resistance and 4x better crack resistance on both sides of the device, a 6.5-inch display with 120Hz ProMotion technology, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a new 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera, and more.
Apple Announces iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max With New Design, Larger Battery, and More
Apple's high-end Pro and Pro Max models have gotten significant overhauls for the iPhone 17 lineup, including a new aluminum unibody design with a large camera plateau featuring three 48-megapixel cameras.
Ceramic Shield 2 is included on the front and rear of the devices for greater durability, there's an A19 Pro chip with significant performance improvements, improved thermal management thanks to a vapor chamber cooling system, and more.
Both models are available in Silver, Deep Blue, and Cosmic Orange color options, with pricing starting at $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro and $1,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Apple Announces iPhone 17 Featuring Larger 6.3-Inch Display With ProMotion Support
Apple this week unveiled the iPhone 17, featuring a larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display that includes ProMotion technology for the first time on a non-Pro model. It starts at $799 for 256GB of storage.
The iPhone 17 features Ceramic Shield 2, the Center Stage front camera, a pair of 48-megapixel rear cameras, longer battery life, and more.
Apple Announces AirPods Pro 3 With Better Active Noise Cancellation, Heart Rate Monitor, and More
Apple this week announced the AirPods Pro 3 during its "Awe Dropping" event at Apple Park. The new AirPods Pro 3 feature better Active Noise Cancellation, better in-ear fit, upgraded audio, and IP57 sweat and water resistance.
One major new feature is a new custom-built heart rate sensor and integrated workout experience. With just AirPods Pro 3 and an iPhone, users can track their heart rate and calories burned during workouts, and even close their Move ring and earn awards in the Fitness app.
Apple Watch Series 11 Announced With Hypertension Detection, Sleep Score, and More
Apple introduced updates for all three of its Apple Watch lines this week, headlined by the Apple Watch Series 11. It features hypertension detection, improved scratch resistance, 5G connectivity on cellular models, improved battery life, and more.
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.
Hornsby is a suburb of Sydney, on the Upper North Shore. Apple opened its store there in 2011, and it will close for good on October 4, at 5 p.m. local time.
In a statement shared with some Australian media outlets a few months ago, Apple said it had decided not to renew its lease at Westfield Hornsby. Apple said all affected retail employees would be given the opportunity to work at Apple's nearby store at the Chatswood Chase shopping mall, in Chatswood, which is set to reopen in October.
Apple Hornsby
Apple Chatswood Chase has been closed for renovations for many months. Apple said the store will be completely redesigned, and it will offer an Apple Pickup station for collecting online orders, and a dedicated area for Today at Apple sessions. With the Chatswood Chase store set to expand, Apple decided to close its Hornsby store.
The company has six other stores in the Sydney area.
Apple has permanently closed a handful of its stores in 2025, but it has also opened many new locations this year, including in Miami, Shenzhen, Osaka, Bengaluru, and elsewhere. Earlier today, Apple announced that its all-new store in Downtown Detroit will be holding its grand opening on Friday, September 19, at 5 p.m. local time.
iOS 26 is coming in just three days, and it brings a new Liquid Glass design with translucent UI elements, rounded menu bars, simplified navigation, pop out menus, and more.
Liquid Glass has been contentious during the beta testing period. Some people don't feel like there's enough translucency, and others think Apple has gone too far, impacting readability. Where do you fall on the spectrum? Let us know in the comments below.
The new design is the big iOS 26 talking point, but the update also has a bunch of new features, both big and small. Are you looking forward to screening your phone calls? Setting a custom snooze duration? Making Genmoji? Using Live Translation?
For a recap on all of the features that are coming next week, make sure to check out our iOS 26 roundup. We also have overviews of iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, both of which have some exciting new additions.
Following Tuesday's event, new Liquid Glass icons for Apple Store, Clips, GarageBand, iMovie, Keynote, Numbers, and Pages have surfaced on Apple's iPhone tech spec pages. The new icons appear on the iPhone 16 tech specs page despite that model having no hardware changes, and existing users will presumably see the new icons in app updates that will roll out on Monday alongside iOS 26.
iOS 26 icons
These apps come preinstalled on new iPhones but they were not included in the iOS 26 betas and release candidate because they are updated through the App Store. While the spec sheets themselves don't reveal changes beyond the usual pre-installed and downloadable apps, the iconography is unmistakably updated to the latest iOS design set based around Liquid Glass.
Most of the updates are relatively subtle with changes largely limited to the glassiness of the design elements, while a few like Clips and GarageBand have a bit more substantial changes.
iOS 18 icons
Perhaps notably, there is inconsistency across Apple's product pages. While every iPhone model page displays these new icons, all Mac product pages continue to show the current macOS versions of these app icons.
We are not expecting Mac hardware updates until later this year, or more likely early 2026, but with macOS Tahoe being released alongside iOS 26 on Monday, we should see the Liquid Glass app icons coming to Apple's App Store apps for Mac as well.
Apple this week stopped selling its 30W USB-C Power Adapter, despite its online store indicating that the charger is still included with the base 13-inch MacBook Air and the Apple Vision Pro. It is unclear why the adapter is no longer sold separately.
Apple released the 30W USB-C Power Adapter in 2018. It was priced at $39 in the U.S., before being removed from Apple's online store.
In related news, Apple released a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max this week, in the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Perhaps this new 40W-60W charger is the successor to the 30W model.
The new charger can dynamically deliver up to 60W of power, despite having a smaller form factor. However, due to the thermal limitations that come with this compact design, the charger can only reach that 60W peak in shorter bursts.
Apple also sells a variety of other USB-C power adapters, including 20W, dual-port 35W (in two sizes), 70W, 96W, and 140W options.
iOS 26 adds a new Hearing Protection setting for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 in some countries across Europe and the Middle East, such as Belgium, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.
Specifically, there is a new "EN 352 Protection" setting in these countries. When this setting is turned on, Apple's website says the Hearing Protection feature on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 complies with the European hearing protection standard EN 352, by limiting the maximum volume level of media playback to 82 dBA.
When a set of AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 are paired to an iPhone, this new setting can be turned on or off in the Settings app, by tapping on your AirPods, selecting Hearing Protection, and adjusting the "EN 352 Protection" toggle switch.
It is unclear if Apple was required to introduce this setting, or added it voluntarily.
iOS 26 will be released to the general public on Monday, September 15. AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, and launch on Friday, September 19.
With the overall Hearing Protection feature, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 can help protect your hearing in loud environments, by reducing your exposure to loud sounds.
The new setting was discovered by MacRumors contributors Aaron Perris and Steve Moser.
The Apple Watch Series 11 is now available for pre-order. The latest models feature just four changes over their predecessors–making them perhaps the smallest generational upgrade in the device's history. Here's everything that's new.
Apple's latest Apple Watch models bring a very small selection of specific improvements following last year's design refresh. This guide lists all of the differences between the Series 10 and Series 11 models to help you understand the changes.
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple Watch Series 11
Ion-X glass (aluminum models only)
2x more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass (aluminum models only)
LTE and UMTS (cellular models only)
LTE and 5G (cellular models only)
1.118–1.266 watt-hour battery
1.245–1.403 watt-hour battery (7–10% larger)
Silver aluminum option
Space Gray aluminum option
Somewhat surprisingly, there are no other differences between the Apple Watch Series 10 and the Apple Watch Series 11. Notably, for users interested in the titanium model, the only differences are a slightly larger battery and 5G connectivity.
And if you don't enable a cellular plan on your Apple Watch, the 5G connectivity is also a redundant upgrade. In fact, in some countries, the Apple Watch Series 11 is still limited to 4G connectivity. 5G is not listed as a supported feature for the new Apple Watch models in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and several other countries in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.
Apple claims that the Apple Watch Series 11 offers 24 hours of battery life, touting it as a significant improvement over the Series 10's 18 hours. However, this marketing tactic has drawn scrutiny as closer examination of Apple's own testing data reveals that the increase from the Series 10's 18-hour rating is largely attributable to changes in testing methodology rather than a major hardware improvement.
Before the Series 11, the smallest generational upgrade arrived with the Series 5. It introduced the always-on Retina display, S5 chip, compass, and 32GB of storage. It also saw the removal of Force Touch and the reintroduction of the Apple Watch Edition. Even this generation-over-generation upgrade was considerably more substantial than the Series 11.
Is It Worth Upgrading?
Normally our buyer's guides weigh up generational improvements and conclude that while most users should not upgrade every year, a minority of enthusiasts and power-users may be able to justify a purchase. With the Series 11, it is very clear that virtually no users should upgrade from a Series 10 – especially those with a titanium model, those who do not use cellular connectivity, and individuals in countries where the 5G upgrade isn't available.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models in the U.S. feature an antenna window on the top edge of the devices, for mmWave 5G signals to pass through.
The standard iPhone 17 does not appear to have the antenna window, while the iPhone Air does not support mmWave 5G, so it is not on that device either.
All of the iPhone 12 through iPhone 15 models are outfitted with this antenna window, made of glass. However, it was not present on any of the iPhone 16 models, which were the first devices to feature the Camera Control button on the bottom-right edge, where the mmWave 5G antenna window was previously located.
iPhone 17 Pro models have a new design with an aluminum unibody, but radio signals cannot pass through metal. The reintroduced antenna window, which likely remains made of glass or perhaps a tougher Ceramic Shield material, allows for mmWave 5G signals to better pass through the frame of the devices for cellular connectivity.
While all iPhones sold outside of the U.S. lack mmWave 5G support altogether, the antenna window is present on iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models sold in select other countries, such as Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. These are all countries where the devices are eSIM-only.
mmWave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, which is ideal for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas.
Apple today disclosed its out-of-warranty repair fees for all of the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models, ahead of the devices launching next week.
First and foremost, Apple's battery replacement fees did not increase for the latest iPhone models in the U.S., with Apple charging a flat $119 to replace the battery inside an iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air. This is the same fee it has always charged to replace the battery in an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Overall, the latest repair fees are not very remarkable, but we do get a look at the costs for the all-new iPhone Air model with an ultra-thin design:
Cracked screen (front only): $329
Back glass damage: $159
Cracked screen and back glass damage: $419
Battery: $119
Rear camera: $169
Other damage: $699
Again, these are out-of-warranty repair fees. If your iPhone has AppleCare+ coverage, the repair fees range from $29 to $99 per incident for all models.
Apple is planning to release the AirPods Pro 3 next week, but MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera was able to get an early look at the new earbuds following Tuesday's keynote event. It's been a few years since the AirPods Pro were refreshed, so there are some useful upgrades to be aware of.
The AirPods Pro 3 have a new shape because Apple redesigned the part that goes in the ear. The difference is subtle, but noticeable when you have the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 side-by-side. The ear tips now have foam on the outside, which is supposed to better shut out ambient sound.
There were rumors that the AirPods Pro 3 Charging Case would get smaller, but that didn't happen. It's actually bigger than before, but it is a little less heavy. There's no button on the back, with Apple swapping to the same hidden capacitive button that's on the AirPods 4 case.
Audio quality is clearly better on the low end, with better balance. Active Noise Cancellation is also 2x better, though Dan wasn't able to test the AirPods long enough to definitively confirm Apple's claims.
Live Translation is available for in-person conversations, and it worked during a test with a Spanish speaking Apple employee. There are limited languages at launch, but Apple plans to add more over time. Heart rate tracking is also new, and now you don't even need an Apple Watch to keep track of your heart rate and calories burned when working out.
Dan was also able to check out the new Apple Watch models, but there's not a whole lot going on there visually. The Series 11 has a 5G chip, a more durable display, and improved battery life, but it's otherwise basically the same as the Series 10.
The Apple Watch SE didn't get an updated design, but it too has 5G and a faster S10 chip. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a bigger display thanks to slimmed down bezels, and it now supports satellite connectivity like the iPhone.
We'll have a more in-depth look at all of Apple's new devices starting next week, so make sure to stay tuned.
FCC document showing Wi-Fi specs for iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple Hornsby
iOS 26 icons
iOS 18 icons
