MacRumors

Before the iPhone Air debuted, rumors suggested that it would adopt the C1 modem chip that Apple first introduced with the iPhone 16e. It turns out Apple had another idea in mind, and the ‌iPhone Air‌ is equipped with a new C1X chip.

Apple says the C1X modem is up to 2x faster than the C1, while using the same cellular technologies. It is apparently faster than the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 Pro, while using 30 percent less energy. According to Apple, the C1X is the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone.

Apple seems to be referring to sub-6GHz 5G speeds when it says the C1X is faster than the modem in the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro, because the chip still doesn't support mmWave 5G speeds.

The C1X is limited to sub-6GHz 5G bands, while the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave. Sub-6GHz is the more widespread version of 5G, while mmWave is more limited and is typically found in major cities and urban areas.

The ‌iPhone Air‌ has longer battery life than the ‌iPhone 16‌ despite its thin size, and it also offers better battery life than the iPhone 16e with C1 modem. The ‌iPhone Air‌ lasts for up to 27 hours when watching videos, while the iPhone 16e lasts for up to 26 hours.

Apple today announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to its suite of satellite features. The company revealed this extension in its press releases for the new iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models.

The free period will be extended for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users who activated their device in a country that supports Apple's satellite features prior to 12 a.m. Pacific Time today, according to Apple. That means the features will continue to work for free on devices that are already activated until at least mid-September of 2026.

Free access to the satellite features on iPhone 15 models was set to end this month, prior to this extension. For the iPhone 14 models, free access to the features should have initially ended in September 2024, but Apple has extended the trial period twice now for those devices. The implication is that Apple will eventually charge a fee for the features, but it has yet to confirm such a plan, and it is unclear what pricing would look like.

It is possible that Apple will eventually decide to keep the satellite features free forever, given the life-saving potential, but only time will tell.

Apple's satellite features include Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, with availability varying by country. These features work when you are in a supported area without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. Apple's satellite partner is currently Globalstar.

The new iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max have a new Apple-designed chip inside, the N1.

The N1 is a networking chip. It supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Because Apple was able to create the chip to integrate with other hardware and software in the iPhone, it's more efficient and it offers improved reliability.

According to Apple, the N1 chip improves the performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. The N1 will replace networking chips that Apple previously sourced from suppliers like Broadcom.

The iPhone 16 models supported Wi-Fi 7 already so that's not new, but Bluetooth 6 is an upgrade over the previous Bluetooth 5.3 support. Bluetooth 6 brings less interference in crowded areas for improved reliability, lower latency, updated wake and sleep cycles for longer battery life, better multi-stream audio support for spatial audio and other features, and improved hearing aid support.

Thread was also a feature in the prior-generation ‌iPhone 16‌ models, but for those unfamiliar, a Thread radio allows the ‌iPhone 17‌ models to directly control Thread-enabled smart home products.

With the N1 and other optimizations, the ‌iPhone 17‌ models have some of the longest battery life in any iPhone to date. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ lasts for up to 39 hours when watching videos, for example.

Beats today announced a new collection of cases for the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.

The Beats ‌iPhone 17‌ Case with MagSafe & Camera Control is designed to be thin and light. It is available for the ‌iPhone 17‌, ‌iPhone Air‌, ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.

The Beats ‌iPhone 17‌ Kickstand Case with ‌MagSafe‌ & Camera Control comes with a removable lanyard that doubles as a kickstand for hands-free landscape viewing. To form the kickstand, an adapter at the end of the lanyard slides open and attaches to a magnetic point on the side of the case. It is available for ‌iPhone 17‌, ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.

Both designs offer a double-shot hardshell case, an interior microfiber lining, and an outer matte finish that reduces scratches, smudges, and fingerprints. Both cases are available in Granite Gray, Bedrock Blue, Lime Stone, and Pebble Pink.

The Beats ‌iPhone 17‌ Case with ‌MagSafe‌ & Camera Control is available for $45, while the Beats ‌iPhone 17‌ Kickstand Case with ‌MagSafe‌ & Camera Control is available for $59.

In addition, the Beats ‌iPhone 17‌ Rugged Case with ‌MagSafe‌ & Camera Control provides extra protection. It features a rugged polymer backing with additional impact-absorbing sidewalls, an enclosed bottom for enhanced protection, and a grippy textured matte exterior.

The Beats ‌iPhone 17‌ Rugged Case with ‌MagSafe‌ & Camera Control is available for ‌iPhone 17‌, ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max in Everest Black, Rocky Blue, Alpine Gray, and Sierra Orange for $79. The new Beats cases are available to order starting today.

The new iPhone Air is limited to USB 2 transfer speeds and it does not support faster USB 3 transfer speeds like the iPhone 17 Pro models. Apple also didn't update the USB port that it's using for the iPhone 17, so USB 3 continues to be a Pro-only feature.

With USB 2 support, the ‌iPhone Air‌ and the ‌iPhone 17‌ support transfer speeds of up to 480Mb/s. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and Pro Max support transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s, like the iPhone 16 Pro models.

480Mb/s is the same transfer speed that Lightning offered, so the ‌iPhone Air‌ and ‌iPhone 17‌ models are still limited to the speeds of the now-outdated Lightning technology.

Apple did not make any changes to USB-C transfer speeds this year, and it is a bit of a disappointment to see the $999 ‌iPhone Air‌ limited to USB 2.

Apple does not advertise RAM amounts in iPhones, but MacRumors has confirmed this information in the latest version of Apple's developer tool Xcode 26.

Here is how much RAM is in each new iPhone model:

• iPhone 17: 8GB
• iPhone Air: 12GB
• iPhone 17 Pro: 12GB
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 12GB

This confirms the rumored RAM amounts for these devices.

Compared to the iPhone 16 series, RAM has increased in all models except for the base model.

Here is how much RAM is in the iPhone 16 models:

• iPhone 16: 8GB
• iPhone 16 Plus: 8GB
• iPhone 16 Pro: 8GB
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 8GB

Xcode has accurately revealed RAM amounts for many iPhone generations.

All of the new iPhone models will be available to pre-order starting Friday, September 12 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time in the U.S. and many other countries and regions. The devices are set to launch one week later, on Friday, September 19.

The thin and light iPhone Air does not have a physical SIM slot, and is limited to eSIM-only operation. That's something of a problem, because in China, carriers have not traditionally supported eSIM for the iPhone even though it's widely used around the world.

Until now, iPhones sold in China have always had a physical SIM slot, and that's still the case for the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. There wasn't space for a SIM tray in the ‌iPhone Air‌, but China won't have to go without. Apple was able to work with China Unicom to bring the ‌iPhone Air‌ with eSIM to the Chinese market.

On its website in China, Apple says that customers will need an eSIM-supported carrier and mobile plan to use the ‌iPhone Air‌. The company also clarifies that not all carriers support eSIM, and that customers who want to use the ‌iPhone Air‌ will need to sign up for a plan with China Unicom. As of right now, China Unicom is the only carrier that supports eSIM.

China has a requirement that links a user's ID to their cellular phone, something that's harder to do with an eSIM over a physical SIM. China Unicom customers who buy an ‌iPhone Air‌ will be required to visit a China Unicom retail store to verify their IDs with store staff and activate their device.

Apple has a support document on the ‌iPhone Air‌ in China that further says only the model A3518 ‌iPhone Air‌ will be able to be activated via eSIM in China. All other ‌iPhone Air‌ models, including those purchased outside of China, will not be able to install an eSIM profile from a China mainland carrier.

Chinese customers who have an eSIM-capable ‌iPhone Air‌ purchased in China will be able to activate an eSIM from a local carrier when traveling, but eSIMs from non-China mainland carriers cannot be installed while located in China mainland.

The Apple Watch Series 11 features the device's first ever decisive battery life increase, reaching a full 24-hours.

Since the Apple Watch was first unveiled in 2014, it has featured what Apple called an "all-day" 18-hour battery life through each successive generation until now. With the Series 11, battery life reaches 24 hours. The Apple Watch SE 3 continues to feature an 18-hour battery life.

This significant increase comes despite the Apple Watch Series 11 featuring the same casing and chip as the Series 10, so it is not entirely clear where efficiency savings or changes have been made to obtain a longer battery life.

The Apple Watch Series 11 also supports fast charging, with just 15 minutes providing up to eight hours of battery life.

Apple has confirmed the battery capacities for the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models that were announced earlier today.

Apple is required to publish energy labels on its iPhone product pages in the EU, and they reveal the official mAh battery capacities for the devices.

Here are the battery capacities for each model, according to Apple:

• iPhone 17: 3,692 mAh (+3.7% over iPhone 16)
• iPhone Air: 3,149 mAh
• iPhone 17 Pro: 4,252 mAh (+18.7% over iPhone 16 Pro)
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 5,088 mAh (+8.6% over iPhone 16 Pro Max)

All of the above capacities are likely for eSIM-only models.

Apple says eSIM-only models of the new iPhones are equipped with a larger battery that fills the space formerly occupied by the physical SIM card tray.

Here are the battery capacities for the iPhone 16 series:

• iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh
• iPhone 16 Plus: 4,674 mAh
• iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582 mAh
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,685 mAh

Apple has released an optional MagSafe Battery for the iPhone Air.

Apple's iPhone lineup now consists of seven models with five different storage options, including a 2TB configuration for the first time ever. Here's how much everything costs.

The full selection of iPhone models and storage options to be available from Apple going forward is as follows:

To make way for the latest models, the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max have all been discontinued. Notably, the iPhone 16 is now available exclusively with 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 16 Plus now only offers 128GB and 256GB options.

Pre-orders of the iPhone 17, Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max begin on Friday, September 12, with availability starting on Friday, September 19.

Looking for a new MagSafe battery to power your pre-ordered iPhone 17? You might be out of luck if you were eyeing Apple's latest offering.

Apple's newly released MagSafe battery pack comes with a big caveat: it only works with the all-new ultra-thin iPhone Air. The $99 accessory isn't compatible with the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro, according to Apple's official product page.

The compatibility restriction is a result of the battery's unusual design. Apple's store images show the tall battery pack would physically interfere with the camera systems on its other new iPhone models when attached.

That's in stark contrast to Apple's previous MagSafe Battery Pack, which worked across multiple iPhone generations before being discontinued in 2023. The new battery's exclusive compatibility reflects the iPhone Air's unique 5.6mm profile and smaller 3,149 mAh internal battery.

The news may be disappointing for iPhone 17 users, but the move makes sense given the iPhone Air's compromised battery life. Third-party MagSafe options do of course remain available for other models.

Apple's Live Translation feature, unveiled during its AirPods Pro 3 announcement, is expanding to older models including AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and AirPods Pro 2.

The new Live Translation functionality requires AirPods updated with the latest firmware to pair with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running iOS 26 or later, so iPhone 15 Pro and newer models are supported. Apple has been beta testing firmware in concert with iOS 26 beta updates, and we expect the firmware to drop the same day that iOS 26 is officially released on September 15.

Live Translation enables hands-free communication by allowing users to speak naturally while wearing AirPods. For conversations with non-AirPods users, the iPhone can display live transcriptions horizontally, showing translations in the other person's preferred language.

The feature becomes more powerful when both conversation participants wear compatible AirPods with Live Translation enabled. Active Noise Cancellation automatically lowers the volume of the other speaker, helping users focus on translated audio while maintaining natural interaction flow.

The feature supports real-time translation between English (UK and U.S.), French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish. Apple plans to add Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) support later this year.

AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, with a launch on Friday, September 19.

The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max can charge at up to 25W using the next-generation Qi2.2 chargers. Qi2.2 is an upgraded specification that matches the 25W charging speed of the updated MagSafe specification introduced last year.

Apple debuted ‌MagSafe‌ 2 last year, and the iPhone 16 models, ‌iPhone 17‌, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models can charge at up to 25W over ‌MagSafe‌, so now the new devices will be able to get the same charging speed with Qi2.2.

Qi2.2 charging speeds require a Qi2.2 charger, and accessory makers are starting to come out with wireless charging options that support the new standard.

The iPhone Air is limited to 20W charging over ‌MagSafe‌ and Qi2.2, so it is not able to reach the 25W charging speeds that other models are capable of.

The iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max are available in just three color options, notably with no black option.

The new high-end models are available in Silver, Cosmic Orange, and Deep Blue. Orange is a new addition to the Pro lineup, while blue returns from the iPhone 15 Pro.

Natural, Desert, and Black have not been carried over, making this year's selection of color options the smallest since the iPhone XS, which was just available in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold. This also marks the first time Apple's high-end iPhones have not been available with a black or dark gray color option in any way.

Pre-orders start Friday, September 12, ahead of deliveries to customers and in-store availability beginning Friday, September 19.

The iPhone Air can charge with MagSafe at up to 20W, according to Apple's technical specifications page for the new device.

20W is 5W slower than the 25W that the other iPhone 17 models (and iPhone 16 models) can charge at using one of Apple's updated ‌MagSafe‌ adapters. It is also limited to 20W Qi2 speeds instead of the 25W enabled by Qi2.2.

To fast charge wirelessly, the ‌iPhone Air‌ needs a ‌MagSafe‌ charger paired with a 30W adapter or higher, but for charging over USB-C, 20W is sufficient for fast charge. Fast charging provides a 50 percent charge in a 30 minute period.

With the ‌MagSafe‌ Battery that Apple designed for the ‌iPhone Air‌, wireless charging is limited to 12W unless the ‌MagSafe‌ Battery is plugged in and providing passthrough charging capabilities.

The ‌iPhone Air‌ has the smallest battery of the ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup, which could explain why it is not able to charge at the same speed. It uses high density battery technology, and that may also be a factor.

Apple has announced that its new hypertension detection feature, initially exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, will be expanded to include earlier Apple Watch models.

The feature will be available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, plus Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later models, with watchOS 26. FDA clearance is expected soon, with availability in over 150 countries this month.

Hypertension detection uses the optical heart sensor to analyze blood vessel responses over 30-day periods, alerting users to consistent signs of chronic high blood pressure. Hypertension affects approximately 1.3 billion adults globally and often goes undiagnosed due to lack of symptoms.

Apple says its hypertension notifications were developed using machine learning and training data from studies involving over 100,000 participants. The technology was validated in clinical trials with more than 2,000 participants. Apple expects the feature to notify over 1 million people with undiagnosed hypertension within its first year.

Users who receive notifications are advised to monitor their blood pressure for seven days using a third-party cuff and share results with healthcare providers, following American Heart Association guidelines.

watchOS 26 will be released on September 15, while the new Apple Watch Series 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 will begin shipping September 19.

Following today's "Awe dropping" special event, the Apple Watch lineup now contains five models at different price points.

The full new Apple Watch lineup is as follows:

• Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm): Starts at $249
• Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm): Starts at $279
• Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm): Starts at $399
• Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm): Starts at $429
• Apple Watch Ultra 3: Starts at $799

All of the new Apple Watches are available to pre-order now, with availability starting on Friday, September 19.

To make way for the latest models, the Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have all been discontinued.

All of Apple's new iPhone models feature a significantly upgraded 18-megapixel front-facing camera with Center Stage and a square sensor.

Users can expect significantly better selfies, especially in low-light conditions. The improvement is one of the biggest upgrades to the iPhone's front-facing camera ever. The history of major upgrades to the iPhone's front-facing camera is as follows:

• iPhone 4 (2010): 0.3-megapixels
• iPhone 5 (2012): 1.2-megapixels
• iPhone 6S (2015): 5-megapixels
• iPhone 7 (2016): 7-megapixels
• iPhone 12 (2020): 12-megapixels
• iPhone 17 (2025): 18-megapixels

The new 18-megapixel camera is present on the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max. The only iPhones still on sale with a camera below 18-megapixels are the iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus which retain a 12-megapixel camera.

The new front-facing camera features Center Stage for the first time, keeping the user in frame during video calls. It also enables ultra-stabilized video in 4K HDR. In addition, users can record on the front and rear cameras simultaneously with Dual Capture.

The sensor is square, which is a first for the iPhone, allowing users to take photos and videos in portrait or landscape while holding their iPhone vertically.