HomePod Software 26 adds support for crossfade, a feature that's designed to more smoothly transition between songs. It also includes AirPlay improvements, with Apple's release notes available below.
Software version 26 includes support for crossfade with Apple Music and AirPlay improvements. This update also includes bug fixes and stability improvements.
- Crossfade on HomePod smoothly transitions between songs by fading out the currently playing song while fading in the next so the music never stops. - When using AirPlay to play audio on HomePod, you can now ask Siri on HomePod to play to another HomePod speaker in your home.
HomePod software is installed automatically on the HomePod unless the feature is disabled, but the HomePod can also be manually updated in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.
We're tracking record low prices across the entire M3 iPad Air lineup today, with discounts available at both Amazon and Best Buy. This sale includes savings on both Wi-Fi and cellular models of the tablet, and it's been a few weeks since we last saw these all-time low prices.
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.
Prices start at $449.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M3 iPad Air, down from $599.00. Across the board these are all $150 discounts on the M3 iPad Air, and each one is a match for the best-ever price seen on these tablets.
Our list below focuses on Wi-Fi models, but you'll also find many cellular models on sale at $150 off right now. The 128GB cellular 11-inch iPad Air is available for $599.00 and the 128GB cellular 13-inch iPad Air is available for $799.00, both representing record low prices.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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The iPhone 17 launches this week with Apple's biggest display upgrade to a non-Pro model in years, some major camera improvements, faster performance, and big battery life gains.
Beyond these headline features, how much of an improvement does the iPhone 17 really offer? This guide breaks down the differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 to help you understand all of the changes and determine whether these enhancements are enough to justify making the switch.
Ceramic Shield 2 front (3x better scratch resistance)
A18 chip (N3E)
A19 chip (N3P)
5-core GPU
5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators
Up to 22-hour battery life
Up to 30-hour battery life
12-megapixel front-facing camera
18-megapixel front-facing camera
Tap to zoom on front-facing camera
Tap to zoom and rotate on front-facing camera
Center Stage front-facing camera
Ultra-stabilized video on front-facing camera
Dual Capture (up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps)
12-megapixel Ultra Wide
48-megapixel Ultra Wide
MagSafe wireless charging up to 22W with 30W adapter or higher
MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher
Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher
Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher
Apple N1 chip for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity
Bluetooth 6 connectivity
GPS
Precision dual-frequency GPS
Available in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black
Available in Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black
The iPhone 17 is a fairly substantial year-over-year update. The jump to a larger 6.3-inch display with ProMotion, 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, longer battery life, and new A19 chip makes it the most significant base-model iPhone upgrade in recent years. It offers great value for money at $799, with many of the new features that come to the other more expensive models this year.
Most iPhone 16 owners will notice meaningful differences, but naturally those with an iPhone 14 or older will see a more dramatic dramatic leap. Buyers who want a modern iPhone with a Pro-level display and excellent cameras at a lower price should strongly consider the upgrade, but iPhone 16 owners satisfied with their device may find less urgency to switch. Nevertheless, the upgrade is relatively substantial.
Woot this week is back with a massive sale on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands for Apple Watch, and we're also tracking the first ever discounts on Beats' new iPhone 17 cases.
Beats iPhone 17 Cases
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Amazon today has some of the first discounts on the new Beats iPhone 17 cases, with up to 32 percent off select accessories. This also includes a discount on the Beats USB-C to USB-C Woven Cable on Amazon.
You can get the Solo Loop for just $14.99 ($34 off) and the Braided Solo Loop for $29.99 ($69 off). All bands in this sale are in brand new condition and come with a one-year Apple limited warranty, and they will all be compatible with the new Apple Watch Series 11.
Shoppers should note that this sale is focused on colors of the Braided Solo Loop and Solo Loop that Apple has stopped selling, and it doesn't include any of the new band colors. That being said, all of the bands in this sale are in new condition.
The entire sale is focused on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch bands, so you'll need to know the size that works best for you before you buy. Apple has a measurement tool on its website that you can use to determine your exact size.
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.
Deals Newsletter
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The feature received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week, and it is now functional on the watchOS 26 and iOS 26 Release Candidate versions, just hours before the software updates are set to be released to the general public.
Apple said the feature will be available in more than 150 countries and regions this month, pending regulatory clearance. Today, it confirmed that it has received marketing authorization from "other global health authorities," including in the EU. MacRumors forum members said the feature has gone live in places such as the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and others.
The feature is not yet available in Canada.
The feature can alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure/hypertension are detected, according to Apple. Based on data from the Apple Watch's optical heart sensor, the feature can analyze how a user's blood vessels respond to the beats of the heart. The algorithm works passively in the background, reviewing data over 30-day periods, and it will notify users if it detects consistent signs of hypertension.
Apple said the feature underwent "rigorous scientific validation." According to the company, it was developed with advanced machine learning and training data from multiple studies totaling more than 100,000 participants, and its performance was then validated in a clinical study of more than 2,000 participants.
Apple says the feature is "not intended for use by people under 22 years old, those who have been previously diagnosed with hypertension, or during pregnancy."
AirPods Pro 3 upgrades are more noticeable than you might think. Everything from sound quality to Active Noise Cancellation to Transparency mode are improved, and the new foam-infused silicone ear tips make for the best fit yet.
Dan said the AirPods Pro 3 deliver a more dynamic sound profile, and he found that the ear buds stay in his ears much better compared to previous AirPods Pro.
He tested the new heart rate monitoring feature on the AirPods Pro 3, and he said the results are surprisingly accurate for such a small in-ear sensor. You can wear the AirPods Pro 3 and the Apple Watch together to receive an even more accurate heart rate reading during your workouts. On your iPhone, you can also start many types of workouts in the Fitness app while wearing just your AirPods Pro 3, with no Apple Watch necessary.
Dan said Active Noise Cancellation is noticeably better compared to the AirPods Pro 2, through a combination of improved microphones and computational audio improvements. In addition, the new foam-infused ear tips provide greater passive noise isolation.
Transparency mode has also been refined, with Dan saying his voice and others sound more natural now during in-person conversations and phone calls.
Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. That is up from 6 hours with the AirPods Pro 2. Dan tested the AirPods Pro 3 on his 5-hour flight home from Apple Park last week, and he said they lasted the entire flight, and he appreciated the improved Active Noise Cancellation. More time is needed for thorough testing of battery life, but he has no complaints so far.
Here is our recap of eight new AirPods Pro 3 features and changes:
2× more active noise cancellation: Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 2× more active noise cancellation than the AirPods Pro 2, and up to 4× more than the original AirPods Pro. In fact, the AirPods Pro 3 offer the best active noise cancellation of any in-ear wireless headphones, according to Apple.
Improved sound quality: AirPods Pro 3 feature a new acoustic architecture, with next-generation Adaptive EQ, that "transforms the bass response, widens the soundstage so users hear every instrument, and brings vivid vocal clarity to higher frequencies across music, shows, and calls," according to Apple.
Longer battery life per charge: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. That is up from 6 hours with the AirPods Pro 2. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 3 charging case offers up to 24 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, whereas the AirPods Pro 2 case provides up to 30 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled.
Heart rate monitoring during workouts: Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 feature a heart rate sensor that shines pulsating infrared light to measure light absorption in blood flow. AirPods Pro 3 users can track their heart rate and calories burned, close their Move ring, and earn awards for 50 different workout types in the Fitness app on an iPhone, with no Apple Watch required.
Improved fit: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 are the "most secure and best-fitting AirPods ever." The earbuds are slightly smaller, and the external design of each ear tip was "aligned to the center of the body for increased stability."
Improved water resistance: AirPods Pro 3 have IP57-rated sweat and water resistance, up from IP54 for the AirPods Pro 2. By definition, an IP57 rating means the AirPods Pro 3 could withstand temporary immersion in up to one meter of water, but Apple's marketing only promises that they "can handle the sweatiest workouts and even a sudden downpour."
U2 chip: The AirPods Pro 3 charging case is equipped with Apple's second-generation U2 chip for Ultra Wideband, allowing the Precision Finding feature to work at 1.5× the distance in the Find My app. You will need an iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air for this.
XXS ear tip option: AirPods Pro 3 come with new XXS silicone ear tips, along with the same XS, S, M, L sizes included with the AirPods Pro 2. Apple says the tips are now infused with foam for greater passive noise isolation.
AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, and they launch on Friday, September 19.
Some other media outlets and YouTube channels have shared AirPods Pro 3 reviews too.
Following three months of beta testing, iOS 26 was released today, September 15. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, and it is available to install via the Settings app, under General → Software Update.
Below, we have highlighted eight new features included in iOS 26. Even more new features and changes are outlined in Apple's release notes for the update.
Some of the features are only available on newer iPhone models.
Liquid Glass
iOS 26 introduces an all-new Liquid Glass design with translucent menus, buttons, and icons.
Apple describes Liquid Glass as "a new translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, bringing greater focus to content, and delivering a new level of vitality across controls, navigation, app icons, widgets, and more."
Lock Screen Enhancements
On iOS 26, the Lock Screen's clock automatically adapts to fill the empty space, and you can view full-screen animated album art for supported Apple Music songs.
New iMessage Features
Here are some of the key new features and changes in the Messages app on iOS 26:
Backgrounds: You can now add a background to any conversation, and all participants will see it. You can choose from Apple's selection of backgrounds, or you can set any of your own photos as a background. You can turn off conversation backgrounds in the Settings app if desired.
Polls: You can now create polls in group chats, allowing people to vote on topics or questions, such as which restaurant to go to. Apple Intelligence can detect when a poll might come in handy and suggest one.
Apple Cash in group chats: You can now send and receive Apple Cash in group chats.
Typing indicators in group chats: You can now see who is typing in group chats.
"Add Contact" button in group chats: This button makes it easier to add people to the Contacts app in group chats.
"Select" option: When you tap and hold on a message bubble, a new "Select" option appears. Tapping on it allows you to select a portion of text in a message, whereas you could previously only copy an entire message.
Unknown sender screening: When turned on, this setting automatically moves messages from unknown senders to the Unknown Senders folder, and hides notifications for them until you accept them.
Call Screening and Hold Assist
iOS 26 adds a couple of useful features to the Phone app: Call Screening and Hold Assist.
Call Screening is an opt-in setting that asks unknown callers for their name, and the reason why they are calling. And with Hold Assist, your iPhone can automatically wait on hold for you during a call, and notify you when the agent on the other line is ready.
Adaptive Power Mode
iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode.
Apple says Adaptive Power Mode can make "performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness, allowing some activities to "take longer," and automatically turning on Low Power Mode when the iPhone's remaining battery life reaches the 20% mark.
Adaptive Power Mode is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models and newer. The setting can be turned on in the Settings app, under Battery → Power Mode.
AutoMix
A new AutoMix feature in the Apple Music app can seamlessly transition from one song to the next, like a DJ would. AutoMix replaces the previous Crossfade feature.
Preview App
iOS 26 extends a version of the Apple's Preview app from the Mac to the iPhone, providing you with a built-in app to edit and mark up PDFs and images.
CarPlay Upgrades
When you are using CarPlay with an iPhone running iOS 26, the new Liquid Glass design extends to the CarPlay interface. Like on the iPhone, the new look includes more shimmery app icons and translucent user interface elements.
Starting with iOS 26, you can respond to messages with standard Tapbacks like a heart, thumbs up, or exclamation marks directly through CarPlay.
You can now view your pinned conversations in the Messages app on CarPlay.
CarPlay has a new compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions. CarPlay's Dashboard screen can now show Live Activities, letting you keep track of things like a flight's arrival time at a glance.
The regular version of CarPlay now has a widgets screen, for things like calendar appointments and HomeKit accessory controls.
iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback.
Automakers need to add support for this feature, so it might be limited to newer vehicles and take some time to roll out.
More
Read our iOS 26 roundup linked below to learn more about the update.
Apple's new iPhone 17 models are proving to be more popular than their predecessors over the first pre-order weekend, both in terms of production and delivery times, but major questions remain about the success of the iPhone Air, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new post on X, Kuo said that preorder demand for the iPhone 17 lineup has outpaced last year's iPhone 16 models. iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max production for the third quarter of this year is approximately 25% higher than their predecessors last year, alongside stronger pre-order demand across all three models. The iPhone 17 Pro Max remains the most in-demand model; production is approximately 60% higher than that of the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The iPhone Air is the only model of the four new devices that is readily available at launch. While this superficially suggests even weaker demand than the iPhone 16 Plus saw last year, Kuo noted that production of the iPhone Air is set to be approximately 3x higher than that of the iPhone 16 Plus.
He added that there is no direct historical comparator for its positioning in the lineup, making it hard to assess how it will perform at this early stage. Kuo speculates that while the iPhone Air "doesn't look compelling on paper," the in-store hands-on experience could succeed in convincing customers to buy the device.
Update 10:06 a.m.: iOS 26 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking!
Today's the day! Apple is about to release iOS 26, which will deliver the biggest redesign since iOS 7 and bring a range of new features and improvements to iPhones worldwide. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at last week's iPhone event that it will be releasing iOS 26 sometime today – Monday, September 15.
Based on past releases, the update is likely to drop at around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Apple's own websites for countries around the world also suggest a 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time release, with Apple's site for India listing a September 15 launch while the company's Indonesian page lists a September 16 release, pointing to a narrow window around 10:00 a.m. Pacific to line up with time zone differences.
To give iPhone users globally an idea of when iOS 26 should become available as an over-the-air update, we've compiled the below list of time zone conversions for several countries. This list isn't exhaustive, so please verify the exact time for your specific location, and bear in mind that there could always be a delay as Apple prepares its servers for rollout.
Australia West - 1:00 a.m. AWST (Tues)
Australia East - 3:00 a.m. AEST (Tues)
Austria - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Baltic countries - 8:00 p.m. EEST
Belgium - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Brazil East - 2:00 p.m. BRT
Canada West - 10:00 a.m. PDT
Canada East - 1:00 p.m. EDT
China - 1:00 a.m. CST (Tues)
Denmark - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Finland - 8:00 p.m. EEST
France - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Germany - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Hong Kong - 1:00 a.m. HKT (Tues)
India - 10:30 p.m. IST
Indonesia West - midnight WIB (Tues)
Ireland - 6:00 p.m. IST
Italy - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Japan - 2:00 a.m. JST (Tues)
Luxembourg - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Netherlands - 7:00 p.m. CEST
New Zealand - 5:00 a.m. NZST (Tues)
Norway - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Poland - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Portugal - 6:00 p.m. WEST
Puerto Rico - 1:00 p.m. AST
Saudi Arabia - 8:00 p.m. AST
Singapore - 1:00 a.m. SGT (Tues)
South Africa - 7:00 p.m. SAST
South Korea - 2:00 a.m. KST (Tues)
Spain - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Sweden - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Switzerland - 7:00 p.m. CEST
Taiwan - 1:00 a.m. CST (Tues)
UAE - 9:00 p.m. GST
United Kingdom - 6:00 p.m. BST
United States West - 10:00 a.m. PDT
United States Mountain - 11:00 a.m. MDT
United States Central - noon CDT
United States East - 1:00 p.m. EDT
Be Prepared to Wait
When iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 become available as an over-the-air update, make sure your device is fully charged before you start the process over Wi-Fi, as it may take some time to complete. To check that the update is available, go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update, and wait a moment for your device to contact Apple's servers. If you're in no rush, you can wait for iOS 26 to be delivered to your iPhone when you next plug it into your computer.
On that note, a word of caution: During the initial rollout of major software updates like iOS 26, Apple users may experience slower download speeds and sluggish performance when trying to update their devices. This is largely due to the high demand on Apple's servers, as millions of users worldwide attempt to download the update simultaneously.
The surge in traffic can overwhelm network capacity, leading to delays in downloading or installing the update. To avoid these potential issues, you may want to wait a day or two before installing the update, allowing server congestion to subside and ensuring a smoother upgrade experience.
Severance revolves around the mysterious company Lumon Industries. The company's employees cannot recall any memories about their personal lives while they are at work, and they cannot remember anything about the workplace when they leave the office. The series has an ensemble cast that has included Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Tramell Tillman, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, and others.
The Studio is a satirical series about Hollywood's film industry. Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly-appointed head of the embattled Continental Studios, with other cast members including Catherine O'Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, and Chase Sui Wonders. Guest stars include Bryan Cranston, Zoë Kravitz, Ron Howard, Olivia Wilde, Dave Franco, Martin Scorsese, Anthony Mackie, Steve Buscemi, and many others.
The Studio won the most awards of any series at the 77th Emmys, and it was the most-winning freshman comedy in history. Severance was the most-winning drama series.
In total, Apple earned 22 wins for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, including:
The Studio (13)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Bryan Cranston
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour)
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour)
Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Series
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single Camera Comedy Series
Outstanding Music Supervision
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation
Severance (8)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Britt Lower
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tramell Tillman
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Merritt Wever
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)
Outstanding Title Design
Slow Horses (1)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Adam Randall
It was not a perfect night for Apple TV+, though. Notably, Severance was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, but HBO's The Pitt won. Adam Scott missed out on Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series, which went to The Pitt's Noah Wyle.
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Apple's New Products
What's the deal? Get first-ever offers on AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and more
Apple this week announced a huge collection of new products, and we're already tracking a few notable offers you can get when pre-ordering select devices. Highlights include $20 in Best Buy credit for members when pre-ordering the AirPods Pro 3, big trade-in values when purchasing the new Apple Watch Series 11, and special trade-in offers on iPhone 17/Air models at select carriers.
Amazon this week has a few notable sales from popular brands like Satechi, Jackery, Anker, and Ecovacs. These include discounts on everything from MagSafe-compatible car chargers to portable power stations, Find My compatible wallets, and robot vacuums. You can find every deal in our original post.
Verizon today has Apple's HomePod mini for $84.99 in three colors, down from $99.99. As with all Verizon discounts, you don't need to be a Verizon Wireless customer to get this sale, and the retailer is offering free two day shipping.
Amazon this week is discounting a collection of Beats headphones and speakers, including a solid second-best price on the Powerbeats Pro 2. You can get this new 2025 model for $199.95 in four colors, down from $249.99.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the fall? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
T-Mobile President Jon Freier today shared real-world photos of Apple's boxes for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 models, which launch on Friday.
Apple has typically included iPhone box renders in its product environmental reports, but it did not do so for the latest models. However, Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program page does offer some images of the boxes, which we have shared below.
Are you the type of person who collects Apple boxes, or do you get rid of them right away?
A little more than three months ago, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered references to an unreleased "Weather via satellite" feature in the code for the first iOS 26 developer beta. However, just one day before iOS 26 is set to be widely released, the feature has yet to be released or even announced by Apple.
The references have not been removed from the code, as of the iOS 26 Release Candidate, so it is possible that Apple will introduce the feature eventually. Perhaps the feature will be added in a follow-up update, such as iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2.
The feature would let you view the forecast and other weather information in the Weather app, in supported areas without Wi-Fi and cellular range. Apple's other satellite features include Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, with availability varying by country.
Apple has yet to charge a fee for any of its satellite features. Last week, the company announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to the entire suite of satellite features on those devices.
iOS 26 will be widely released tomorrow, but the new feature that lets you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app is still not available.
The "Digital ID" feature is not functional in the iOS 26 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, despite being listed on the iOS 26 features page in the present tense. Hopefully, it is either enabled with a server-side update when iOS 26 is released tomorrow, or Apple provides an update on when it will be available.
Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
After creating a Digital ID in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.
Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.
The passport-based Digital ID can also be used for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.
Apple said the feature would also be available on the Apple Watch, starting with watchOS 26.
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.
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