Alongside new betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, and macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Apple has seeded the release candidate versions of watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2. The RCs come a week after Apple released the fourth betas.
Registered developers can download the betas through the Settings app on each device.
There's no word on what's being added in visionOS 27.2 and tvOS 27.2, but Apple is bringing Siri AI to the Apple TV, so the update could include new Siri features. Apple has also released HomePod Software 27.2, including for the new HomePod mini 2.
Samsung has kicked off a new discount event, which it's calling "Samsung Week," with big discounts across multiple product categories, including its most popular monitors and TVs.
TVs
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In regards to TVs, there are quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including low prices on the latest 2026 models. You can get the 2026 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,199.99 ($300 off), which is a solid second-best price, as well as the 75-inch Frame Pro for $2,199.99 ($600 off), a record low price. For even steeper discounts, check out the 2025 models on sale.
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 holidays? You can sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple would expand its lineup of "Ultra" products this year was off the mark.
Apple's Greg Joswiak today hinted at new product announcements coming next week, sharing a social media post that says "Can't wait to pro and tell next week."
Rumors suggest Apple is planning to debut the new MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, an M6 entry-level MacBook Pro, an M6 iMac, an iPad mini with an OLED display.
Can't wait to pro and tell next week. https://t.co/3wUkxwq35i
Apple is expected to announce the new devices on Wednesday, October 28. Members of the media have been invited to an in-person "experience" in Los Angeles, California that starts at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, so we could see press releases for the new products at that time. As with the HomeView, HomePod, and Apple TV, we are not expecting a standard event, but media will get hands-on time with the Macs and the iPad mini and will be able to share their first impressions.
Last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the OLED MacBook Pro and other devices could launch on Friday, November 6.
In a late September press release that we just discovered now, GM announced that it has started rolling out Apple Wallet car key support in select Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicle models, with additional models to follow over time.
Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet will also be supported, with a related Samsung press release mentioning availability in the U.S. and Canada.
GM said the rollout will occur as follows, with model years listed in parentheses.
September–October 2026
Cadillac Vistiq (2027)
Cadillac Optiq (2026–2027)
Cadillac Lyriq (2025–2027)
December 2026
Cadillac Escalade (2027)
Cadillac Escalade IQ/IQL (2027)
Chevrolet Suburban (2026–2027)
Chevrolet Tahoe (2026–2027)
GMC Yukon (2026–2027)
GMC Yukon XL (2026–2027)
GM said customers will see a notification in the "What's New" section of their vehicle's mobile app when digital key support is available.
Apple Wallet's car key feature allows you to use a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch as a vehicle's car key. GM said supported vehicles will automatically unlock as you approach and lock when you walk away. You can also open the vehicle's trunk and turn the climate control system on or off right from the Apple Wallet app.
GM's digital keys use ultra-wideband technology to enable secure, proximity-based authentication, along with Bluetooth. They work with the iPhone 11 or later (excluding iPhone SE 2, iPhone SE 3, and iPhone 16e) or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later.
To set up a digital car key, GM said to first download and sign in to your vehicle's mobile app. Then, while in your OnStar-connected GM vehicle with its physical key fob nearby, follow the prompts on the app to add a digital key to your compatible digital wallet of choice. More details are available in Apple's support document.
MacBook Pro deals have been getting steeper and steeper over the past few weeks, and today Amazon has introduced the biggest discount yet on one model of the 16-inch MacBook Pro. You can get the M5 Max model with 36GB RAM and a 2TB SSD for $3,499.00, down from $4,399.00.
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.
This is a massive $900 markdown on the 2026 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the best price we've ever seen on this model of the computer. On Amazon, it's only available in Space Black, but you can find a matching deal at Best Buy in both color options.
Many of the best Mac-related deals have disappeared since Prime Day ended earlier in the month, but there are still some notable sales available online. The high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro with 48GB RAM and a 2TB SSD is still available for $4,499.00 ($500 off), and many of the Mac mini and Mac Studio deals remain live.
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 holidays? You can sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
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.
One of the best deals is on the M5 Max Mac Studio with 36GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00. Regarding the Mac mini, you can get the 16GB RAM/256GB SSD Mac mini for $779.99 ($119 off), and the 16GB RAM/512GB SSD model for $949.99 ($149 off).
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 holidays? You can sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple likely plans to release MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models with M6 chips, and/or an iPad mini 8 with an OLED display on Friday, November 6, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Apple on Friday published an EU energy label for the iPhone Duo that reveals the device has a total battery capacity of 4,883 mAh.
The document appears to confirm a previous leak that showed the iPhone Duo has 2,962 mAh and 1,921 mAh battery cells totaling 4,883 mAh. iPhone Duo is an eSIM-only device, so this battery capacity figure should apply worldwide, as there is no version of the device with a physical SIM card tray that would have a slightly smaller battery.
For comparison, iFixit found the eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro has a 4,288 mAh battery capacity, and the eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 5,567 mAh battery.
Apple plans to release a higher-end version of its new HomeView smart home hub with a larger 9-inch screen that can swivel a full 360 degrees on a robotic arm, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He expects the device to launch in 2027 or 2028.
Gurman floated the names HomeView Max, HomeView Ultra, or HomeView 360 for the device, but these are just speculative names for now. The current tabletop version of the HomeView has a fixed 7-inch screen.
Despite knowing that the iPhone Duo would face "severe supply constraints" due to manufacturing challenges, Apple chose to begin iPhone Duo pre-orders on Friday instead of waiting until it had more inventory ready, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, he called this decision a "major mistake."
"Let me cut to the chase: Apple made a major mistake here," he said. "The company knew there would be severe supply constraints but went ahead with the launch anyway, apparently prioritizing a desire to get the device on the market early in its fiscal first quarter over satisfying demand. That will disappoint many of the early adopters most eager to buy it."
Apple originally planned to launch the iPhone Duo in the U.S. and China only before expanding the device to other countries later, according to Gurman, but the company ultimately decided to start pre-orders in more than 70 countries simultaneously.
Less than 30 minutes after pre-orders began, Apple's estimated shipping dates for the iPhone Duo slipped to around January 25 in most countries. Apple typically underpromises and overdelivers with its delivery dates, though, so hopefully some customers will end up having their shipping estimates bumped up at least slightly.
Some Apple retail employees have been told to warn customers against visiting to purchase an iPhone Duo without a pre-order on Friday, October 23.
Apple Store employees told MacRumors that they have been advised that there will likely be no iPhone Duo stock available for walk-in purchases on launch day. Staff have been instructed to discourage customers without pre-orders from coming in expecting to buy the device, warning that they will be disappointed.
Apple's online store tells customers to check back on Saturday, October 24 for pickup availability. Pickup reservations were briefly available when pre-orders opened before the option was disabled.
The October 24 message does not guarantee stock will be available that day, and it remains unclear how firm the warning shared with employees is and whether it applies worldwide. If the guidance is firm and widely perpetuated, it closes off a potential route for customers hoping to bypass the device's lengthy online wait times, at least at the stores concerned.
Warnings about a constrained launch began well before Apple announced the iPhone Duo. In early September, Nikkei Asia reported that production had reached only a few hundred devices per day in late August. Further production problems emerged in late September.
Earlier this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple had at one point believed production constraints could push the start of sales into November. The company subsequently assembled enough inventory to proceed with the October 23 launch, although supply remained very limited.
The extent of the shortage became apparent when pre-orders opened earlier this week. Delivery estimates moved beyond launch day within minutes, and within 30 minutes, all configurations in Apple's U.S. online store showed January 25 shipping estimates. The device is now effectively sold out for Christmas through Apple's online store.
Apple subsequently described demand as "nothing short of extraordinary" in a statement to the Financial Times, adding that it was working to get devices to customers as quickly as possible. Apple has not publicly specified whether any stores will have stock for launch-day walk-in purchases.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States, with the first pre-order deliveries scheduled for October 23.
Apple has hired former Meta lawyer Scott Tucker to lead its litigation team, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Tucker will become Apple's vice president of global litigation and financial services, a new position overseeing commercial lawsuits, patent disputes, and legal matters involving its financial products. He previously led litigation at Meta and held a senior legal role at Morgan Stanley.
The move brings Tucker back together with Jennifer Newstead, Apple's general counsel. Newstead joined Apple's leadership in March after six years as Meta's top lawyer.
Heather Grenier, who currently oversees Apple's commercial and competition litigation, will report to Tucker instead of Newstead. She will remain on Newstead's leadership team. Apple is also expanding legal executive Kyle Andeer's responsibilities to include international legal matters, child safety, cybersecurity, and law enforcement.
The changes are part of a wider overhaul under Newstead, who now oversees both legal and government affairs. Apple announced plans to combine the teams alongside the retirements of Kate Adams and Lisa Jackson.
According to Gurman, some Apple executives believe the company should have performed better in court, particularly in App Store disputes. Its battle with Epic Games has forced changes to the rules for links to outside payment options and the fees Apple can charge.
Apple also faces the U.S. government's antitrust lawsuit and privacy cases. Separately, it agreed to a $250 million settlement over delayed Siri features, with a final approval hearing scheduled for February 2027.
It was another crazy busy week for Apple, headlined by Tuesday seeing the company take the wraps off of several home-related products as part of a "Welcome home" launch wave.
And as if that wasn't enough, Friday saw the start of iPhone Duo pre-orders with delivery estimates quickly slipping by months amid its popularity and apparent product shortages, while we're looking forward to even more products launches later this month, so read on below for all of the details!
Top Stories
Apple Announces 'HomeView' Smart Home Hub
Apple's long-rumored smart home hub is finally official, with Apple debuting the $299 HomeView as part of its "Welcome home" product launch this week.
Apple HomeView features a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and Siri AI support, and it's available in both tabletop and wall mounted versions. The device is able to recognize multiple users and adjust its presentation of information depending on how far the user is from the screen, and it supports Photos faces, Apple Music playlists, FaceTime calls, and more.
Pre-orders are underway now with a launch coming on November 13.
New Apple TV 4K Announced With A19 Chip, Updated Siri Remote, More
While the Apple HomeView was the headline attraction of this week's introductions, the Apple TV box also got its first update in four years with the unveiling of the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K.
The new box gets a big upgrade to the A19 chip, which provides Siri AI support and improved performance. A new Siri Remote (also available separately for older boxes) includes Find My support with Precision Finding and a speaker to allow it to make itself heard when lost. And for times when you want to use Siri without the remote, the box itself also now includes microphones for hands-free Siri AI.
The new box comes with a significant price hike to $299, and it's available for pre-order now ahead of a November 13 launch.
Apple Announces $149 HomePod Mini 2 With Siri AI, 'Sound Glow', and Four-Speaker Surround Sound
Apple's third home-related product announcement for the week was a new HomePod mini equipped with Siri AI, new colors, and improved audio experiences. The HomePod mini 2 has an S10 chip that supports advanced computational audio, and Apple says it optimizes dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance in real-time.
A Sound Glow feature turns the HomePod mini's top into a "visual canvas" that glows and animates in sync with music, reacting to bass and treble. It uses colors generated from the song's album artwork for a unique experience for each song.
The HomePod mini 2 is priced at $149 and is available for pre-order now ahead of an October 30 launch. Siri AI won't be available at launch, however, as it will come in a future software update.
iPhone Duo is Sold Out for Christmas as Shipping Estimates Slip to 2027
In remains to be seen how much, if any, stock Apple will have at its retail stores for walk-in purchases on the October 23 launch date, and scalpers are already selling off early pre-orders for as much as $5,000.
Apple Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
We're expecting to see several more products launch on either October 27 or 28, including new high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook models with touchscreen OLED displays, new iMac and entry-level MacBook Pro models based around the M6 chip, and a new iPad mini with an OLED display.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Verizon plans to charge customers $10 per month for the iPhone Handoff feature that Apple added in iOS 27. iPhone Handoff allows one phone number to be shared across two separate iPhones.
Verizon will support iPhone Handoff, giving customers the flexibility to use a single Verizon phone number seamlessly across two compatible iPhone models. Whether using the pocketable iPhone Duo on the go or iPhone 18 Pro for work, customers can switch active status between devices at any time while keeping full access to Verizon's 5G network. iPhone Handoff will be available from Verizon for $10/month on compatible iPhones models running iOS 27.
With iPhone Handoff, users can switch between a main iPhone and a companion iPhone at will, though a phone number can only be active on one iPhone at a time. Verizon says support is "coming soon," and Apple previously said Verizon would adopt the feature before the end of the year.
U.S. carrier T-Mobile already supports iPhone Handoff, but charges just $5 per month for the feature. AT&T, the third major U.S. carrier, recently suggested it has no imminent plans to support iPhone Handoff.
U.K. carrier EE also said this week that it will soon support iPhone Handoff. Customers who have EE's Full Works Plus plan will get iPhone Handoff free, while other EE users can get it for £5 per month.
Deutsche Telekom in Germany is the only other carrier that's added iPhone Handoff support so far. It costs €6.95 per month, but the carrier includes it for free in the MagentaMobil L and XL plans.
Demand for the iPhone Duo has been "nothing short of extraordinary," Apple said in a statement to the Financial Times. The company also said it is "working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers' hands as quickly as possible."
Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo opened this morning at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, and it didn't take long for available stock to dwindle. Within minutes, delivery dates slipped from October 23 to November, and by 5:30 a.m., delivery estimates reached January 25.
It is no longer possible to order an iPhone Duo for delivery in 2026 from Apple, and customers who purchase now will be waiting until early 2027. Prior to pre-orders launching, rumors said supplies could be constrained due to manufacturing difficulties.
With past iPhone launches where supplies were limited, Apple has sometimes been able to ship devices sooner than expected, so it's possible the company will work through its backlog ahead of schedule. There are no guarantees, though, and it's clear many will be waiting for months.
Apple has not yet said whether there will be iPhone Duo stock available for walk-in purchases on October 23, but if there is, we could see long lines outside Apple retail stores for the first time in several years.
Apple's website suggests there could be some stock available for store pickup as soon as next week, as there is a note to check back on October 24 for availability.
Pricing on the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 and goes up to $3,199 for 2TB of storage. The first orders will be delivered to customers on October 23.
Apple today expanded its App Store moderation rules to cover AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery. Sexually explicit content was already banned, but now Apple says app developers must proactively prevent and remove AI-generated deepfakes from their platforms. Apple warns that apps with offending content could be removed from the App Store if developers fail to act.
The updated 1.2 rule names AI content creation apps and could be targeting apps like Grok, among others. Users have complained about xAI's Grok chatbot being used for nude and sexualized deepfakes, and earlier this year, Apple told xAI it would remove Grok from the App Store if it continued to permit nude deepfakes. xAI put safeguards in place, and Apple approved an updated version of the app.
Apple also added guideline 2.5.19 to clarify that developers who add features or functionality not present in the version of an app submitted for review risk removal from the App Store and Apple Developer Program. Apple links the rule to "nudification" apps that create sexually explicit images of real individuals without their consent, suggesting some of the apps have concealed their true purpose during review and added the nudify feature after approval.
Apps containing hidden or undocumented features are also prohibited on the App Store, including apps that misrepresent their purpose during review and only reveal harmful capabilities — such as "nudification" — after approval, a tactic commonly known as bait-and-switch.
Along with changes focused on AI-generated content, Apple updated section 5 to extend its ban on apps that facilitate human trafficking or child exploitation to alternative app distribution.
"We do not hesitate to remove apps, and terminate the developers behind them, when they violate these guidelines," reads Apple's developer news post on the rule changes.
Apple's all-new HomeView smart home hub has been available for pre-order since Tuesday, with the earliest orders set to be delivered on Friday, November 13. If you did not place a pre-order yet though, you may face a longer wait now, with Apple's estimated delivery dates pushing into early December for select colors of the tabletop HomeView.
Estimated delivery dates in the U.S. vary by ZIP code right now. For example, the tabletop HomeView in silver has a November 23-December 1 delivery range in New York, but a later November 30-December 7 range in some other locations.
The tabletop HomeView is still available for Friday, November 13 launch day delivery in some colors and locations in the U.S., and the wall-mounted HomeView is not facing any delays at all as of the time this article was published.
Apple TV 4K delivery estimates are nearly identical: November 23-December 1 in some parts of the U.S., and November 30-December 7 in others.
If you have yet to pre-order a HomePod mini 2, do not worry, as the speaker is still widely available for delivery on its Friday, October 30 launch day throughout the U.S. in all five color options. Keep in mind that Siri AI will not be available on the HomePod mini 2 until support arrives in a future software update, according to Apple.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple today sent out invites for an 
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.
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.
Apple plans to release a higher-end version of its new 
