Apple recently updated its website with a list of products eligible for upcoming 2024 sales tax holidays in select U.S. states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Sales tax holidays provide a limited-time opportunity to purchase select Apple products online or in stores without paying sales tax. Eligible products and price limits vary from state to state, with complete details outlined on Apple's website. Apple says tax savings may not appear during checkout, but will be reflected on the final receipt.
The tax-free holidays run from July 19 through August 11, with the exact dates varying by state. Some other U.S states are offering tax-free holidays this summer, but they are not listed on Apple's website at this time.
Sales tax holidays are especially beneficial to students, as the tax savings can be combined with Apple's ongoing Back to School promotion, which offers students up to a $150 Apple gift card with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad, as well as 20% off AppleCare+ plans. This is in addition to Apple's standard educational discounts on select products.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.6 update to developers, with the software coming a week after Apple released the third beta.
Registered developers can opt-in to the beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Note that an Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.
We don't yet know what might be included in macOS Sonoma 14.6, and no new features have been discovered in the betas so far.
Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with software coming a week after the third iOS and iPadOS 17.6 betas were released.
Registered developers are able to opt into the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Developer Beta. An Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.
The features Apple promised for iOS 17 have all been implemented, so it is not clear what will be included in iOS 17.6, and no major new additions have been discovered in the betas so far.
With Apple focusing on iOS 18, it is likely that iOS 17.6 will include bug fixes and other under-the-hood improvements.
Apple today released the fourth beta of an upcoming visionOS 1.3 update to developers, allowing them to test new features ahead of the software seeing a public launch. The fourth visionOS 1.3 beta comes a week after the release of the third beta.
The visionOS beta can be downloaded by going to the Settings app on the device and toggling on developer betas. A registered developer account is required, and Apple recommends making a backup before installing new software.
Apple may make further improvements to Personas, EyeSight, and other features with visionOS 1.3, as well as implement additional bug fixes. No new features were found in the first three visionOS 1.3 betas.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 10.6 update to developers for testing purposes, with the fourth beta coming a week after the release of the third beta.
To install the watchOS 10.6 update, developers need to open the Apple Watch app, go to the Software Update section under "General" in Settings, and toggle on the watchOS 10 Developer Beta. An Apple ID linked to a developer account is required.
Once beta updates have been activated, watchOS 10.6 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.
We don't yet know what's included in watchOS 10.6, and with Apple's focus shifting to watchOS 11, it likely features bug fixes and other minor improvements.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 17.6 to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after the release of the third beta.
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 17.6 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A registered developer account is required.
tvOS software releases are usually minor in scale compared to other operating system updates, focusing primarily on smaller improvements rather than outward-facing changes. We don't yet know what's included in tvOS 17.6.
Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch, but Apple does not provide notes during beta testing.
Though we don't always know what's new in tvOS betas, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download new software upon release.
Apple today shared a new privacy-focused Safari ad, which is designed to highlight the ways that Safari protects user privacy compared to other browsers.
In the spot, security cameras are positioned as pesky birds and bats, hovering around smartphone users as they browse the web. The cameras are everywhere, representing website trackers. Much of the ad is focused on non-iPhone users, but toward the end, iPhone users opens up Safari and all the creepy cameras explode in mid-air.
The video is accompanied by billboards in cities around the world and short digital ads that are being shown on social networks. Apple has also highlighted some of the recent privacy updates made to Safari on its WebKit blog.
Safari has long protected advertisers from tracking users across the web with cross-site tracking, and it uses Intelligent Tracking Prevention to suss out and block domains collecting tracking data.
IP addresses are hidden from known trackers in Safari, as this can be used to identify users across websites, plus location information is not shared without express user permission and with optional time limitations. To cut down on fingerprinting, a tracking technique that uses system configuration info, Safari provides limited information to trackers to make devices look more identical.
The Safari Private Browsing mode offers an option to use a different search engine, it strips information added to URLs for tracking purposes, it has a content blocker to block network requests from known trackers, and it restricts web extensions that have access to webpage content and browsing history.
iCloud+ subscribers have additional protections with iCloud Private Relay and Safari Private Browsing, including separate sessions for every tab so sites can't tell if two tabs came from the same device and a non-specific IP location based on country and time zone.
Tracking preventions that Apple designed specifically for Private Browsing mode are enabled by default when in that mode, but they can also be enabled for regular browsing by going to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection on an iPhone and toggling on the "All Browsing" feature. On a Mac, the setting can be found under Safari > Settings > Advanced.
According to Apple, a number of Safari's protections are not offered by other browsers such as Chrome, which makes Safari the ideal choice for privacy. Safari's unique features include using machine learning to combat cross-site tracking, removing unique trackers from URLs in Private Browsing, hiding IP address from known trackers, preventing web extensions from seeing browsing by default, not sharing location data with search engine, and blocking known trackers in Private Browsing.
Apple and Metrolinx today announced that the PRESTO card can now be added to the Wallet app, allowing commuters in Toronto, Canada and the surrounding area to tap an iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for a fare on buses, streetcars, trains, and the subway. Funds can be loaded onto the card directly in the Wallet app for added convenience.
Express Mode allows commuters to simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a payment reader to pay for their ride, without needing to unlock or wake the device. This mode even works for up to five hours after your iPhone runs out of battery power.
Transit agencies that accept the PRESTO card in the Wallet app include the TTC and UP Express in Toronto, HSR in Hamilton, MiWay in Mississauga, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Oakville Transit, and York Region Transit, as well as the GO Transit network. The feature does not work with OC Transpo in Ottawa.
To add the PRESTO card to the Wallet app, tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner, select Transit Card, and select PRESTO. A physical PRESTO card can also be converted for use in the Wallet app, but the physical card will no longer work. The version in the Wallet app supports various fare types, and Ontario's new One Fare program.
Adding a PRESTO card to the Wallet app requires an iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16.4 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later with watchOS 9.4 or later.
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far.
Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors, this is what we are expecting to change:
Apple Watch Lineup 2023–2024
Apple Watch Lineup 2024–2025
Price
Apple Watch SE (second generation) 40mm casing 1.57-inch display
Apple Watch SE (third generation) 41mm casing 1.69-inch display (+7.64%)
Starts at $249
Apple Watch SE (second generation) 44mm casing 1.78-inch display
Apple Watch SE (third generation) 45mm casing 1.89-inch display (+6.18%)
Starts at $279
Apple Watch Series 9 41mm casing 1.69-inch display
Apple Watch Series 10 45mm casing 1.89-inch display (+11.83%)
Starts at $399
Apple Watch Series 9 45mm casing 1.89-inch display
Apple Watch Series 10 49mm casing 2.04-inch display (+7.94%)
Starts at $449
Apple Watch Ultra 2 49mm casing 1.99-inch display
Apple Watch Ultra 3 ~52mm casing? 2.13-inch display (+7.04%)
Starts at $799
The first- and second-generation Apple Watch SE models use the design of the Apple Watch Series 4, which was introduced in 2018. With the third generation, Apple is expected to update the SE to the design introduced with the Apple Watch Series 7 in 2021 for a more modern appearance with a larger screen and slimmer bezels.
For Apple's main "Series" line of Apple Watches, the smallest casing size is expected to be discontinued. The original Apple Watch and Series 1, 2, and 3 were available in a 38mm casing, and this grew to 40mm with the Series 4. With the Series 7, it grew further still to 41mm.
This year, the larger of the two standard Apple Watch casing sizes, the 45mm model, is expected to become the smallest option. An all-new 49mm casing size, matching the current Apple Watch Ultra, is expected to be introduced as the new larger option. The 49mm Apple Watch Ultra is compatible with bands designed for the 45mm Apple Watch Series models, so it is possible that Apple Watch bands could be compatible across both Series 10 models and the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time.
The design of the Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to be largely the same as that of the Series 9 and its other predecessors, according to leaked CAD renders, meaning that the all-new 49mm model will be the most striking addition.
DSCC's Ross Young, Haitong International Securities's Jeff Pu, and Omdia's David Hsieh have claimed that the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra will feature a larger 2.13-inch display, but it is worth noting that many of these reports related to the now-canceled introduction of a microLED display. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that no design changes are expected for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, so the larger display size is far from certain and it could in reality have the same casing and display size as the current model.
If the rumors pan out, all of the 2024 Apple Watch models will be larger than the models they replace in the lineup. New features for the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 include the S10 chip with AI enhancements, hypertension detection, and sleep apnea detection. The entire new Apple Watch lineup is expected to be announced in the fall as usual alongside the iPhone 16 models.
Smart home company Lutron today announced a few new additions to its Caséta line of products, expanding the range of lighting options available to consumers.
For professional installers, there is now a Diva smart dimmer with ELV+ technology, offering smart control for low-voltage applications like under-cabinet lighting, track lights, and accent lights. The dimmer works with ELV devices and with nearly all residential lighting types and loads, such as LED, MLV, incandescent, and halogen.
Like the Smart Dimmer Switch for ELV+ Lighting, the Diva version uses phase-selectable dimming to enable dimming across a range of load types. Installers can select between forward or reverse-phase dimming in the Lutron app or when installing the light.
The Diva smart dimmer with ELV+ is available in white, ivory, light almond, black, brown, and gray to match other switches and outlets in the home.
Lutron is also introducing new color options for the Pico Paddle Remote, which was previously only available in white. The Pico Paddle Remote now comes in white, ivory, light almond, black, brown, and gray, much like other Caséta accessories.
The Pico Paddle Remote can control Caséta smart switches and dimmers and Serena smart shades and fans, adding extra control options for lights and smart home products. The Pico Paddle Remotes have a 10-year battery life and do not require a hub, app, or Wi-Fi for operation.
The Diva smart dimmer ELV+ and new Pico Paddle Remote options are available through electrical distributors and online retailers that carry Caséta controls.
Apple's Beats brand has done a number of collaborations over the years with fashion designers, artists, and even Disney, and the latest partnership is with Minecraft for special-edition Beats Solo 4 headphones in recognition of the game's 15th anniversary.
Functionally, these are the same Solo 4 on-ear headphones that debuted several months ago, but they come in a unique Minecraft-themed design with the Minecraft text logo on the top of the headband and neon green Minecraft pixelated patterns and accents across the remainder of the band and the outside of the ear cups. Even the iconic Beats "b" logo button for controlling media is in neon green, and there's a hidden neon green creeper on the inside of the headband.
Minecraft branding extends to the case for the Solo 4 headphones, with the Beats logo and raised Minecraft pixelated patterns in neon green on the front panel. As with the standard versions of the Solo 4 headphones, the nylon case zips open to allow the folded headphones to slide in, and there are small pockets inside for the included USB-C to USB-C and 3.5mm to 3.5mm cables.
With the purchase of the Beats x Minecraft Special Edition Solo 4 headphones, customers will also receive a unique code that can be redeemed for an in-game headphone character creator item in Minecraft.
As a refresher, the Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones support Bluetooth, wired USB-C, and wired 3.5mm connections, as well as support for Personalized Spatial Audio. They offer up to 50 hours of battery life when connected via Bluetooth, and a Fast Fuel charge gives you up to five hours of playback with just ten minutes of charging. There's no active noise cancelation included, but the on-ear design does help to block out a decent amount of ambient sound.
A proprietary Beats chip platform offers tight integration for both iOS and Android users, including support for one-touch pairing, automatic setup across devices via iCloud or Google, and support for Apple's Find My and Android's Find My Device services. iOS users also get access to always-on "Hey Siri" functionality and support for Audio Sharing.
As part of the Beats x Minecraft collaboration, there's a new promotional animated short film featuring "Wake Up," the latest track from Imagine Dragons, and Minecraft content creator TinaKitten is curating a Spatial Audio playlist on Apple Music. Finally, Apple will be holding a special Today at Apple session at Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City on July 18 at 6:30 p.m. where TinaKitten and Apple Music Radio host Travis Mills will discuss the power of creativity, self-expression, and connection.
The Beats x Minecraft Special Edition Solo 4 headphones are priced at $199.99 in the United States and £199.99 in the United Kingdom. They will be available this Thursday, July 18, on Apple's website, EE's website in the UK, and Target's website. Select Apple Store locations in the US and EE stores in the UK will also carry them.
We're tracking deals on Apple products as Prime Day continues, and right now you can get record low discounts on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE. Across the line, all of the deals shared below are new all-time low prices on each model, and only Amazon has the sales.
Ultra 2
A new low price has arrived for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, now available for $699.99 in multiple colors and band styles, down from $799.00.
You can get up to $120 off most Apple Watch Series 9 models right now on Amazon, starting at $279.99 for the 41mm GPS watches. We've rounded up all of the deals below, focusing on the aluminum devices, but you can also find $100 discounts on a few stainless steel models as well.
Apple's 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE is available for $169.99 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is a new all-time low price on the wearable. This deal is available in all three aluminum color options, and only Amazon has the discount.
You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE on sale right now, available for $199.99 on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is another new record low price on the Apple Watch SE for Prime Day.
If you're on the hunt for more Prime Day discounts, be sure to visit our big Prime Day post where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the event. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.
Amazon has introduced a new record low price on the 10th generation iPad for Prime Day. You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for $274.99 when you clip an on-page coupon, down from $349.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The iPad is available in two colors at this new all-time low price, and about $2-$5 higher in the remaining two colors. All deals in this sale will require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the discounts.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
If you're on the hunt for more Prime Day discounts, be sure to visit our big Prime Day post where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the event. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.
Update: This price has expired and the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad is now available for $299.00, a solid second-best price.
Amazon Prime Day is in full swing, and it includes all-time low prices across Apple's entire AirPods lineup. This includes savings on the AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
If you want to take advantage of all Prime Day has to offer, remember that only Amazon Prime members will be able to gain access to the majority of deals during the event. If you aren't a member, you can join Prime via a free 30-day trial to participate in this year's Prime Day. Once your trial is over, Prime membership will run for $14.99/month or $139/year. For students, that's $7.49/month or $69/year.
This year, AirPods deals are in abundance for Prime Day. The cheapest model is still the AirPods 2 at its best-ever price of $69.00 ($60 off), but there's also a steep discount on the AirPods 3 at $119.99 ($49 off).
For the higher-end models, Amazon has the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C for $168.99 ($80 off) and the AirPods Max for $394.99 ($155 off). Both of these deals are new record low prices on each model and just appeared for Prime Day 2024.
If you're on the hunt for more Prime Day discounts, be sure to visit our big Prime Day post where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the event.
Amazon is back with its annual summertime Prime Day event, lasting for just two days from July 16-17. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront, including savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For our coverage, we're focusing entirely on discounts for Apple and Apple-related products that can be purchased right now on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook Air, and more. We're also sharing deals being matched at retailers like Best Buy in some cases.
As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated over the next few days, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles next week.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year, and it comes with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
AirPods
Starting with AirPods, you'll find a wide selection of solid deals across the AirPods lineup on Amazon during Prime Day. Prices start at $119.00 for the AirPods 3 ($50 off), then increase to $168.99 for the AirPods Pro 2 ($80 off).
Both of these are great lowest-ever discounts on each model of the AirPods, beating previous record lows by up to $20. We're also tracking the AirPods Max at a discount during Prime Day, available for $394.99, down from $549.00, another all-time low price.
You can get up to $120 off most Apple Watch Series 9 models right now on Amazon, starting at $279.00 for the 41mm GPS watches. We've rounded up all of the deals below, focusing on the aluminum devices, but you can also find $100 discounts on a few stainless steel models as well.
Apple's 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE is available for $169.99 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is a new all-time low price on the wearable. This deal is available in all three aluminum color options, and only Amazon has the discount.
You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE on sale right now, available for $199.99 on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is another new record low price on the Apple Watch SE for Prime Day.
M2 iPad Pro
Over at Best Buy, today you can find some of the biggest discounts on the M2 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro that we've seen in months, including both Wi-Fi and cellular tablets. A My Best Buy Plus/Total membership is not required to see these discounts.
With such steep savings, these previous generation iPad Pros are worth looking into purchasing for anyone who wants to prioritize saving money over owning the newest M4 iPad Pro. There are some major differences between the two generations, like the M4's support for Apple Pencil Pro and a new nano-texture display option, so be sure to read about which one works best for you in our Buyer's Guide.
For the newest M4 iPad Pros, Amazon is offering up to $200 off select models of both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro. Deals are primarily focused on Wi-Fi models, but you can find a few cellular tablets on sale at this time as well.
The cheapest model is the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Air for $559.00, down from $599.00. You'll also find deals on the 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models below, all of which are in stock on Amazon with delivery dates as soon as the middle of next week for Prime members.
The 13-inch M2 iPad Air models start at $729.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $799.00. Similar to the 11-inch devices, all Wi-Fi models are on sale this week, and for the larger display iPad Airs these discounts reach up to $90 off original prices.
The iPad Air is Apple's middle-tier iPad model, equipped with an LCD Liquid Retina display, True Tone support, four unique color options, Touch ID, relocated front-facing camera, and two new size options with the 11-inch and 13-inch sizes.
10th Gen iPad
Amazon is taking $50 off the Wi-Fi models of the 2022 iPad, starting at $299.00 for 64GB Wi-Fi. You'll also find both cellular devices on sale this weekend.
The cheapest M3 MacBook Pro model you'll find right now is on the 14-inch M3 Pro 512GB model, priced at $1,399.00. That's a $200 discount and the best price we've ever tracked, but you can also find a few other solid markdowns on more 14-inch MacBook Pros and 16-inch MacBook Pros at Amazon and Best Buy.
Note that if you have a My Best Buy Plus or Total subscription, you'll definitely want to prioritize Best Buy over Amazon for MacBook Pro deals. In many cases, Best Buy is offering as much as $200 off for members on top of the already steep discounts you'll find below.
Prices on the M3 MacBook Air start at $898.99 for the 8GB RAM/256GB SSD 13-inch MacBook Air, which is down from $1,099.00. For the bigger model, prices start at $1,099.00 for the 8GB RAM/256GB SSD 15-inch MacBook Air, down from $1,299.00.
Shoppers should note that Best Buy is offering an extra $50 in savings on these computers, but you'll need to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership in order to see the discounts. Otherwise, if you don't have a membership, you can find matching prices on every M3 MacBook Air at Best Buy.
Best Buy and Amazon today have Apple's 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Air for $799.00, down from $999.00. You'll find all four colors on sale at this price, including Midnight, Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight.
Compared to previous sales, this is a match of the all-time low price on the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air. Right now, both Best Buy and Amazon have this steep discount, and we aren't tracking any notable deals on the 512GB model.
Apple Pencil
Apple Pencil deals include all-time low prices on the Apple Pencil 2 at $79.00 and Apple Pencil Pro at $119.00.
Amazon has $299 off the Apple Studio Display for Prime Day, starting at $1,299.99 for the standard glass option. For this model, this is a match of the all-time low price.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in a new "Rose" color, claims a rumor out of China, corroborating previous claims.
Chinese Weibo-based leaker OvO Baby Sauce OvO, a relatively new source of supply chain leaks, said on Tuesday that the new color code for the iPhone 16 Pro models is simply "Rose," not the previous "Rose Gold" color that Apple first offered back in 2015 for the iPhone 6S.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to be available in black, white or silver, gray or "Natural Titanium," and rose. Kuo's prediction mirrored an earlier rumor from the same Weibo source, claiming that the existing Blue Titanium color will be dropped from the iPhone 16 Pro lineup in favor of a new "rose" titanium color.
Meanwhile, Kuo believes the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will apparently be offered in black, green, pink, blue, and white. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are available in black, green, pink, blue, and yellow. This means that white will replace yellow, with the colors remaining the same.
Kuo mentioned that Apple might rename some of the existing colors, similar to how "White" on the iPhone 12 was changed to "Starlight" on the iPhone 13. Even if the color names remain the same, the actual tone and appearance might still differ. The iPhone 16 lineup is anticipated to be announced in the fall.
Reports that next year's iPhone 17 will adopt TSMC's next-generation 2nm process are "fake news," a reputable source of accurate predictions about Apple's plans claimed on Monday.
According to a post by Weibo user "Phone Chip Expert," the 2nm process won't go into mass production until the end of 2025. The account holder, who claims to have 25 years of experience in the integrated circuit industry, including work on Intel's Pentium processors, suggests the iPhone 17 will therefore still use TSMC's 3nm process.
"The 2nm process won't be mass-produced until the end of 2025, so the iPhone 17 definitely can't catch up," read a machine translation of Phone Chip Expert's post. "It won't be until the iPhone 18 that a 2nm processor will be used."
"Anyone who has seen the capacity planning chart will know that this is yet another report from an unscrupulous media outlet," added the user, commenting on an article by Zhitong Finance that repeated claims recently made by Taiwanese newspapers based on "industry sources."
TSMC plans to begin volume production of 2nm chips next year, but multiple reports out of Taiwan suggested that the company had been accelerating the process ahead of schedule to secure a stable yield for mass production. Apple is TSMC's main client, and it is typically the first to get TSMC's new chips. Apple acquired all of TSMC's 3nm chips in 2023 for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, for example.
The 2nm fabrication process, also known simply as "N2," is expected to offer a 10 to 15 percent speed improvement at the same power or a 25 to 30 percent power reduction at the same speed compared to chips made with the supplier's 3nm technology. The A17 Pro chip in Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models is manufactured with TSMC's first-generation 3nm process, known as N3B. Apple's M4 chip, which recently debuted in the new iPad Pro, uses an enhanced version of this 3nm technology.
Code in iOS 18 has confirmed that all four iPhone 16 models are set to use Apple's next-generation A18 chip, based on TSMC's N3E process. N3E is TSMC's second-generation 3nm chip fabrication process, which is less expensive and has improved yield compared to TSMC's first-generation 3nm process.
The Weibo user contesting claims that 2nm will be ready for the iPhone 17 has a track record of accurate predictions. Phone Chip Expert was the first to reveal that the iPhone 7 would be water-resistant and that the standard iPhone 14 models would continue to use the A15 Bionic chip, while the more advanced A16 chip would be exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models. These forecasts were later confirmed by multiple credible sources and were proven correct when the products were released.
iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia include a new Photos app feature designed to help users recover images and videos that are lost or damaged, providing a way to get missing content back.
There is a "Recovered" album in the Utilities section of Photos, and it shows up if there are pictures or videos on a user's device that are not part of their Photos Library. If you see the Recovered album in your Photos app, tapping into it will provide an option to permanently delete or restore any pictures or video stored in the album.
Photos and videos can be lost due to database corruption issues, images taken with a camera app that did not properly get saved to the Photos library, or third-party apps that are provided with access to manage a Photo Library. Here's how to recover a lost image or video:
Open the Photos app and tap into Albums.
Scroll down to Utilities, and choose the Recovered album.
Tap on a photo or video in the album, or use Select to select multiple items.
Tap on Permanently Delete or Restore to Library.
When upgrading to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia, an iPhone, iPad, or Mac will automatically scan for photos and videos that are able to be recovered, providing immediate access to any missing content.
Note that the Recovered album only shows up in the Utilities section of the Photos app if lost photos or videos are located on a device. If there are none, you will not see the album.
With iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1, there was a fix for an unusual bug related to a database corruption issue. After installing iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5, some users saw long-deleted images reappearing in their Photo Library. Apple later said this was due to a database corruption issue that had caused the photos to reappear even after being deleted.
The Recovered album feature in the latest software updates should prevent something like this from happening again, while also giving users access to photos and videos that are in limbo.
iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia betas are available to developers and public beta testers at this time. The software updates will see a public launch this fall.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. 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 Amazon. 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 Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
