MacRumors

Apple will offer the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in a new orange color, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Antenna Design
Gurman made the claim in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, adding that the new iPhone 17 Air – replacing the iPhone 16 Plus – will come in a new light blue color.

We've heard multiple rumors about a new iPhone 17 Pro color being a shade of orange. The color has previously been described as having a copper finish. Dummy models have appeared that supposedly feature all the shades that Apple has chosen for its high-end smartphones. The other colors these have included are black, white, and dark blue.

The new lighter blue color option for the iPhone 17 Air has also been rumored multiple times. It was first mentioned by Weibo leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," who suggests that this blue shade will be central to Apple's marketing for the new device. Described as significantly lighter than any previous blue Apple has released, the color may appear almost white in low-light conditions.

iPhone 17 Air Dummy Thumb 2
Gurman has not mentioned any other colors for Apple's new iPhone lineup, but this is the first time he has referenced orange and light blue for iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air, respectively, suggesting he is confident the rumors are true.

Apple has stuck with muted colors for its recent iPhone "Pro" models made from titanium. For the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple offered a new Desert Titanium color. The iPhone 16 Pro also comes in Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. Apple is expected to adopt a part-glass, part aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro models, so at least some new colors seem like a given.

The iPhone 17 series is now just weeks away. Apple's iPhone event this year is rumored to be scheduled for Tuesday, September 9. If Apple follows the traditional pattern, iPhone 17 pre-orders would begin on the Friday, September 12. The new devices would then likely reach customers and retail stores the following Friday, September 19.

Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models could include a reverse wireless charging feature making them capable of delivering power to other Apple devices, according to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed Focus Digital.

iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1
The Chinese leaker says that Apple has tested reverse wireless charging for the company's new high-end smartphones, but whether the feature is actually enabled when the devices launch next month remains to be seen.

This is the second time we've heard about the feature potentially coming to new iPhones this year. In February, Weibo leaker Instant Digital claimed that Apple had been testing 7.5W reverse wireless charging for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, saying it could be used to charge other Apple accessories like AirPods, Apple Watch, or potentially an upcoming MagSafe Battery Pack.

Long-running rumors of iPhone reverse wireless charging capabilities finally came to fruition in 2021 – albeit in a limited way – when Apple released the MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 and newer models. When attached to an ‌iPhone‌ that was charging via Lightning, the ‌iPhone‌ could deliver power to the MagSafe Battery Pack, which was the first instance of an ‌iPhone‌ being able to route power to an accessory device.

Apple discontinued the MagSafe Battery Pack in September 2023 with the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup, which dropped the Lightning cable in favor of USB-C. iPhone 15 and later models can reverse charge Apple Watch, AirPods, and other smaller devices that support Power Delivery at up to 4.5 watts via the USB-C port, but the wireless reverse charging feature for Apple devices has not been implemented since the discontinuation of the MagSafe Battery Pack.

In 2022, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that a relaunched MagSafe Battery Pack would eventually transition to USB-C, but that has yet to happen. Likewise, In September 2023, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said he expected USB-C versions of the MagSafe Battery Pack to return "eventually." But he qualified that by saying "Don't hold your breath."

All will be revealed when Apple releases its iPhone 17 lineup around mid-September, with an iPhone event rumored to be taking place on Tuesday, September 9. Would you welcome a reverse wireless charging feature? Let us know in the comments.

Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

Apple has "considered" releasing a bumper case for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iPhone 17 Air Thumb 2 Blue Electric Boogaloo
Similar to the bumper case that Apple introduced for the iPhone 4 in 2010, Gurman said the iPhone 17 Air version of the case would cover the edges of the device, but not the back of it. Those bumper cases were made of rubber.

Given that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have an ultra-thin design, customers who purchase the device might be reluctant to put it inside of a regular case, due to the added thickness. A bumper case would be a fitting compromise, as it would provide some level of protection against drops and scratches, without being overly thick.

product red iphone bumper e1344951167763
Apple eventually ended up offering customers a free iPhone 4 bumper case, due to the infamous "antennagate" issue, which related to spotty cellular signal reception when the iPhone 4 was held in a way that covered the device's antenna bands.

The Information's Wayne Ma previously reported that Apple also plans to release an iPhone 17 Air battery case, for extra battery life on the go.

Apple last released battery cases for the iPhone 11 lineup, followed by the since-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 models and newer.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series and any related accessories in September.

Related Forum: iPhone

Amazon this weekend has a pair of solid discounts on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, providing up to $80 off these headphones.

Airpods Pro 2 Discount Feature OrangeNote: 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.

You can get the AirPods 4 for $89.99 (matched at Best Buy), down from $129.00, which is a match of the all-time low price on this model. This is the base model without Active Noise Cancellation.

The AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169.00 (matched at Best Buy), down from $249.00. Compared to previous record low prices, this is just about $20 higher, and one of the best prices we've tracked since that low price was available in July.

Both models have an estimated August 28 delivery date for most residences in the United States. If you live in a select location, and have a Prime membership, you may have access to free same-day shipping as well.

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.

Update: We've updated this article to highlight a new and lower price on the AirPods 4 at Amazon.


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Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects Apple to release new AirPods Pro this year, and he said the earbuds will have a key new feature: heart rate monitoring.

AirPods Pro 3 Heart Rate Tracking Feature
From his Power On newsletter today, with emphasis added:

As for Apple's other devices, there's a lot in the fall pipeline — though many of the new products are only incremental upgrades.

There will be Apple Watch updates, faster Vision Pro headsets and iPad Pros with the M5 processor. You should also expect new AirPods Pro earbuds (I reported earlier this year that Apple is working on a pair with heart-rate monitoring), as well as HomePod minis and Apple TV set-top boxes.

Apple already introduced a heart rate monitoring feature on the Powerbeats Pro 2 earlier this year.

When both Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are placed in the ears, and heart rate monitoring is active, Apple says LED optical sensors pulse at over 100 times per second to measure heart rate via blood flow. The feature integrates with popular fitness apps to collect data during workouts and sync it to Apple's Health app on the iPhone.

The feature is based on the Apple Watch's heart rate sensing technology. If someone is wearing both Powerbeats Pro 2 and an Apple Watch, Apple says apps default to using Apple Watch heart rate data, and that will likely be the case for the new AirPods Pro too.

Beyond heart rate monitoring, it is likely that the next AirPods Pro will feature improved sound quality, increased active noise cancellation, design changes, and more.

The current AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022, and they were updated with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks in September 2023.

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Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said he expects a paid Apple Health+ service to debut next year.

Apple Health Icon
In his Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple Health+ will consist of an AI-based health coach that offers nutrition planning and medical suggestions.

Gurman initially expected the coaching feature to be part of iOS 19.4 (now known as iOS 26.4), but he later said that it would not be available until at least iOS 27. It would be built into Apple's Health app on the iPhone and iPad.

He did not say how much the service will cost.

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Apple's first foldable iPhone will be equipped with four cameras, and Touch ID instead of Face ID, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple Foldable Thumb
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the four cameras will consist of one front camera, one inner camera, and two rear cameras.

The latest iPad Air, iPad mini, and entry-level iPad models have Touch ID power buttons, and this feature will likely extend to the foldable iPhone.

The foldable iPhone will use Apple's second-generation C2 modem for cellular connectivity, but it will lack a physical SIM card slot, said Gurman.

Apple is currently testing black and white color options for the foldable iPhone, he added.

Gurman expects the foldable iPhone to have a book-like design, with a large inner display when unfolded. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the foldable iPhone will have a 5.5-inch outer display, and a 7.8-inch inner display.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7 has an 8-inch inner screen, and a 6.5-inch outer screen.

Kuo said the foldable iPhone — and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8, will feature a "crease-free" inner display. He said Apple will achieve this feat by using a laser-drilled metal display plate, which can disperse the stress generated by bending.

Gurman said Apple recently pivoted from on-cell to in-cell display technology, and he believes this change should help to make the foldable iPhone's crease "less obvious."

He said Apple plans to release the foldable iPhone next year — as widely expected.

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Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should be unveiled in a few more weeks, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices.

iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman corroborated a rumor that iPhone 17 Pro models will be "available in an orange color."

Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:

Check out our iPhone 17 Pro roundup to learn more.

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Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

While it has yet to be officially announced by Apple, the upcoming iOS 26 update adds Qi 2.2 support to all iPhone 16 models, except for the iPhone 16e.

Belkin 25W Charging Stand 1
iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models running iOS 26 can be wirelessly charged with any Qi 2.2 charger at up to 25W speeds. Previously, those devices could only achieve 25W wireless charging speeds with the latest version of Apple's MagSafe Charger, while third-party Qi options were limited to up to 15W.

Qi 2.2 is officially branded as "Qi2 25W."

Belkin this week released three new Qi2 25W charging stands, including a 2-in-1 iPhone/AirPods option for $59.99, a 3-in-1 iPhone/AirPods/Apple Watch option for $99.99, and another 3-in-1 option for $129.99. All prices are in U.S. dollars.

Belkin says all three of the new chargers can charge iPhone 16 models running iOS 26 from 0% to 50% in around 30 minutes, which is the same charging time that Apple advertises for its own 25W MagSafe Charger when used with iPhone 16 models. Accordingly, this effectively confirms that iOS 26 adds Qi 2.2 support to the iPhone 16 series.

Qi 2.2 support was added to iPhone 16 models in a recent iOS 26 beta version, so it can already be tested right now. iOS 26 will likely be released in September.

It is unclear if iPhone 16 models have formally received Qi 2.2 certification yet, but that should happen by time iOS 26 is released, if it has not already.

P.S. This essentially confirms that the iPhone 17 series will support Qi 2.2 too, as expected.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Tag: Belkin
Related Forum: iOS 26

Apple on Thursday filed a lawsuit against its former employee Chen Shi, as well as the companies OPPO and InnoPeak Technology, over alleged trade secret misappropriation. Apple alleges that Shi "conspired to steal Apple's trade secrets relating to Apple Watch and to disclose them to his new employers, OPPO and InnoPeak."

Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black
OPPO is a Chinese company that sells smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other devices, while California-based InnoPeak Technology says it "performs cutting-edge research in smartphone technologies."

A spokesperson for OPPO has since shared the following statement with MacRumors:

We are aware of the recent lawsuit filed by Apple in California and have carefully reviewed the allegations in Apple's complaint. We have found no evidence establishing any connection between these allegations and the employee's conduct during his employment at OPPO.

OPPO respects the trade secrets of all companies, including Apple, and OPPO has not misappropriated Apple's trade secrets. OPPO will actively cooperate with the legal process, and we are confident that fair judicial proceedings will clarify the facts.

Read our previous coverage of the lawsuit for more details.

Apple's annual September event with new iPhone and Apple Watch models and potentially a few other announcements is coming up quickly, so we should be hearing something soon about an official date.

top stories 2025 08 23
We're continuing to hear rumors about those iPhone and Apple Watch models, plus a few other products that are a bit further down the line. Apple is also putting the finishing touches on iOS 26 and related operating system updates in advance of next month's event, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories

Apple Working on All-New 'Charismatic' Operating System

Apple's long-rumored home hub device and eventual tabletop robot will run on a new operating system code-named "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature
The new home-focused operating system will reportedly blend elements of tvOS and watchOS and revolve largely around clock faces and widgets. Siri voice commands and touch input will be supported, as well as multi-user support with automatic facial recognition.

For more on Apple's smart home plans, be sure to check out last week's episode of The MacRumors Show.

iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks

Alleged images of the iPhone 17 Pro Max's internal design have surfaced, offering a potential look inside the device before it is announced by Apple next month.

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo
The images show that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will apparently feature two versions of a metal-covered battery, an L-shaped one to be used in models that still have a physical SIM card tray and a more rectangular one for models that lack a physical SIM card tray, such as those sold in the United States.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Just Weeks Away: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

We're only weeks away from Apple's annual iPhone event and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023, and it should deliver a few upgrades.

ultra 2
We're also expecting minor updates for the mainstream Series 11 model, and perhaps a bit more significant changes for the budget third-generation Apple Watch SE that should be seeing its first update since 2022.

For those users looking further ahead, one report claims at least one Apple Watch model will see a "significant redesign" in 2026, with a possibility of Touch ID for biometric authentication.

Here's Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 7

Apple is nearing the finish line on development for the initial public release of iOS 26, pushing out new betas to developers and public beta testers this week.

iOS 26 Feature
The redesigned Blood Oxygen feature that rolled out to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models in the U.S. last week is now included in iOS 26 and watchOS 26 betas, while there's now an option to receive notifications when the new Adaptive Power mode in iOS 26 turns on to help save battery.

Apple Rumored to Launch 'TechWoven' Cases for iPhone 17 With 'Crossbody Strap' Option

Earlier this week, we got our first glimpse at what will reportedly be Apple's new premium case material for the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, replacing the highly criticized FineWoven cases that debuted alongside the iPhone 15 lineup.

techwoven cases 1
A subsequent leak indicates the new material may be dubbed "TechWoven," with the cases available in a number of colors for the various models. Previously seen lanyard attachment points on Apple's first-party cases for the iPhone 17 lineup may instead be intended for a "Crossbody Strap" accessory mentioned on the alleged case packaging.

Apple Releases iOS 18.6.2 With Security Fixes

Apple this week released minor iOS 18.6.2, iPadOS 18.6.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.6.1 updates delivering security fixes. According to the Apple's security support document, the updates address a memory corruption issue that could occur from being sent a malicious image file.

Generic iOS 18
Apple says it's aware that the issue may have been actively exploited in an "extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals," so while most users are unlikely to be targeted, it's still a good idea to make sure your devices are updated.

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Apple has made several updates to the Apple Music app in iOS 26, and it has AutoMix, which has become one of the most popular additions. ‌Apple Music‌ also features the Liquid Glass redesign like the rest of Apple's apps, along with new translation features and other quality of life improvements.

iOS 26 Music Glass Feature

AutoMix

AutoMix is an upgrade to the crossfade feature in ‌Apple Music‌, and it is designed to provide more seamless song transitions. It transitions from one song to another as the song that's playing ends, using time stretching and beat matching for an undetectable shift.

apple music automix ios 26
Apple says that AutoMix is meant to work like a DJ, with songs transitioning at the "perfect moment" based on an on-device analysis of the key and tempo of the music.

AutoMix can be enabled when opening up the ‌Apple Music‌ app for the first time after installing ‌iOS 26‌.

The feature isn't perfect and it works better with some genres than others, but it is a work in progress that Apple is improving over time. AutoMix is not an Apple Intelligence feature, but it does require an ‌Apple Music‌ subscription.

Lyric Translation

If you're listening to a song in a different language, you can now open up the lyrics and get a real-time translation so you know what it's about. The translated lyrics are displayed alongside the original lyrics.

ios 26 lyrics translation

Lyric Pronunciation

For songs in another language, you can also get a phonetic pronunciation guide for singing them aloud, which is useful when taking advantage of the ‌Apple Music‌ Sing karaoke feature.

ios 26 music app lyrics pronunciation

Pinned Favorites

There's now an option to pin up to six playlists, albums, artists, or songs to the top of the ‌Apple Music‌ library.

pin apple music app ios

Playlist Folders

Playlists can be organized into folders in the iOS ‌Apple Music‌ app, a feature that has previously been limited to the Mac.

music playlist folders

Home Screen Widgets

There are new Home Screen widgets that show your pinned ‌Apple Music‌ content. There's a medium-sized widget and a larger widget for pins, along with a new large Live Radio widget.

ios 26 live radio

Animated Lock Screen Artwork

The Lock Screen now features full-screen animated art for the Now Playing widget while music is playing.

liquid glass music lock screen

Karaoke Microphone

tvOS 26 and ‌iOS 26‌ turn the iPhone into a wireless microphone for karaoke on the Apple TV. When using ‌Apple Music‌ Sing, each participant can sing through their ‌iPhone‌, queue songs up, and send emoji reactions.

apple music sing tvos26

Read More

More on the features that are available in ‌iOS 26‌ can be found in our iOS 26 roundup. ‌iOS 26‌ will launch in September.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

Apple refreshed a few of its iPad models earlier this year, but we aren't done yet. There are still new iPads rumored to be coming later in 2025, plus we're already hearing details on 2026 ‌iPad‌ launches.

iPad Pro

Rumors suggest that Apple will update the iPad Pro models before the end of the year, introducing the faster M5 chip in the device. No notable design changes are coming because last year's update brought an overhauled look, but there are a couple new features planned.

The ‌iPad Pro‌ looks like it will be the first to get the M5 chip, which is built on an updated 3-nanometer process. We can expect modest performance and efficiency improvements.

There will be 11-inch and 13-inch size options, and the 2025 models will use OLED display technology much like the M4 models. Apple is rumored to be planning for two front-facing cameras, with one located at the top of the device and one located at the side. With this change, the ‌iPad‌ will be in the correct orientation for video calls regardless of whether it is positioned in landscape or portrait mode.

The M5 ‌iPad‌ could debut in either October or November, coming about a month after Apple releases new iPhone 17 models.

iPad Air

There's a new iPad Air in the works, and it could come in 2026, but there's no guarantee. We don't know much about the next-generation ‌iPad Air‌, but there's a possibility that it will feature a display with a 90Hz refresh rate, up from 60Hz.

With the 2026 refresh, the ‌iPad Air‌ could be updated with an OLED display, but it's not yet clear if that's something Apple plans to debut next year or if we will be waiting until 2027.

The M3 ‌iPad Air‌ came out in March 2025, so we are unlikely to see a new model before March 2026.

Low-Cost iPad

There's a new low-cost ‌iPad‌ in development, and it will have an updated A18 chip. With the A18, the ‌iPad‌ will support Apple Intelligence features that are not available on the current model.

Rumors suggest the low-cost ‌iPad‌ will debut in early 2026, perhaps at a spring event.

iPad mini

Apple is working on an iPad mini 8 that could come out as soon as 2026. Leaked Apple code suggests that it will use the same A19 Pro chip that Apple plans to use in the iPhone 17 Pro models.

The A19 Pro will be built on an updated 3-nanometer process, so it will feature performance and efficiency improvements.

Apple is developing an ‌iPad mini‌ that uses OLED display technology, but it is not clear if the OLED display will be in the ‌iPad mini‌ 8 or a future ‌iPad mini‌ that's not coming until 2027. When the ‌iPad mini‌ does get an OLED display, it could feature an upgraded 8.7 inch display size instead of an 8.3 inch display.

Apple is developing a new version of Siri that's supposed to be better than the existing ‌Siri‌ in every way. It will be smarter and able to do more, functioning like ChatGPT or Claude instead of a barely competent 2012-era smartphone assistant.

Finder Siri Feature
Upgrading ‌Siri‌ hasn't been without hiccups, and it's been delayed once. We've rounded up everything we know about Apple's work on a more capable ‌Siri‌ that uses large language models.

LLM Siri

The next-generation version of ‌Siri‌ will use advanced large language models, similar to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI chatbots.

LLM ‌Siri‌ would be able to hold continuous conversations and provide human-like responses to questions, plus the assistant would be capable of completing more complex tasks.

Apple Intelligence Siri Delays

In what became an infamous move, Apple went all-in showing off a smarter, Apple Intelligence-powered version of ‌Siri‌ when it showed off iOS 18 at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Apple also highlighted advanced Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ features when the iPhone 16 models launched, but after months of customers waiting for the new feature set, Apple said that it wouldn't be coming.

In March 2025, Apple said that the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features that it expected to introduce in ‌iOS 18‌ would not be coming in iOS 18 at all. Apple said that ‌Siri‌ would not be ready until 2026.

The Siri Features That Got Pushed Back

The ‌Siri‌ functionality that was delayed wasn't even the LLM version of ‌Siri‌ that had been rumored. It was an in-between model that was smarter, but without full chatbot capabilities. Here's what we're waiting on:

Personal Context

With personal context, ‌Siri‌ will be able to keep track of emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent.

  • Show me the files Eric sent me last week.
  • Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.
  • Find the books that Eric recommended to me.
  • Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?
  • What's my passport number?

Onscreen Awareness

Onscreen awareness will let ‌Siri‌ see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, for example, you can tell ‌Siri‌ to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask ‌Siri‌ to do it for you.

Deeper App Integration

Deeper app integration means that ‌Siri‌ will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what ‌Siri‌ will be capable of, but Apple has provided a few examples of what to expect.

  • Moving files from one app to another.
  • Editing a photo and then sending it to someone.
  • Get directions home and share the ETA with Eric.
  • Send the email I drafted to Eric.

Siri Redesign

We got more context on what went wrong with ‌Siri‌ when Apple introduced iOS 26 and Apple executives did a series of interviews to explain the situation.

Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that the first-generation architecture that Apple was developing for the personalized ‌Siri‌ features ended up being too limited. ‌Siri‌ was not able to match Apple's high standards, and by spring 2025, Apple realized that it needed to transition ‌Siri‌ to the second-generation architecture (aka the LLM version of ‌Siri‌) that it had been planning.

With Apple abandoning the first-generation ‌Siri‌ architecture it had been working on, the new ‌Siri‌ features had to be delayed until the second-generation architecture was ready.

In an all-hands meeting in August, Federighi told employees that Apple had attempted to merge two separate systems, and it didn't work out. Apple had one system for handling current commands and another based on large language models. Federighi said Apple realized that the hybrid approach was not going to work.

Federighi said that Apple has successfully revamped ‌Siri‌, and it's going to be a bigger update than expected. "The work we've done on this end-to-end revamp of ‌Siri‌ has given us the results we needed," Federighi told employees. "This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than that we envisioned."

Internal Restructuring

The misstep with ‌Siri‌'s debut and the failure of the hybrid architecture led Apple to restructure its entire AI team. Apple AI chief John Giannandrea was removed from the ‌Siri‌ leadership team, with Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell taking over instead.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was no longer confident in Giannandrea's ability to oversee product development. Rockwell reports to Federighi, and Federighi told employees that the new leadership has "supercharged" ‌Siri‌ development.

Apple has also struggled with retaining AI employees amid the ‌Siri‌ issue and recruitment strategies from companies like Meta. Meta poached several key AI engineers from Apple, offering pay packages as high as $200 million. At Apple's August all-hands meeting, Cook and Federighi aimed to reassure employees that AI is of the utmost importance to the company. "There is no project people are taking more seriously," Federighi said of ‌Siri‌.

Cook said that Apple will "make the investment" to be a leader in AI.

Apple's LLM or a Partnership?

Part of the reason that Apple is seeing low morale among its AI employees is rumors that an Apple-designed large language model that's in development might be sidelined.

Apple is rumored to be considering a partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI or Claude creator Anthropic to power the smarter version of ‌Siri‌. Both companies are reportedly training versions of their models that would work with Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, and Apple is running tests with both its own models and models from outside companies. No final decision on ‌Siri‌ has been made as of yet.

Partnering with a company like Anthropic or OpenAI would allow Apple to deliver the exact ‌Siri‌ feature set that it is aiming for, while also giving it time to continue work on its own LLM behind the scenes.

Launch Date

Apple executives have confirmed that the new version of ‌Siri‌ will launch in 2026, and rumors suggest it will come as soon as spring 2026. If it is indeed planned for spring, Apple could roll out the features in iOS 26.4, because the .4 software updates are often reserved for significant feature improvements.

Apple today filed a lawsuit in Northern California against Chen Shi, a former employee who left Apple and took a job at Chinese smartphone maker Oppo. According to Apple, Shi stole trade secrets relating to Apple Watch development and provided the information to Oppo.

apple watch series 10 prime day 2025
Shi was a "highly compensated Sensor System Architect" at Apple from January 2020 to June 2025, which meant he had access to "valuable trade secret information," including the Apple Watch design, development documentation, internal specifications, and product roadmap.

Apple says that Shi told the company he was returning to China to care for his elderly parents, with no mention that he had accepted a position at Oppo. While in the process of leaving Apple, Shi allegedly collected sensitive Apple Watch documents and attended "dozens" of one-on-one meetings with Apple Watch technical team members to "learn about their ongoing research and development efforts."

Three days before leaving Apple, Shi downloaded 63 files from Apple's protected Box folder and transferred them to a USB drive. After downloading the files, he searched for information on how to wipe a MacBook and whether someone could see if he'd opened a file on a shared drive. Further, Shi sent a message to his Oppo employers letting them know that he would "collect as much information as possible" to share with them, specifically sourcing data on heart rate sensing methods. At Oppo, Shi is now leading a team that is developing sensing technology.

Apple is asking for an injunction prohibiting Oppo and Shi from using or disclosing Apple's trade secrets, restitution, damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.

Update — August 23: A spokesperson for OPPO provided MacRumors with the following statement:

We are aware of the recent lawsuit filed by Apple in California and have carefully reviewed the allegations in Apple's complaint. We have found no evidence establishing any connection between these allegations and the employee's conduct during his employment at OPPO.

OPPO respects the trade secrets of all companies, including Apple, and OPPO has not misappropriated Apple's trade secrets. OPPO will actively cooperate with the legal process, and we are confident that fair judicial proceedings will clarify the facts.

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  • What's the deal? Get $200 off M4 MacBook Air
  • Where can I get it? Amazon
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here


Amazon this week introduced a new record low price across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and you can still get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for just $799.00, plus many other deals.

M4 MacBook Pro

m3 macbook pro blue

  • What's the deal? Get up to $436 off M4 MacBook Pro
  • Where can I get it? Amazon
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Continuing this week's theme of steep Mac-related discounts, Amazon also has great deals on the M4 MacBook Pro right now. You'll find up to $436 off these computers, starting at $1,299.00 for the entry-level 14-inch model.

M4 Mac Mini

m4 mac mini blue

  • What's the deal? Get up to $144 off M4 Mac mini
  • Where can I get it? Amazon
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here


Amazon is taking up to $144 off M4 Mac mini models this week, starting at $499.00 for the 256GB model.

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 in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple is in talks with Google about using Google's Gemini AI as the backbone for the upcoming smarter version of Siri, reports Bloomberg. The discussions are in the early stages, but Apple reportedly approached Google to ask the company to create a custom AI model that would be used for ‌Siri‌.

Apple Silicon AI Optimized Feature Siri 1
Google has started training a model that would run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers in response. Apple previously held talks with OpenAI and Anthropic, and both of those companies have been working on versions of their models for Apple's servers.

While Apple is exploring partnerships with different AI companies to power an improved version of ‌Siri‌, Apple still has not made a decision on whether it will use a third-party AI solution or go with the LLM models it has been developing in-house.

Apple is testing multiple LLMs, including its own, to determine which will provide the best results to customers. There are two versions of the new ‌Siri‌ in development, including one that is powered by Apple's own models and one that runs on third-party models.

Apple has been developing a more advanced version of ‌Siri‌ that overhauls the entire ‌Siri‌ architecture. Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi called this the "second-generation" ‌Siri‌ architecture earlier this month, and he said that the "end-to-end revamp" of ‌Siri‌ brought the results that Apple needed for more advanced AI features, such as the personalization that it promised as part of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.

"This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than that we envisioned," Federighi said.

Apple was leaning toward partnering with Anthropic, but Anthropic's fees prompted Apple to consider other AI companies as well. No deal has been inked with Google, OpenAI, or Anthropic as of yet. Rumors suggest that LLM ‌Siri‌ will launch in spring 2026.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through what to expect from the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3, and whether it's worth holding off on an upgrade until next year.


The third-generation ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is rumored to feature a larger display (perhaps like the Apple Watch Series 7), the S11 chip, and potentially a plastic casing. It could also available at a slightly lower price point.

The Apple Watch Series 11 will likely feature the S11 chip, 5G RedCap connectivity on cellular models, a "Sleep Score" feature, and potentially hypertension detection. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rumored to also get all of these new features, as well as a slightly larger wide-angle OLED display with a faster refresh rate, and satellite connectivity.

Earlier this week, internal Apple code revealed that the 2026 Apple Watch lineup is poised to get some major enhancements. The new devices will feature Touch ID for biometric authentication, a redesigned chip based on newer CPU technology for improved performance, a revamped design with a new rear sensor array, and more.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's plan to focus on the smart home with a host of new devices and improvements to Siri.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.