Top Stories: iOS 14.5 Released, AirTag Launch, New iMac and iPad Pro Pre-Orders

After nearly three months of beta testing, Apple this week finally released iOS 14.5, the company's biggest update since the iOS 14 launch last September. One of the main new features included in the update is support for AirTags, Apple's item trackers that also finally became available this week some two years after their existence first leaked.

Top Stories 58 Feature 1
Apple this week also began taking orders for its new iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple TV models, although they won't be shipping until the latter half of next month, and we also got word that the next-generation Apple silicon chip presumably destined for revamped MacBook Pro models later this year has entered mass production. Read on for all of the details on these stories and more from the past week!

iOS 14.5 Released: Unlock Your iPhone While Wearing a Mask and More

Following nearly three months of beta testing, Apple this week finally released iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, and the software updates are packed with a long list of new features for iPhone and iPad users.

14
A key new feature is the ability to unlock an iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask, by authenticating with an Apple Watch. iOS 14.5 also adds new emoji, support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, AirPlay 2 streaming for Apple Fitness+ workouts, new Waze-like features in Apple Maps, new Siri voices, a redesigned Podcasts app that hasn't been particularly well received, and more.

This week also marked the release of macOS 11.3 with an improved experience for running iPhone and iPad apps on M1 Macs, tvOS 14.5 with a new Color Balance feature, and watchOS 7.4.

The first two betas of iOS 14.6 have also already been released for testing, but no major features or changes have been uncovered so far.

Everything New in iOS 14.5: Here's the 10 Best Features

On our YouTube channel this week, we shared a video highlighting the 10 best new features in iOS 14.5, so be sure to check that out for a closer look at everything new in the software update.


In addition to the new features, Apple is now enforcing App Tracking Transparency. Starting with iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, and tvOS 14.5, apps must ask for permission before tracking your activity across other companies' apps and websites for targeted advertising purposes. Users will be presented with a prompt to allow or deny tracking in apps when necessary.

Apple recently shared a video with more details about its new App Tracking Transparency requirement for those interested in learning more.

New M1 iPad Pros, 24-Inch M1 iMacs, Apple TV 4K, and Siri Remote Now Available to Order

Apple's new 24-inch iMac, iPad Pro with the M1 chip, and updated Apple TV 4K are now available to pre-order through Apple and third-party retailers, with initial orders set for delivery beginning Friday, May 21.

iMac and iPad May 21 Feature Green
The redesigned Siri Remote is also available to pre-order with a similar shipping timeframe. It is compatible with the previous-generation Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, and is priced at $59.

AirTags and Purple iPhone 12 Models Now Available for Purchase and Arriving to Customers

Apple's new AirTag item tracker and the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini in a new purple color became available to pre-order starting Friday, April 23, and the first orders have now made their way into customers' hands. We also went hands-on with some AirTags and their accessories ourselves, so make sure to check out our video overview.

AirTag and Lavender iPhone
Priced at $29 each or $99 for a four-pack, users can attach an AirTag to personal belongings like a wallet, keys, purse, or backpack and then keep track of the location of those items in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

When an item with an AirTag attached is lost but nearby, the Find My app displays an arrow that guides users towards the item, and the AirTag's built-in U1 chip provides very precise location accuracy when used with iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models. Even when an AirTag-affixed item is lost in a faraway place, its location can be anonymously pinpointed by other Apple device users, as part of the crowdsourced Find My network.

Next-Generation 'M2' Chip Enters Mass Production Ahead of Redesigned MacBook Pro Later This Year

Apple is widely rumored to be working on redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by Apple silicon, and ahead of time, a report from Nikkei Asia this week claimed that mass production of Apple's next-generation "M2" chip is now underway.

m2 feature
There is a lot of anticipation for the new high-end MacBook Pro models, as the M1 chip already delivers impressive performance, which the so-called "M2" chip should build upon. Reputable sources like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have also claimed that the Touch Bar will be replaced with physical function keys, and that an HDMI port and SD card slot will return.

As of this month, Apple has updated four Mac models with Apple silicon, including the base model iMac, 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini. Apple previously said that its transition away from Intel processors in Macs would be completed by around June 2022.

Hands-On With the Apple TV's New Color Balance Feature

With the launch of tvOS 14.5, Apple introduced a new Color Balance calibration option that's available for all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models.

apple tv color balance 2
Available in the video section of the ‌Apple TV‌ settings app, Color Balance asks you to hold your iPhone to the screen as the television set flashes through a series of colors. Your ‌iPhone‌ reads the colors and compares them to industry-standard color profiles, recommending optimizations.

On our YouTube channel this week, we shared a video that goes hands-on with the new Color Balance feature to showcase how it works.

The color balance feature is super simple and takes just a few minutes, and it's a much easier process than adjusting a television set's settings. For the feature to work, you need to have an ‌iPhone‌ with Face ID.

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!

Top Rated Comments

CausticSoda Avatar
38 months ago
Plenty of positives here, but for all the noise on AirTags, I cannot get past the deliberate omission of a hole so that people have to buy silly accessories. That makes them a hard pass for me :(
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KeithJenner Avatar
38 months ago

Unpopular opinion, but isn’t the Mini a better buy than the iMac? It has more ports and if you absolutely hate the bundles in acessories(which I don’t) then you can always buy the others? Also you can buy your own monitor and you get the added bonus of usbA
I wouldn't say its an unpopular opinion. I've seen it stated countless times on here and elsewhere over the past few weeks (and years, come to that).

Of course, it is all down to personal preferences and needs. For some the iMac is better and for some the Mini is better. There is no definitive answer.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GSWForever8 Avatar
38 months ago
Unpopular opinion, but isn’t the Mini a better buy than the iMac? It has more ports and if you absolutely hate the bundles in acessories(which I don’t) then you can always buy the others? Also you can buy your own monitor and you get the added bonus of usbA
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deevey Avatar
38 months ago

In my opinion, mini wins in IO. iMac wins in display. Apple should make a display for the average consumer.
Completely agree. Personally it should match the iMac dimensions exactly for dual monitor purposes. But then there's the bezel hater brigade.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unibility Avatar
38 months ago
This is disappointing. My M1 iPad Pro 11” 2TB cellular pre-order is already obsolete? ?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
m4mario Avatar
38 months ago
The new fonts are better Mac Rumors. ??
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...
iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ACCOUNT Feature

'Apple ID' Expected to Change to 'Apple Account' Starting With iOS 18

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:13 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to rebrand "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" across its software platforms and websites like iCloud.com as early as this year, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated this change. A mockup of the new Apple Account branding In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new "Apple Account" branding will start to be used later this...