It's already September 23 in Australia and New Zealand, aka AirPods Pro and Apple Watch Ultra launch day. Customers in these two countries who preordered the AirPods Pro 2 or an Apple Watch Ultra are beginning to receive their new devices.
We will soon start seeing the first hands-on pictures of the AirPods Pro 2 and Apple Watch Ultra from Australians and New Zealanders who are getting their deliveries, with photos appearing on social media sites along with first impressions.
With no Apple retail stores in New Zealand, Australian customers will be the first who are able to pick up the AirPods Pro 2 or Apple Watch Ultra at an Apple Store, and Apple is expected to have some stock for walk-in purchases. Availability in Australia typically gives us an idea of what we can expect from other stores worldwide.
In the United States, the Apple Watch Ultra is sold out until mid-October, and other countries are seeing similar delays. The AirPods Pro 2 are more readily available and should not be too hard to obtain from a store on launch day. Orders placed now on the website will deliver by next week.
Following New Zealand and Australia, sales and deliveries of the Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2 will kick off in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and finally, North America. Apple retail stores will be opening at their regular time right around 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. for device sales.
Have a new Apple Watch Ultra or the AirPods Pro 2? Make sure to share pictures and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works.
We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.
The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
According to Apple's release notes, ...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by Joe Rossignol
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more.
Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
* The watch is not as big as I expected. The case is bigger and thicker but it doesn’t feel heavier on the wrist compared to the S7 stainless steel. * For reference, my wrist size is 155mm and I wear a Size 5 solo loop. The two alpine loops I have are both size small. * The flat screen looks and feels amazing to swipe on and it’s a clear differentiator from the standard series.
More pics and discussions over here. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-ultra-is-here-first-impressions-and-photos-thread.2361468/
I always love this part of the global Apple product launch coverage. Reminds me of childhood when I believed the local tv news was actually tracking Santa Claus on radar.
