Top Stories: Apple Watch Sales Resume, iOS Features Coming in 2024, and More - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Top Stories: Apple Watch Sales Resume, iOS Features Coming in 2024, and More

2023 is quickly drawing to close, so it's a traditional time for us to look back at everything that happened in the Apple world over the past year and look forward to what we're expecting to see in 2024.

top stories 30dec2023
While the news and rumor cycle largely slows down at this time of year, the past couple of weeks have been dominated by developments in a patent dispute that saw Apple forced to briefly halt U.S. sales of the latest Apple Watch models before a court paused the ban. Make sure to read on below for the latest developments in this case and more!

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Once Again Available to Purchase From Apple's Online Store

Last week, Apple paused sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. due to a patent dispute with medical tech company Masimo related to blood oxygen sensing.

apple watch ultra pink
In January, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Apple had infringed on a Masimo patent related to blood oxygen sensing, and it ordered an import and sales ban for Apple Watch models offering the feature. However, Apple appealed the decision in court and was granted a temporary stay, so the ban is lifted and sales have resumed for now.

What to Expect From Apple in 2024: Vision Pro, iPhone 16 Models, Revamped iPad Pro and More

Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset is expected to be the company's most important product of 2024, but there are many other products to look forward to next year, including the first iPad Pro models with OLED displays, a redesigned Apple Watch, and more.

What to Expect from Apple in 2024 Feature 1
Check out our complete guide to what we're expecting in 2024 to learn more about some of the most interesting devices and updates expected to launch next year.

Apple in 2023: The Biggest Stories and Surprises of the Year

2023 was a relatively iterative year for Apple product releases, but there were still several notable announcements and surprises throughout the year. Apple previewed its upcoming Vision Pro headset, the full-sized HomePod made a comeback, the iPhone finally switched to USB-C, and much more.

Apple in 2023 Feature
This week, we recapped the 10 biggest Apple news stories and surprises of the year.

The MacRumors Show: 2023 Year in Review

On the final episode of the year for The MacRumors Show podcast, hosts Dan Barbera and Hartley Charlton took a look back at Apple's year, which included a number of product launches and software updates.

The MacRumors Show 2023 Year In Review Thumb
Last week's episode saw Dan and Hartley answer listener questions about Apple heading into 2024. Topics discussed include the Vision Pro, upcoming iPad models, app sideloading in the EU, and more.

The MacRumors Show now has its own YouTube channel, and you can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcast platform.

New iOS Features Coming in 2024 for Messages, Apple Music, and More

2024 is just a few days away, and there are many iOS 17 and iOS 18 features that are expected to launch throughout the year.

iPhone 15 General Feature Black
In a recent article, we listed eight new iOS features that are expected to launch on iPhones next year, including Stolen Device Protection, collaborative Apple Music playlists, RCS support in the Messages app, generative AI functionality for Siri, and more.

Kuo: Vision Pro Likely to Launch by Early February

Apple will likely begin selling the Vision Pro in the U.S. in late January or early February, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Orange
Apple first announced the Vision Pro at WWDC in June, and said it would launch in the U.S. in early 2024, followed by more countries later in the year. Kuo estimates that Vision Pro shipments in 2024 will reach approximately 500,000 units, which would make it a low-volume product.

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!

Popular Stories

top stories 2026 10 10

Top Stories: Apple's 'Welcome Home' Launch on October 13 and More

Saturday October 10, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
Following the usual September rush of Apple news, it looks like October is also about ready to explode, with not just one but two rounds of Apple product debuts this month sandwiched around the iPhone Duo launch. A first launch on October 13 has been confirmed by Apple and will clearly be focused on the home as has been rumored, while it appears a second round a couple of weeks later will...
top stories 2026 10 24

Top Stories: Apple 'Pro and Tell' Debut, iPhone Duo Launch, and More

Saturday October 24, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
Yet another busy week for Apple saw a teaser for even more product announcements coming next week, plus we got the highly anticipated launch of Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. Other news this week included Verizon announcing a hefty monthly charge for the iPhone Handoff feature that lets two iPhones share the same phone number, while the public release of iOS 27.2 and...
top stories 2026 10 17

Top Stories: Apple HomeView, New Apple TV and HomePod mini, and Sold-Out iPhone Duo

Saturday October 17, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
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 ...

Top Rated Comments

37 months ago
As someone that upgraded from the iPhone 11 Pro to the 15 Pro, I hope they figure out the behind screen faceID/Selfie Camera where the pixels can be turned off when the sensors are in use.

I'm not sure who thought the "dynamic island" was a good design decision. "Hey, let's take the notch and move it into the screen more so we need to make the phone taller to have the same screen size." The dynamic island doesn't even add anything, since it's glitchy half the time in iOS 17 by cutting off information. Without supervision, I'm sure these "designers" would move the island right into the center of the screen to complete the massacre.

It's crap design decisions like that that make me miss Steve Jobs, since I'm sure he would have ripped someone a new orifice if they came up with this.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
37 months ago

As someone that upgraded from the iPhone 11 Pro to the 15 Pro, I hope they figure out the behind screen faceID/Selfie Camera where the pixels can be turned off when the sensors are in use.

I'm not sure who thought the "dynamic island" was a good design decision. "Hey, let's take the notch and move it into the screen more so we need to make the phone taller to have the same screen size." The dynamic island doesn't even add anything, since it's glitchy half the time in iOS 17 by cutting off information. Without supervision, I'm sure these "designers" would move the island right into the center of the screen to complete the massacre.

It's crap design decisions like that that make me miss Steve Jobs, since I'm sure he would have ripped someone a new orifice if they came up with this.
Love is not a strong enough reaction. This, almost verbatim, is what I have been saying. It is super distracting and I do not like it. The same animations can be done with phones with the notch. The animations don’t even use the part the notch takes up.

And their promotional videos show people watching movies with this big block in the way like it’s a feature I’m supposed to want. It’s like the “floating” Dock in macOS now. WTF am I supposed to do with this tiny strip of pixels? I’d rather have it go to the edge and have more screen space in the center where it belongs.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
9 minutes ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
15 minutes ago
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
33 minutes ago
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
1 hour ago
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
1 hour ago
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
2 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
3 hours ago
This iPhone Duo Screen Setting Is Proving Hard to Change
This iPhone Duo Screen Setting Is Proving Hard to Change
4 hours ago
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
6 hours ago
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
6 hours ago
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
22 hours ago
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
1 day ago
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
1 day ago
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
1 day ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
2 days ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
2 days ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
2 days ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
2 days ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
2 days ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
3 days ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
3 days ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
3 days ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
3 days ago
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
3 days ago
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
3 days ago
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
3 days ago
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
3 days ago
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
3 days ago