MacRumors

Apple's divisive new Liquid Glass design language in iOS 26 could be hinting at a major hardware redesign coming to future iPhones, reckons veteran app developer Craig Hockenberry of The Iconfactory.

In a blog post published this week titled "Liquid Glass. Why?", Hockenberry argues that unlike the transition from iOS 6 to iOS 7, which addressed a genuine need for simplified interfaces, no one outside Apple was clamoring for "more fluid glass in our designs."

Recalling Apple's unveiling of Liquid Glass during WWDC, the developer reflects:

Of particular note during the introduction is how much time they spend showing off glass blocks and talking about the physical effect itself. While not addressing the most important question: "why do we need this?"

And I'm pretty sure the answer is "we don't." The answer is "Apple does."

Notably, Hockenberry suspects Liquid Glass is preparing developers for major upcoming hardware changes further down the line. While updating his apps for iOS 26, he says he noticed a clear pattern in Apple's design requirements: "You never want a control or container that touches the edge of the screen."

The requirement reminds Hockenberry of iOS 11's safe area insets, which seemed pointless at the time – until 2017's iPhone X later introduced the notch and a home indicator in lieu of a Home button. Hockenberry believes the similar requirement in Liquid Glass is Apple laying groundwork for devices with "wraparound" screens, "where the screen disappears seamlessly into the physical edge" using flexible OLED technology.

It's a plausible theory, given recent reports about Apple's plans for the iPhone's milestone anniversary in 2027. Korean publication ETNews has claimed Apple is developing "four-edge bending" displays that would wrap around all sides of the device, creating a truly bezel-free design.

Bloomberg and The Information have corroborated similar rumors, describing Apple's 20th anniversary device as a "mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts." If Hockenberry is correct, iOS 26's edge-conscious design rules could well be preparing for Apple's most ambitious iPhone redesign yet. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Apple is ramping up iPhone production in India across five factories as it continues reducing dependence on China for U.S.-bound devices. For the first time, all four iPhone 17 models will be manufactured in India in preparation for launch next month, reports Bloomberg.

The expansion includes newly operational plants from Tata Group in Tamil Nadu and Foxconn near Bangalore airport. Tata-controlled facilities are expected to handle up to half of India's iPhone output over the next two years, cementing the conglomerate's role as a key Apple partner.

iPhone exports from India have surged dramatically. Between April and July, $7.5 billion worth of iPhones shipped from the country, compared to $17 billion for the entire previous fiscal year. Last month, a Canalys report claimed India has overtaken China as the leading manufacturer of smartphones shipped to the United States.

The production shift comes as Apple navigates the impact of tariffs brought by the Trump administration. CEO Tim Cook recently pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments over four years, partly to maintain exemptions for India-made iPhones. Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on India but has so far spared electronics.

China has reportedly discouraged technology transfers to India, and Foxconn has recalled hundreds of Chinese engineers from Indian facilities. Apple is said to have replaced them with engineers from Taiwan and Japan at higher costs.

The British government has agreed to withdraw its controversial demand to access Apple users' encrypted iCloud data, according to the U.S. director of intelligence.

Tulsi Gabbard said in a post on X (Twitter) the UK had dropped its plans to force Apple to provide a back door that would have "enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties."

According to sources who spoke to the Financial Times, the UK has agreed to rescind the order, but it has yet to be formally withdrawn. The BBC reports that Apple has yet to received any formal communication from either government.

The development follows reports earlier this year that the UK used its Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) to demand secret access to encrypted user data uploaded to iCloud worldwide. Apple responded by removing its Advanced Data Protection feature from the UK rather than compromising its security standards.

The British government had sought to keep details of the case private, but Apple filed a legal appeal against a UK that meant the Home Office couldn't keep all the details of its demand out of the public domain.

Apple made it clear that it would pull ‌iCloud‌ features from the UK rather than compromise its user security, and while that initially only extended to Advanced Data Protection, it could have led to key features like FaceTime and iMessage being removed in the country. The UK wanted backdoor access to ‌iCloud‌ data to fight terrorism and investigate child sex abuse.

The UK's order was particularly controversial as it would have required Apple to provide access to data from users outside the UK without their governments' knowledge – which was what led the U.S. to pressure the UK government to back down. The IPA also makes it illegal for companies to disclose the existence of such government demands.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic today said that he has discovered a device identifier for what is "almost certainly" a Mac mini with an M5 chip.

He already discovered an identifier for a potential Mac mini with an M5 Pro chip last month.

All in all, the next Mac mini will be powered by M5 and M5 Pro chips, if he is right.

Given that the current Mac mini can be configured with M4 and M4 Pro chip options, it might sound incredibly obvious that the next model will apparently have M5 and M5 Pro chip options. However, keep in mind that Apple does not always update the Mac mini on a regular basis. For example, the Mac mini skipped the M3 and M3 Pro chips.

The next Mac mini might not have many other changes, as the desktop computer already received its first redesign since 2010 last year. Released in October 2024, the current Mac mini is significantly smaller than the previous model, and it features two front-facing USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 5 support for configurations with the M4 Pro chip, and more. In the U.S., pricing starts at $599 for a model with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM.

When will the Mac mini be updated next? It was initially rumored that the first M5 Macs would launch later this year, but more recent reporting has pointed towards early 2026.

Apple today released the fourth public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, allowing the public to test the updates ahead of their September launch. The fourth public betas come a week after the third public betas, and the updates correspond with the seventh developer betas that were released earlier today.

Public beta testers that have registered on Apple's website can download the latest iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 public betas by opening the Settings or System Settings app, going to the General section, tapping on Software Update, and choosing the iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 Public Beta options.

iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 feature Apple's Liquid Glass design, with a visual aesthetic that focuses on transparency. Icons, menu buttons, navigation bars, and more reflect and refract light with subtle animations. There are pop-out menus in some areas, tab bars shrink down, and everything has a more rounded look.

There are new Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence for screenshots, updated order tracking in the Wallet app, new features in Reminders, and Live Translation for the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps. Image Playground has ChatGPT style options, and Genmoji supports mixing two or more emoji characters to make something new.

2D photos have a more 3D look with a Spatial Scene feature, and Safari has updated navigation. In the Phone app, there are new Call Screening and Hold Assist features that will save you time, while the Messages app supports customizable backgrounds and polls. Apple Music has a DJ-like AutoMix feature, CarPlay has an overhauled interface, there's a new Apple Games app, and Preview has come to the iPhone for the first time.

macOS Tahoe has the same Liquid Glass design as iOS 26, and it extends to app icons, folders, the Dock, in-app navigation, menus, the Control Center, and the Menu Bar. The Control Center and the Menu Bar are customizable, and you're also able to customize folders, app icons, and widgets.

Safari has an updated tab design and a redesigned sidebar, and Apple has brought the Phone app to the Mac for making phone calls through Wi-Fi Calling. The Phone app supports the new Call Screening and Hold Assist features.

Spotlight has been overhauled with improved search and the ability to execute hundreds of actions without opening up an app. There's a new Games app with a Game Overlay feature, and developers have access to Metal 4.

More on what's new can be found in our iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe roundups.

We're approaching the iPhone 17 launch, and with less than a month to go, MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to take a look back at his year with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max has held up well over the last 11 months, with no major problems with the durability or battery life. Battery health has held up well, and Dan's battery is still at 96 percent capacity.

Even with software optimizations over the last several months, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max still runs hot at times. You're most likely to feel it heating up when the display is at max brightness in the sun, or when you're doing something that's demanding like playing a GPU-heavy game. Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new vapor chamber cooling system, so we might see some improvement with next year's model.

There are minor scratches on the titanium frame of the device, but it otherwise looks good for a year of use. Dan doesn't use a case and shattered the back glass with a drop, but he had a no questions asked repair with AppleCare+. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max will have an aluminum frame with less glass on the back, so it could be more durable. The front glass of the iPhone has deep scratches, but there's also a rumor that the ‌iPhone 17‌ models will get a better scratch resistant coating that could improve things.

Camera Control isn't particularly useful except for opening up the Camera app, and it's downright annoying when a setting accidentally gets changed from a mistaken swipe. Performance with the A18 Pro chip has been impressive, and the next ‌iPhone‌ will be even faster.

If you have an ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max, there's probably no reason to upgrade to an ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max based on the rumors we've heard so far, but coming from an older ‌iPhone‌, it'll be worth it. How has your iPhone 16 held up over the last year? Let us know in the comments below.

The seventh developer beta of iOS 26 is now available. While we are now in the later stages of the iOS 26 beta cycle, there are still some changes.

Below, we outline everything new that we have found in iOS 26 beta 7 so far.

Redesigned Blood Oxygen Feature

The seventh developer betas of iOS 26 and watchOS 26 include a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S. since mid-January 2024.

Adaptive Power Notifications

iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode.

Apple says Adaptive Power Mode can make "performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness, allowing some activities to "take longer," and automatically turning on Low Power Mode when the iPhone's remaining battery life reaches the 20% mark.

iOS 26 beta 7 adds an additional Adaptive Power Notifications toggle in the Settings app, under Battery → Power Mode. This setting allows you to choose whether you receive push notifications each time Adaptive Power mode kicks in.

iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, but Adaptive Power Mode is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models and newer.

Other Changes

• iOS 26 beta 7 fixes a bug that resulted in screenshots having a darker appearance.

This article will be updated if more iOS 26 beta 7 changes are discovered.

The seventh developer betas of iOS 26 and watchOS 26 include a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S. since mid-January 2024.

The redesigned Blood Oxygen feature debuted last week with iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, and now it is available for iOS 26 and watchOS 26 beta testers too.

Apple said the feature has been "redesigned" on affected devices, with sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on the Apple Watch now measured and calculated on the paired iPhone. The results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app on the iPhone. Apple said this workaround was backed by a recent U.S. Customs ruling.

The feature had been unavailable on Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S. since early last year, as a result of a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) order stemming from a patent infringement lawsuit filed by health company Masimo.

Apple Watch models sold prior to mid-January 2024, and anywhere outside of the U.S., were never impacted by the ITC's order and thereby still have the original Blood Oxygen app, with sensor data measured, calculated, and viewable on the Apple Watch directly. The feature was first introduced on the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020.

Apple today provided developers with the seventh betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 for testing purposes, with the updates coming a week after Apple seeded the sixth betas.

Registered developers can download the new beta software using the Software Update section of the Settings app.

‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ feature Apple's new Liquid Glass design aesthetic, with a focus on translucency and glass-like interface elements. The design extends to the Lock Screen, Home Screen, and Control Center, along with menus and buttons in apps.

Apple's software includes features for apps like Messages, Phone, Shortcuts, and Apple Music, along with new Apple Intelligence features, a revamp for CarPlay, and more. In ‌iPadOS 26‌, there's a whole new multitasking system that supports multiple app windows for a more Mac-like experience.

For more on the features in ‌iOS 26‌, we have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup and a separate iPadOS 26 roundup. New features have been found in each of the betas, and you can get a recap here: beta 2, for beta 3, beta 4, beta 5, beta 6, and beta 7.

Apple today provided developers with the seventh beta of macOS Tahoe 26 for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after the sixth beta.

Registered developers can download the new beta software through the System Settings app.

macOS Tahoe features Apple's Liquid Glass redesign, which extends across all of the new updates this year. Apple also brought the Phone and Journal apps to the Mac for the first time, and introduced a new cross-platform Games app.

With the update, Apple overhauled how Spotlight works, enabling new functionality that allows it to be used to complete all kinds of actions like sending emails without having to open up an app. There are also changes to a number of apps, including Messages, Safari, and Notes.

All of the new features that are included in macOS Tahoe are outlined in our dedicated roundup.

macOS Tahoe is set to launch this fall.

Apple today provided developers with the seventh betas of watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 for testing purposes, with the betas coming one week after the sixth betas were released.

The software updates can be downloaded through the Settings app on each device. A developer account is required.

‌watchOS 26‌ and tvOS 26 adopt new Liquid Glass design changes inspired by visionOS, much like iOS 26 and macOS 26. watchOS has a new AI-powered Workout Buddy for motivation and the Smart Stack incorporates more personal context for better suggestions. There's also a new Notes app and support for Live Translation.

tvOS 26 supports karaoke using an iPhone as a microphone, improvements for using AirPlay speakers with a TV, new Aerial screen savers, and support for quicker logins to apps at setup thanks to Apple Account syncing.

visionOS 26 adds support for spatial widgets that can be placed anywhere in the space around you, along with refinements to make personas more lifelike and support for shared spatial experiences between two Vision Pro users.

The visionOS 26 beta is limited to developers, but developers and public beta testers can download ‌watchOS 26‌ and tvOS 26. The updates will launch this fall.

Apple is preparing to release another minor iOS 18 update for the iPhone, according to information shared by an anonymous leaker today in a post on X. The leaker has a private account, and they request that we do not link to their posts, but they have proven to be a reliable source for upcoming iOS versions.

Specifically, the leaker said they have seen evidence of iOS 18.6.2 with a build number of 22G100. However, in a private message, they said it is possible that the update will simply end up being a revised version of iOS 18.6.1.

A similar situation played out last year, when the leaker said iOS 17.5.2 was in the pipeline, but Apple ended up releasing a revised iOS 17.5.1 build for the iPad 10.

iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 were released last week. Those software updates re-enabled the Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S., with calculations now happening on a paired iPhone.

In any case, the update coming would likely include bug fixes and/or security patches, or perhaps some minor tweaks to the re-enabled Blood Oxygen feature.

Through September 15, you can get 5% Daily Cash when you use the Apple Card via Apple Pay to purchase gas at Exxon and Mobil stations across the United States.

The cash-back offer is also available at qualifying ChargePoint stations for electric vehicles.

5% Daily Cash is limited to $500 in combined Exxon, Mobil, and ChargePoint purchases, meaning that the maximum cash back you can receive from this offer is $25.

Ordinarily, the Apple Card offers 3% Daily Cash for Exxon, Mobil, and ChargePoint purchases, which is already above the standard 2% Daily Cash that is offered for most purchases made with the Apple Card via Apple Pay.

When using the physical Apple Card, Daily Cash is limited to 1%, so make sure to use the digital version in your iPhone's Wallet app.

The "summer road trip" promotion began on August 15.

Apple's credit card remains available in the U.S. only.

Apple today announced that Beats and Japanese graphic artist Verdy have teamed up to bring back a collectible Beats Pill holder.

This time, the cream-coloured "Vear" bear holds the Beats Pill in his mouth, whereas the original version from last year holds the speaker between its paws.

Beats and Verdy have been promoting the collectible figure on Instagram and YouTube.

As part of a so-called "hyper-limited drop," the new Vear will be available starting this Thursday, August 21, exclusively at the Dover Street Market in London, England. A bundle with the figure and a Beats Pill will set you back £380, which is equivalent to a little more than $500 in the United States. The speaker costs $149.99 on its own.

The bundle will roll out across the U.S., China, and Japan later this year, according to Apple. Exact pricing in those countries has not yet been disclosed.

There is nothing unique about the Beats Pill included in the bundle.

Apple re-released the Beats Pill last year. Read our previous coverage to learn more about the portable Bluetooth speaker's features and specs.

Apple is expected to delay the launch of its base iPhone 18 model until spring 2027, marking a major shift in the company's long-established release cycle, according to South Korea's ETNews.

The report claims that Apple has informed some of its suppliers that the ‌iPhone 18‌ will not be part of the September 2026 iPhone lineup. Instead, the company will unveil only higher-end models in the fall of that year, with the base ‌iPhone‌ and its entry-level counterpart, the "‌iPhone‌ 18e," scheduled for release the following March. ETNews attributes this information to industry officials who said Apple has already begun communicating the revised plan to its component and materials partners.

The practical effect of the new schedule is that consumers looking for a new ‌iPhone‌ in fall 2026 will only be able to choose from high-end options. The entry-level ‌iPhone‌ and standard base model will not be available until about six months later.

The decision would represent the first time since the ‌iPhone‌'s 2007 debut that Apple has excluded a "standard" model from its annual fall launch. The shift appears tied to the introduction of Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌, which is expected to join the fall 2026 slate as a flagship device positioned alongside the ‌iPhone 18‌ Air, ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max.

Apple's new release strategy involves dividing the ‌iPhone‌ release cycle into two distinct phases: premium devices in the second half of the year and lower-priced models in the first half. This restructuring has already begun; earlier this year Apple launched the iPhone 16e, which replaced the SE line as the company's dedicated entry-level ‌iPhone‌. Unlike the SE, which carried a separate designation, the e-series ties directly to Apple's main lineup by carrying the previous year's number.

Both The Information and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in May that Apple was considering moving to a biannual schedule to help sustain sales throughout the calendar year. By staging new device launches in both March and September, Apple could avoid the concentrated sales pattern that typically peaks in the fourth quarter following its September events and tap into periods that historically see weaker consumer demand.

This year's iPhone 17 series will be the last to follow Apple's traditional release structure. The lineup is expected to consist of the ‌iPhone 17‌, ‌iPhone 17‌ Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, with the ‌iPhone‌ 17e following in March 2026. For September 2026, Apple will introduce four premium models: the ‌iPhone 18‌ Air, ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro, ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max, and the first foldable ‌iPhone‌. The ‌iPhone 18‌ and ‌iPhone‌ 18e will then arrive in March 2027.

By 2027, Apple's lineup will likely expand to six new iPhones per year, with the possibility of as many as 10 models available if Apple continues its practice of keeping earlier generations on sale at reduced prices.

A hit-or-miss leaker known as "Majin Bu" has doubled down on the possibility of Apple releasing so-called "Liquid Silicone" cases for the iPhone 17 series.

The leaker today shared a brief video on X that shows a silicone case for what appears to be a standard iPhone 17 dummy model, based on the two rear cameras. Notably, the case has a pair of tiny holes in the bottom-left and bottom-right corners for attaching a lanyard, which would likely be sold separately by third-party brands. With a lanyard, you could keep your iPhone secured to your wrist while taking photos and more.

There is precedent for such a thing, as AirPods Pro 2 charging cases have a cutout for attaching a lanyard. Apple does not offer its own AirPods Pro 2 lanyard, but it has offered various third-party options through its online store.

In addition, the fifth-generation iPod touch had a built-in mechanism for attaching a lanyard, without even needing a case.

If this case is actually designed by Apple, it also might rule out the rumor about iPhone 17 models gaining a second Camera Control.

If real, the name "Liquid Silicone" is seemingly based on iOS 26's new "Liquid Glass" design.

Just by watching the video alone, we have no way of knowing if the case is something coming from Apple, Beats, or another brand. It also remains to be seen if the "Liquid Silicone" name is legitimate. Fortunately, we will soon find out, as Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series in less than a month from now.

Amazon today has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini on sale at low prices, starting at $499.00 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $144 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model.

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.

In terms of the 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a solid second-best price. You can also get the M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for $689.00, down from $799.00, and the model with 24GB RAM/512GB SSD for $902.22, down from $999.00.

Apple updated the Mac mini back in October 2024, introducing a redesigned computer that's smaller than the previous generation and featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips. 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.

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Apple's iPhone 17e will gain upgrades including the Dynamic Island and a new design, according to a known Weibo leaker.

The leaker known as "Digital Chat Station" today claimed to reveal a selection of details about the upcoming ‌iPhone‌ 17e, allegedly originating in Apple's supply chain.

The device is apparently set to feature a new industrial design, the ‌Dynamic Island‌, and the A19 chip. The iPhone 16e features a "notch" at the top of the display, similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 14. It also contains Apple's A18 chip.

The ‌iPhone‌ 17e is expected to retain a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, a front-facing 12-megapixel camera, Face ID, and a rear 48-megapixel camera. The leaker says the biggest selling point of the device will continue to be its low price point.

The ‌iPhone 16e‌ is based on the design of 2022's ‌iPhone‌ 14, so it's possible that the ‌iPhone‌ 17e could be based on 2023's iPhone 15, which gained the ‌Dynamic Island‌ and a noticeably more rounded frame.

Reliable sources such as Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, and Korea's The Elec agree that the ‌iPhone‌ 17e is on schedule to launch early next year.

Digital Chat Station has a relatively good track record for Apple rumors. They accurately revealed that the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus would feature a slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor than the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, as well as the display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 back in 2020.