MacRumors

Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro remains on schedule for a 2026 release, featuring the new slimmer design Apple is rumored to be working on, based on a new report from The Elec.

Samsung Display is said to be currently producing test samples of the OLED panels on its first deposition machine, which was installed in November 2024. However, industry projections estimate just 3 to 5 million OLED panels to be shipped annually for the MacBook Pro. Given that the supplier's IT 8th-generation OLED line is designed to produce 10 million units annually (based on 14.3-inch OLED panels), the company will need to secure additional customers to maximize its production efficiency.

Previous rumors have similarly claimed the MacBook Pro will switch to OLED display technology as early as 2026. The upcoming MacBook Pro will utilize hybrid OLED technology, similar to that used in Apple's latest iPad Pro. This display technology combines a glass substrate with thin-film encapsulation, offering improved brightness, contrast, and power efficiency compared to current MacBook Pro models with mini-LED screens.

Samsung Display has reportedly invested approximately $3 billion in its IT 8th-generation OLED production line for the laptop-sized panels. Chinese display maker BOE is also developing manufacturing capabilities for hybrid OLED panels, though its production line will be more versatile, capable of producing both hybrid and flexible OLED displays.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and display industry analyst Ross Young both recently predicted that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro will continue to have mini-LED displays in 2025. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small performance boost for the 2025 MacBook Pro models, with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips that are "already near completion."

• 5 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's MacBook Pro

Gurman has previously reported that Apple is working to make the OLED MacBook Pro significantly thinner, as part of the company's plan to create "the thinnest and lightest products in their categories across the whole tech industry." Indeed, the reporter has said there's a good chance that the 2026 MacBook Pro model will represent a "true overhaul" for the laptop, thanks to the combination of the OLED display and thinner design.

Fort Lauderdale resident Daniel Vallaire suffered a devastating stroke last year, and it ended up being Siri that provided life saving help.

Just days before his 70th birthday, Vallaire collapsed in his bathroom. He spent the next 48 hours crawling "inch by inch by inch" from the bathroom to the living room in an attempt to get help. He was confused, had no strength, and ended up severely dehydrated.

Vallaire wasn't able to get to the phone or place a call, so he yelled to ‌Siri‌ to call his daughter, Victoria. ‌Siri‌ placed the call and his daughter was able to then relay the emergency to 911, and emergency responders arrived within 10 minutes.

"I said, '‌Siri‌, call Victoria Vallaire,' and she did," Vallaire told a local news station. "If I had a landline, there's no way I would be able to get to it." He went on to say that if he didn't have ‌Siri‌, he "wouldn't be here."

After emergency crews rescued him, the hospital found that he had a stroke caused by an infection in two of his aortic valves. Vallaire was able to reunite with the medical team that saved his life earlier this month. He said that he was grateful that he skirted death, and suggested that others "be conscious" of heart health.

‌Siri‌ and other Apple safety features like Crash Detection, Fall Detection, and Emergency SOS have been responsible for saving many lives. ‌Siri‌ is available across all Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, HomePod, and Apple TV.

Apple CEO Tim Cook spent the weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana, which is where Super Bowl LIX was held on Sunday. Cook visited several locations in New Orleans, and chronicled the trip in a short social media video.

Cook started his trip off visiting Harry Connick Jr. at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music (EMCM), known for youth music education. Apple funds EMCM with Apple technology and grants to sponsor young musicians.

He then visited Domilise's Po-Boy for a meal with NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and met up with country singer Shaboozey. After that, Cook took a trip to the Apple Music Radio Studio that was hosting daily Super Bowl LIX broadcasts featuring New Orleans music, and he stopped by the Apple location at Lakeside Shopping Center to meet up with students learning to use GarageBand.

Ahead of the Super Bowl, Cook saw the NFL Host Committee Parade, which included an Apple Music-sponsored float that young artists from Arts New Orleans designed using an iPad and Apple Pencil.

Cook then attended the Super Bowl and watched the ‌Apple Music‌ Super Bowl LIX halftime show with Kendrick Lamar. Cook's short video on his trip ends with a thank you to the city of New Orleans for hosting him.

If you have been waiting for Apple's rumored smart home hub to launch, prepare to wait some more. In his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the device is still "months away" from shipping.

Based on that wording, the home hub will not ship until April at the earliest, but potentially not until much later in the year. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the device would enter mass production in the second half of 2025, so it is quite possible the home hub will be announced in September or later.

Gurman previously said the home hub will be "Apple's most significant release of the year," as it represents the company's "first step toward a bigger role in the smart home." He said the device will be like a "smaller and cheaper iPad" that lets users "control appliances, conduct FaceTime chats, and handle other tasks."

The device is expected to be similar to a HomePod with a screen, with rumored features including a 6-inch or 7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support. Gurman said it can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall.

The home hub will run a new "homeOS" operating system with a customizable widget-focused home screen, and revolve around Siri, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit, according to Gurman. The device could double as a home security system by displaying camera footage, and a built-in camera would allow for FaceTime video calls.

Apple's hub would compete with products like Google's Nest Hub and Amazon's Echo Show. It is unclear if Apple will use HomePod or HomePad branding for the device, or if it will opt for a fully unique name, such as the Apple Home.

Apple typically releases new iPhone color options every year as a mid-product cycle refresh, so when can we expect a new finish in 2025?

Apple has added new iPhone colors on six occasions in the past, consistently in either the March or April following an iPhone's launch:

• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: (PRODUCT)RED (Tuesday, March 21, 2017)
• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus: (PRODUCT)RED (Monday, April 9, 2018)
• iPhone 12 and 12 mini: Purple (Tuesday, April 20, 2021)
• iPhone 13 and 13 mini: Green (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)
• iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max: Alpine Green (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)
• iPhone 14 and 14 Plus: Yellow (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)

There are currently no rumors about new color options for the iPhone 16, and it's possible Apple could skip this year like it did for the iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and iPhone 15 in 2019, 2020, and 2024. That being said, Apple has released new colors many more times than it has chosen not to do so since 2017, so a refresh is possible this year, but given Apple didn't do so last year, it's far from certain.

Apple has only ever added new "Pro" model color options once, in 2022, so while it's theoretically possible this year, it is perhaps more unlikely than likely.

The ‌iPhone 16‌ is available in Black, White, Teal, Pink, and Ultramarine. A new red, yellow, purple, or grey seem possible since these have all been offered on iPhone models in the past and are not too similar to any of the existing shades. There are usually rumors that point to which new color to expect, but it may still be a little too early for this based on previous years.

There continue to be signs of a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip, indicating that we could see the machine launch in the not too distant future. A private account on X today shared the identifiers that the ‌MacBook Air‌ will use, and those identifiers correspond to the M4 chip.

According to the source, both the 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ and the 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ will be equipped with Apple's "T8132" chip, which is the M4 SoC.

Apple inadvertently confirmed the upcoming M4 ‌MacBook Air‌ machines back in December when the macOS Sequoia 15.2 release included files for unreleased "Mac16,12" and "Mac16,13" machines. The files referenced the "‌‌MacBook Air‌‌ (13-inch, M4, 2025)" and the "‌‌MacBook Air‌‌ (15-inch, M4, 2025)."

Since then, we've just been waiting for the new ‌MacBook Air‌ models to launch. There's no word on when they're coming, but as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman pointed out over the weekend, existing stock of the M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ models is dwindling, suggesting a launch is coming soon.

Apple is expected to debut the iPhone SE 4 and the new Powerbeats Pro 2 as soon as tomorrow, and the ‌MacBook Air‌ could come sometime after that in the next few weeks.

The iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 updates that Apple released today include an important security fix, and it's important to install the new software as soon as possible because this bug was exploited in the wild.

According to Apple's security support document for iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, it addresses an accessibility vulnerability that could disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device.

Exploiting this vulnerability requires physical access to a device, and Apple says that it was used against specific individuals.

Impact: A physical attack may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.

The vulnerability was fixed with improved state management, according to Apple. Note that Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.5 with the same security fix for devices that are not able to run iPadOS 18.

You will want to install iOS 18.3.1 if you have an iPhone compatible with iOS 18 in order to ensure you are protected from vulnerabilities. The same goes for iPadOS 18.3.1 or iPadOS 17.7.5 depending on which iPad you have.

Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, a minor update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that came out last September. macOS 15.3.1 comes a few weeks after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3.

Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS 13.7.4 and macOS 14.7.4 for those who are running older versions of macOS.

According to Apple's release notes, macOS Sequoia 15.3.1 includes important security fixes, and it is recommended for all users.

Apple today released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, minor updates for the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.3.1 comes two weeks after Apple released iOS 18.3.

The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.5 for those still running iPadOS 17.

According to Apple's release notes, iOS 18.3.1 includes bug fixes and security updates.

iOS 18.3.1 will be followed by iOS 18.4, an update that we are expecting to see released in April. The first iOS 18.4 beta is could come as soon as this week.

Apple today released visionOS 2.3.1, a minor update to the visionOS 2 operating system that came out in September. visionOS 2.3.1 comes two weeks after the launch of visionOS 2.3, and more than a year after the release of the Vision Pro headset.

visionOS 2.3 can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option.

To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the front EyeSight display.

According to Apple's release notes, visionOS 2.3 includes security updates, and the software is recommended for all users.

More information on the Vision Pro and visionOS 2 can be found in our roundup.

Apple today released watchOS 11.3.1, a minor update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.3.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2.

watchOS 11.3.1 can be downloaded by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

The watchOS 11.3.1 update includes important security updates, and it is recommended for all Apple Watch owners.

More of the features available in watchOS 11 can be found in our watchOS 11 roundup.

A report from The New York Times over the weekend highlighted the trend of people wearing an Apple Watch on their ankles, instead of the wrist.

The report highlighted reasons why some people prefer to wear the Apple Watch on the ankle:

• Some people with tiny wrists find the Apple Watch fits too loosely for heart rate sensing.
• Some people with wrist tattoos believe the ink may interfere with heart rate sensing, which is something that Apple acknowledges in a support document. Apple says some tattoos can "block light" from the heart rate sensor on the bottom of the Apple Watch, making it "difficult to get reliable readings."
• Some people believe the Apple Watch provides more accurate step counting when it is worn on the ankle, compared to the wrist.
• Some people with skin conditions prefer to wear the Apple Watch on the ankle.
• Some medical professionals cannot wear anything on their wrists.

Apple has not commented on the report, but its support documents and white papers for the Apple Watch mention that the device's heart rate and calorie measuring functions are validated for wear on the wrist, with no mention of the ankle anywhere. Apple has not publicly come out and advised people against wearing the Apple Watch on the ankle, but it is not something that its documentation acknowledges at this time.

Apple today updated its Sports app for the iPhone with NASCAR support, ahead of the annual Daytona 500 race on Sunday, February 16.

The release notes for version 2.5 of the Apple Sports app:

• Start your engines! NASCAR is now on Apple Sports. Get live race coverage and leaderboard updates, starting with the Daytona 500.
• Spring Training is here. Follow your favorite teams as they get ready for the MLB season.

Launched in February 2024, the Apple Sports app shows scores, stats, standings, upcoming games, and more for a variety of leagues, such as the NFL, MLB, MLS, NBA, NHL, Premier League, and others. The free iPhone app is available in the App Store.

Apple's long-awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 are finally expected to be announced this Tuesday. Ahead of time, one lucky Walmart customer was able to get their hands on the earbuds early, according to a since-deleted Reddit post over the weekend.

"My local Walmart had them in the cage," the Reddit user explained. "I asked if I can buy them [and] he said yes."

Apple already shared a Powerbeats Pro 2 teaser video last year, revealing that the earbuds have a slimmer and more vertical design compared to the original Powerbeats Pro from 2019. Other rumored features include the H2 chip from the AirPods Pro 2, heart rate monitoring for workouts, new color options like Electric Orange, and more.

With the H2 chip, the Powerbeats Pro 2 should offer active noise cancellation, which is something the original Powerbeats Pro lack. The chip should also enable better sound quality and longer battery life compared to the original Powerbeats Pro.

In the United States, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are expected to cost $249.

Update: Shortly after we published, the Reddit post was deleted.

Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale began today, offering sitewide discounts on appliances, TVs, video games, and Apple products. One of the biggest categories getting discounted is Apple iPads, including record low prices on the 10th generation iPad, iPad mini 7, M2 iPad Air, and M4 iPad Pro.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

10th Gen iPad

Best Buy has nearly every model of the 10th generation iPad for $70 off this week. Prices start at $279.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, which is a match of the best price we've tracked so far in 2025 and an overall second-best price on the tablet.

You'll also find the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad on sale for $429.00, down from $499.00. Both Wi-Fi models are available at these $70 discounts in all four colors: Yellow, Silver, Pink, and Blue.

iPad Mini 7

Best Buy this week is providing record low prices on multiple models of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00.

M2 iPad Air

Best Buy has nearly every model of Apple's M2 iPad Air on sale this week at $100 off, all of which are matching the record low prices for each tablet. You'll also find some of the higher storage capacities reaching $200 off this week.

11-inch iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $499.00 ($100 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 256GB Wi-Fi - $599.00 ($100 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $799.00 ($100 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $899.00 ($200 off) [only at Amazon]

13-inch iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $699.00 ($100 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 256GB Wi-Fi - $799.00 ($100 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $899.00 ($200 off) [only at Amazon]
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($200 off) [only at Amazon]

M4 iPad Pro

Similar to the iPad Air tablets, Best Buy is providing record low prices on Apple's M4 iPad Pro this week. For the 11-inch models, you'll need to be a My Best Buy Plus/Total member in order to see these all-time low prices.

The same stipulations don't apply to 13-inch models, which are available without coupons or the need of a membership. Every price listed below is the match of an all-time low price on each iPad Pro model.

11-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $849.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members]
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,049.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members]
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,449.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members]

13-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,299.00 ($200 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,699.00 ($200 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,799.00 ($200 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Amazon]

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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Just minutes after Super Bowl LIX ended on Sunday, Apple shared a short video promoting its MLS Season Pass subscription service.

Whether you call it football, fútbol, or soccer, the sport with the round ball returns soon.

"When football ends, fútbol begins," says the video, which features MLS star Lionel Messi. With the NFL season now over, Apple is using the opportunity to promote the upcoming MLS season, which kicks off Saturday, February 22.

In the United States, MLS Season Pass is priced at $14.99 per month or $99 per season, and it provides access to all regular season and playoff matches. MLS Season Pass is available in the Apple TV app on Apple devices, most smart TVs, and many other streaming devices and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com.

2025 marks the third year of a 10-year partnership between Apple and Major League Soccer.

With the introduction of Sunday Night Soccer, Apple TV+ subscribers will also be able to watch a featured MLS match every Sunday evening during the upcoming 2025 season, at no additional cost. In the United States, Apple TV+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $99 per year, and it is also included in all Apple One subscription bundles.

Apple TV+ now offers Friday Night Baseball for MLB and Sunday Night Soccer for MLS, as part of its growing professional sports portfolio.

The inaugural Sunday Night Soccer matchup will see the newest MLS team, the San Diego FC, make their debut against the reigning MLS Cup champions, the LA Galaxy, on Sunday, February 23 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Amazon today has the USB-C AirPods Max on sale for $479.99 in every color, down from $549.00. This is a second-best price on the USB-C headphones, and only the second time in 2025 that we've tracked any notable sale.

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.

Colors available on sale include Blue, Midnight, Orange, Starlight, and Purple. All colors are still available to be delivered in February, with most providing a delivery estimate around February 15 for free shipping options. Prime members in certain cities should be able to see same-day delivery options.

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 has been ramping up hiring for its robotics research and engineering teams to help spur the development of home robotics devices, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The company is currently in the early stages of developing a tabletop robot and has its sights set on potentially creating a humanoid model in the future.

The robotics work is being spearheaded by two departments within Apple: the Home Labs hardware engineering group and Kevin Lynch's AI special projects team. These teams originated from Apple's now-defunct self-driving car unit, which was disbanded last February.

Over the past several weeks, Apple has posted numerous job listings for robotics specialists, stating that new hires will have "the opportunity to work with a small team of highly skilled engineers and scientists to bring new experiences to Apple products."

Last month, a team of robotics researchers at Apple published a research paper and accompanying video showcasing a lamp-like robot prototype with lifelike movements. The robot, reminiscent of Pixar's mascot Luxo Jr., demonstrates various interactions with a person, such as responding to weather inquiries, providing lighting for iPhone photography, reminding the person to drink water, and even dancing along to music as a social companion.

While the research paper provided a glimpse into Apple's robotics experimentation, Gurman has previously reported that the company is developing a tabletop robot with an "iPad-like display" attached to a robotic limb. This device, which could launch by 2027, is expected to be primarily controlled with Siri and Apple Intelligence, with the ability to respond to commands like "look at me" during FaceTime video calls.

Gurman believes Apple's tabletop robot is likely to be something closer to a HomePod smart speaker with a screen attached to a robotic limb, and it could turn out to be a higher-end version of Apple's rumored smart home hub, which is expected to launch this year.