Amazon is taking $200 off Apple's new 15.3-inch MacBook Air notebooks for back to school season, providing fresh all-time low discounts on these computers. You can get the 256GB 15.3-inch MacBook Air for $1,099.00, down from $1,299.00.
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.
Amazon's deal beats the previous record low by $100. This sale is available in all four colors: Space Gray, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. All models are in stock and have an estimated delivery date between August 9 and August 12.
Additionally, Amazon has the 512GB 15.3-inch MacBook Air on sale for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is available in one color (Starlight), and has an estimated delivery date between August 9 and August 12.
Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models will be available with a new 2TB maximum storage option, claims a new rumor coming out of China.
According to news aggregator account "yeux1122" on the Korean Naver blog, a supplier source has confirmed that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available with double the maximum storage capacity as the iPhone 14 Pro models.
In addition, MacRumors has discovered a Weibo account that posted over the weekend making the same claim, while adding that the Pro models are likely to start with a minimum of 256GB storage rather than the current base 128GB capacity on iPhone 14 models.
In the latter scenario, Apple would be able to maintain four available storage tiers – 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Such storage bumps could also dovetail with rumors that Apple is set to increase the price of iPhone 15 Pro models this year.
Both Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman and tech analyst Jeff Pu say they expect price hikes for this year's Pro models. Pu believes the iPhone 15 Pro could be priced starting at $1,099, up from the $999 starting price of the iPhone 14 Pro. If that's accurate, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could be priced starting at $1,199.
Of course, it's also possible that the 2TB rumor is off the mark and that Apple is simply increasing the cost of the devices to boost revenue amid a decline in the smartphone market. Note that last year's iPhone 14 Pro models were also rumored to come in a 2TB option, but that didn't happen.
Apple first added a 1TB storage option for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max in 2021. The new option was due primarily to new camera features, such as ProRes video, which consumes significantly more storage than regular videos.
For example, to record ProRes video in 4K at 30 frames per second, an iPhone 14 Pro model with a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage capacity is required. ProRes video recording is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second on iPhone 14 Pro models with a 128GB storage capacity. If Apple did increase the base storage of the iPhone 15 Pro to 256GB, all models would become capable of recording ProRes in 4K at 30fps.
We'll know for sure what Apple has in store for the iPhone 15 Pro in just over a month. Apple's annual iPhone event is expected to take place on either Tuesday, September 12, or Wednesday, September 13, according to Gurman.
Amazon has Apple's AirPods Pro 2 at $199.00 this week, down from the original price of $249.00. Amazon provides an estimated delivery date between August 8 and August 12 for most residences in the United States.
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.
This has been one of the most consistent deals on the AirPods Pro 2 all year, and is about $5 off from the all-time low price that we last saw in March. Given that we haven't tracked that rare sale again, we definitely recommend jumping on this deal if you've been waiting for a deal on the AirPods Pro 2.
Verizon is matching this deal at a slightly higher price of $199.99. For the Verizon sale, you don't need to be a Verizon customer to get this deal. There is also a free express pickup option for select stores and same day delivery for select areas as well.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Apple may be actively testing an M3 version of the Mac mini, based on specifications found in third-party developer logs and reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple is testing a Mac under model identifier "Mac 15,12" that includes eight CPU cores (consisting of four efficiency cores and four performance cores), 10 graphics processor cores, and 24GB of RAM.
The machine is said to be running macOS Sonoma 14.1, the first point update of Apple's forthcoming operating system, and given the similar specifications to the base M2 Mac mini (bar the existing model's 8GB RAM as standard), Gurman believes it represents a next-generation Mac mini.
In his latest newsletter, Gurman repeated that he expects the first M3-powered Macs to debut as early as October. However, based on previous reporting, he does not expect the Mac mini to be one of the first models with the M3 chip. They are likely to be the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac.
Gurman last month said that he did not expect a new Mac mini to emerge until late 2024 at the earliest. If the developer logs do indicate Apple is testing an M3 Mac mini, that could mean we could see it sooner than previously expected. That said, the latest Mac mini models are less than a year old, having been introduced in January 2023.
The M3 chip is widely expected to be fabricated using TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the 5nm-based M2 chip in existing devices.
Apple's annual iPhone event is expected to take place on either Tuesday, September 12, or Wednesday, September 13, this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. With Apple's usual timing, pre-orders for the new iPhones would go live a few days later on Friday, September 15, and a launch would come one week later on September 22.
Apple typically holds its event in the first two weeks of the month, enabling it to launch its new iPhones and book significant revenue before the company's fiscal quarter wraps up at the end of the month, and it appears this year will be no exception. There have, however, been rumors of production challenges, which could mean certain models see very tight supplies or even a slightly later launch.
A report from 9to5Mac last week claimed that multiple carrier partners have blocked employees from taking time off on Wednesday, September 13, in anticipation of a "major smartphone announcement." It's not entirely clear why carrier employee off days would be blocked on an event day, as pre-order and launch days are their busiest times, but it does line up with Gurman's reported schedule.
Apple's iPhone events are most commonly held on Tuesdays, except for weeks that coincide with Labor Day on that Monday in the United States. In those cases, the events are usually held on Wednesdays to allow media to travel on the previous day without interfering with the holiday. Given the rumored week does not include Labor Day this year, that would argue for a Tuesday event on September 12, but it's not out of the question for Apple to opt for a Wednesday event for some reason.
Apple usually sends out media invitations roughly a week advance, so we still have some time before we get official confirmation on the event date, but additional rumors firming things up will likely surface over the next month.
In addition to the iPhone 15 lineup, the September event is expected to include updated Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models, final details and launch dates for iOS 17 and related operating system updates, and perhaps a few other announcements.
We're just about a month away from the introduction of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it's far from the only product in Apple's pipeline as this week saw fresh rumors about the next-generation Apple Watch models, AirTag, iPads, and more.
We also took a glance at some iOS 17 features you might have missed while we look ahead to what we might see with fourth-generation AirPods, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Again Rumored to Be Available in Black Titanium
The new Apple Watch Ultra is expected to be announced in September alongside the iPhone 15 series and the Apple Watch Series 9, which is rumored to be available in a new pink color option. The new Ultra model is also expected to have a faster S9 chip, but there may be few other changes.
iOS 17 is currently available as a public beta for members of Apple's free Beta Software Program, allowing anyone to test it out. The software update is expected to be released in September, and is compatible with the iPhone XS and newer.
New AirTag Likely to Enter Mass Production in Late 2024
The current AirTag launched in April 2021 for $29 and allows users to track the location of lost or misplaced items via the Find My app. Potential new features for the next AirTag include improved Ultra Wideband functionality and longer battery life compared to the current model.
AirPods 4: Everything We Know So Far
Apple introduced the third-generation AirPods nearly two years ago, so customers are beginning to wonder what the company may have in store for the fourth version of the wireless earbuds.
Apple Plans to Reduce iPad Bezel Sizes, Just Like on iPhone 15 Pro Models
Apple is reducing the size of the bezels on its upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models by using a special manufacturing process, and the company plans to use the same technology to shrink the bezels on future iPads, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
It's unclear exactly when the first iPads with slimmer bezels will launch. New iPad Pro models with OLED displays and the M3 chip are rumored to launch next year.
The leaker did not share any new details about the next iPad mini, but the fact they say it is "coming" suggests that a launch later this year is possible. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo does not expect the next iPad mini to enter mass production until the first quarter of 2024.
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.
With the iOS 17 update, Apple is updating and refining almost every iPhone app and feature, and that includes AirPlay. AirPlay is Apple's wireless communication protocol that allows music and video content from iPhones, iPads, and Macs to be beamed to devices like the Apple TV, HomePod, and third-party speakers, smart TVs, set-top boxes, and receivers.
This guide highlights the changes that Apple is making to AirPlay in iOS 17, with these features also available in iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma.
AirPlay Preferences
iOS 17 improves on-device intelligence for AirPlay, and it is able to better learn your preferences over time. If you typically AirPlay from your iPhone to the Apple TV in the living room, it will learn that behavior and show the Apple TV first in your AirPlay list over other AirPlay devices that may be in the home.
Devices are shown in the AirPlay interface based on relevance, and you'll also now see suggested connections proactively based on your prior AirPlay usage.
The AirPlay interface is smarter from the outset, and it shows the devices that are located closest to you first rather than offering up a more arbitrary list. The AirPlay interface also makes it clearer which device content is AirPlaying to and whether AirPlay is active.
Automatic AirPlay
The Automatic AirPlay feature that was available for TVs in iOS 16 has expanded to include speakers as well in iOS 17. You can opt in to have the iPhone automatically connect to nearby speakers and TVs when playing content from apps that you regularly use with AirPlay.
Previously, this setting was limited to AirPlay TVs.
AirPlay in Hotel Rooms
Apple is teaming up with hotel chains and TV manufacturers to introduce smart TV sets that will let hotel guests automatically AirPlay content from their Apple devices to the hotel TV.
The option will let guests watch their own TV shows and movies without having to sign into streaming accounts on shared televisions, providing more security for viewing content when traveling.
IHG Hotels and Resorts will be the first hotel company to bring AirPlay to its hotels, and LG plans to introduce AirPlay-compatible smart TVs designed specifically for use in hotels.
Apple in August is offering a new Apple Card promotion that will see Apple Card holders entitled to extra Daily Cash rewards for Panera Bread purchases. Through the end of the month, Apple Card users who make a purchase at Panera using Apple Pay can earn 6% cash back instead of 3% cash back.
Getting the cash back reward requires Panera customers to use Apple Pay with the Apple Card specifically, and the 6% bonus is available for up to $500 in spending throughout August. Apple Card owners who purchase $500 in Panera food can earn $30.
Purchases can be made at U.S. Panera stores, in the Panera app, and on the Panera website.
Apple partners with a number of vendors to offer three percent Daily Cash back on Apple Pay purchases made with Apple Card, including Panera Bread. 3% cash back can also be earned from Ace, T-Mobile, Nike, Uber Eats, Uber, Panera, Walgreens, Exxon Mobil, and Apple's own retail stores.
Standard Apple Pay purchases earn two percent cash back, and all other purchases earn one percent.
Apple today began offering the AirPods 3 through its store for refurbished products, making the earbuds available at a discount. Apple has not previously offered refurbished AirPods, so this is a first.
The refurbished AirPods 3 include a MagSafe Charging Case and are priced at $149, a $30 discount off of the regular $179 price. Apple also has an out of stock listing for $209 refurbished AirPods Pro 2, suggesting those may also be available at a discount in the near future.
Apple's refurbished products are almost identical to new products, and they go through a rigorous testing process. Defective components are replaced, and there is a thorough cleaning, which is extra important for earbuds that go in the ears.
The third-generation AirPods came out in October 2021, and they feature an updated design, force sensor controls, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio, and MagSafe charging.
Ulrich Kranz, the former CEO of electric car company Canoo and a key executive on the Apple Car team, is facing an SEC lawsuit, reports Bloomberg. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission believes that Kranz provided unreasonable revenue projections for Canoo and also misstated how much he was paid.
Apple hired Ulrich Kranz back in 2021 for its Apple Car project. Kranz is known for founding self-driving car startup Canoo, and prior to that, he spent 30 years at BMW. Canoo is still around and may be most recognizable for its odd-looking "Lifestyle Vehicle," which has not yet been produced for the public.
Canoo has been struggling to stay afloat since Kranz left the company, but last month successfully delivered three electric vans to NASA, which will be used for the Artemis moon missions next year. The vehicles will transport astronauts, flight crew, and equipment to the launch pad ahead of the launch.
Kranz has not been involved with Canoo since early 2021, but the SEC is aiming to prevent him from serving as an officer at a public company going forward, which could potentially impact his future career trajectory at Apple.
This week was full of deals centered around the back to school season, and many of these discounts are still available as we head into the weekend. You'll find record low prices on the entry-level M1 MacBook Air, AirPods Pro 2, Samsung monitors, and more.
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.
In the accessory post, you'll find steep discounts on products from Anker, ZAGG, Belkin, AT&T, Office Depot, and more. The Apple product post has some of the summer's best prices on the MagSafe Charger, MacBook Air, and more. Below we've listed some quick highlights from each sale.
It's been a while since we tracked discounts on the Apple Watch SE, but this week Amazon brought back a few $30 discounts across the lineup. Most of these are solid second-best prices on the Apple Watch SE, and prices start at just $219.00 for the 40mm GPS model.
Samsung Monitors
What's the deal? Take up to $700 off Samsung monitors
We started tracking the first notable discount on Samsung's new Smart Monitor M8 this week, available for $599.99, down from $699.99. Alongside this sale is a collection of markdowns on Samsung gaming monitors, with up to $700 in savings.
Lastly, all-time low prices arrived for both the 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch MacBook Air this week. You can get the 256GB 13.6-inch model for $949.00 on B&H Photo and the 256GB 15.3-inch model for $1,199.00 on 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.
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors about the next-generation AirTag, iPad Air, iPad mini, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Ultra.
Firstly, we react to the rumor that the second-generation AirTag is set to hit mass production in the fourth quarter of next year, taking a look at how we use AirTags and what a new model could offer. We also discuss the latest reports about the next-generation iPad Air and iPadmini.
We look at the new color options and features reportedly coming to the Apple Watch Series 9 and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, Apple's plan to progressively reduce the bezels of the iPhone and iPad, our first smartphones, and our feelings about watchOS 10 as we approach its official release.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up with our discussion on how we would make changes to Apple's product lines in an attempt to make them simpler and more consumer-friendly.
Apple's 256GB 15.3-inch MacBook Air is available for $1,199.00 today on Amazon, down from its original price of $1,299.00. We've seen this sale only a few times over the summer, and it remains the best deal tracked yet on the latest MacBook Air.
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.
This sale is available in three of the four colors: Midnight, Space Gray, and Silver. All three models are in stock and have an estimated delivery date between August 5 and August 9.
We're also tracking an all-time low price on the 512GB 15.3-inch MacBook Air, which is on sale for $1,399.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is available in two colors (Midnight and Space Gray), and has an estimated delivery date between August 7 and August 9.
The Apple Watch Series 9 will be "basically unchanged" compared to the current model other than a performance improvement, according to Weibo leaker "Instant Digital."
In a post shared earlier today, the Weibo user corroborated other reports that the Apple Watch Series 9 will be a minor upgrade. The refresh will apparently focus on updating the cores within the device's S-series chip, delivering a notable performance improvement, but the rest of the device will be effectively the same as the Apple Watch Series 8.
The S6, S7, and S8 chips' CPU in the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, second-generation Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra, are virtually identical. The S6, S7, and S8 chips all feature 32GB of storage and dual-core CPUs with the identifier T8301. When Apple debuted the S6 in the Apple Watch Series 6, the last time it made performance claims about its latest smartwatch lineup, it said that the chip allowed apps to launch 20 percent faster.
The S6, S7, and S8 are based on Apple's A13 Bionic chip from the iPhone 11 lineup and are manufactured using TSMC's 7nm process. Apple transitioned to TSMC's 5nm process starting with the A14 Bionic chip in 2020.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the S9 chip will be based on the A15 Bionic chip. The new chip could bring significantly improved performance and efficiency, boosting app launch speeds and potentially improving battery life. In addition to the Apple Watch Series 9, the S9 chip is expected to be a key upgrade of the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra later this year.
The rumor echoes the essence of last year's Apple Watch Series 8, which was a minor update over the Series 7. It only added a more powerful gyroscope and accelerometer, Crash Detection, and a body temperature sensor compared to its predecessor from 2021.
With performance as the main focus of the Apple Watch Series 9 and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, it seems that 2023's new Apple Watch models could be similarly small refreshes. Apple reportedly plans to introduce a couple of new color options for the product lineup this year, including pink for the Apple Watch Series 9 and black for the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple's iPhone 16 series next year will adopt a stacked rear camera sensor design across the lineup, following similar adoption in this year's standard iPhone 15 models, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
This year's lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models are expected to feature a 48-megapixel rear camera lens with a stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) design that can capture more light.
Production yield issues of the new sensor design have likely prevented Apple from adopting it across all iPhone 15 models this year, and while Sony's high-end CIS capacity is expected to remain tight through 2024, Apple has secured most of Sony's orders ahead of time.
According to Kuo, Sony's tight capacity is expected to benefit rival supplier Will Semi, which will obtain more orders for high-end CIS from Chinese smartphone brands as a result.
Rumors suggest the 48-megapixel wide-angle camera used in the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature an eight-part hybrid lens with two glass elements and six plastic elements, along with improvements for the telephoto and ultra wide camera lenses.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max could get periscope telephoto lenses in 2024. In 2023, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the only device to get the new camera technology because of size constraints.
Apple today held its third earnings call of 2023, covering the second calendar quarter of the year. During the call, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri shared tidbits on recent product sales, services results, future plans, and revenue impacts.
We've highlighted the most interesting parts of the call below for those who weren't able to listen.
AI
Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about Apple's approach to AI, and he said that AI and machine learning are "core fundamental technologies integral to virtually every product" that Apple builds, which is the same answer that Cook has given before on the topic.
It is "absolutely critical" to Apple, with Cook confirming that Apple has been investigating AI (including generative AI) "for years."
"We will continue to responsibly advance our products with these technologies," Cook said, adding that Apple tends to "announce things as they come to market."
Vision Pro
Cook said that Apple is "very excited" about Vision Pro. "Everyone who has gone through the demos have been blown away," said Cook. "We're looking forward to shipping it next year.
Services Revenue
Apple set an all-time revenue record in Services during the quarter, which it says was driven by more than a billion paid subscriptions. Services revenue was $21.2 billion, up from $19.6 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Subscriptions have grown 150 million in the past year, and have more than doubled over the last three years.
All-time revenue records were set in cloud, video, AppleCare, and payments, with June quarter revenue records for the App Store, advertising, and Apple Music.
iPhone, iPad, and Mac Sales
iPhone, iPad, and Mac revenue dropped during the quarter across all three categories. iPhone revenue was $39.7 billion, down from $40.7 billion in 2022, while iPad revenue was $5.8 billion, down from $7.2 billion in the year-ago quarter. Apple CFO Luca Maestri said that the drop in iPad sales was due to a tough compare as last year, Apple had introduced a new iPad Air during the quarter.
Mac revenue was $6.8 billion, down from $7.4 billion. Almost half of Mac buyers in the quarter were new to the product.
Wearables
Apple saw growth in the Wearables, Home and Accessories category, which brought in $8.3 billion, up two percent from $8.1 billion in the year-ago quarter. Two thirds of new Apple Watch customers during the quarter were new to the product.
Wearables are nearly the size of a Fortune 100 company, earning $40 billion in the last 12 months.
R&D
Apple's research and development spending is growing slower than it has in prior years, which Luca Maestri said is due to Apple being more careful about controlling spending during the "uncertain period" across the last few quarters. Apple has successfully decelerated some of its expense growth by slowing hiring, and plans to continue to "manage deliberately." Even amid the slowdown, Maestri said that R&D costs are continuing to grow faster than the rest of the company.
"Our focus continues to be on innovation and product development," he said.
Next Quarter
For the September quarter, Apple said that year-over-year performance will be similar to the June quarter provided the macro outlook doesn't worsen, with a year-over-year revenue impact of more than two percent. iPhone and Services revenue is expected to be up compared to June, but Mac and iPad revenue will drop double digits due to difficult compares.
Rumors have suggested that we won't see notable updates to iPads or Macs, with Apple having no plans to refresh the iPad Pro or the higher-selling Mac models until 2024. Apple will not have new products to offer this fall to attract iPad and Mac buyers.
Apple is, however, expecting gross margin of 44 to 45 percent, which Luca Maestri attributed to a strong product mix, cost savings, and Services.
Read More
A more complete picture of Apple's earnings on a per-category basis can be found in our full live blog.
Apple today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter of 2023, which corresponds to the second calendar quarter of the year.
For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $81.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $19.9 billion, or $1.26 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $83.0 billion and net quarterly profit of $19.4 billion, or $1.20 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
Gross margin for the quarter was 44.5 percent, compared to 43.3 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.24 per share, payable on August 17 to shareholders of record as of August 14.
"We are happy to report that we had an all-time revenue record in Services during the June quarter, driven by over 1 billion paid subscriptions, and we saw continued strength in emerging markets thanks to robust sales of iPhone," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "From education to the environment, we are continuing to advance our values, while championing innovation that enriches the lives of our customers and leaves the world better than we found it."
As has been the case for over three years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in September.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q3 2023 financial results conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.
Apple in iOS 17 is improving the AirDrop sharing feature that is designed to allow two Apple devices to share content with one another quickly and easily. Proximity sharing has been improved, it's easier to exchange content, and more.
This guide highlights all of the new AirDrop features you'll find in iOS 17.
NameDrop
NameDrop is an AirDrop feature that lets you exchange contact information with someone by touching two iPhones together. Bringing two devices together will automatically pop up a contact sharing interface.
Tapping on the popup shows a person's contact information and their Contact Poster, with options to "Receive Only" or share your own contact information in response. You can choose the phone number and email address that you want to share with someone on the other end, and if someone is already in your Contacts app, it updates contact information.
Note that NameDrop works between two iPhones running iOS 17 and later this year, it will work between an iOS 17 iPhone and an Apple Watch running watchOS 10.
Proximity Sharing
If you need to share a file or a photo with someone who is right next to you, there's a new proximity sharing feature available for AirDrop.
To initiate a transfer, choose the photo or file that you want to share with someone. From there, bring your unlocked iPhone next to the person's unlocked iPhone, and it will pop up a share interface without you having to tap on the Share Sheet.
You can tap on the Share option that pops up to send the photo or file to the person next to you. It will be received on the other device automatically, with permission granted through proximity.
Note that sharing files this way works even if AirDrop receiving is turned off or limited to contacts, so it is a way to share a file with someone without having to change your overall AirDrop settings. AirDrop normally works with someone in the same room, but the proximity sharing feature requires the two iPhones to be close to touching.
Sharing through proximity can be enabled or disabled by going to Settings > General > AirDrop and toggling "Bringing Devices Together" on or off.
Transfers Over the Internet
Apple plans to allow AirDrop transfers that have been initiated to finish over the internet in iOS 17. That means if you start sharing a bunch of files or photos with someone, you won't need to stay nearby for the transfer to complete.
AirDrop is a fairly fast file sharing method, but if you're sharing large videos, it can be frustrating to have to stay close by to someone for a transfer to finish. File transfers over the internet requires iOS 17 and for both participants to be signed into iCloud, and this is a feature that will be coming in an update to iOS 17.
SharePlay
If you want to listen to music or watch a movie with someone nearby, there's a new SharePlay feature that allows SharePlay to be initiated through proximity much like AirDrop.
Starting SharePlay content and then bringing your iPhone next to another iPhone will initiate a SharePlay session through the Messages app. It's the same SharePlay function that can be accessed through the Share Sheet, but the proximity method is a quicker way to begin a SharePlay session.
Proximity SharePlay is useful for situations like flights where each person may want to use their own device but share the same content.
Developers can build support for SharePlay over AirDrop into their apps, but as with standard SharePlay, both people will need to have the app installed and have access to the content.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
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.
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.
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.
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.
