MacRumors

We got quite the surprise this week with Apple introducing Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the iPad, while the release of Apple's next batch of operating system updates is imminent.

Other news this week included rumors about the Apple Watch Series 9 coming later this year and the iPhone 16 lineup launching in 2024, while it looks like Beats has some upgraded over-ear headphones in the pipeline as well, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Announces Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad

Apple shared some big news this week: Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are finally coming to the iPad. The apps will be available on iPadOS starting May 23 for $4.99 per month or $49 per year.

Final Cut Pro will be available for iPads with the M1 chip or later, and Logic Pro will be available for iPads with the A12 Bionic chip or later. Both apps will require iPadOS 16.4 or later.

"With a powerful set of intuitive tools designed for the portability, performance, and touch-first interface of iPad, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro deliver the ultimate mobile studio," said Apple.

Apple Unveils 2023 Pride Band Launching Later This Month

Apple this week unveiled a new Pride Edition Sport Band for the Apple Watch, accompanied by a matching watch face and iPhone wallpaper.

Inspired by the LGBTQ+ community, the band will be available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting May 23, and will be available at Apple Store locations beginning May 24.

The band is priced at $49 and available for the Apple Watch Series 3 and later.

Apple Confirms iOS 16.5 Will Be Released Next Week With These New Features

Apple has confirmed that iOS 16.5 and watchOS 9.5 will be released to the public next week. The software updates have been in beta testing since late March, and Apple seeded release candidate versions of those updates plus macOS 13.4 and tvOS 16.5 to beta testers this week.

iOS 16.5 includes a new Pride Celebration wallpaper, a Sports tab in the Apple News app, and bug fixes related to Spotlight, CarPlay, and Screen Time. The update is a minor one overall, which is unsurprising given that Apple will announce iOS 17 at WWDC next month.

Apple Watch Series 9 to Feature Updated Processor Based on A15 Chip

The upcoming Apple Watch Series 9 will finally include a new processor based on the A15 chip that was first used in the iPhone 13 models, according to info shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In terms of performance, Apple Watches have effectively used the same processor since the S6 chip debuted in the Series 6 in 2020. With watchOS 10 rumored to be a major update, a faster chip for the Series 9 would make sense.

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max to Feature Larger 6.3-Inch and 6.9-Inch Displays

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models launching in 2024 will feature larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, respectively, according to oft-accurate display industry analyst Ross Young.

By comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively, and these sizes are not expected to change with the iPhone 15 Pro models launching later this year.

Apple Working on New Beats Studio Pro Headphones

Apple is working on new "Beats Studio Pro" headphones, according to code found in the macOS Ventura 13.4 Release Candidate version.

Beats Studio Pro would likely be a new version of the Beats Studio3 over-ear headphones that launched in 2017. Potential new features could include a Lightning or USB-C port for charging, Transparency mode, improved Active Noise Cancellation, and more.

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!

Though we don't even have the iPhone 15 models as of yet, rumors are already circulating about the iPhone 16, and what we're hearing is starting to get exciting. 2024 could be the year that Apple tweaks the design of some of the iPhone models, and Apple could adopt features like the solid-state buttons that were initially rumored for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro as well as its own modem chip.

Below, we've created a quick rumor recap that highlights what we know so far, so if you aren't looking forward to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro now that rumors are sounding like it's a less impressive update, you can at least look forward to the ‌iPhone 16‌.

Size and Design

A rumor just this week suggests that Apple will adopt new screen sizes for the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max models. The smaller ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is expected to have a display size of 6.3 inches, while the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max will have a display size of 6.9 inches.

The information comes from display analyst Ross Young, who often shares accurate details on Apple's plans. He says that the new size options are exclusive to the Pro models, so this would mark the first time that Apple has used different sizes for the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus and the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max models.

Note that these display sizes are rounded and are not precise down to the decimal point at this time. The current ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro has a display size of 6.1 inches and the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max has a display size of 6.7 inches, so we are looking at an approximate increase of 0.2 inches for both devices.

High-End Ultra Model

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple could introduce a higher-end ‌iPhone 16‌ "Ultra" to be sold alongside the ‌iPhone 16‌, ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max. It would be positioned as a top-of-the-line ‌iPhone‌, but it is not clear what specifically will differentiate it from the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and Pro Max, and it is also not known what the display size would be.

There is a possibility that the ‌iPhone 16‌ Ultra could replace the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max rather than be sold alongside it.

Solid-State Buttons

For the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, Apple initially planned to add solid-state volume, power, and mute buttons that would replace the physical buttons, but due to technical issues, Apple had to scrap the feature.

Solid-state buttons are instead expected be introduced with the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and Pro Max models, with Apple using haptic feedback to mimic the feel of a traditional button press. With the addition of the solid-state technology, Apple will also change the design of the volume button. Rather than two volume buttons, the solid-state button will be a single, unified button.

5G Modem Chip

Apple has been working on its own 5G modem chip for the last several years, and it could be ready for inclusion in at least some of the ‌iPhone 16‌ models. Apple wants to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm by using in-house technology.

Rumors suggest that Apple will use the modem chip in a single device before rolling it out to other devices, with a full transition away from Qualcomm modem chips taking up to three years.

Apple also eventually wants to use its own WiFi and Bluetooth chips, and there is a possibility that those components could replace Broadcom chips as early as 2024.

Other Features

There are a few other features that have been rumored for the ‌iPhone 16‌ models, which we may or may not see.

• Under Display Face ID - There were rumors that Apple could adopt under-display Face ID as soon as 2024, which would cut down on the size of the Dynamic Island and possibly allow for a smaller hole punch front camera, but it looks like that's going to be delayed until 2025.
• Periscope lens - With the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, Apple plans to introduce a periscope telephoto lens that supports 5x or 6x optical zoom. Apple sometimes expands technology used in a flagship ‌iPhone‌ to additional models the next year, but Apple analyst Ming-Cho Kuo suggests that the periscope technology will remain limited to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max in 2023.
• USB-C Port - Apple is transitioning to USB-C in 2023 with the ‌iPhone 15‌ models, and the ‌iPhone 16‌ models will use the same technology.

More Information

As we're still more than a year away from the launch of the ‌iPhone 16‌ models, these rumors are subject to change and could shift in the future. To keep up to date on what to expect, you can follow our iPhone 16 roundup, which is updated every time a new rumor surfaces.

The Apple Watch's health features are making headlines this month, and have been credited with saving at least two lives. Fall Detection came in handy in two emergency situations in Minnesota and Ohio.

In Minnesota, Apple Watch user Michael Brodkorb was hit by a vehicle that then fled the scene. His Apple Watch detected the impact using Fall Detection and dialed 911 after he was unable to respond. "I was just shocked," he said. "I mean, just the sheer force of what it's like to get hit by a vehicle."

Along with calling 911, the Fall Detection feature alerted his wife and children inside the house, so he was able to get immediate help. He ended up with injuries to his ribs and tailbone. "It absolutely is a life-saving tool," Brodkorb said. Police did find the driver, a 17-year-old boy, but it is not yet clear if he will be charged.

During his recovery, Brodkorb sent an email to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who wished him a speedy recovery.

In Cincinnati, 83-year-old William Fryer was walking on the Ohio River Trail when his knees gave out. No one was around, but his Apple Watch detected the fall, called emergency services, and alerted his daughter.

Cincinnati police were able to locate him and paramedics transported him to the hospital. X-rays ultimately showed that he had a large blood clot that caused his fall, but the blood clot symptoms had been atypical as they had not been noticed. Fryer had the clot removed, and said that he was grateful his Apple Watch had been able to summon help.

The Fall Detection feature on the Apple Watch can be enabled by opening up the Apple Watch iPhone app, going to Emergency SOS, and toggling on the Fall Detection option. Fall Detection is enabled by default for Apple Watch owners over 55, but younger Apple Watch users can also turn it on.

It is now over six months since Apple launched the current iPad Pros, and with a substantial update rumored for the next-generation, when exactly are the new models expected to launch?

The current 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models were released in October 2022, adding the M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover, Smart HDR 4, Wi‑Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 – another minor refresh like the fifth-generation iPad Air. The next-generation is shaping up to be a big update to the device, offering more advanced chip technology, new displays, and potentially a redesign.

With the current- and previous-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ models featuring M-series chips, and the 2022 refresh making the leap to the ‌M2‌ chip, the M3 chip is the most likely chip to be included in the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌. The M3 chip is expected to be manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process, bringing the biggest performance and efficiency boost to Apple's chips in several years. The first Apple devices with M3 chips are not likely to appear until the second half of 2023 at the earliest, which seemingly rules out a new ‌iPad Pro‌ anytime soon.

Moreover, the main feature rumored for the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ is OLED – a display upgrade that has been rumored for well over a year. Dozens of reports from multiple sources are consistent that ‌iPad Pro‌ models with OLED displays are scheduled to launch in 2024, rather than this year. The OLED displays Apple is planning to use will reportedly be more durable and enable thinner and more lightweight device designs, and they could have slimmer bezels with the display size options increasing from 11- to 11.1-inches and 12.9- to 13-inches.

The ‌iPad Pro‌ has had the same design for four successive generations since 2018, and it looks like the device could finally get a redesign in its next incarnation. It is not entirely clear what the new design could look like, but a thinner and lighter device with a glass back or larger glass Apple logo to enable wireless charging seems plausible based on current rumors. The device could also switch from a default portrait orientation to a landscape design – a change seemingly supported by the relocation of the iPad mini's volume buttons and the latest entry-level ‌iPad‌'s landscape front-facing camera.

The iPhone 15 lineup is rumored to move to a slightly more contoured design with glass that curves at the edges on the front and back, so a similar design for the new ‌iPad Pro‌ is not out of the question.

The one thing that is clear about the next major ‌iPad Pro‌ update according to rumors is that it will not launch in 2023, meaning that the chances of a new ‌iPad Pro‌ models this year seem to be very low. Apple waited over 18 months between the 2021 and 2022 ‌iPad‌ Pros, and if a similar timeline was followed again, the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ would launch in May 2024. This approximate time frame also seems plausible in terms of what is expected from Apple's chip roadmap. All in all, the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ is likely just under a year away.

Apple plans to introduce larger 6.3 and 6.9-inch display sizes for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in 2024, but the change in screen size will be limited to the Pro models. The standard iPhone 16 models are expected to feature the same 6.1 and 6.7-inch display sizes that Apple has used for the last several years.

The information comes from display analyst Ross Young, who often shares accurate insights into Apple's plans. Young earlier this week said that the Pro models will have larger display sizes, and he confirmed to MacRumors that these larger screens will be Pro exclusive and will not be coming to the more affordable ‌iPhone 16‌ and 16 Plus.

According to Young, the 6.3 and 6.9-inch display sizes are rounded up, with additional information on the specific measurements set to come at the Display Week conference in Los Angeles on May 23.

At approximately 6.3 and 6.9 inches, the planned larger display sizes for the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and Pro Max will be the biggest screens that Apple has introduced to date. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max feature 6.1 and 6.7-inch display sizes, which are also the sizes expected for this year's iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max.

A tweak to the display size suggests that the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and Pro Max could potentially see a design revision, a decrease in bezels, or both.

Previously, WhatsApp has allowed users of the encrypted messaging platform to link up to four devices to their account, but only one of those devices could be a smartphone.

Happily, that's now changed, and WhatsApp has introduced the ability to use the same account on multiple phones. So now you can link another phone as one of up to four additional devices, the same as when you link with WhatsApp on web browsers, tablets, and desktops.

Whether it's an iPhone or an Android phone you choose to add, each linked phone connects to WhatsApp independently, ensuring that your personal messages, media, and calls are end-to-end encrypted. Just be aware that if your primary phone is inactive for a long period of time, you will be automatically logged out of all your companion devices.

Follow the steps below to set up your additional phone with your WhatsApp account, after which you'll be able to switch between phones without signing out and pick up your chats where you left off.

1. Download and launch WhatsApp on the additional phone you want to use.
3. Instead of entering the phone number associated with your WhatsApp account, tap the Link to existing account option to generate a QR code.
4. On your primary phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings -> Linked Devices.
5. Tap the Link a device option and scan the QR code using your phone's camera.

It's as simple as that. Once the QR code is scanned and the sync is complete, you'll be able to see all the conversations that you've ‌had on your original phone. You'll also have the ability to send and receive text and voice-based messages, get involved in group chats, and have access to all of the other things that you're used to doing on your ‌primary phone, just now on your companion phone as well.

Apple has announced that its online store will be launching in Vietnam on May 18 at 9 a.m. local time. The store will be available in both Vietnamese and English, allowing customers to order a wide range of Apple products on the web.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to expand in Vietnam, and extremely excited to be able to provide Apple's superior care and support to customers," said Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, in a computer translated press release.

Apple's online store will be accessible in Vietnam on this page and via the Apple Store app once launched, with free delivery, trade-ins, and more to be available.

This week's best deals include the first deal we've ever seen on the second generation HomePod, the year's best prices on the new MacBook Pros and AirPods Pro 2, and an exclusive offer for our readers from Nomad on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus cases.

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.

HomePod (Gen 2)

• What's the deal? Take $20 off Gen 2 HomePod
• Where can I get it? B&H Photo
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The week kicked off with the first-ever discount on Apple's second-generation HomePod at B&H Photo, which has dropped to $279.00, down from $299.00. You can get both White and Midnight at this new all-time low price on the 2023 HomePod.

Nomad

• What's the deal? Take 36% off Nomad's iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus cases, and more
• Where can I get it? Nomad
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Nomad is hosting a large overstock sale on its website this week, and it's sweetening the pot by giving our readers an extra 20 percent off on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus cases. You'll need to enter the code MR14 at checkout in order to get the full 36 percent off on the accessories listed below, but remember the sale as a whole covers everything from AirPods cases to Apple Watch bands, so be sure to browse the full sale on Nomad's website.

iPhone 14 Cases

• Modern Leather Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Rugged Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Modern Leather Folio - $38.40, down from $60.00
• Modern Leather Case (Horween) - $44.80, down from $70.00

iPhone 14 Plus Cases

• Sport Case - $25.60, down from $40.00
• Modern Leather Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Rugged Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Modern Leather Folio - $38.40, down from $60.00
• Modern Leather Case (Horween) - $44.80, down from $70.00

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take up to $99 off the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Max, and AirPods 2
• Where can I get it? Verizon and Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

There are a collection of AirPods on sale at Verizon and Amazon this week, with some of the year's best deals on AirPods Pro 2 ($199.99), AirPods 3 ($149.99), AirPods Max ($449.99), and AirPods 2 ($99.00).

MacBook Pro

• What's the deal? Take $249 off 2023 MacBoook Pros
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon introduced a wide array of markdowns on the 2023 MacBook Pro this week, including both 14-inch and 16-inch models. The best deal in this sale is the 10-Core M2 Pro/512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro for $1,749.99, down from $1,999.00, but you can get $249 off multiple models, which we've shared above.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker accessories at Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has a good collection of Anker accessories at a discount this week, including USB-C hubs, Lightning cables, wall chargers, Bluetooth speakers, and more. Many of these require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the deal, and you can find a full list of the products being marked down in our original post. We've collected a few examples of Anker's current deals below as well.

• Nano 65W USB-C Charger (3-Port) - $38.41, down from $55.99
• PowerCore 24,000 mAh with Smart Digital Display - $119.99 with on-page coupon, down from $159.99
• Soundcore Mini 3 - $31.99 with on-page coupon, down from $40.99
• Soundcore 3 - $35.99 with on-page coupon, down from $50.99
• SmartTrack Link (2-Pack) - $27.99 with on-page coupon, down from $35.99
• SmartTrack Link (4-Pack) - $54.99 with on-page coupon, down from $69.99
• Eufy Security Smart Package Box - $199.99, down from $399.99

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the announcement of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the iPad, the latest iPhone 16 Pro rumors, and more.

Earlier this week, Apple unexpectedly announced that Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are finally coming to the ‌iPad‌. The new pro apps come with a host of multi-touch optimizations, dedicated tools, and high-end features to support intense creative workflows. Each app is available for $4.99 per month or $49 per year with a one-month free trial. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that since Apple's mixed-reality headset will run ‌iPad‌ apps, the news effectively means that Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro will be available on the headset.

We discuss the iPhone 15 Pro Max's rumored periscope telephoto camera, which is expected to bring a 6x optical zoom to the iPhone for the first time. In other news, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max are rumored to see a display size increase of 0.2-inches. This means that the smaller Pro ‌iPhone‌ model will grow from 6.1-inches to 6.3-inches, and the larger Pro ‌iPhone‌ model will grow from 6.7-inches to 6.9-inches. These devices are also now expected to offer the haptic volume and power buttons originally rumored for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about some of the key aspects rumored for watchOS 10's substantial UI redesign.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Mark Gurman, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Andru Edwards, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, and Rene Ritchie. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

Apple today seeded the second release candidate (RC) version of macOS Ventura 13.4 to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming just a few days after Apple released the first RC. The RC represents the final version of macOS Ventura 13.4 that will be provided to the public.

Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, with the betas available through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings.

According to Apple's release notes, the update adds a Sports feed in the sidebar of Apple News and it addresses several bugs, including one that would prevent the Mac Auto Unlock feature from working with the Apple Watch.

macOS Ventura 13.4 includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:
- Sports feed in the sidebar of Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
- My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
- Resolves an issue where Auto Unlock with Apple Watch does not log you into your Mac
- Fixes a Bluetooth issue where keyboards connect slowly to Mac after restarting
- Addresses a VoiceOver issue with navigating to landmarks on webpages
- Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

macOS 13.4 also adds the simplified beta installation method that was first introduced in iOS 16.4. With the update, developers and public beta testers enrolled in Apple's respective programs can toggle on beta updates from System Settings on the Mac, without the need to install a profile.

An Apple ID associated with either a public beta account or a developer account is required to turn on beta updates, which means that it is no longer possible to use a developer profile not associated with a developer account to install the developer betas.

An Apple Computer Company check signed by Steve Jobs sold for $106,985 through an auction hosted by RR Auction. The check was filled out and signed by Jobs in 1976, and it was made out to Crampton, Remke, & Miller, INC, a consulting firm that offered its services to tech companies in Northern California.

Jobs' check is notable because it uses the first Apple address at 770 Welch Rd., Ste. 154, Palo Alto. This was the address of an answering service that Jobs and Wozniak used while working out of the Jobs family garage.

RR Auction VP Bobby Livingston said that early checks like this are desired because "they not only tell Apple's founding story, they are signed with perfect examples of Steve Jobs's autograph," plus they "allay collectors' concerns about the authenticity of Steve Jobs's signature."

Another early check signed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak was auctioned off in 2022, and that check sold for $164,000.

Nomad this week is running an overstock sale with discounts across various accessories like AirPods cases, iPhone 14 cases, Apple Watch bands, Lightning cables, and more. In addition to these regular deals, we've partnered with Nomad to get you an extra 20 percent off any iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus cases with the code MR14 at checkout, totaling 36 percent off these accessories.

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

This promo code specifically only works for Nomad's cases for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. It will work on leather, folio, and sport cases; all you have to do is add an accessory to your cart, proceed to checkout, then enter the promo code MR14 on the payment step and you'll get an extra 20 percent off these cases.

Overall, the sale is mainly focused on cases for iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12, and more. You'll find larger discounts for the older model iPhones, and around 10 percent to 20 percent off for the iPhone 14. We've rounded up some of these discounts below, along with Apple Watch bands, iPad Pro cases and folios, and AirPods cases.

iPhone 14 and 14 Plus Cases - Use Code MR14

iPhone 14

• Modern Leather Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Rugged Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Modern Leather Folio - $38.40, down from $60.00
• Modern Leather Case (Horween) - $44.80, down from $70.00

iPhone 14 Plus

• Sport Case - $25.60, down from $40.00
• Modern Leather Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Rugged Case - $32.00, down from $50.00
• Modern Leather Folio - $38.40, down from $60.00
• Modern Leather Case (Horween) - $44.80, down from $70.00

iPhone 14 Pro

• Modern Leather Case - $42.00, down from $50.00

Apple Watch Bands

• Sport Slim Band (40mm/41mm) - $48.00, down from $60.00
• Sport Slim Band (45mm/49mm) - $51.00, down from $60.00
• Steel Band - $170.00, down from $200.00
• Aluminum Band - $180.00, down from $200.00
• Rugged Band (40mm/41mm) - $48.00, down from $60.00
• Active Band Pro - $70.0, down from $80.00
• Modern Slim Band - $56.00, down from $70.00

iPad Pro

• 11-inch Modern Folio - $59.00, down from $70.00
• 12.9-inch Modern Case - $64.00, down from $80.00
• 11-inch Modern Leather Case - $85.00, down from $100.00
• 12.9-inch Modern Leather Folio - $136.00, down from $170.00

AirPods

• AirPods 3 Modern Leather Case - $24.00, down from $30.00
• AirPods Pro 2 Modern Leather Case - $24.00, down from $30.00

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Facebook Messenger's Apple Watch app will be discontinued at the end of this month, according to Meta, ending the ability for users to reply to messages on the service from their wrist.

Posts shared on social media carried a screenshot of a notification sent to a handful of users in recent days informing them that Messenger won't be available as an Apple Watch app after May 31, but that users would continue to get Messenger notifications on their watch.

Not all users of the app received the notification, but when asked for clarification by Reviewgeek, a Meta spokesperson gave the following statement:

"People can still receive Messenger notifications on their Apple Watch when paired, but starting at the end of May they will no longer be able to respond from their watch. But they can continue using Messenger on their iPhone, desktop and the web.”

Meta did not give a reason for its decision to sunset its Messenger app for Apple Watch, which was introduced in 2015. The app allowed users to send voice clips, likes, stickers, and more without having to open the corresponding smartphone app.

Some users on Facebook suggested it could be because allowing users to respond to messages on their wrist reduced the amount of screen time spent in Messenger on their smartphone. But the app joins a long line of other third-party services that have pulled watchOS development over the last few years, either due to perceived redundancy or lack of user uptake. Other notable Apple Watch apps that have been discontinued include Twitter, Instagram, Target, Trello, Slack, Hulu, and Uber.

Apple over time has gradually shifted away from promoting the Apple Watch as a home for apps, with the company focusing on fitness and health features as the primary functionality. Recent rumors suggest Apple intends to make interactive widgets a big part of its watchOS 10 redesign, which has been interpreted as proof that dedicated apps have not proved popular enough.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that the move is an admission that an iPhone-like app experience "doesn't always make sense on a watch" since "Apple Watch apps have barely caught on." However, due to being a radical departure from the app-centric experience existing Apple Watch users are used to, Apple may make the new widget-based interface optional.

The changes are part of what Gurman claims will be one of the Apple Watch's biggest software updates since its introduction and the most significant change to the Apple Watch this year, as only minor hardware updates are expected to be unveiled later this year.

Disney plans to combine the Hulu and Disney+ streaming services into a single app by the end of this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger said yesterday during Disney's Q2 earnings call (via TechCrunch).

A single streaming app will include programming from both Hulu and Disney+, but Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ will also still be available as standalone services. The combined app will be provided first to subscribers who have the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, so rather than swapping back and forth, users can access all of their content in a single app.

"The integrated app experience that we announced today is for consumers that have subscribed to both services for now," said Iger. He explained that Disney is taking the two-app bundle and combining it into one experience that will have "basically more content than it offered before."

With the merging of the services, Disney plans to increase pricing. "We plan to set a higher price for our ad-free tier later this year," Iger said.

Disney's announcement came as the Disney+ service lost four million subscribers during the quarter.

Apple has been in the process of relocating its first-ever Apple Store in Fairfax, Virginia, and the redesigned Tysons Corner store is set to open on Friday, May 19. May 19 will mark the 22nd anniversary of the date that the store originally opened on May 19, 2001.

The store is in Tysons, Virginia, a Washington, D.C. suburb, and it is inside a shopping mall. Apple is moving to a different location within the mall, and the company says the new store will feature inclusive, innovative, and sustainable design enhancements that "reflect Apple's values."

Since opening our first-ever Apple Store here 22 years ago, we’re proud to be opening this newly reimagined space. It’s a celebration of how far we’ve come. And we couldn’t have done it without the community

Back in 2001, Steve Jobs did a tour of Tysons Corner, showing off the store design. While Tysons Corner was the first ‌Apple Store‌ to open because it is on the East Coast, Apple Glendale Galleria followed just a few hours later.

The store is set to open at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Apple often celebrates new store openings with t-shirt giveaways and postcards for the first people to visit.

Today we're tracking some discounts on Apple's line of AirPods, including on the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods 2. These sales can be found across Verizon and Amazon, and in terms of the Verizon sale you don't need to be a Verizon customer to get these savings, and all orders receive free two-day shipping.

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

You can get the AirPods Pro 2 for $199.99 on Verizon, down from $249.99. We very briefly saw a discount on this model to $194.99 back in March, but this rare deal never emerged again and today's deal remains a solid second-best price.

Additionally, Amazon has a deal on one of the AirPods 3 models. You can get the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case for $149.99, down from $169.99. This is about $10 off from the all-time low price on this model of the AirPods 3, but we haven't tracked that price in months and Amazon's deal is a solid second-best option.

Lastly, Amazon has the AirPods 2 for $99.00, down from $129.00. Although this is an overall second-best price, we haven't seen an all-time low price on the AirPods 2 since the holiday season, making this the best price of the year so far on the model.

We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Small developers have seen growing success over the course of the last two years, according to an Apple-commissioned study conducted by economists at Analysis Group. Data shared today highlights the ways the App Store has benefited independent ‌App Store‌ developers.

Between 2020 and 2022, the revenue earned by small ‌App Store‌ developers increased 71 percent, and in the U.S. specifically, earnings growth was at 83 percent. Analysis Group defines small developers as those who have fewer than a million annual downloads and who earn up to $1 million per year, and this group accounts for more than 90 percent of developers on the ‌App Store‌.

According to the study, revenue growth for small developers outpaced revenue growth for large developers, with earnings improving across all app categories. The study points out the opportunities provided by the ‌App Store‌, such as tools that help developers reach a worldwide audience. Close to 80 percent of small developers are active on multiple storefronts and earn 40 percent of total app downloads from outside of their home country.

Developers have seen success over time, with the study suggesting that many apps earning over $1 million in 2022 started out as apps from small developers. 40 percent of these developers were not on the ‌App Store‌ or had less than $10,000 in earnings five years ago.

Apple has commissioned several ‌App Store‌ studies from Analysis Group as it faces growing pressure to open up iOS to sideloading and alternate app store options. The European Union, for example, is requiring Apple to allow apps to be installed outside of the ‌App Store‌, functionality that Apple is rumored to be implementing in Europe in iOS 17.

In the United States, government officials are considering legislation that would let developers use non-Apple app stores and alternative in-app payment systems on iOS devices. Apple has been fighting these changes and studies like these from Analysis Group can be used to convince regulators and the public of the benefits of the ‌App Store‌.

More information and the full study can be accessed through the Apple Newsroom.

Apple has introduced security keys as an additional step to help users protect their Apple ID accounts. Keep reading to learn why the alternative authentication method is the most secure method available and what you need to do to set it up.

What Are Security Keys?

With the release of iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS Ventura 13.2, Apple introduced support for security keys, or physical devices that can verify your ‌Apple ID‌ instead of a passcode.

Apple designed the feature for people who require additional protection from targeted attacks, such as phishing or social engineering scams.

The extra protection that security keys provide means that if someone had your ‌Apple ID‌ and your password, they still would not be able to access your account without your physical security key, which replaces the traditional verification code provided by two-factor authentication.

How Do Security Keys Work?

With a security key enabled, signing into an ‌Apple ID‌ requires entering your account's password and then using a security key to complete the two-factor authentication process, instead of the traditional six-digit verification code that is sent to another Apple device signed into the same account.

Why It's Worth Using Security Keys

It's worth noting from the outset that using physical security keys puts the onus on you to be careful not to lose them, otherwise you could permanently lose access to your Apple account. This is why Apple requires users to set up at least two security keys, and supports up to six in total.

Having two physical security keys set up means you can keep them in more than one safe place. For example, you could keep one at home and one in your workplace, or you could keep one with you when traveling while the other one remains safe at home.

Once you have security keys set up, you can use them to sign in with your ‌Apple ID‌ on a new device or on the web, reset your ‌Apple ID‌ password, and add additional security keys or remove them from your account.

What You Can't Do With Security Keys

There are a few things worth noting that you can't do with security keys.

• You can't use them to sign in to iCloud for Windows.
• You can't sign in to older devices that can't be updated to a software version that supports security keys.
• Security keys don't support child accounts and Managed Apple IDs.
• Apple Watches that are paired with a family member's iPhone aren't supported.

Security Keys Worth Considering

Most security keys look similar to a typical USB thumb drive, with some options available with NFC for wireless use and others equipped with Lightning, USB-C, and/or USB-A ports for direct connectivity with iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

There are many options on the market when buying security keys, but the main things to consider when choosing one are that it is FIDO Certified and that it has a connector that works with your Apple devices. Some options recommended by Apple include:

• YubiKey 5C NFC
• YubiKey 5Ci
• FEITIAN ePass K9 NFC USB-A

Visit the FIDO Showcase website for a complete list of keys certified by the FIDO Alliance.

How to Enable Security Keys on iPhone and iPad

1. Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
2. Tap your name in the ‌Apple ID‌ banner.
3. Tap Password & Security.
4. Tap Security Keys.
5. Tap the blue Add Security Keys button and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can remove security keys at any time by repeating the steps outlined above and tapping or clicking on Remove All Security Keys. Doing so causes your ‌Apple ID‌ to revert to using a traditional six-digit verification code for two-factor authentication.

How to Enable Security Keys on Mac

1. Click the Apple symbol () in your Mac's menu bar and choose System Settings….
2. Click your name at the top of the sidebar.
   
   

3. Click Password & Security.
4. In the "Security Keys" menu section, click Add…, then follow the onscreen instructions.
   

After following the above steps you will be given the opportunity to review the devices linked to your ‌Apple ID‌, with options to stay signed in to or log out of any associated Apple devices.

You can stop using security keys on your Mac by going to System Settings -> [your name] -> Password & Security. Click Security Keys, then click Remove All Security Keys. Doing so causes your ‌Apple ID‌ to revert to using a traditional six-digit verification code for two-factor authentication.